At Nintendo's pre-E3 press conference, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight
Princess was announced to come in two separate versions. One for the
Nintendo GameCube, as well as a version specifically tailored to take
advantage of the Wii and its controller. A live demo was shown on stage
showcasing some examples of how the Wii's controller will change the
gameplay mechanics of the franchise.
For instances where
precision aiming is needed, the pointer functionality of the controller
is used. To aim at an enemy with a bow and arrow, simply point the
controller at the enemy and fire away. The pointer can also be used to
point and lock-on to different items to trace out the path for Link's
boomerang. A quick jab with the appropriate hand will make Link bash an
enemy with his shield. You can also use a "quick-spinning motion" to
initiate a spin attack. Making a return for this iteration of the
series is Z-targeting, made famous by the Nintendo 64's The Legend of
Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Another feature that this game uses is
the recently announced built-in speaker on the Wii's main controller
unit. It is used in Twilight Princess for many things but the
highlighted example included shooting an arrow from Link's bow. As the
arrow leaves the bow, the sound will be coming mostly from the
controller, but as the arrow approaches and pierces an enemy, the sound
will travel into the speakers on the TV creating a "depth of sound."
Both
versions of the game will be available alongside the Wii at the
system's launch. The extra controller functionality will of course be
absent from the GameCube version.
Stay tuned to The Wiire for
more information and hands-on impressions of The Legend of Zelda:
Twilight Princess in the coming days.
