The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

[von bek]

Wow! Nintendo released a trailer for the newest Zelda game that will be coming out next year for the Wii U and the NX. Looks amazing! Graphic style looks like a blend of Wind Waker and Skyward Sword to me. We see Link climbing trees! We also see him using a new item, a magnet that seems to be raising things up from underwater and the ground. So many things, I won't bother listing them all.

I do have one thing I am not liking. Link is right handed in the trailer above. Now, I am a lefty and have always loved that Link was one, too. So, that is a little disappointing. Plus, it has me a little worried that this new Zelda will incorporate motion controls as the only other Zelda games where Link is right handed, the Wii version of Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, incorporate motion controls. Still, even with the above disappointment, I am incredibly excited about this new Legend of Zelda!

 

[Riverwolf]

It does look beautiful.

I am worried about Nintendo ruining the game with another gimick, though.

 

[von bek]

It does look beautiful.

I am worried about Nintendo ruining the game with another gimick, though.

So, I have been pretty busy trying to dig out more details about the game. From what I have read, Link being right handed is not because of a motion control scheme. What was said is that his sword hand was switched from left to right because the buttons used to swing the sword will be on the right... But, the sword button is always on the right side of the controller, so I can only guess they mean the right shoulder trigger will swing the sword. Still, not sure about that.

I am watching a live stream of the demo. Apparently, the higher you go in elevation the colder the temperature gets. You have to prepare yourself for entering a colder climate! Also, I see him getting on a raft to ride!

 

[von bek]

Stamina meter from Skyward Sword is back. It is used when climbing things in addition to running.

 

[von bek]

Sheika symbols everywhere...

 

[Nietzsche]

I do have one thing I am not liking. Link is right handed in the trailer above. Now, I am a lefty and have always loved that Link was one, too. So, that is a little disappointing.

If I'm not mistaken a good deal of game trailers are shown reversed.

 

[Riverwolf]

Actually, one of the things I'm seriously hoping won't be in there that most likely will be is a fast travel system.

Fast travel that's not based on some in-universe thing undermines large open worlds, IMO, because it discourages exploration. Just seeing how big this Hyrule is looking to be, and that I'm actually reminded quite heavily of Shadow of the Collossus, I wanna just explore. And yet because Nintendo primarily targets kids, and kids have a reputation for having bad attention spans (which is ENTIRELY untrue, in fact the opposite is true), a fast-travel system will almost certainly be in there.

Granted, the game still looks amazing, but I'm really worried about the final product. Nintendo is rather miopic these days, particularly when it comes to its Western non-child audiences.

 

[von bek]

If I'm not mistaken a good deal of game trailers are shown reversed.

That thought crossed my mind. Hoping that is all. If he is really right handed, please Nintendo, just let me use the Wii U gamepad to play this!

 

[von bek]

Actually, one of the things I'm seriously hoping won't be in there that most likely will be is a fast travel system.

Fast travel that's not based on some in-universe thing undermines large open worlds, IMO, because it discourages exploration. Just seeing how big this Hyrule is looking to be, and that I'm actually reminded quite heavily of Shadow of the Collossus, I wanna just explore. And yet because Nintendo primarily targets kids, and kids have a reputation for having bad attention spans (which is ENTIRELY untrue, in fact the opposite is true), a fast-travel system will almost certainly be in there.

Granted, the game still looks amazing, but I'm really worried about the final product. Nintendo is rather miopic these days, particularly when it comes to its Western non-child audiences.

Depends on how thee fast travel is incorporated. Think about the HD remake of Wind Waker. They put in a faster sail; but, it was entirely optional. In fact, I don't remember any character prompting you to go get it. You just had to show up at the Auction House and bid if you wanted it. Plus, you had warps that you could or could not use. Much like in Twilight Princess, Midna can teleport you around the map, or you could just ride to your destination. (Or walk there.)

I too want a massive overworld to explore. My hope is that the map will be so massive it will take at least hours to move around from one side to the other.

 

[Riverwolf]

Depends on how thee fast travel is incorporated. Think about the HD remake of Wind Waker. They put in a faster sail; but, it was entirely optional. In fact, I don't remember any character prompting you to go get it. You just had to show up at the Auction House and bid if you wanted it. Plus, you had warps that you could or could not use. Much like in Twilight Princess, Midna can teleport you around the map, or you could just ride to your destination. (Or walk there.)

I actually haven't played Wind Waker HD (I still have my Gamecube copy, so I don't really need it), but I actually think that's a perfect way to do it. The fast traveling in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess had limits. Only certain spots could be travelled to, they had to be manually travelled to first, and they weren't even really available until mid-to-late game.

I too want a massive overworld to explore. My hope is that the map will be so massive it will take at least hours to move around from one side to the other.

Hehe. Probably won't be that big, but it would be awesome.

It'd be more like a true sequal to the first Legend of Zelda finally.

 

[von bek]

I actually haven't played Wind Waker HD (I still have my Gamecube copy, so I don't really need it), but I actually think that's a perfect way to do it. The fast traveling in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess had limits. Only certain spots could be travelled to, they had to be manually travelled to first, and they weren't even really available until mid-to-late game.

If you have a Wii U, pick up a copy if you think you will ever play it again. Look, the Gamecube version is a 10 out of 10. The HD remake is an 11 out of 10. It does little things here and there like shorten some of the item animation such as the hook and rope to make for a better flow in gamplay. The quick sail is pretty fun to use as you speed around the ocean. Not only is it faster than the regular sail, you don't have to use music to change wind direction when it is equipped. One of its qualities is that it magically always has the wind behind it. If you are worried about the quick sail taking some elements out that you enjoy, don't be. Once you have the faster sail, you can switch between the two sails whenever you like with the push of a button.

Hehe. Probably won't be that big, but it would be awesome.

It'd be more like a true sequal to the first Legend of Zelda finally.

All sorts of timeline theories for this new game online. A lot of people think it is in the Wind Waker timeline. I am not so sure, though.

 

[von bek]

I have the same opinion about the Twilight Princess HD remake as I do for Wind Waker HD. Both are amazing upgrades on games that already were fantastic! Currently playing through Twilight Princess HD. I am in the City in the Sky at the moment. Probably my least favorite dungeon in this game.

 

[Father Heathen]

I do have one thing I am not liking. Link is right handed in the trailer above. Now, I am a lefty and have always loved that Link was one, too. So, that is a little disappointing.

As a fellow lefty I agree, and you can thank Twilight Princess and the wiimote for that. During testing they found that most people found using their right hand to make a left-handed link swing his sword to be awkward, so they made Link right-handed to accommodate.

Damned righties need to check their privilege. Fo' sho'.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

So far, my only complaint is motion control. I can't get into very many Wii games because if you ask me that is one of the dumbest ideas for games. It didn't even work well for bowling, beer pong, darts, tennis, it killed Punch-Out, and it just shouldn't go on, especially for action-based games like Zelda and Metroid.

 

[Riverwolf]

If you have a Wii U, pick up a copy if you think you will ever play it again. Look, the Gamecube version is a 10 out of 10. The HD remake is an 11 out of 10. It does little things here and there like shorten some of the item animation such as the hook and rope to make for a better flow in gamplay. The quick sail is pretty fun to use as you speed around the ocean. Not only is it faster than the regular sail, you don't have to use music to change wind direction when it is equipped. One of its qualities is that it magically always has the wind behind it. If you are worried about the quick sail taking some elements out that you enjoy, don't be. Once you have the faster sail, you can switch between the two sails whenever you like with the push of a button.

I have the same opinion about the Twilight Princess HD remake as I do for Wind Waker HD. Both are amazing upgrades on games that already were fantastic!

Eh, the updates aren't worth a full 60 bucks for me, or 120 if I wanted both of them (and the best thing they could do to Twilight Princess, IMO, would be to shorten, if not outright remove, that too bloody long tutorial segmet at the beginning that makes the game REALLY hard to revisit DX). Even if they were, I don't have that kind of money and I'm saving up for a New 3DS XL and Monster Hunter Generations.

I also haven't bought the 3D remakes of Ocarina or Majora, much for the same reasons.

My old copies still work just fine, and the games are already masterpieces. Small little updates for full-price re-releases are great for new generations who may not have access to these older versions, but not so much for me.

I bought the re-release of NiGHTS because my Saturn is missing some cords, the HD update looks GORGEROUS, it features Christmas NiGHTS, and the game is only 15 bucks. I'd pay more for a Zelda re-release on the grounds that they tend to be significantly longer, but not a whole lot more.

All sorts of timeline theories for this new game online. A lot of people think it is in the Wind Waker timeline. I am not so sure, though.

Nayru's Love, there's ALREADY talk about where this new game will fit on the Timeline??

Never change, Zelda fanbase.


(*Why yes, I did just use the name of one of Ocarina of Time's spells as a swear. Thank you Dark Link, may you someday finish Eloze. lol)

 

[Father Heathen]

Actually, one of the things I'm seriously hoping won't be in there that most likely will be is a fast travel system.

Fast travel that's not based on some in-universe thing undermines large open worlds, IMO, because it discourages exploration. Just seeing how big this Hyrule is looking to be, and that I'm actually reminded quite heavily of Shadow of the Collossus, I wanna just explore. And yet because Nintendo primarily targets kids, and kids have a reputation for having bad attention spans (which is ENTIRELY untrue, in fact the opposite is true), a fast-travel system will almost certainly be in there.

I find stuff like instant teleportation around large worlds, expedited travel, etc. to be a more recent and growing trend in games. In fact I'm of the opinion that is this one of the primary things that ruined World of Warcraft (at least for me). I too think it discourages exploration (there is no point in having a large, open world if no one has any desire to explore it.) and encourages laziness, impatience, and short attention spans. I hate that games hold peoples hand and guide them down linear paths. As a kid, one of the funnest aspects of Zelda games was discovering hidden caves with bombs or hidden staircases by burning down bushes, and finding treasure. Of course, even the early Zelda games had ways to travel large distances quickly, but you had to go through the time and effort of acquiring the ability, which was done more toward the end of the game. It didn't sidestep content or render it redundant.

 

[von bek]

So far, my only complaint is motion control. I can't get into very many Wii games because if you ask me that is one of the dumbest ideas for games. It didn't even work well for bowling, beer pong, darts, tennis, it killed Punch-Out, and it just shouldn't go on, especially for action-based games like Zelda and Metroid.

From what I am reading, it sounds like this new Zelda will not be using motion controls, at least for the sword. There may be some tablet motion controls, like when you use it to aim in Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD.

 

[Riverwolf]

So far, my only complaint is motion control. I can't get into very many Wii games because if you ask me that is one of the dumbest ideas for games. It didn't even work well for bowling, beer pong, darts, tennis, it killed Punch-Out, and it just shouldn't go on, especially for action-based games like Zelda and Metroid.

I love-hate Skyward Sword. On one hand, I love the story, the music, the art, the world, the everything about it... except for the controls, which RUIN it and basically destroy any interest in playing it again (especially given that I can get everything else from Youtube).

I do think the motion controls worked pretty well in Metroid Prime, though. I recently bought Metroid Prime Trilogy on the WiiU, and felt the motion controls for the first game felt relatively fine after a bit of a learning curve. Still, I do prefer traditional controls.

 

[von bek]

Eh, the updates aren't worth a full 60 bucks for me, or 120 if I wanted both of them (and the best thing they could do to Twilight Princess, IMO, would be to shorten, if not outright remove, that too bloody long tutorial segmet at the beginning that makes the game REALLY hard to revisit DX). Even if they were, I don't have that kind of money and I'm saving up for a New 3DS XL and Monster Hunter Generations.

I also haven't bought the 3D remakes of Ocarina or Majora, much for the same reasons.

My old copies still work just fine, and the games are already masterpieces. Small little updates for full-price re-releases are great for new generations who may not have access to these older versions, but not so much for me.

All fair points. I don't have a 3DS (weep for me!) so I have not played the remakes of Ocarina and Majora's Mask. That also means I STILL have not played Link between Worlds!

I bought the re-release of NiGHTS because my Saturn is missing some cords, the HD update looks GORGEROUS, it features Christmas NiGHTS, and the game is only 15 bucks. I'd pay more for a Zelda re-release on the grounds that they tend to be significantly longer, but not a whole lot more.

I love NiGHTS! I had the Christmas NiGHTS for it back in the day.

Nayru's Love, there's ALREADY talk about where this new game will fit on the Timeline??

Never change, Zelda fanbase.

Tears and blood are already being shed over this.

 

[Father Heathen]

So far, my only complaint is motion control. I can't get into very many Wii games because if you ask me that is one of the dumbest ideas for games. It didn't even work well for bowling, beer pong, darts, tennis, it killed Punch-Out, and it just shouldn't go on, especially for action-based games like Zelda and Metroid.

Yeah, novelties and gimmicks in general soured me toward Nintendo. All that crap started on the Gamecube. I couldn't get into Super Mario Sunshine at all, and Wind Waker is my least favorite Zelda out of them all. Twilight Princess felt too linear for me. I know that most of the Zeldas kinda are, but the earlier ones at least created the illusion of being an open world.