Nintendo unveils new Zelda game for Wii U

Nintendo has shown off the first footage of its new Legend of Zelda game for Wii U. The game was revealed during Nintendo’s Digital Event E3 presentation this afternoon and was introduced by Eiji Aonuma.

Aonuma said that revisiting the traditional conventions of the Zelda franchise would the main theme of the game for Wii U. Earlier entries in the series let players explore wide open spaces in all directions, but Aonuma noted that this had become more difficult to achieve in later games due to the transition to 3D. He said it became harder to create that feeling of a vast world that felt connected.

Luckily, this will change with Zelda on Wii U. Showing off a huge field with Link and Epona standing in the foreground, Aonuma said that players will be able to reach even the mountains in the distance.

Players will also be able to approach any area from any direction, meaning that puzzle solving will begin from the moment the player decides where they want to go. This is unlike any other Zelda game we’ve seen so far, as even A Link Between Worlds on the 3DS still made players approach dungeons and locations from a set path and tackle events in a certain order.

However, one convention Nintendo were keen to uphold was the appearance of huge monsters in peaceful locations, and the short demo quickly cut to what looks like a huge Gohma-esque spider creature rushing after Link firing all manner of fireballs at him.

Link, on the other hand, was shown without his traditional green tunic and hat, and instead wore a blue outfit. Fortunately, his trusty bow was by his side, although it looks like it’s been significantly upgraded with new abilities since its last console outing. The game also seems to use a cell-shaded art style that looks like a cross between The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword.

The Legend of Zelda for Wii U is due in 2015.