Heroes of Hyrule should mix Zelda with Final Fantasy Tactics and sounds fantastic
In fact, this Zelda game could have done almost entirely without Link.
A mix of Zelda and Final Fantasy Tactics: Imagine that! Does it sound like a mismatch to you? That’s what I thought too at first, but after I looked more closely at the Did You Know Gaming video for the unfortunately canceled Heroes of Hyrule, I’m convinced that it all sounds fantastic and would have had what it takes to be a real hit. But one after the other.
Zelda meets Final Fantasy Tactics sounds really awesome at second glance
That’s what it’s about: About 15 years ago, Retro Studios proposed a game to Nintendo. That should be called Heroes of Hyrule and would have mixed turn-based tactics with Zelda elements like environmental puzzles, helpful items and Metroidvania elements.
Unfortunately, nothing ever came of it, but Did You Know Gaming made an extensive video on the design documents:
link to YouTube content
The story of the scrapped Zelda game Heroes of Hyrule is fascinating
Unusual for Zelda: In Heroes of Hyrule, Link wasn’t the hero, in fact he had to be rescued. Namely from Seriph, a Rito, the Zora Krel and Dunar the Goron. Together they represent the three sides of the Triforce.
The focus, however, is Ganon’s book. This is a book full of spells from the classic villain. Eventually, the ghost of Ganon will even be imprisoned in the book. For everyone’s protection (and because it couldn’t be destroyed), the pages of the tome were spread across Hyrule.
100 years later we should have slipped into the role of young Kori. He’s only supposed to look after a bookstore while the owner is away. But as luck would have it, the boy discovers a secret room and inside it the Book of Ganon. He begins to read it, searching for the missing pages – unaware of the evil book he is reading.
Speaking of Ganon and Zelda: Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is coming soon and this is the latest trailer:
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Trailer confirms new name and release
Heroes of Hyrule gameplay would have mixed tactics, Metroidvania, and Zelda
The gameplay is twofold: A third of the game should take place in the present. This part is similar to traditional Zelda titles, only without battles or dungeons. We explore a place and its surroundings, help the residents, do jobs for them and look for more pages of the book.
About two-thirds of Heroes of Hyrule was supposed to take place in the past though. That would have been the tactics part and what Kori reads in the book of Ganon. So we were basically re-enacting the events and battles of the past, especially the adventures of Dunar, Seriph, and Krel.
Plays like Final Fantasy Tactics, but with a greater focus on puzzles: accordingly, we would have gotten a turn-based strategy game in which we have to use each character’s various skills and items wisely. Exactly these features would also have helped with the many puzzles in the game world. So we wouldn’t just have fought.
- Dunar acts as a tank with a penchant for fire and the ability to lift heavy objects.
- Seriph serves as a sniper with a bow or boomerang, can turn invisible, fly and influence the wind direction.
- Krel casts spells, heals and swims. He can buff, support and doctor the party.
Particularly exciting works in connection with this and in direct comparison: We would not have collected any experience points in Heroes of Hyrule, but gradually got hold of the many items and tools. So there shouldn’t be any level ups, but lots of gimmicks and gadgets – just like in classic Zelda games.
Metroidvania Elements: In addition, it was also planned to be able to return to areas already visited. Items that were bagged in the meantime could have helped us to unlock unreachable parts of the area.
How does all this sound to you? Would you like to play that? What other spinoffs do you wish for?
Reference-www.gamepro.de
