Zelda: A Link to The Past 2

[Jonathan Ingram]

You had me worried that someone out there was wasting their time making a Vita game, so I had to google this to see that it's a PSX3 game to calm myself down.

Then google Phantasy Star Nova and Ys Celceta and weep!!!

Having their killer app (Tri Ultimate) be a remastered version of a Wii game is Vita-level kind of blah.

An HD version of a remastered 3DS port of a Wii game, to be more specific. Not to mention that 3rd generation MonHuns were also available on PSP(MHP3rd) and PS3(MHP3rd HD).

I don`t think Nintendo ever really counted on it being a killer app, although no doubt they expected it to carry on the WiiU in the post-launch period together with NSMBU, Nintendo Land and(eventually) Dragon Quest X(now this was a bomb of epic proportions).

You... really have no concept about numbers. Let's look at last week's numbers:
WiiU: 67,662

WiiU doesn`t sell that many units in a week anywhere. Globally, maybe, but even that is seriously pushing it.

Last week`s Japanese hardware sales as tracked by Media Create:

3DS - 213,570
Vita - 60,166
PS3 - 12,395
PSP - 3,467
WiiU - 3,276
Wii - 703
X360 - 575

[BryanM]

Then google Phantasy Star Nova and Ys Celceta and weep!!!

I'm now completely convinced that Sega is actually trying to commit suicide. This reminded me of that time that PSOnline 2 wiped people's harddrives.

Dragon Quest X(now this was a bomb of epic proportions).

DQXU is hilarious. Out on the Wii months earlier, and on the PC months later. I don't even why they didn't lead with the U version, or at least bother to sync the releases.

VGChartZzzszsz claims it has moved ~90,000 units. That's... that's really something.

WiiU doesn`t sell that many units in a week anywhere. Globally, maybe, but even that is seriously pushing it.

Nah, that's the global total for last week give or take.

PSX3 and 3DS numbers are pretty damn high lately thanks to GTA and Pokemon. Not sure what the Vita's got that's got it moving faster than the U. The U and its exciting and innovative new games such as DQX and Monster Hunter 3.

"core gamer" we keep hearing skinned and divvied up six different ways between Sony and Microsoft for the "new console generation."

According to the sales charts this guy is a white american college bloke who only cares about shooters and sports games. The type of stuff what's-his-face itt wants us to "get out of our bubble and experience" I suppose.

This might explain why Microsoft thought their killer app would be Sports! On The TV.

I guess it's feasible that making a game that appeals to women or children might poison their image so badly that it'd somehow end up as net negative profit, with how fucked up marketing and image is these days.... no I still don't see the logic in doubling down to attract a base you've already captured.

[Drum]

holy shit replayme hahaha

[Drum]

hahahahahahahahaha

[replayme]

The PS360 had killed it off. And they're slaughtering the Wii U!

You... really have no concept about numbers. Let's look at last week's numbers:

WiiU: 67,662
Wii: 21,072

XBox360: 76,296

Aw yeah you're totally right. 76,296 really is bigger than 88,734. Yeah. They're really kicking their asses there.

God damnit. I'm not even angry at the stupid white-male masterrace fanboy forum war you're trying to propagate. It's the assault on basic Kindergarten level math I find so offensive here.

Holy shit, maybe it was bad timing on my part, but that number is ever so slightly skewed because of a certain Zelda game coming out. I heard that sales were up by 675% or something, but according to you, the Wii U sales still weren't high enough to come close to touching the PS360.

Let me know what the sales figures are for NEXT week, because I like blips

[replayme]

hahahahahahahahaha

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Anyway, Argos are selling the 2DS for £99 (including two games) in case anyone is interested. Thinking of picking the bundle up and then selling the games on, in which case the 2DS will only cost around £80 or so.

Only question I am asking myself is whether the 3DS XL is worth the extra £70-80 on top.

[replayme]

I don't think anyone is arguing that the Wii U is successful. It's clearly a major bomb.

Eh, a couple of years will pad that out or not, though their prospects are pretty dim. Even with the current upswing, almost certainly another Gamecube for them. (It's still fun to watch the Wii vs Wii U race charts. The Wii at this point was 10 million ahead, whee~) It's a blockbuster driven industry tho, so once they actually have a few who knows. (Tho the case of Monster Hunter 4 indicates they'd rather support the 3DS first and foremost. Having their killer app (Tri Ultimate) be a remastered version of a Wii game is Vita-level kind of blah.) But the best that can be said for it so far is it's outselling the XBone and PSX4 by a ratio of infinity.

Still, TV consoles are nothing but an afterthought these days.

The fact that Nintendo are concentrating on their (significantly more profitable) handheld division, to the extent that the Wii U isn't getting as much attention, shows exactly where their priorities are focused.

Anyway, since you like numbers so much, XBox360 has sold 80 million units so far. Not a bad little number for a console that is doing "gangbusters" in comparison to the Wii U.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/xbox-360 ... de/0122899

Software sales for the Xbox 360 reached $401.2m in September, the highest of any console in the US.

“Xbox One pre-orders continue to outpace Xbox 360 pre-orders in the same time period. While we remain on track to honor all pre-order commitments, we do expect to sell every Xbox One we deliver to retail this holiday."

To paraphrase: I want to know if Nintendo also expects to sell every Wii U they deliver to retail this holiday?

Only thing I can think of is if Nintendo do a 3DS-style price cut. Shopto were selling the Zelda bundle for around £200 last week, and while that price was good value, I think the sweet-spot for Nintendo to start regaining sales momentum would be £180. With a game like Zelda/Mario chucked in.

But with that being said, I expect the XBox360 sales to eclipse Wii's 100 million units shipped / sales, given that Wii has ceased production. And with the attachment rate being higher, I expect the PS360 to do better (market penetration and software wise).
http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platfo ... io/Global/

Wii U attach rate is 2.75 - which sucks. I guess people bought the Wii U for Rayman Legends and Zelda.

EDIT: How did the 3DS have an attachment rate of 2.93? That frigging sucks. I guess I might need to buy a 2/3DS for Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart, Kokuga, and a few others.

EDIT x 2: Vita isn't doing that badly. Not in comparison to the Wii U. They're both neck and neck

[Drum]

I think I like the new Friendly more than the old one.

[trap15]

[replayme]

Eurogamer has been quite pro-Nintendo (in terms of their editorial coverage) this weekend. First, we had Martin Robinson chiming in with his piece on how the Wii U offers the best value this side of Christmas, and today we have Tom Massey coming in with his own elaborate take on why Zelda: OoT is so great.

Just so that I can maintain some perspective, I think the first comment for Martin Robinson's piece really summed up the skepticism surrounding the Wii U pre-Xmas gold rush - "Remember kids, a Wii U is for life, not just for Christmas.". And if one were to also take Tom Massey's article on Zelda, and appropriate his article for one's own ends, then it's worth noting (in light of Nintendo's healthy bank balance in spite of the relative commercial disappointment of the Wii U) that "Success and greatness are different things, yet people often blur the two".

Anyway, that's enough "trolling" for today. Having recently bought a Vita, I'm not looking to buy anymore systems (apart from a 3DS) until Xmas next year. Have too many games to play, and not enough time.

EDIT: That Zelda: OoT retrospective really is beautiful to read. I may not like Nintendo's present form and direction, but that Zelda retrospective really nails home the calibre of talent that Nintendo has/had, and how far ahead the company was in spite of their blundered decision to stick with cartridges for the N64.

[Skykid]

Played this a little last night. I'm allowed to make some subtle comments pre-release, so:

Blimey, it is a LTTP. Not sure how I feel about that. It's one thing to be set in the world or aesthetic of the game, but another to have the exact same map. Of course it doesn't have the same dungeon layouts or story, so it's an original adventure, but this Hyrule appears (from a brief sit down) to be largely unchanged from the SNES.

The 'merge' trick comes early on, allowing you to go paper Mario on surfaces. I won't say why you get it for fear of a Nintendo PR hammer, but it's a neat little plot element and it works beautifully.

The graphics are beautiful and the 3D is amazing. Really rich looking and the classic screen scroll has been maintained between areas.

Tons of LTTP nostalgia, right down to the audio. Personally really looking forward to playing through this and seeing where it goes, but hoping it's not just a LTTP remix.

[Ed Oscuro]

I won't say why you get it for fear of a Nintendo PR hammer,

I play Zelda games for MacGuffin-related plot twists. And also for the exact same map. It's like the only things that have happened in the past 20 years are all terrible, like spoilers delivered via Twitter and franchise stagnation. Hooray progress! P: As far as I can tell, when Nintendo previously revisited a franchise, Link either got dropped into a handheld, had a moon drop on his head, or went to a totally different view style (in the very second game, too). I am sure this new gimmick is quite fun but the OG LttP formula is very thin; I hope they do a lot more than just that.

Same beautiful cauliflower trees as always, I'm sure. I've seen screens of 'em.

[spadgy]

Like Skykid, I've had some time with this. In fact, I'm a good few hours in now, but because I agreed to a Nintendo non-disclosure agreement, I cannot begin discussing the game until Nov 12th, by when I should have completed the game. Of course, if people want me to provide my input here then, I will. Or, I can keep my lips sealed (of course, I'll avoid the spoilers!).

[replayme]

I just have one question: is this new Zelda worth buying a 3DS for? I consider Zelda:LTTP to be my all-time favourite videogame, and would hate to have my earlier memories of that universe timeline smeered by a heartless cash and grab.

[Skykid]

I just have one question: is this new Zelda worth buying a 3DS for? I consider Zelda:LTTP to be my all-time favourite videogame, and would hate to have my earlier memories of that universe timeline smeered by a heartless cash and grab.

Although I don't love any Zelda title post Majora's Mask, I can't think of any that qualify as a 'heartless cash and grab'

Generally speaking Nintendo still ensure their first-party releases have a respectable level of quality, even if that level isn't as stratospheric as it was in previous generations.

Short story, if LTTP is your all-time favourite game, you should have bought a 3DS in anticipation of Link Between Worlds instead of buying a Vita.

[replayme]

Good point. I did actually lament my choice of buying a Vita initially, but PS Plus, Gravity Rush and PS1 classics makes the portable worth it. The Vita was a guaranteed purchase, based on the dependability of knowing what was already out there. And it was £130. But Zelda is still an unknown quantity, and forsaking a Vita for a 3DS was just such a massive leap of faith on my part. The last time I paid a premium price for a "console" for one exclusive was when I bought my pink GBA import so as to play Final Fight. It was ridiculous money at the time. But I wanted Final Fight.

I guess I paid attention to a gif where this girl asks why can't people have both? So yeah, I am looking to buy a 3DS too once the reviews come in.

Still friggin love my Vita though. Such a beauty of a machine.

[Drum]

The 3ds has some good games. I seriously doubt it's worth getting for the one though.

[replayme]

I'm going to give myself a "Christmas Present" budget of about £150 for Boxing Day. And the either buy a few games for my existing systems, or a 3DS/Zelda pack. Having said that though, I might even consider a tablet.

[replayme]

Reviews have started coming in. Eurogamer gave it 8. Harsh?

[soprano1]

Reviews have started coming in. Eurogamer gave it 8. Harsh?

Destructoid gave it 6.5.

[replayme]

Yeah, I saw the Destructoid score, although I haven't read it yet.

I watched the 9.4 IGN review and also read the 8 Eurogamer review.

Bit of a mixed bag this new Zelda. Will be interesting to see what player feedback is a month after release.

[replayme]

Arthur "Geese" just gave the game 9.5 at Polygon. Seriously impressive stuff. Going to read his review now...

Edit: he calls it the best Zelda game in the last 20 years. In other words, a 3DS is going to be bought come Boxing Day (which is when my funds will no longer be embargoed).

[gbaplayer]

only two days left...iam excited.

[replayme]

I'm actually inclined to pick up a 3DS sooner rather than later, only because Nintendo are offering Mario 3D Land as a promotion here in the UK.

Granted, it's not as nice as the kind of stunts Sony pull with their PS+ offerings, but I'm always impressed when Nintendo pull off stuff like this. Just wish it happened more often, because then I'd be inclined to call myself a Nintendo fanboy for life. Or at least until the end of Christmas.

[Skykid]

I'm actually inclined to pick up a 3DS sooner rather than later, only because Nintendo are offering Mario 3D Land as a promotion here in the UK.

Granted, it's not as nice as the kind of stunts Sony pull with their PS+ offerings, but I'm always impressed when Nintendo pull off stuff like this. Just wish it happened more often, because then I'd be inclined to call myself a Nintendo fanboy for life. Or at least until the end of Christmas.

God Az you're making me look like a fanboy.

Trust me, 3D Land is worth more than every game on PS+ several times over. Go play it and remember what gaming is all about, that's the treat you're looking for.

[replayme]

I'm actually inclined to pick up a 3DS sooner rather than later, only because Nintendo are offering Mario 3D Land as a promotion here in the UK.

Granted, it's not as nice as the kind of stunts Sony pull with their PS+ offerings, but I'm always impressed when Nintendo pull off stuff like this. Just wish it happened more often, because then I'd be inclined to call myself a Nintendo fanboy for life. Or at least until the end of Christmas.

God Az you're making me look like a fanboy.

Trust me, 3D Land is worth more than every game on PS+ several times over. Go play it and remember what gaming is all about, that's the treat you're looking for.

Yeah, I think I might just be a jaded gamer.

Mario 3D Land might be really good, but Gravity Rush is also really good (and is free on PS+). Gravity Rush could pass for a "Nintendo developed" title. It's that good.

But yeah, a 3DS (XL) might be forthcoming over the holidays.

[spadgy]

I was really torn playing this through. Wonderful - very similar to the first Link to the Past.

Obviously that's the case with many Zelda games compared to forbearers, but I felt it was compounded here.

Still, I loved every second, and after the game enters it's 'second phase' it feels more varied (perhaps because I've only done that half of the original a couple of times over the years; I simply don't remember it as well).

[gbaplayer]

played the game 2 hours yesterday and WOW. totally awesome, especially the 3d effects!

[BulletMagnet]

Some early-ish impressions of my own:

- For whatever it's worth, some people have expressed a distaste for the art style, but personally I have no issue with it so far; moreover, kudos to the developers for ensuring that the game runs at 60FPS even in 3D. On that note, while I wasn't sure I'd ever say this, I recommend keeping the slider on for this one; it was obviously made with it in mind.

- No d-pad movement, unfortunately (you use that to look around); the analog stick wasn't a huge hassle to get used to IMO, but it does make precise aiming with the bow and other items a bit difficult (though you can hold the "shoot" button down to strafe while you line up a shot). Touchscreen is only required for a few infrequent things, and haven't yet encountered any "blow into the microphone" type gimmicks.

- The "rent items" thing hasn't been a problem so far; money is easy to get (by the time the shop opened I could easily rent everything at once), your wallet can hold up to 10,000 rupees right at the start (no more running out of space till you find a bigger one), and stuff you need to rent for upcoming dungeons is offered at a discount. Haven't unlocked the "buy permanently" option yet. Having all items tied to an "energy" bar works well; you can't abuse anything, but you can pepper combat with arrows, fireballs and such without worrying whether or not you'll be out of ammo when you stumble upon a switch or torch.

- Thanks to the ability to wander around you can get quite a few permanent abilities (dash, rock lift, swim) pretty early, and can thus tackle most (though not all) of the heart piece/rupee/etc. "mini dungeons" you encounter on your way without having to backtrack later; you can mark spots of interest on your map but can't annotate them. You also get the "fast travel" ability early, so doing so is easier than it used to be.

- The highlighted "become a wall painting" thing is neat so far, as it has you keeping an eye out for spots where you can use it to sneak to inaccessible places, though you can't use it to cheese past bounders and other obstacles you'll need a specific item/ability for.

- Link has his usual (since OoT, anyways) complement of "hyaa"s and such to say (and no option to turn them off that I'm aware of), though I haven't been overly annoyed by them.

- Just for us shmuppers, there's even a minigame in which you get to shake the rust off of your bullet...er, chicken-dodging skills. On that note, I am copyrighting the "danmakucco" pun right now.

On the whole I'm quite taken with this one so far; it's definitely similar to LttP in a number of ways, but it's definitely not a "glorified remake", as it has a vibe all its own. No real harrowing challenges to speak of thus far, but if you're playing a Zelda game you're probably not in it for those anyway.

[Skykid]

I am copyrighting the "danmakucco" pun right now.

Ha ha, I approve of this! If I ever steal it I'll be sure to credit you, copyright holder.