Miyamoto: MotionPlus-exclusive Zelda Wii a goal, minimum story for Galaxy 2

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto has been discussing a few important items pertaining to both Zelda Wii and Super Mario Galaxy 2. First, on the prospect of Link’s future outing on the Wii, Miyamoto has stated that the development team’s goal is to “make Wii MotionPlus required in order to play Zelda.” Miyamoto had mentioned at his E3 round table that a MotionPlus-exclusive Zelda title was being considered, but nothing is concrete for now. However, it really seems as though Nintendo could take a similar path as Ubisoft’s Red Steel 2 in that you will need MotionPlus to play Zelda Wii.

“The goal at this point is that we would make Wii MotionPlus required in order to play Zelda. The bigger hurdle for us is not really whether people have a Wii MotionPlus or don’t have it, it’s whether or not the experience is one where people will think they want to have a Wii Motion Plus in order to experience it. There may be a group of people out there who look at people playing motion control games and have a hesitancy to try to play those because they’re worried that they might not look so cool, swinging a Wii remote around. But in watching people play New Super Mario Bros. Wii, even though it’s just a simple shaking motion, I’m watching people play (it) with a big grin on their face. So I’m hoping that we might be able to create a similar-feeling experience for Zelda.

Another point brought up by Miyamoto is that Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be light in terms of the storyline. Whereas the first game possessed a fairly deep story with Rosalina’s origins, it was explained that “there won’t be a need for as deep a story” in the sequel.

“I’d like to go with as little story as possible. I’ve always felt that the Mario games themselves aren’t particularly suited to having a very heavy story…I just feel that the Mario games are something that should be a much more bright and active experience,” he said. “With the Mario games, you don’t need to have such a complicated setting where you have these particular characters with complicated backstories that can weigh down the bright and fun feel of the game…Mr. Koizumi is the type of person who, whenever we’re working on a new Mario game, he always wants to bring more story elements into it, as he did with Super Mario Galaxy. But in talking with him this time, he agrees and feels that with Galaxy 2, there won’t be a need for as deep of a story. I think you did see a person carved out of a tree stump in the trailer. That person has a bit of a story.”

Source 1, Source 2

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