Does Linkle get a prince named Zeldo?

It’s a post-Tears of the Kingdom world out there and we’re just living in it, baby. After a few years of bubbling anticipation, the latest entry in The Legend of Zelda series has finally arrived, and according to reviews, it just might be worth the extra $10 Nintendo convinced everyone to pay for it. As people around the world, be they famous developers for other games or sad dads on the bus to work, come together to save Hyrule once again, I’m looking ahead to what might be next for th??e series.

All week on Destructoid, we’ve been publishing retrospectives, listicles, and feature articles centered on The Legend of Zelda. A few of our writers have highlighted ideas for the future of the series, be it a franchise fighting game or a hypothetical title where the legend of Zelda is actually about Zelda. And while I support both of those ideas wholeheartedly, I want to focus my final Zelda Week piece on another character entirel?y. Because it’s about time Nintendo put some serious thought into making a Linkle game.

Linkle’s been on my mind for the past fortnight as I booted up Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition, a game that undoubtedly would have been on my Top 10 list for that GQ UK 100 best video games article if anyone outside of Destructoid knew who I was or cared what I thought. I adore Hyrule Warriors with every fiber of my being, and that’s just how I feel about the Wii U original. The Definitive Edition is pure heaven with its steady-as-stone framerate and the introduction of all the elements from the 3DS version of the game. And chief among those elements is…well, it’s the Wind Waker stuff. But second to that is Linkle, who is a ra?y of sunshine.

[caption id="attachment_379186" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Who is Linkle?

If you missed out on Hyrule Warriors Legends or Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition, Linkle is a green tunic-clad Cucco farmer who mistakenly believes she’s the reincarnation of the legendary hero. When she gets word of the attack on Hyrule Castle, she grabs her dual crossbows and springs into action…in the wrong direction. While her journey takes her to many incorrect locations, she eventually reaches the castle and becomes the hero she’s always believed she is meant to be, even if she isn’t the hero.

Eiji Aonuma has suggested Linkle could appear in future Zelda games. While I question the genuine nature of that statement, given how many years it’s been since she first appeared, I don’t want to lose hope. In fact, considering my copy of Tears of the Kingdom won’t be here until Monday thankyouverymuchUPS, I’m taking this last bit of free time to postulate ideas on the future of Linkle and what it would be like if she got her own spin-off. Because we’ve already seen how she plays in a Musou crossover. But if she were to get her own game, what exactly would that look like? And who woul?d/should ??make it?

[caption id="attachment_379185" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image Courtesy of Nintendo[/caption]

A traditional, top-down Zelda game from Blossom Tales developer Castle Pixel

The first suggestion is the most obvious. The Legend of Zelda franchise cut its teeth on the top-down action game perspective, and a Linkle adventure would fit in well with the formula. Though, considering her weapon of choice is the crossbow, it would be more shooty than Link’s adventures. Castle Pixel has made a name for itself developing the Blossom Tales series, which are solid Zelda-likes that absolutely nail the feel of playing A Link to the Past. With a little guidance and some funding from Nintendo itself, I hav??e no doubt Castle Pixel could give Linkle a brilliant, old-school solo outing.

[caption id="attachment_379188" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image Courtesy of Nintendo[/caption]

A PlatinumGames developed action game

In Hyrule Warriors, Linkle’s signature weapons are her crossbows, but she’s not afraid to use her feet when necessary. In the right hands, Linkle could be gaming’s next great action game st??ar. It isn’t difficult to see her hanging with the likes of Bayonetta or Dante, and an action game following the lea??d of those characters would give this female version of Link an identity far from her origins.

[caption id="attachment_379187" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image Courtesy of Nintendo[/caption]

A full-blown FPS from David Szymanski, developer of Dusk

There are infinite first-person shooter developers out there who would do a fine job creating a Linkle first-person shooter. Respawn Entertainment, Retro Studios, id; the cup runneth over on quality candidates. But honestly, after seeing what Brace Yourself Games did with Cadence of Hyrule, I think another excellent indie studio should get a whack at making a Linkle FPS. It may seem like something of an odd choice, but I’d love to see what Dusk developer David Szymanski would do with the IP. His 2018 breakthrough title is still one of the best on Switch, and who wouldn’t love to return to a version of Hyrule rendered in all its 64-b??it glory?

[caption id="attachment_379183" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image Courtesy of Nintendo[/caption]

An on-rails narrative shooter from Treasure (because Treasure needs work)

It pains me to know the on-rails shooter genre will never be as big as I want it to be because, in my mind, it should be enormous. I love me a genre that mixes pure arcade shooting fun with ridiculous set-pieces, and while there have been some great games from the genre on console and in arcades, there is only one developer I would want to take up the challenge of making a Linkle on-rails shooter. And that’s the masterminds behind the Wii flop Sin & Punishment: Star Successor.

Treasure is a treasure, whether it’s developing the Sin & Punishment series for Nintendo or creating the masterpiece omnidirectional shooter that is Bangai-O. It’s more than proven itself worthy of getting the keys to a part of the Zelda IP. Plus, given? that Treasure hasn’t released a game since 2014, the developers could probably use the work.

[caption id="attachment_379189" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image Courtesy of Nintendo[/caption]

A bullet hell shooter from, well, Treasure (because Treasure still needs work)

Again, great genre that should be bigger, only one developer I can trust making a Linkle bullet-hell shooter and it’s the masterminds behind the Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun, yadda-yadda-yadda. Look, I just want Treasure to start making games again. The developers behind Gunstar Heroes, Alien Soldier, frickin�Mischief Makers, and Astro Boy: Omega Factor shouldn’t be some relic of the past. It’s hard to think of another studio that has made arcade fun the corne?rstone of its DNA and we need ?more of that in gaming today. So please, Treasure, please start making games again.

[caption id="attachment_379184" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image Courtesy of Nintendo[/caption]

Just make it Linkle’s Crossbow Training and call it a day, Nintendo

It’s unlikely we’ll ever see Linkle again outside of some future Hyrule Warriors sequel. While the Super Mario series is absolutely swimming in spin-offs, Link hasn’t been so lucky. Sure, there have been some, like My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Cadence of Hyrule, and Hyrule Warriors. Other spin-offs only saw a limited release, like the various Tingle games that were never released in North America or Tetra’s Trackers. Link’s Crossbow Training is arguably the most well-known of the spin-offs (and certainly the best-sell?ing), and of all the genres that Nintendo would be most likely to stick Linkle in, it’s the shooting gallery genre (as long as it has some peripheral to package with it)?.

And while Link’s Crossbow Training didn’t have the best reception, that doesn’t mean Linkle’s turn at the helm would have to turn out so bad. In keeping with the spirits of her debut game, Linkle’s Crossbow Training could take her around the many different versions of Hyrule, from the fields of Ocarina of Time to the ghost ships of The Wind Waker. That’s a game I would play the heck out of.

As I stated above, despite Eiji Aonuma’s insistence, it's unlikely that Linkle was nothing more than a one-and-done character. We're probably not going to see her again, at least not from Nintendo proper. But I think the company is in a new era, with successes like Mario + Rabbids and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where it isn’t so afraid to loosen its grip on its treasured brands. I’m sure if an indie developer or third-party partner came to Nintendo with a solid pitch for a Linkle g??ame, we could see one come to fruition.

And if not, Nintendo should just ask?? Treasure to make one because THE WORLD ?NEEDS MORE TREASURE GAMES.

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HYAH!

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition was announced during Nintendo's mini-direct yesterday, but not much else was talked about. A vague Spring r??elease window could mean anything, with a release coming as late as June. According?? to Nintendo Hong Kong, though, we won't have much longer to wait.

As seen on this press release from the Hong Kong branch, Hyrule Warriors' Switch port will be available on March 22, 2018. It will also contain a Traditional and Simplified Chinese translation, which is pretty good news for that region of Asia. While this doesn't necessarily mean a worldwide release is in order, it would be very odd for a Zelda game to release in China before the US.

For a long time, Nintendo games typically launched in Japan first, but the Zelda series shifted gears towards the West with the release of Twilight Princess in 2006. Every subsequent game, apart from Breath of the Wild, has released in the West first (Breath was the first worldwide release for the series). My money is on Hyrule Warriors coming out in March worldwide based on this.

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Dark Souls Remastered Support Chinese; Hyrule Warriors Release Date Revealed [Siliconera]

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Wind Fish sighting!

We're far enough along into Hyrule Warriors Legends' DLC schedule that I'm feeling the call to come back. By the time the 3DS title released, I already had hundreds of hours with the original Wii U version under my belt and was utterly burned out. But Marin? I need Marin! And a bunch of you do too, apparently, given the reaction to her inclusion in the game in this announcement post.

This video is a full rundown of the Link's Awakening Pack, which includes the red-haired Koholint Islan??d resident, an adventure map, boots for Linkle, and 15 My Fairy cos??tume pieces.

The DLC will be available on June 30, 2016 for $6.99 on 3DS. If you're playing Hyrule Warriors on Wii U, you'll only be able to nab? Marin and Linkle's new weapon (they're $4.99 together).

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To celebrate the DLC launch

Today marks the release of the Wind Waker DLC pack for Hyrule Warriors Legends on 3DS (which comes with an update that adds in the Medli charac?ter for both 3DS and Wii U for free). As an extra incentive to pick up the add-on, Nintendo has enacted a 500,000 Rupee bonus upon login, as well as 20 food items.

While I'll likely mess around? with the new Adventure maps on 3DS, my main squeeze is the Wii U edition, ??which still looks fantastic and is a hell of a lot of fun to play co-op. Time to see what Medli is all about!

Winnie [Twitter]

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Also heeeeere's Medli

Hyrule Warriors: Legends is getting more DLC soon (May 19), and that includes the free Medli character and the Wind Waker pack add-on, which aren't available on both platforms (3DS and Wii U). The former will be a free download for all across 3DS and Wii U. The latter, however, is only available on 3DS, and will come with 16 new My Fairy costumes and a Wind Waker advent?ure map. Medli will launch at th?e same time as the pack.

Next up in the summer is the Link's Awakening pack, then the Phantom Hourglass + Spirit Tracks pack in the fall, and A link Between Worlds in winter. All three of these will be available for 3DS and Wii U. I don't care what you say -- it's confusing, and I wish Nintendo just brought all of the content over across the board with only minor differences like platform exclusive levels, just like Smash Bros.

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Upcoming DLC

Over at WonderCon 2016, Nintendo put on a developer panel to shed some light on Hyrule Warriors Legends, which also came with bonus footage for Medli -- the Wind Waker character that's set to debut in the Warriors series for the first time. You can opt for the full present?ation below, or just skip to the 22:??00 mark for Medli.

For reference, she's part of the confusing Hyrule Warriors DLC schedule, that applies everything for the 3DS edition, but only "some" content on Wii U. Thankfully Medli will be more straightforward, as she will be a free character for all, arriving with Marin and the first add-on pack.

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I hope you have a New 3DS

From its announcement to the conclusion of my multi-100-hour playthrough of Hyrule Warriors, I was enthralled. It was a match made in heaven, mashing up Zelda with Dynasty Warriors, and all of the parties involved deserve a ton of praise for what they accomplished. The ability to pl?ay co-op with the? Wii U GamePad and the TV was the icing on the cake, a natural evolution of the split-screen system that console fans have been using for decades.

Hyrule Warriors Legends, however, shrinks all of that down to a smaller, more bite-sized expe?rience on the 3DS. While it's a tough sell, the new content is mostly worth it, whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer.

Hyrule Warriors Legends (3DS [Reviewed on a New 3DS])
Developer: Omega Force, Team Ninja, Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: March 25, 2015
MSRP: $39.99

_{[More detailed rundown of the mechanics, check out the original review. Here, I'll be speaking to the quality of the 3DS port and new content.]}

So how does Legends run on the ??little ol' 3DS? It depend??s on which model you have.

If players aren't rocking a "New" portable, I'd advise against getting the game entirely. Performance is pitiful on an OG 3DS, to the point where I wouldn't even consider the game playable. In my mind, this is a New exclusive, so don't even think abou??t get??ting it unless you've upgraded.

As for the New performance, it's stellar. Sure some concessions have been made, as there are less enemies on-screen and the textures have been downgraded, but even w?ith the 3D effect on, things run smoothly during massive boss battles with four allied heroes in the mix. Without the 3D on, the game is absolutely flawless -- I'm shocked at how great it is. The New controls are also a boon. Players can use the nub to control the camera, and the triggers to add some extra functionality (like instant lock-ons). I had zero control issues, in fact.

Legends has a few new tricks up its sleeve, most notably the updated roster. In addition to five new characters, Ganondorf gets his iconic trident (which is actually iconic, Ubisoft and Square Enix), and some of them are more impactful than others. Skull Kid, a character that I thought would be wildly different, is fun to play, but he has a lot in common with the rest of ??the caster squad already included, and I wasn't wild about him after a few sessions. The same can be said about Toon Link and Tetra, though they are great aesthetically, and fit the slightly altered visual style of the 3DS.

No, the characters I was most impressed with were the King of Red Lions and Linkle, funnily enough. The former is a beast, with a wide variety of abilities and a unique combat style that incorporates his human and boat forms. He's interesting at all times, and feels like a legitimate DLC character that you'd pay for piecemeal. Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that Linkle was actually one of my favorites -- not just in Legends -- but out of all of the cast members of Hyrule Warriors in general.

Linkle's crossbow weapon just feels good, and the team incorporated both ranged and melee attacks to make her feel like no other character before her. In addition to a standard super, she also has a tension meter on the side that allows her to shoot off a strafing attack that feels incredibly satisfying. She even gets her own mini story and the most fleshed-out personality to boot, as a hero in the making who commands a Cucco army and has a terrible sense of direction. I'd love to see more of her in the future. She's one of the most fun characters Nintendo has created in a wh?ile.

Character switching also enters the fray, t?oggled by way of the touchscreen below the action. Players can simply tap any combatant to switch to their perspective, which makes some of the more sprawling battles a little more intense. It cuts down on the tedium and the touch effect is well done, since you can easily command different AI team members to a location. The My Fairy system also changes up the flow a bit, although it's not as monumental as I initially thought it would be. They're basically power-ups. While players can customize them some??what, they just make small little tactical changes like simplified guard-break moves and the like -- though they don't detract from what's on offer in any way.

There's also a new adventure mode map, and a rework of sorts so that most of the previous DLC is unlocked through the first map, which is welcome (you can can get Toon Link almost immediately, for example). I was never really huge on the adventure mode as a lot of the tougher quests are super tedious, but if you found yourself hunting? down every damn map square on the Wii U version, you'll feel right at home here -- especially since any future maps aren't coming to the console edition.

So who is this release for? New players can theoretically start here if they don't mind the smaller screen real estate, because all previous content is intact. Although you can skip cutscenes, veterans will be frustrated to know that there is no Cross-Save capability (something Nintendo typically isn't known for anyway), even going so far as to deny an import of any kind. If you've spent months on end acquiring weapons and pruning your roster, ?tough -- y??ou'll have to start all over.

Nintendo seems keen on keeping Legends the definitive version of the game too, as there are currently no plans to move the My Fairy system or the new adventure maps over. This issue is compounded by the fact that the Season Pass is confusing, and won't see the release of everything on Wii U. If you buy the game on 3DS, you will be able to transfer the new characters over, however (including Ganondorf's trident), and you'll have the option to buy them this summer separate from the?? pass. There's also no multiplayer on 3DS.

Personally, I don't mind paying for Hyrule Warriors all over again with Legends. I got hundreds of hours of enjoyment out of the Wii U version, and being able to rel??ive that is fine with me. But not everyone is as keen as I am, so if you're not a superfan already, it's a tough sell -- because really, this series deserves to be immortalized on a? big screen.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher. This review is based on the New 3DS portable -- playing with an old 3DS is not recommended.]}

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Fine on New, bad on old

I now have access to Hyrule Warriors Legends on 3DS, set to arrive on March 25 in the west. I already detailed the Wii U transfer process, but I also?? d?iscovered another tidbit for myself while playing this afternoon that many Japanese players have already mentioned -- it runs like garbage on the old 3DS.

If you have a New 3DS, you're in the clear. The game runs optimally without the 3D effect on with the New unit, at a very stable framerate that rivals the Wii U version. It's fine with the 3D on actually, you'll ju??st get a slight dip -- but it's playable.

Having tested it on my spare launch [old] 3DS however, it's noticeably worse, to the point where I sincerely think Nintendo should have just made this a New 3DS exclusive. It's really, really bad, with sub 30fps performance and no option for 3D. It was so poo?r, I didn't even want to pla?y through the first stage.

Consider this a PSA, and I'll also m?ention it in my review next week, which will take the New hardw?are into account.

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Free for Wii U and 3DS

Medli from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the latest character addition for Hyrule Warriors, and this time, you won't need to buy the upcoming 3DS version, Legends, to get her. She'll be offered for free in both versions of the action title alongside Legends' first paid DLC.

As a reminder, Hyrule Warriors Legends hits March 25, 2016 and includes a transfer c?ode to download and play as Linkle, Skull Kid, Tetra, King Daphnes, and Toon Link in the Wii U version. It'll also have a season pass available at?? launch, with four DLC packs coming this year.

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More daily items

Hyrule Wariors Legends is nearly out in Japan, and as a?? result, more c??oncrete info is coming out of the woodwork. Due to pre-loading, fans have learned that the file size is 16,101 blocks (2GB). Additionally, there's only one save file, and you can trade rental fairy skills with other players locally.

As for amiibo support, it's also confirmed! Any figure from the Zelda line will unlock a r??are weapon once a day, and every other amiibo will unlock materials or rupees also once a day. Curiously, the Link figure does not unlock the Spinner weapon, as it's available right away. Story mode multiplayer isn't in, but it seems as if special battles are, local and online.

Hyrule Warriors Legends [Koei Tecmo via Perfectly Nintendo]

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Another producer video

If you're constantly looking for more Hyrule Warriors Legends footage, the game's producer has been doing quick looks recently, including this new bit that heavily features Epona and (8:56) Linkle. There's even a bit of story for her, showing her humble beginnings as a villager, donning her heroic garb and answer??ing the call of her people.

Again, gameplay-wise, she looks like a lot of fun with her ranged style. All of the characters look great actually -- too bad we have to wait weeks until it's releas??ed outside of Japan.

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I'll take it

More details are coming out of the woodwork for Hyrule Warriors Legends, which is set to arrive in January in Japan, and March elsewhere. Evidently there will be a "My Fairy" system for Adventure Mode, which should give players a little something more to do than grind out objective??s and maps. Now, you can raise a fairy char?acter, feed it food, and have them contribute during combat with magic.

Additionally, a ton of new costumes have been co??nfirmed, as well as a new Adventure Mode map called "The Great Sea." Wow, this is one hell of an expansion.

Hyrule Warriors Legends [Game City via Siliconera]

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The Adventures of Linkle, please!

"I'm sure we will keep [Linkle] in mind when thinking about future titles," Nintendo producer Eiji Aonuma told IGN. "I had a chance to give feedback on Linkle during development, but the satisfying action of using a crossbow, which we developed for the spinoff title Link's Crossbow Training, was implemented this ?time completely by Koei Tecmo."

Aonuma went on to all but confirm that Linkle is considered canon, saying, "It may feel a little different from other titles in the franchise, but she doesn't feel out of place at all in the world of the Zelda games."

Linkle will be available for the first time when Hyrule Warriors Legends launches on the 3DS in the US on March 25, 2016. She will also be exportable to the Wii U's Hyrule Warriors. 

Nintendo keeping Linkle in mind for future? Zelda g??ames [IGN]

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She looks pretty badass

Ever since we learned that Linkle was going to be a playable character in Hyrule Warriors Legends on the 3DS I've been excitedly glued to my computer waiting to see more of her in action. Finally, weeks of pressing my face against a compute?r monitor have paid off, as there's a new trailer for Linkle and she looks pretty awesome in it.

So, what do you a??ll make of this new trailer? Are you as hyped as I am to run around as an arrow spewing emerald heroine?

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Yes!

One of my most anticipated new features of Hyrule Warriors Legends, an expansion of sorts for the original Warriors, is Skull Kid. The new attacks shown in the vid?eo look amazing, and include moon abiliti?es, as well as a fighting style featuring Tatl and Tael at his side.

As a reminder, if you buy the Legends 3DS edition that launches next year (January in Japan, March in the west), you can import Tetra, Toon Link, the King of Red Lions, Linkle??, Skull?? Kid, and trident Ganondorf into the Wii U version.

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A (Tri)force to be reckoned with

Ganondorf wasn't given a trident in Hyrule Warriors for Wii U. That seems like a missed opportunity of sorts. It was his weapon of choice in some of the best Zelda games ever made.

That misstep is being rectified with the 3DS' Hyrule Warriors Legends. In this new trailer, Ganondorf clears huge swathes of enemies with sing??le swipes. That's all just a warm up for?? when he throws the trident which causes everyone to go flying.

There's still a bit of a wait for Hyrule Warriors Legends. It releases on March ?25. Just four more months until Ganondorf ge?ts to fight the way he was meant to.

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Hyrule Warriors Legends

Pulling a reverse Smash Bros., Hyrule Warriors launched on the Wii U last year and is getting an updated version on 3DS, Hyrule Warrios Legends, sometime next year??. It's January 21 in Japan, first quarter 2016 for America and Europe.

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This is a lot more than just DLC

At first glance, I thought Hyrule Warriors Legends was going to just be DLC of sorts, adding a few more characters to the mix. But after more details are coming to light, it l?ooks to be a whole lot more than that. ?Gematsu has translated some new information, and it all sounds really rad.

For starters, the new Skull Kid story will be presented with a "picture-story-style," and he will for sure transfer to the Wii U edition of the game. Phantom Ganon is in as we know as an enemy, but evidently players can now use two new mechanics against bosses -- "player change" and "Ocarina Warp,"?? (which were mentioned before) to trigger a Smash Burst Power special move.

This is all speculation, but if I had to gues??s, player change will literally allow you to switch characters at will (likely on the touch screen). Ocarina Warp has been confirmed, and it allows you to teleport? to owl statues littered about the battlefield. Both of these would allow team members to meet up together for the Smash.

Finally, a?? new Wind Waker themed stage will appear, which features the Earth and Wind temples, as well as Makar. Um, sign me up.

Hyrule Warriors Legends ‘Skull Ki?d’ details, screenshots [Gematsu]

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Are you a kid now, or a ghost now?

Scans from Famitsu have confirmed that Skull Kid will be a playable character in Hyrule Warriors Legends for 3DS when it launches early next year. The leak also revealed that Phantom Ganon will show up as a boss, though it is unknown if this will be the Ocarina version or the Wind Waker version, which were vastly different. 

Most interesting is that Skull Kid fights with an ocarina and a fairy by his s??ide. You know me, I love fairies. 

Looks like Hyrule Warriors Legends is shaping up to have basically every main character from the Zelda series, though currently it lacks Error and Horsehead, two iconic characters from The Adventure of Link.

【フラゲ】3DS『ゼルダ無双 ハイラルオールスターズ』にスタルキッドが参戦決定！[Esuteru]

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Needed the additional processing power

While Hyrule Warriors Legends, an updated Nintendo 3DS port of last ye?ar's action game, will be compatible with older models of the portable, its stereoscopic 3D effects will not.

Speaking with 4Gamer at ??Tokyo Game Show, producer Yosuke Hayashi mentioned 3D functionality only works on New 3DS, as the title pushes the limits of the original hardware's processing power.

Hayashi also noted Legends will feature amiibo support, which either requires players to have a New 3DS or purchase a NFC reader accessory. It's difficult to imagine 3D effects or peripheral-free amiibo support having many folks run out to bu??y a New 3DS, but it seems Nintendo is slowly but surely finding ways t?o use the new handheld's beefier processor and additional features.

Hyrule Warriors Legends ??debuts in Japan next January, with a western launch planned for spring.

「ゼルダ無双 ハイラルオールスターズ」の発売日が，2016年1月21日に決定 [4Gamer via Polygon]

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Ganondorf's luscious locks on 3DS!

The 3DS re-release of Koei Tecmo’s Zelda game, Hyrule Warriors, has been dated in Japan. We a?lso got a shiny new trailer showing off what's new in the game.

Hyrule Warriors Legends, which introduces a crapton of new stuff to the game including Toon Link from Wind Waker, will be launching in Japan on January 21.?? First-pr?int editions of the game will come with a free 3DS theme too, which is neat.

On top of that, the special edition of the game – dubbed the Premium Box – will come with a compass pendant watch, as well as a maki??ng-of book that includes little snippets of concept art and design documents.

The Treasure Box edition includes all of what is in the Premium Box. It also includes an ocarina and a talking fairy plush. Expect Japan to be full of the sounds o??f people who can&r??squo;t play an ocarina once this rolls around.

Whether these editions will find their way over to the West is yet to be seen, but it’s ?uncommon for special editions to be consistent across regions. It might be that your only way to get it is to either live in Japan, or import it.

For those in the West, Hyrule Warriors Legends will release at some point in Spring 2016.

ゼルダ無双 ハイラルオールスターズ　『発売日が1/21に決定、プロモーション動画第1弾公開』 [Zaregoto, via Siliconera, Photo: Chris Carter]

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More DLC is basically confirmed

It looks like there's going to be more to Hyrule Warriors Legends on 3DS than meets the eye, if this Famitsu interview with producer Yosuke Hayashi is any indication. Apparently the inspiration for a portable version is literally as simple as Zelda fans noting that they wanted to take it on the go, so?? the team started development to meet that demand.

Evidently Wind Waker content was cut from the original release because "it wouldn't work with the story," but with the new 3DS game, they had a chance to create an epilogue-like situation that did allow it to work. The Wind Waker portion will actually continu??e the core story and won't be fluff. There will also be StreetPass support fo?r Adventure Mode, a spring 2016 release target, and amiibo support that will be similar to Wii U.

As for other new content, the King of Hyrule and Tetra have been confirmed already, but Hayashi notes that "we plan to add new characters other than [those two]. There?? are fan favorites...so I'd be happy if you kept guessing who will join t??he fight while waiting for follow-up information."

Well, Agahnim is basically a shoo-in at thi?s point right?

Hyrule Warriors Legends [Famitsu via Nintendo Everything]

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