1333 replies to this topic

[Moonbread]

I have to disagree as well about the motion, I don't think it's gimmicky. In fact, I'm loving it like crazy, just because the 3D Zeldas have been so easy due to the fact that targeting and blindly slashing at your opponent pretty much gets you through the games as of late.

As for the shield meter, after what AgentLym pointed out, I'm not so sure either. Hopefully it is the return of the magic meter, though I'm sure that concept is dying out pretty quickly. Still haven't seen it since Wind Waker, unless you want to count the back of the Twilight Princess box. Either way, I'd like to see it as a "the lower the meter, the worse you block" in a sense, I dunno, while most people are like "Aww hell no!" to that idea, I was never fond of the idea that the shield made Link nigh invincible, either. I actually tend to play half of the games without a shield.

Also, huzzah for the reveal of the generic sword (I guess Hero's Sword will be a fine substitute? That's basically what they've been using a lot, right?) I, like with shields, tire of the Master Sword, believe it or not. Kind of feel like it's "overused plot item #3" though I guess that's essentially like complaining Link is the main character every time. So wait, why is Link the main character in this?

[Radien]

I'm thinking it's some kind of "Fatigue Meter," but during the trailer, when Link blocks the two-armed Stalfos (when the Stalfos drops his swords), there seems to be no change to the meter... so, maybe the shield emblem is its own meter. Like, maybe it'll show cracks or something before the shield becomes unusable? and the bar beside it is unrelated? Too early to tell.

Well, your last sentence sums it up entirely: it's too early to tell. The only thing we know for sure is what we see, taken quite literally: they created a Hylian Shield and put it next to a meter, thus showing that they were at least THINKING of adding a meter related to the shield in some way.

And, one final thing I notice, is the lack of a sword beam. Am I missing it, or maybe they just didn't want to show it in the trailer? But, honestly, that's alright with me if they took it out-- sword-beams are the cheaps. It also seems kinda cumbersome, holding your sword skyward to gain power. As long as that isn't needed, I figure I'll be able to look relatively sane while playing this game.

So wait... you're fretting that it would be too cheap, AND worry that it'd be cumbersome?... Personally, I think it makes a lot of sense: you get a projectile that requires no ammo (maybe a little magic), but in return you have to charge it. Heck, they used that in the original Zelda. Otherwise there'd be no use for the bow and arrow when you're at full health. Although, admittedly, it WAS a little too powerful in that game.

Anyway, I am 100% confident they'll have the sword beam, because:

1. They specifically mentioned it in an interview and described it at length.
2. The method used to activate it, holding the sword aloft, is in the friggin' TITLE of the game.

Yeah, no sense thinking it'll be removed. Personally, I think they can handle it in a way that won't break the game. The focus of the game is the 1:1 swordplay, after all, not the dated idea of sword beams. I expect that sword beams are nothing more than a nod to the series' origins, albeit a handy-looking feature.


For that matter: the bamboo shield! It seems like Nintendo finally found a more productive use for their work on the Ocarina of Time slashable signposts. This also lends weight, I believe, to the expectation that Link may have a breakable shield, too.


Oh! Something else I wanted to mention: did anyone notice the music playing in the background? There's a particular theme they played multiple times that I remember from one of the Twilight Princess trailers, but this is not reused music; it's a new piece (probably made specifically for this trailer). If it weren't for the fact that I remember it from TP, I would suspect that it is the recurring light motif (short musical sequence) for Skyward Sword.

[Mitchfork]

Anyways to be honest, I'm not sure I like what I see. They seem to be wanting to focus too much on all the motion and precision stuff, and it's coming off as gimmicky to me. Let's hope I'm wrong.

It looks like they're building most of the combat on the idea, so to me it doesn't look like a gimmick; rather, it's just the combat system itself, which is the way they should go if they're going to do something like this.

And that mystery figure... I can't help but wonder... I saw a comment on an article saying he speculated it was Vaati, but I highly doubt that. Doesn't look like him, except maybe the hair, but Vaati's eyes were red. If it is Vaati, well, interesting, but again I doubt it. Unless that means the Minish tie into this story somehow but I hope not.

Personally I thought that he looked like the Gilded Sword from Majora's Mask, which would line up with mystery trailer girl being the Master Sword. I don't know how this would make sense canonically (because the Gilded Sword isn't it's own sword, it's a really upgraded Kokiri Sword), but maybe it'll just be a throwback to that sword while existing separately from it in canon. Or it could just be a clown thing.

Or perhaps it's not a meter for how long before the shield breaks, but how long Link can continue to block before he fatigues. That would be a great implementation that doesn't involve buying replacement shields, which can admittedly become annoying.

That's the explanation I leaped to first. I don't really like breakable items as a concept (to me it's just frustrating and can seem unfair); however, a limited amount of blocks in one battle is just added difficulty, so no problem there.

I'm thinking it's some kind of "Fatigue Meter," but during the trailer, when Link blocks the two-armed Stalfos (when the Stalfos drops his swords), there seems to be no change to the meter... so, maybe the shield emblem is its own meter. Like, maybe it'll show cracks or something before the shield becomes unusable? and the bar beside it is unrelated? Too early to tell.

It's entirely possible that the HUD simply isn't done and is only a mock up in this trailer.

[AgentLym]

So wait... you're fretting that it would be too cheap, AND worry that it'd be cumbersome?...

I should'a used a better word-- more tedious, than cumbersome... lifting my arm up like that.

Edited by AgentLym, 03 March 2011 - 10:12 AM.

[The Satellite]

Maybe I'll better phrase what I mean.

In Zelda games, I look forward to its large variety of puzzles in different areas that take different items or methods to solve them, that way it keeps things fresh and not mediocre. But with Skyward Sword, it looks to me like the focus is upon using its 1:1 function way too often, relying on specifically directed sword swings to the point it'll just become bland. Now, if they manage to implement this into several items (like the beetle) then it'll be less of an issue, but it all comes down to when it's released.

[Radien]

That's the explanation I leaped to first. I don't really like breakable items as a concept (to me it's just frustrating and can seem unfair); however, a limited amount of blocks in one battle is just added difficulty, so no problem there.

That's a good point. Hmmm.

Perhaps they'll use a fatigue meter for Link but allow you to break enemy shields after enough hits. This would make some sense if Link has a magical shield and the enemies don't. If they use this, though, I hope they use it more often and more extensively than the breakable Stalfos shields in TP.

It's entirely possible that the HUD simply isn't done and is only a mock up in this trailer.

Seconded. There are too many possible reasons for us not to draw conclusions yet.

Maybe I'll better phrase what I mean.

In Zelda games, I look forward to its large variety of puzzles in different areas that take different items or methods to solve them, that way it keeps things fresh and not mediocre. But with Skyward Sword, it looks to me like the focus is upon using its 1:1 function way too often, relying on specifically directed sword swings to the point it'll just become bland. Now, if they manage to implement this into several items (like the beetle) then it'll be less of an issue, but it all comes down to when it's released.

I totally understand what you mean, yeah. Perhaps right now the most impressive footage they had all involved the sword. Or perhaps they want to surprise us with the other items. One thing that really gets in the way when people innovate is when they give away information, and people judge what they're doing before even seeing the final product. They might say "that's been tried before and it didn't work!!!", when in fact Nintendo could once again be pioneering a new way to actually MAKE it work. They've done it before.

[Eddard McHorn Van-Schnuder]

Maybe I'll better phrase what I mean.

In Zelda games, I look forward to its large variety of puzzles in different areas that take different items or methods to solve them, that way it keeps things fresh and not mediocre. But with Skyward Sword, it looks to me like the focus is upon using its 1:1 function way too often, relying on specifically directed sword swings to the point it'll just become bland. Now, if they manage to implement this into several items (like the beetle) then it'll be less of an issue, but it all comes down to when it's released.

You've only really seen the game two times, and both of those times were scenarios where Nintendo would want to show off their "new" parts of the game, which happens to be the ones a lot of people "don't like" (motion controls, that is).

It's way too early for anyone to draw any sort of conclusion if this is going to be a good game or not. If you do, it'll just end up like Spirit Tracks where everybody has already decided that the game was bad, because of Phantom Hourglass, and thus they missed out on the greatest Zelda game since Wind Waker, and in my opinion, the best title in the series. It's alright to be worried about your favorite series going down the drain, but let's wait til we actually get to play the game, shall we?

[The Satellite]

It's not that I don't like it, it's that I'm seeing too much of it, but I suppose the less they show, the better. Be nice to have some surprises, especially after all the TP trailers gave away practically everything (except Ganondorf, but I knew he was confirmed to be in the game anyway thanks to a Nintendo Power article that was written over a year before the game came out). Hell, the TP trailers showed too much, and that's probably why I was disappointed in it. If a turnaround's what makes SS so good, then so be it.

[Jay]

Spirit tracks was a great game, but then so was phantom hourglass! It may have lacked in a few areas but it was just like Wind Waker in a lot of ways, I enjoyed it anyway. As for Skyward Sword can't wait!

[AgentLym]

Yeah, in the end, it is just too early to tell... but hype is so hard to hide!

But I can't help but get excited over this game. After the amazing job Nintendo's done with Mario and Pokemon, two of their top three franchises, I know Zelda (ranked #1 on my list, #2 on everybody else's) will be treated with much dignity, pride, and talent. And, even when Nintendo goes "wrong," it usually ends up as a pretty good game compared to most of the trash out there.

However, if there's one thing that I've gleaned from E3 2010 and forwards, it's that everything that is done to Skyward Sword has been done because it has improved the experience, even if it means taking risks and nontraditional means.

My only concern-- I hope I get that "Zelda feeling" while playing this game-- the one that all of us know and cherish. While watching the trailers, I got a different vibe from the game-- a vibe more akin to Final Fantasy mixed with... something else. The Hyrule that's portrayed isn't the same Hyrule I remember... but, again, it's too early.

=== EDIT ===
Also, check THIS!

Edited by AgentLym, 04 March 2011 - 11:52 PM.

[Chakaa]

Just wanted to update with some random news. Most is just theories:



Skyward Sword changed it's logo from the one on the left, to the one on the right.



This, OH MY GOD THIS PICTURE! I've been reading about it, and a lot of people were theorizing that this game not only explains the origin of the Master Sword, but also the origin of Majora's Mask, and maybe Termina. Sure, it could be any skull kid, but this one looks like it's wearing Majora's Mask. Also, I'm pretty sure that not other skull kid has ever been in the MM Skull Kid's trademark position (look at the skull kid shadow and you'll know what I mean).



You all know how the Master Sword/Skyward Sword has a spirit/fairy, but this thing (not sure if it's a guy or a girl) seems to be wearing something that closely resembles the Gilded Sword from Majora's Mask. Of course, this is just a theory, and in MM, the Gilded Sword was just an upgraded Kokiri Sword. And, since this takes place waaay before Ocarina, then most likely it would still be the Kokiri Sword, if it was even created yet.

Just noticed AgentLym's edit.... I withdraw my post >_>

After reading that article, I'm actually starting to look forward to SS.

Edited by FefeRawft, 14 March 2011 - 07:30 PM.

[Radien]

Oh-em-gee... It's the argyle sword.

The gilded sword had so little bearing on the story of Majora's Mask, that I doubt this could be anything more than a shout-out at best. But I just wanted a reason to call it "the argyle sword." Tee-hee.

[Sheik]

I'm looking forward to Skyward Sword so much, that I will buy a Wii just so I can play the game. SS will be the first Zelda I've bought since Oracle of Seasons (!). The others just didn't seem to be worth buying a console and whatnot. But about SS, I am really hyped.
I would buy it for it's graphical style alone. I think their take on the design this time is just marvelous, they are putting together three things I love wholeheartly: tLoZ, cartoon-look and impressionism. This will be so sweet :3

[SpikeReynolds]

Personally, although I think a lot of the concepts here are cool, I was really hoping they'd bring Zelda in a darker, more mature direction, maybe moreso than TP.

[Sheik]

Personally, although I think a lot of the concepts here are cool, I was really hoping they'd bring Zelda in a darker, more mature direction, maybe moreso than TP.

Would you mind explaining me why? I'm not going to hate on you because you don't like the graphics they chose to use, I'd just really would like to know why some poeple want Zelda to be dark and depressing and "mature".
I think what they currently are doing is just magnificent. It's supremely imaginative, the videos of the gameplay have a look as though Link walking through a paiting. A freakin painting! It's art! Never in my boldest dreams I would have imagined that someone is going to make actually visual(!) art in a video game. And they don't just try to be artsy, they tackle the real thing. They try to mimmick the impressionists (and they suceed). Impressionism is like the crown of art, it's the most impressive (no pun inteded) style an artist can bring down to the canvas merging what he sees and how he sees it in perfect harmony of colour and shapes (which are almost fluid). How can someone not just love impressionism? Impressionistic paintings are like windows into the souls and perception of the artist. And don't let me begin babbling about the colours. These colours are so wonderful, they are so bright and full of life and they work so perfect, as in they make it so clear what everything's about, unlike the dull, grey mass TP was.
What's with all the love for realism/photorealism? There's no magic at all. Photorealism is so boring, it's just like real life. And shouldn't art be an espace from everyday life? I'm failing to understand why someone would a video game want to be all dark and derpessing. I can't seriously imagine such a game be a fun experience.
Well, yeah, I got carried away a little. But I seriously am a sucker for SS's style and I'm totally clueless why lots of people wish that the game was envisoned in a "more mature" fashion. (Besides, maturity isn't about darkness, depressions and uglyness...)
Anyways, I'd really like to read a statement what exactly it is people don't like about SS's style. Like, a serious one, where they explain what's wrong with the way it is and what would be better if the game was a dull grey mass even more than TP.

The gilded sword had so little bearing on the story of Majora's Mask, that I doubt this could be anything more than a shout-out at best.

Skull Kid had so little bearing on the story of Ocarina of Time and became one of the most important characters in Majora's Mask, if not the most important one (after all, he's the stumbling block of the whole plot).

Edited by Sheik91, 19 March 2011 - 02:15 PM.