Zelda News

[ShadowMarth]

Nintelligent.net has put together a nice article regarding the newest Zelda game. Though it doesn't deliver anything especially new, it is quite good.


The scene is Spaceworld 2000. Nintendo unveils the GameCube console and shows a multitude of tech-demos showcasing the power of its then next-generation machine. Among the footage is a brief duel between Link, the popular hero of the Legend of Zelda series, and his foe Ganondorf. This duel is presented in a highly detailed, realistic graphical style, and Nintendo fans throughout the world stared eagerly with anticipation. THIS is how the next generation of Zelda games will be, they thought.

But it was not to be—not quite yet, for Nintendo would take a much-criticized detour into the land of cel-shading a year later, re-emerging with a Zelda title uniquely its own. That game would end up being released as Zelda: the Wind Waker in 2003, and the scrawny, giant-eyed Link traversing a world of simple colors, very animated locales, and rather squatty creatures didn’t go over too well with some fans. Most just accepted the art style and others let the charming visuals grow on them. But for the small sector of haters, it was time to protest all they could, complaining to Nintendo through e-mails, letters, and message boards—whatever they could find to show their unease.

And Nintendo, acting like the customer-friendly company they claim to be, listened. The end result? A Zelda title that pushes the GameCube to new levels, with beautiful “mature” graphics, an older, tougher hero, and a darker storyline and tone. Continuing his role as director of the franchise (starting with the N64‘s Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask), Eiji Aonuma is promising the biggest, baddest, Zelda adventure yet, and many new additions to the classic Zelda gameplay look to continue this series’ top-notch pedigree. (Let’s just forget about those CD-i games, okay?)



Not much is being divulged about Twilight Princess’ storyline at the moment, but we do have a good idea of Link’s roots in this game, which has been said to be chronologically placed after the events in Ocarina of Time and before The Wind Waker. Whereas in most previous Zelda titles, Link was a special youth awakened to his destiny, Twilight has our hero starting his quest as just another villager in his hometown of Toaru Village. Well, not just any old villager, but a wrangler in the serene ranching community, herding the livestock and corralling horses like any good cowboy would do. In the absence of a village leader to attend a local summit, Link is sent in as the representative. But soon after heading out, Toaru Village is attacked by the usual mysterious fiend, leaving villagers killed and one girl captured. Being the noble do-gooder he is, Link grabs his horse Epona and sets out on his quest.

Ever-present throughout the journey is the Twilight Realm, a monochromatic alternate Hyrule that threatens to envelope the land. When Link is pulled through to the Twilight Realm, he is transfigured into a wolf. While in this form, Link is captured, and during the time he is imprisoned, an odd-looking little imp named Midna jumps aboard the lupine Link and rides to freedom, her cel-shaded bandana flapping in the wind. Players will be able to control Link in the Twilight, and combating enemies will be conducted differently than usual in a Zelda game. Link will zip around attacking the various enemies, and Midna plays some sort of role in combat as well, though details are notoriously hard to come by.



What we do know, however, is that the rest of the game will play similar to previous 3D incarnations, with dungeons aplenty. Capitalizing on an apparent affinity with animals, Link can use monkeys, cats, and other beasts to help him with dungeon puzzles and other tasks. Link will be able to swim, but he will also have a canoe ready for any long-term water travel. If the player needs a break from the entire world saving, the fishing mini-game from Ocarina of Time will be making a return.

Classic weapons such as the hookshot and the bow will still be featured, but new items will be introduced as well. At this time, the only new item unveiled is a next-gen upgrade of the ever-popular boomerang, pumped up with the power of wind and renamed the gale boomerang. Link can target multiple fiends or environment objects and let the gale boomerang frantically zigzag across the room hitting the targets. Some weapons can even be combined—such as bombs and the bow and arrow—to create more powerful tools—in this case bomb arrows.



Also important is the newly added focus on equestrian activities. From horseback riding across the vast lands of Hyrule (which Aonuma has promised will be many times larger than Hyrule Field from Ocarina of Time) to the much-hyped horseback combat, Link’s trusty steed will be extremely fundamental to gameplay. Most exciting about horseback combat is the Lord-of-the-Rings-esque battle scenes shown in trailer footage. In such footage, Link is shown fighting off multiple equally mobile enemies in a flurry of bombs, flaming arrows, and melee sword clashing. Some battles will even involve jousting-style battles against armored enemies riding atop gruesomely detailed boars.

Speaking of detailed creatures, the graphics of Twilight Princess will not cease to amaze. Lush forests will be full of trees and elegant lighting, streams and lakes will be filled with extremely lifelike water, and lanterns will cast an orange glow into a darkened cavern. Using a style described as “manga-like” by the development team, characters will be realistically proportioned, yet still retain the anime look found in many Japanese titles. Far from the super-saturated, vibrant colors of The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess’ palette will be fairly muted, using earth tones and rather de-saturated colors to paint the world. The little details inserted into the character designs and the world as a whole will only further serve to immerse players into its world. Miniature Triforce symbols are engraved into Zelda’s earrings; Link’s own pair of earrings can be seen in detail, even in wolf form. Hell, even the button map on the screen is ornately detailed!



But visuals aren’t the only area getting an upgrade. For the first time in the history of the series, Twilight Princess will feature a fully orchestral score. Granted, there will still be a few MIDI tracks, but gone are the days of simple MIDIs filling Zelda’s of the past. Matching the epic scale of the game, this score will be produced by legendary (no pun intended) Zelda composer Koji Kondo. As exciting as all this aural augmentation is, Nintendo continues to give modern videogames the cold shoulder by stating that voice-overs will not be used in Twilight Princess. This is not a new standard for Zelda games, but disappointing for many, to say the least, who criticize Nintendo’s reasoning that voice would “ruin the connection players have with the characters”.

Charting a path into new territory for the series, yet maintaining everything that makes this series so much fun to play, Aonuma and crew look to have another masterpiece on their hands. With a brilliant new style and a seemingly deeper storyline, Twilight promises not to disappoint. In an ironic twist of fate, the subtitle will take on double meaning, as Twilight Princess is already being dubbed “the GameCube’s swan song”. With such ambition driving the game and the series’ brilliant track record, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is definitely not a bad way to close out the generation. The holiday season can’t come soon enough.

whoa what the heck is that orange thing coming out of that wolf? :?

[Sepharite]

That wolf is Link and if you look closely, you can see me sitting on top of him. =)

yea i knew he was link, but that orange thing confuzzled me

What? The orange-hand thing?

[ShadowMarth]

It's like the minish cap, except demonic-insanity-inducingly fun-nesss.

The creature that wolf Link is growling at looks like Predator...

[ShadowMarth]

I know, what with the dreads and all. Looks nasty.

[bignds]

oh this just makes me want to go to the Allstars tour even more.