Nintendo’s Canceled ‘Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker’ Sequel Detailed In New ‘Zelda: Art & Artifacts’ Book
Looks like Nintendo is now ready to reveal more details about its canned “The Legend Of Zelda” game. A decade after “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” was originally released, details about the game that could have been the real sequel to “Wind Waker” are going to be discussed in a new “Zelda” book.
Eurogamer learned early this week that a “Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker” sequel was actually in the works prior to the launch of the “Twilight Princess” installment. The full console sequel was supposed to feature Link on dry land and the developers even intended to make Link capable of riding horses, since the “Wind Waker” installment did not come with this feature.
Next year, Nintendo is releasing a book, entitled “Zelda: Art & Artifacts." The book is the companion of the “Hyrule Historia” tome. It reveals more details about the scrapped game that could have been the “Wind Waker 2.”
"Wind Waker 2 would have taken place in a more land-based setting, rather than on the sea, so that we could have Link gallop across the land on a horse," game artist Satoru Takizawa said of the canned project. "But Link's proportions in Wind Waker weren't very well suited for riding on horseback, he was too short, and an adult version of Toon Link did not seem appropriate either."
According to Nintendo Everything, “Zelda” series producer Eiji Aonuma actually announced the “Wind Waker” sequel during the Game Developers Conference way back in 2004. At the time, Aonuma even showed off in his presentation a slide confirming that the game was already in the works.
Shedding light on why the game was eventually canceled, Takizawa said, “We became aware of the greater demand for a more realistic, taller Link. High-budget live-action fantasy movies were also huge at the time, so with all things considered, we decided to have at it. I was on board with the project as art director, and started off by bringing [Yusuke] Nakano on to do the design for Link.”
There’s no telling what could have become of the canned sequel. However, the “Wind Waker’s” story was continued through the DS spin-off “Phantom Hourglass,” which turned out to be a seafaring entry just like the prequel. As for “Twilight Princess,” it became a fan-favorite that an HD re-release was made years after its original launched.
The “Zelda: Art & Artifacts” book is already out in Japan. It won’t be available in other markets until February of next year.
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