New IGN interview: Link has no sword? Not TP sequel

IGN: At your developer roundtable this week, you showed off a single piece of artwork from the next Wii Zelda game. This piece of art has not yet been released publicly, but we noticed that Link appears to have grown to full adulthood. He looks older than he did in Twilight Princess. Is that a correct assumption?

Shigeru Miyamoto: Well, the story setting for this Zelda is, of course, in a completely different era and Link is older than he was previously. More approaching adulthood. There is one hint. Maybe from the art work you can see that he's not holding a sword.

IGN: Has he lost his Master Sword?

Shigeru Miyamoto: [Laughing] I just wanted to make sure that you understand we are making it. That's all I'm going to say on that subject.

IGN: Does the game follow the story progression of Twilight Princess or is it something completely different?

Shigeru Miyamoto: I can't go into details except to say that it's something completely different.

IGN: You just mentioned that the game audience is shrinking and that Nintendo is always looking for ways to entice new players. Is this something that you're thinking about for the new Zelda, too, or is there a separation where that's off limits because the franchise is traditionally hardcore?

Shigeru Miyamoto: I think we do this with Mario and Zelda as well. When we are working on the plans for them, we are trying to come up with ways where we can satisfy our longtime fans and bring new players into the franchises as well. That's something we're always looking at. However, when I get involved in a title, I focus a lot on more experience and the more advanced gameplay elements. If I get into it, there's a tendency for difficulty levels to ramp up so that's something I really have to watch for myself to make sure that I don't do that.

IGN: Twilight Princess obviously started on GameCube and then came to Wii. We remember you saying that the team wanted to do more visually with the game for Wii, but ran out of time. So can we assume the visuals for this new game will set a new bar for Wii graphics?

Shigeru Miyamoto: Well, yeah, again I can't say anything in detail about the graphics in-game or anything like that. But I can tell you, as you just pointed out, that Twilight Princess was developed and ran on both hardwares while this new game will be only on Wii, so I think there are some expectations as to what it will be since we are focused on this console.


http://wii.ign.com/articles/991/991714p1.html

I'm still reading the interview. Sorry if old or unneeded.

Edit: So there you have it. Link has no sword, maybe that's a new part of the gameplay, sword fighting and non-sword fighting. xD AWESOOOOME! HYPE HYPE! This game is totally starting the series from scratch. The Zelda development team is working on a whole bunch of new things! So excited about not knowing what the heck is going on! (BTW the tiny leaked blurry picture is real)

How can he have no sword? when Miyamoto said about the Motion Plus??. Cool though!

Unless he's gonna have a gun or something..He did say a new "era". I read on, he hinted about the graphics being better, I'm thinking the graphics will just be an upgraded one of TP

Link lost his sword... Hmmm what kind of games is Miyamoto playing with us Zelda fans.... And why didn't they asked about the girl??

And I'm happy the game is different then Twilight Princess

Originally Posted by BennyLoz

How can he have no sword? when Miyamoto said about the Motion Plus??. Cool though!

Unless he's gonna have a gun or something..He did say a new "era" and he's older now..

I'm sure he'll have a sword at some point. Link's never gone a game without a sword before...I think they're just trying to make part of "new theme" be all swordless Link and Sword-having Link. (kinda like the wolf in TP?)

A swordless Link? Sounds interesting. Maybe he'll have some sort of magical sword that he can summon at any time, kinda like how twilight magic worked in TP? Just a thought.

At any rate, this is quite an interesting little bit of information. Now I really can't wait to hear more on this game!

For some reason I'm thrilled with the idea of having an even more grown up Link X)

Or he has no sword at all, remember what he said before? The next Zelda game will be completely different? Perhaps he gets rid of all his weapons and just talks with his enemies and tries to resolve their differences through discussion?

Yeah me too, I thought TP Link looked horrible, he was I dunno not cool or something.... I still prefer an older Link around the 20's....

Yeah swordless Link, kickboxing Link or more magic in Zelda....

Maybe it's better that the game is not continuing the TP story.

Originally Posted by L176

Maybe it's better that the game is not continuing the TP story.

I do think it's the sequal of TP, because of the older Link and the same TP style that was confirmed, however I don't think this game will have any ties with the twilight realm or with Midna.

Nintendo please just please don't give us another annoying sidekick that does all the thinking...

I think he just doesn't have a sword at that point in time in the game...

The thing you should know. Miyamoto didn't show people a concept art. He showed them the main art of the game. The drawing basically shows the theme of the game. So I think a swordless Link is a big part of the game's new theme, as well as the glowy chick...But of course he'll have a sword and bow since Miyamoto mentioned that when comparing Wii Zelda to Wii Sports Resort.

Maybe the sword desighn just isn't finished yet....

It's good that many different medias have Miyamoto interviews since then he will be giving more exclusive material (Gives something new in every interview).

Originally Posted by Linksoer

Maybe the sword desighn just isn't finished yet....

Wouldn't they just put in a preliminary version of the sword, then?

I reckon if "swordless" is that important, he'll probably partner with that chick from the poster. Someone at ZI suggested that the girl probably has some magical power that'll serve as Link's "weapons" throughout the game.

Originally Posted by Zeldablue777

I'm sure he'll have a sword at some point. Link's never gone a game without a sword before...I think they're just trying to make part of "new theme" be all swordless Link and Sword-having Link. (kinda like the wolf in TP?)

I think so too. Maybe they're designing him to have a different primary weapon this time, giving more focus to the bow or maybe even a crossbow? They just can't pass on MotionPlus-based sword fighting, it's too awesome to leave out

Considering many other games that have awesome graphics on Wii, we can all safely assume that Zelda Wii will set the bar for Wii graphics.

I'm also excited about the new era. It could mean anything, future (more machine/industrial era) or a more basic age with not many technological advances. I just hope they won't have floating cities and flying machines (Final Fantasy).

EDIT: Now we just need confimation on orchestrated music.

Originally Posted by Artemicion

I reckon if "swordless" is that important, he'll probably partner with that chick from the poster. Someone at ZI suggested that the girl probably has some magical power that'll serve as Link's "weapons" throughout the game.

or the game could play like ico.

really cool if you go most the game without a sword

Originally Posted by Artemicion

I reckon if "swordless" is that important, he'll probably partner with that chick from the poster. Someone at ZI suggested that the girl probably has some magical power that'll serve as Link's "weapons" throughout the game.

NOOOOOoooo not another sidekick Link needs to help him out with his quest.... Let the poor man do it alone! Or give him a fairy or something with a less important story!

I'm also excited about the new era. It could mean anything, future (more machine/industrial era) or a more basic age with not many technological advances. I just hope they won't have floating cities and flying machines (Final Fantasy).

I think ''Era'' just means that this game wont have any direct connection to any other game. For example ALttP is in a different ''era'' than OoT.