The Legend of Zelda Can't Let Its Predictability Be Its Downfall

The Legend of Zeldais one of the most iconic franchises Nintendo has created, but the next game could benefit from being less predictable. By this point, most players who own a Nintendo console are likely at least somewhat familiar with The Legend of Zelda, especially its protagonist Link. His adventures across Hyrule have led to some of the greatest games in Nintendo's vast library. Even so, there's something to be said for shaking up the status quo from time to time. The Legend of Zelda could have a lot to gain from doing something that fans wouldn't expect.

From the stories of The Legend of Zelda games to the series' traditional gameplay, there are a lot of details that fans can identify on sight. Link is the ever-present hero, typically clad in his iconic green outfit until Breath of the Wild introduced a now-familiar blue tunic. In most games in the series, he is tasked with thwarting the schemes of the wicked Ganon, wielder of the Triforce of Power. The battles between the two have stretched across Nintendo's history, managing to land on all of the developer's major consoles. The Legend of Zelda is undoubtedly one of Nintendo's biggest epics.

The Next Legend of Zelda Game Doesn't Need to Follow All of the Series' Traditions

The Legend of Zelda Has Several Familiar Features Across the Series

It's safe to say that over the course of The Legend of Zelda's history, there are a lot of similarities that crop up between titles. Just looking at Link's selection of items over the course of the series will show this off. Across the games, Link frequently has an arsenal that includes:

• Sword
• Shield
• Bombs
• Bow and Arrow
• Boomerang

All of these items are incredibly useful, and play their role in an adventure well. However, they're so ubiquitous that players will probably expect them in each new game. It could be good to play with fan expectations and change up Link's arsenal in the future.

Link's Next Adventure Could Bring New Ideas to The Legend of Zelda

The next game is rife with opportunities for Nintendo to innovate. Some changes for Link in The Legend of Zelda could include removing oft-used items and replacing them with something else. This could either be something with a similar role, such as swapping the Bow for another ranged weapon like a blowgun, or something that would bring an entirely new mechanic to the games. The same is true for abilities and game gimmicks. Link has turned into a wolf, lived through time loops, and even sailed across a sunken Hyrule in the past. There's no telling what new talents Link could show off next.

Breath of the Wild Showed How Well the Series Can Adapt to New Ideas

It should be noted that significant reinventions of The Legend of Zelda have worked before. After all, Breath of the Wild's open world design and new mechanics were a major departure from series norms, and it and its sequel were remarkable successes. After this reinvention, there is a world of possibilities for what could be done in the next era of Zelda titles. The series could take the open world concept in another new direction, or restructure itself once again into an entirely new format. After Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda's flexibility and potential should be clearer than ever.

Link still has plenty more adventures to embark on, and they could benefit from being a little less predictable. The amount of potential features for the next Legend of Zelda does not need to be restricted by series traditions. Link has already proven to be a hero that can use a wide variety of weapons, tools, and abilities across several games. In order to make the next game more distinct, it may require a few drastic changes. The Legend of Zelda doesn't need to retread familiar ground next game.