Original Hyrule Warriors Almost Remained a Japan-Exclusive, Nintendo Reportedly Worried About Tarnishing Zelda Brand

by John Nowacky
in Action, Featured, News, Release
on 3 June 2024

The original Hyrule Warriors almost didn’t make it to the international market due to concerns from Nintendo of America about its potential impact on the Zelda brand. Former Nintendo employees, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, revealed this interesting tidbit on their podcast, the Kit & Krysta Podcast.

According to Ellis, there was a lot of worry within Nintendo of America that Hyrule Warriors wouldn’t meet the standards expected of a Zelda game. They were even contemplating telling Japan that the game wouldn’t be released internationally and keeping it exclusive to Japan. However, the concerns were eventually set aside, and the game was released on the Wii U in 2014, with Japan getting it a month earlier than the rest of the world.

Fortunately, Hyrule Warriors proved to be a success, leading to subsequent ports and spin-offs. The game received a 3DS port a few years later, and in 2018, a Switch port was released. In 2020, fans were delighted with the release of Age of Calamity, a non-canon prequel to Breath of the Wild.

While the original Hyrule Warriors may not have been considered revolutionary, it was still a fun game that appealed to many players. The decision to release it internationally was ultimately a wise one, allowing fans around the world to experience the unique blend of Zelda and Dynasty Warriors gameplay.

As fans eagerly anticipate future releases in the Zelda franchise, such as the highly anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild, it’s interesting to reflect on the concerns that once surrounded Hyrule Warriors. Thankfully, those concerns were overcome, and now fans can enjoy the diverse range of Zelda spin-offs and ports that have been made available internationally.

Facts not mentioned in the article but relevant to the topic are:

– Hyrule Warriors was developed by Omega Force, a subsidiary of Koei Tecmo, in collaboration with Nintendo. It is a crossover between the Legend of Zelda series and the Dynasty Warriors franchise.
– The game features characters, locations, and items from the Zelda series, but its gameplay is more action-oriented and focused on large-scale battles.
– Hyrule Warriors was released in Japan on August 14, 2014, and in the rest of the world on September 26, 2014, for the Nintendo Wii U.
– The game received positive reviews from critics, praising its enjoyable gameplay, fan service, and collaboration between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo.
– Due to its success, Hyrule Warriors later received an enhanced port for the Nintendo 3DS, titled Hyrule Warriors Legends, which included additional content and characters.
– In addition to the 3DS port, a definitive edition of Hyrule Warriors was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. This version included all previously released content from the Wii U and 3DS versions.
– Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, released in 2020, serves as a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and explores the events leading up to the Great Calamity.
– The success of the Hyrule Warriors series has paved the way for other spin-offs in the Zelda franchise, such as Cadence of Hyrule, which combines elements of The Legend of Zelda and Crypt of the NecroDancer.

The most important question is: Why was Nintendo of America concerned about the potential impact of Hyrule Warriors on the Zelda brand?

The answer to this question lies in the fact that Hyrule Warriors represented a departure from the traditional Zelda gameplay. Nintendo of America may have been worried that the game, with its focus on large-scale battles and action-oriented gameplay, could tarnish the reputation of the beloved Zelda franchise. They may have felt that it deviated too much from the core elements that fans associate with the series, such as exploration, puzzle-solving, and a more traditional RPG approach. However, these concerns were ultimately set aside, and the game was released internationally.

Key challenges or controversies associated with the topic:

– The decision to release Hyrule Warriors internationally was a risk, as it meant deviating from the traditional Zelda formula and introducing a new style of gameplay. However, the game’s success proved that there was an appetite for a different kind of Zelda experience.
– The collaboration between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo was an unconventional one, as it merged the Zelda series with the Dynasty Warriors franchise. There may have been concerns about maintaining the quality and integrity of both series in this crossover.
– Balancing the fan service of Hyrule Warriors, which featured characters and locations from various Zelda games, while also providing a enjoyable gameplay experience for newcomers to the series would have been a challenge.
– Introducing a non-canon story in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, a prequel to Breath of the Wild, could have been seen as controversial by fans who value the canonical timeline of the Zelda series.

Advantages of releasing Hyrule Warriors internationally:
– It allowed fans around the world to experience a unique blend of Zelda and Dynasty Warriors gameplay.
– It expanded the reach of the Zelda franchise and introduced new players to the series.
– The success of Hyrule Warriors opened the door for subsequent ports and spin-offs, providing more diverse experiences within the Zelda universe.

Disadvantages of releasing Hyrule Warriors internationally:
– There was a risk of alienating fans who expected a more traditional Zelda experience.
– Deviating from the core elements of the series could have led to negative reception and backlash from some players.
– The collaboration with a different development team and merging with another franchise could have resulted in a loss of identity for the Zelda series, affecting its reputation and brand image.

The source of the article is from the blog procarsrl.com.ar