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E309 | New Zelda Wii Art Hits the Web

By Jorge Ba-oh (jb)

38441 on 05.06.2009 at 10:50

E309 | New Zelda Wii Art Hits the Web on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

Earlier this week Nintendo's famed designer Shigeru Miyamoto showed an artwork concept from the upcoming Zelda game for Wii.

Nintendo held a roundtable with the designer earlier this week, and a high-resolution snap of the artwork has finalyl done the web rounds. It boasts our favourite Hylian hero standing taller and seemingly older than before, shield in hand but missing a sword in the other.

Infront is a little glowing chap/chapette that many have speculated as a living, breathing shape-shifted Master Sword.

Image for E309 | New Zelda Wii Art Hits the Web

Thanks to Kotaku.

What do you think of the continued Twilight Princess style, and what do you make of Link's new companion/enemy?

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Jump_button on 05.06.2009 at 10:59#1

Smilie cant wait for next years E3

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Stulaw on 05.06.2009 at 11:01#2

I thought it was a Zora at first, but then I saw the post jump made about it actually looking like the Queen of the Fairies in Wind Waker, and it does.

( Edited 05.06.2009 10:02 by Stulaw )

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SuperLink on 05.06.2009 at 11:03#3

Interesting. Link looks very tall there, but he could easily be an older version of his TP self.

That kinda looks like the Fairy Queen from Wind Waker, but a lot taller.

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Jump_button on 05.06.2009 at 11:08#4

and i really think she look like she grow up from the queen fairy from WW Smilie as well

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Simes on 05.06.2009 at 11:15#5

She's the Master Sword Smilie

SuperLink on 05.06.2009 at 11:18#6

Simez said:
She's the Master Sword

Nothing's for certain. Smilie

Her similarities to the Fairy Queen are undeniable.

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The Strat Man on 05.06.2009 at 11:25#7

I really hope the game maintains this artwork's vibe. It looks darker, more serious, and I like how Link seems more mature. I quite like the idea of that charecter being a shape-shifted Master Sword too. It kind of makes sense, we all know they're going to put an enphasis on sword fighting/wii-mote swinging. Smilie

Just a shame we're going to be waiting for so long. I wonder if I'll still have a Wii by the time its out. I keep trying to sell it.

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Marzy on 05.06.2009 at 11:35#8

I\'m sure I read somewhere that Miyamoto said it\'s planned to be released next year. I feel it will be the year after though, in my opinion. Miyamoto has also said Link will be older and it will even be set in a different era.

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( Edited 05.06.2009 10:54 by Marzy )

Wolvesgod on 05.06.2009 at 11:47#9

Hey his right hand is his sword hand too.
Maybe it could be a follower to spirit tracks too as well.

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SuperLink on 05.06.2009 at 12:09#10

Marzy said:
I'm sure I read somewhere that Miyamoto said it's planned to be released next year. I feel it will be the year after though, in my opinion. Miyamoto has also said Link will be older and it will even be set in a different era.

In Miyamoto's meeting, he said a 2010 release is possible but 2011 is much more likely.

And, I'm glad it's set in a different era, but I'm annoyed that he looks the same.

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Stulaw on 05.06.2009 at 12:34#11

He looks more like the Link from the Ocarina of Time Era than the Twilight Princess Era with that parting in his Hair.

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Canyarion on 05.06.2009 at 12:35#12

Maybe his sword won't be his main weapon. With the Wiimote+, they could give him many interesting weapons. Maybe a whip (like in Spirit Tracks), a morningstar, a magic wand to shoot fireballs... Maybe even a bow/sword combination like Pit has.

I've heard interesting theories of Link going into the fairy world. Maybe to find the Master Sword.

Oh, another thing I thought of: it would be cool if you could change your weapon by saying the name to Wii Speak. Smilie "Bow! Boomerang!"
It would be faster than trying to reach the D-pad.

SuperLink on 05.06.2009 at 12:47#13

In any case I hope this \"Mistress Sword\" as some people are calling it, or fairy, or whatever, has an important role to the series that isn\'t just \"game centered object #4516\". Know what I mean?

EDIT:

Compare bitches!
There\'s definitely a difference with the hair, but the face shape, the shade of his tunic and the stitches of his hat all smell of TP Link.

However, Miyamoto said it was a different era afterall... Will it be a new era, or a return to an old one... The only Link with parted hair like that is Ocarina/Majora Link.

Alas, that Link is left handed. It\'s most likely that this is just a new Link.

( Edited 05.06.2009 12:04 by SuperLink )

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Stulaw on 05.06.2009 at 14:59#14

Maybe she (i'm assuming it's a girl) turns in to all sorts of weapons, like a metamorph. Maybe you can upgrade her in the process, as she gets stronger, so does the weapons, i.e. more of an RPG element there.

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Birdo Is A Tranny on 05.06.2009 at 15:30#15

Stulaw said:
Maybe she (i'm assuming it's a girl) turns in to all sorts of weapons, like a metamorph. Maybe you can upgrade her in the process, as she gets stronger, so does the weapons, i.e. more of an RPG element there.

Thats exactly what I was thinking, she definately has something to do with the master sword. Me thinks were going to revisit WW era or a whole new era. If it was one of the normal era's (Hyrule) the plains would be a backround, if he had made a water backround it would have been too obvious. Looks like Link is entering some sort of firery cavern (Most likely Dungeon).

knighty on 05.06.2009 at 15:31#16

Darkflame on 05.06.2009 at 15:40#17

I think it would be funny if the swordgirl could wield a link-sword Smilie

I love the artwork...and I hope its the same link as TP. (Same console normaly = Same link).

My only concern is a talking sword is *very* cliche.
I dont think she will make as good a companion as Midna.

2011 is fine by me as well.
Allthough for this extended development time I will expect some huge advances in gameplay beyond just 1:1 Sword fighting.

I\'m a massive fan of Majoras Mask, but I expect the difference between this and TP should be MUCH greater then that one to OoT was given this development time.

( Edited 05.06.2009 14:41 by Darkflame )

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ohm on 05.06.2009 at 16:23#18

She looks like an upside down mastersword. I guess its pretty much official, transforming sword. Hopefully this will introduce a new inventory system.

Darkflame on 05.06.2009 at 17:30#19

Dunno, Twlight Princess's inventory seemed as fast as possible. Cant imagine a better one in terms of "easy/speed to select items".

Id like to see more combo items though for puzzles.
(as long as it doesn't descend into ridiculous point and click territory)

Having, say, your sword get too hot to hold when fighting a fireboss would be cool though. Link drops the sword if that happens, and in order to defeat the boss you gota first wrap your sword hilt in something. (like a nearby dired vine or leaf). With the sword holdable when hot, you could then heat it up on the boss's own breath, and then piece its armour with your (currently) molten hot sword.

I think there could be lots of on-the-fly puzzles done like that. Using stuff in the enviroment rather then always being purely about what items you got perminately.

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E-Dracon on 05.06.2009 at 17:39#20

that is some awesome artwork right there.... *wants a poster of it*

SuperLink on 05.06.2009 at 17:44#21

Darkflame said:
I love the artwork...and I hope its the same link as TP. (Same console normaly = Same link).

It\'s set in a different era. Not only has Miyamoto said so but this Link is the first canonically right handed Link in Zelda history, so it can\'t be any other Link.

ohm said:
She looks like an upside down mastersword. I guess its pretty much official, transforming sword. Hopefully this will introduce a new inventory system.

I still think she\'s connected to the Fairy Queen. But if she is the sword then I think Knighty\'s matchup suits her best.

Here are some theories I posted in another forum.

- We really don\'t know much about the faries, perhaps it will have something to do with the Fairy world.
- The Queen Fairy was clearly still young in Wind Waker. If this is the Queen Fairy grown older than this could be the future of the Great Sea.
- If the Queen Fairy is somehow connected to the Master Sword (similarities to both can\'t really be denied) then maybe the Master Sword has its origins related to fairies?
- The Queen Fairy may become the Mistress Sword, implying that this Link could be an anti Link of sorts. He may have a darker personality (doesn\'t mean he\'ll be a twat or anything necessarily), he\'s right handed, he has the Mistress Sword as opposed to the Master Sword.
- I hope hope hope it drastically changes the way we see certain events in the series. Still a firm believer of the chronology.
My favourite idea is the anti-Link idea, as it would offer a perfect canonical explanation for the switch of hands, rather than Nintendo just ignoring the inconsistency completely...

( Edited 05.06.2009 16:44 by SuperLink )

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Simes on 05.06.2009 at 17:53#22

Until Twilight Princess Wii Link was left handed as evident in Knighty's picture above.

Canyarion on 05.06.2009 at 18:03#23

Birdo Is A Tranny said:

Looks like Link is entering some sort of firery cavern (Most likely Dungeon).
Some suggest it's a portal into something. Hopefully not the Twilight World, because I didn't like it in TP. Maybe the supposed Fairy World... My only concern is that it could be too different from the other Zelda worlds. I want to feel at home in the area where I play.

SuperLink on 05.06.2009 at 18:13#24

Simez said:
Until Twilight Princess Wii Link was left handed as evident in Knighty's picture above.

Huh? Twilight Princess Link is Left handed like all Links before him. He's only right handed in the Wii version, which is flipped.

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Ifrit XXII on 05.06.2009 at 20:20#25

It could be a grown up WW Link. Which hand he uses does seem like something Nintendo would be willing to let slide and ignore because of how the Wii remote is used. He was young in Wind Waker/PH so he may have discovered that using his right hand was easier as he got older. Smilie Or maybe his left arm got badly damaged and he can\'t swing with it anymore.

I think it\'s either that or just a completely new Link. Smilie

( Edited 05.06.2009 19:21 by wAyNe - sTaRT )