Editor's note: Michael prefers his Zelda in the classic, top-down mode, and I actually agree with him. His question is a hard one to answer. Sometimes gameplay innovation does not do justice to established franchises, but game developers also often have a hard time selling new, unrecognized IPs. How do you feel about the 3D versions of the old NES classics? -Jay

I don't like Ocarina of Time. I know that's blasphemy to a lot of the gaming community. The day it came out, I was in high school. Right after the bell, I drove 40 miles to pick it up and sped 40 miles back home to play it. A Link to the Past was one of my favorite games of all time, and I couldn't wait to finally get my hands on another Zelda title, especially one that was in 3D. Mario worked in 3D, so I was sure this would, too.

My mind, clouded with Zelda memories, missed one critical flaw in my theory: Mario was good in 3D, but it was a completely different game. Sadly, Ocarina was a completely different game, too. Little did I know this would change the series forever.

The late '90s brought changes to some older titles, but redoing existing franchises with different styles of play started before that. After the original Legend of Zelda, they immediately started experimenting with Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link. You still explored the map and defeated enemies to find items which would help you progress to new areas. However, this game featured side-scrolling action sequences and an RPG-style leveling system. I did enjoy Zelda 2 a lot, but it was a very different game.

Along with Zelda, Super Mario Bros. 2 (at least in the US) and Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest were both experiments with new gameplay styles. When all three of these titles reached their third game, however, they more closely resembled their respective originals.

Other titles, like Mega Man, had a slower progression. Its second through fourth games added new elements but kept the same core gameplay. Later on, Mega Man entered the world of 3D, and then it was no longer Mega Man; it was a different, 3D game that featured the same character. In much the same way, Super Mario 64 was not a Super Mario Bros. style game; it was Mario starring in a different game that was 3D. 

Thankfully, both of those titles returned to their 2D roots with the downloadable Mega Man 9 and New Super Mario Bros. for the DS and Wii. Castlevania survived in 2D on portable systems, but its 3D console outings ranged in quality from OK to horrible. Zelda made some 2D portable attempts, but they all seemed to contain a gimmick. Here's Zelda...but with a stylus. Here's Zelda...but with a train. Here's Zelda...but you need two cartridges. Here's Zelda...but with four Links. I think Minish Cap has been the closest to a true top-down Zelda game, but Flagship developed it.

The question this creates for me is: Should Nintendo and other developers experiment on existing franchises by changing their style of gameplay, or should they use these ideas to create new intellectual properties? For example, what if Ocarina of Time had bombed? Would it have taken the Zelda franchise down with it, or would Nintendo have just gone back to putting out 2D Zelda titles? What if Nintendo decided to use a brand new IP for experimenting with their first 3D action-adventure game instead of risking the Zelda name? Would the game have been as successful or as critically acclaimed? I'm not sure, but at least we wouldn't have two sets of completely different gameplay sharing the same Zelda title.

On the opposite end, Castlevania for the Nintendo 64 was not critically acclaimed and clearly didn't benefit the franchise. However, if it was a new IP, could it have turned out better? It wouldn't have had certain restraints such as trying to force a 3D whip mechanic, which was difficult to do early on in the world of 3D development. Of course, it's also possible that it only sold because of the Castlevania title attached to it.

Maybe people like me -- who purchase every game with a certain name -- are the problem, and that's why we still get old franchise games with new gameplay instead of new IPs. I'm still of the opinion that Ocarina of Time should have been a new franchise, and Zelda should have stayed true to its roots. As for now, Ganondorf can keep her. Call me when I can fight pig Ganon, top down, with real controls. I don't want any styluses or dungeons that I have to keep going back to and repeating the same tasks I already did.

No trains either.

Or boats.