The problem of Zelda in Japan

[Soma]

Khuutra said:

Soma said:

The big problem with Zelda was when Miyamoto stopped being in charge. With Anouma the series has lacked surprise and there's too much focus on story. I remembered reading once how Miyamoto told Anouma that story was not so important, but he insisted in it. Now recently Anouma didn't wanted Motion Plus but Miyamoto insisted in it.

Zelda has become very predictable now and very puzzle oriented. Every game now you know you'll get Boomerang, Master Sword, Shields, HookShot, Arrows etc. I agree with Malstrom about the lack of Arcade gameplay. There's no challenge now with Zelda, it doesn't matter how big the adventure is if you not feel your'e kicking ass.

Motion can revitalize it but I also think the difficulty should be increased. And new weapons should be added to surprise the player. Less puzzles and more action, is what the old Zelda formula was about.

Edit: Oh, why Zelda in Japan do not sell as well maybe has to do with the lack of challenge but I don't know. I believe Zelda has been in decline in all the world, the sales in America have remained consistent but it is not a phenomena nowadays like it was in the Snes era. Is only a matter of time that sales start declining in America unless something is done. Maybe japanese grew tired of Zelda long ago, and a more "mature" Zelda was not enough to get them interested.

This isn't particuarly relevant. The games continue to be more and moe popular over timei nt he Americas, not less. Link to the Past doesn't comapre to Twilight Princess in terms of American sales. It is not even close.

Zelda is not in decline "in all the world". The only territory where that is true is Japan.

In America Twilight Princess is barely above Ocarina of Time, and it was a lauch title. The first time a Zelda game was ready at launch and with Motion controls, surely those things sparked interest and helped its sales. Next to them is the original Zelda, followed surprisingly by Wind Waker and then very close A Link to the Past. But where are the other new Zelda games? They are after Zelda Link's Awakening, Zelda II and Majora's Mask. Why is that?

With sales almost as equal as Ocarina of Time, I wouldn't say it's becoming more popular, it seems the series is selling to the same old fans and is not gaining popularity.