Yes, the reason they are going with this art style is because it is easier to animate, draw, develop, textures, etc. etc.

The problem with Nintendo's logic though is that they would have sold more of a "realistic" Zelda game, and sold more Wii Us as a result. The Wii U NEEDS more hit games, and I don't think the new Zelda is gonna be it unfortunately. Brogamers who are all into COD might not get a Wii U for Zelda yeah you're right, but Twilight Princess pretty much sold most hardcore gamers on the Wii easily.

Nintendo has made some bizarre choices with the Wii U and it's actually getting frustrating cause I am a huge Nintendo fan and don't like to see them doing this.

I think it's way too early to say if the game will sell or not... Although the Wii U does still have a long way to go to achieve an ounce of mainstream popularity...

But as far as the new Zelda art style is concerned, the reception has been positive all around. And... The game isn't even out yet. So it's rather ludicrous for some of you to claim the game would have sold better if it had a different art style. The reception, as I said, has been very favourable so far.  Most people dig this new art style. It doesn't look childish. Stylish, yes, but certainly not chidlish like Toon Link was. Yes, they both use cell shading, but that's about it. Comparing both games is like comparing chibi anime to Record of Lodoss War.

I think you are making it sound like that's the primary reason they are going with that art style. Another perspective is they are doing it just because that's what Aonuma wants and "easier" development is just a byproduct. Back when WW was being developed, I doubt graphics work was much of a concern at that point. Aonuma had this idea of Zelda back when Zelda Gamecube was just starting (I think he had the vision further back, when he played ALttP, then tried to make a clone: Marvelous). He hid the true visuals of WindWaker from Miyamoto until the visuals was ready. And Miyamoto liked it (he approved it, no surprise, 'cuz most Zelda at that point was fairly "cartoony").

Take the goggles off, since Aonuma became director, Zelda has become something perverse. There was never a discussion about 'artstyle' until this goof took the reigns. The first four Zelda's were classic, the last four have been garbage. The dude makes Marvelous games with the Zelda IP. Who makes anime graphics anymore any way? Shit is lame. The tech demo is what the majority wanted, high fantasy as Kungkras said. Instead we get Okami/SS HD.

TBH, I dunno why you folks are excited for Zelda any more. It is a shell of its former self.

Watch the OoT 3DS commercial, THAT is awesome. Nostalgia gets weaker with each gen. It is what it is. Zelda is almost as big a joke as Metroid at this point. Has beens, former greats with no equal, now? Who the fuck cares.

Plenty of people care. If you don't, that's not our problem.

I like both but voted on the Tech Demo. I prefer that kind of art style, but I also enjoy the cell-shading style on the "new" game.

The thing that interests and also worries me most is the talk about an open world/free roaming. This will make Zelda less linear, since other Zelda games has been semi-linear before with an open world but also more focus on go there, then there, then there etc. Not it could be completely different, and if it turns out good or not I feel a bit worried about.

Since it's Nintendo, not too worried though.

A lot of people agree with him to a certain extent. The last time a Zelda game got people super excited was 2006, nearly 10 years ago. The Wii U needs to start some fireworks soon. Mario Kart sparked something, but not enough. During their presentation they should've came out guns-a-blazin with graphics that look like the 2012 demo, intense enemy battles, more examples of the map, voice acting, amazing gameplay... instead we got a large barren of nothing, an enemy I can't tell what it is doing, graphics that look like puke, and whatever gameplay.

This is going to be another Super Mario 3D World unfortunately.

If your puke looks this good, I wonder what kind of magical food you eat.


EDIT: *looks at basher's avatar*  ...That explains part of it.

I totally understand why they are doing this art style - to make an open world game with the graphics that the Wii U demo just isn't feasible. But that brings up the question - then why show the the demo in the first place?

Anyway, I will give the game a chance only because I can understand why they went with these graphics this time around. I care about gameplay more than graphics (though this art style is hard to look at). But from what I have seen it looks lile more of Link sees monster with tentacles and uses a bow and arrow to hit its weak spot for massive damage. Hopefully the only major change to this franchise isn't just open world.....

I don't know (but I probably do, just too lazy) how to split up quotes so I will number my responses:

1. Yes, a lot of people will be exicted for a Zelda game regardless but nothing will match the hype Twilight Princess had now for a while. Think of it this way - The Wind Waker HD hasn't hit 1 million. Ocarina of Time 3D hit 1 million in 10 weeks on a system that sold 2 million less (at the time). People want OOT style. They have made this clear.

2. I predcited the Wii U would sell 40 million, this was based on the idea that Nintendo would be releasing epic games like Super Mario 64 2 and a "realistic" Zelda. Instead, they have disappointed people time and time again. Now I think they'll be lucky to get half of that 40 million, though I think a "realistic" Zelda would have helped sell many Wii Us like Twilight Princess helped sell the Wii to hardcore gamers in 2006.

3. Look at this preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE2Dc1sx71U Look at the reaction. That was guns-a-blazin. Ass kickin music, cool enemies, epic scale, but most importantly: artstyle. The reaction was appropriate - this was the Zelda we were supposed to get in 2002/03 (note: I think The Wind Waker is superior to Twilight Princess). In fact, with this artstyle they are clearly playing it safe. It's easier to develop with now.  And don't call it "unremarkable" or "generic" because that Wii U demo looked way more cool than the new preview.

And "more examples of the map" was a mistake. I was gonna say something else (well, 2 different things) and meant to delete it but I guess I didn't. Wait, I think I remember now - like more of the map. Not just the barren wasteland they showed us there.

4. Yes, it'll be 2015/16 when the game is released. It needs voice acting. It's time for Zelda to jump into the 21st century or be left behind.

5. The enemy is the same as before - a huge monster with tentacles that has a weak point. We need to see more. We need diversity in enemies, not the same ones we've been seeing since 98.

6. Super Mario 3D World was good, but it's not the Mario game the Wii U needed. The Wii U needed an HD Super Mario 64 2 game. Not a 3D Land sequel. That was a disappointment period.

This new Zelda also needs:
- Link to be left handed again
- More diverse dungeons
- Reboot of the story
- Voice acting for everyone but Link
- Epic orchestrated music. OOT still has the best most memorable songs
- Enemies that are actually dangerous and have actual AI, not ones that will just walk up and swing at you
- More magic spells and sorcery
- Side quests not consisting of 90% fetch quests
- More RPG elements
- At least a couple dungeons that give the Water TEmple a run for its money in terms of difficulty (though I found the Water Temple less difficult than most people, it's my favorite Zelda temple of all time)
- Different hack and slash gameplay. A more involved gameplay system, something LIKE Arkham Asylum, Assassin's Creed, etc. etc.
- Open up with the Zelda theme! Lol I don't think a Zelda game has even had the main theme (for consoles anyway) since A Link to the Past

What are some of your ideas?