Skyward Sword releasing Nov. 18 in Europe, Nov. 20 in NA

[JordAnime]

I don't think the introduction was "trying" to be "epic", I thought it was really epic.  It's chilling and sombre and fits the atmosphere of the title.  Some intros that are all in your face about being epic, with a huge orchestral and operatic arrangement, Twilight Princess's intro does it with class.  Actually, I think I enjoy the introduction of Twilight Princess more than the game itself, which shouldn't be the case, but I found Twilight Princess to be a pretty disappointing outing.  I was like "this is gonna be sweet", but then the game itself tried to be epic...and failed horribly.

The way I look at it is that Twilight Princess had to take itself seriously and it didn't.  It tried to be dramatic and epic in its cutscenes and presentation, mostly, but then you'd just constantly be running into these weird cartoony people and situations, but this is supposed to be the serious and "grown-up" Zelda game? 

Well, at least Skyward shouldn't have this problem since the visuals are really colorful, it allows for a lot of cartooniness and flamboyancy, but you do run the risk of making it difficult to take the title seriously at all, like what with happened in The Wind Waker.  There was this cool adventure plot going on, but I couldn't really get beyond the fact that all the characters looked like characters from a sticker-book for babies.

So it seems they might be trying to strike a balance with this style, you can still take things a bit more seriously because the character designs actually look more like people than cartoons for babies, but since it is in this cartoony world, we can accept weird things a bit more easily.  Well, I'm down for that.

As for my two-days grievance, eh it's not a big deal, I should really be counting my blessings we're getting this game at all in America, they could have just sent over some other casual garbage and laughed at us some more.

[Shin Illuminated]

...they could have just sent over some other casual garbage and laughed at us some more.

Well, they haven't reached that level of stupidity...yet.

[Hyruleansoldier]

you raise some good points, Jord.

I would also like to compare it with TWW: that game didn't try to be so epic.  It starts out small and takes a while until Link has to be REALLY heroic.  In TP he BECOMES the hero even before the  first dungeon.

In TWW sure enough he has the clothes, but he has to do a lot of things until the King of Red Lions acknowledges him to be the true hero. I think it's only when Link gathers the Triforce pieces and the ToC 'dwells within him' that he cals him the real Hero.

Also, TWW has comic relief a lot, even though the story is a lot deeper than TP's.  TP doesn't make sense all the time, things randomly happen without much of an explanation, and though the Twilight Realm and people being spirits is pretty "sombre", you completely fix that, people are none the wiser, and it doesn't really make you feel like you're making the world a better place.  I agree with the intro, it's epic but the game itself doesn't live up to it.  TWW's intro just focuses on Outset Island, Link looking at the sea... it has a more dreamy feel to it, focusing more about Link's quest.  TP focuses on Midna's quest more than about Link becoming the hero.

[JordAnime]

Weird stuff is a staple of Zelda; especially since Ocarina of Time.  Most people qualify it as an epic game, but in those recent Iwata Asks for Ocarina of Time 3D we learned that wasn't really their intention.  I always chalked the overt-cartoony moments and characters to the limitations of the technology, but I think it's really all part of the vision.  Especially after playing Majora's Mask and playing Ocarina for 3DS.  The visuals were sharper and enhanced, but the over-all light nature of the title shone through. 

Twilight Princess had a distinctly starker style, like if it had looked more like what Ocarina of Time 3D looked like, maybe it'd have been better off, but from the debut trailer at E3 2004 it seemed to suggest a darker, grown up Zelda.  I remember reading wild speculation that it would get an M rating, completely absurd.  I even think the T rating it did receive was totally unnecessary.

There are some genuinely cool, dark moments in the game.  I'd say for me it hit its zenith story wise during the Lakebed Temple plot arc--the origin story of the Twili was awesome and the post-dungeon run in with Zant was fantastic.  But it was all ruined when Ganon showed up and reduced Zant to the role of a sideshow.  I felt his characterization once you reach Twilight Palace was just completely bunk. 

And yeah HS, I agree; the plot just sort of unfolds without much explanation.  Especially Zelda's moment of sacrifice for Midna resulting in nothing, and Ganon's over-all plan, I didn't really get it.  It just seemed like Nintendo wrote the script in a weekend. 

And yeah, the Twilight Realm was pretty weak, I mean dark things were happening, but it wasn't like people cared that much--especially in Castle Town.  Still, at least there was some sense of urgency, there was never a real sense of urgency in second and third acts. 

[Hyruleansoldier]

There are some genuinely cool, dark moments in the game.  I'd say for me it hit its zenith story wise during the Lakebed Temple plot arc--the origin story of the Twili was awesome and the post-dungeon run in with Zant was fantastic.  But it was all ruined when Ganon showed up and reduced Zant to the role of a sideshow.  I felt his characterization once you reach Twilight Palace was just completely bunk. 

And yeah HS, I agree; the plot just sort of unfolds without much explanation.  Especially Zelda's moment of sacrifice for Midna resulting in nothing, and Ganon's over-all plan, I didn't really get it.  It just seemed like Nintendo wrote the script in a weekend. 

And yeah, the Twilight Realm was pretty weak, I mean dark things were happening, but it wasn't like people cared that much--especially in Castle Town.  Still, at least there was some sense of urgency, there was never a real sense of urgency in second and third acts. 

Yeah the cutscene with the interlopers and the dangers of the Fused Shadows was great.  And Zant after the Lakebed Temple.  But I didn't really liked how Zelda "disappeared" to save Midna (and nothing more was said about it, you just had to save Zelda in the end - like they had decided on the ending before any way to get there).

Ganondorf chilling in Hyrule Castle could have been made to be a LOT more awesome, if it had anything like TWW's story arc.  Ganondorf was great there.

We did miss some more NPC involvement in the events.  Sure, some people complained about there being no water, and then it got fixed, but really there weren't a lot of NPC's who realized what all was going on in the world, even in the Castle.  That's sad.

One of the things I did like, though it didn't serve any plot point, was Gorons appearing in several places, to do business or enjoying the 2 springs, and then later in the game there would even be two Zora's in the Goron Hot Spring.  Migrating NPC's is great.

Anywho, that's probably enough talk of TP in the wrong thread :3

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

Tasting looking bundle is tasty...



As nice as that gold Remote Plus is, I won't be forking out the extra pounds for it. (Assuming it's coming UK-wards.) Fortunately, there's a freebie for everybody! (Again, assuming. But mostly hoping.)

As an additional 25th anniversary treat for fans who purchase the game early, every copy in the initial production, whether sold by itself or as a part of the limited-edition bundle, will come with a free CD featuring select orchestral arrangements of iconic music spanning the history of the franchise which will be performed at The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert performances in October 2011.

That's also a super-smart looking cover. Although the trend suggests Europe might get an even better one, yet...

Source: GoNintendo

[hisak]

I was expecting $60 for the game and WM+. This is a nice trade-off.

The cover is nice, though I was hoping for a gold case. Oh well.

[Hyruleansoldier]

Woot free CD as I had hoped!

Lol, if they do it'll probably be some sort of pre-order bonus for Skyward Sword.

Yeah, he called it first.

I'll definitely be getting the bundle.  I want that golden Wiimote!  Even if I didn't need it, I'd still want it.  I like tacky golden stuff, well if it's Zelda-related.  I don't have a WiiMotionPlus Wiimote yet, so I do need it!  It's perfectly justified. :3

[Linkorange]

You Americans are very lucky ! They haven't announced anything concerning a bundle like that in Europe... I prey that it will arrive in Europe too ! This gold Wiimote is incredibly beautiful, and I don't have any WiiMotion+... (20€ for that, no thanks )

[hupla]

Gonna get me that SE alright. Pure Sex.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

UK and Europe release for bundle confirmed. That Remote is teasing me. Time to go browsing the pre-order market.

[Hyruleansoldier]

I had preordered it many weeks ago but will now have to make sure I get dibs on the one + fancy WiiMote.  I needs it

[Be_yourself]

And yeah HS, I agree; the plot just sort of unfolds without much explanation.  Especially Zelda's moment of sacrifice for Midna resulting in nothing, and Ganon's over-all plan, I didn't really get it.  It just seemed like Nintendo wrote the script in a weekend. 

And yeah, the Twilight Realm was pretty weak, I mean dark things were happening, but it wasn't like people cared that much--especially in Castle Town.  Still, at least there was some sense of urgency, there was never a real sense of urgency in second and third acts. 

I was actually thinking about Zelda's sacrifice,  i read breifly somewhere in a place of no note, that i can't remember, that Zelda transfered the triforce of wisdom to Midna, thus meaning Midna was healed and Zelda faded to a shade in the Twilight realm.  Its probably the best reason i have heard yet.  Although, still doesn't explain why G-dorf captured Zelda, nor why that triangle appeared above the castle and why the twilight didn't come back...but anyway...


I'm gonna get special edition version, seeing the game case actually gets me really pumped...its been 5 years since this last happened...

The thing i've really liked about the SS build up is that it is all about the gameplay, the story and even the art style havn't been the focus, sure there was a lot of fuss at the announcement but it hasn't been such a contentious issue as with the previous two console Zeldas.  I think its a sign of good things, although, i'm still cautious about what SS will bring...

[Hyruleansoldier]

Yeah, although I'm not sure about the Triforce sharing, we've never seen that happen, maybe because she's the holder of Wisdom she knows how it can be done.  I thought it would just be her life force (kinda like what happened with Zelda/Tetra in TMC & PH).  Anywho, she wouldn't have ended up in the Twilight Realm since that has been lifted when you go to save Midna, so it's still weird.  But we don't know that much about what the Triforce of Wisdom can allow one to do.   Maybe her body just got sent somewhere, and she needed to wait until Midna got to give some of her life force back for her to be completely normal again.  When you battle Ganon(dorf) she doesn't appear to be all there yet, so I don't know.


Anywho, they should have learned from TP.  Let's hope for more sidequests and a story that's a bit more consistent and sense-making.  Everything else will be hard to really mess up.

[Be_yourself]

Yeah, although I'm not sure about the Triforce sharing, we've never seen that happen, maybe because she's the holder of Wisdom she knows how it can be done.  I thought it would just be her life force (kinda like what happened with Zelda/Tetra in TMC & PH).  Anywho, she wouldn't have ended up in the Twilight Realm since that has been lifted when you go to save Midna, so it's still weird.  But we don't know that much about what the Triforce of Wisdom can allow one to do.   Maybe her body just got sent somewhere
 and she needed to wait until Midna got to give some of her life force back for her to be completely normal again.  When you battle Ganon(dorf) she doesn't appear to be all there yet, so I don't know.


Anywho, they should have learned from TP.  Let's hope for more sidequests and a story that's a bit more consistent and sense-making.  Everything else will be hard to really mess up.

oh holy crap! thats right! the twilight is gone at that point...bad job zelda team...

I really hope they have learnt the lessons, from what we have seen they have.  I mean we have been told of big new features such as 1-1 sword control, flight and upgradeable items.  But one of the best things i've noticed from the demo is the luschiousness of the  environment.  there are lots of plant varieties that you can cut, or grab items from, there seems to be many nooks and crannies in the environment.  The skytemple seems to be very open ended, which i love, i hope the whole game has that much freedom, or even more.  I;m loving almost everything i hear about this game.

[JordAnime]

With Miyamoto and Aonuma name-dropping Majora's Mask's Clocktown as inspiration for Skyloft, I'm excited.  As "big" as Castle Town was in Twilight Princess there was hardly anything to do; I suppose the closest thing to an next-gen Clocktown in Zelda is Windfall, but I never found Windfall very enjoyable(as I never found any side-quest in The Wind Waker enjoyable).

I will say there's not a lot of public hype for Skyward Sword, most people are looking forward to "Skyrim" it would seem.  I guess it's just the state of the Wii, it's pretty much moribund and Skyward Sword seems like one of the last outings we'll be getting, especially North American gamers. 

Also, I think the visual style and non-HD has made a lot of the masses sort of ignore it.  It just seems like a treat for the Nintendo core than a mass-market hit.  I mean, I don't think Nintendo will be treating this title as a system-seller, they just want it to come out, sell well, get its accolades and satisfy the core audience so they can shut-down the Wii operation and move onto Wii U. 

Nonetheless, I'm really looking forward to the game, hopefully it'll make the last year of Wii-nothing worth it.

[hisak]

The Elder Scrolls has a much wider appeal than Zelda. I'm not surprised that more people are talking about it. I'm sure that excitement for Skyward Sword will continue to grow as we get closer to release, but I'd never expect people to pay it the kind of attention that Halo or even Brawl received.

[JordAnime]

I don't think Elder Scrolls at large has broader appeal than Zelda, but I do think that does who like Bethesda open-world RPGs are just really hyped.  I think Fallout helped to increase their clout, and that's really what's pushing the hype for Skyrim.  It's a huge-open world RPG available across the HD platforms and PC.  Skyward Sword is basically the Wii's sawn song and probably would have more hype had more hype if it were ready a year or so after Nintendo announced Wii Motion Plus.  At this point, it's just gravy.

[hisak]

Lots of new details. Includes some spoilers, including a new enemy, the (incomplete) sky overworld map, and the name of an already seen boss.

Some of the less spoilery bits make it sound like a lot of detail is going into the game:

    * If Link's hanging from a ledge and enemies are up above, they'll try to step on his fingers to make him fall
    * When enemies are knocked off of high ledges, they won't "disappear" until they hit the ground
    * Bokoblins that carry horns will use them to summon reinforcements
    * When Link is on fire, if he tries to use a Bomb it will explode instantly
    * If you're running low on Bombs, you can pick up Bomb Flowers and add them to your Bomb Bag

[Be_yourself]

^^nice...I like those touches, brings the world to life, makes the enemies seem much more realistic.  Another thing i noticed RE: enemy behavior, is that when you throw a bomb at them they run away (bokoblins do at least.) i saw that in one of the demos at E3 this year.