Dante Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) E3 2009: What Happened to Link's Sword? Shigeru Miyamoto says the next Wii Zelda will see an even older Link... and could he be minus a sword? IGN's Nintendo Team met with Nintendo's master designer Shigeru Miyamoto at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles this week. The famed creator of the Mario and Zelda franchises spoke about all of the new each series, covered Nintendo's design philosophy, provided a few more details about Pikmin 3 and more. But he also gave us an exclusive hint about the next Zelda for Wii. Exactly what does it mean? We'll let you decide. IGN: Great seeing you again, Mr. Miyamoto. We know that you have been trying to make your games -- even traditional ones -- appealing to a wider spectrum of audiences. In Hollywood, the same studios might make an R-rated horror movie and also work on a G-rated family movie, specifically targeting two very different demographics. Have you thought about taking this approach with your games and do you think trying to appease all players ultimately dilutes your games? Shigeru Miyamoto: I consider myself in some respects a writer and as a creator in that vein, I don't really have anything negative to say about my own work, of course. The work that I do generally is just something that appeals to a wider range. I've produced other games that third and second-party games have developed for us that are, as you would say, focused on one particular audience and I have no problem with that whatsoever. I've done that. As to why we don't do that, as for example, Mario Paint, if we just went and honed it down, that would be a game that could be just for artists. Again, I would never say anything bad, maybe, those writers focused on making something for a specific audience, but, you know, one of the problems we face in the gaming industry is that the gaming population is shrinking. There are less people playing games. And one of our goals is to bring that back up. For us, the products that we make really just sort of match that goal naturally, so that's why we are taking that route. To further expound upon that, I think that when we are working with other developers, a lot of times they will try to come and make games that are very Nintendo-esque, and that's something that we actually ask them to stop doing. We say, if you're going to make a game with us, try to make something that really expresses your vision and what you would like to do. So we hope in the future to go ahead and work with people to again make games that are maybe more skewed toward an older audience or a more focused audience. IGN: At your developer roundtable this week, you showed off a single piece of artwork from the next Wii Zelda game. This piece of art has not yet been released publicly, but we noticed that Link appears to have grown to full adulthood. He looks older than he did in Twilight Princess. Is that a correct assumption? Shigeru Miyamoto: Well, the story setting for this Zelda is, of course, in a completely different era and Link is older than he was previously. More approaching adulthood. There is one hint. Maybe from the art work you can see that he's not holding a sword. IGN: Has he lost his Master Sword? Shigeru Miyamoto: [Laughing] I just wanted to make sure that you understand we are making it. That's all I'm going to say on that subject. IGN: Does the game follow the story progression of Twilight Princess or is it something completely different? Shigeru Miyamoto: I can't go into details except to say that it's something completely different. IGN: You just mentioned that the game audience is shrinking and that Nintendo is always looking for ways to entice new players. Is this something that you're thinking about for the new Zelda, too, or is there a separation where that's off limits because the franchise is traditionally hardcore? Shigeru Miyamoto: I think we do this with Mario and Zelda as well. When we are working on the plans for them, we are trying to come up with ways where we can satisfy our longtime fans and bring new players into the franchises as well. That's something we're always looking at. However, when I get involved in a title, I focus a lot on more experience and the more advanced gameplay elements. If I get into it, there's a tendency for difficulty levels to ramp up so that's something I really have to watch for myself to make sure that I don't do that. IGN: Twilight Princess obviously started on GameCube and then came to Wii. We remember you saying that the team wanted to do more visually with the game for Wii, but ran out of time. So can we assume the visuals for this new game will set a new bar for Wii graphics? Shigeru Miyamoto: Well, yeah, again I can't say anything in detail about the graphics in-game or anything like that. But I can tell you, as you just pointed out, that Twilight Princess was developed and ran on both hardwares while this new game will be only on Wii, so I think there are some expectations as to what it will be since we are focused on this console. IGN: Tell us about the four-player mode in Legend of Zelda: The Spirit Tracks. Shigeru Miyamoto: Yeah, if you remember in Phantom Hourglass we had that two-player tag. This time we're bringing four people local wireless and there will be some similar sort of tag-like gameplay. I don't want to give too much away about what the gameplay will be, but I think it will be really exciting. And there are some cooperative elements. Remember back to what, maybe, Four Swords' gameplay was like. But you won't be using any swords. IGN: Onto Super Mario Galaxy 2. We remember a quote from you awhile back where you said that you loved the foundation created for that game, but you wanted to see it taken further. Maybe make it more difficult. Is that true? Shigeru Miyamoto: I don't know if I want to make it more difficult or more challenging or maybe just more innovative or unique. But there were so many elements that we want to use and so many ideas that we had that we weren't able to implement last time around. So I'm hoping this is just filled with moments where players go, "Oh, hey, that's a great idea. Oh, what an interesting concept that is." And you saw in the videos that drill item that you use to drill through the different platforms and worlds and whatnot, and that's really exciting -- there's a lot of really high-action moments using that to navigate parts of the world. IGN: We have to ask about Pikmin 3, of course. What happened to it at this year's show? Also, if we've got it right, Pikmin was the last original IP you came up with specifically for traditional gamers. Any idea when we can expect a new so-called hardcore property from you? Shigeru Miyamoto: In regards to the IP question, I really don't consider Pikmin to be the last original IP. I look at the Miis, the Wii Sports, Nintendogs -- these are all original IPs from me. Even the island in Wii Sports Resort, I'm considering that an IP -- that island itself. IGN: We're thinking more along the lines of a strictly hardcore title versus those you mentioned, which fall into the casual category, too. Shigeru Miyamoto: No, I'm all dried up [laughs]. But luckily, there are lots of young and creative people at Nintendo, so I think they're really going to be driving a lot of that new original IP and yeah, we do have a lot of really great stuff that we're thinking about. And in terms of Pikmin, I've always thought of it more of an expanded audience title myself so if a longtime fans think of it as something for them and if our expanded fans think of it as something for them, well, that's great for us. IGN: What's the status on Pikmin 3? Shigeru Miyamoto: As you know, this year we've announced a lot of games. Amongst those there are so many that I've been deeply involved with. Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus, Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I have just been running around extremely busy. With Pikmin 3, we've got all the basics pretty much done. Now it's just a matter of how do we go in and fill that out? What sort of work do we give our designers? That team has been constantly been moving forward. So with a little time, we'll be able to make more progress and I hope we can bring you something that will make you happy. IGN: Have you thought about making a Wii game that uses two Wii remotes with MotionPlus? Shigeru Miyamoto: I think if Wii Sports Resort sells really well, that's something we'd definitely like to think about. Like, table manners. IGN: We're going to suggest Marionette, the title that popped up on Nintendo release lists a long time ago and then disappeared. You use two Wii remotes to control Mario like a puppeteer. Shigeru Miyamoto: That puppet team really still wants to work on that so maybe we've got something really cool with that. IGN: As far as DSiWare and WiiWare, is there anything you would like to do personally on those platforms? Shigeru Miyamoto: In relation to DSiWare, Flip Note Studio is something I really wanted to do for a long time. I'm working with Mr. [Yoshiaki] Koizumi, who was the director of Super Mario Galaxy and producer of Super Mario Galaxy 2. This is a really, really innovative piece of software that allows you to create your own flip-book style animations. I hope it's got some really great tools that will allow people to be very creative. IGN: Finally, can you tell us something cool that you haven't told anybody else? Shigeru Miyamoto: [Laughs] I think I've told you guys stuff already that I haven't told other people. Now this is something that was just announced last night out of Japan. I don't have any solid plans outside of Japan, but we are releasing with Monster Hunter Tri a black Wii. And then there's a classic controller grip. Thanks to Shigeru Miyamoto for the interview. Edited June 4, 2009 by Dante
Retro_Link Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Yeh... he doesn't exactly say that does he! And what with all his talk about watching Wii Sports Resort regarding the sword play and archery.
James McGeachie Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 This thread title is a bit misleading. He doesn't say he wont be using a sword, don't give people a reason to hate the game before it's even shown now!
Emasher Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Perhaps link looses his sword, and the first part of the game is about getting it back, and focusing on other weapons that use the M+ more intuitively. I mean, a sword its a pretty obvious thing to use the Motion Plus for, perhaps they want to set an example with Zelda and show it can be used for things less obvious.
ShadowV7 Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 Well the title is misleading since he doesn't say that, and half the post was bolded and hurt my eyes. Link will have a sword, Miyamoto even said when we're doing fencing to envision Zelda Wii.
The-chosen-one Posted June 4, 2009 Posted June 4, 2009 maybe you can Buy or Forge your own Weapons this time, and i know the Master sword is in Zelda, but i hope there is a wider range for weapons this time around, more Powers for link and stuff, where can i find the Art for link where it was shown?
Emasher Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 where can i find the Art for link where it was shown? You might need to break into Miyamoto's hotel room. I agree with the rest of your post though.
mcj metroid Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 .... Of course he'll have a sword... what else is he going to use?
The-chosen-one Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 that spirit resembles the Master Sword the Chest the Shape and Color , maybe the Sword is alive this time around? or that you can Use some Magic when released, and change it back to Sword form, Just like you could Change with Wolf link now you can change your sword into that, and maybe also in more stuff, that Spirit also resembles the Queen of Fairys, maybe that she is Sealed into the Master sword, man So much Speculation, i think nintendo will show more of this game at the Leipzig,
Retro_Link Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 What... that Link looks practically identicle to TP Link! I thought we'd be getting maybe more of a rugged Link this time round.
DazzeL Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 I really don't understand where this "older Link" idea came from... It's TP Link, that is all.
Retro_Link Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 I really don't understand where this "older Link" idea came from... It's TP Link, that is all. Shigeru Miyamoto: Well, the story setting for this Zelda is, of course, in a completely different era and Link is older than he was previously. More approaching adulthood. There is one hint. Maybe from the art work you can see that he's not holding a sword. That's where!
Ike Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 (edited) that spirit resembles the Master Sword the Chest the Shape and Color , maybe the Sword is alive this time around? or that you can Use some Magic when released, and change it back to Sword form, Just like you could Change with Wolf link now you can change your sword into that, and maybe also in more stuff, that Spirit also resembles the Queen of Fairys, maybe that she is Sealed into the Master sword, man So much Speculation, i think nintendo will show more of this game at the Leipzig, The "Zora" at the front is probably the Master Sword. Edited June 5, 2009 by Ike
Konfucius Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 This means that Link will use guns, lots of guns or The Legend of Zelda: Link's Crossbow Adventure Actually it would be funny if Link would engage in hand to hand combat in the beginning and then slowly learn how to properly wield a sword. After all with M+ 1:1 swordfighting movement could actually be quite a challenge. An interesting one though.
Emasher Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 I agree with most other people, the spirit is probably the master-sword, which/who is probably the guide (Midna/Navi/Elzo/King of Red Lions/ect) aswell.
Jonnas Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 I agree with most other people, the spirit is probably the master-sword, which/who is probably the guide (Midna/Navi/Elzo/King of Red Lions/ect) aswell. I'd say the Master Girl will be doing all (or most of) the fighting. How? I don't know, but I'm certain she will.
Falcon_BlizZACK Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 (edited) That looks more like one of the goddesses. Remember the statues hanging over the throne room in Hyrule castle? Looks like them. Edited June 5, 2009 by King_V
Emasher Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 I'd say the Master Girl will be doing all (or most of) the fighting.How? I don't know, but I'm certain she will. Perhaps she can transform between the sword and a spirit. I doubt they're going to get rid of all the sword play. Perhaps you have another sword, and at the end of the game she turns into the master sword. Or perhaps this will tell more of the four swords backstory, about how the master sword turned into the four sword in Minish Cap. Also, I doubt the girl is Naru (SP), but that could be possible.
Jonnas Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Perhaps she can transform between the sword and a spirit. I doubt they're going to get rid of all the sword play. Perhaps you have another sword, and at the end of the game she turns into the master sword. Or perhaps this will tell more of the four swords backstory, about how the master sword turned into the four sword in Minish Cap. Also, I doubt the girl is Naru (SP), but that could be possible. The sword in Minish Cap wasn't the Master Sword :p It was the Picori Sword (and later Four Sword). Wether that sword eventually becomes the Master Sword, or it was the Master Sword at some point in the past, or is completely unrelated is pure speculation.
Shorty Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 Just like the Wii with its Vitality sensor, I have a fear that the Zelda games are constantly looking for a new twist or gimmick, instead of building on a system we already love and giving us a true, huge and engrossing current generation update to the series. The new way of playing, whether I have a sword or no sword, whether I use a stylus or a d-pad, whether the graphics are cel-shaded or not, whether I'm a boy or a wolf, those things are not what I really care about. What I really want is a mucch bigger, more expansive and dynamic, interactive world. I would love to see the announcement more like this: "We want to make the next Zelda a much more immersive game, longer and more story driven, with beautiful visuals and a sense of sheer awesome size in a lifelike, buzzing Hyrule (or wherever). Also, notice that Link doesn't have a sword..."
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 Just like the Wii with its Vitality sensor, I have a fear that the Zelda games are constantly looking for a new twist or gimmick, instead of building on a system we already love and giving us a true, huge and engrossing current generation update to the series. The new way of playing, whether I have a sword or no sword, whether I use a stylus or a d-pad, whether the graphics are cel-shaded or not, whether I'm a boy or a wolf, those things are not what I really care about. What I really want is a mucch bigger, more expansive and dynamic, interactive world. I would love to see the announcement more like this: "We want to make the next Zelda a much more immersive game, longer and more story driven, with beautiful visuals and a sense of sheer awesome size in a lifelike, buzzing Hyrule (or wherever). Also, notice that Link doesn't have a sword..." But when we get more of the same, fanboys cry out too. There is no pleasing Nintendo fanboys. Personally, I don't see them taking away Link's sword. That'd be like taking away Mario's jump. Besides, reading it as "Link doesn't have a sword in this game" is really painting the devil on the wall. That girl is obviously the Master Sword, so I'm not worried. In Nintendo, we trust. I still do, at least.
Emasher Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 The sword in Minish Cap wasn't the Master Sword :p It was the Picori Sword (and later Four Sword).Wether that sword eventually becomes the Master Sword, or it was the Master Sword at some point in the past, or is completely unrelated is pure speculation. It is speculation, but remember, a lot of things had different names in the four swords games, especially Minish cap. If you look closely at the beginning of Minish cap, the sword is exactly the same colour as the Master Sword. Its not proof, but there's enough evidence that it could be that its worth speculating on.
Grazza Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 That looks more like one of the goddesses. Remember the statues hanging over the throne room in Hyrule castle? Looks like them. Ah, before you posted that image, I thought you meant Wind Waker, and I was going to load it up and have a look (still might). Do you know if you can view that statue in Twilight Princess? The only time I saw it was on the end credits, and as far as I remember, you can't look round the throne room at your own pace. When I saw the image for "Zelda Wii", the first thing I thought of was Wind Waker, specifically the fairy that gives you fire and ice. However, if this spirit is the power of the Master Sword, my guess is that this game is about the 4th piece of the Tri-Force. If the Master Sword contains the essence of the 4th piece of the Tri-Force (the bit that points downward on the Hylian Shield, underneath the actual Tri-Force), that would explain why it can seal away Ganondorf (and is not actually used in the non-Ganondorf games). Not so much "the blade of evil's bane", rather just a force that has control over the other pieces of the Tri-Force - Power, Courage and Wisdom. In theory, even Ganon could wield it! Is there a scene in any of the games where Ganon tries to wield the Master Sword but can't? I don't remember that. The only reason he's never used it is because it's always been hidden.
Emasher Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 In Ocarina of Time, it clearly states that only the Hero of Time (or wind or whatever) can wield it. Thats why Link turned into Adult link when he picked it up. So if Ganon picked it up, he would turn good in theory. Also. GANNON BANNED http://www.gannon-banned.com/#fourth
Grazza Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 Also. GANNON BANNED http://www.gannon-banned.com/#fourth That link is a tad arrogant. I don't care if the fourth piece exists or not - I'm not interested enough. It was just a suggestion.
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