Hello ladies and gents, and welcome to another fantastic 5Nerds blog post! Today's topic is Nintendo-related, in case you haven't been following my other posts (which you SHOULD). You see, there's been some serious buzzing around the Legend of Zelda fan-verse since Nintendo made an announcement on December 18 regarding a game-in-development.
Apparently, there is a new Zelda title coming out. It goes by the name of Hyrule Warriors.
When I first heard the news, I squealed like the Zelda fan-girl that I am. But then I heard that Nintendo was partnering with Tecmo Koei for this one, and I thought, "Who the heck is that and why would Nintendo partner with them?" For those who are as clueless as I was, Tecmo Koei is the company behind the Dead or Alive series, Ninja Gaiden, and Samurai Warriors (there are dozens more titles they hold claim to, but these are the only ones I really recognized :P). They have also partnered with Nintendo before, on the game Metroid: Other M which came out in 2010 (it was actually a really good game so I can't complain there). The game that really matters here, though, is Dynasty Warriors (it must have been pretty successful cause there are like 20+ games in the series :/).
Apparently, there is a new Zelda title coming out. It goes by the name of Hyrule Warriors.
When I first heard the news, I squealed like the Zelda fan-girl that I am. But then I heard that Nintendo was partnering with Tecmo Koei for this one, and I thought, "Who the heck is that and why would Nintendo partner with them?" For those who are as clueless as I was, Tecmo Koei is the company behind the Dead or Alive series, Ninja Gaiden, and Samurai Warriors (there are dozens more titles they hold claim to, but these are the only ones I really recognized :P). They have also partnered with Nintendo before, on the game Metroid: Other M which came out in 2010 (it was actually a really good game so I can't complain there). The game that really matters here, though, is Dynasty Warriors (it must have been pretty successful cause there are like 20+ games in the series :/).
Hyrule Warriors appears to be based off of Dynasty Warriors, and no, I am not just saying that because of the name. It has the same combat-based, hack-and-slash theme, only in the Zelda universe instead. You get to play as Link (though I did see a picture with Princess Zelda and no Link anywhere, so maybe she'll be in it too). The main hero is sporting a blue scarf for no discernible reason, but the rest of his design is reminiscent of Twilight Princess, which should score some brownie points with the fans given Twi's positive reception. Nintendo is keeping Link's signature moves and weapons, like the spin slash, bombs and the fire rod from A Link to the Past (as can be inferred from the picture to the right), though it would seem that they have vastly expanded his combo capabilities. You will apparently unlock more weapons via finding and opening treasure chest, which is pretty much dead on with the rest of the Zelda series. Check out the gameplay in the trailer below to get a better idea (my explaining skills often leave something to be desired).
That's really all that has been revealed about gameplay. Now, onto less fun stuff. The game is set to be released in 2014 on the WiiU, which seems rushed to me. After the horrible planning resulting in Skyward Sword's pathetic release, I feel Nintendo needs all the time they can get. Don't get me wrong, I love Skyward Sword! But they showcased it at E3 without working out all the bugs (which led to a pretty disappointing show), and the animation felt like a half-step backwards from Twilight Princess. Just saying.
Back to Hyrule Warriors. The name is supposedly temporary, which is good cause it needs to be more original. It has also been said that the game is NOT the next installment of the Zelda series, merely a spin-off (think Link's Crossbow Training). This is also good; if the game is a let down, as many nay-sayers seem to think, then the blow may be softened somewhat by the knowledge that it does not fully represent the series.
However, even though it is just a spin-off, long-time Zelda developer Eiji Aonuma (one of the best in the biz, if I do say so!), will still be producing the game. Good, that means it'll stay on the Zelda track more than the Dynasty Warriors route (we can hope at least).
Back to Hyrule Warriors. The name is supposedly temporary, which is good cause it needs to be more original. It has also been said that the game is NOT the next installment of the Zelda series, merely a spin-off (think Link's Crossbow Training). This is also good; if the game is a let down, as many nay-sayers seem to think, then the blow may be softened somewhat by the knowledge that it does not fully represent the series.
However, even though it is just a spin-off, long-time Zelda developer Eiji Aonuma (one of the best in the biz, if I do say so!), will still be producing the game. Good, that means it'll stay on the Zelda track more than the Dynasty Warriors route (we can hope at least).
At this point, there isn't much else to be said about the game. It was announced less than a month ago after all. The public's opinion seems to lean towards a positive majority, so as long as Nintendo takes their time and doesn't screw up too badly, I think Hyrule Warriors has the capacity to be a great addition to the Zelda series. But keep your eyes peeled and ears open for more news in the coming months!
Go and do not falter!
-Rachel, Anime/Nintendo nerd
Go and do not falter!
-Rachel, Anime/Nintendo nerd