Eiji Aonuma has come to question Zelda’s traditions
The first Zelda game had a completely open nature. By comparison, some of the more recent titles became more linear.
According to series producer Eiji Aonuma, this happened because he “thought players didn’t like getting lost, wondering what to do, or where to go.” But starting with A Link Between Worlds, Aonuma has started to question some of the series’ traditional elements.
Aonuma told ONM:
“The recent Zelda games have been rather linear, as I thought players didn’t like getting lost, wondering what to do, or where to go. However, I’ve come to question this ‘traditional’ approach as I felt that we couldn’t gain the sense of wonder that existed in the original Legend of Zelda, in which you made unexpected encounters and where what used to be impossible would suddenly become possible.”
“We will, of course, continue to question and reconsider the approaches we have taken in the past without any reservations.”