Lately, I’ve been playing Avowed on Xbox Game Pass. While I love RPG games, I tend to gravitate towards Action-RPG games over traditional ones. Part of this may stem from my obsession with The Legend of Zelda going back to the 1980s.
But every time I take a deep dive into a more traditional RPG, I remember why they are so beloved, and how this genre of games allows depth of storytelling, not just from the developers, but from the players themselves. One big mechanism for this is the skills and abilities trees most RPGs present the player.
Giving players the options to specialize in a certain class and manner of combat allows players to tell their own stories. For my initial playthrough of Avowed, I’m going with the War Hero origin story, focusing on melee combat. But occasionally I’ll use some mage abilities and must admit, it’s just plain fun blowing away enemies with super-powered spells.
I’m really enjoying this playthrough of Avowed, and it’s got me thinking about what I want from the next Zelda game. The last two 3D games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, have focused almost entirely on melee-style combat. Sure, there are magic wands players can use, and powers from the Champions, Sages, and the Sheikah Slate that border on magic, but it’s not the same as games the lean fully into giving players class customizations that include mages and magic. Furthermore, there’s no upgrade system in these to allow players to develop their preferred style of combat. The last Zelda game to even remotely do so was Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.
Image: Nintendo
Each Zelda game offers something unique, a gameplay feature or art style that sets it apart from the other mainline games. As Nintendo moves on from “The Wilds Era,” why not return to the roots of the franchise and bring back customization and ability progression like Zelda II? It would be a welcome addition to the series and a fresh direction after nearly eight years of the “science” of Sheikah technology. Giving players the ability to turn Link into a powerful war mage, stealthy ranger, or master swordsman would be right in line with Nintendo’s stance that Link is the player’s avatar while also allowing players to tell their own story about Link.
Tell us what you think! Should the next installment in The Legend of Zelda include an ability and skill tree for Link? Share your reactions in the comments below or join the conversation on Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Facebook, and Twitter.
Featured Image: Nintendo
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