Catering to The Legend of Zelda fans can't be easy. Though it's idyllic to picture one big happy family of Link lovers, the 39-year-old series has gone through so many iterations and evolutions that the games that work for some players may not appeal to others. Not all fans introduced with Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker may dig Nintendo's 2D games, for example, just as newcomers from Breath of the Wild might not vibe with the more linear structure of past entries.
Even as something of a Zelda sicko, I'll admit to having a soft spot for the 'classic' run of 3D entries. Spanning 1998's Ocarina of Time right up to 2011's Skyward Sword, the era married its predecessors' tricky dungeons and satisfying item progressions with improved combat and a greater emphasis on exploration. I've been revisiting those gems in recent months, first replaying Wind Waker and now Twilight Princess (I'm up to Arbiter's Grounds, thanks for asking), and it's made me realize: that era's sweet spot has stayed refreshingly sweet, and returning to that formula for the next mainline Zelda game would be the best decision Nintendo could make.
