By: Daniel "DSCUBED" Friedlaender
So, I haven't gotten my Nintendo Power in the mail yet. I'm starting to think that maybe my subscription expired...*checks* Yep, expired. *renews* Alright, I renewed it.

Thank goodness for internet people who are willing to transcribe these interviews. Anyway, Miyamoto has recently talked a little about the art style of the upcoming Wii Zelda. Here's what he had to say:

"I don’t think it’s going to change dramatically. We are doing it on the Wii [console]. That being said, we can look at Twilight Princess - it was built to run on both GameCube and Wii, and this one will be running only on Wii, so I think there will be differences inherent to the fact that it’s only on this platform."

It's understandable that we will see some better-looking visuals considering the sheer graphical power of the Wii is greater than that of the GameCube, but it appears that we won't see much change.

I would wonder if this means that we will see an art style identical to Twilight Princess conceptually. For example, many would say that Twilight Princess featured an art style that was darker, and landscapes that felt more expansive. Should we expect to see these things in the next Wii Zelda? There isn't enough from this excerpt to say, but I'd be interested in hearing what you guys think.

Source

EDIT: Nice! I found a NeoGAF posting of the entire portion on Zelda. There is some really juicy stuff here...kinda. Here it is:


NP: We've heard from a lot of people who are under the impression that the next console Zelda game is going to be something radically different from what we've seen in the past. Is that the case?

Miyamoto: No, I don't think it's going to be that radically different. Accessible gameplay. Something that we're going to look at focusing within that 3-D realm is really highlighting the things that are important within the Zelda franchise--the actions that Link can take. I think it's easy to maybe overthink it because you're in that 3-D realm of all the different things you should be doing or try to be doing, and really what's important to understand is what's available to you, and just focus down on what's best suited for that rather than just trying to implement a whole bunch of different things.

NP: The artwork that you showed fort he upcoming Wii Zelda title seemed a lot like the art for Twilight Princess. Are you going to carry over Twilight Princess' art style?

Miyamoto: I don't think it's going to change dramatically. We are doing it on the Wii [console]. That being said, we can look at Twilight Princess--it was built to run on both GameCube and Wii, and this one will be running only on Wii, so I think there will be differences inherent to the fact that it's only on this platform.

NP: And, of course, everyone wants to know exactly who that female character is in the illustration.

Miyamoto: Yeah, that's probably the most important part of that artwork. I really can't talk too much about [it]; one thing that's important to note in that artwork, though, is that Link is carrying a shield, but that's all he's carrying.

NP: Now, before you showed the image, you talked about wanting everybody to have unique, personal memories of their adventures in Hyrule. Is that something you're actually trying to implement in the game--a personalized Zelda experience for every player?

Miyamoto: Every person's own individual experiences with the game should be unique and [be] their own sort of "My Zelda" experience, and I think that's super important, and we have to look at that when we're creating dungeons and how we can make that come true. So spending a lot of time concentrating our efforts in that area. But it's not going to become individual: "Hi, I'm this Zelda!" or "I'm this Zelda!" or "I'm this Link!" or whatever. The experience will be unique but within this world that we've defined.


Source

It's awesome that they're using the wiimotionplus for this one.

Well it's all out now, Nintendo plan to give nothing new to the core gamers. What we have is the same old mario games, same crappy casual games, and now same old zelda.
All Mario and Zelda games have been completely different from each other, but sadly Nintendo have now broken that trend. Lame.

Well, they still can be different, just not in art style. I mean, look at all this business about Link only having a shield.

It's probably because they can't offer a whole lot more to the game without spending another year or two on it. We should at least be happy about how they are trying to add something new instead of keeping it completely the same as the super mario series. Besides it's not like they can keep all elements of the next game the same as all the super mario games.

God, this is retarded. Who says it's the same????

He said it wont be that drastically different...THAT DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT. How do you get "not that drastically different = THE SAME"??? >_<

I think by "not drastically different" he means it won't be a different game. Like a first person Zelda, or a reboot of the series.

It'll be Zelda...that's it. What is wrong with that?
It'll be as different as any past Zeldas have been to one another. Maybe more.

The art style might be similar? Ok, what's bad about that? TP had AMAZING art direction, one of the reasons why it looked so damn good. And btw, MM had THE EXACT SAME art style as OoT, for example. PH and ST borrow from TWW as well. OoX from LA.

It'll still have its one flavor to it, I'm sure. He said it wont be that different, but it still sounds like it won't just reuse everything for it. I'm sure it'll be a beautiful-looking game, and maybe Link will be the coolest-looking one yet (TP being my personal favorite so far).

I think that all that "only shield" stuff, means that the girl or boy, is the master-sword, or maybe a totally new sword, Miyamoto is practically saing it, were he say:
"I really can't talk too much about [it]"
and the thing's outfit looks like the master-sword's details. But only Miyamoto knows the true...

So it is ALMOST confirmed that the new Zelda on wii will have the Tp artstyle. I hoped for a different style, but it probably won't happen. Well, with sharper visuals and interesting gameplay it could still blow me away.

So it IS confirmed that lame casual players can skip chapters of the game :|

I must say, one thing that definitely haven't changed from TP is people speculating that a major character is the Master Sword. It was a lame theory when it was Midna, and it's still lame. Actually, now it's worse because Link is a Hylian on that concept art.

And, Link have used other swords. Heck, the original Link didn't wield the Master Sword AT ALL! So, why do Miyamoto's statement that the important thing in the artwork is that Link is not holding a sword mean that the girl is the Master Sword?

In fact, that quite easily disproves the theory, because he would have wielded a different sword. Heck, we don't even know if the Master Sword is in this game! Do only explanation I can think of why it's so important to note is if Link is a spellcaster. You can't cast spells while wielding a sword!

Uh Evilslayer, the first link did weild the master sword
-_-' and that chick is designed like th manter swords handle, so thats how they came up with the theory, so think for a second before trashing stuff OK

@Evilslayer: "You can't cast spells while wielding a sword!" Um. Says who? Link seems to be able to do a great many things while wielding a sword in the past.
As for the girl. It's obviously related to the Master Sword if not the Master Sword directly. The similarities in her design are far too obvious the be coincidence.

@onilink190: he meant the first Link we were introduced to in TLoZ/TAoL. That Link didn't have the Master Sword.

I regard the content here predominantly related to artistic style rather than gameplay, so I hold little quelm over the supposed claim of this future title lacking innovation. Assuming that it will be utilsing the envisaged benefits of WiiMotion plus, we can safely assume that the gameplay will branch sufficiently from previous titles. Too, personally, I sense that Nintendo has learnt from the experience of Twilight Princess - prudently I deem it justified logic to withold a positive inflection that Nintendo will create a title that exists solidly in it's own standing - something they seldom fail to achieve with their core franchises.

Remember that we have merely seen an early artistic impression - indeed the first piece of new content in that image sufficiently (understatement) intrigued us all. I deem it understandable that Miyamoto is playing down the notion of radical change - the Zelda franchise is ordinarily quite traditional to it's core ideals.

No matter what changes...We are all going to BUY the new Zelda even if some are not happy with Nintendo's direction.

...nice vocabulary Trueface...unnecessarily fancy.

"Link seems to be able to do a great many things while wielding a sword in the past. "

Except cast spells. At least, in OoT he had to put his sword away. Remember? Din's Fire, Farore's Wind, Nayru's Love..

I'm with Evilslayer...its a ridiculous theory.

I hope by "Personalized" he doesn't mean that instead of Link you play as your mii :P

But in all seriousness he DID point out at the end of the interview that people won't say "I'm THIS Zelda" or "I'm THIS Link" So maybe you can play through the game as either character(?) I don't know, thought that'd be cool though

@Santuli:You then infact think he's gonne be a spell caster? In the last thread you even agreed with my theory. Anyhow im sticking to my guns. Link will weild a sword in one form or another.

Oh no, I meant I agreed with what he said against the MS-fairy theory...not necessarily that his main form of attacking will be spells. Though we shouldn't rule out magic. Its usually in the game.

Of course he'll wield a sword! Why would we have a Link that doesnt fight with a sword? :P

If Miyamoto is commenting on the sword absence, this immediately grants higher significance. Theories surrounding the image aside, it is likely a prudent standpoint to assume that this current absence of a sword has a direct corelation to the use of Wiimotion plus. However, this truly is stating the obvious.

I have no problems with the art styles being similar to Twilight Princess. Personally, TP was a graphically superior OoT. This new one should be a graphically semi-superior TP. Which is alright with me! Just be happy we aren't seeing any signs of a Paper Zelda (or unhappy, if that's your thing).

As for gameplay... The jump from button-mashing swordplay to swinging swordplay was pretty big. The jump from swinging swordplay to full-on Wii Motion Plus swordplay is going to be phenomenal. Even if this new Zelda were to follow the toonshaded route, the Wind Waker haters would still be enthralled by that kind of combat realism.

But the swordlessness issue is simple. Link's got a gun!

I think all Miyamoto means is that it won't be a "steampunk" Zelda, and the last thing he wants is for fans to start speculating about THAT. And it won't be a "futuristic" Zelda, or a "caveman" Zelda, or whatever!

IT'LL BE ZELDA AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH!

Basically, it sounds like he's saying, "Duh. The graphics will be better, there'll be a few new things to experience, but it will still be the Zelda experience. What else do you want from me? a new core title?"

Excuse the outburst.

I totally agree with stormcloud. People are getting so angry when no one really knows anything yet. Zelda games all run on the same premise, and it will be fun no matter what. Some people are angry that it will be similar to Twilight Princess; but, Majora's Mask was the same graphically as Ocarina of Time and had an entirely different experience.

No matter what is to come, I'm super excited! I trust in Miyamoto =]