New gameplay footage for The Legend of Zelda Wii U has been released. With a guided demo, Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma give a quick in game demonstration, showcase of new mechanics, and an idea of how vast the open world map actually is….and it’s huge!
Aonuma adds how natural movements of Epona allow uninterrupted movement across land by avoiding trees etc in the dense areas. Aonuma shows how the thumb sticks are hardly used and only slight movements are needed and no constant left right movements to avoid objects. This is so important and rarely seen in huge open world games and causes so much delay in-between long distances. Getting stuck on objects can become frustrating. He even adds that you don’t see real horses running into trees very often.
With the above mechanic, Aonuma & Miyamoto explain that actions are easier to preform while on Epona; you can change camera angle freely, Link can swing a sword, and fire arrows from horseback, which is controlled by the gamepad but can aimed with ease. Actions such as vaulting from Epona while aiming causes a short slow motion fire mode for, what looks like, one shot only.
With Link, you can reach high peaks to view areas to scout objectives and a beaker will activate to create a marker to be set on your map, which is located on the Wii U’s gamepad.
One of the best sections within the trailer is the small banter between Aonuma & Miyamoto and assuring each other of release windows of 2015. Next, Aonuma adds a quick question regarding the new Star Fox title in development, asking Miyamoto how development is progressing. Miyamoto reply’s with a “no worries about Star Fox” in addition to cracking a grin, and then stating a release before Zelda Wii U. Then adding more fuel to the “on time development” fire to competitors by adding the even earlier 2015 release: Zelda Majora’s Mask for the 3DS. It seems that Nintendo are taking advantage of the vast amount of delayed/unfinished games being released on other platforms and are trying to add confidence to consumers by taking digs at competitors. Let’s hope Nintendo keeps to its word and delivers.
Up-to-now, Zelda is evolving in positive strides. Like previous games in the series, we have always seen something vastly different in each instalment we have seen in the past, yet keeping that Zelda charm, and it’s looking very promising. I cannot wait to roam the vast open world with Link and dive into the new gameplay experiences in 2015.
