Link's Crossbow Training Preview - Preview

Wii

Link's Crossbow Training

by Zachary Miller - September 22, 2007, 11:24 pm EDT
Total comments: 41

It may be the closest we get to a Zelda FPS.

The Wii Zapper, a new accessory which will function essentially as a light gun, is going to be packed in with a new game from Nintendo EAD. Link's Crossbow Training will introduce gamers to the Zapper so that we'll all be ready for Ghost Squad and Umbrella Chronicles later this year.

Far from being a simple Duck Hunt clone, Crossbow Training looks to be a deeper title that may be a worthy game in its own right. There are three basic game styles; in "Target Shooting", you have a stationary view and are scored on your speed and accuracy at hitting the bullseye. "Defender" gives you the freedom to look around while defending things (like a supply wagon or yourself), and it seems that some of these levels will move through environments in an "on rails" fashion. "Ranger" allows Link to

move through an environment with the joystick, while you aim wherever you want and shoot

enemies as you see fit.

The game's 27 individual missions can all be played by your lonesome or in a multiplayer fashion, with a single Zapper being passed among up to four players. The goal of every mission is to earn a high score within a set time limit. Some stages will offer a free look similar to that of Metroid Prime 3 -- pointing the Zapper off-screen will result in Link turning his head. Nintendo has made it clear that Link's Crossbow Training will serve to familiarize gamers with the movement concepts that will appear in future Zapper titles like Medal of Honor Heroes 2, Ghost Squad, and Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.

The Zapper, and by association Link's Crossbow Training, will require not only a Wii Remote but also a Nunchuk. It's worth noting that you should be able to play this game and any other without the Zapper, if that is your preference, but at least for now, you will only be able to buy this game with the Zapper bundle. Link's Crossbow Training and its pack-in cargo is set to release in North America on November 19th and will be rated T for fantasy violence.

Talkback

KaironCarmine Red, Associate EditorSeptember 22, 2007

Sounds like Super Scope 3....

...

...

...

AWESOME.

EasyCureSeptember 22, 2007

I needs more moniez

NinGurl69 *hugglesSeptember 22, 2007

Wii deserves 3rd place for this.

Bill AurionSeptember 22, 2007

For awesomeness? Though I guess Ninty got 3rd place for being so awesome last gen, too...

NinGurl69 *hugglesSeptember 22, 2007

Awesome droughts.

KaironCarmine Red, Associate EditorSeptember 22, 2007

Mark my word. This will be Zelda canon.

KaironCarmine Red, Associate EditorSeptember 22, 2007

Also, Link's a righty in this one too. But the world ISN'T FLIPPED!!!

Jonnyboy117Jonathan Metts, Associate EditorSeptember 22, 2007

I'm pretty pleased, because I think this is going to be closer to a full game than any Duck Hunt sequel would have been. (And no, I don't count the "Duck Hunt" in Wii Play.)

CrimmJames Jones, Associate EditorSeptember 22, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
Mark my word. This will be Zelda canon.

God, I hope not. I'm glad Nintendo is trying to offer a "real" game with this, but I hope they release a cheaper version without it. I don't want to buy the game twice just so my buddies can play RE with me. Then again, I could probably rig up something that works just as well once I see how it is configured.

Luigi DudeSeptember 22, 2007

If the Zapper sells really well maybe we'll see a new Yoshi's Safari game in the future.

KaironCarmine Red, Associate EditorSeptember 22, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: Crimm
I'm glad Nintendo is trying to offer a "real" game with this, but I hope they release a cheaper version without it. I don't want to buy the game twice just so my buddies can play RE with me. Then again, I could probably rig up something that works just as well once I see how it is configured.

Buy a third party option. There are actually a ton of interesting third party Zapper designs, and some of them potentially even better than Nintendo's solution! I know after buying one N zapper, I'll probably buy third party zappers after that!

Quote
Originally posted by: Luigi Dude
If the Zapper sells really well maybe we'll see a new Yoshi's Safari game in the future.

OH GOD YES PLEASE!!!

Also, maybe BattleClash?

Nick DiMolaNick DiMola, Staff AlumnusSeptember 23, 2007

Wow, I'm really impressed with this. I'm glad Nintendo is cheaping out on us and giving us something worth the money. I was definitely going to purchase this even if it was crap, but now I'm actually looking forward to it.

vuduSeptember 23, 2007

Have any screenshots for this game been released yet?

mantidorSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
Also, Link's a righty in this one too. But the world ISN'T FLIPPED!!!

what!?

like if this wasn't lame enough, I demand proof of this travesty so I can hate on nintendo a bit more!

I still don't see the appeal of a plastic case that looks like submachine gun used to play a game with a crossbow anyway.

Bill AurionSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: vudu
Have any screenshots for this game been released yet?

I've seen them in Nintendo Power, looks great...(In other words, just like Twilight Princess...)

ShyGuySeptember 23, 2007

People's obsession (mine included) with Duckhunt is the dog. We already got to shoot the ducks in Wiiplay, nobody really cares. That dog has laughed at us all and we want REVENGE. I guarantee if the pack-in game was Duckhunt 2, people's first question would be, "Can I shoot the dog?"

KDR_11kSeptember 23, 2007

You know that arcade Duckhunt let you do that, right?

shammackSeptember 23, 2007

And the answer would still be no because Nintendo is terrified of the lawsuits that would result if some kid played Duck Hunt, somehow decided that the formless mass that is the Zapper is supposed to resemble a gun, found a real gun somewhere, and shot the family dog.

vuduSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: Bill Aurion
Quote
Originally posted by: vudu
Have any screenshots for this game been released yet?

I've seen them in Nintendo Power, looks great...(In other words, just like Twilight Princess...)

Which issue? I don't think I've received the new one yet.

ShyGuySeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
You know that arcade Duckhunt let you do that, right?

Really???? I need to find the arcade machine. I never played it cause I had the game at home.

NinGurl69 *hugglesSeptember 23, 2007

"I still don't see the appeal of a plastic case that looks like submachine gun"

It doesn't even look like one, making it MORE unappealing.

mantidorSeptember 23, 2007

A quick GIS showed me my ignorance in weaponry, however, it seems to be the closest gun in appearance.

NinGurl69 *hugglesSeptember 23, 2007

I think the Resident Evil grenade launcher is a more appropriate match, or a shoe horn.

DAaaMan64September 23, 2007

Gumshoe 2

steveySeptember 23, 2007

My bigger beef is crossbow=fail

It has
none of the awesomeness of firing a real bow
none of the Kaboom of firing a real gun

swords>bows>MetalGear>Explosives>guns>flaming bags of poo>sticks and stones>puppies>a crossbow

Bill AurionSeptember 23, 2007

Well a crossbow can shoot farther and faster than a standard hand-drawn arrow, so I think that's a bit more practical than your little definition of "awesomeness"... =)

KaironCarmine Red, Associate EditorSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
I still don't see the appeal of a plastic case that looks like submachine gun used to play a game with a crossbow anyway.

Oh ye of little imagination...

GoldenPhoenixSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
I still don't see the appeal of a plastic case that looks like submachine gun used to play a game with a crossbow anyway.

Oh ye of little imagination...

At least he is sane in regards to this!

SheckySeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: Luigi Dude
If the Zapper sells really well maybe we'll see a new Yoshi's Safari game in the future.

Yoshi's Safari? Kirby's an expert...

mantidorSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
I still don't see the appeal of a plastic case that looks like submachine gun used to play a game with a crossbow anyway.

Oh ye of little imagination...

but thats the point of a plastic case! that you don't have to imagine it. Oh well, at least it has the right price for once.

And I've seen some blurry scans and it seems to me its still lefty Link.

IceColdSeptember 23, 2007

I've never played Pokemon Snap, but isn't it an on-rails game?

trip1eXSeptember 23, 2007

This and the 3rd party Zapper games are my sleeper Wii hit(s) of the fall.

TMWSeptember 23, 2007

I bought the third party "Wii Blaster", which resembles a sawed off shotgun more than anything, and while it looks pretty cool, my arms got real tired, real fast when I used it to play RE4.

Hopefully Nintendo's version won't be as ergonomically backwards as this one.

mantidorSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: IceCold
I've never played Pokemon Snap, but isn't it an on-rails game?

Yes, and its awesome.

EasyCureSeptember 23, 2007

I still have some awesome Moletres stickers i haven't put on anything...

KaironCarmine Red, Associate EditorSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
Quote
Originally posted by: IceCold
I've never played Pokemon Snap, but isn't it an on-rails game?

Yes, and its awesome.

Truth.

that Baby guySeptember 23, 2007

It's been too long since I've played it.

As far as Zelda games go, I'm a little weird. I played LTTP and beat it through rentals back around when I was in second grade, maybe a little before that. A year or two later, I finally played LoZ II, and thought it was alright, but never really got too far. Later I played OoT and made it through the first dungeon, but that was it. I skipped Majora's Mask but played each of the Oracle games a little, and bought the GBA LTTP for the Four Swords part, and beat that part, but not the main game. I skipped over The Minish Cap, but I completed Four Swords Adventure, once again, skipping Wind Waker, but for this one, it was only because I didn't have time, not because of lack of interest. I never had a chance to play LA, either. Oh, and I did play LoZ, but the lack of a map, combined with an urge to explore the entire land before I do anything, along with low initial help really killed the game in minutes for me.

Now TP came out, and I never picked it up. It was the top item on my Christmas list for back home, but it was strangely skipped over, and I don't care enough about the game to go out and get it for myself. The odd part? This crossbow game might be on my hit list. I think the fact is that a normal Zelda just gets too dull for me. I always feel like the combat is mediocre and the puzzles are just tedious filler. Because of the way the overworld is set-up most of the time, with a glimpse of greater areas not yet accessible, I get frustrated by a lack of adventure and forced into a predetermined pathway in a game that is supposed to feel more open. At least with the Fours Swords games, they are openly linear and don't attempt to hide it. It's not like I haven't tried to like several titles, I just don't click with the series.

Oddly enough, I always seem to love the spin-offs, though.

KDR_11kSeptember 23, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: ShyGuy
Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
You know that arcade Duckhunt let you do that, right?

Really???? I need to find the arcade machine. I never played it cause I had the game at home.

It only works in the later rounds AFAIK. If you can't find an arcade machine there's still MAME but we don't talk about that, right?

Mario323September 24, 2007

There was a whole thread about this on IGN. a guy said this game being called Link's CROSSBOW training indicated that the next Zelda game would be a futuristic game, since Link has never had a crossbow. He talked about it for like 2 pages. Dear Lord, that is the biggest pulling outta ur arse I've ever seen.

that Baby guySeptember 24, 2007

Girl Space Pirate Link confirmed! I called it!

GoldenPhoenixSeptember 24, 2007

Quote
Originally posted by: thatguy
Girl Space Pirate Link confirmed! I called it!

More like Link vs Mario: IN SPACE. In fact I bet that will be the twist in Mario Galaxy, that Link is the final boss!

Add to the discussion!

Share + Bookmark

Wii

Game Profile

Reviews (1)
Previews (2)

Screens (6)

Genre	Shooter
Developer	Nintendo
Players	1 - 4

Worldwide Releases

Link's Crossbow Training
Release	Nov 19, 2007
Publisher	Nintendo
Rating	Teen
Link's Crossbow Training
Release	May 01, 2008
Publisher	Nintendo
Rating	All Ages
Link's Crossbow Training
Release	Dec 07, 2007
Publisher	Nintendo
Rating	12+
Link's Crossbow Training
Release	Dec 13, 2007
Publisher	Nintendo
Rating	Parental Guidance

Log in