Video game developers take on 'Zelda'
Source: Agencies |
May 8, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
NINTENDO'S "The Legend of Zelda" is one of the most beloved series in the history of video games, but few competitors have tried to duplicate its winning formula. Blending epic drama, fast-paced action, devious puzzles and basic role-playing, the "Zelda" franchise is really a genre of its own, with each new episode deftly mixing familiar and fresh features.
If you never have owned a Nintendo console, you have missed out on an essential gaming experience. This year, however, other publishers have tried to capture some of the "Zelda" magic. The trend started in January with THQ's "Darksiders," which excelled by blending the devious dungeons and boss battles of "Zelda" with the splashy gore of "God of War."
"3D Dot Game Heroes" (Atlus, for the PlayStation 3, US$39.99) is a more blatant imitation of "Zelda," particularly the 1987 classic that launched the series. It takes place in a land called Dotnia, modeled on Nintendo's Hyrule. The king has grown weary of a mere two dimensions, however, so Dotnia's flat landscape and architecture have been translated into a heavily pixilated 3-D, so everything looks like it was made of Lego blocks.
Of course, an evil genius is on the loose. So the hero has to fight monsters, explore temples and unearth artifacts that will help restore peace. You begin with a simple sword, and along the way you collect weapons and devices straight out of the "Zelda" arsenal: bombs, arrows, a boomerang and the ever-reliable grappling hook.
The developer, Japan's From Software, has made only the slightest effort to disguise its inspirations. Your health, for example, is represented by apples rather than the hearts found in "Zelda."
"Nier" (Square Enix, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, US$59.99) is more reminiscent of later "Zelda" installments. It is structured like the 1998 landmark "Ocarina of Time," with a central hub surrounded by more exotic cities and dungeons, which open up gradually as the hero becomes more powerful.
But "Nier" does not settle merely for "Zelda" mimicry; at times, veteran gamers will be reminded of "Resident Evil," "Castlevania," "Ico" and even the ancient text adventure "Zork."
That variety ensures that "Nier" never gets stale, but it also benefits from an unusually tenderhearted story. Its gruff hero is not interested in saving the world; he merely wants to find a cure for his ailing daughter.
If you never have owned a Nintendo console, you have missed out on an essential gaming experience. This year, however, other publishers have tried to capture some of the "Zelda" magic. The trend started in January with THQ's "Darksiders," which excelled by blending the devious dungeons and boss battles of "Zelda" with the splashy gore of "God of War."
"3D Dot Game Heroes" (Atlus, for the PlayStation 3, US$39.99) is a more blatant imitation of "Zelda," particularly the 1987 classic that launched the series. It takes place in a land called Dotnia, modeled on Nintendo's Hyrule. The king has grown weary of a mere two dimensions, however, so Dotnia's flat landscape and architecture have been translated into a heavily pixilated 3-D, so everything looks like it was made of Lego blocks.
Of course, an evil genius is on the loose. So the hero has to fight monsters, explore temples and unearth artifacts that will help restore peace. You begin with a simple sword, and along the way you collect weapons and devices straight out of the "Zelda" arsenal: bombs, arrows, a boomerang and the ever-reliable grappling hook.
The developer, Japan's From Software, has made only the slightest effort to disguise its inspirations. Your health, for example, is represented by apples rather than the hearts found in "Zelda."
"Nier" (Square Enix, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, US$59.99) is more reminiscent of later "Zelda" installments. It is structured like the 1998 landmark "Ocarina of Time," with a central hub surrounded by more exotic cities and dungeons, which open up gradually as the hero becomes more powerful.
But "Nier" does not settle merely for "Zelda" mimicry; at times, veteran gamers will be reminded of "Resident Evil," "Castlevania," "Ico" and even the ancient text adventure "Zork."
That variety ensures that "Nier" never gets stale, but it also benefits from an unusually tenderhearted story. Its gruff hero is not interested in saving the world; he merely wants to find a cure for his ailing daughter.
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