Topic: Question about free-look mode on Wii version of Zelda TLP!

[Gamebasher]

I am two days away from making the decision if to buy a Wii, and play Zelda TLP on that with that version (having originally decided to wait up on buying that machine until Metroid Prime 3 is released later this year), or, play it on my GameCube with that version of the same game.

The outcome of my decision depends on whether any of the Forum members here can help to unravel a mystery which Matt Cassamassina has seemingly created in his review of said game. Somewhere in the review of the Wii version of Zelda: TLP I recall that he stated that one cannot go into free-look mode in that version of the game for some reason, and which he found regrettable (they are comparing the two versions on Insider.com which is where I read it), but this is instead possible on the GameCube version of same.

The bottomline is that to me it is important that I am able to look-around in first person view, so I can see Hyrule in all its 360 degree majestic beauty, and survey the environment for strategic reasons too. So has any of you been NOT able to enter free-look mode on the Wii version of the game?  

[couchmonkey]

You can definitely look around, what Matt C. is referring to is the ability to control the camera while running around with the GameCube C-Stick, as in The Wind Waker.  It is a disappointing loss, but I was pleased enough with the other improvements to overlook it.

[NeoThunder]

in my opinion, when you have to always mess with camera control cause the ingame engine doesn't take care of it for you, it's a hassle.

Wii zelda is just like N64 zelda.

The camera didn't bother me at all when I was playing TP.  Cube and Wii are the same with that C-stick exception.  I must say I never really messed with it in wind waker.  If camera was really that bad on Wii, someone would have said so by now, but everyone loves the Wii version, cause it's awesome....even without C-stick camera

[Gamebasher]

Ok, thanks!

I will probably just play the GameCube version then, as it seems to become too disorienting to be unable to look around while being attacked from, say, multiple directions. Seems easier to be able to quickly peek around in an attack situation, and then lock-on to the nearest attacker, and take him out, and go from there onwards. The lack of free-hand control for aiming I can live with, since that was something we all got used to with the GameCube controller anyways. I guess playing through both versions is something I will have to wait for until Metroid Prime 3 is released. Then, I can buy Wii Zelda as well and use that as an opportunity to play through the game again.

Thanks again for the quick reply!  

[KDR_11k]

You don't need to look around when fighting but looking around to see if there are hidden things or to line the camera up with a jump you're going to do is helpful. It's annoying that it lacks the free zoom of Wind Waker though, you pretty much have to go into first person to see anything higher or lower than you are. The lack of quick aiming gets annoying too since you often encounter enemies that snipe you and while they don't do much damage they throw you out of aiming mode when they hit so you have to aim and fire in the time between two of their shots and they shoot pretty fast. Can't lock on at more than ~10 metres. Your best bet is to get behind cover since the spot they aim for is lower than the spot where you fire your bow.

[couchmonkey]

Hey KDR, I thought you were going to buy the GC version specifically because of this?

[Bill Aurion]

TP does a much better job of a fixed camera than OoT did (understandably so), and I never once missed the free camera of Wind Waker...The free aiming in TP is definitely worth it...

[KDR_11k]

Hey KDR, I thought you were going to buy the GC version specifically because of this?

I did, that's what I'm talking about here.

[IceCold]

As couch said, you can certainly go into freelook mode - it's even better with the pointing functionality. I didn't miss the free camera much - the Wii features more than make up for it.

[Ian Sane]

"what Matt C. is referring to is the ability to control the camera while running around with the GameCube C-Stick, as in The Wind Waker."

I've got the Cube version and I honestly don't use this very much at all.  I tend to use z-targetting to move the camera behind me due to force of a habit anyway or I switch to first person view.  The freelook isn't nearly as flexible as it was in Wind Waker anyway.  So it alone isn't really the reason to pick up the Cube version.  I got the Cube version mostly because I didn't want to buy a new console for a game I can play on hardware I already have, for the "unflipped world", and for traditional controls.

I wouldn't get a Wii just for Zelda though if you originally were planning on getting the Wii when Metroid Prime 3 comes out.  Why go through the hassle of trying to find a Wii to play a game that you don't seem to mind playing on the Cube?

[Adrock]

Then again, you wouldn't really be buying a new console for Zelda only. I bought a Wii because I could (it was there for the taking, no hunting) and I know I was going to get one.

[LuigiHann]

Quote
Originally posted by: GamebasherSeems easier to be able to quickly peek around in an attack situation, and then lock-on to the nearest attacker, and take him out, and go from there onwards.

If you just tap Z, it automatically locks on to the nearest attacker. Not a bad system at all.
The only time I ever had a problem was when I was too close to a Peahat (a flying, targetable, non-attacker) which would I would lock onto when I just wanted to look forward without targeting. That situation could hypothetically occur in the GC version as well, although the c-stick would make it less of an issue, since you'd have an alternate way to look forward.

[KDR_11k]

I tend to use z-targetting to move the camera behind me due to force of a habit anyway or I switch to first person view.

Since my first 3d console was the GC I'm used to being able to look around by moving the camera, I don't z-target when there are no enemies and I don't use the first person view until multiple attempts at making the camera show what I want failed.

[EasyCure]

im not complaining about the lack of free camera control in t he Wii version of TP but they could of easily implimented it if they wanted too..

while working at the nintendo world store i had to try out a bunch of games i wouldnt normally play, and before my time there was up one of the newer games they put out to demo was The Ant Bully. Its very zelda-esque actually in its control scheme so i actually tried to z-target for camera control but that didnt work... turns out you can rotate the camera around your character simply by twisting the nunchuk left/right (like a doornob). i was impressed when i discovered that little feature because i never would of thought tilting of the controller could be used for camera control. my first question was: why doesnt zelda use this?

i was fine with camera controls the way they were (because if it was good enough for OOt and MM its good enough for TP, hardly ever used the c-stick in WW) but i knew alot of people had grips with it. i couldnt help but think nintendo themselves could of worked with this originally but couldnt then i thought of the spin attack. would they have been able to keep that (and the sheild bash) programmed to the nunchuck if camera was controlled by it too? or would we have alot of accidental spin attacks when trying to move the camera around (or vice versa)?

[mantidor]

yeah its not that important, but there were a couple of jumping parts where I notice it would be really annoying to not have the camera. What really disappointed me was that because of this lack of 3D camera the "eye" feature that was so nice in tWW was little if ever used in TP, since in the wii version you can't see Link's face easily, I hope for the next Zelda they implement the camera somehow.

[KDR_11k]

You can see where Link turns his head, though. Mostly because of his funny hat.

[Pale]

Maybe this is the tread in which we'll figure out which version is better!

:rollseyes:

[LuigiHann]

Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
yeah its not that important, but there were a couple of jumping parts where I notice it would be really annoying to not have the camera. What really disappointed me was that because of this lack of 3D camera the "eye" feature that was so nice in tWW was little if ever used in TP, since in the wii version you can't see Link's face easily, I hope for the next Zelda they implement the camera somehow.

That's partially a camera issue, but also an art style issue. It's much easier to see what Link is looking at when his eyes are the size of basketballs.  

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

I loved Wind Waker's and SMS's camera.  Because I have knack for these 3D wacko view stuffs, I could give myself optimum angles for combat and aesthetic gameplay presentation.

I also liked making the camera spin around the boat forever at high speeds in WW.  Just hold the c-stick left or right and MAKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM VOMMIT!  TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT.

[MarioAllStar]

I really did enjoy the camera in Wind Waker. (I too did camera tricks to keep myself interested while sailing.) I learned to live without it in Twilight Princess, but I did miss it a little bit.

[IceCold]

Quote
I also liked making the camera spin around the boat forever at high speeds in WW. Just hold the c-stick left or right and MAKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM VOMMIT! TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT.

Ha, I used to tap the stick in tune with the music..