ZELDA: INTERVIEWS Home - Story - Preview - Interviews - Pictures Part III: info about the game’s storyline, as well as enemy characters and differences between old and young Link. Q: Does Link's family appear in the game? Miyamoto: Link is a child of a race of elves called "Kokili." For some reason or another, there are no parents in this race, only many children of the same age. All of a sudden, they grow up until they reach a certain age, when they disappear. The next generation is born just as abruptly. So at some point, Link will disappear. Q: Are the backrounds different in the child and adult eras? Miyamoto: During the time when Link is an adult, conditions are intensified. Ganon, from the Super NES game, is a human form before he transforms into a monster. Ganon's elements change during the adult, since he changes into a monster. Q: Will the future change due to the activities in child Link's era? Miyamoto: You can enjoy all the hard effort we've put into it. A lot of stuff has been jammed into it. Q: When Link grows up will he grow stronger? Miyamoto: Fundamentally, I'd like Link to grow stronger with strength items. From the beginning, I didn't want to make it such that the abilities Link had would be removed. There aren't any techniques you must know to become an adult, but depending on the item, there will be changes. Q: What is the main difference between the child and adult Link? Miyamoto: First, there's size (laughs). Sword fighting with the adult Link is more fun since he has had plenty of practice. Also, since Link's height is different, it affects where he can climb. But what's the MAIN difference? Perhaps magic, since you can only use it when Link is an adult. Q: What is the connection between Link and Princess Zelda this time? Miyamoto: I can't really tell you in any detail since it has to do with the story. There is no romantic "Link" in this game, so let's say it has to do with the Triforce. Link's lineage also has something to do with it. Q: What role does the Triforce play in this game? Miyamoto: Uhh, again I can't really expound on this. Suffice to say it's the ultimate item. Q: Who decided the name of Hyrule? Miyamoto: Somebody chose the name out of the many sent in as suggestions. The name Hyrule was decided since the first Zelda. If you looked at the title screen, it read "Hyrule Fantasy." Q: Is there a ceremony to become officially part of the Kokili? Miyamoto: There isn't anything beyond the "Guardian Elf Bequeathal." Not particularly. Q: What did you model the era of Zelda on? Miyamoto: Even though Cowboy movies had somewhat of an influence, I brought some personal elements in as well. It's not about image, it's about creating realistic scenery. The background is just a paper maché set, so to make the background as realistic as possible, you need a theme. You have to be particular in order to have soil that looks like the real thing, or feel the change in time, or in temperature. Q: Has the graphic for Pou [the ghost in the Zelda series] changed from before? Miyamoto: He carries a lantern and wanders about, but other than this, nothing else. Q: Goma [the spider creature] also appeared in the last Zelda, right? Miyamoto: Ummm, he's changed a bit. Since he wouldn't look the same if we put him in 3D, the design had to change. He's certainly unpleasant, isn't he? We combined a crab with a bear to make him. It delivers alien-like eggs. It's gross. Q: Does Stalfos [the skeleton] wear boots? Miyamoto: Uhhh, yes he does. Graphically, he looks much better. Q: Do the same enemy characters differ in strength? Miyamoto: Depending on the extent of the weaponry, the strength differs. Q: How large is Dodongo [the dragon]? Miyamoto: He's extremely large. I think he's 65 feet long. He can see even though it looks like he has no eyes. Q: Are other boss characters just as large? Miyamoto: There are other humanoid boss characters, but fundamentally they are big. Q: How many boss characters are there? Miyamoto:Since there was a limit, I didn't make too many. I'd like to make over 10. Maybe 15 or 16. Q: What is that clam-like enemy in some of the pictures? Miyamoto: This is a monster called Dekubaba. He snaps at you! I crossed a dog with the snapping clam from Mario to make this villain. Q: Does each character have different weak points? Miyamoto: For example, if you attack Dekubaba's head while he's writhing on the ground, you can cut him at the joint. Just like harvesting rice. Q: Are there any unseen enemies? Miyamoto: Uhh, one of the items, "Eyeglasses of Truth," lets you see things that are normally unseen. You get the picture. Q: If you defeat an enemy, will it disappear? Miyamoto: Fundamentally, the enemy disappears where it was defeated. It would be cool if it remained, but if you trampled on it, it would be confusing, so it disappears instead. Q: Are there any enemies that can't be cut with a sword? Miyamoto: In general there are. I think it would be fun if small enemies would come out of the wound of a larger enemy. I'm thinking about small enemies. Q: What about Ganondorf? Miyamoto: The human form that Ganon is in before he transforms into a monster gradually changes. Q: Will there be blood in the game? Miyamoto: Blood? No, there won’t be blood. But there may be something else, like green body fluids. But that's pretty disgusting Q: Are there any enemies that ride on horses? Miyamoto:I think there might be a few. Q: How do you use the 3D stick? Miyamoto: It will go in the direction you press it (laughs). Fundamentally, it's much easier to understand than Mario. Of course, even the slightest touch of the 3D stick will cause Link to move. You can also use the 3D stick for aiming at things. It feels like you are personally moving along in this world. Q: What about the R-Button? Miyamoto: This button lets you use your shield. While holding it down, it will raise your shield. Q: What other uses does the shield have? Miyamoto: During battle, you use it as you would a normal shield. There is also a special use that must remain secret for now. Q: What about the Z-Trigger button? Miyamoto: This is the "attention" button. This will be fundamental for 3D action games from now on. For example, if there is something you thought you'd want to see, press "attention" and you'll automatically "lock on" to the item in question. If you press it while moving, the scenery will rotate while you watch. When you fight with a sword, you can hit an enemy by pressing the "attention" button. You can view anything with the "attention." Q: What about the C-Button unit? Miyamoto: This is also important. Just as in Mario, it changes your point of view. The other three can each preset items. For example, if you select the bow and arrow on the menu screen with the cursor and you press this button, it will set up the bow and arrow. You can set up 3 separate things, and freely change them as well. Q: What about the B-Button? Miyamoto: This is the action button. On the top of the screen there is a green colored circle that contains the name of something, and the action button lets you use that item. If a display onscreen says it's necessary to dash, press this to dash. Q: What about the A-Button? Miyamoto: Normally, it will unsheathe your sword. When you have Ocarina, a low sound will emit. Q: Can you build up and cut off your power? Miyamoto: Just like the SNES Zelda, if you hold down the A button for a little bit, your power will accumulate, and if you let go of it it will cut off the power. Q: Are there any special ways to use the sword? Miyamoto: A sword can be used in both hands, so the way in which you slash will be different than holding a single sword. If both hands are occupied, you can't use the shield. Q: What other attack methods do you have beside the sword? Miyamoto: You can use magic or items to attack. There are a lot of missile weapons like arrows and pachinko balls. There are also hammers and staffs, as well as "hook shots." Q: Can you use the directional pad? Miyamoto: No, you can't. Q: What about the L-Button? Miyamoto: This is only used for "option." Q: What about jumping? Miyamoto: Since Nintendo was the first company to make a game with a jumping ability, we were moved to try something new, so this game will have a "full auto jump." Even if the player doesn't press the jump button, s/he can still jump. Is this an epoch-making event? The jump will depend on your character's speed and the topographical features. If you want to jump, press the action button.

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