FAN MASTERS PART 4- ZELDA

Interviewees:
Darkflamewolf
udivision

Welcome to the fourth issue of Fan Masters!

No surprises for this issue either, as I’m feeling obligated to pay my dues to the various Zelda fangames that can be found on the site and their creators.

Introducing Darkflamewolf (Legend of Zelda: Lost Isle & Legend of Zelda: Origin) and udivision (The Legend of Zelda: Courage, Power, and Wisdom).

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Why a fan game? And why LOZ?

Darkflamewolf: I simply love Zelda and once I found Zelda Classic which allows you to create your own Zelda quests and games, I was sold. I quickly made a good half dozen quests in a short span of time and continued to make them for 3-4 years afterwards.

udivision: Fan games give you a clear goal of what you want to do with your game. Some may find it limiting to use an already established world, but I feel it challenges you to try and learn how to recreate/improve features from your favorite games. Zelda is one of my favorite franchises.

Can you (briefly) describe your game for us?

Darkflamewolf: Origin is basically the 1st and 2nd quests of the original Zelda re-envisioned for the modern day 2D graphics. The overworld is roughly the same, the dungeons retain similar shapes, but the gameplay is quite different. It is how LOZ should have been in my eyes.


LOZ: Lost Isle & LOZ: Origin.

udivision: CPW is a more straightforward and streamlined Zelda experience, relying more heavily on RPG elements rather than the Action elements the series is known for. You follow Link as he must stop Dark Link from claiming the Triforce as his own.


LOZ:CP&W.

Is it possible to make good Zelda fangames using an RPGMaker engine?

Darkflamewolf: Possible, but not altogether feasible. You are working against the engine in my eyes to make it do something it wasn't designed to do.

udivision: I think it's possible. I remember playing a Link's Awakening remake for 2000/2003 that seemed to be doing just that, while staying truer to the franchise.

What are the major advantages and disadvantages, in your opinion, of working within the frameworks of a work that isn’t entirely your own?

Darkflamewolf: With Origin, it was fun and I enjoyed reimagining all the old areas people knew and loved into something brand new and unique yet still maintaining that old charm. With Lost Isle, we actually broke free of the mold of the Zelda universe and created something that was quite set apart from anything experienced thus far in a Zelda game.

udivision: The biggest advantage are the graphics and music. Not having to worry (as much) about creating and implementing graphics frees you up to work on other things. Also, there are many conventions that fans of the series are familiar with that you don't have to explain, and most of the features you decide to include have already been decided for you. You just have to figure out how to make them. And of course, fan games attract more people to them when the franchise is popular.

Some drawbacks are that you are limited by the theme/tone of the franchise and therefore can't deviate too much from the series' norm without becoming jarring to the fans.


Images from Lost Isle.

Do you play other Zelda fangames, or do you just stick to your own?

Darkflamewolf: I rarely play Zelda fangames. I'm a fan more of making them than I am playing them.

udivision: I can't say I've played many Zelda fangames other than the one I mentioned earlier. I don't play many RPG Maker games in general though.

Having put so much time and effort into your game, are you afraid of it getting lost in a sea of other LOZ titled games?

Darkflamewolf: Not really, the game will find its audience. Once I release the game, I let the players take it where it needs to go.

udivision: Not really. I can't say I'm too concerned with where CPW falls in that regard. It was an early game, and good enough for what it was.


Images from Origin.

What advice do you have for other creators who are trying to make their own fan games?

Darkflamewolf: Start small. Do not try to make the biggest Zelda fan game as your first game. Achieve small victories first by making a miniature adventure first with maybe a small overworld and 4-5 dungeons. Once you've claimed that victory, move onward to a standard 9 dungeon romp of a quest. Once you've managed that, you should have enough experience under your belt at least to attempt something larger.

udivision: My advice would be to make a game showing that you're a fan of the series. Don't use music from other franchises, don't make characters curse that shouldn't, don't make characters talk that shouldn't, don't put a "darker and edgier" spin on something that's neither of those things (or the reverse), etc... Essentially, your game needs to show that you understand a few things about the franchise it's based off of. Your fan game doesn't have to be perfect, or a perfect copy, but find a way to make it your own thing while also making it a fan game.

Any plans on making more LOZ fangames?

Darkflamewolf: No, I am done with LOZ creation.

udivision: ICU Gigasoft is pretty much done with fan games in general at this point. We don't have any plans for additional fan games after the release of Super Mario RPG: Starlite Worlds, but you never know I guess.


Images from Courage, Power, and Wisdom.

Any final thoughts?

Darkflamewolf: Never give up, never surrender!

udivision: Thanks for the interview!

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Alright, took a week off to try and play catch up. Due to the low amount of responses, however, I may have to take another week in the near future if I'm to reach my 11 issue goal.