So as it turns out, we’re not just just getting one Zelda game for Wii U next year--but
two of the. So for those of you accidentally clicked this video thinking it was an analysis
of the new Zelda Wii U--hi, you’ll find a link to the one you want in the description
below. For the rest of you--yep, Nintendo finally confirmed that Twilight Princess HD
is coming to the Wii U--sporting some upgraded visuals and a few new features as compared
to the GameCube and Wii originals. Now even though Twilight Princess HD isn’t technically
a new game, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some interesting details to point out based
on the small amount of footage we’ve seen so far. So come on analysis machine, give
us what you’ve got.
So right off the bat the trailer shows Link...who’s holding the Master Sword in his left hand,
which confirms that the game is primarily based on the GameCube version instead of the
Wii one, which had to mirror the entire world in order to accommodate a right-handed Link.
So the sun rose in the west and set in the east--yeah it was a bit weird. So if you’re
coming to this game from the Wii version, the world might seem somewhat new to you--as
well as being the version that the developers originally envisioned.
So with it being based on the GameCube version, it seems that Wii Remote support probably
fell by the wayside. And sure-enough, during the brief gameplay section, we can see the
familiar button-layout of the GamePad instead of the Wii Remote.
And here’s another change--you have 3-equippable item slots, assigned to X, Y, and R .
Which is one more than the GameCube one--but one less than the Wii’s 4. But in actuality,
3 of those in the Wii one were more like quick-access shortcuts, making the 3 true slots here an
improvement
But what about those B & A buttons? Well, since the Wii controls were drooped, that
means you’re going to need a button to swing your sword--which is almost certainly assigned
to “B” like almost every other Zelda game ever. As for “A,” well we can see it being
used by Link to make Epona gallop, confirming it’s the interact button--again like pretty
much every 3D Zelda either. Now normally those buttons would have a Sword icon and be labeled,
but we’re guessing they’re blank just due to this gaming being an early build.
Now moving to the other side of the screen, we can see a couple more details about the
controls. So it looks like you’ll be able to talk to your partner in crime, Midna, by
tapping the L-button , instead of Z on GameCube or up on the control-pad for the Wii. Whereas
pressing up in the HD version will serve as some kind of toggle for the map--but more
on that soon.
Now one of the big complaints about the original game--and especially the Wii version--was
the intrusive HUD. I mean, look at that mess--the map takes up like a quarter of the screen,
while the buttons are laid out like an actual Wii Remote, occupying the right edge of the
screen. Thankfully, we can immediately see this has been greatly improved for the HD
version. For one, check out that map--it’s now been consolidated to fix inside a small
little box. Next, everything else--including the button icons--have been shrunk and pushed
closer to the edge. Finally, the text-labels for the D-Pad have been replaced by an icon.
But for as much improved as it is, we wouldn’t be surprised if you could still turn off the
button-icons, much like how you could in the Wind Waker HD
\Okay, so that covers it for everything about the interface that we can see--but what about
what we can’t see? Because as you might have noticed, the controls and HUD layout
closely matches up with the other Zelda HD remake, being the Wind Waker HD. And we don’t
think that’s a coincidence, as we’d be very surprised if the game doesn’t borrow
other aspects of that one.
So for example, even though the Wii Remote may have been dropped, we don’t think motion-controls
are gone entirely. Because every single 3D Zelda remake has included them thus far, including
WWHD. So we’re pretty confident you’ll be able to use the GamePad to look around
and aim weapons like the bow & arrow while in 1st person this time too. Oh, and if the
developers wanted, they could even replicate the sound effects that emitted from the Wii
Remote through the GamePad’s speakers--although we have a feeling they’ll just play them
from the TV.
Then we have the GamePad’s touchscreen, which in Wind Waker HD offered instance access
to your map & inventory, allowing you to view your location or swap items in real-time without
pausing the game. And we’d be very surprised if either or both of those features don’t
return here as well. Especially given the fact that sorting your inventory while on
the move would give you something to do while riding horseback across the vast world. A
world so vast btw, that the small little map in the corner can’t quite do justice---which
is why it makes perfect sense to also have it displayed on the GamePad.
Although, there is one odd thing about that though--if the map’s displayed on the GamePad,
why is it listed as a D-Pad shortcut here? After all, the WWHD didn’t have one. So
we have a few ideas as to why that might. For one, it could just be a toggle for the
on-screen map--after all, Twilight Princess already had one, though it wasn’t labeled
on-screen. Or it might function like how the labeled map function did in the GameCube version,
bringing up a full-screen map overlay. But assuming that is the case, that would run
counter to the idea of displaying the map on the GamePad--because what would be the
point of having it both on the TV and the GamePad? So maybe that’s one feature from
WWHD that actually won’t carry-over-after all, Wind Waker HD didn’t display a map
on the TV at all...unless, that is, you were playing with the Pro Controller. So it’s
possible the footage we’ve seen so far was actually recorded using the Pro Controller--I
mean, we’re sure sure it’s going to be supported here too since it was in WWHD
Finally, we fully expect the right-stick to offer full camera control, just like it did
in WWHD. Which is actually a feature that was also exclusive to the GameCube version
of Twilight Princess.
Now before we move on, the trailer also gave us a quick look at some Wolf-Link gameplay,
which sort of reveals how his controls work, as represented by new fancy button icons.
And it seems to match up with the GameCube version, with the scent ability clearly being
assigned to X, B for attack, and Y looks like dig. Oddly, there’s no icon for “A”
yet, but we’re pretty sure it’ll be Dash.
Alright, and that covers it for all of the gameplay details we could find--I mean, besides
pointing out that everything else appears to be identical to the original games.
But seeing as this is an HD remake, you might be curious as to the improvements that have
been made.
Now at first glance, it might not look much effort went into updating the visuals. Such
as how the character models & environments still seem to have the same amount of polygons.
However, the game does look a lot sharper than before--and it’s not simply because
the game’s being rendered in HD now. Instead, as it turns out, the textures appear to be
getting a massive overhaul. And isn’t just because of some automated HD conversion software--the
developers clearly either went back to the original higher quality assets, or are redoing
them entirely for many of the textures.
Take Link here. You can now actually make out the chainmail underneath his sleeve. Then
there’s his shield--it looked a little dingey in the original game, whereas it appears to
be pristine in the HD one. Oh, and check out his strap--you can now even the holes for
the buckle to attach too.
Midna got a similar upgrade. The stone texture of her headpiece has been made a LOT more
apparent--I mean, check out the chip-mark here, which isn’t in the original version
at all--you can even see that she does in fact have a belly-button too. Same thing for
Zant--well, minus the belly-button thing--his armor now has been infused with actual detail
that makes it look a lot more like an actual suit.
Then we have Zelda. When we first meet her, you can now actually see the texture of the
fabric that makes up her hood . Another shot shows an even bigger difference, with again
the fabric on her dress being visible, and her hair braids being far more detailed
So yeah, the texture-work for the characters have been greatly improved--but these enhancements
extend to the environment too. Check out this shot of Link hacking away at some shrubbery--you
can very clearly make out individual leaves in the HD version now. And by the way--the
few leaves that you can make out in the original aren’t even in the same position as the
new ones, which confirms that at least some of the textures are being entirely redesigned.
In another example, check out the brick wall behind Minda here. It used to be a blurry,
featureless-mess, whereas the bricks now appear as if they have actual depth to them. And
that also goes for the room that you first meet Zelda in--look, you can even make out
what appear to be numbers on the wall here.
But perhaps the biggest change in this room is window decoration. Whereas it appeared
to be a featureless black design before, we can see now the intricate ironwork. Now we
also did notice that the amount of bloom lighting pouring in from the window does appear to
be toned down in this scene--so perhaps they’ll be readjusting the amount of it throughout
the game.
The differences even extend outside too. Check out the field, where you can see individual
blades of grass in the HD one.
Okay, we could keep at this all day, pointing out every single texture upgrade, but we think
you get the idea, now interestingly, all of the footage we’ve seen thus far is all from
relatively early in the game. Even the actual gameplay sequence seems to have been recorded
just have the 2nd temple, being the Goron mines, based on the small amount of heart
pieces and Link’s inventory. So could there be even more, bigger changes in store later
on? And of course, Nintendo did hint that there are even more gameplay featuring to
be announced later on--including how exactly the Wolf Link amiibo will work.
Alright, and with that,we're done covering everything we could dig up on Twilight Princess
HD. But as usual, let us know if we missed anything by posting in the comments below.
Thanks for watching and make sure to stay-tuned to GameXplain for more on Twilight Princess
HD and other things gaming too.