I feel that each Zelda game has a formula for items. Each new game takes the basic items previously known throughout the franchise (e.g. Bow, Arrows, Bombs, etc) which is roughly 50% of the items, plus a few familiar items (e.g. Hookshot) which is roughly another 25%, but then they always introduce a few new items; roughly the other 25%. I'm probably not very accurate in that statement, but I am to a point; It's all about the balance of useful and familiar items with new items that bring something tasty and deliciously fresh to the table. (excuse my weird language, I'm a bit hungry atm)
I had a VERY long document containing a list of items for my next planned Zelda game (after Spirit's Quest). I've taken all the descriptive stuff out and a few items (as some items would spoil SQ), but here is what I came up with for my game. Notice the combination of familiar items with new items:
<<< ITEM LIST >>>
Main Items
BOW & ARROWS (5 Count)
- Hero’s Bow
--- Ice Arrows
--- Fire Arrows
--- Light Arrows
--- Bomb Arrows
BOOMERANG (2 Count)
- Boomerang
- Dual Boomerang (Pretty much just 2 boomerangs)
BOMBS (2 Count)
- Bombs
- Super Bombs
FLASH BEANS (A merge between magic beans and deku nuts: These may be thrown to create a bright stunning flash, but they may also be planted in certain soils and watered for INSTANT plant growth)
STAFF OF KALISTA (A rod that creates ice blocks, but beware that these blocks will melt in hot places!)
OCARINA OF WINDS
HOOK SHOT
SHADOW CLOAK (Link may make himself invisible to the human eye. Beasts are not so easily fooled; they can smell you stupid!)
VULDRED’S CLAWS (2 Count)
(Note: A "Vuldred" was planned to be an evolved version of a "Vuldra" which is a bird-like mole beast (yes, very odd and ugly))
- Vuldred’s Claws (Allows Link to dig holes to search for buried treasures as well as burrow beneath very soft soils)
- King Vuldred’s Claws (Allows Link to do the above as well as scale certain walls)
BOTTLES (4 Count)
Secondary Items
SWORDS & SHIELDS
HERO’S TUNIC
FIRE TUNIC
WATER TUNIC
POWER GAUNTLETS
HOVER BOOTS
QUIVERS
BOMB BAGS
RUPEE BAGS
Temporary Items
STORY/MISC:
- Blacksmith's Key (Sequence A, Item 01/01)
- (Insert more items here)
- Key of Thieves (Ending item)
TRADING SEQUENCE
- Mushroom (Sequence A, Item 01/??)
- Meat (Sequence A, Item 02/??)
- (Insert more items here)
- Magic Gem (Ending item)
Special Items
QUEST COLLECTION A (4 Count)
- Blade of Light Piece (1)
- Blade of Light Piece (2)
- Blade of Light Piece (3)
- Blade of Light Piece (4)
QUEST COLLECTION B (3 Count)
- Triforce of Courage
- Triforce of Wisdom
- Triforce of Power
HEART CONTAINERS
MAGIC CONTAINERS
<<< MORE ITEMS >>>
Wind Tablets/Wind Songs (12 Count)
- Song of Memories - Brings you to Koro Village.
- Fairy Song - Brings you to Lost Woods.
- Zelda's Lullaby - Brings you to Hyrule Castle entrance. Used for Hyrulian Seals and other secrets.
- Song of Heights - Brings you to Death Mountain.
- Song of Frost - Brings you to Frozen Peak.
- Ghost's Melody - Brings you to Haunted Forest.
- Song of Sands - Brings you to Gerudo Desert.
- Song of Guards - Brings you to Gerudo Fortress.
- Song of Seas - Brings you to Kuno Beach.
- Scarecrow's Song - Awakens scarecrows up from their dirt patches.
- Lycia's Song - Brings you to Imel.
- Song of Secrets - Does many secret things. In a certain place it will bring you to a secret land.
Bottle Items (10 Count)
- Water - Dump it on stuff, like plants. Fill up the dry well all the way for a secret item! (<-- example of brainstorming for item usage ideas)
- Poe - Maybe some "strange person" wants this...
- Milk - Heals a little life.
- Firefly - Use to light up dark places.
- Red Chu Jelly - Heals Link well.
- Green Chu Jelly - Replenishes some MP.
- Blue Chu Jelly - Replenishes all HP.
- Yellow Chu Jelly - Replenishes all MP.
- White Chu Jelly - Replenishes all HP and MP.
- Black Chu Jelly - Does one of the above, but may also hurt Link.
Refills/Other (8 Count)
- Rupees - Money to buy items, keys, weapons, bribe people, you name it.
(Green 1, Blue 5, Yellow 10, Red 20, Purple 50, Orange 100, Silver 200, Clear/Glows 500)
- Small Heart - Refills your life a little.
- Group of Hearts - Refills your life quite well.
- Magic Essence - Refills your magic a little.
- Magic Jar - Refills your magic quite well.
- Arrows - In packs of 5, 10, 25 and 50.
- Bombs - Single or in packs of 5, 10, and 25.
- Flash Bean - Use to blind enemies, also to grow plants in special soil or special water.
<<< CURRENTLY REJECTED ITEMS >>>
Hammer/Goron's Hammer - Pound, smash, break and create destructive shockwaves... Fun!
Bomb-chu - Moving bombs that climb walls! (Bomb arrows can be used in place of these, kind of)
Mirror Shield - Reflect light and pretty much all magic attacks.
(Have Alt.) Shovel - Dig for goodies!
(Also took out dark magic arrows)
Long Range Bow (I have a "power" feature, so it isn't necessary)
Graveyard Key - The key to the graveyard.
Goron's Key - The key to the Fire Temple.
Pirate's Key - Use on the doors of Gerudo Fortress.
Royal Key - Use in castles... you may be surprised.
Sorry if it's a bit messy with my personal notes that may confuse. I had to take a lot out and modify it a bit to make it readable on here since it didn't transfer well from my pretty document.
Feel free to use any item ideas in there that sound good. Anyway, I just wanted to be sure that you guys were planning on adding a few TOTALLY NEW items. When choosing items, keep in mind the possible uses. The key is to find a small amount of items that have vast uses that will allow for an epic adventure. Gimmicky items are a hassle; they are not fun and they have limited uses. An example of this, in my opinion, is the rod from TP. I didn't like the rod at all; it wasn't a fun item, and it wasn't even that useful. But, I'm sure there are people that disagree, which is fine. But it's still good to make sure items aren't forced into the game just because they are "cool" items or something.
What I did is I brainstormed for each and every item on what all the possible uses and functions (I took this out of the above list to avoid info overkill ^_^). The items that seemed shallow in those areas were often rejected, or maybe one item was too much alike another item, so I would go and compare my thoughts on each item's functionality and I could decide which to keep or throw away.
Just some of my thoughts. I hope I helped in some way and I wish the KoT project the best! ^_- !
P.S. Sorry this is so long. The use of spoilers made the information get all messy and I didn't see any other way to post all of it. ... don't hit me please! D: