No, it's not too early to hype this. It's never too early to hype a Zelda game :P
Anyway, here we are. At this year's E3, Nintendo unveiled the latest instalment in the long running Legend of Zelda series, putting over four years of rampant speculation to rest. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a structural reboot of the series (meaning that while it retains continuity with the past Zelda titles in some form, it is going to be structured completely differently from past games in the franchise... meaning no more dungeon crawling), and following a rather botched up debut at E3, has slowly crept up all gamers' hype meters.
The question is, what do you think about the game? How good do you think will it be?
Right here is EVERYTHING we know about The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword!
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EVERYTHING WE KNOW
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- IT IS A STRUCTURAL REBOOT FOR THE FRANCHISE
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a structural reboot for the series. This means that while it retains continuity with the past Zelda titles in some form, it is going to be structured completely differently from past games in the franchise... meaning no more dungeon crawling, maybe, or maybe more of a focus on the action. Miyamoto and Aunouma have both independently confirmed that this game is going to shake the old formula up quite a bit, possibly in response to the criticism Twilight Princess got for being too similar to past Zelda games. - IT HAS HAD THE LONGEST DEVELOPMENT TIME FOR ANY GAME IN THE SERIES
Allegedly, conception for Skyward Sword began as early as 2004, with development starting in 2005. In either case, Skyward Sword, with a development time of over five years, would become the Zelda game that has had the longest development time for any game in the franchise, more than even Ocarina of Time, which was preceded by an intolerable four year wait following Link's Awakening. - IT USES MOTION PLUS EXCLUSIVELY
Marking the first time that a major title on the Wi that we actually care about uses the superb but mostly ignored peripheral, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword uses the Wii Motion Plus exclusively. This means that if you'd rather use the Clasic Controller or Gamecube Controller setup for this game, you'd best stay away... you're out of luck for this one. - RELEASE DATE: EARLY 2011
Yes, you heard right. During Nintendo's E3 media event, Shigeru Miyamoto stated that the Zelda team needed more time to work hard on Skyward Sword to "create a few more dungeons, and create some more challenging bosses." He said that they were in the "final stretch" and that they could "put it togetherrelatively quickly."He then announced that the release date would be sometime during 2011. In an E3 interview with GameSpot, Mr. Aonuma said that they expect Skyward Sword to be released pretty early on in 2011. - IT'S 'MOVING ART'
Originally Aonuma had intended to reuse Twilight Princess's graphics, but Miyamoto upended the tea table early on and demanded they try something new. Miyamoto himself was a huge fan of The Wind Waker's cel-shaded artstyIe and was apparently so enthused with the proposal of an Impressionistic styIe for Skyward Sword that the approval process took but a single step. Described as a "moving painting,"Skyward Sword introduces an entirely new art direction to the Zelda franchise. But don't be too quick to judge–they still may polish the graphics slightly before the game's release. - TRUE 1:1 CONTROL... FINALLY
At one point in development Aonuma had decided 1:1 sword battle with Wii MotionPlus wasn't really working and had Zelda Team remove that feature.Miyamoto was an advocate for 1:1 swordplay and asked the director forWii Sports Resort to convince Aonuma that 1-to-1 motion control was the right way to go. Since then, 1-to-1 motion has beenre-addedto Skyward Sword, and all of the new and old items in Link's arsenal have received MotionPlus control upgrades, enabling players to use them as if they were the real thing. Specifically the bow, which is held more like a real bow rather than pointing and firing. - INDIANA LINK
When work on Spirit Tracks ended, some of the team who worked with Aonuma on that handheld title moved over to join him on Skyward Sword, and as a result the Whip weapon was brought over as well. It seems to work identically to the Spirit Track version with the ability to hit enemies, retrieve items, and swing Link over pits and otherobstacles. - ACCESSING THE INVENTORY IS EASIER THAN EVER
The Wii controller acts as a mouse which you use to select your item by pressing "B" and selecting the item from the circle of items, called the Item Pocket. Rather than having to point and click, you simply move the Wii controller to the general area on your body corresponding with the inventory circle. - NUNCHUK=SHIELD
Apparently, the ninjas were wrong about this one.While the Nunchuck does control Link, thanks to the addition of Wii MotionPlus, now you can thrust forward with it causing the shield to bounce projectiles back towards enemies. You can also shield bash enemies with this technique. - CHARGE BEAM!
Making a return to consoleZelda not seen since A Link to the Past, the sword beam returns! This idea came from a desire to streamline the gameplayand avoid button presses, and also from an iconic image Miyamoto had in his head of Link holding his sword high above his head while riding Epona. - THE SKYWARD SWORD IS A TREASURE DETECTOR
While he wouldn't go into specifics, Aonuma dropped the bomb that somehow we can use the Skyward Sword to find treasure. Whether the blade glows brighter and brighter the closer we get, or the personification girl says "cold, colder, warm, warmer! Hot! Dun dun dun dun!" remains to be seen. - ORCHESTRAL MUSIC FOR THE WIN!
Seeming to answer the outcry of fans, Skyward Sword will feature orchestral music rather than the MIDI and sampled instrument fare we've experienced before. Miyamoto felt that after Super Mario Galaxy introducing orchestral music in a Nintendo franchise, Zelda would have to follow suit. - USE ITEMS WHILE RUNNING, NO NEED TO PAUSE THE GAME ANYMORE!
Also in effort to streamline the gameplay, Mr. Aonuma made sure that using items such as potions could be done without Link having to stop. He feels this is much more natural and keeps the energetic pace of the adventuresome Skyward Sword. - HYRULE'S CHANGED A LOT
While many thought it was simply a "sandbox" created for the E3 demo and trailer, Aonuma explained that it was an actual section of the final game, but would be changed around a bit and that the bosses and some other enemies seen there would be in different places within the final game. - LINK OF THE COLOSSUS
Link can finally run! And without the need for Pegasus Boots, it would seem! Also, when you are close to a wall with a ledge within your reach, you will be able to run and jump up it, rather than slowly pull yourself up like in past games. This change is also due to Aonuma wanting Skyward Sword to have a quicker, more action-packed pace. However, you can't make Link just run forever, because… - WATCH OUT, OR YOU'LL FALL RIGHT OFF!
If you liked all of the vine-climbing in Twilight Princess, don't get used to the way it works – in Skyward Sword, Link no longer has the ability to endlessly cling to vines and walls. As Link climbs onto vines, a circular meter appears showing Link's remaining strength. After the meter runs out, Link will lose his grip on the vines and plummet to the ground. This applies to any of Link's usual tricks that consume a bunch of stamina. In the final game, this may not be limited to just running and climbing. - THE BEETLE IS AWESOME
Sure to be a reappearing item in future Zelda games, the adorable Beetle item is introduced in Skyward Sword. Similar to the Hyoi Pear/Seagull combo in The Wind Wakerand the blade of grass/falcon combo in Twilight Princess, Link now will have the ability to send a Beetle off to unseen areas and heights as a scout and as a way of retrieving items and activating switches. Controlling the Beetle takes advantage of Wii MotionPlus with easy-to-use, accurate control. - NO MORE DUNGEONS?
The structure of modern Zelda games has become a bit predictable, and to break out of that, Aonuma promises that the structure has been shaken up quite a bit. There will be field areas that operate like dungeons with puzzles and bosses and such, and there will be dungeons where you go in and you lose your swordand you have to flee from the enemies and solve puzzles. - NO VOICE ACTING, AMIGOS
Sorry, voice acting fans. Aonuma confirmed that there will be no voice acting in Skyward Sword. He feels that since Link has always been (and will always be) "silent" (to us, not to the in-game characters) it would create a strange combination if we never heard Link speak, but we could hear others speaking to Link. - A SKYWARD JOURNEY
Skyward Sword's story is among the most intriguing of any Zelda game ever produced. Link begins his journey as a young boy living in a floating land high above the clouds called Skyloft.Unbeknownstto Link, and everyone else living in Skyloft, there is a land below the clouds ruled by evil forces – also known asHyrule. The Skyward Sword, which Link finds in Skyloft, calls him to plunge below the clouds – that's the scene were Link jumps off the cliff in the trailer – in order to vanquish the evil forces inhabiting Hyrule. Which brings us to our next point... - DON'T HIT ON THE SKYWARD SWORD...
Yes, it's true! Many speculated that the woman in the concept art was the personification of the Master Sword (see our point below for information about that), and it has been confirmed that she is the physical form of the Skyward Sword, which Link retrieves in Skyloft. She will accompany Link on his journey "searching for a lost or valuable friend." - ...BECAUSE SHE IS ACTUALLY THE MASTER SWORD!
The Skyward Sword is the Master Sword, and at some point during the game it will make the full transition. We don't know how this will happen, or if it will simplyreceivea new name instead of a physical transformation. But for those of you speculating that the woman in the concept art was the spirit or incarnation of the Master Sword, you were indeed correct! - NO KIDDING, ZELDA MAKES AN APPEARANCE... IN A GAME TITLED THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
But she is definitely not the personification of the Master Sword. Aonuma was quick to clarify that. He joked that the series is named after her, so she would have to make an appearance. - IT'S A PREQUEL TO OCARINA OF TIME
Being that we knew right from the get-go that Skyward Sword was about the origin of the Master Sword, this seemed obvious, but to abate any possible timeline confusion, Aonuma made it clear that this game absolutely takes place before Ocarina of Time... which brings us to... - NO GANON? DON'T BE SO SURE
Rather than simply replying: "How could he be in this game? It takes place prior to his first appearance in Ocarina of Time." Mr. Aonuma would only say that he had no comment on whether or not Ganon would be in Skyward Sword. We will just have to wait and see...
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STORY
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As per comments by Aunouma and Miyamoto, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a prequel to Ocarina of Time. This means that if we ignore the Four Swords Trilogy (the placement of which in the timeline is disputed anyway), this is the earliest Zelda game in the chronology.
Skyward Sword follows the adventures of a young adult named Link, who lives atop a floating kingdom in the skies, Skyloft. The land below, Hyrule, is heavily corrupted, and overrun by evil. Sometime in the story, Link takes it upon himself to save the land below.
The girl in the concept art has been confirmed to be the titular Skyward Sword. We also know that the game hinges upon the Skyward Sword's tranformation into the Master Sword of Zelda lore.
Finally, we are also told that the scene showing Link jumping off a cliff in the trailers is a crucial plot point in the game.
MORE TO COME!
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SCREENSHOTS
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(The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Concept Art Released E3 2009)
(Screenshots from the E3 2010 Demo Build)
MORE TO COME!
Please note that the game is a work in progress and the screens maynot be representative of the final product.
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VIDEOS
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First Look
Extended Trailer
In Depth Preview 1
MORE TO COME!
Please note that the game is a work in progress and the videos may not be representative of the final product.
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PREVIEWS AND REVIEW
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IGN First Impressions (E3 2010)
IGN Hands On (Gamescon 2010)
Gamespot First Impressions (E3 2010)
Gamespot Hands On (Gamescon 2010)
Joystiq's Hand On At E3 2010
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Hands On: Eurogamer
MORE TO COME!
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THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD
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PLATFORM: Wii+Motion Plus
RELEASE DATE: Q1 2011
CONTROL INPUT: Wii Remote and Nunchuk with Motion Plus Peripheral
DEVELOPER: Nintendo EAD
PUBLISHER: Nintendo
A major portion of the text in this post was copied directly off Zelda Universe. Follow the link to see the original webpage, and the source. All other media is as credited.
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