The legend of Zelda DS: Phantom Hourglass[October 1st 2007], GDC 07 BATTLE MODE

[ChRed2AKrisp]

gdc just showed the preliminaries of zelda Ds, launching this year! It will be cell shaded since it is from the makers of the windwaker.

11:29: Iwata takes the stage. There's one more new adventure for you today: Zelda DS. Short clip plays: cel-shaded-style graphics. Top screen: mostly maps. Action is on the lower screen. Use touch screen to draw things -- transitioning the bottom screen input to the top. Launches later this year -- from Aonuma and team (makers of Wind Waker).

the title was announced in a press release.

Iwata also revealed for the first time that a new game called The Legend of Zelda(R): Phantom Hourglass would be released for Nintendo DS later this year.

as of now, nothing else. perhaps we'll see some leaked screens, game footage later.

edit: thanks to Bahfuyl for finding the vid.

http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/en/GB/news/article.do?elementId=5JIzKiVx5r0Gu_uNPnTPRZMbliXee

or here

http://media.ds.ign.com/media/694/694756/vids_1.html

screenshots for those who have 56k and don't want to wait.

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/art...zelda-phantom-hourglass-20060323004643040.jpg
http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/art...zelda-phantom-hourglass-20060323004638056.jpg
http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/art...zelda-phantom-hourglass-20060323004627712.jpg
http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/art...zelda-phantom-hourglass-20060323004633212.jpg

note: screenshots are blurry because these were taken by a handheld camera of a large display. they are not frames extracted from the video, so there is some motion blur as well.

NEW INFO:

There will be a competative multiplayer battle mode in the game.

http://ds.ign.com/articles/771/771138p1.html

In this two player competition mode, one player controls Link while the other controls three armored guards. Players who assume Link's control do so via the established touch-screen mechanics introduced in the E3 demo -- Link moves in the direction of where the screen's being touched in relation to him, so he'll move faster if the screen's touched further away from his centralized position. Players who take control of the guard have the map on the touch screen and guide them via drawn paths. The task: collect Triforces scattered around an enclosed dungeon and bring them back to your colored area while avoiding the guards that wander the playing field. If a guard captures Link, their turn's over and control swaps between the players.



There's a surprising amount of strategy involved in this mode. For example, the "Guard" player can always see Link on the map, but Link cannot see the guards on the map until he picks up a Triforce. The downside to carrying a Triforce is that it weighs Link down, and moreso as the Triforce pick-ups increase in size. Some Triforces are tiny and worth fewer points, but only slow down Link's movements a little bit. Huge Triforce pickups are worth more points but slow Link down to a crawl.

Almost as if the designers took a cue from Pac-Man, Link can hit escape tunnels at the top and bottom of the map, which are also surrounded by a "safe zone." While in these zones, Link cannot be touched by guards since the guards can't wander into them. Link also disappears from the guard player's map while in these zones...but if Link's carrying a Triforce, the Guard player can still see that Triforce move...giving away Link's location.

On top of all this, there will be power-ups scattered throughout the dungeon. Red power-ups can only be used by the red player, blue pick-ups by the blue player. Red players can run over blue power-ups to destroy them and take them out of play. Power ups include giving Link or the guards an extra boost in speed, or allowing Link to take a hit from the guard. Guards can activate power-ups that turn blowers on within the dungeon that will block Link's path with enormous gusts of wind.

At the end of three Link and three Guard turns for each of the competitors, the game calculates how many Triforce points each player earned within the battle and decides the winner...and in the demo it's a very uneventful "Win" or "Lose" screen.



It's a pretty cool tease of a mode that will eventually make it into the final product, but Nintendo's still not talking release dates for Phantom Hourglass. Nor do we know if the multiplayer will be accessible single cart or if it will be an online mode. Visually the engine nor the Wind Waker toon style hasn't changed since we saw the E3 demo.

pictures(56k friendly)
http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/art...zelda-phantom-hourglass-20070307065755220.jpg
http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/art...zelda-phantom-hourglass-20070307065754345.jpg

 

[Chill]

A zelda game coming to the DS at the same time as TP. The first DS to Rev connectivity?

Whatever happened to tingle DS? Did they realize it was a stupid idea and cancel it?

 

[Bahful]

Video available.
http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/en/GB/news/article.do?elementId=5JIzKiVx5r0Gu_uNPnTPRZMbliXeeJM1

 

[McFox]

Wow.

I need to start saving my money for all the Nintendo stuff coming out this year.

 

[Bread-Butterer]

Knowing Nintendo this game will not dissapoint, regardless of how much it seems to differ from modern Zelda games. Looks like you control Link by dragging the fairy with the stylus, atleast that was my take on the gameplay. Don't know how you'd go about attacking, but I'm sure they've figured out something (much like they did for Metroid Prime Hunters). I'll definately get this one.

 

[Nite]

I am definately going to buy this. I have been waiting for a Legend of Zelda DS for a while now, and it is about time that they have finally announced something about it. Ooh, I can't wait!

 

[NJzFinest]

gah, i was ready to make a thread on this game, but you beat me to it

 

[Chill]

Just saw the gameplay vid at gamespot. Looks like portable Wind Waker. Booo. Where's the gamecube love?

 

[ihavespaceblondes]

Just saw the gameplay vid at gamespot. Looks like portable Wind Waker. Booo. Where's the gamecube love?

Twilight Princess is enough Cube love for me. Two completely different Zelda games on two different systems in one year? I'm not greedy enough to wish for more.

 

[Mic_128]

Could this be that sequel to WW they were going to be working on before TP?

 

[Chill]

Twilight Princess is enough Cube love for me. Two completely different Zelda games on two different systems in one year? I'm not greedy enough to wish for more.

Two completly different games on two different systems both at the end of the year? And one possible not coming to the US until next year? Like I said, where's the gamecube love? As in, why aren't there any games coming out until then?

The game does look like it could be the WW sequel. It could be Wind Waker's Majoras Mask.

 

[FunkMaster]

krisp. you beat me to everthing.
this game looks sweet. hopefuly it'll be better then the foolishness that was minish cap.
it's cool

 

[Coen]

Wow, a Zelda on DS, that's too good ^^

I was already hoping for it but I never thought it would actually be released this year.

 

[FireKP1]

Wow.

I need to start saving my money for all the Nintendo stuff coming out this year.

Same for me.

Well Zelda game for the DS this is going to be good!

 

[Plomid]

looks from the way that navi(ughhh) moves that you will use the stylus to move aruond to just watch the vid

 

[BACH]

I can't freaking wait - i love writting notes on the map, lol

 

[Nite]

Chill- Is that guy on your banner from Kingdom Hearts II?

 

[M3D]

TRUST THE N!

 

[Lange]

This game will be very good, if not superior to previous Zeldas. Wow 2 all new Zelda games this year in 06? This must be a great year for Nintendo, with the realease of the Revolution and such.

 

[ChRed2AKrisp]

chill, the next majora's mask?
a) a lto of people like MM, even if it didn't compare to OoT.

b) this is a completely different system, the game will be very different.

 

[Aruun]

Actually, I prefer MM over OoT.

Although I'm pretty sure he was just saying it will be the sequel to WW in the way MM was a sequel to OoT.

 

[ChRed2AKrisp]

yeah, i think you're right. sorry chill.

 

[Chill]

Yes, the guy in my sig is from KH II.

And yes I meant that the game could be a continuation of the WW storyline not just a game using the same graphics.

 

[ChRed2AKrisp]

you don't think what i was thinking you were thinking (>_>) which is i thought you were being sarcastic and saying that like majoras mask to OoT, it wouldn't do nearly as well(even if JMY did love it :D)

 

[commonyoshi]

i liked MM. i cant wait fo rthis game to come out. I suppose i should start saving my money.

 

[FireKP1]

This game will be very good, if not superior to previous Zeldas. Wow 2 all new Zelda games this year in 06? This must be a great year for Nintendo, with the realease of the Revolution and such.

Try one of Nintendo's best years ever!

And JediMasterYoda98 how could you like MM over OoT?

 

[D.A.]

Could this be that sequel to WW they were going to be working on before TP?

Nintendo says no, there are no Zelda sequels so far.

I like it, even though it's 100% stylus controlled. I think Zelda always reinvents perfectly. I look forward to this with so much glee.

 

[Aruun]

Try one of Nintendo's best years ever!

And JediMasterYoda98 how could you like MM over OoT?

MM had a much more interesting and original story, it was more creative, unique, atmospheric (<3 the moon), and felt almost like I was inside a dream. Because there were characters that actually went about their lives each three days, and you got to explore them, it made me actually care about saving the world. I also prefered the music (Song of Healing is my favorite videogame song of all time). As far as gameplay goes, I thought playing as deku/goron/zora link was extremely fun and new, there were less dungeons (I hate dungeons... the sheer amount of them in OoT sort of put me off), the ones that were there were more interesting than OoT dungeons, and all the sidequests were really fun and interesting.

MM seemed much more real to me (well, or maybe unreal), while all the while I was playing OoT it was blatantly obvious to me that I was playing a fantasy videogame, with all the cliches and such. I mean, not that OoT isn't fun or anything, and the plot isn't that bad, but I'd still prefer MM anyday.

Also, the mask salesman and tingle both rock.


Also, no pre-rendered backgrounds.

 

[Chill]

Nintendo says no, there are no Zelda sequels so far.

You must have missed out on Majoras Mask.

I think MM mask was more fun because of OoT. It put a nice spin on familar characters and even left room for specualtion(Notice none of the sages had a "twin"). At the same time it gave birth to this whole other world. I don't think I would have appreciated it as much if I hadn't played OoT. Luckily it was rereleased on the collectors disk. I would have missed out on it.

But um, how 'bout that phantom hourglass? What do you think it means? I know there's no info but speculation never hurt anyone. Unless their name is Sephiroth27...

 

[Mic_128]

Nintendo says no, there are no Zelda sequels so far.

What about them saying WW was a direct sequel to OoT?

 

[ChRed2AKrisp]

how do they get that??

 

[Resting_Fox]

Is it jsut me or does it sound like, in the Video, Link is saying things like "Go die" and later "You ******" I mean, I know Miyamoto has recently turned from a happy visionary to the disgruntled slave of his own success, but aren't these new messages a little extreme?

Needless to say, I'm not buying this game, just judging by that principle alone [plus I don't even have a DS]. The last Zelda I'll probably ever buy is TP, because Twilight princess seems more likely to be a good game.

Guys, open your eyes and read the signs. Nintendo's getting old and tired, while the fans are being punished for blind faith and childish tenacity. Personally, I'm hoping the Revolution is the end, and that Smash 3 will be their big nostalgic blast like Greatest Hits album.

All in agreement, say aye...[everyone else...is gay]

 

[kaid]

Let's see what you say after E3, Resting Fox.

 

[ChRed2AKrisp]

He'll probably just say he didn't watch the nintendo feeds.
Either that or his brain will implode.



Resting Fox, I think that was someone talking to you in background not Link. That's a more than likely case. Maybe it was your roomate(if you're in college xd).

edit: a ****** is an american slang term, not japanese. and link doesn't need to tell people to die, he can just stab them.

 

[SonicZeroX]

He'll probably just say he didn't watch the nintendo feeds.
Either that or his brain will implode.



Resting Fox, I think that was someone talking to you in background not Link. That's a more than likely case. Maybe it was your roomate(if you're in college xd).

edit: a ****** is an american slang term, not japanese. and link doesn't need to tell people to die, he can just stab them.

I'm seriously running low on cash with all of these new games coming out.
And for some reason this game reminds me of Zelda: The Lampshade of Real Significance.

 

[ihavespaceblondes]

I'm seriously running low on cash with all of these new games coming out.
And for some reason this game reminds me of Zelda: The Lampshade of Real Significance.

Yeah, that's the first thing I thought of when I saw the title too. Oh well, this looks like it's going to do an excellent job of preventing that kind of game, as the touch screen elements seem destined to mix up the traditional Zelda greatness with completely new gameplay ideas. I'm preordering as soon as I know what city I'll be in for its release date.

 

[blaksheap82]

Yes, the PSP has better graphics, but that trailer just looked gorgeous. The abilitiy to mark up your map is almost a godsend, and I get the feeling that directing the boomerang with the stylus is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the tools. Oh, and someone mentioned Rev/DS connectivity with TP, and after FS and WW, that almost seems to be a given. I wonder if that has anything to do with the "special features" that have delayed TP for a year now.

 

[ncruz013]

OMG!!! you guys have no idea how happy i am. i am one of the biggest Zelda freaks there is. I can't wait for this game to come out.

 

[Deo_Smash]

...Sephiroth27....speculation....*cringe* '~'

I loved wind waker. Despite what people complained about the sailing (I for one liked the sailing, it was refreshing), I can't wait for this title. You know, Nintendo may be doing the world a favor. forcing youths to find jobs to buy all these games coming out will really boost ones economy. Or maybe Nintendo is trying to put kids into factories in order to rule the world? Dunno.

 

[NJzFinest]

your welcome