The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an oddity in Nintendo's storied history with an even stranger backstory. During the early 2000s, many Zelda fans were hoping to see the series adopt realistic visuals and open worlds like many other games of the era. Furthermore, gamers wanted a proper follow-up to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. However, Nintendo intended to steer the series in a different direction with The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, which featured cartoony character designs, a cel-shaded art style, and an aquatic setting that radically differed from the worlds of past entries. Despite receiving a glowing critical reception, Wind Waker was divisive among fans for not being the gritty Zelda game they expected. This mixed response influenced its disappointing sales, leading Nintendo to focus on giving fans exactly what they asked for with the next installment, Twilight Princess.
Source：https://www.cbr.com/zelda-twilight-princess-problematic-fan-demand/
