The Big N5 of the Week - I'm a-ridin' on a-pony!

Hello and welcome to another rendition of The Big N5!

5. HMV apologizes for the misleading 3DS XL ad. 
HMV has something to say about last week's embarrassing 3DS XL ad with a photoshopped second analog stick: "It's apparent this was just one particular store being a little over-enthusiastic - and the poster has been removed. If it's caused anyone any issues then we're sorry, but I'd say it doesn't take much to work out this doesn't represent the company's retail offer for this release." Thanks for being a good sport, HMV. Now don't go photoshopping a second screen on the Wii U control pad!

4. New Super Mario Bros. 2/Demon Training heading to Japan's 3DS eShop.  
Starting July 28, two downloadable games will be heading to the Japanese 3DS eShop: New Super Mario Bros. 2 for 4,800 Yen ($61) and Demon Training for 3,800 Yen ($48). Don't be alarmed by the high prices, since the American dollar is weak in Japan, and the American downloadable versions will be the same price as the physical copies. NSMB2 will be released in the U.S. on August 19th. Demon Training's release is TBA.

3. Nintendo claims Wii U will be important for the world. 
In a Gamasutra interview Iwata expresses how it's not all about being first in the console spotlight: "Being first in the next generation race is not important at all," he tells Gamasutra. "One of the reasons we believe this is the time for Nintendo to launch the Wii U is it's going to be important for the world." Later in the interview he discusses about the 3DS hardware sales, and the potential for the Wii to still produce more games, but didn't go into any specifics about the Wii U's price tag. He closes with this statement about graphics power: "We have not changed our strategy. In other words, we just do not care what kind of 'more beef' console Microsoft and Sony might produce in 2013. Our focus is on how we can make our new console different than [others]." Amen. Hopefully all three future systems can thrive in harmony.

2. My Little Epona T-shirt sells out on TeeFury.com. 
Bronies and Zelda fans alike got a nice treat this week when the 'My Little Epona' T-Shirt was up for sale on TeeFury.com on Friday. Created by Julia "JellySnail" Whittles this adorable Zelda/MLP fancry to both fan services. It is sadly not available any more.   

1. 30 Obscure facts about Mario. 
You think you know Mario games? Well did you know that Goombas are called Kuribos in Japan? That Kamek was going to be a playable character in Mario Kart 64? Here's 28 more facts you probably didn't about your favorite plumber!












Thanks for reading and have a great week!

The Big N5 of the Week - I'm a-ridin' on a-pony!

Dual Version Zelda games coming to the 3DS?

Said to originate from the forum site 4Chan, the above image apparently hints of two dual version Zelda games in the making for the 3DS. Translated, their sub-titles are 'Fire Prophecy' and 'Ice Prophecy' respectively. Fake, or are these the next Zelda titles we can expect?

All I can say is, if it's legit, I have dibs on Fire Prophecy.


UPDATE: The games are confirmed to be fake. Oh, well.

Dual Version Zelda games coming to the 3DS?

Will Zelda Wii U be a Skyrim-like experience?

This month two fantastic games were released: The Legend of Zelda Skyward Swords and The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim. Both are similar and different in their own right: Both are set in a fantasy world filled with secrets, but while Skyrim takes a realistic approach to graphics, Skyward Swords is Cel-shaded and colorful; and while Skyrim asks for a more mature crowd, Zelda appeals to a broad crowd of gamers, and etc. Though Zelda can’t quite compare to Skyrim’s enormous nonlinear world - or can it? Could the next big console Zelda game be just as or even more nonlinear than Skyrim? With the Wii U I think it could be a possibility.

"Dang, should've brought my horse..."

Try not to soil your pants while imagining this: Hyrule - bigger than ever. Imagine the first time you ever played The Legend of Zelda on the NES and amplify that experience by 11. Imagine riding Epona, it’s mane flowing gently through the breeze, riding through an never ending Hyrule field filled with so many secrets you wouldn’t mind riding a bit longer to find each one! Never ending freedom. Who says you can’t do whatever you want? Want to go the 5th dungeon before going to the first? Yep, you can do that! Want to get the flute item before venturing out anywhere else important? Go right ahead! Want to study more about Hyrule? Go to the local castle Hyrule library and read full length books to your hearts content. Don’t like reading? Then get out there and explore! Travel by boat, travel by horse, and even travel by bird - the sky is NOT the limit! There’s no limitations! It would be the most satisfying Zelda experience ever crafted.

And all of this can be done. It’s just a matter of if or how it will be done. I know Nintendo is not one to borrow inspiration, but wouldn’t this bet the next logical step in the series? This will be the first time Zelda will appear in HD, sure, but graphics isn’t everything: we need something to knock our socks off. We’ve been pretty spoiled by the fantastic treatment the console Zelda has been getting now, so anything less at this point would be disappointing. And I think Nintendo feels the same way.

And the Wii U is the perfect opportunity to try a full nonlinear Zelda. Having the Wii U tablet as a map guide will ensure that this adventure would never get too confusing and you’ll know exactly where you are at all times (call it the Navigator). It will also double as a handy item storage device to quickly switch items on the fly. There’s just so much potential for making a quintessential Zelda game here.

"Eat steel, Dodongo!"

But I could be wrong, and the next Zelda game could turn out to be vastly different game than I imagined. Though could the next Zelda game be so nonlinear and vast that it could make Skyrim look barren in comparison. Probably not. But whatever the Zelda team has planned I’m sure it exceed all our expectations.

Will Zelda Wii U be a Skyrim-like experience?

Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D glitch

A glitch in the first dungeon, where you get a heart container and urn the 3D slider on at that moment. The game will freak out and split into two different outputs., giving you two hearts, two Links, and mirrored dungeon walls (oddly the text box isn't affected).

Wait I always thought the 3D effect was a hardware thing and doesn't affect what's in the actual games.

Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D glitch

Best Ocarina of Time preorder bonus ever

A real ocarina?! With two sheets of music to play with it? And it's exclusive to Australia too. Ocarina of Time fans will change continents (or just raid eBay for the things) come launch day.

Best Ocarina of Time preorder bonus ever

Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D new trailer

Old-timers should be able to recognize where this is, right? And a whole lot souped up it is too.

Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D new trailer

It's dangerous to go alone

Written by pikaby

From Island Paradise, a Facebook social game. Wonder how many of them are hardcore Nintendo fans?

It's dangerous to go alone

Which Wii Zelda game sold the most?

Immediate thought? There only one Wii Zelda game right? Wrong.

Which Wii Zelda game sold the most?

Aonuma- 3DS is perfect for Zelda

Written by pikaby

"I am excited. With the Nintendo 3DS, all of the new elements and the 3D technology is perfect for The Legend Of Zelda series. It's everything from the depth that you get from riding through vistas or a more accurate sense of distance between you and the enemy you are fighting. I think it is perfect for this series. Of course we are very excited to see what it can do. Of course I look at what the development environment is like and one of the things that I want to take up further going forward is how playing in 3D effects things. Does it make you tired? Do you want to create a game where players are sitting in front of their systems for a long period of time? Obviously there are things that can be 3D but we don't have to shoehorn it in. If it's beneficial, of course, we'll want to use it. So what I would like to do is to take a look at what other people are doing out there, see what the reaction is, then go back and figure out exactly what I want out of 3D." - Eiji Aonuma

Let's see what the Zelda team can come up with that the original DS couldn't possibly do. Sequel to Spirit Tracks? An entirely new Zelda? Count me in. After we get that Ocarina of Time remake out of the way.

But to me I don't think 3D adds anything more to the game other than the feeling of immersion. It can't and won't introduce any new innovative new gameplay methods (although that's probably the 3DS gyrosensor's job). The feeling of 'being in the world' is probably more important to games where exploration plays a big part like Metroid (remember Prime and how lovely it was? 3DS remake...wait...no, nevermind that when you have the Wii trilogy). I'll probably just stop rambling and leave this as a footnote for things to come. Can't complain with any new Zelda that gets announced anyway.

Aonuma- 3DS is perfect for Zelda

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Written by pikaby

Remember this a year ago? It's finally come to light this E3, like everyone expected. But not quite in a way which everyone expected either.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Man helps blind gamer beat Zelda

Written by pikaby



Proof that gamers can be honorable and help other fellow gamers in need, even if they haven't met in person. That's what this guy and a bunch of his friends did, constructing a guide for Zelda: Ocarina of Time and how to beat the game using only audio cues. Two years of effort to help a passionate blind gamer finish the greatest N64 game ever made. Now that's what I call a true gamer.

Man helps blind gamer beat Zelda

Iwata Asks: Zelda Handheld History

Well this was a pretty revealing bit. Nothing of the sort would come to light if this was ten years ago. The following is an excerpt from the interview.

---

Nakago: And I’ve got something even more interesting today. This is the first dungeon map ever created for Zelda.

 

Tezuka: Basically, we were going to make lots of dungeons using one square per room, and lay them out like a jigsaw puzzle.

Iwata: In order to fit in as many dungeons as possible given the limited memory, you were making them like you were doing a puzzle. 

Iwata Asks: Zelda Handheld History

Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks review

Written by pikaby

Prior to the review, the reviewer had only been in a train for a couple of times and to tell you the truth, it was pretty bland. Other than looking out at the scenery and all, it was jerky and of course, there was nothing to do except sit/stand while you either read the papers or try to sleep. If you can get any sleep at all, with the kid sitting about 3 rows away screaming his lungs out. At least you get to your destination in time though.

And that's the initial feeling you get when you boot Spirit Tracks up. For the first hour or so, all you can do in your train is move around, change your route and speed and toot your whistle(which I have to admit was pretty cool), which was pretty boring, as the train journey can sometimes be more drawn out than you think(kinda like sailing in the previous Toon Link games). But stick with it however, and the sequel to LoZ Phantom Hourglass doesn't disappoint.

Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks review