New Zelda for Wii "deep in development," Phantom Hourglass delayed
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Dec 11th 2006 at 1:15PM }
The new issue of Game Informer (#165) reportedly alleges that the next Wii installment of The Legend of Zelda has been "deep in development for around a year." Admittedly, this rumor comes as little surprise, since consistent first-party support is crucial for Wii's success.We needn't remind you that Twilight Princess is a GameCube game with tacked on Wii functionality. While no doubt a key asset to the Wii launch, Twilight Princess is not a showcase for the new platform. Rest assured Nintendo has been working on 'that' particular Zelda entry since the moment the Wii concept was birthed. That's not to say we expect a true Wii Zelda before 2008. Remember, Metroid and Mario are holding it down in '07.
Game Informer also reports that Phantom Hourglass for DS as been delayed until October 2007; a full year after the Wind Waker sequel was initially expected. Sound familiar?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pip @ Dec 11th 2006 1:48PM
How is the Twilight Princess NOT a showcase game for the Wii? Just because it is coming out for the Gamecube? If it is moving Wii systems (And it is), it deserves to be called a showcase game.
whosmav @ Dec 11th 2006 1:22PM
Natch'
Todd @ Dec 11th 2006 1:22PM
I'm not surprised to hear delays when concerning the Zelda franchise. Nintendo is well known for pushing back top titles, especially Zelda, in order to perfect the quality. With respect, I'm willing to wait as the game will be that much better. I loathe companies (ahem, EA) which push out games to maintain visibility with little concern to quality.
Ponch @ Dec 11th 2006 1:23PM
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! this makes my day
crono141 @ Dec 11th 2006 1:24PM
If phantom hourglass turns out half as good as TP due to the delay, it'll be worth it.
While its always annoying to have titles delayed, the chronic TP delays have produced one of the best games of all time in the adventure genre. Considering phantom hourglass is from the same developer, I expect a greatly enhanced experience.
matt @ Dec 11th 2006 1:27PM
does this mean we get a new handheld then too? maybe a motion sensitive one but the new zelda will just have that tacked on and feel more at home with a stylus on an ole fashioned dslite?
i don't really care how long they take cause they keep making quality zeldas
the Brayn @ Dec 11th 2006 1:30PM
crono141, Zelda wasn't delayed to add anything on other than Wii functionality. The game has been done for a while and they only delayed it so they could use it so people would feel justified in purchasing a new system this winter. People expect either a Mario or Zelda game to release the same time as one of Nintendo's new consoles and Mario Galaxy wasn't going to be ready in time.
crono141 @ Dec 11th 2006 1:53PM
Brayn, You are only partially correct. It was delayed from Christmas '05 to april-ish '06 first for quality reasons, and then delayed again until Christmas '06 to add more content AND wii control. It was going to release Christmas '06 anyway, so they figured they could do a minimal amount of work to adapt to Wii control as well, providing a stellar wii launch title.
When they can belt out controls for Wii sports games in the span of a week or 2, I doubt it took them a full year just to "tack on" wii controls.
The controls are hardly tacked on. The wii controls are so far superior for zelda than GC controls (since its basically the same control system as OOT and WW on GC).
Steven @ Dec 11th 2006 1:41PM
I'm still confused why Zelda: TP got such high reviews. Imagine if Halo 2 was released on the xbox 360 instead of the original xbox. The score would have been reduced because of graphics alone. But, people simply seemed to ignore the fact that Zelda was a gamecube game (except Gamespot- are they the only ones who see the light). I'm extremely disappointed in the industry over this. If the game can get a perfect 10 on the wii, what does that mean for the gamecube version. I guess you have to make up a new scale because it's going to be off the charts.
I'm not saying the new Zelda is a bad game; heck, I plan on buying it. But, from all the reviews that I've read, the game is practically the same as previous versions except perfecting what it does. If any other game does something similar, it's dogged and said to have been "innovative." we often hear, "nothing has been changed to revolution the genre." Anyway, it's just disappointing to see the industry sway so easily to a game that is a "classic." I have no doubt that the Zelda: TP is a fantastic experience and maybe one of the best new releases to be found, but we must remember that it's a gamecube game.
Anyway, I have a feeling that the new Zelda will blow our minds in terms of control (motion sensing) and adventure. The new game will be a wii (next gen) title at heart. If the TP can such a high score, then the new version should set magazines and websites on fire.
martin @ Dec 11th 2006 2:06PM
". I'm still confused why Zelda: TP got such high reviews. Imagine if Halo 2 was released on the xbox 360 instead of the original xbox. The score would have been reduced because of graphics alone. But, people simply seemed to ignore the fact that Zelda was a gamecube game (except Gamespot- are they the only ones who see the light). I'm extremely disappointed in the industry over this. If the game can get a perfect 10 on the wii, what does that mean for the gamecube version. I guess you have to make up a new scale because it's going to be off the charts. "
Steven..... you do know that 360's launch games were all not just XBOX games, but some of them were actually N64 games.
PD0 was originally planned for N64, then they decided to move it to GameCube Launch... then MS bought Rare and was supposed to release it for XBOX, then they just used it for 360 to try to move systems.
Kameo is the same story!!!!!!!!!!!! the rest of 360's launch were XBOX and PS2 games....
At least Zelda TP was a end of life GC title they moved to the Wii to sell systems...... but it happens all the time, with every launch system most of the lineup is usually previous gen. games that they decided to delay, that is the industry. Why do you think games don't reach system graphic potential till about 1-2 years after system release.....
Turo @ Dec 11th 2006 1:49PM
@7
so u wont call the next wii zelda a "gamecube" game? surely it cant look much better due to the lack of graphical power in the wii. makes u sound pretty hypocritical...
your only points seem to be of same graphics and content in the game. so are you saying that titles on the 360/ps3 that are available on their past gen counterparts are "xbox/ps2" games? just b/c its the same game available on older consoles? thats some crazy logic you have there...
Flit @ Dec 11th 2006 1:51PM
@7:
I don't understand why you are upset? A game put on a different console than originally intended can still be a good game (wait for Ninja Gaiden Sigma on ps3, GTA:SA, etc.). Why does it matter that it was a gamecube game, do no gamecube games deserve a 10? Yes, they used it to sell consoles, but you can buy it tomarrow on you GC if you want to. I got it yesterday, spent all day with it, and i'm loving it. Pure zelda. Nothing different from other zeldas (5 hours in), but i'm having more fun playing with the new controller. If it was only on gamecube, i'd feel a little ripped off that it is the same game as previous zelda games (go to dungeon, get item, use item on boss.)
I just don't understand the "graphics suck so the game can't be awesome" arguement (unless graphics impede how the game plays, i.e. stuck in walls, camera issues, and so forth.)
I can't wait to get off of work!
tcc3 @ Dec 11th 2006 1:51PM
Why does everything have to be "revolutionary"? At this point the zelda game play mechanics have been perfected to a certain degree. Whats wrong with a new game just having a new story, new puzzles, and new places to explore?
If it aint broke, dont fix it.
knowledgeable @ Dec 11th 2006 1:57PM
Steven,
don't you know that most launch games were for previous systems.
Then you have the 360 launch who's 2 big hits, PD0 and Kameo were not only Gamecube LAUNCH TITLES!!! but titles that were moved over from the N64 originally....
They should have really lowered the reviews.
Lowering a games score because it is bad or doesn't meet the standards of the system it is on is bad. Lowering a Wii game score because the graphics aren't up there with PS3 or 360 is a whole different story (which is what Gamespot did). Considering that Zelda as of right now is one of the best looking Wii games and the best game on the Wii, it deserves its score!
Judd @ Dec 11th 2006 6:21PM
It kind of upsets me sometimes how much of a hype based, video game culture we live in. There is so much anticipation for when something comes out, that by the time it does come out, we can't enjoy it. We're already thinking about the sequel.
After Halo 2 everyone was already talking about Halo 3 before it was even announced. Sure, it was obvious that they'd make a sequel, but perhaps if we weren't for the obvious hype, developers would put more in the original.
Look at Gears of War, great title, well used cover mechanic, but relatively short. The online mode was well done, but again, only up to 4 on 4, only deathmatch, and no ranked games with friends. Now they are already talking about making a Gears of War trilogy. No suprise there, hype will carry those sales into the next two titles. But maybe if there wasn't so much hype around Gears of War, CliffyB and crew would've spent more time developing their story.
And now Zelda, this is the title many gamers were looking for since the Spaceworld Demo from 2000. 2000! Finally, that it's out, one of the highest rated games of all time, we have to think about the sequel. Sure there are things some people would like to see, better graphics, orchestrated score, more voices. But no game is perfect, and the Zelda in 2009 will have flaws. And yes that title will not be out until 2009, because with Nintendo you always have to add a couple of months to the estimate. At E3 2007, they will concentrate on Super Mario Galaxy(which won't come out till Fall '07). Then they will show a short 30 second Zelda teaser. At E3 2008 they will have it playable, but then afterwards announce it will come out in March 2009, six years after Wind Waker.
See my point here? If it's something that probably won't be out until 2009, I don't even want to hear about until 2008. I'm not blaming Joystiq or GI on reporting this story, their job is to report on what we care about. The problem lies in that we care more about talking about games than actually playing them. I'm to blame for this as well. I spend more time on sites like this reading and talking about games, than actually playing them. I am sure I am not the only one like this. Maybe if we all didn't care about news leaks and fancy trailers, game makers would have to sell their titles on quality not publicity.
Steven @ Dec 11th 2006 4:59PM
@9
My comment is not only directed toward graphics. I simply made this as a prime example because this is typical of the gaming industry to make these comparison. The graphical difference b/t the gamecube and the wii versions of TP will be mininal. Also, in regards to graphics, all gaming sites put a section for graphics and give it a score. This is why I've pointed it out.
The wii may not have the graphical prowess of the 360 or ps3, but it has been deemed to be 3 times more powerful than the gamecube. That's enough for me to know that the next version of Zelda will look much better than TP.
If you notice, I also mentioned innovation and wii controls. Most reviews that I've read have mentioned the wii controls to be interesting and fun, but somewhat tacked on- not necessary for the gameplay.
steve @ Dec 11th 2006 3:10PM
So, you're reporting that another source "reportedly alleges" something?
I think my head just exploded.
DojoRacoon @ Dec 11th 2006 2:04PM
With all due respect Steven you should try the game first. The reason a Halo game would suffer is the control is basically exactly the same. After playing TP I can safely say I don't want to go back to the old way of playing. Do the sword slashing motions add anything to it? Not much. Where the new controls really shine is in the ability to aim the remote picking off an enemy in the distance feels alot more real than using an analog stick to aim. Add to that the speaker eventhough it is overused it still adds to the game. Graphics only serve to make a game more immersive and when you have a game like TP that is already so immersive as it you can hardly fault it for it's lack of face melting graphics.
Chris @ Dec 11th 2006 2:11PM
Remember that Joystiq article that said Nintendo has been working on a new Zelda game for a year now? I'm just a little confused. By the comments on this page, I would have thought the article was about TP's score, not A NEW ZELDA GAME IN THE WORKS!
I've been saying they need to put out a Zelda game that has controls that were completely engineered around the Wii. I'm excited to see what they would come up with. Looking at the difference between the side scrolling Zeldas to Ocarina, they could revolutionize the franchise.
Lectoid @ Dec 11th 2006 2:45PM
Back to the topic.
Does anyone else think DS/Wii integration for this Zelda that's being developed?
Jecrell @ Dec 11th 2006 2:41PM
It's the Legend of Zelda, and you're pissed off that it uses the Wii controller?
You feel it's just 'tacked' on too James?
Why are you using it in a derogatory sense rather than a positive sense? The Nintendo Wii's controller makes Zelda better, not worse, and I'd feel ripped off to get it on the Gamecube.
... I don't know why I come here anymore.
Mert @ Dec 11th 2006 2:35PM
My predictions:
Phantom Hourglass - Holiday 2007
New Wii Zelda - Holiday 2008 or 2009
C'mon people, this is Zelda. They're not exactly known for their timeliness.
TrueMuse @ Dec 11th 2006 2:36PM
People need to accept the fact that Twilight Princess was an outstanding Gamecube game, and a very good Wii game. Twilight Princess, to me, serves as an indication of the potential of Zelda on the Wii. Zelda can be incredible. Twilight Princess is not incredible on the Wii. Saying that it is, is selling short the potential for the Wii system. Zelda can be much, much better... And it will be much, much better. Let's face it, the best moments in Twilight Princess involved moments when the controls felt fluid and refreshing (bow and arrow and such). Sword swinging can vastly improve, and Nintendo would tell you the same exact thing.
I looked at the game as a Gamecube game. I love the game, I'm still playing it and enjoying it. People complaining that it was released on Wii with tacked on controls may have a point, but Nintendo was genius for doing it considering it made the Wii much more attractive.
I'm not going to say TP is an amazing Wii game. Zelda can, and will, have better days on the Wii.
Derbeste @ Dec 11th 2006 4:54PM
@Chris
FINALLY! Someone who has the right idea!
Joystiq gives us news that Nintendo is working on a TRUE Wii Zelda and all we can do is argue over TP?
After seeing Zelda transition from 2D to 3D, I'm VERY excited to see what they can by building the game around the Wii.
Let's just hope it's not Zelda on rails. LOL
Moblin @ Dec 11th 2006 2:50PM
It's a secret to everyone...
Austin Powers @ Dec 11th 2006 2:57PM
@ 17 Mert: "C'mon people, this is Zelda. They're not exactly known for their timeliness."
No, but they are known for their *timelessness* and so we wait, and I do so happily.
skwisgaar @ Dec 11th 2006 2:56PM
Finally, the long awaited "Legend of Zelda: Adjective Noun"
crono141 @ Dec 11th 2006 3:07PM
"Finally, the long awaited "Legend of Zelda: Adjective Noun"
That reminds me of a Castlevania name generator I saw on the internet a while ago (maybe even from joystiq). It would generate names like:
Castlevania: Rock Opera of Discord
and other odd names. Lots of fun. Someone should make a Zelda one. :)
baby sea tuna @ Dec 11th 2006 3:26PM
I put myself firmly in the camp of Twilight Princess is a good game, but not the second coming of Jesus that most people make it out to be. It's standard Zelda and if it had come out in '04 or '05, it probably would have been Game of the Year and deserved all of the 10/10 scores it would have gotten. Here we are at the end of 2006 though, and it just doesn't feel as impressive when stacked up against some of the other stuff that's out there.
I don't mind the Wii controls (they're really the only reason it doesn't seem like the same stale game I've been playing since OoT,) but if they want the next version to be a true 10 game they've got to fix that sword fighting mechanic beyond: Stand near enemy, shake both controllers violently until enemy dies, repeat.
Flit @ Dec 11th 2006 3:43PM
@26:
Do you also play Tekken 5 and "smash controller with thumbs violently until enemy dies, repeat"? Yeah, i'm sure swinging the wii remote crazily will work, but you'll hit your girlfriend in the eye.
ealba @ Dec 11th 2006 5:10PM
oh god i'm quivering with excitement again...okay now i have to push it down for another couple of years. god i'll be a senior in college when it probably comes out...
crono141 @ Dec 11th 2006 4:20PM
TP has delivered litterally on everything I expected it to be. The story is Dark, the atmosphere is dark, the world is epic, the dungeons are well thought out and challenging. There are characters link actually interacts with beyond random street people and temple people. Sidequests are rewarding and challenging.
Gameplay itself may not be drastically different from previous zelda's, but this game improves in so many other areas its not an issue. This is the best Zelda since Link to the Past, and the game OoT should have been.
Josh @ Dec 11th 2006 5:17PM
I can't wait until tomorrow when TP finally is in stores! And it's only $38 at Circuit City!
That said, I'm also looking forward to what Zelda could be like on Wii, and how a touch screen-only Zelda might be like.
rwiggum @ Dec 11th 2006 5:11PM
I'd like to dispute a few items here. For one, to say that the TP controls are "tacked on" makes it sound like they didn't work. Personally, I felt that the wiimote allowed fluid motion in nearly every aspect, yes, including swordplay. Plus, like #11 said, who cares if they don't "revolutionize" every aspect of the game? if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Also, to hate on TP because it was a gamecube game doesn't make sense. Is the gameplay any worse? Because last time I checked, sure it may have been a gamecube game, but if it still gives you a great gameplay experience, what's the problem?
Community-Based Song Lyrics @ Dec 11th 2006 4:58PM
Interesting..... Shigeru Miyamoto commented in the past about how Twilight Princess will be the last Zelda game as we know it....
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/read_article.php?topic_id=23313193&union_id=181
Odd that another one is supposedly "deep in development".
ackmondual @ Dec 11th 2006 5:09PM
@ #15
Well, Halo2 got rave reviews, which was a game I enojoyed. I understand it's still the orig XB, but the game was as much of an exp as a sequel. Play as Covenent, new weapons, etc., but really the same graphics
Mr. Khan @ Dec 11th 2006 6:30PM
I find it wierd that Nintendo EAD has the resources to be working on all these games at once
This makes, what, 3 large-scale games that are all "TBA"
Mario Kart Wii
Animal Crossing Wii
Now this...
(oh yeah, and there's Wii Music, too)
Where do they get all these resources?
As for the graphical comparison, i can't tell the difference between TP and my GC graphics, except in the lighting, lighting kicks more ass than it ever did on GC, but maybe Nintendo was right in that the last generation was the best you could possibly see in 480i, so until i go HD (only about 720p), i probably won't tell the difference even on 2nd Gen Wii titles
samfish @ Dec 11th 2006 5:48PM
I know the odds of this happening are somewhere in the slim to non catagory, but I'd REALLY like to see Nintendo really bring it to the next level and make this a trilogy or something. If there were ever a game series that begged to have a trilogy, it's Zelda. I mean- hello?! Triforce? Trilogy?
I know this was the plan originally with Oracle and Seasons, but I'd like to have a "real" Zelda game that is centered around a trilogy.
Hammer out the game engine and then get started on the second two while making the first so they're in a position to release one every 18 months or so...how bad ass would THAT be?!
Well, if nothing else...let the REAL debate begin over the need for voice acting!
Infil @ Dec 11th 2006 6:31PM
TP is the best Zelda game up to this point, and that deserves a lot of respect (considering LttP and OOT are often in the top 5 games of all time for most people). How can you say "well, it's impressive, but..." and hold it in the league of OOT? For me, TP could well be regarded as one of the best games of all time. If you've played it, you can see why. And I like the Wii controls... I don't understand the whining. Gamespot's whining was due to lack of voiceover and FMV. I think I'll trust a different opinion.
And yeah, I can't see this game any earlier than Christmas 2008. With Metroid and Mario in 07 (and likely Smash by Christmas 07... hopefully not pushed back past that), there's no reason to release Zelda any earlier.
k0 @ Dec 11th 2006 8:15PM
"I don't understand the whining. Gamespot's whining was due to lack of voiceover and FMV. I think I'll trust a different opinion.
And yeah, I can't see this game any earlier than Christmas 2008. With Metroid and Mario in 07 (and likely Smash by Christmas 07... hopefully not pushed back past that), there's no reason to release Zelda any earlier."
To comment on that GS review, you are absolutely correct, and hit the crux of the core of that "review". I think we all can go to another site for different opinions from now on, when a reviewer gives bad press about a game for lack of certain elements he/she thinks should be in the game. Terrible.
As for late '08 being the release date, dammit it makes sense as the other games being released in '07, but that just makes me face the realization that I'm getting effin' old. :(
Where do the years go ...
Tao68 @ Dec 11th 2006 8:33PM
@38: Nintendo is in fact a very big dev', they're just as big as EA in software sales, and EA is usually considered to be N°1 studio(s)... but EA don't sell hardware...
When you see things like that, the GC was (no doubt!) n°2 in the last gen: because Nintendo made profits on both hardware and software...
And these profits may pay the salaries of hundreds and hundreds of very talented japanese game creators, inspired by a man who's usually considered the greatest game creator of them all, the father of Mario and... the Legend of Zelda...
These guys have experience... and they are now workin' easily on a console with an architecture close to what they've used (quite well) for the last six or seven years, with some nice tools and tricks, so it helps... maybe we'll see a new Zelda on Wii sooner than we imagine... who knows, except the Nintendo folks?
Dnk @ Dec 13th 2006 5:13PM
Every time I hear someone refer to the new Zelda game as a ported gamecube title I think about how Bungee used to be a Mac developer and how Halo was oringally intended to run on a Mac and PC. Bungee demoed Halo for the audience at the '99 Macworld before anyone else.
Then what happens? Microsoft buys bungee, delays the game, and finally makes it an xbox exclusive for quite some time before releasing it for the PC... and a while after that finally releasing for Macs.
If Zelda TP is a gamecube title, then Halo is a mac title.
Does that make Halo a bad game? Nope. Apparently it's a very popular game, as is the new Zelda.
Carlos @ Dec 17th 2006 8:31AM
I'm sure the Zelda franchise is a big money maker for Nintendo, but with the unique abilities of the wii it won't be the only game Nintendo will be focused on, even though I hope it is. And if the a new zelda comes out for the wii there will always be people talking. If zelda sticks with the old people would critique that it's not next gen, and if it doesn't fans will be sad because it's not the same experience. To me this new Zelda game should have all the good qualities a Zelda game has and more. I really don't care about graphics so deep it makes your eyes twitch, but it will be nice to have quality graphics to brag about and put all those comments saying the wii is a gamecube bumped up with a controller add-on. And even though people might say it's same old same old I will still buy it, I mean c'mon it's Zelda, the most innovative game, remember the first game to have a save option? I'm sure it was zelda baby!
Wii @ Dec 30th 2006 8:32PM
Ok i got Wii on the first day it came out, i got Zelda a couple days afterwards because it was sold out but if you guys are stupid enough to think that its the same as the gamecube version your on something. Yes, the sword movements are way to generic and feel 'tacked on' but it sure as hell beats clicking a little red circle with a B in it. And sword movement isn't the whole game, there is fishing (with by the way is great) and there is bow and arrow combat (which is also amazing). All i'm trying to say is it is better then the GC version in every way.
johny @ Dec 30th 2006 10:27PM
tp is the one of the best games aound and is leagues above the other zelda titles. to all thoughs people who say the graphics are tacky use r on some serious drugs, the r awsome. they may not be as good as call of dutys graphics and such but they r still awsome. and though who r whining about it being a game cube release get over urselfs who cares what consol it is on it is all about the actual game. ow and by the way the wii controls kik ***