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The Legend of Zelda series has had quite a few spin-offs in its past, but we’ve never seen something quite as exciting as Hyrule Warriors. Developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja, Hyrule Warriors is a hack and slash game with many gameplay nods to the Dynasty Warriors series. Since E3 just last month, a large amount of information has flooded the internet, making the hype levels rise for this new direction of the Legend of Zelda franchise.
The Hyrule Warriors trailer from E3 2014.
The primary focus in Hyrule Warriors’ gameplay is using a wide array weapons, such as swords and bombs, in melee combat with hundreds of generic baddies, as well as a large cast of villains from across the Legend of Zelda spectrum. Hyrule Warriors borrows many mechanics and tropes from the Legend of Zelda series, such as enemy targeting, Link's signature attacks, and large item chests. Hyrule Warriors also contains bosses that require the player to discover and exploit their weaknesses before they can be harmed, much like a traditional Zelda boss.
However, for as much as it borrows from The Legend of Zelda, this new entry in the Zelda universe borrows even more heavily from Dynasty Warriors. The emphasis on combat is still very much apparent. The flow of battle has a distinct Dynasty Warriors feel, and fans of the series will feel completely at home, slicing away at hordes of enemies and using flashy special moves to do away with their foes. Hyrule Warriors also features a special feature for multiplayer. When playing cooperatively with a friend, instead of normal Dynasty Warriors split screen, one player will be able to use the TV Screen while the other uses the Wii U Gamepad.
The official box art for Hyrule Warriors
Perhaps the most notable thing about Hyrule Warriors is the wide variety of characters to choose from. It seems like Nintendo and their developers are trying hard to appeal to the fans of the franchise, judging by the size of this ever-growing roster of Legend of Zelda faces (along with some new faces as well). Each character has their own individual set of weapons and characteristics that the player can level up in RPG fashion.
The official character trailer for Link with the Hylian Sword in Hyrule Warriors
Of course, we can’t have a Legend of Zelda game without our main protagonist and hero, Link. Surprisingly, Link fights with the Hylian Sword, rather than the Master Sword. Much of his combat is taken from his other appearances, such as his trademark spin attack. He also has his finishing blow move as seen in both Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Link’s second trailer for Hyrule Warriors, featuring the Magic Rod.
The Magic Rod from the original Legend of Zelda game for the NES makes its very first comeback out of the sixth dungeon since 1986. It seems to have fire properties like it did in the original game after you update the Magic Rod with the Book of Magic. So far, Link is the only character to feature more than one weapon trailer, though he’s not the only character to feature more than one weapon!
Zelda also uses the Wind Waker, as well as the Rapier!
Currently, there is no video footage of Zelda using the Wind Waker, but it looks like it controls the wind, as it should!
The trailer for Princess Zelda and the Rapier in Hyrule Warriors
Zelda’s Rapier has such an abundance of styles that takes many elements from many of her appearances (especially Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess). The Rapier actually has the ability to transform into a bow that fires Light Arrows. The trailer actually features it quite a lot, and it seems to take a lot of traits from Zelda’s Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Not only that, but what looks like Nayru’s Love, Farore’s Wind, and Din’s Fire is used as a kind of tri-attack. Also, look closely at around the 30 second mark: Zelda uses a sort of Light “Needle” attack, perhaps in light of her alter ego in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time?
The Hyrule Warriors trailer for Impa showing off her mighty Giant Blade
For the first time in the history of the Legend of Zelda series, Impa appears as a playable character. Taking her design from the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Impa has appeared in almost every Legend of Zelda game to date as Princess Zelda’s guide, guardian, and mentor. This member of the Sheikah Tribe wields a never-before-seen weapon, the Giant Blade. It seems to be a very powerful weapon with a very wide range. Who knows? We may be able to expect some moves borrowed from Sheik in the Super Smash Bros. series -- that is if we don’t get Sheik as a playable character!
Midna’s official character trailer for Hyrule Warriors featuring her weapon of choice, a Shackle.
Probably one of the most popular of Link’s sidekicks, Midna, the Twilight Princess, makes her playable debut. Now, it is uncertain just what Midna’s “Shackle” is. Is it her hair? Many believe Shackle is the name of the wolf creatures she rides. No one really knows, but her attacks are really cool, nonetheless. She uses her Dark Energy Attack from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, as well.
Agitha and her parasol’s trailer for Hyrule Warriors
Perhaps the most obscure addition to the cast, Agitha from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess makes her first appearance outside of the game. In Twilight Princess, Agitha collected bugs that you caught around Hyrule, and that definitely shows in Hyrule Warriors. On top of her parasol melee weapon, she can also use it to summon various bugs, such as giant stag beetles and butterflies, to attack a large portion of enemies. She can also sprout butterfly wings herself to create gusts of wind that knock foes back. Agitha, though a little weird, definitely seems like a solid, creative, and fun addition to the game.
The Hyrule Warriors trailer for Lana and her Book of Sorcery.
Lana is a completely new character created specifically for Hyrule Warriors. Lana doesn’t seem to fit in much with the rest of the cast; she looks like she jumped out of a JRPG. Her main form of combat with the Book of Sorcery is a spell that brings up various walls and blocks that she can leap off of and attack with. She also uses quite a bit of electric attacks. Not much is really know about Lana, and Nintendo is definitely keeping things interesting by keeping her a mystery. She apparently has some kind of important role: She made it onto the official box art!
Fi also makes a playable appearance. Many pictures of Skyloft and various other Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword cameos and appearances, such as Ghirahim and the Sealed Grounds, can be found on the Hyrule Warriors Official Facebook page.
Alternate Costumes confirmed!
Nintendo is really going all out with the fan service in this game. Link and Zelda both are getting alternate costumes for their Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess appearances. Hopefully this means that other character will also get alternate costumes! Twilight Princess True Form Midna, anyone?
Hyrule Warriors is being developed by Omega Force, Team Ninja, and Nintendo SPD (Software Planning and Development) and published by Tecmo Koei and Nintendo. Longtime developers of the Dynasty Warriors series, Hisahi Koinuma and Yosuke Hayashi, are producing this game along with Legend of Zelda director Eiji Aonuma. Aonuma has been quoted many times as saying he would like to see the Zelda franchise break away from many of its older traditions - surely Hyrule Warriors is one such way of doing just that.
While Omega Force and Nintendo are the primary developers for this title, Team Ninja is helping with one-on-one combat.
The game will be released earlier in Japan with two editions that contains a copy of the game, an art book, a triforce shaped clock, and two extra costumes for the character. The second special edition, called the "Treasure Box", adds a third costume, a scarf resembling Link's in the game and a miniature treasure chest accessory.
Hyrule Warriors will be out in 2014. Japan will recieve the game first on August 14th, with Europe and North America's release dates following closely behind on September 19th and 26th, respectively.
iDOWN is a writer and gamer looking for a big boy job with Nintendo. Follow him on his Twitter, @PlayerOneiDOWN.
Thirdkoopa
The Legend of Zelda series has had quite a few spin-offs in its past, but we’ve never seen something quite as exciting as Hyrule Warriors. Developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja, Hyrule Warriors is a hack and slash game with many gameplay nods to the Dynasty Warriors series. Since E3 just last month, a large amount of information has flooded the internet, making the hype levels rise for this new direction of the Legend of Zelda franchise.
The primary focus in Hyrule Warriors’ gameplay is using a wide array weapons, such as swords and bombs, in melee combat with hundreds of generic baddies, as well as a large cast of villains from across the Legend of Zelda spectrum. Hyrule Warriors borrows many mechanics and tropes from the Legend of Zelda series, such as enemy targeting, Link's signature attacks, and large item chests. Hyrule Warriors also contains bosses that require the player to discover and exploit their weaknesses before they can be harmed, much like a traditional Zelda boss.
However, for as much as it borrows from The Legend of Zelda, this new entry in the Zelda universe borrows even more heavily from Dynasty Warriors. The emphasis on combat is still very much apparent. The flow of battle has a distinct Dynasty Warriors feel, and fans of the series will feel completely at home, slicing away at hordes of enemies and using flashy special moves to do away with their foes. Hyrule Warriors also features a special feature for multiplayer. When playing cooperatively with a friend, instead of normal Dynasty Warriors split screen, one player will be able to use the TV Screen while the other uses the Wii U Gamepad.
The official box art for Hyrule Warriors
Perhaps the most notable thing about Hyrule Warriors is the wide variety of characters to choose from. It seems like Nintendo and their developers are trying hard to appeal to the fans of the franchise, judging by the size of this ever-growing roster of Legend of Zelda faces (along with some new faces as well). Each character has their own individual set of weapons and characteristics that the player can level up in RPG fashion.
Of course, we can’t have a Legend of Zelda game without our main protagonist and hero, Link. Surprisingly, Link fights with the Hylian Sword, rather than the Master Sword. Much of his combat is taken from his other appearances, such as his trademark spin attack. He also has his finishing blow move as seen in both Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The Magic Rod from the original Legend of Zelda game for the NES makes its very first comeback out of the sixth dungeon since 1986. It seems to have fire properties like it did in the original game after you update the Magic Rod with the Book of Magic. So far, Link is the only character to feature more than one weapon trailer, though he’s not the only character to feature more than one weapon!
Zelda also uses the Wind Waker, as well as the Rapier!
Currently, there is no video footage of Zelda using the Wind Waker, but it looks like it controls the wind, as it should!
Zelda’s Rapier has such an abundance of styles that takes many elements from many of her appearances (especially Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess). The Rapier actually has the ability to transform into a bow that fires Light Arrows. The trailer actually features it quite a lot, and it seems to take a lot of traits from Zelda’s Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Not only that, but what looks like Nayru’s Love, Farore’s Wind, and Din’s Fire is used as a kind of tri-attack. Also, look closely at around the 30 second mark: Zelda uses a sort of Light “Needle” attack, perhaps in light of her alter ego in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time?
For the first time in the history of the Legend of Zelda series, Impa appears as a playable character. Taking her design from the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Impa has appeared in almost every Legend of Zelda game to date as Princess Zelda’s guide, guardian, and mentor. This member of the Sheikah Tribe wields a never-before-seen weapon, the Giant Blade. It seems to be a very powerful weapon with a very wide range. Who knows? We may be able to expect some moves borrowed from Sheik in the Super Smash Bros. series -- that is if we don’t get Sheik as a playable character!
Probably one of the most popular of Link’s sidekicks, Midna, the Twilight Princess, makes her playable debut. Now, it is uncertain just what Midna’s “Shackle” is. Is it her hair? Many believe Shackle is the name of the wolf creatures she rides. No one really knows, but her attacks are really cool, nonetheless. She uses her Dark Energy Attack from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, as well.
Perhaps the most obscure addition to the cast, Agitha from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess makes her first appearance outside of the game. In Twilight Princess, Agitha collected bugs that you caught around Hyrule, and that definitely shows in Hyrule Warriors. On top of her parasol melee weapon, she can also use it to summon various bugs, such as giant stag beetles and butterflies, to attack a large portion of enemies. She can also sprout butterfly wings herself to create gusts of wind that knock foes back. Agitha, though a little weird, definitely seems like a solid, creative, and fun addition to the game.
Lana is a completely new character created specifically for Hyrule Warriors. Lana doesn’t seem to fit in much with the rest of the cast; she looks like she jumped out of a JRPG. Her main form of combat with the Book of Sorcery is a spell that brings up various walls and blocks that she can leap off of and attack with. She also uses quite a bit of electric attacks. Not much is really know about Lana, and Nintendo is definitely keeping things interesting by keeping her a mystery. She apparently has some kind of important role: She made it onto the official box art!
Alternate Costumes confirmed!
Nintendo is really going all out with the fan service in this game. Link and Zelda both are getting alternate costumes for their Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess appearances. Hopefully this means that other character will also get alternate costumes! Twilight Princess True Form Midna, anyone?
Hyrule Warriors is being developed by Omega Force, Team Ninja, and Nintendo SPD (Software Planning and Development) and published by Tecmo Koei and Nintendo. Longtime developers of the Dynasty Warriors series, Hisahi Koinuma and Yosuke Hayashi, are producing this game along with Legend of Zelda director Eiji Aonuma. Aonuma has been quoted many times as saying he would like to see the Zelda franchise break away from many of its older traditions - surely Hyrule Warriors is one such way of doing just that.
While Omega Force and Nintendo are the primary developers for this title, Team Ninja is helping with one-on-one combat.
The game will be released earlier in Japan with two editions that contains a copy of the game, an art book, a triforce shaped clock, and two extra costumes for the character. The second special edition, called the "Treasure Box", adds a third costume, a scarf resembling Link's in the game and a miniature treasure chest accessory.
Hyrule Warriors will be out in 2014. Japan will recieve the game first on August 14th, with Europe and North America's release dates following closely behind on September 19th and 26th, respectively.
iDOWN is a writer and gamer looking for a big boy job with Nintendo. Follow him on his Twitter, @PlayerOneiDOWN.
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