Zelda Wii U is Open World, Coming 2015

[nomotog_v1legacy]

Actually, it might not be Link at all. I'm not sure about this news source but:

http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/10/zelda-creator-teases-that-we-didnt-see-link-in-wii-u-trailer/

Apparently Eiji Aonuma said "No on explicitly said that that was Link." So...girl character confirmed?

It doesn't confirm they are a girl. They could still just be another guy who looks like a girl. Actually if they aren't link, that makes me think they might not be the playable character. I find the idea that they would use a decoy in the trailer more likely then the idea that they would not have link as the playable character. Fun to make guesses though.

 

[Olas]

Zelda has always been open world to varying degrees, not necessarily in terms of dungeons, but definitely in terms of the overworld.

Why are people acting like the concept of open world is somehow a new thing? It's almost as old as the idea of having maps that extend beyond one screen.

Also, maybe I'm in the minority on this opinion, but I don't really care for how sci-fi the series is starting to get. If I wanted a game where you fight tentacled robots with an exploding projectile weapon I'd play Metroid.

Here, try this image:

Spoiler

Eyelashes are much thicker, the character designer's shorthand for "this is a female!"
Plus, she has a thin waist and wider hips. I can't not see a lady.

Sorry, but I think you're seeing through a lense of wishful thinking. Link certainly doesn't have a very masculine physique, I can even see how the gender could be up for debate, but I can also definitely see it not being a lady too. If you think somehow it's impossible for males to have thin waists please google "human skeleton".

 

[rasputin0009]

It all depends on the dungeons. They better be huge puzzles, not like that Skyward Sword bullshit. Worst game of all time (hyperbole).

They say it's going to be released 2015, but it'll be pushed back at least another 2 years just like SS.

Also, Link is still a boy. A very androgynous boy like he always has been, but a boy nonetheless. It'd be cool if Nintendo gave a choice of gender, but I highly doubt they want to take that big of a risk with their 2nd (3rd?) most important franchise. Ya, it's sad that it's a risk, but ya know, prevalent cultural stigmas.

 

[Lotet]

Also, maybe I'm in the minority on this opinion, but I don't really care for how sci-fi the series is starting to get. If I wanted a game where you fight tentacled robots with an exploding projectile weapon I'd play Metroid.

The series has had Golems and Lasers for a long time. Link to the Past is the oldest game I finished and it had them.

 

[Olas]

Also, maybe I'm in the minority on this opinion, but I don't really care for how sci-fi the series is starting to get. If I wanted a game where you fight tentacled robots with an exploding projectile weapon I'd play Metroid.

The series has had Golems and Lasers for a long time. Link to the Past is the oldest game I finished and it had them.

Ya I know. It's not just the existence of lasers or animated stone objects though; it's the feel of it. Usually those kind of enemies have a stiff rigidity to them that gives the impression that they're just statues brought to life with magic. The creature in this trailer looked like something out of a Star Wars movie. Heck, even Star Wars droids aren't usually this advanced looking. Not to mention Link's Mass-Effect Omni-blade arrows.

I know I'm overreacting, it's just a teaser anyway, who knows what the game will actually be like.

 

[Keiichi Morisato]

Zelda Scrolls: Hyrule.

Looks seriously pretty, and I love Link's design.

that's not actually Link... Ounuma himself even hinted that.

 

[Lotet]

Also, maybe I'm in the minority on this opinion, but I don't really care for how sci-fi the series is starting to get. If I wanted a game where you fight tentacled robots with an exploding projectile weapon I'd play Metroid.

The series has had Golems and Lasers for a long time. Link to the Past is the oldest game I finished and it had them.

Ya I know. It's not just the existence of lasers or animated stone objects though; it's the feel of it. Usually those kind of enemies have a stiff rigidity to them that gives the impression that they're just statues brought to life with magic. The creature in this trailer looked like something out of a Star Wars movie. Heck, even Star Wars droids aren't usually this advanced looking. Not to mention Link's Mass-Effect Omni-blade arrows.

I know I'm overreacting, it's just a teaser anyway, who knows what the game will actually be like.

The closest I can think of to the thing in the trailer would be Gohdan from Wind Waker. One of the giant floating heads with floating hands that appeared in a few games. Though it only moves smoothly because it flies. It also fires a stream of explosive ranged attacks.

But yeah, this new enemy is much more like the robot from The Incredibles.

 

[Scribblesense]

Actually, it might not be Link at all. I'm not sure about this news source but:

http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/10/zelda-creator-teases-that-we-didnt-see-link-in-wii-u-trailer/

Apparently Eiji Aonuma said "No on explicitly said that that was Link." So...girl character confirmed?

Yep, it's looking more and more likely that Link will be female, or there will be a playable female character.

It could be Aryll, his sister from Wind Waker, or Zelda, or some male or female character we don't know yet - but I'm betting it's a female Link. Aunoma could be hinting at there being multiple playable characters - a co-op open world Zelda game like Four Swords? That could be why Epona (or whoever the horse is) has a slightly different design, and why this character doesn't seem to have a sword and shield. There could be multiple playable characters each with their own special weapons and abilities.

Damnit, Nintendo, stop teasing us and just tell us already!

 

[waj9876]

All this talk about Link being male, female, or not even being Link at all has got me thinking...

Character creation/customization?

Or it could be a "We never said it was Link, that's true...but we also never said it wasn't Link." situation.

 

[Brockyman]

Pic #3 looks promising!

Now, if only hadn't abandoned consoles after the Gamecube... Now I would have to invest too much money, as my only (seldomly used) TV is an ancient CRT with a rather noticably green-tinted picture

It has HDMI, so you could hook it up to a monitor?

 

[Brockyman]

Actually, it might not be Link at all. I'm not sure about this news source but:

http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/10/zelda-creator-teases-that-we-didnt-see-link-in-wii-u-trailer/

Apparently Eiji Aonuma said "No on explicitly said that that was Link." So...girl character confirmed?

Yep, it's looking more and more likely that Link will be female, or there will be a playable female character.

It could be Aryll, his sister from Wind Waker, or Zelda, or some male or female character we don't know yet - but I'm betting it's a female Link. Aunoma could be hinting at there being multiple playable characters - a co-op open world Zelda game like Four Swords? That could be why Epona (or whoever the horse is) has a slightly different design, and why this character doesn't seem to have a sword and shield. There could be multiple playable characters each with their own special weapons and abilities.

Damnit, Nintendo, stop teasing us and just tell us already!

Maybe they'll let you pick if your Hero of Time is male or female ala Pokemon? (or any other RPG in the last 10 years)

 

[dragongit]

Really? All this freakout because Link has a Pony Tail? Guys can have pony tails. I know it's become a popular meme that they are unkempt nerds, but it does exist.

I haven't seen people flip their shit this much since they decided to give him Pants. It's the bangs you need to pay attention to, those side burns are unmistakably his. Besides this might just be pre green tunic, a lot of the games have him roaming around until the gods decide to shove him into his familiar costume.

 

[NoeL]

Rather than quoting everyone I'll just say it:

THAT IS NOT LINK! [http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/10/zelda-creator-teases-that-we-didnt-see-link-in-wii-u-trailer/]

Game looks amazing though. Wished there was more of it.

Nevermind, totally ninja'd.

 

[waj9876]

Rather than quoting everyone I'll just say it:

THAT IS NOT LINK! [http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/10/zelda-creator-teases-that-we-didnt-see-link-in-wii-u-trailer/]

Game looks amazing though. Wished there was more of it.

Not necessarily, no one may have said it was Link, buy no one has come out and said it wasn't.

 

[Flashmanic]

Really? All this freakout because Link has a Pony Tail? Guys can have pony tails. I know it's become a popular meme that they are unkempt nerds, but it does exist.

I haven't seen people flip their shit this much since they decided to give him Pants. It's the bangs you need to pay attention to, those side burns are unmistakably his. Besides this might just be pre green tunic, a lot of the games have him roaming around until the gods decide to shove him into his familiar costume.

I don't think anyone here is 'flipping their shit'. People are just speculating on whether this new iteration is going to have a female lead. I can't find a single person in this thread that seems aggressive or angry about the prospect.

 

[Sewa_Yunga]

Now that I've seen the video, I'd say that's Zelda posing as Link to draw that thing's attention away from the actual Link, so he can sneak in somewhere. Hence the cowl/scarf, ponytail, lack of a sword and right-handedness.

 

[Gizen]

Looks pretty. People you do realize this is going to be coming out on Nintendo hardware right... ..Your expectations... start lowering.

I don't see why. While the Wii U is no PS4 or Xbone, it's certainly more powerful of a machine than most people give it credit for. If nothing else, it can at least do PS3/360 levels of graphical power, and just because those systems have been replaced doesn't mean they suddenly become slouches. They're still plenty capable of putting out amazing looking games. On top of that, Nintendo has long used art style over adherence to strict realism specifically because it allows them to make games that look better than they should.

As such, I see no reason to lower my expectations about the game's visuals.

I am a bit wary of Open Worldness, but that statement as a whole is vague, and without more concrete info it's impossible to judge one way or another.

As for male/female Link... I didn't even consider it might be female til someone pointed it out. Looking as closely as I can... It seems inconclusive. I THINK I see the barest hint of perhaps a very very small bust size? But it could just as easily be the way the cloth falls over his chest mixed with the lighting. A female Link would be awesome for throwing a curve ball and introducing more strong ladies to gaming, but I'm not entirely convinced that's the case here. Link has a history of looking fairly androgynous, I fully expect him to still be a man. But we can dream.

EDIT: Noticed the people posting to that Gamesbeat story where Aonuma said we may not be looking at Link, and I find myself raising my hopes. To play a Zelda game as someone other than Link, as someone who might be female... It would be so drastically different, and I would freaking love it. I don't see it being Zelda herself, it just doesn't look enough like her to me. Possibly a child of Link/Zelda? Or just simply a new incarnation of Link who just so happens to be female? Doesn't even matter. Gimme gimme gimme!

 

[Hero of Lime]

Aonuma's comment of the person in the trailer not being Link is really messing me(and pretty much the rest of the Zelda fanbase)up. What does he mean?! There is evidence that supports both sides.

It is Link:

Obviously it looks like him, when most people first saw the character, they assumed it was Link.

It's a Zelda game, so of course the main character is supposed to be the Link we all know and love.

It isn't Link:

Aonuma's made so many comments about wanting to really surprise players with Zelda U. One way to do this would be to include another playable character.

The character slightly looks more feminine than Link usually does, though this other character does not have to be female to be different from Link.

He/She is more accustomed to using the bow, maybe we can choose to either be the traditional Link with a sword, shield, and a variety of tools, or a character that focuses on other weapons more, like the bow.

He/She is right-handed. Which technically may not mean anything, but usually Link is only made right-handed if the control scheme requires motion controls, and I am pretty sure Zelda U will use the gamepad for more traditional controls.

I may have more points to suggest this character isn't Link, but I can't really say either way. I doubt Aonuma was trolling, there must be something to that comment.