#just. Before playing this game i never remotely realized how much the series fcking squanders side characters in favor of the status quo

[300iqprower]

can we talk about how Koei Tecmo, a publisher infamous for objectifying and hypersexualizing female characters, did the zelda cast better in the gals' designs than Nintendo ever did up to that point?

Ruto:

Great Fairy:

Impa:

And meanwhile Zelda and Midna are handled in amazing ways that warrant their own entire discussions (aforementioned BOTW comparison for Zelda, Midna's twili form actually getting to show her power, and her imp form not just being a macguffin.)

#see also Cia was actually powerful and psychotic and not JUST 'ooh i love link so much mwahahaha oh noooo ganon is too much for meeee' #look im never not gonna be hung up on this #just. Before playing this game i never remotely realized how much the series fcking squanders side characters in favor of the status quo #'repeating legend' schtick #let alone how BS it is that the only time we really got to see Impa and Zelda matter was in the musou spinoff(s) #tloz #hyrule warriors #my beloved #video games #peak character design #tloz impa #musou game #princess ruto #tloz great fairy #i will allow debate on the idea of Ruto's design being equally valid in concept art but 1. the other 2 are objective improvements on the #exact same incarnations of the characters #and 2. Ruto's in game OOT model was still really off for more than just graphical limitations when compared to her warriors redesign