The feature then focuses on the graphical aspect of Monster Hunter Tri. The team share their experience with minimizing or even removing one aspect to be able to get better results in another, for both artwork and programming. Iwata comments that the Zelda team is under great pressure to deliver a great presentation after this game.
For this series, Capcom found they had to think deeply about adapting the controls of the series for the Wii remote, as there are far fewer buttons than usual. During this process, Nintendo revealed the Classic Controller Pro, and for the first time in history they collaborated with a third party on the hardware design.
The full transcript is available at Nintendo UK, with embedded videos of Monster Hunter Tri gameplay. Below is a small extract from the article:
Iwata:
We had the Classic Controller Pro go on sale the same time as Monster Hunter Tri, but Nintendo would like it from now on if other software developers made use of it. We also released a new colour of the Wii console along with Monster Hunter Tri.
Fujioka:
I was really surprised when I heard that, too.
Tsujimoto:
Ive talked about this with Fujioka before, but we wanted to make Tri one of those titles you buy together with hardware.
Fujioka:
We had a strong desire to make a game that gamers would want to buy the hardware for.
Tsujimoto:
About the time we were talking about that, we heard Nintendo was really going to bring out a black Wii. At first, we thought, Really? (laughs)
(Editors note: In Japan the black-coloured Wii console was released simultaneously with Monster Hunter Tri. In Europe, the black Wii first became available in November 2009).
Iwata:
It was something you could not believe right away? (laughs)
Tsujimoto:
Yeah. Then when we saw it, the colour change made for quite a different impression.
Fujioka:
It makes you want to sit the console in certain locations. And the colour really goes well with the blue slot illumination. Its very cool.
Iwata:
However, when we tried to make the black hardware, the materials didnt exist to satisfy Nintendos standards, so we had to make them. When I heard from the developers, I was flabbergasted. They said it was taking more than two and a half years to develop the materials. We just barely made it in time.
"Iwata: I think it has placed the Zelda team under a considerable amount of pressure. (laughs)
Fujioka: I doubt that! (laughs)"
*facepalm* Oh well. Next time have the SMG team work on the Zelda graphics.
Yeah, it really only looks impressive in the tiny little boxes Japanese video game sites tend to use. When I first saw it in person, I noticed it almost had a watercolor look to it, a strange blurriness-- now I know it's because it was running at a lower resolution and they were using shader effects or something to try and cover it up. Still, it's a lot better than what most third parties have attempted recently and it's clear a ton of effort went into all the intricacies of the game.
I think this means that we are going to get another realistic looking Zelda. I suppose we should have been expecting that from the old concept art, but I was holding out hope for something different. The comparison probably wouldn't have been made had the visual styles been very different, but since Tri looks a bit like TP I think we know what to expect now.
I think this means that we are going to get another realistic looking Zelda.
I think this means that we are going to get another realistic looking Zelda.
Yeah that's what I was thinking too from what he said, but it's not what I want. Oh well.
I just want Nintendo to bring back the cel-shading.
I just want Nintendo to bring back the cel-shading.
Never going to happen on a home console again. The haters of cel-shading where way more vocal about it and made their presence known much more. Not to mention after the realistic Twilight Princess went on to sell 3 million more copies then the cel-shaded Wind Waker, it doesn't really give Nintendo any reason to use cel-shading on a home console Zelda again.
The best anyone can hope for is if the Nintendo 3DS is around the same power as the Gamecube, at least the handheld Zelda's will be of Wind Waker cel-shading quality.
The cel-shaded Zelda still exists on the DS. Right now we have BOTH styles being made. So what's with the complaining? Does realistic Zelda have to cease to exist to appease the Wind Waker fanboys? What we have now is a compromise and I think it's a pretty good one.
