E3: Take to the Skies in This Zelda: Skyward Sword Trailer

[John Funk]

E3: Take to the Skies in This Zelda: Skyward Sword Trailer

Oh, so that's why they call it "Skyward Sword."

Nintendo may have unleashed a ton of news at its The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/conferences/e3_2011/8935-E3-Nintendo-Press-Conference].

[video=3482]

We did, however, get a glimpse at the game's new trailer. This game's incarnation of Link has been born and raised in Skyloft, a mystical group of islands that floats in the sky. Link and his friends, including a blonde girl who bears a probably-not-coincidental resemblance to the various incarnations of Princess Zelda, get around by flying on giant birds.

Then, things go wrong, Link's prospective love interest gets eaten by a giant monster a la Pinocchio, and our hero is saved by the power of the Skyward Sword. He suits up in the familiar green tunic, and we're off. We get a glimpse of the various environments and dungeons in the game, and they all seem like precisely what we'd expect from a Zelda game - but in a good way.

The trailer shows some free-form flying on the bird (I hope it won't be as mandatory or as dull as Wind Waker's sailing) and includes more of a pretty-boy (presumably-)villain, who will almost certainly serve as the game's chief antagonist before he inevitably gets hijacked by Ganon [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HijackedByGanon]. It happened with Vaati, it happened with Aghanim, and it happened with Zant - like it won't happen here?

Fond snarking aside, though, this is a great trailer. Skyward Sword's art style strikes a perfect blend between the more realistic bent of Twilight Princess and the cartoonish, stylized graphics of Zelda games of yore. I'm not totally sold on how Link holds his sword as a result of the 1:1 MotionPlus swordplay, but otherwise it looks fantastic.

Skyward Sword is almost certainly going to be the Wii's last great hurrah before Nintendo switches to the shut up and take my Rupees, Nintendo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/110750-E3-Nintendos-New-Console-Is-The-Wii-U].

This is going to wreak havoc on those fan-made timelines [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_302/8789-Ocarina-of-Timelines], isn't it?

Steve Butts is heading over to Nintendo tomorrow, so hopefully we'll have some in-person news on Skyward Sword ASAP - check back!

See all our coverage directly from the show floor. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/conferences/e3_2011 ]

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[gunny10190]

replacing epona with a giant red chicken awesome

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

One look at the graphics and I can tell it will be nothing like Majora's mask.

I had hoped that Twilight princess was a sign that they were starting to recognize the sheer brilliance they achieved in MMs, but it seems like they reverted back to the standard non- emotionally deep formula.

 

[Mr. Omega]

Looks interesting. I find it strange I'm not as hyped for this one, but mostly because the news for it seems to be pretty slow, and it's been overshadowed by the WiiU. I'll probably be more hyped around release time. Also, the whole flying island thing gives me a whole "Skies of Arcadia" vibe. And that is a very good thing.

Also, because this is the Escapist, I'm wonder when there will the first comment of"LOLOL ZELDA SUCKS NINTENDO MILKS THEIR FRANCHISES AND THEY ALL SUCK GIMMICK GIMMICK NINTENDO SUCKS GIMMICK GIMMICK" (but written in a more snarky, condescending manner) will appear...

 

[Nocta-Aeterna]

replacing epona with a giant red chicken awesome

Spoiler: A Shoebill, actually

OT. I bet this is after the sea in the windwaker eroded away all the landmass and then evaporated into clouds, after which it turns out that all the islands had large helium/hydrogen pockets in ther bedrock. Also: flying & skyidiving: awesome

EDIT: Changed the picture...

One look at the graphics and I can tell it will be nothing like Majora's mask.

I had hoped that Twilight princess was a sign that they were starting to recognize the sheer brilliance they achieved in MMs, but it seems like they reverted back to the standard non- emotionally deep formula.

Granted, Majora's Mask was one of the more interesting takes on the Zelda franchise, but I don't think one would generally need a dark aestethic to get an interesting story along. For example, Cave Story had a very cheerfull design, but on closer examination, it was pretty grim.

EDIT #2: Another example: Link's Awakening.
I haven't played it myself (yet), but from what I understand, Link is required to purposefully cause a Dream Apocalypse to waken from the Wind Fish's dream, and as a result kill all the people inhabiting the dream. The antagonists are aware of this situation and actively try to prevent Link from waking the Wind Fish, so they don't die/their world won't be destroyed.

 

[KeyMaster45]

God help me I want this game, I haven't had a proper Zelda title to play since Wind Waker. You will not break me Nintendo! I still refuse to buy a damned Wii!

 

[Mister Man]

Interests me enough to keep an eye on it but not enough to guarantee a sell. I'll wait and see what reviewers say about it before I make up my mind.

 

[Scarim Coral]

That girl (I'm assuming she is Zelda for the time being) look like one of the older version of Princess Zelda.
Good thing I already bought the Wii motion plus since my only reason to buy the plus now is so I got it ready when I buy this game.

 

[Seieko Pherdo]

Not sure if I will get since I may not be able to play without using the Wii controller (one the reasons I got the gamecube version of Twilight Princess)

 

[CrystalShadow]

Not sure if I will get since I may not be able to play without using the Wii controller (one the reasons I got the gamecube version of Twilight Princess)

That's pretty much a certainty. The Wii version of twilight princess had token motion controls mostly. You could strip them all out and barely affect the game. (As the gamecube version proves), but skyward sword has a lof of 1:1 swordfighting. (Red steel 2 is the only other game I know of to try this.)

There's no way that's going to work as intended without motion controls.

 

[Dr. wonderful]

You know, I gotta love how he managed to tv trope me before I even arrived. Good play sir.

What can I say?

Flying on the king of red birds is pretty awesome. Also, I LIKED the sailing in wind waker!

captcha: scripture itheirei?

You don't say?

 

[Rad Party God]

It happened with Vaati, it happened with Aghanim, and it happened with Zant - like it won't happen here?

Well, it certainly didn't happened in Majora's Mask, but that's more the exception than the rule.

OT: It's great that the Wii will have a golden closure as the GameCube (with Twilight Princess) and with another amazing Zelda game, no less.

 

[Twilight.falls]

One look at the graphics and I can tell it will be nothing like Majora's mask.

I had hoped that Twilight princess was a sign that they were starting to recognize the sheer brilliance they achieved in MMs, but it seems like they reverted back to the standard non- emotionally deep formula.

I disagree. While Majora's Mask was brilliant, and remains my favorite Zelda title, Skyward Sword doesn't need a gritty look to it to be emotionally deep.

Windwaker, despite it's cartoonish look, was VERY dark. Surprisingly so for an other wise light hearted game.

And, as Yahtzee said, Light hearted does not mean kiddy. I think it's a good thing Skyward Sword is so colorful, makes it visually pleasing.

 

[Scrustle]

Can't wait to play this game! I'm so getting the gold Wiimote too.

And if you don't like how Link holds his hand with the 1:1 motion control... then move your hand!

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Funk, you jerk. I'm stuck in a TvTropes loop. But yeah, awesome trailer. This is one of the first in the series, supposedly, right? Also, hooray for motion plus included remote. I need one anyway, so...yay.

 

[Azmokuta]

I spy Rauru, or if nothing else, this generation's equivalent, at 1:04.

 

[Scrythe]

Call me insane, but did I just hear Link talk? I don't mean actual speech, but I could swear he was mumbling a word or two while he was attacking. That didn't sound like his usual "Yahs" and "Hahs" to me...

 

[Outright Villainy]

It happened with Vaati, it happened with Aghanim, and it happened with Zant - like it won't happen here?

But this is being billed as a prequel to Ocarina of time, and that was Ganon's first appearance as a villain. The king even trusted him before he took shit over. Him showing up in this would make no sense at all. However, they could have another gerudo king, since in Ocarina they hinted there were more before him, so who knows.

/zeldanerdom.

Ot: Anyways, more new Zelda! SQUEE!