Miyamoto: Link's Crossbow Training is FPS Training

by JC Fletcher { May 9th 2008 at 12:45PM }

Now that Link's Crossbow Training is coming out in the region that matters (Japan), Nintendo has begun promoting it with one of their "Iwata Asks" interview series. This time, Shigeru Miyamoto is back in the hot seat -- and at the beginning of the interview, he expresses surprise that producers Takashi Tezuka and Eiji Aonuma aren't there as well.

Right away, the surprises begin. Describing his motivation for Link's Crossbow Training, which he sees as an introduction to the FPS genre, Miyamoto reveals himself to be an FPS fan: "I've always been into first person shooter (FPS) style games, 3D games in which you can walk around freely and see things from your own point of view. " He describes the perspective as "more comfortable, more natural," and then upturns the interview's tea table, saying that he originally wanted The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to be in first-person.

Since this is an interview between Iwata and Miyamoto, you know that can't be the only awesome quote. There's a bit in there about explaining Link's gun use with a Terminator-esque story. You should really just go read the whole thing.

Tags: fps, iwata, iwata-asks, links-crossbow-train..., miyamoto, zapper

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

N @ May 9th 2008 12:56PM

I have a bad feeling this is foreshadowing for the next Zelda. I really hope Zelda Wii is not FP. I hate FP games, they're so clumsy... especially the platforming elements. I've had a bad feeling ever since they said Twilight Princess was the last Zelda of it's kind.

CJLopez @ May 9th 2008 2:19PM

I can see it now

The Legend of the Elder's Scroll: A Morrowind Twiligth Oblivion to the Past of Time

cbylife @ May 9th 2008 1:12PM

i agree. i don't think zelda would work well as a fps. it just doesn't seem right. one of the best parts about zelda is being able to see link thrust and slash with all of his boyish teenage power at the moblins and sheath his sword after a great victory. once we look through his eyes, we don't get to see him side-jump in circles around the baddies. unless of course the camera pulled out to 3rd person during battles...

MBJ @ May 9th 2008 1:25PM

I know that many may disagree with me but I'd rather see a return to the 2D overhead perspective than a first person Zelda sequel. Better yet, it should be distributed via WiiWare!

Mr.ESC @ May 9th 2008 2:03PM

Play Phantom Hourglass.
That reminds me I never finished that game mostly because it was too repetitive.

TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ May 9th 2008 6:38PM

Yea, fun game, but the only reason you need that damn temple is to get the Phantom Hourglass. We don't need to go to it seven times!

I haven't finished it either(DS has recently just been for trips and a little Nintendo Channel downloading :P ).

Hamster @ May 9th 2008 1:56PM

No I would definately not like Zelda from an FPS perspective. Simply for the fact that a) Zelda isn't an FPS and b) Link is such an iconic and cool looking character that you need to see him at all times, he's not some throwaway generic space-marine. Link's unique look is integral to the feel of a Zelda game.

CJLopez @ May 9th 2008 2:20PM

Duke Nukem started as a platform adventura game and ended up to be a FPS

Everything is possible in the gaming world..... or almost everything

Charles @ May 9th 2008 2:08PM

I too would just HATE to see Zelda in FPS. Maybe this Zelda will be M-rated and there will be blood and stuff, thus making TP the last of it's kind. Or maybe they will go the routs of MGS 4 and make Link an old man that walk on a cane but becomes super strong during battles (like Yoda :P)...

But in all honesty, I could not see where they will take Zelda at all. I highly doubt they would make it an FPS or make it in FP to begin with. Some are suggesting Link would be set in the future but I believe I am not alone when I say that is not such a great idea.

One thing for certain, however, is that Miyamoto really likes the FPS's and the small hints set in this article are nothing but bits of proof that Zelda might turn out to be an FPS after all. Maybe it won't be set in the future. Maybe it will be set in an age like that of The Lost City of Atlantis where there is technology but set in the past.

Knowing it's Nintendo, I feel they know what they are doing with this, especially the fact that it's Miyamoto and not anyone else, is comforting enough to know that they will not do Zelda any harm as a franchise. We'll just have to wait and see though, as I can simply NOT imagine Zelda being an FPS.

SoshiKitai @ May 9th 2008 2:08PM

Would everyone stop saying FPS?!!

He said he was hoping Zelda would be in FIRST PERSON. NOOOOT FIRST-PERSON-SHOOTER!
...sheesh.

murray b @ May 9th 2008 2:16PM

Did you guys read the story.
"Iwata
I see. So, if the hero isn’t visible on screen, it’s really hard to tell the difference between adult Link and the child Link, right?

Miyamoto
That, and also the fact that it’s a total waste not to have Link visible on screen when he is so cool looking! (laughs)

So I don't think you have anything to worry about.

CJLopez @ May 9th 2008 2:23PM

Well, in some matters, Zelda: OOT turned into some kind of FPS, when shotting the arrow and not having an enemy locked, also when using the hock shot and the slingshot, so it turned from third person to first person just in this 3 cases

CJLopez @ May 9th 2008 2:26PM

Also, seeing how the talk went, it's most likely that next Zelda games will go like Twilight resulted to be, aiming the Bow and arrow, the hock shot and the slingshot using the Wiimote is one of my favorite things on this game, wouldn't want that to be changed, specially on the phantom town mission, I felt like I was in a western style gunshot, using the bow and the arrow to kill all the enemies and set blow all the barrels, that was amazing, got a save specially set for that scene

Asok @ May 9th 2008 2:28PM

I'm going to go against the grain here and say I'd like to see Zelda in a first-person perspective. It'd be a refreshing new twist for the series, and you could still keep everything liked about the current series. Of course, however, they should insert a third-person view a la Oblivion to keep purists happy. If they did this, I'd voluntarily play through it completely, unlike Twilight Princess.

Soiden @ May 9th 2008 3:25PM

Everyone was against the First-Person Metroid Prime, and the original turned into the Game of the Year, and it's a really good game [And I feel it like a Metroid game].

I accept that I'm afraid of a FP Zelda, but it could be interesting. Maybe Miyamoto should try a spin-off first [Link's Crossbow Training isn't just enough].

tmntman @ May 9th 2008 3:42PM

I just want to know if they ever started development of the Animal Crossing FPS game that they joked about in the Wii Zapper section and who the targets were. I just might pay to be able to hunt down Mr. Resetti for a little pay back. I'll even pay full price if you get to stuff him afterwards and display him in your house.

WiiFTW @ May 10th 2008 12:44PM

If he likes FPSs so much, why doesn't he just make a legitimate FPS using the IR pointer and gesture controls as a new IP (complete with online)? MP3 is good, but no online, not so much. MOH:H2 is good, but WW2=old, and people eat bullets like a tank. I'd be really surprised if 1) There were a new IP and 2) It'd be an FPS.

On the topic of Zelda and FPS perspective, FPS ain't the way to go. What happens to the camera when you roll? Does it roll too?:P Well that and you can't even see what's behind you and around you, quite useful. That and Z-targeting like in LoZ:TP would be a bit more awkward.