Topic: IMPRESSIONS: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

[NWR_Neal]

Legend of Zelda meets Wii Sports Resort.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23285

 Following Nintendo's E3 2010 press conference, I got a chance to play the latest Legend of Zelda game, subtitled Skyward Sword. The graphical presentation, which isn't final, reminded me of a cross between Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. It's rough, but the watercolor presentation is nice. Unfortunately, the watercolor presentation is not final, and the graphics presented at E3 2010 are merely a rough draft.    

The sword controls like the sword in Wii Sports Resort, and it uses MotionPlus. You move it around in 1-to-1 movements, and a lot of the enemies are defeated by slashing the sword in specific directions. There were Deku Babas that had to be sliced horizontally or vertically, and a Stalfos that wielded two swords that you had to attack when there was an opening.    

   

You can also perform a spin attack by doing what the representative referred to as a "dance move." You basically cross the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. It sounds weird, but it works well. You can perform other similar moves as well.    

Link also wields a shield, which is controlled by the Nunchuk. You raise it to defend, and thrust it forward to deflect projectiles from enemies, such as Deku Scrubs that fire off seeds at you. You have to time the thrust to deflect it back at them.    

There's also a cadre of weapons to wield. The bow is basically archery from Wii Sports Resort, and despite the interference that ruined it during the press conference, it worked just as well as it does in Resort. The bombs also feature a Resort influence, as you can bowl them towards enemies or obstacles. Conversely, you can lob them. I had trouble getting the game to differentiate between the two in my playtime. There is a whip that uses the MotionPlus in a whipping motion. It's cool, but it has a limited effect on enemies and seems to only be used to get faraway items or possibly switches. The weirdest weapon is the little bug that you send around to scout areas and pick up items. However, there wasn't much use for him in the demo.    

Skyward Sword looks to be on the right track. The demo seems to be more of a proof of concept, as there was no hint to any kind of game structure, but it was fun and the new controls are great in my opinion. It feels a little weird to control Link in such a new manner, but it still feels like Zelda, and it could be a potential evolution in the franchise.    

   

[Ian Sane]

How do you actually move Link around?  It didn't seem obvious in the demo.

[Halbred]

I assume you use the control stick.

Neal, does it feel like Twilight Princess with actual motion control, or is this going to be a whole different animal?

[BeautifulShy]

Ah good to see that the interference was just a problem in the demo.

[TJ Spyke]

Do you have video footage of this demo?

I hope they improve the archery because that was one of the few parts of Wii Sports Resort that I didn't like.

[NWR_insanolord]

They're going to have to change it a bit, unless they expect people to switch the controllers around to the opposite hands every time they use the bow.

[Ian Sane]

I assume you use the control stick.

So would I but it didn't look like that was what Shiggy was doing.  It looked like he pulled back on the controller to stop Link.
 
Does anyone wonder if the "technical difficulties" was that the whole thing was just a video and that Miyamoto sucked at "lip syncing"?  Maybe they had difficulty getting it to work with the big presentation screen so they faked it instead.

[Pale]

My gut tells me that there were lights on the ceiling that the Wii remote was thinking was the sensor bar.  So when he put the remote vertical to shoot the bow, teh game thought it was still facing the screen.  Or something.

I'm just guessing though.

[mantidor]

does it have left handed option?

[Shecky]

You can sprint!  About time!

I hope they have two options for aiming.  I get that with Motion+ you can use the remote as essentially a free floating mouse, but pointing to aim worked really well for TP on Wii and might be a better option if your seated.  The mouse concept will work well too if the developers can get the plane of movement correct.  Looks like they map down on the d-pad to center during the bow, so that should be good enough to fix flinches

[gbuell]

I assume you use the control stick.

So would I but it didn't look like that was what Shiggy was doing.  It looked like he pulled back on the controller to stop Link.
 
Does anyone wonder if the "technical difficulties" was that the whole thing was just a video and that Miyamoto sucked at "lip syncing"?  Maybe they had difficulty getting it to work with the big presentation screen so they faked it instead.

They wouldn't have faked that horrible spinning camera during the bow and arrow stuff. That would be insane.

[KDR_11k]

I assume you use the control stick.

So would I but it didn't look like that was what Shiggy was doing.  It looked like he pulled back on the controller to stop Link.

I'm pretty sure I saw him use the analog stick on the nunchuk. If he was moving the whole controller around at the same time that's probably just his hyperkinetic self.

[Shecky]

I assume you use the control stick.

So would I but it didn't look like that was what Shiggy was doing.  It looked like he pulled back on the controller to stop Link.

I'm pretty sure I saw him use the analog stick on the nunchuk. If he was moving the whole controller around at the same time that's probably just his hyperkinetic self.

If you watch the presentation at e3.nintendo.com you can see points in which the stick is clearly used control links movement.

[Mesu]

does it have left handed option?

They don't intend to put a left handed option in the game:

  It's interesting because people say "all you have to do is switch it." But in reality, it's really hard. You have to change all the models -- you have to make two of everything. So really you're making two complete games, one left-handed version and one right-handed version. We just can't do that. For Twilight Princess, what we did was just create a mirror -- we flipped everything. And if that worked I guess we could do it that way, but again having to create two games is not something we want to do. We just hope that people will play it right-handed.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/109/1099184p2.html

[mantidor]

yeah I read about it, f!ck you Nintendo I want you to die now. This and the 3DS crap is unacceptable.

[NWR_Neal]

To be fair, I played the game more as a lefty and had no issues. Nintendo might not champion it, but you can play it as a lefty.

[Mop it up]

I wonder if this might be tough to play without a left-handed option. In Twilight Princess it didn't matter which hand you used, because quick flicks were all that were needed to swing the sword. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

[Shorty McNostril]

I'm a lefty.  But aside from Wii Sports, I have always played the games right handed.  I've never had any problems.  While I would appreciate a left handed option, I'm not overly concerned.  And if what he says is true, then I understand.  Unless they release 2 versions, left and right handed editions.  :

[Mop it up]

Pre-order bonus: The Legend of Zelda: Lefty's Revenge.

So this is why Zelda won't be ready this year...

[ThePerm]

my left handedness has not limited me much in gaming, except making dual analog shooters awkward and difficult...

[mantidor]

To be fair, I played the game more as a lefty and had no issues. Nintendo might not champion it, but you can play it as a lefty.

So it's just a cosmetic thing, which is dissapointing. I, of course, prefer this than the game actually using M+ to its full potential , but rendering unplayable for left handers. Both options are less than ideal though, and it's sad they have broken tradition, if its just a cosmetic thing make people play with Link left-handed. It's not like it matters.

I'm just not that hyped about the game anymore, it certainly won't be a day one purchase, who knows how the other items are going to work, if the boomerang is anything like frisbee in wiisports resort it will be impossible for left handed players.

[gbuell]

To be fair, I played the game more as a lefty and had no issues. Nintendo might not champion it, but you can play it as a lefty.

So it's just a cosmetic thing, which is dissapointing. I, of course, prefer this than the game actually using M+ to its full potential , but rendering unplayable for left handers. Both options are less than ideal though, and it's sad they have broken tradition, if its just a cosmetic thing make people play with Link left-handed. It's not like it matters.

I'm just not that hyped about the game anymore, it certainly won't be a day one purchase, who knows how the other items are going to work, if the boomerang is anything like frisbee in wiisports resort it will be impossible for left handed players.

How is it "just a cosmetic thing"? The Wii has no way to know which hand you are holding the remote in, and if you swing it with your left hand, the motion will naturally be emulated using Link's right-handed model. What's the problem here?

[UncleBob]

What's with all you lefty freaks on here? 

[NWR_Neal]

We're taking over, UncleBob.

I don't think there should be a whole lot of worry about it. I've run into only one problem with being a lefty Wii player. Whenever there are any Wii Remote/Nunchuk motions presented on screen. No More Heroes is this worst offender of that. As long as Zelda doesn't feature crap like that, there should be no reason why being a lefty is a detriment to playing the game.

[EasyCure]

I'm a lefty.  But aside from Wii Sports, I have always played the games right handed.  I've never had any problems.  While I would appreciate a left handed option, I'm not overly concerned.  And if what he says is true, then I understand.  Unless they release 2 versions, left and right handed editions.  :

All you lefties better crack out the Wii sports and start practicing righty!

[Ian Sane]

I'm right handed but I play hockey left handed.  I play guitar, bowl, throw, write, and bat right handed but I play hockey left handed.

So if Link ever gets a hockey stick I'll have to switch hands.

[EasyCure]

I'm right handed but I play hockey left handed.  I play guitar, bowl, throw, write, and bat right handed but I play hockey left handed.

So if Link ever gets a hockey stick I'll have to switch hands.

Wait for the next installment "The Legend of Zelda: Puck of Power"

[NWR_insanolord]

I'm right handed but I play hockey left handed.  I play guitar, bowl, throw, write, and bat right handed but I play hockey left handed.

So if Link ever gets a hockey stick I'll have to switch hands.

Same for me; I'm right handed at everything but hockey. Still, if they put hockey into Zelda I'd learn to play right handed, because it would be awesome.

[Toruresu]

Jeez, hockey fans

[mantidor]

How is it "just a cosmetic thing"? The Wii has no way to know which hand you are holding the remote in, and if you swing it with your left hand, the motion will naturally be emulated using Link's right-handed model. What's the problem here?

It's only a visual cue to make people feel "immersed" or whatever. If someone were to make a game about emulating as close as possible professional fencing, you can be sure right handed gameplay could not be emulated with the left hand. As I said it really depends on how deep the combat is, if combat takes into account things like the strength of the slash as well as it's speed, how you are holding the sword (is the edge pointing horizontally or vertically) and things like that, lefties would be screwed.

I guess I had way to high expectation for motion plus, professional fencing might not be as fun as it looks. But the least they could do is give us a mirror mode, I don't know why that would complicated unless the game is full of cutscenes, and we lefties get screwed enough in gaming to have our only character abandoning us too.

[SilverGrey]

I'm lefty as well, but I figure it's not worth getting upset over until the game exists and I try it and see how it goes.  I already know I'm bad with a sword in my right hand, because I used to fence.  The only 2 things I can do with my right hand is cut with scissors and use a can opener.  Other than that, I'm a useless righty.

[Mop it up]

What's with all you lefty freaks on here? 

Left-handed people tend to be introverts. Introverts tend to post on gaming forums.

In my case, I'm ambidextrous, but I prefer a left-handed setup when available. So I should be able to adapt without much trouble.

[Caliban]

if the boomerang is anything like frisbee in wiisports resort it will be impossible for left handed players

You had issues throwing the frisbee in wii sports resort, left handed?

[TJ Spyke]

I am right handed but I had problems with the frisbee game too, it just did not control very well. Speaking of Wii Sports Resort, I hope they improve the archery controls.

As for left handed people being worried, just use your right hand for the game; it's not hard. Just for the hell of it I have tried playing Wii games using my left hand, and it was no problem.

[Caliban]

I am right handed but I had problems with the frisbee game too, it just did not control very well.

You too?

Good lord. Am I the only one that created two profiles of which one for right hand gaming and another for left hand gaming, and had no problems whatsoever playing frisbee, or any of the other sports? Oh well.

[mantidor]

if the boomerang is anything like frisbee in wiisports resort it will be impossible for left handed players

You had issues throwing the frisbee in wii sports resort, left handed?

I had no problems (besides my general lack of motor skills ). My point is that  if Aonuma's almost contempt dismissal of the issue becomes true, SS would not have left handed boomerang, only a right handed one, meaning it won't work at all with your left hand, and using the right hand for lefties will be a mess, it won't be as simple as waggle or slashes, that requires certain ammount of precision. As I said, it depends a lot to what extend they are implementing M+ in the game.

[ThePerm]

lol Left handed people in general are more ambidextrous then right handed people simply because we are forced to do all sorts of right handed activities. I can write and draw and play games with my right hand, but i still cant use damn scissors. There is a difference between being left handed and being left handed with a gimped right hand.

[gbuell]

MotionPlus could never provide for a totally accurate swordplay/fencing simulation anyway because there is no way to simulate resistance from an enemy's blade. All that they're doing is letting you choose which way your sword is swung. So yeah, it's cosmetic in that sense, but a lot less so than Twilight Princess.

[mantidor]

If you can write and draw with your right hand you are not left handed, that's like the basic definition. I mean, great for you, but when you are actually left-handed, using the right hand is practically impossible in many situations except the most basic arm motions. And by basic I mean really basic, those certainly don't include things like sword or gun wielding, much less something like writing.

[broodwars]

There's a certain irony in all these issues with left-handed people being unable to fully enjoy playing a motion-controlled Zelda game considering that Link is traditionally left-handed.   :   You'd really think Nintendo with its love of "inclusive-ness" would have figured out a way to allow players to assign their hand style, but I suppose that would have taken a fairly large amount of effort Nintendo doesn't want to do.

[NWR_insanolord]

Well, only about 1 in 9 people are left-handed, and most people aren't even going to think about the issue before buying the game, and I'd guess that a large proportion of the small group of lefties who are aware of the issue will buy the game anyway. It's probably not worth it to Nintendo to take the money and time it would take to add a lefty mode to the game.

[Guitar Smasher]

Isn't Miyamoto left-handed?  I find it unlikely he would release a game he would find difficult to control.

[gbuell]

I really don't think people give Nintendo enough credit for including lefties, given that their controller is the ONLY one out there that can be completely flipped so you can hold either half in whatever hand you want.