Nintendo explains Zelda's new art style

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 28 July, 2010

Helps with "exaggerated characteristics".

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's sort of cel-shaded art style was chosen to highlight the "exaggerated characteristics" of the game's characters, Zelda mega man Eiji Aonuma has said.

It also helps the player identify how enemies are carrying weapons – a crucial gameplay factor in the sword-focused game.

Nintendo caused a stir at E3 2010 when it unveiled Skyward Sword and its "painting come to life" look.

The influence of Shigero Miyamoto's love of impressionist art put paid to any hopes fans had of a realistic style.

"One of the reasons we've chosen the art style we have with Skyward Sword is that it is a better vehicle to showcase the exaggerated characteristics of some of the characters," Aonuma told the Official Nintendo Magazine (reported by Nintendo Everything)

"Not only of the enemy characters, but as a representation of the sword spirit itself. Because of the way we have put the game together you have to focus on how the enemy is carrying their weapon, and there are a couple of different ways you can go about that.

"One, you can be super realistic, and the other, not so realistic. We thought that because we want to highlight the sword fighting combat, we have to exaggerate the features. We thought that the art style we chose was best suited to do that.

"You have to match the art style to how the game plays, and we thought this worked best. We matched the artwork so that we can highlight the over-exaggeration in the gameplay."

There you have it. The game will be out on the Wii "early 2011". Check out our hands-on preview of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to see how it's shaping up. E3 2010 trailer is below.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • twh104 #1 2 years ago

    I was surprised by the initial outcry, given the fact that in 2001 Wind Waker was derided, then accepted and finally longed for in 2006 when Twilight Princess came out. Now Cel Shading is back people don't want it.

  • wizlon #2 2 years ago

    Sounds good to me, as long as the story and scenario is good then I don't care if it's drawn in crayon.

  • robson_wii #3 2 years ago

    I thought the Wind Waker and Twighlight Princess were equally beautiful looking games even though the art-styles were poles apart. Looking forward to this as I have enjoyed the series so far including the DS romps.

  • RoyalBiscuit #4 2 years ago

    Realism is overrated. The windwaker was a beautiful game. I loved Twighlight Princess but the graphical style was just a bit dull after WW.

  • NewbieZilla #5 2 years ago

    I'm looking for gameplay, the art style is a means to that end.

  • zhgingaah #6 2 years ago

    "The influence of Shigero Miyamoto's love of impressionist art put paid to any hopes fans had of a realistic style."

    Or, maybe it was the Wii's outdated graphics chipset...

  • Widge #7 2 years ago

    Wind Waker was jaw dropping at points, but there is this mentality of "make it look realistic! have textures!" out there. No appreciation for style.

  • originaljohn #8 2 years ago

    I thought the WW art style was breath taking. It was just a joy to look at, and the fact that you were a young link helped give the game an grand, epic feel. Twilight Princess was a bit too dull for. I got on launch day and am still yet to finish it. I will though just before skyward sword comes out.

  • sifujames #9 2 years ago

    "The influence of Shigero Miyamoto's love of impressionist art put paid to any hopes fans had of a realistic style"

    Because a game about a elf who lives in a land in the sky saving a princess is realistic?

  • gav_and_the_gavster #10 2 years ago

    Every dev should ask the question "What art matches or enhances the gameplay experience?" That's why I'm more than happy with the art direction for this Zelda. Many different types of game find an art style that matches the gameplay from Gears of War, to Super Mario Galaxy, to Ico. And when they do, the game feels better as a whole.

  • Cid #11 2 years ago

    I wasn't aware that some people disliked the style. Seems like the perfect compromise to me.

  • Dylbot #12 2 years ago

    STUBBY LEGS

  • Pac #13 2 years ago

    I kinda like all the changes in art direction that the series has taken so far. It's certainly one way of invigorating the franchise. Otherwise they might start to merge into one, like other popular franchises do.

    I hope the new control scheme works well. This will be the game maker/breaker for me. It looks good in the demo but would like to try for myself.

  • Raiko101 #14 2 years ago

    I think the visuals look quite good myself. Not quite as charming as Wind Waker, but colourful enough.

  • geeza2020 #15 2 years ago

    what the hell is an Official Nintendo MANAGZINE?????

  • varsas #16 2 years ago

    @zhgingaah: That's why SEGA used an artistic style for Valkyria Chronicles on PS3, right?

  • viper_h #17 2 years ago

    Wind Waker looked awful. But it suited the game. Kiddie, Tellytubby graphics for a dumb kiddie game.

    At least the new one doesn't have those fucking stupid huge eyes.

  • varsas #18 2 years ago

    @boabg: This will have a full orchestral soundtrack like SMG2 from previously reports.

  • slippysloppy #19 2 years ago

    It looks great to me and developers have to play to the strengths and limitations of the console. If there was an outcry from gamers, then the gaming community is in danger of becoming like the comic book community, who debate endlessly about a hero's suit or the actor playing him. There seems to be less and less respect for artists and creators, who should be allowed to deliver their visions without having to concern themselves with the overly loud minority.
    Edited by 1 at 28/07/10 @ 10:46

  • Acrid #20 2 years ago

    I thinks it looks awesome anyway

  • Stuz359 #21 2 years ago

    I love the art style, but what's really great is how it doesn't date the game at all. Jet Set Radio, WW etc, are just beautiful looking games, if it weren't for the resolution, you wouldn't realise which generation they came from. Realistic graphics specifically date a game to s certain period.

  • Darren #22 2 years ago

    The new Zelda looks good to me. I personally adored the art style of The Wind Waker and still think the game has a timeless quality to it. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that it looks less dated visually than the game that succeeded it, Twilight Princess!

  • superstu1337 #23 2 years ago

    Translation from Japanese - 'There's no point us continuously failing with sub-par realistic graphics so we'll just try to work with the crap that we have.'

  • Darkedge #24 2 years ago

    I think it's more a relection of the Wiis lack of power as TP had more 'realistic' graphical style but it looked quite poor. It's a much better fit for the game anyway.

  • Barbellion #25 2 years ago

    @ viper_h - in your humble opinion? In mine, you're a deluded snide prat with no appreciation for style. Just my opinion, like.

  • telboy007 #26 2 years ago

    @ Barbellion, the +100 button seems to be missing so I'm afraid you'll have to make do with +1. Sorry about that!

  • FenderMaster #27 2 years ago

    The art style is very... understated... i haven't noticed any outcry, possibly because there's not much to cry about, it's a hardly a bold new direction, more a compromise between WW and TP

  • dave-on #28 2 years ago

    They probably realised WW just hasn't dated very much at all.

  • smelly #29 2 years ago

    @viper_h : I think your mummy is calling you for tea... No wait, she's calling to see if you need your bottom wiped.

  • SG #30 2 years ago

    Darkedge
    28/07/10 @ 12:55

    I think it's more a relection of the Wiis lack of power as TP had more 'realistic' graphical style but it looked quite poor. It's a much better fit for the game anyway.

    TP was a GC game though...
    Edited by 1 at 28/07/10 @ 18:03

  • sega #31 2 years ago

    I love the way Nintendo give each game a unique graphical style. Each Zelda game is essentially a retelling of the same story anyway (ok, each game is totally unique, but there are a lot of similarities and the goal is always the rescue of Zelda). I generally pick out a game for its visual style - sometimes I enjoy the cartoony world of Wind Waker, other times I fancy the more "real" look of Twilight Princess. I can't say a preference - they're just both fantastic games.

    I'd probably be disappointed if they did go too real looking with the graphics. The Zelda world is pure fantasy and I couldn't imagine most of the characters, Link included, taken too seriously and realistically. I mean imagine the opening treasure chest animations done in a more realistic style - they're very childish and portray an excitement of what could be in the box. I couldn't see stuff like that working in a more realistic world - and I'm sure there'd be outrage if such traditions were abandoned in the series.

  • LiamK #32 2 years ago

    "ok, each game is totally unique, but there are a lot of similarities and the goal is always the rescue of Zelda"

    Apart from all the ones where it's not.

  • alcides #33 2 years ago

    wind waker was way cooler.

    It's the best zelda hands down, btw.

  • sega #34 2 years ago

    That wasn't a dig at the Zelda series, Liamk - I bloody love them. It is the case for the games I've played though (the original, Link to the Past, Ocarina, Wind Waker and Twilight Princess). My point is just all those games have similar basic stories - I'm not saying it's a bad thing or anything. It's familiar but you get a new story over the top such as the time travel of Ocarina and the Twilight world of Twilight Princess. Zelda is just a means to push the story - it's the journey, not the rescue, that defines each game.

    Anyway I'm sure there are some games I haven't played where that isn't the goal (Spirit Tracks maybe? Zelda 2?).

  • witchdrash #35 2 years ago

    I utterly hated the art style of Wind Waker, it still makes me cringe, but I really liked the Twilight Princess, I think it's a shame they've not pushed that art style forward in this outing, but I don't dislike the style at all, it does seem a bit of a step backwards, because of the lack of detail moving from Twilight Princess --> Skyward Sword, but it still looks nice.

  • chaywa #36 2 years ago

    At least we won't have any major aliasing issues this time around *shudders at the jaggies in TP*

  • drhickman1983 #37 2 years ago

    I like the new games art style a lot. I find realism in games over-rated, I deal with realism every day, y'know, in reality.

    It depends on the games setting and genre, but in general if a game has a more stylised, less realistic, look it usually pricks my initial interest more than a game that is going for realism, especially as many games seem to equate "realism" with a brown and grey colour scheme. I like colours!

  • VeggieWokker #38 2 years ago

    Any art style is good for me, as long as the game does not contain trains and Link is left-handed (even if it is not the standard setting but an option).