The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 2?

[Kriven]

I mean a gameplay gimmick. Zelda didn't get that until Wind Waker, really (Though Majora really skirted the line). Mario didn't start it until Sunshine, but it's not being sucked in as badly as Zelda.

I want to explore a dungeon and beat a boss, not drive a train, or doodle on my screen, or be a wolf, or switch to 2D mode to crawl along walls.

Super Mario Bros. Franchise Gimmicks:

Super Mario Bros. - Advanced physics engine for the time and sidescrolling levels which had previously only been seen in space shooters.

Super Mario Bros. 3 - Ridiculous number of power-ups to suit any occasion. Most notably it introduced Mario's ability to fly, changing the left-to-right exploration to an all-directional exploration.

Super Mario World - Introduced Yoshi to the franchise, giving Mario new "pet" mechanics. Also introduced the feather as a primary gimmick, which provided greater aerial exploration and use than the raccoon suit had.

Super Mario RPG - First RPG...

Super Mario 64 - It's in 3D!

Paper Mario - A unique game influenced by the previous RPG title which utilizes the idea that Mario is made of paper. The entire game is a gimmick.

Super Mario Sunshine - F.L.U.D.D., primarily.

Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door - Mario's paper body can now assume paper forms.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - Mario and Luigi act as brothers to clear obstacles.

New Super Mario Bros. - A mario sidescroller in 3D. Also added the wall-jump, ground pound, and triple jump to a 2D environment.

Super Mario Galaxy - Marios in space!

Super Paper Mario - Mario can switch perspectives between 2D and 3D.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii - Cooperative play for up to four players.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 - Gold everywhere.

New Super Mario Bros. U - Fifth player can create platforms.

Gimmicks have been with Mario for ages, and I only named the obvious ones. There's all kinds of other things, like the wall ramps in Super Mario World.

Now, I'm a lot less versed in Zelda, but...


Legend of Zelda - Complete and total freedom of world exploration and dungeon order.

Zelda II - Attempted that whole 2D thing.

---knows almost nothing about ALttP and LA---

Ocarina of Time - Riding Epona, using the magical instrument to manipulate the environment

Majora's Mask - Masks everywhere.

Oracle Twins - Interconnected gameplay

Minish Cap - ...The Minish Cap

Twilight Princess - Wolf

Four Swords - Four Links

Spirit Tracks - Driving a train (which is awesomely fun)


I skipped a few, but each one has a gimmick. It seems like the older ones are free of gimmicks because those gimmicks have become such a heavy part of the gameplay and norm for the franchise, but they were gimmicks when they were first used and designed.

Franchises which fail to add something new to the gameplay with each sequel grow stale very quickly and should probably evaluate why there was a sequel at all.