FAQ über Spiegel, Schild, Ersatznavi, usw.
Official Nintendo Magazine's forums updated with a Q&A session with the editor who played Twilight Princess recently. The information is pretty spoiler free, so I suggest you all read it because it is a nice read. It also appears there is another embargo in addition to the one that ends Friday. This new embargo ends on November 10th, 2006, according to ONM.
Ok, lol, I think that's enough questions for one sitting. I'll answer what I can. The next embargo hits on the 10th so check back then for more impressions from further on in the game.
Q) Does the whole mirrored environment and models thing negatively affect the game in any way? Would you prefer the Wii version to be un-mirrored or mirrored? Or does it not matter at all?
A) It makes no difference whatsoever. It's just different. I imagine some people will buy both and claim it's the 'hardcore way' but really there's no difference.
Q) First question is about the camera. Can you control it in 3rd person like you could in Wind Waker? If not, does it detract from the experience, or do you not even notice?
A) No, you don't control the camera manually, aside from being able to centre it by behind Link by pressing Z. The automatic camera is clever enough and the only time you have issues is when you're right up against a wall and the camera goes right behind Link's a**e. That only happened a few times throughout my 34 hours though. You never have those classic early 3D world problems where you just can't get the camera where you want it in order to perform a jump.
When I refer to the camera in the options, it actually inverting your aiming when you have the sights up. So, when you get the Gale Boomerang out or even when you tap C to go into first-person mode, you can invert it.
Q) Other than the stab, does the direction you move the Wii Remote cause Link to swing the sword in generally the same direction?
A) No, it's not that accurate. If you slash with the remote Link slashes with his right arm in a kind of 'in front of his head to to the right of his leg' way. You can't make him slash to the left but you don't really need to. I'll give you an example. If you're standing in between two pots, a standard slash will hit the pot on Link's right. If you want to hit the one on the left you just turn left a bit and slash it… it's really not a problem.
Q) Very Amazing impressions. What is Midna like? Is she enjoyable or annoying like Navi?
A) Actually Midna is great. One of the best sidekicks so far. She really rips the p**s out of Link when she first meets him and you feel really sorry for him. But she soon realises what a star he is and gradually the pair warm to each other. It's classic character development and it works better than any game I can think of. I know what you mean about Navi. She was always like 'hello!' and I was always like 'just f**k off!' Midna isn't like that at all.
Q) Is it easy to become comfortable with the new control system or does it take some time to sink in?
A) Not really qualified to answer that as I've played it SO many times since it was first shown.
Q) Is the new combat system easy to play over a substained period of play?
A) See impressions above. Short answer: no.
Q) Based on your play time so far do you think the game could surpass Ocarina of Time?
A) lol That'll be in the review. To be honest though, I think that's a personal thing. It all depends on what you liked from OoT and what kind of thing does it for you.
Q) Who is Colin?
A) A young boy who lives in Link's home, Ordona Village. His dad is Rusl, the guy who was supposed to be delivering a gift to Hyrule Castle.
Q) If you've played the GC version, can you comment on which control scheme you prefer, and which control scheme you think die-hard fans will prefer, and casual gamers?
A) I haven't played the GC version for about two years, but I can say that the Wii controls are definitely superior, more satisfying and more involving.
Q) What about Links Voice? In the newer trailers his voice sounds more... mature and not like the well-known from the older games.
A) Yeah, you're right. I was thinking that as I was playing it. He definitely sounds more mature.
Q) Do you know something about the Limited Edition-Version for the Wii-Release?
A) I don't know anything about that, sorry, but here's hoping eh?
Q) Based on the time you have had with the game, what would be your best estimate for game length in say 'hours'?
A) I know the answer but I can't give it to you, sorry. It's big enough. . . I would be tempted to say it's the perfect length.
Q) Being a collectables fan, i was wondering if you could shed some light on the amount of secret (items, heartpieces, skullta and figurine equivalents) that you have found littered around the game world?
A) Again, I can't really answer that. I can say that there are plenty of those kinds of things, whether they come in the form of adventure-long quests or short-term mini-quests. And yes, they're the kinds of things that make you spend five hours trying to complete them and love every second of it.
Q) Now all i need to know is having an automatic sheild any trouble?
Does it make link seem invincible?
A) Well it's not really an automatic shield. Link holds his shield (if you equip it) as you would expect, so if an attack comes from the left side at the right height he'll block it. But 90% of the attacks won't be blocked. You bring the shield up in front of you when you lock on, but obviously the shield is then held to block in a specific direction (the direction of that particular enemy). I think it's just right to be honest. The blocking does become more skilfull, but again that's going into forbidden territory.
Q) Will the mag review the GC version as well?
A) I doubt it. The games are identical so we'll cover the Wii version (the superior version asa we're concerned) and tell you about the differences within the review.
Q) Another question is if Epona plays a more important role in this game?
A) I'll answer that next time.
Q) What's the theme of the music (i.e. Wind Waker had a kind of Scottish/Irish feel to it)?
A) Can I just say that it starts off very OoT and gets darker.
Q) Who is Midna? Where does she come from? What's her strengths? Is she Zelda or the girl who gets kidnapped when Link gets knocked out and injured by Moblins?
A) Midna is a creature from the Twilight Realm. She can levitate and help Wolf Link get to normally unreachable areas. She also has a magical claw/hand that protrudes from her helmet, that can pull off some powerful moves. Is she Zelda? I'm not answering that! And no, the kids from the village get kidnapped.
Q) Who the hell are those clown (camp) fellows and why the hell are they in the game?
A) Sorry, the answer is a definite spoiler. Let's just say they represent a very cool section in the game.
Q) What's the fishing like? Is there any new things to do?
A) By the looks of things it's actually deeper than I thought, but at the time I had the option to spend a few hours with fishing or see another new dungeon… the decision wasn't hard.
Q) Is the music orcestrated?
A) No. I'm torn on this subject. I have a lot of time for midi music, especially when it's done as well as this, but there are definitely moments when the synth strings just don't have the depth or separation they need. I bought the Final Fantasy III DS soundtrack while I was at TGS and some of the stuff on there (especially the theme tune) is spectacular… really emotive. I think TP could've done with some of that. Don't get me wrong though. There are some great tunes in the game.
Q) I have one of those smaller televisions in my room i have my gamecube on it and that works fine but ive heard that the Wii is widescreen does this mean that i will only get some of the picture with bits cut off or does it automatically set itself to the screen size?
A) No, you'll get a letterbox picture I'm afraid.
Q) Is the game subtitled (like OoT), subtitled but characters do weird sounds (windwaker) or is there actual speech? If there is, is it like Final Fantasy 10, where only the main characters can talk.
A) There are subtitles… but I don't seem to remember any speech at all. Sorry, I don't have my camera with me so I can't check all the footage.
Q) Also, is the rumble feature used alot, or only in battles?
A) No, it's used loads. I remember thinking it was going to run the battery down but I played for 34 hours with rumble and speaker sounds all the time and it was still going fine. That's quite impressive, I think.
Q) I think this is a stunt to get us to buy Twilight.
A) Yeah, cos obviously I get a percentage from every copy sold…
Q) Also, will you do a sound track for a cover gift?
A) Of course, we would love to. Life isn't quite that simple though…
Q) Is the speaker on the Wiimote low quality or are the sounds good enough? Does the Wiimote speaker give a little sense of surround sound?
A) Yeah, it does give an impressions of surround sound and it definitely makes you feel part of the action. The sound quality is fine when you're playing but if you actually concentrate on the sound you'll realise that the speaker quality is by no means perfect and certain frequencies aren't great. But the old 'you opened a chest' chime and Midna's laugh sound great.
Q) I have never played a Zelda game. I like platformers and , to a lesser extent, the action-adventure genre. Should I get this game?
A) I can only really answer that in a mammoth review.
Q) In addition, for COMPLETELY rubbish gamer like me, how much time do you think it will take to finish (a rough estimation please,not including sidequests). Thank you.
A) A long, long time. You won't need to buy another game for months.
Q) On behalf of all left handers who miss link's left handedness, can you switch what hand he holds his sword in ????
A) No
Q) Is the remote or nunchuk sensitive enough to interupt the gameplay (unwanted sword movements etc)?
A) No, and I think it would be a bit rubbish if that were the case. Honestly, if it were that sesitive your brain wouldn't be able to keep up with what you're doing.
Q) Which number is it in the series if all the titles were in cronological order?
A) Geez, that's hardcore. I don't know right this second, I just like playing games!
I'm sure someone else can answer that though. To be honest with you all the timelines don't really fit together if you consider the physics of time travel and what characters should and shouldn't know, so I'm not sure it matters.
Q) Are there any annoying characters (like Tingle etc)?
A) Colin is no.1 on my list. But no, not to Tingle extent
Q) Did you ever dream that one day you would be one of the first people in the world to play a new zelda game?
A) Trust me, at times like these I'd much rather be in your position. You really do lose a lot of the magic doing it this way.
Q) Will the Wii version have FULL voice Acting, including the option of subtitles during the cinematic cut-scenes?
A) It's as far from full voice acting as you can get.
Q) Apart from hitting an enemy, will the game sometimes lag, or will it maintain a 30 fps frame-rate throughout?
A) I saw one or two insignificant drops when the camera panned out over a huge area in a cut scene. But it never dropped to 'ooooh, that's bad' levels. I've never seen it drop in gameplay.
Q) Could THIS be the Nintendo Game of the Year once we get it into our hands?
A) Could it be? It is. Even just for the first five hours.
bzw.