When discussing fans' hopes of a traditional Zelda game with a linear story, Zelda TOTK producer Eiji Aonuma said in an interview that linear games are “games of the past.” Read on to learn more.
Linear Games are for the Past, Says Zelda Producer Eiji Aonuma
Freedom and Flexibility is Now King
With The Legend of Zelda games being a prominent gaming franchise for decades now, Zelda games have evolved from linear story-based games to a much less restricted game with much more player freedom. This left fans divided as a surprising number of players voiced their thoughts, saying that they liked the traditional linear Zelda games more.
According to an interview with IGN about Zelda, Eiji Aonuma, Zelda: TotK producer, is in favor of more player freedom, and claims that linear games are "games of the past" Aonuma said he wonders "why do you want to go back to a type of game where you're more limited or more restricted in the types of things or ways you can play?"
Aonuma further explained that in his opinion, modern games "can accept a player's own decisions and give them the freedom to flexibly proceed", while games of the past feature stories told through a strict order of events.
He then added that he understands the calls for a more traditional Zelda game, and attributes it to nostalgia. However, he added that fans should keep their expectations for the next Zelda game in check. In a separate interview with Game Informer, Aonuma stated that the next Zelda game probably wouldn’t be a direct sequel to TotK.
To conclude his opinions, Aonuma finished with "I also think with the freedom players have in the more recent games in the series [...] there is still a set path, it just happens to be the path that they chose."
