Saturday, June 19, 2010

Items in Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword seems to follow the trend from the Nintendo DS Zeldas and keeps the number of main items relatively small. Less items, but all are used much more intensely and with greater variety during the game. This makes sense, on the Nintendo DS the Zelda team focused on items, that fully utilize the touch screen. Now with MotionPlus they focus on items, that make good use of the MotionPlus device. But of course then many old items won't make the cut. The game will have eight items in addition to sword and shield, which is one more than in the Nintendo DS Zelda games and the same number as in the original Zelda game, though there was one spot "wasted" on a potion and another on the bait. Potions will have their own menu in Skyward Sword and can be drunk while running around. Well, let's take a look at what items we already know and what items most likely could be added.



The Slingshot

This might look a little silly and pointless at first, because in the demo you already have the bow. But it's likely that you will get this item early in the game and the bow much later. Also, it doesn't look like you have to draw the slingshot like the bow with the Nunchuck, so you can use it much faster. I also believe, that this weapon might get different types of ammunition like the seeds from the Oracle games. No matter what, I just hope it doesn't end up like the slingshot in Twilight Princess. Because there are only eight slots for items, not a single one of them should be wasted.

The Whip

This new item returns from Spirit Track and will probably be similar. It's your secondary melee weapon and it might be that it entirely replaces Hookshot-like items.

The Bombs

Can be used for bowling. Nough said.

The Bow

Seems to work like in Wii Sports Resort. Use the Nunchuk to drawn your bow and the Wiimote to aim like a 3D-mouse. The big difference is, that you're holding the bow with your right hand instead of your left, but it still works. I wonder if the Bomb Arrow combo still is possible. If not, I would probably miss it, it was a blast.

The Beetle

This is basically the evolution of the seagull controlling idea from The Wind Waker (or the hawk from Twilight Princess, but this one offered no free control). The big difference is, that the beetle is always by your side and that it can carry dangerous stuff like bombs. But I guess the main use will be scouting. Controls seem to be similar to the airplane from Wii Sports Resort. Could also be the replacement for the Boomerang, since a MotionPlus powered boomerang would be inaccurate and annoying.

The Question Marks

There were three spots left open in the demo. Sword fighting, archery, bowling and the airplane made it from Wii Sports Resort into Zelda as different items. You could say, a safe bet would also be the frisbee, a Boomerang-like item so to speak. However, like I pointed out, it would lack accuracy and would rather be annoying than useful.

What I would love to see is a Ball and Chain. I was disappointed, that in the Wii version of Twilight Princess you wouldn't swing the Ball and Chain with your Wiimote. Because that would be tons of fun. But with MotionPlus this could work just fine. Some other big melee weapon like a hammer or a battleaxe would also be possible.

Originally they wanted to include fishing into Wii Sports Resort and since nothing gets lost at Nintendo, I would say the beloved fishing minigame will return with MotionPlus controls. However, whether the fishing rod really takes a spot in the item menu is the other question. Because the Slingshot already feels like a waste. It could be only available at fishing locations, similar to Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess (well, there you had this other simple fishing rod in your menu, but the real deal was only available in the fishing pond).

And don't forget, that just because the number of "action items" is low, it doesn't mean that there aren't any other items in the game like different armors or boots.

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