As other entries on this list have shown, Nintendo have developed a cunning sense of showmanship in recent years, taking to social media and Youtube with remarkable frankness and humility if something isnt received as they expect. While its unlikely Nintendos sudden shift towards cel-shading in The Wind Waker was ever going to go down well with fans, a poor choice of tech demo at their Spaceworld exhibition only added fuel to the fire. The demonstration showed a short, pre-scripted battle between Link and Ganondorf that mirrored both the combat and style of Ocarina of Time. The press were hyped, fans were excited and Nintendos warnings that this wasnt an actual product went unheeded. One year later, Link returned this time, looking more like a Saturday morning cartoon. Sneaking past Moblins with exaggerated footsteps, poking them in the rear end with his sword and goading them off cliffs, this Link behaved more like Bugs Bunny than the Hero of Time. Toon Link was perceived as Nintendo jettisoning its fan-base in favour of a younger audience. It was certainly a shocking reveal, but one that gave way to feelings of anger and betrayal. Nintendo worked hard to restore faith at the next E3, bringing a playable demo and grittily-voiced trailer to try and win back their audience. While the game ultimately reviewed and sold well, it would take ten years and an HD remake before some fans would revisit the game on its own merits.
