Updated: An official quote from Nintendo: “What the magazine has done is imagine how existing franchises would work with the Revolution controller, rather than actually seeing anything… It’s all still speculation.” So it’s not confirmed nor denied *sigh*
European GameCube magazine NGC says they have confirmed that Nintendo’s newest upcoming Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which is scheduled for release next-year on the GameCube, will be compatible with Nintendo’s upcoming next-gen system; still code-named the Nintendo Revolution.
While it is no suprise that Zelda will be playable on the Revolution, as the system is backwards compatible to play all GameCube games, NGC says they have learned that Zelda won’t just be playable on the system, but that it will actually have exclusive features and upgrades that take advantage of the Revolution’s unique controller and features if you play the game on the upcoming system.
1Up.com quotes NGC as saying, “Back in September, Nintendo announced: “Our development team has decided to take extra time to add some incredible elements.” These were elements that Miyamoto and Zelda director Aonuma said were “simply far too good to leave out.” And they weren’t wrong.
NGC can exclusively reveal that Twilight Princess will be playable on the forthcoming Revolution using the upcoming console’s unique controller…
…However, when you insert the disc into your Revolution, you’ll be given the option to use the Revolution’s controller, with all the advantages this will bring.
Although no real details on what these extra features will be are revealed in the article, it is easy to come-up with some ideas based on what Nintendo has already revealed regarding the system and it’s unique, remote-shaped controller. First of, it would be disappointing if the new Zelda game didn’t recieve at least some kind of graphical boost when played on the Revolution. While it already looks beautiful on the GameCube, and no one’s complaining, a graphical boost will be expected from a game that supports features and additions that only the Revolution can bring. So let’s hope that it looks even prettier upon release (If it could get up to Kameo standards that would be awesome).
The more likely scenario though is that the new Zelda will use the Revolution controllers unique motion-controls to change the way you play mini-games, interact with the game world, and hopefully how you control combat as well (among other things, whatever else Nintendo can dream up).
The new interface of the controller allows you to use hand-motions by swinging or moving the controller in certain directions to emulate whatever it is you are doing in the game, be it fishing or sword-swinging, via sensors you place on your TV. Thus, the new Zelda could take advantage of this by actually having you “swing” the controller like you would a fishing rod in the new Zelda’s fishing mini-game (which it should include since previous Zelda’s, including the highly acclaimed N64 hit, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the game which Twilight Princess imitates most, included a fishing mini-game) as well as have you swinging the controller like a sword (and yes, this means literally) to do slashes at enemies, as was demonstrated in Nintendo’s Revolution Teaser Video, which you can download if you haven’t seen it here.
These, of course, are just examples and speculation runs rampant as to what Nintendo intends to include if Twilight Princess does indeed support the many features of the Revolution. Fishing and swordfighting are really only two very logical parts of Zelda that could use the motion-controls of the controller, I’m sure Nintendo could come up with many more cool, inventive ideas.
Although Nintendo hasn’t confirmed themselves whether Twilight Princess will have exlusive features when played on Revolution, it is highly likely given that the game is coming out near the very end of the GameCube’s lifespan (which is already in a dying state, due to lack of big game releases and very few third-party games being ported over), since Revolution support would not only improve the game, but give gamers and Zelda fans that much more of a reason to go out and buy a Revolution. Since they’ll need one if they want to experience all of what Twilight Princess offers.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess does not yet have a release date, and it’s been rumored that the game may be moved to Revolution completely, but that is unlikely as Nintendo has poured many resources into the game and built it from the ground up to take advantage of the graphical power of the GameCube, and it’s been in development for several years, so it would take that much more time to move the game and update it completely for Revolution.
This means that there is probably an over 90% chance that Twilight Princess will have Revolution support, so all you Zelda fans out there can look forward to giving Link’s sword an actual swing! We will keep you posted on Twilight Princess as the game continues development and as the full unveiling of the Nintendo Revolution approaches, which is scheduled for this year’s Electronic Enteratinment Exposition (E3) event in May.
[Note: According to IGN who chatted with developers that are currently involved in creating games for the Revolutio, the system may not be much more powerful than the GameCube, at least not up to Xbox 360 standards graphics-wise, as Nintendo is focusing more on the controller and what unique gameplay opportunities it opens up, and also on making the system less expensive than competing platforms. Let’s hope this doesn’t backfire on Nintendo, I would say that many people went for the original Xbox over GameCube cause they felt it was more powerful and thus a better deal . . . . but we’ll see come May. I personally can’t wait!]