Although The Legend of Zelda is one of many game franchises to adopt a modern game in recent titles, without a doubt it had already created a better version of this mechanic almost 25 years ago. With so many Zelda titles reworking key franchise features alongside introducing new mechanics, some games offer very different takes on similar concepts. However, it should also be noted that the most modern interpretation of any feature is not necessarily the best version that exists, even within a single series.
Many Zelda games are defined largely by their own unique mechanics, like the titular Echoes of Echoes of Wisdom. But at the same time, particularly successful mechanics, especially those not so closely tied to the story and plot of a specific game, can establish new Zelda gameplay trends for the entire series going forward. Fundamentally, Zelda Games value gameplay over story, placing the focus of development on creating an enjoyable experience for everyone. But in some cases, the constant cycle of innovation can lead to the discarding of highly functional ideas.
The bombers’ notebook was a unique mission log
It tracks the details of Majora’s Mask’s unique time loop
The central time cycle for The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask it can be complex to navigate, with the three-day cycle packed with interconnected events and stories. Happily, the Bombers Notebook helps players keep track Majora’s Maskmain events and charactersas well as your achievements. While not as detailed as more recent versions of the mission journal idea, there is one area where the Bomber’s Notebook surpasses even the Adventure Journal, which has become a new Zelda basic series after its introduction in Breath of Nature.
Notably, the Bomber’s Notebook is explicitly introduced as an in-universe itemwith a physical appearance that changes as Link fills it. It is an approach that Breath of Nature and Tears of the Kingdom came close to echoing his own adventure logs, which could be interpreted as Link keeping a diary on the Sheikah Slate or the Purah Pad, if not for the fact that the entries are written in the second person. However, Echoes of Wisdom left behind even this provisional framing deviceand its own Adventure Log is clearly just a menu feature.
In contrast, The Bomber’s Notebook feels much more like a real part of Link’s adventuremainly because it is a physical item that he obtains at the beginning of the game. It can only contain a relatively small amount of information, but this can be justified by reflecting the physical size of the notebook. Even though this is just a clever method to disguise a technical limitation, it’s a remarkably effective way of facilitating and encouraging learning more about the time loop and, by extension, further engaging with the world of Termina.
Zelda’s Modern Quest Log Isn’t Very Interesting
Adventure Log doesn’t stand out compared to other games
Although the Adventure Log of the most recent games is undeniably functional, it is also not as interesting as it could be and therefore deserves a change for the next ones Zelda title. The descriptions of each mission and any progress made toward completing them are clear, but they lack a spark of individuality that would help them feel like they come from the world they describe. Instead of, These inputs feel external to the game and subtly but undeniably break a person’s immersion every time they check their Adventure Log for any reason.
The Bombers’ Notebook, on the other hand, is packed with more physical changes made as the game progresses. While some UI elements are clearly included more for convenience than anything Link would be able to produce himself, such as the images of several important NPCs tracked through the Notebook, the stickers and seals denoting pledges and completed quests are easy to see as being added by Link himself. As a result, this version of a quest log looks like an object that Link is directly using.
Frustratingly, it should also be noted that having a relatively impersonal Adventure Journal was not even the original intention of BOTH. In truth, BOTHThe adventure log was radically changed when the game was translated into English. The original Japanese version of Breath of Nature has his quest log written by Link in the first personwhich can offer stunning insights into your personality that are entirely absent in English text. This is a disappointing change, as the Adventure Journal would have increased immersion rather than breaking it if it had stayed true to the original text.
Zelda’s Quest Log should feel like part of the adventure
Making it a real item would help integrate it into gameplay better
Functionally speaking, a quest log is essentially just a series of prompts and reminders meant to help guide a player who may have forgotten their next objective. In games with a large number of main and side quests, a quest log is a necessity to prevent the details of each from being forgotten throughout the normal game. However, just because it’s a very practical feature doesn’t mean it can’t also contribute to the game world, as Bombers’ Notebook proved.
As it stands, Adventure Log is not the only Zelda feature that probably needs work to perfect, but should be relatively easy to change. Specifically, the Bomber’s Notebook’s basic concept as an actual item that is treated like Link’s actual diary makes it a much more engaging way of presenting the usual information found in mission logs. As such, taking on the next Zelda game also uses an Adventure Log, it should be implemented like Bombers’ Notebook was.
The Bomber’s Notebook was a much more involved version of a mission log than the Adventure Journal’s current form, and the Zelda the series should revive it for its next entry. Although the Bomber’s Notebook itself is, of course, specifically linked to Majora’s Maskits core concept is still broadly applicable to any future game. The Legend of Zelda It would undoubtedly benefit from taking more inspiration from how it handled this essential gaming feature in the past, now that games are expanding to regularly require a dedicated quest log.