Ben Gonshaw: Digital Media Theorist & Game Design Consultant
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ZELDA OF THE RINGS

11th March 2005

Ok, so we already knew that the next Zelda would be a return to the non-cell shaded version touted in the original Gamecube unveiling all those years ago. However, it seems that the return of Link's original style has not meant a return for originality. I know it's way too early to relate that to gameplay, and I don't doubt that Nintendo have something special planned there, but here are some grabs from the latest Zelda video (a 29meg download) to show you that they have abandoned their concept artists in favour of 'inspiration' from Peter Jackson's trilogy.

Ok, so the wargs are hyena like and these are boars, but the similarity is there, especially because they are ridden by Orc like creatures.

It seems that you can grab one of the beasties for yourself. Check out the tumbling Orcs that have been ridden over and note the similarity to LOTR.

Ride your horse and be attacked by small Nazgul creatures. It's fine to set your world in a fantasy realm and Nintendo has done that with Zelda since time immemorial (well, 1986) . However, some originality in character design and scenarios is useful. Unless of course you wish to cash in on the zeitgeist that was the LOTR phenomenon.

Let's not leave Shelob out of this

Nor shall we abandon the Undead. They looked so good in Return of the King. I think that they should grace Zelda too.

Ok, so you really need to judge for yourself, but to me the similarities are too striking to pass up comment.

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