At this point, it's clear that classic Nintendo characters and their respective games are what will help sell the Wii U, not new IPs. But what about something new wrapped up in an old favorite? That's one accurate description for Hyrule Warriors -- Dynasty Warriors in a Legend of Zelda wrapper, and developer Tecmo Koei thinks Nintendo owners will eat it up to the tune of at least one million.
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That's exactly what the company's Yoichi Erikawa said to Nikkei Trendy, and it'll get there thanks to the longtime protagonist and Dynasty Warriors-styled gameplay. "In gaming, this is a first-time collaboration," said Erikawa. While the game may not be a "core" title to the LoZ series, it could function as something to satisfy the appetite until a more traditional game is introduced.
Hyrule Warriors has Link moving the way he does in the Smash Bros. series, speedy, fluid, and with acrobatic skill of an Olympic gymnast, flipping over enemies and tossing an arsenal of bombs, and using some of the most epic magic ever seen in a Legend of Zelda game. Which is funny, because this upcoming game is not a core entry in the series, and save for a few familiar faces, has nothing to do with it.
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While some may be disappointed by that, it does allow the game a bit more freedom, and can operate outside of any series' constraints. At this point in time, it looks like the game is entirely based in combat, and has essentially nothing to do with exploration, puzzle solving, item collection, or any other Legend of Zelda staples.
"As a new entry in the Warriors series, we plan to release the game Hyrule Warriors in collaboration with Nintendo in the summer of this year," said Erikawa. "In addition to our Warriors series fan base, Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda is also a very popular series with a large fan base, and I think it will become a great new market. Because of The Legend of Zelda's legion of fans overseas, we are aiming to sell more than one million copies worldwide."
If you missed Hyrule Warriors' reveal, check out the announcement trailer below and see if you think the game has what it takes to help pull the Wii U out of its slump.