Zapper packaging + Link's Crossbow Training gameplay details

[Crushed]

From Nintendo's press site:

Link's Crossbow Training™ Format: Wii™ Launch Date: 11/19/07 ESRB: T (Teen): Fantasy Violence Game Type: Shooting Accessories: Wii Zapper™ – included (requires Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™) Players: 1-4 (turn-based) Developer: EAD

KEY INFORMATION Link returns from The Legend of Zelda®: Twilight Princess to pick up the Wii Zapper and take aim at a host of targets in this shooting-gallery-style game. * Anyone can pick up the Wii Zapper and become a master marksman in the quick-play shooting galleries of Link's Crossbow Training. Dozens of fast-paced stages offer a wide variety of game play, from shooting stationary targets to defending a supply wagon from onrushing hordes of enemies. Multiplayer modes let players and their friends share a Wii Zapper to shoot for the high score. * Link's Crossbow Training comes bundled with the Wii Zapper. After a few rounds of Link's Crossbow Training, players will be more than ready to pick up any of the future Wii Zapper titles, like Medal of Honor Heroes™ 2, Ghost Squad™ and Resident Evil®: The Umbrella Chronicles. Using the Wii Zapper: The Wii Zapper requires the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, housing both in a comfortable and intuitive frame. The control stick on the Nunchuk controls player movement (on stages that allow player movement), while simply aiming the Wii Zapper moves the targeting reticule on the screen. Pulling the trigger fires Link's crossbow. By aiming off screen, players can turn Link to face in a new direction (again, on stages that allow this). Link's Crossbow Training contains three basic game styles: target shooting, defender and ranger. There are 27 stages in total, and these categories represent only generally how each individual stage operates. Each stage's goal is to earn the highest score possible within the time limit. All rounds can be played with multiple players: Players pass the Wii Zapper around and then play one at a time and compete for the high score. Target Shooting: In target-shooting rounds, players shoot bull's-eyes as they pop up on the screen. In early stages, targets are stationary. As the game difficulty increases in later levels, the targets move. Hitting the center of the bull's-eye nets more points, and hitting targets in succession without missing earns combo multipliers. Link can aim anywhere on the screen. Defender: In defender rounds, players remain stationary but can look and aim in all directions - sometimes even in a full 360 degrees - by aiming off screen. Hordes of enemies assault Link, and he must fight them off. These battles have a great deal of variety, from fighting off skeletons in a desert to defending a wagon from boar-riding Bokoblins. Ranger: In ranger rounds, players can move throughout the level using the control stick and aim anywhere they want by aiming the Wii Zapper wherever they want to look. In these missions, Link storms enemy encampments, fights his way through a forest and seeks out his foes while exploring the environments.

[Rancid Mildew]

Link better have a crossbow in the next real Zelda game.

[Zombie James]

Crossbow? Doesn't Link use a normal bow?

[blame space]

new link art

[Crushed]

Crossbow? Doesn't Link use a normal bow?

Like everybody said, that's why he's training.

[Chemo]

Crossbow? Doesn't Link use a normal bow?

Well now he's training to use a crossbow, obviously.

[Zombie James]

Like everybody said, that's why he's training.

So there's a story mode?

[Somnid]

So, Ranger mode is a Zelda FPS?

[Parl]

Like everybody said, that's why he's training.

OMG! First Zelda Wii infomation!

[JohnTinker]

Reading the details surrounding the game, it sounds pretty fun. I might have to pick this up.

Still no media for the game?

[bryehn]

When's this due? RE: Umbrella Chronicles is out Nov. 13 (NA).

Wired didn't really like the zapper too much, said it's easier to play without it

[McBradders]

What... what is... no words are coming to mind to comment on the "zapper" there.

[Crushed]

Added the part I only just now noticed: it's rated T (obviously, since it's based on TP), and EAD is the developer.

[lebowsky]

Wow, Gamestop has already added their typical $5 "Wii/DS Tax" to the Zapper.

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=802783

Didn't Reggie publicly state that it would retail for $20 with game?

[Kyosuke]

Defender mode sounds like fun. If it's executed well enough, I might buy this but .. I probably won't. Too many games in Q4, and I'm not interested in Ghost Squad or RE:UC.

[Darunia]

at least the Ranger mode sounds a bit interesting

[blame space]

Nintendo is fucking insane and I love it. 3 years ago, who would've thought we'd be discussing a plastic holster made to keep a Wii Remote and a Nunchuck in place like a gun while we crossbow train with Link? It's surreal.

[rdellw]

haha, so it's real then! Looks pretty cool actually, and the TP engine isn't going to waste then?

[CreatureX3]

Nintendo is fucking insane and I love it. 3 years ago, who would've thought we'd be discussing a plastic holster made to keep a Wii Remote and a Nunchuck in place like a gun while we crossbow train with Link? It's surreal.

Yup yup I love it! After reading the description of the game, I'm even more psyched for it!

[CTLance]

I still can't see why I should be forced to use that plastic shell, it looks like it's actually less comfortable then using the Wiimote/Nunchuck combo like usual.

Strange... but the Link FPS segments sound interesting.

[Cosmonaut X]

I still can't see why I should be forced to use that plastic shell, it looks like it's actually less comfortable then using the Wiimote/Nunchuck combo like usual. Strange... but the Link FPS segments sound interesting.

Well, you’re obviously not forced to use the shell, but it may be that this particular game – by virtue of the weapon used matching the design of the shell more closely, and by the fact that it has been designed with the shell in mind – may control better than without.

It still sounds utterly barmy, and the idea of a Zelda FPS is a hard one to swallow, but I’m willing to wait for media & impressions before ruling it out.

[PolyGone]

this really should have been packed in with Umbrella Chronicles at no extra charge.

[vareon]

A Teen rating? For a pack-in (mini)game? Weird.

[sprsk]

this really should have been packed in with Umbrella Chronicles at no extra charge.

I thought it was.

[Mithos Yggdrasill]

This thing is a waste of time in my opinion. Nintedno should have done a REAL game to launch alongside this accessory, like Mario Kart Wii.

[eggs, scrambled]

A Teen rating? For a pack-in (mini)game? Weird.

They don't want more press reports about those criticizing them for marketing a "gun" to kids. Getting this up to a T was probably very intentional for the sake of media relations.

I think this will work out well for them. With three modes and 27 levels, there's quite a bit of substance for a pack in with a $20 peripheral. It'll do very, very well this holiday. Maybe even be difficult to find until Jan (depending, of course, on supply decisions).

[plagiarize]

zelda fps???

wacky.

actually, the wackiest thing about it, is that it seems like it's designed to TRAIN non gamers how to play FPSs with wii controls.

[Xun]

It's not an FPS, it's a third person shooting game.

[alistairw]

This thing is a waste of time in my opinion. Nintedno should have done a REAL game to launch alongside this accessory, like Mario Kart Wii.

Wouldn't Mario Kart be a bit hard to control with this? I mean, each to their own, but...

[NeonZ]

Ranger: In ranger rounds, players can move throughout the level using the control stick and aim anywhere they want by aiming the Wii Zapper wherever they want to look. In these missions, Link storms enemy encampments, fights his way through a forest and seeks out his foes while exploring the environments.

So... Ranger mode is basically a Zelda FPS...? Why aren't they including a real multiplayer then...?

[VOOK]

Wouldn't Mario Kart be a bit hard to control with this? I mean, each to their own, but...

No no no they have that stupid plastic wheel for Mario Kart. Much simpler!

[DeaconKnowledge]

Am I the only one getting a Dragon Quest Swords vibe from the description here?

[test_account]

Shooting a normal bow with a gun wouldnt be "realistic"/look good, so i'm glad they chose to use a crowsbow so it fits the controller better :)

Is this the September suprise btw?

[Mithos Yggdrasill]

Wouldn't Mario Kart be a bit hard to control with this? I mean, each to their own, but...

Not with THIS accessory o.c. The other one.

[Cosmonaut X]

It's not an FPS, it's a third person shooting game.

According to early reports, yeah, but the wording here is a touch ambiguous.

[alistairw]

No no no they have that stupid plastic wheel for Mario Kart. Much simpler!

I was 'aving a laff :(

Sorry...I'm still working and I get a bit bored sometimes.

[FoneBone]

I wonder if there's any chance of NES Zapper and/or Super Scope emulation on VC with this thing.

[dkeane]

I wonder if there's any chance of NES Zapper and/or Super Scope emulation on VC with this thing.

The zapper is just a piece of plastic, it doesn't do a thing. Crossbow Training sounds like it'll be a cool little game though.

[sprsk]

It doesn't say the game is in first person.

[Taker666]

This thing is a waste of time in my opinion. Nintedno should have done a REAL game to launch alongside this accessory, like Mario Kart Wii.

I'd say the opposite. What they should have done for the casuals was to bundle it with a minigame collection and call it "Wii Play 2 - Zapper".

They shouldn't have a hardcore franchise with a teen rating like Zelda.

They should have had stuff like Can Shoot, Mii paintball/ Mii Tomato splat/ Mii Pie shoot (wher you use the Zapper to fire pies at Mii's, Bugsy Malone style), firefighting (Zapper as a firehose), and Ghost Zapp (maybe a first person mini game with the Zapper used to stun and then vacuum up ghosts).

[Loudninja]

SO he uses a gun, to train with a crossbow?

[plagiarize]

It's not an FPS, it's a third person shooting game.

well, sounds like it's not an fps in the same way that stranglehold, max payne and gears of war aren't... but it doesn't change how i feel about it.

[Kenka]

Geez....this thread is indeed still on first page. I'm getting (really) old.

Worst humiliation ever.

[ziran]

Link's Crossbow Training™ Format: Wii™ Launch Date: 11/19/07 ESRB: T (Teen): Fantasy Violence Game Type: Shooting Accessories: Wii Zapper™ – included (requires Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™) Players: 1-4 (turn-based) Developer: EAD

As speculated, this could've been part of Twilight Princess's Wii experiments, and held back for a more appropriate time, i.e. the Zapper.

Sounds great, especially now EAD has been confirmed. Looking forward to it.

[Tobor]

Day mother****ing 1.

[Stormbringer]

This will be good.

[Xun]

More proof it's third person.

"The game looked beautiful," my source said. "I'm pretty sure it was running on the Twilight Princess engine. It's a third-person game, and you had some control over Link. While the video was way too short to get a good idea of the gameplay, it looks like a light-gun inspired Zelda title."

[the thoroughbred]

Hardware accessories never work, why the hell haven't they learned. This will not sell enough to make it a worthy investment. Actually maybe it will. At $20, which means it will be £20 here in UK. It's just not needed to play games, and so people won't buy it. They should've learned this by now, unless they just wanted to do a bit of service to the Hardcores gamers only. Unlikely. Where the fuck is my Mother.well she's at work, but I am sure GAF knows what I'm on about.

[Jade Knight 08]

Will they show some screenshots of Link's Crossbow Training before release date?

[Mithos Yggdrasill]

As speculated, this could've been part of Twilight Princess's Wii experiments, and held back for a more appropriate time, i.e. the Zapper. Sounds great, especially now EAD has been confirmed. Looking forward to it.

There is really nothing to be happy about, because EAD with all their talent, is wasting time and resources for a stupid idiot compilation of mini-games like that. This is really a thing that make me angry ! Instead, they should make a real game that support the Wii Zapper and launch both at the same time.

It is clear that Nintendo wanna repeat the Wii Play success with this thing and increase the Zelda popularity too, but for the first time I really hope that it will bomb, because it would be horrible to make this genre of thing the standard.