A new era is on the horizon for with the rapidly approaching release of . The next title is a departure from its immediate predecessors in many ways, making it evident that the franchise is now exploring a new direction.
As such, although it is clear that has created new traditions that have been carried forward into, the many differences between the new title and the preceding and which may themselves influence future titles, are the most intriguing aspects of the game.
There have been many points throughout history where the franchise has evolved to incorporate new technologies, such as the introduction of 3D graphics in or motion controls in.
Changes in direction can also help to prevent a franchise from becoming stale, and after, it could be argued that such a change is precisely what the franchise needs to remain fresh.
is a perfect game in this respect, making sweeping changes to much of the standard structure while staying true to its heart.