Aonuma not afraid to incorporate modern technology in the Zelda universe

“Technology actually was not a major concern for us when we decided to use the train. In The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the boat was the key mode of transportation. Now that Spirit Tracks takes place on land, we needed a new way for players to get around, and felt that the train offered the best sense of exploration and discovery. We don’t think it feels out of place in the game world. Trains are also a popular mode of transportation in Japan. My children and I still feel a great sense of adventure when we ride trains in Japan. Regarding use of other forms in technology in the future, as long it adds to the overall game experience and is something we feel the player would enjoy, we wouldn’t be afraid to implement it. As a matter of fact, we have used the Hook Shot in several previous games, which would be considered a very modern type of technology, even by today’s standards.” – Eiji Aonuma

When you think about all of the Zelda games, the technology used in the series has become more modernized as additional titles were released. To be honest, I was a little surprised when the first trailer of Spirit Tracks was released, which showcased the train. Is there any piece of technology in particular you guys would like to see in a Zelda game?

I'm picturing Link with dual handguns and riding a Motorcycle, down a steampunk version of hyrule, lol

So could we start to see some steampunk style Zelda games?

Please not steampunk. Anything but that.

^What, you don't want to see a giant robotic arachnid?

NO! I wanna see flying pigs :p

They already sorta did that, but it was a giant robotic... Goht.

The day Zelda goes down 'steampunk' is the day you see it fall down the same path as Final Fantasy. Focusing on graphics and storyline and losing more and more sales each title.

Spirit Tracks looks good simply because the train is just as Aonuma says, a means of transit and a story device. Not something the entire game focuses on and something that changes the feel of the entire game (aka, makes the games style focus on a new genre or platform).

Part of the reason I think Twilight Princess saw mixed reviews and fan support is because the focus was so much on the 'style' and graphics. If a Zelda went 'steampunk', or any other style besides what they have been in the past, ultimately that's the path the series would be forced down.  And Zelda more than any other series is rooted in its past.

Absolutely. Zelda needs to evolve with technology, more than Mario.

First off, Final Fantasy sales go up and down as each new main installment is released with the first main FF game even gen being the best selling FF game of that gen.  Also, FF focusing on graphics and story is what made FF so popular in the West in the first place.  In Zelda's case, it was gameplay.  Zelda focusing more on graphics and story wouldn't really decrease its popularity much if at all.  If anything, the series has dropped in popularity since Ocarina of Time but more due to the lack of innovation.  Recent FF games haven't seen sales as high as FFVII but that is only because FFVII saw sales numbers that many RPG don't even get remotely close to.  Doesn't change the fact that FFXIII is one of the most anticpated games in both America and Japan.