Zelda: Skyward Sword Upgrades Explained in a New Trailer

By Jorge Ba-oh 14.09.2011 17

Zelda: Skyward Sword Upgrades Explained in a New Trailer on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

Nintendo want you know to that the next Legend of Zelda adventure will have an upgrades - a new trailer explains the process.

Skyward Sword is set to revitalise the long-running series with new control mechanics and a streamlined overworld design. One of the newer aspects is a more advanced upgrading system than past outings, requiring a little more effort to pimp out your tools.

Without giving too much away, it essentially means what you'd expect: Collecting materials scattered across the land and requesting the help of a slightly eccentric blacksmith who'll build you something sparkly in his Scrap Shop.

Want a slightly more durable shield? Better get slaying!

Box art for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Developer

Nintendo

Publisher

Nintendo

Genre

Action Adventure

Players

1

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  10/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  9/10 (28 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date Out now   Japan release date Out now   Australian release date Out now   

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Stulaw is offline. Stulaw 14.09.2011#1

So exactly as that IGN article said about "Zelda Learning from Skyrim", seriously, that guy really ignored that SS was coming out.

Follow Me on twitter :: @Stulaw90 || My Youtube || Backloggery
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Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 14.09.2011#2

Breaking equipment has NEVER been fun. Its a stupid game-lengthening backtrack forcing method.
Bad Nintendo. Very Very bad.
Keep the RPG out of my Zelda thanks - especialy if its the worst bits of RPGs.

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
 
Sasquach (guest) 14.09.2011#3

Absolutely agree with Darkflame. The whole RPG-style item upgrade system is tedious, and usually not essential to the completion of the game, if the DS Zelda games are to go by. The ship/train upgrades were unbelievably boring and unnecessary.

Duggler657 is offline. Duggler657 14.09.2011#4

Darkflame said:
Breaking equipment has NEVER been fun. Its a stupid game-lengthening backtrack forcing method.
Bad Nintendo. Very Very bad.
Keep the RPG out of my Zelda thanks - especialy if its the worst bits of RPGs.

Sasquach said:
Absolutely agree with Darkflame. The whole RPG-style item upgrade system is tedious, and usually not essential to the completion of the game, if the DS Zelda games are to go by. The ship/train upgrades were unbelievably boring and unnecessary.

Shields getting destroyed in some way in a Zelda game is nothing new. Remember Oracle of Ages/Seasons? (The games I swear to God this is taking after.) Like-likes would just devour your shield and you'd have to go back to a shop and buy one again. Same with the Ocarina of Time. Fire would burn up your wooden shield and you'd have to purchase one again.
Darkflame and Sasquach have totally valid points though. The big question is whether or not this "new" upgrade system is exclusive to the shield, or will it apply to other items like the hookshot? I can't imagine it does. An item breaking in the middle of a dungeon where its needed to solve a puzzle would be REALLY poor design.

 
Squidboy (guest) 14.09.2011#5

I think the new system is awesome, the inclusion of more complex RPG elements are needed.

irfy is offline. irfy 14.09.2011#6

But by upgrading your items and weapons you will easily get through the game, no? Plus you never know the boss's required upgraded item for them to defeat. Good implementation.

 
Stulaw is offline. Stulaw 14.09.2011#7

The upgrade system's fine, I doubt every item will brake, and from the E3 videos, there are upgrades found in dungeons as well, so I think the more necessary items will be fine.

Follow Me on twitter :: @Stulaw90 || My Youtube || Backloggery
NNID: Stulaw
 
meeto_0 is offline. meeto_0 14.09.2011#8

I love weapon upgrades and RPG elements. Im glad nintendo is finally experimenting with weapons. only shields break. Usually you dont have to upgrade. In RPGs you dont have to collect new tunics and accesories but the fun ones offer a range of new skills or status and change how your player looks.

Chrono trigger has a great side quest involving the rainbow shell. So ahead of its time but shows that such elements can be real fun.

Nintendo should tie in some of the side quests with new upgrades instead of rewarding players with rupees or heart pieces. That would give the player greater satisfaction.

( Edited 14.09.2011 11:26 by meeto_0 )

 
Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 14.09.2011#9

No, upgrades in Zelda games should do something fundimentaly new.

I've got nothing against, say, Shield>>Mirror Shield.
As that was a item that did something a bit different.

Even the difference between a lvl1 and a lvl2 sword in Links Awakening gave you a new function (being able to shot).
Likewise, different Tunics had different abilitys. Nothing wrong with that.

But upgrades like "breaks a bit less" dont add to the gameplay, it just means something that takes away from the gameplay takes away from the gameplay a bit less.

And, no, Squidboy, this does not in any way make the game "more complex" just longer &or more tedious.


Zelda should evolve - but by introducing actual new gameplay, not ripping of bits from RPGs. Honestly, its lazy development really - its very easy to make the game longer if you stick the player in a loop of

"defeat enemy, get item, upgrade, this lets you defeat bigger enemys as you have different stats"

Zelda games should not in any way copy that RPG gameplay formular.
Zelda games should be about giving the player a new expirence as often as possible. Items should all do fundimentaly different things, and the developers should try to imagine nice complex puzzles and interesting fighting mechcanics that makes use of those items abilitys.

Using a mirror shield to dazzle an enemy, then the hockshot to rip of his shield, then the sword to finnish the job is infinitely more interesting then. "oh, this enemy takes too many hits I need a better sword" or equivelent.

Same with the Ocarina of Time. Fire would burn up your wooden shield and you'd have to purchase one again.

True, which was also not fun, imho.
But at least that was something you could avoid. If the shield breaks merely by X number of hits, its unavoidable really.

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
 
crackedthesky is offline. crackedthesky 14.09.2011#10

Weaking and breaking are two different things. I don't see where it says your shield can be rendered completely ueless and force you to do all this "backtracking".

Also, saying the upgrades won't do anything new is premature. You've seen a video of one upgrade to one shield. Judging the entire upgrade system in a game said to have up to 100 hours of gameplay based on that is sort of jumping the gun.

NNID: crackedthesky
My blog, mostly about writing: http://www.davidjlovato.com
 
Squidboy (guest) 14.09.2011#11

I've been playing Zelda since it's launch and I've always wanted this kind of thing to happen. I like fiddling around with stuff and watching it effect and mould my own individual gameplay style. I don't like collecting stuff which has little use or impact to my adventure, but the opposite is something I welcome whole-heartedly.

The critically acclaimed Witcher 2 does exactly the same sort of thing, but it goes far deeper than this game is likely to with upgrades.

@Justonesp00Iturn
From what I gather, "The beetle" does a load of cool new stuff as it's upgraded. Nintendo's Bill Trinnen has said each new upgrade naturally encourages the player to experiment, and that these experiments result in huge pay-off's. It works for me.

Canyarion is offline. Canyarion 14.09.2011#12

Awe I didn't know it also spoiled how you take to the skies and drop to the ground. Smilie
But the upgrade system should be a great addition to Zelda. I guess they started it with the ship parts in Phantom Hourglass (man I loved that!). Smilie

 
lumaluna (guest) 14.09.2011#13

This looks so tame I bet it will only have a few upgrades like past Zeldas I want like 20 swords and shields!

PixelZomblina is offline. PixelZomblina 15.09.2011#14

I love the relics a lot! Smilie They're very pretty.

 
Squidboy (guest) 15.09.2011#15


Confirmed:

50-100hrs of Gameplay

100mins of Cinematic Cut-Scenes

Boss Challenge Mode

Optional Hint System

Jman (guest) 15.09.2011#16

I'm glad to see this change, and it's one that I've been wanting for a while now.
The current forumla is stale, whether fans want to admit it or not.
The idea of having a weapon and improving it throughout the game is fantastic, and much needed.

Grimreaper (guest) 16.09.2011#17

I like it now if they give you the option to paint your tunic the way you want it alone with decals.
I bet you can't upgrade your bombs to a bazooka version of bombs remember twilight princess or upgrade the bow to that I want one of those.
As soon as I saw that bazooka version I said I want oneSmilie .
I would like to have a function where you can get the enemies weapons and upgrade those.
But right now I'm satisfied with what I get.

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