Nameless?? You could always customist his name.

I used a Captain Toad as an example of a spin off that shows the adventure of a side character while the main character of a series goes on their journey. It wasn't indicative of how a Zelda spin off should look or play.

I don't mind if Hyrule is dangerous, as long as it doesn't mean that Zelda is powering her way through enemies like Link. Again, if she's using stealth, or something that makes it clear that she is not on par with Link or Ganon when it comes to combat, I'm fine with danger. Let her use her smarts and her skills to traverse the land. Zelda's a better spell caster than Link likely ever will be. Use that. Zelda has frequently been characterized as an archer. Use that. Zelda has absolutely never been canonically characterized as a warrior. Not one that can do what Link does. So they don't need to force her into situations where she would never actually be.

I'm against a gender swap because there's literally no good reason to do it. It doesn't make the gameplay better or the story more interesting. It's literally just there "just because." But it's still not as stupid as a hero Zelda.

You can customize a lot of characters names in a lot of games where the characters have real names and characters. That's not real customization.

Zelda has been a warrior, did Sheik and Tetra not exist? Did Zelda never use a bow to fell one of the greatest villains of their world? Is courage the only thing that makes heroes and warriors? Seems a lot of heroes are pretty wise and not just courageous.

This seems more like a gut reaction to the fear that a series you have come to love could change. The fact though is if Zelda was the main or co hero it would not hurt the game play one bit. How they implement it would be the only problem.

Most Zelda games have a two worlds element to them so having a game where you split time between Zelda and Link sounds like a great ideal.

Ok, fair enough. Sorry for the misunderstanding there.

Actually making Zelda a ranged combat/spell specialized character could work very well. Maybe she could have diffrent kind of spellbound arrows or something. Like I said I'd like something where she'd have to work in the face of severe limitations. I'd like to see Boss battles in the vein of Titan Souls where every boss is basically a puzzle and some are one hit kills, but they're had to win and figure out because you're character is so fragile. This thread is just giving me awesome spinoff ideas :P

As for the fact that she's never been characterized as a warrior, usually my response to that woud be, so what? Just because it's never been done before doen't mean it's going to be bad once it's done. I'm all for experimentation usually. You are right though, in this case it just flies in the face of the games inner logic, Zelda representing Wisdom and all. And frankly i would find it much more interestig if they explored her as a non-brute-force character that is still an invaluable part of the story/game and gave her stuff to do that way.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with that. While it could not have any impact whatsoever, it could also very well be a means to explore themes and motives that the series has not touched yet. Much like MM was probably all about loss and mourning and death and Bloodborne has undertones about motherhood and birth. Like I said, I would like it it they did it if it's in line with their vision of the game they want to create. Switching stuff up can always open new possibilitys be it in gameplay, or storytelling or the parts where both intersect. I actually wouln't like it much if they switched it up 'just because'.

Having Zelda headline a different sort of Zelda game is fine. Given Zelda is a more malleable character which can be made into a similar warrior/adventure like Link, or something magic based or even stealth based (feed the Sheik lovers out there) you can make a very different and unique entry in the franchise while still keeping some of its main traits.

What would Link do you ask?

Mentor, assist whatever thee heck Zelda does when her character isn't on screen including getting made the object of rescue. I like Link but the allure of Zelda being the playable protagonist, is more then just playing as a female, it is about offering a fresh take on a classic with a potential for a new play style. In the hands of the right developers it could make for a classic game in the franchise, similar to how many view the differences but similar traditions used in making Symphony of the Night made it the best of that franchise in most people's minds. Or how in the Zelda franchise itself Majora's Mask is considered by many its best game.

Link is nice but the franchise isn't done any harm if we get a game or subset of games where he isn't the lead and its one of the other iconic characters. I mean for heaven's sake even Tingle got a decent game, why not Zelda? And personally I would also throw Ganondorf in that mix but that is another story.

I honestly don't think she should be battling behemoths at all, sans final fight supporting Link against Ganon. Instead, it would be neat if she instead had to solve a final, complex puzzle under dangerous odds or something. Maybe there is a "boss" but the object is not to defeat it, but to remain undetected while you solve the "boss" puzzle. Or maybe evade it while you solve the puzzle. Or maybe stall it while you solve the puzzle. But not beat it, because that's what Link does. Same with thinks like arrows and magic. She shouldn't be able to kill most enemies. Just stun them, or tempererily incapacitate them. Maybe make them fall asleep for a short while. It isn't meant as "ranged combat," but as ranged stealth. It takes time and patience. If she messes up, she's dead.

What exactly would gender switching do that couldn't be done with the characters as their real genders? What possible themes could it explore that couldn't be explored when the characters have their real genders? What gameplay would Link gain by transitioning to a girl that he couldn't do as a boy? I'm sorry, but that point is empty. Bloodborne has undertones of motherhood whether you play as a man or a woman. MM would have still been about loss if Link was a girl or Skull Kid was a... girl. Changing genders doesn't add anything. It's just pandering.

Zelda isn't any more malleable than Link. She can't be canonically made into a warrior/adventurer like Link. That's not her role. Link's literal reason for existing is so Zelda doesn't have to do that stuff.

What would Link do? He would be on the real, main adventure simultaneously. He would be saving the world while she sets up the peices. He wouldn't be a mentor. He has nothing to teach her, just like she has nothing to teach him. MM is only a slightly different Zelda game. The type of spin off I'm describing is as unrecognisable as Hyrule Warriors. A real spin off, like Captain Toad is. I don't even think there should be combat at all. I'd rather she have to rely exclusively on her wisdom and intelligence to get out of tight situations. She should ghost through nearly everything. But if there must be combat, it should only be stealth based, because that's the only thing that fits how she is characterized.

Not a warrior. Not an adventurer. A thinker.

what i want is play as ganondorf, his childhood, and all since then until comming to OoT.
Also, they should explain the timeline where the hero is defeated. Maybe, ganondorf, knowing he should be defeated, cames back in time, creating a new time line, where he lots of different things and defeat the hero.

I agree, i really want a Zelda Spin-off, but Zelda should not go Hyrule Warriors.

I think the game could mix puzzle, stealth and plataforming. Some puzzle-bosses would be great too, but not giants or dragons. You need a hero for those.

About her weapons. I think spells is a given, with mobility and defense as main aspects. I would also expect her light based magic to be pretty powerful against dark/shadow creatures, so i wouldn't mind if she went a little more combative with them. Arrows are ok too, but not the Hero's Bow or elemental arrows. Maybe the light arrow?