Nintendo: Zelda series keeping motion controls

By Tom Phillips Published 12 December, 2011

Skyward Sword waggling "will be used" in next Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's motion control scheme is here to stay, series boss Eiji Aonuma has said.

Despite initial misgivings about requiring players to use the Wii Remote's MotionPlus attachment, Aonuma now believes buttons are a thing of the past for the Zelda series.

"I honestly think we cannot go back to button controls now", Aonuma revealed in a new ONM interview (via Kotaku). "So I think that these controls will be used in future Zelda titles, too."

Nintendo demonstrated a Zelda "experience" for the Wii U during its unveiling at E3 this year.

The Wii U's tablet controller was used as a touch-screen inventory.

Will players be asked to use a Wii Remote Plus and tablet controller together? Or will the inevitable Wii U incarnation include better usage of the tablet, too?

Zelda games for handheld systems will presumably keep the series' classic button controls. After this year's re-release of Ocarina of Time, the next 3DS Zelda game will be all-new, Aonuma recently said.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

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Comments (63) Latest comment 5 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • FenderMaster #1 5 months ago

    So we'll have to swap controllers while playing?

    Well the swordplay was certainly very good in SS, yeah it wasn't perfect, you can't quickly change your sword angle without slashing, which is a pain when you'tre trying to get through electro boboklins guard, but otherwise it was great fun!

    The swimming controls need to go though! Who thought it would be a good idea to switch from left hand above the waves to right hand control when diving? The flying would be okay if it weren't for all the flapping.

    Finally, the aiming in SS is broken! It constantly goes nuts and aims off in the wrong direction at inopportune times! Yes, I know that you can press down to recenter it, but by the time you do you're already aiming off in the wrong direction. TP's IR aiming was far better.
    Edited by FenderMaster at 12/12/11 @ 15:17

  • JohnnyWashnGo #2 5 months ago

    The other half and I agree that SS is great but would be a million times better with traditional button controls - the precision of the wiimote, even with motion plus, leaves a lot to be desired.

  • Squidgywidgywoo #3 5 months ago

    I like 'waggling' things.

  • flameboy84 #4 5 months ago

    hmmmm wierd one. I can't imagine using both the tablet and motionplus for this kind of game.... Also can't see how the tablet gives the same fidelity of control that the nunchuck and wiimote combo provides in skyward sword.

  • kinky_mong #5 5 months ago

    Good to hear, the sword controls were near perfect and finally convinced me that motion controls can be good.

    Leave out the waggle and balance stuff in future though, rope balancing was a pain even when it did work properly.

  • Sabreman64 #6 5 months ago

    Well, Twilight Princess is the final Zelda game I ever buy then. I loathe motion sensing. It's the main reason I didn't buy Skyword Sword. The other reason is that I think I'm tiring of the Zelda franchise anyway. I couldn't be bothered finishing Twilight Princess - a dull game which was not a patch on Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask or Wind Waker.
    Edited by Sabreman64 at 12/12/11 @ 15:21

  • roz123 #7 5 months ago

    Good, the use of motion plus meant there were some great sword fights with bosses and aiming was more accurate. Only problem I had was getting used to not waggling as its a familiar action on the wii but with this it doesn't work.

  • BearFishPie #8 5 months ago

    Love Robin Williams' HD/SD sunglasses on the video's 'start' screen. Though maybe it's just my screen resolution.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #9 5 months ago

    Oh Nintendo, when will you learn? This is them trying to wear their dictator hat again. How about listening to feedback first, and adding options for normal controllers? Focusing on the greatness of Wiimote to play games isn't as great as you are making out, Nintendo, otherwise Wii wouldn't be dying.

    While Kinect is doing well, at least with that you don't always have to use it.

  • TonyHarrison #10 5 months ago

    I remain unconvinced that Skyward Sword would even work with button controls without some kind of major overhaul of the control system. You need to remember it isn't like other Zelda games where you're only moving the sword in a couple of directions. There aren't enough buttons on any controller to replicate moving the sword in the 9 directions it uses (up, down, left, right, 4x diagonal, and forward stab), not to mention the spin attack.

    Unless you lazily have it all done with one button, but that would be mind numbingly dull and repetitive.

  • DSWalton #11 5 months ago

    I'm pleased by this news. Skyward Sword was such an amazing game, partly because of the motion controls. It proves that they can be more than just a gimmick, and actually provide a solid gaming experience. Now we just need others to follow suit and make some amazing motion controlled games!

  • cloudskipa #12 5 months ago

    This is superb news, I'm glad Nintendo continue to look forward despite many gamers wanting them to go backwards. The controls in Skyward Sword were nigh on perfect, unfortunately the harsh truth is that some gamers are just not skilled enough to use them properly, sucks for them I guess.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #13 5 months ago

    The motion controls in Zelda work better than in any other (Wii) game I have played but they still fail too often for me. It's especially annoying when fighting enemies that require specific swings; The game simply suffers from the exact same problem like all the other motion games: You see that you need to swing from left to right yet when you move your arm left to get in position the game already interprets this as a swing and you end up swinging right to left. This is really annoying when you have only a second to react but you have to deliberately move slowly so the game does not register your swing too early.

    Ghirahim is a nightmare to fight. It's incredibly annoying if you don't know if you simply have no clue what to do or if you are doing the right thing but the controls let you down.

  • Toothball #14 5 months ago

    @SpaceMonkey77

    Presumably the difference between the Wii remote and Kinect is that you want to play Zelda and don't want to play Kinect games.

    The feedback always says "stick with what you know", while also saying "do something new". It's no wonder that they don't listen to the feedback and go with whatever they think might be fun.

  • FenderMaster #15 5 months ago

    @Der_tolle_Emil Ghiranim is actually fine, he moves his guard very slowly, so you can move your sword hand into poistion slowly without slashing... It's the stalfos and boboklins where the controls trip up a bit.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #16 5 months ago

    @FenderMaster: The biggest problem for me is thrusting the sword forward. I seem to hold the Wiimote in such a position that simply moving it forward until my arm is fully stretched is not enough for the game to register it and moving it backwards first means that I ram my elbow into my couch. Always takes me at least two tries to get it right.

  • vert1go #17 5 months ago

    @SpaceMonkey77 By what metric is the Wii "dying"? It's getting near the 90M units sold mark, sold 500,000 in one weekend in the US last month... it's also the fifth year of its lifespan - traditionally getting toward the end of its lifetime. It's hardly "dying" if sales are still going at this point. Eventually it just has to slow down.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #18 5 months ago

    @JAGUARCD32x: In Twilight Princess the direction of your sword did not matter though, did it? I can't remember.

    I'm not saying Zelda is bad at all, the game is absolutely brilliant. It's just that even with the phenomenal improvements Motion+ offers the controls still aren't as reliable as I want them to be - precise yes, 100% reliable, no.

  • Canyarion #19 5 months ago

    This is great news, I love the controls in SS.

    About the Upad, the last thing I've heard is that Nintendo is maybe going to treat it as an in-game item. That should work pretty well!

  • higgins78 #20 5 months ago

    @SpaceMonkey77

    WTF!? Firstly, anybody who has actually played Skyward Sword will testify that the motion controls are perfectly implemented and nobody in their right mind would even suggest giving us the option of using "traditional" controls...the very heart of the game lies with Wii Motion Plus, any other control method would simply dilute the game.

    Secondly, Kinect is doing well you say? It may have sold well (I don't know) but don't for a second try and tell me it has a library of AAA games which support the hardware. Lastly, Nintendo dying you say? Looking back on this gen in 10-20 years time only 1 console will be truly remembered for giving the industry a much needed shot in the arm AND being THEE success story...the Wii of course!

    Why was it do you imagine Sony and Microsoft quickly brought out their own motion add-ons...or are you going to honestly tell me they had that planned from the beginning, giving Nintendo a huge head start then with their own devices not even making a dent? Good strategy, LOL.
    Edited by higgins78 at 12/12/11 @ 16:06

  • uk-kob #21 5 months ago

    its such a shame, they insist on using motion controls. i wont be buying another zelda game with them.

  • Duchessprozac #22 5 months ago

    @TonyHarrison Flick up, down, left, right, the four diagonals and click stick/tap screen to lunge?

    Honestly now, it may not be as immersive to some as waving a remote control around like a tit in front of your tv, but saying it's not possible is rubbish.
    Edited by Duchessprozac at 12/12/11 @ 16:11

  • higgins78 #23 5 months ago

    @uk-kob

    Trust me, you wont be missed. It is your type which is holding the industry back, why all we have seen this gen is sequel after sequel after sequel, neither easy to distinguish from the next. Ocarina, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and now Skyward Sword, all 3D Zelda's yet all wit their own style and unique hook.

    I'm hugely excited the Zelda series is keeping motion controls as its core experience, to go back to "traditional" methods now would be a huge step backwards.

  • higgins78 #24 5 months ago

    @Duchessprozac

    Who waves their Wii Remote around like a "tit"? You could argue with Twilight Princess (Wii) that was the case but you sound like you are speaking from a man/boy who has not laid their hands on Skyward Sword..."waving a remote around like a tit" as you put it would only lend itself to you dying repeatedly in Skyward Sword, not progressing very far at ell.

  • Seoh #25 5 months ago

    @FenderMaster
    Agreed, it was fun but hardly optimal. I always came out of a fight thinking "if only i'd had buttons i would have more health"

    At the very least the next zelda needs a button you can hold that would prevent rapid movement being registered as a sword swipe.

  • poke50uk Verified Designer and Games Programmer, Lockwood Publishing Ltd #26 5 months ago

    I need a motion plus plus - I'm stabbing, but it takes four or five times until it registers a stab ¬_¬

  • MakeYourself #27 5 months ago

    @uk-kob Then you'll be missing out. Skyward Sword is one of the greatest games I've ever played, even better than OOT.

    The controls work just fine as you'd expect from any Nintendo game, but the thing that got me the most was the story. Without ever using speech I had a better understanding of what every character was feeling throughout than I get from most HD fully voiced games. It is some of Nintendo's best ever work and I can't wait to see where they take the series next.

  • higgins78 #28 5 months ago

    @Seoh

    Agree with the second point you make, the next Zelda game should have a button/method which prevent rapid movement being registered as a sword swipe, this I believe is why the Zelda series should stick with Motion controls, so that the scheme may be perfected.

    Remember, Skyward Sword has no equal, not a game which comes even within a whisker of achieving what is has already. Give Nintendo time to experiment/tweak and I guarantee it is those who stood by will reap the rewards...
    Edited by higgins78 at 12/12/11 @ 16:35

  • higgins78 #29 5 months ago

    @poke50uk

    Rubbish, absolutely rubbish! Countless videos have been released since that awful Gamespot review was published which prove the guy reviewing the game to be a pleb, the controls work 99.9% of the time 1:1.

  • Serebii #30 5 months ago

    Bit harsh to call the Skyward Sword controls "waggle". Considering that if you "waggle" as per earlier Wii games, the game tends to punish you

  • Serk101 #31 5 months ago

    I can't understand how future Zelda titles will use motion controls (Wii Motion Plus Controller again presumably) when Nintendo's next generation console will have a tablet styled controller. Why not base the next game on the controller included with the console? Do they expect every Wii U owner to have a Wiimote lying around or will gamers new to the Zelda franchise have to fork out for a Wiimote? I don't think Nintendo have a clue what route they want to go with the Wii U I really don't.

  • Duchessprozac #32 5 months ago

    @higgins78 Trust me, you may feel like a badass slicing and dicing with the wiimote, but you look like a tit.

    This also goes for nearly all motion controlled games that involve waving controllers/body parts around.

  • higgins78 #33 5 months ago

    @Serk101

    The Wii U will support Motion Plus, simple really. I would say the vast majority of people who buy the Wii U will already own a Wii/Motion Plus, for those who don't I hardly think the price of a Wii Remote will put them off...how many EXTRA controllers do most people own for their 360/PS3's for example?

  • higgins78 #34 5 months ago

    @Duchessprozac

    I doubt I look like either a "badass" or a "tit". Also, if I was that concerned with image I would be a very shallow person...

  • Duchessprozac #35 5 months ago

    @higgins78 Or perhaps some of us prefer to not have to wave a wand around and pretend it's a sword because we look like fucking 8 year olds play fighting.

    Really now, I'm sure Skyward Sword is a great game, I've not had chance to play it yet as I no longer own a Wii, but I doubt I'm the only person out there who might feel a little self aware waving their arms around like a lunatic in front of the television when the same finesse of controls could be achieved as effectively with a controller, who is disappointed with NIntendo ignoring those of us who would rather play with a traditional controller.

    I'm fine with them having the motion controller, it does work for some games, but having it forced as THE ONLY option is enough to turn me off.

  • higgins78 #36 5 months ago

    @Duchessprozac

    The game was built from the ground up to use Wii Motion Plus, how/why would you want to use a joypad for heavens sake!? To even ask for the option of using a joypad is missing the point entirely! Also, do you consider playing videogames a particularly mature thing to do? Its not! I play all sorts of videogames - i own a PS3 and Wii currently - but am under no illusion that what I am doing isn't very mature...

  • Serk101 #37 5 months ago

    @higgins78


    I understand the Wii U will support Wii Motion Plus but the whole point of the Wii U is it's fancy tablet controller. (Well that's what Nintendo have been trying to shove down our throats ever since this years E3) I believe the tablet controller can be implemented brilliantly with future Zelda titles with it's combination of classic controller and touch screen based functionality. Why go back to a controller that has been around for over 5 years? Look to the future and innovate that's what I say.

  • Duchessprozac #38 5 months ago

    @higgins78 Oh, I'm aware playing video games is not always that mature, and I'm happy to be immature -- Heck, I even dance around having mock lightsaber duels with friends -- but I am never under the illusion that I look anything but foolish.

    I am one of those people that is just disillusioned with Nintendo and all the others that leapt onto the motion control bandwagon. I had high hopes for it all, but after so many bad games or badly implemented controls, I just wish it would just die.

    Nintendo continuous push of these controls means they are never going to go away and I will never get to comfortably relax and play another Zelda game again.
    Edited by Duchessprozac at 12/12/11 @ 18:05

  • higgins78 #39 5 months ago

    @Serk101

    Please, I hope you are not accusing Nintendo of not innovating! I believe if you are we should end this conversation right now. Whats all this talk about Nintendo "shoving its fancy tablet controller down our throats ever since E3!?

    Nintendo the same as Sony and Microsoft promotes its products, no more, no less. I think the tablet will prove useful but why not give the option to developers of using different control methods, be it Motion Plus, Tablet or for the "traditionalist", controller. This way WE get the best games...

  • higgins78 #40 5 months ago

    @Duchessprozac

    Sounds less like you want to "relax" and more like you enjoy playing games in a coma. Videogames should be about interaction, experimentation and fun, hardly something which even the most hardened PS3/360 "fan boy" can accuse Nintendo of not implementing. Lets face facts, Nintendo's Wii is the only console this gen which differentiates itself from the crowd...hence as I said before Sony/Microsoft's bid to join the party embarrassingly late with its "own" motion devices...

  • Ryze #41 5 months ago

    Er... so you won't let people use the dual analogues of the Wii U pad to play away from their TV??!?!?!?

    They'll have to prop up their U Tablet and use its sensor bar to waggle with?

    FAIL.

  • Ryze #42 5 months ago

    @higgins78

    Based on Emil's description of sword behaviour and 'registering slashes', the sword controls clearly aren't 1:1.

    Try again.

  • Serk101 #43 5 months ago

    @higgins78

    I never said Nintendo are not innovating. On the contrary Nintendo are definitely the most innovative out of the big three in my book but it doesn't sound very innovative for Aonuma to say the next generation Zelda title should implement a control method which is over 5 years old wouldn't you say? Yes it would be great if Nintendo gave us different control methods for their future first party Wii U titles but we will have to wait and see if they do or not but honestly I wouldn't hold my breath.

  • higgins78 #44 5 months ago

    @Ryze

    Exactly! Based on 1 persons description. Try the 99 others who do find it resisters 1:1...

  • higgins78 #45 5 months ago

    @Ryze

    FAIL!? I'm not talking to somebody who ends an argument/discussion with the word "fail" in bold.

  • higgins78 #46 5 months ago

    @Serk101

    Over 5 years old you say? I would suggest Wii Motion Plus is not only NOT 5 years old but few games yet have truly taken advantage of its potential...Skyward Sword being the only real fully-fleshed out game.

  • Serk101 #47 5 months ago

    @higgins78

    The Wiimote itself is over 5 years old which Wii Motion Plus is now combined with so I class it as one peripheral but if you want to be specific yes the Wii Motion Plus attachment might only be 2.5 years old but knowing Nintendo's track record by the time the next gen Zelda is released it will be over 5 years old.

  • Bigmac1910 #48 5 months ago

    Unless a wii motion plus is included with the tablet controller, and is truly 100% reliable, count me out. Even the motion plus only works between 80-90% for me, never managed to get it to work better.

    Really disappointed with the news, I was hoping to only use the tablet controller.

  • TazerFan #49 5 months ago

    @cloudskipa

    Full of shit alert!

  • Mister-Wario #50 5 months ago

    But what if people don't have a Wii remote when the Wii U comes out? Unlikely as that is. Will we have to buy one? If so, why didn't Nintendo offer classic controller support for more of their titles?

  • DSWalton #51 5 months ago

    I love it when people say motion controls make you look like a tit.

    http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/11/13

    Small, simple gestures. Easy. :)

  • cloudskipa #52 5 months ago

    @TazerFan Thank you for your intelligent contribution.

  • cloudskipa #53 5 months ago

    @Ryze Skyward Sword is 1:1. If you target with the Z button the controls are simplified into an 8-directional system to make it a little easier to register specific swipes, however if you swing the wiimote without the Z button pressed it will react exactly to your wiimotes position.

    Anyone who had played the game for more than half and hour would already know this.

  • Ryze #54 5 months ago

    @cloudskipa

    Fair enough.

    I still believe that they're compromising themselves by making the controls mandatory in all future instalments - and I have no problems with motion controls in general.

  • up_the_ante #55 5 months ago

    To be honest, the way Nintendo and others raved about the new control method when the Wii first came I thought this was what the Wii was capable of 5 years ago. Finally we get a game where the control method actually adds something to the game

  • FenderMaster #56 5 months ago

    @cloudskia - The controls clearly are not 1:1... Yes Links hand tracks your hand fairly well when you move your hand slowly, but only at slow speed, the fact that certain speed thresholds trigger a slash, which has a fixed speed proves this. Try slashing really realy fast, then try slashing at normal speed, then try slashing slowly... See? not 1:1.

  • KanePaws #57 5 months ago

    @BearFishPie "Love Robin Williams' HD/SD sunglasses on the video's 'start' screen. Though maybe it's just my screen resolution."

    It's not a resolution issue; Robin Williams is actually wearing those.

  • cloudskipa #58 5 months ago

    @FenderMaster Thing is though are you playing on an HDTV? I know a lot of people who are playing on LCD panels and get a small amount of input lag due to the 480p upscale.

    I'm playing on a CRT with zero input delay and I'm telling you it's 1:1 (motion+ is 1:1 tech) and it tracks my movement as close as can be expected. We are not dealing with mirrors here so there has to be some time for calculation, but it's a matter of microseconds for it to react to what I'm doing, be it slow or fast swipes, it responds to what I do as I do it.
    Edited by cloudskipa at 13/12/11 @ 00:30

  • smelly #59 5 months ago

    I *DO* love the idiots who are slagging off the motion controls based on ONE review - despite not trying it THEMSELVES!

    And then NEGATING people who say "well i've actually played it, and it worked 1:1 for me"!?!?!

    Unbelievable.

    For the record, it worked fine for me too. The gamespot reviewer was just shit.

  • TazerFan #60 5 months ago

    Post deleted at 17:49:27 13-12-2011

  • higgins78 #61 5 months ago

    @Serk101

    You (again) I fear are missing the point. 2 and a half years old for what is relatively new technology is very, very young. The joypad has been evolving - with a lot of help from Nintendo - for how long now? Ideally I would like to see Nintendo run with the Motion Plus and keep it for not only the Wii U but whatever console supersedes it...a "remote" could be the new standard.

  • TonyHarrison #62 5 months ago

    @Duchessprozac There's a reason why I didn't even consider using a stick to control the sword as an alternative. It would be terrible, and would probably require all the default assists that most twin stick games use to actually be functional.

  • JamieR #63 5 months ago

    Did anyone else noticed you can download 4 swords for free on the 3ds, thats pritty cool.