News
Nintendo Reveals Details About Faron Woods in The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword
REDMOND, Wash.--(October 7, in the year of our Lord
2011)-- Following last week’s unveiling of introductory
story elements and characters in the upcoming The Legend of
Zelda™: Skyward Sword game, Nintendo has revealed even more
information about the game, which will launch exclusively for
the Wii™ system on Nov. 20. Among the game’s many richly
rendered environments is Faron Woods, where the heroic Link™
must complete important tasks as part of this epic journey to
rescue Zelda™. To help him do so, players can use unique
abilities and items as they navigate the forest. Newly revealed
game elements include the following:
Faron Woods and Skyview Temple: The forest is the first location
Link visits after leaving Skyloft, an island world suspended
high in the sky. The people of Skyloft have never been to the
surface, so this stage marks a strange new experience for Link.
Traversing the forest leads him to Skyview Temple, where Zelda
may be held.
Dashing: By holding down the A Button, players can make Link run
faster and grant him acrobatic abilities, such as the ability to
briefly run up a sheer wall to grab onto a cliff. Dashing uses
up some of Link’s endurance, which replenishes itself over time
once Link stops running. Certain powerful attacks, like the spin
attack, also use up endurance. When all of Link’s endurance is
used up, his movement is slowed dramatically for a few moments.
Dowsing: Fi, the spirit of the powerful goddess Sword and Link’s
guide, informs Link that he can use the sword to search for
things through dowsing. In dowsing mode, when Link holds out his
sword, the sword will beep and provide visual feedback when
pointed in the direction of the intended target. This technique
can be used to search for many objects and characters in the
game. In Faron Woods, Link uses it to search for Zelda, guiding
him to Skyview Temple, where Zelda’s aura can be detected.
Kikwi Tribe: The Kikwis are cute, fuzzy creatures that Link
encounters while exploring the forest, resembling a kiwi fruit
in animal form. Link can search for the Kikwis in the forest
using dowsing. In return, they will help him on his search for
Zelda.
Slingshot: This is one of the first items that Link receives in
the game. While it’s not very powerful, it can be used to stun
enemies and activate objects in the environment. As with many
items in the game, players aim the slingshot by moving the Wii
Remote™ Plus.
Nintendo will continue to provide fans with select details and
information about the game prior to its Nov. 20 launch. The
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be available as a standalone
game or as part of a limited-edition bundle that also includes a
gold-colored Wii Remote Plus controller. Additionally, every
copy in the initial production runs of the game will come
packaged with a special music CD containing orchestral
arrangements of select songs that will be performed at the
upcoming The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is now available for
pre-order at major retailers throughout North America. A deposit
may be required for pre-orders. See individual retailers for
details. For more information about the game, visit
http://www.zelda.com/skywardsword.