Zapper packed with Link game

By Mark Androvich Published 10 September, 2007

Crossbow Training in November.

Nintendo has announced that the upcoming Wii Zapper interface will come packed with Link's Crossbow Training.

The Wii Zapper, a casing that houses the Wii Remote and nunchuck in a single unit, will go on sale in North America on November 19. It is expected to retail for USD 19.99.

"The Wii Zapper combines our remarkable controllers into one housing with a classic style reminiscent of arcade-style games," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Both veteran and first-time players will find it brings a whole new dimension to games where targeting is key and provides even more exciting game-play experiences."

Link's Crossbow Training drops players into a world in the style of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Players assume the identity of Link, who progresses through a series of tests to perfect his crossbow marksmanship.

Nintendo also announced that EA's Medal of Honor: Heroes 2, Capcom's Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, and Sega's Ghost Squad will all take advantage of the new Wii Zapper.

Picture of Mark.

About Mark Androvich

Read more articles from Mark by visiting the Mark Androvich archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • ProtoformX #1 4 years ago

    I love light gun games to death so i shall be definitely picking this up. The game just sounds like a cheap tack-on though. "Hmmm... how can we make a silly little game appear not so silly?" "I know, Zelda-ify it!"

  • Cuke #2 4 years ago

    I admit I've not really kept up with the news of this zapper thing, but other than being a bit of plastic to put the controllers in does it do anything 'new'?

    When they say games will 'take advantage of it' what do they mean? It just sticks your controlers together in a way that perhaps feels a bit more natural for gun based games, its essentialy no different to those daft golf and tennis bits you can stick onto the end of the wii remote... Or am I mising the point a tad...?

  • smelly #3 4 years ago

    >game just sounds like a cheap tack-on though.

    erm.. the whole package is less than 20 quid.. of course it's a cheap tack on! :-)

    >When they say games will 'take advantage of it' what do they mean?

    They mean that due to the fact they're "glued" together - it's easier to "run" and "shoot" at the same time.. so therefor games can be designed to do that.

    But i agree.. it's a bit fucking pointless.

  • Kryon #4 4 years ago

    So with this add-on, the Wii really is just a £200 GameCube with a light gun, like I always said....Oh wait, except, the GC actually had a few good games didn't it?... Wiilol :D

  • sailesh #5 4 years ago

    that WILL sell the first batch of Zappers I guess. After that initially 'oooh it's Link in a mini game' phase, the Zapper will need to rely on a proper game. Let's hope Umbrella Chronicles is good...

  • JetSetWilly #6 4 years ago

    Do you think George believes this when he says it out loud? Or maybe the end of the quote isn't being reported: "...provides even more exciting gameplay experiences - or so it says on this sheet I'm reading from".

  • UncleLou #7 4 years ago

    How about using the controllers as they are to full effect in a Nintendo-developed title, instead of leaving that to third parties (Capcom for example) and releasing useless additional tat for them?
    Edited by 1 at 11/09/07 @ 08:49

  • afray #8 4 years ago

    $20 in America? Will it really be £10 in the UK, or more like £25?

  • JetSetWilly #9 4 years ago

    Next there'll be some dumb wheel thingy for Mario Kart.

    Oh wait..

  • UncleLou #10 4 years ago

    (and also for that game to be better using the zapper than without).

    That would be a travesty, if you ask me. I don't want any additional stuff cluttering my living room to have optimal controls.

  • evild_edd #11 4 years ago

    Wow, a new Link/Zelda game!/!?!?

    10/10 for sure!!!!!!!111!!!!!1!!!!!!1!

    I love Nintendo with their new and original IPs :D

  • Eraser #12 4 years ago

    Why crossbow? Since when did Link use a crossbow?

  • bushwod #13 4 years ago

    Can't believe how negative people are about this. It's an optional add on that recreates that light gun arcade feel. It's cheap, and it comes with a free game.

    You don't HAVE to buy it to play any of the games it's compatable with (unlike light guns on previous consoles), but if you enjoy the light gun experince then you can get it.

    So why are people bitching about an optional peripheral? At least big N are giving you the choice.

  • Killerbee #14 4 years ago

    Yeah, if Umbrella Chronicles is good, I might consider picking this up if it's £19.99 (or thereabouts). Bundling it with a game - even a crossbow mini-game - is definitely a good way to shift a few copies. I imagine it'll sell pretty well.

  • Rirekon #15 4 years ago

    Where are my House of the Dead and Time Crisis ports?!

  • bigbadbeasty #16 4 years ago

    @ bushwod

    Do not worry dude. There are soooo many 360 fanboys here, and they can't stand the fact the Wii is doing well. It was alright for people to want the choice about wi-fi and HD movies in the argument between PS3 and 360, it just does not apply now :s

  • Wayne #17 4 years ago

    If we get this 6 months after the US, I will laugh my balls off.
    But it really wouldn't surprise me either. 6 months to translate a bit of plastic.

  • tedster11 #18 4 years ago

    "Can't believe how negative people are about this. It's an optional add on that recreates that light gun arcade feel. It's cheap, and it comes with a free game.

    You don't HAVE to buy it to play any of the games it's compatable with (unlike light guns on previous consoles), but if you enjoy the light gun experince then you can get it.

    So why are people bitching about an optional peripheral? At least big N are giving you the choice."



    Yup, with you on that one.

    Wish people would stop blubbing about these extras, seems pretty cool frankly. They're going to need to make a 'Wii-rack" to accommodate all these peripherals though.

    You'll be surfing on the weight board thing, jump off shoot stuff in the face with the zapper, then hop into your kart and drive away with the wheel. There'll be peripherals flying everywhere sure, but bloody hell it'll be incredible!

    Looking forward to a bit of melee action with the zapper myself. WHAM!!

    Edited by 1 at 11/09/07 @ 09:55

  • FaceOmeter #19 4 years ago

    @eraser: didn't he have one in link to the past?

  • aabyssx #20 4 years ago

    If you want to sell a cheap piece of plastic, just put the name of a star like Zelda on it, add a lightgun game created within 3 days using existing components!

  • Wayne #21 4 years ago

    Wish people would stop blubbing about these extras, seems pretty cool frankly. They're going to need to make a 'Wii-rack" to accommodate all these peripherals though.

    Is that a Wayne's World reference?

  • el_pollo_diablo #22 4 years ago

    I love the way Nintendo refuse to call it a gun.

    Zapper is so much more 50's sci-fi, and therefore less likely to land them in the papers.

  • chicknstu #23 4 years ago

    Cool. Now all they need to do is make it fire in the direction you are pointing and we're set!

  • CallousB #24 4 years ago

    I'm quite surprised they decided to bundle a Zelda title with the Zapper. I would have thought that a Wii Play style selection would have wider appeal..Mii Paintball, Mii Laser tag, Can shoot, Firefighting etc.

    Seems odd they would choose such a hardcore franchise for such a casual peripheral..I wonder if Japan may have a different pack-in?
    Edited by 1 at 11/09/07 @ 10:22

  • Wayne #25 4 years ago

    "Seems odd they would choose such a hardcore franchise for such a casual peripheral..I wonder if Japan may have a different pack-in? "

    It's the first phase of transferring all their hardcore games into casual games. This is the future of the Zelda series.

  • Monkey_Puncher #26 4 years ago

    Reminds of me of that episode of The Simpsons with the gay guy...

    "zzzzzzzzzzzzzap"

  • Tiny_Tim #27 4 years ago

    "You'll be surfing on the weight board thing, jump off shoot stuff in the face with the zapper, then hop into your kart and drive away with the wheel."

    Yeah, then play with your nintendog and then do some aerobics. Woooaahh, BODYFORM....
    :)

  • Wayne #28 4 years ago

    "Presumably there would have to be a system update on the "zelda crossbow" game to update Metroid"

    You realise it's just a piece of plastic?

  • tedster11 #29 4 years ago

    Is that a Wayne's World reference?

    Not intentionally no. Trying to work out how it might be... what's the link?

    /waits for the bumble bee suit add on to fly Mario around in, in Galaxy.

    /Thinks that'd be fucking awesome for a bumble bee light gun combo game in my living room so long as I didn't have flat mates.

  • SHPanda #30 4 years ago

    Can I ask why a light gun casing is coming with a crossbow game? It doesn't seem to make any sense, surely the zapper should come with a shotgun style game, seeing as that's what it resembles.

    I'll probably pick this up, but I have to admit I'm getting pretty tired of all these mini game collections, why is no-one making any decent full length games? Besides Zelda I've barely played any proper games.

  • smelly #31 4 years ago

    Best to ignore the 360 owners.. they're just getting peaved because their investment looks like it'll be in 3rd place in a few months.

    Not to worry boys.. im sure msoft will release the xbox 3 within the next 12 months..


    >why is no-one making any decent full length games?

    They are...



  • SHPanda #32 4 years ago

    I'm not a 360 fanboy, I own all 3 consoles, and preferring my Wii60 to my PS3 is the only preference.

    But you're daft if you think the standard of games on the Wii has been good so far, there's been very few proper games released so far, Resi 4 (which was a re release) Zelda and Red Steel, I'm struggling to think of any others that are out that are worth playing, all the other semi decent games are mini game collections. I don't know why you choose to defend the Wii to the teeth, why not admit it's faults, the more people that admit and complain the more likely they are to make changes and actually release proper titles.

    I imported my Wii from the US so I have a few games ahead of schedule such as Paper Mario, and that's also a huge let down, the characters are annoying, the cut scenes aren't entertaining and the camera angle switch that turns the game perspective to 3D gets boring quickly, so I'm refusing to count that.

    The only full games I can see on the horizon that looks worthwhile are Smash Bros, Red Steel 2, Bully (althought that's a port), and Mario Kart.

    I don't like the Metroid series due to the constant scanning of items so I'm not looking forwards to that, and Super Mario Sunshine was a huge let down so I'm not holding my hopes up for Galaxy just yet.

    The future doesn't look to bright, especially after Miyamoto and Aunouma (Zelda Director) announced that the next Zelda will be more accessible to new gamers and will be taking the game in a whole different direction, and one of the phrases they used was mini games. I look forward to Zelda games more than any other, but I'll admit the next one isn't sounding too great, and Mario Galaxy is also meant to be very suited to 10 minute pick up and play sessions that take away from the experience for any proper gamers. And lets not forget these new mini games have caused the difficulty levels of games to drop, e.g. Twilight Princess, a great game, but far far far too easy, I didn't get stuck once, nor did I struggle with any boss fights. Majora's Mask and Ocarina of Time look to rule supreme forever with the series unfortunately.

    Now despite my off topic comments and my negativity I love my Wii and I'm a huge Nintendo fan, but even I can see that they're heading in the wrong direction, and I will get bored of the Wii if they don't sort things out soon. It's all good and well tending to the wants and needs of the new and part time gamers, but that doesn't mean you need to ignore the veteran gamers, for example Zelda, why not have an easy and a hard mode instead of making it easy?

  • smelly #33 4 years ago

    >The only full games I can see on the horizon that looks worthwhile are


    And at that point i stopped reading your post...

    Let me explain why - by taking the shite you've just posted and porting it to another platform:

    "the only full games i can see on the horizon that looks worthwhile on the 360 are.. none.. I didnt enjoy halo 1 or 2, i thought they were boring pointless mindless shitty shooters.. so the 360 is a pile of wank because of that.. nothing worth owning on the 360 then"

    of course, that's bollocks - but then so's your argument.. I dont know why you defend the 360 so much.. etc etc etc..

  • smelly #34 4 years ago

    okay. .fuck it.. i'll post a more "constructive" response:

    "I don't like the Metroid series due to the constant scanning of items"

    Well dont fucking scan them then. It's not compulsory to finish the game.. it's just there for completists.


    >and Super Mario Sunshine was a huge let down

    Well you're wrong there.

    >so I'm not holding my hopes up for Galaxy just yet.

    and there.

    >Smash Bros, Red Steel 2, Bully

    Red steel 2? Are you fucking kidding me? the first one was wank.

    What about paper mario? a new pikmin? Batillion wars 2? manhunt 2 (if ya import it)?

    I'm sorry, but mp3, mario, and smash bros alone will (hopefully unless nintendo skank up) pretty much piss all over any game on any of the competitors machines so much that just those 3 games will be more than enough reason to own a wii for.

    And that's not counting the other games on the horizon....

    Too say the wii is nowt but mini-games is blinkered fanboy nonsense... in the same way as saying the 360 is only getting mind numblingly boring fps games (ala halo) or the ps3 isnt going to get any good first party games ever.

  • SHPanda #35 4 years ago

    You're an idiot, you didn't even read my post yet you try and rip it to pieces, I'm not a 360 fanboy, I've owned all Nintendo consoles since the NES and the original Gameboy apart from the DS/DS Lite. If I'm a fanboy of any of the console manufacturers it's Nintendo.

    I've always been a huge fan of Nintendo's main franchises and the N64 would be my all time favourite console. So the fanboy comment was unfounded idiocy.

    Secondly as I said, I have Paper Mario, and I'm sorry but it's crap. I liked the earlier versions on the N64 and the Cube, but Super Paper Mario is awful, the levels are too short and samey, the changing from 2D to 3D gets old fast due to it's overuse, and the characters other than Mario are all extremely poor, it's like someone has just drawn a scribble and thrown it in last minute.

    Metroid, no you do have to scan, the very start of Metroid Prime (I think it was) you had to scan about 8 locks on a gate to even advance, so clearly you're blindly defending a game series you love, just because your favour it over any other FPS.

    Super Mario Sunshine was a let down for any original Mario fan, of course it was, that's why Miyamoto chose not to continue down that route again, squirting paint off walls and the floor was boring, and using gadgets like FLUDD just isn't Mario, never has been and never will be. And don't even get me started on the natives to the island, that were just really annoying. The only plus side to Sunshine was the return of Yoshi, being able to ride around on top of him was a welcomed feature.

    As I said I love my Wii, I use it a lot, but if you can't see that the majority of games on it are all mini game collections then you must have your head buried so far up your own arse that you're heads coming back up through your throat.

    If anyone is being a fanboy around here it's you, you're blind sighted by anything that has the Nintendo name connected to it.

    As for the Halo comments? Is that meant to offend me? I think Halo, Halo 2 and Halo 3 are 3 of the most overrated games around, but they aren't the be all and end all. Dead Rising, Bioshock, Condemned, Kameo, Banjo Kazooie 3 and many more are around.

    My PS3 is getting the least play as I said in the last post, but I'm sure that'll pick up at the start of next year, I'm already looking forwards to Haze in November (notice how most the games I like have a Nintendo connection? Haze, Banjo, Kameo etc Sort of shows how big of a fan I am of Nintendo, but they don't stop me from seeing Nintendo faults and flaws).

    You can sit there and defend Nintendo to the teeth all you want because you're a fanboy but it'll only be you who suffers at the end of the day because you found the high amount of easy/accessible games and mini game collections acceptable.