Over the past couple of weeks, Famitsu and 4Gamer both conducted interviews with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild director Hidemaro Fujibayashi. A lot of what was said has been covered extensively in previous interviews with Shigeru Miyamoto and series producer Eiji Aonua, but there were still some noteworthy excerpts. This was also one of the first times that we actually heard from Fujibayashi about the game.
According to Fujibayashi, the developers’ main goal was to break conventions, but they weren’t sure how far they should go to do so. During development, they took a look at what was core to Zelda games, and decided it was the sense of relief you feel after solving a puzzle. So with that as a base, they tried bringing dungeon gameplay to the field, and field gameplay to the dungeons. Puzzles were created with certain solutions in mind, but left open to the possibility of being solved by using other methods. They tried to fix the parts of puzzle-solving people found boring while keeping the interesting parts intact, and changed anything they saw as “standard” to be “nonstandard.”
Below are the latest Nintendo products that can be currently pre-ordered at retailers:
* Save 20 percent on pre-orders with Amazon Prime or Best Buy’s GCU. 20 percent off pre-orders on Amazon Canada as well. On Amazon UK, it’s £2 off.
United States
Switch
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass – Amazon
Super Bomberman R – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
1-2-Switch – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ – Amazon, GameStop
Skylanders Imaginators – Amazon, GameStop
Just Dance 2017 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Has Been Heroes – GameStop
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Puyo Puyo Tetris – Amazon, GameStop
LEGO City Undercover – Amazon, GameStop
Disgaea 5 Complete – Amazon
Arms – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Sonic Mania Collector’s Edition (new) – GameStop
Splatoon 2 – Amazon, Best Buy, Splatoon
NBA 2K18 – Amazon, Best Buy
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Amazon, Best Buy
Fire Emblem Warriors – Amazon, Best Buy
Super Mario Odyssey – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Amazon, Best Buy
FIFA – Amazon, Best Buy
Minecraft: Switch Edition – Amazon, Best Buy
Redout – Amazon, GameStop
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 – Amazon, Best Buy
Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Adventure – GameStop
Switch add-ons
Switch Pro Controller – Best Buy, GameStop
Joy-Con (L/R) – Gray – Amazon
Joy-Con (L) – Gray – Amazon
AC adapter – Amazon
Switch accessories
Switch Hybrid Cover – Amazon
Switch Game Traveler Deluxe System Case – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Elite Player Backpack – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Starter Kit – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Console Case – Zelda Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Secure Game Case – Mario Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Secure Game Case – Zelda Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Official Play & Charge Car Adapter – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Starter Kit – Mario Icon Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Zelda Chat Earbuds – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Gel Guards – Red – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Gel Guards – Blue – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Gel Guards – Gray – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Armor Guards (2) Pack – Red – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Armor Guards (2) Pack – Blue – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Console Case – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Deluxe Game Case – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Console Case – Zelda Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Zelda Collector’s Edition Screen Protection & Skins – Amazon
PDP Afterglow LVL 1 Chat Communicator for Nintendo Switch – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Starter Kit – Link’s Tunic Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Console Case – Mario Edition – Amazon
HORI Game Card Case 24 (Zelda Breath of the Wild Version) – Amazon
HORI Tough Pouch (Black) – Amazon
HORI Game Card Case 24 – Amazon
HORI Compact Playstand – Amazon
Wii U
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Amazon
, Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass – Amazon
Darksiders Warmastered Edition – Amazon
3DS
Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (pre-order for capybara plushie) – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Mario Sports Superstars – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Runbow Pocket Deluxe Edition – New 3DS only – Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia – Amazon, GameStop
Farming Simulator 18 (new) – Amazon
RPG Maker Fes (new) – Amazon
Culdcept Revolt (new) – Amazon
Fire Emblem Warriors – Amazon, GameStop
amiibo
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Link (Rider) – Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Link (Archer) – Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Zelda – Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Bokoblin – Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Guardian – Best Buy, GameStop
Mario Sports Superstars amiibo cards (new) – Amazon
Fire Emblem Echoes – Alm & Celica – Best Buy
Accessories
Retro Fighters Pro NES Controller to NES Classic Edition Adapter – Amazon
Books
Pokemon Sun/Moon: Alola Region Collector’s Edition Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide – Amazon
Pokemon Sun/Moon: Alola Region Edition Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide – Amazon
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Collector’s Edition guide – Amazon (save $16)
Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide – Amazon (save $10)
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 3 – Amazon
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 1 – Amazon
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 4 – Amazon
The Art of Splatoon – Amazon
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 5 Amazon
Other
Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Link Nendoroid (Deluxe Version) – Amazon
Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Link Nendoroid – Amazon
Canada
Switch
Zelda: Breath of the Wild
1-2-Switch
Super Bomberman R
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+
Skylanders Imaginators
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
LEGO City Undercover
Disgaea 5 Complete
Arms
Splatoon 2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Fire Emblem Warriors
Super Mario Odyssey
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
FIFA
Redout
Switch add-ons
AC adapter
Joy-Con (L/R) – Grey
Joy-Con (L) – Grey
Joy-Con (R) – Grey
Joy-Con (L/R) – Neon Red
Joy-Con Strap (Grey)
Switch accessories
PDP Switch accessories
HORI Switch accesories
Wii U
Darksiders Warmastered Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
3DS
Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns
Mario Sports Superstars (with amiibo card)
Runbow Pocket Deluxe Edition – New 3DS only
RPG Maker Fes (new)
Culdcept Revolt (new)
amiibo
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Link (Rider)
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Link (Archer)
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Zelda
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Bokoblin
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Guardian
Books
The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts
Pokemon Sun/Moon: Alola Region Collector’s Edition Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide
Pokemon Sun/Moon: Alola Region Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Collector’s Edition guide (save $20)
Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide (save $13)
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 3
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 1
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 4
Art of Splatoon
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 5
UK
Switch
Zelda: Breath of the Wild
1-2-Switch
Super Bomberman R
Skylanders Imaginators
Just Dance 2017
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
LEGO City Undercover
Disgaea 5 Complete
Arms
Splatoon 2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Super Mario Odyssey
Fire Emblem Warriors
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
FIFA
Switch add-ons
Switch Pro Controller
Joy-Con Wheel Pair
Joy-Con Charging Grip
Joy-Con (L) – Grey
Joy-Con (R) – Grey
Joy-Con strap (Neon Blue)
Joy-Con strap (Neon Red)
Joy-Con strap (Grey)
Accessory set
AC adapter
Switch accessories
Wii U
Darksiders Warmastered Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
3DS
Mario Sports Superstars (with amiibo card)
Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits
Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleeshy Souls
Systems
amiibo
Mario Sports Superstars amiibo cards
Books
Pokemon Sun/Moon: Alola Region Collector’s Edition Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide
Pokemon Sun/Moon: Alola Region Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide
Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide – standard
Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide – Collector’s Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 1
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 3
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 4
Art of Splatoon
Super Mario Encyclopedia
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 5
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove will be ready for Switch’s launch on Friday. On Twitter, Yacht Club Games shared the official file size. It’ll take up 147 MB when installed.
Update: Added in Sunday’s updates.
Nintendo Badge Arcade has been receiving daily updates since heading to the 3DS eShop. Because it’s continually updated with content, we’re rounding up all of the additions and changes in a weekly post.
Here’s what’s on tap for the week of February 20:
February 20
– 15 Kirby panels
– 7 Pokemon panels (1 with 1 day left, 1 with 2 days left)
– 8 Fire Emblem panels
– 1 free play
1-2-Switch will be sold at retail on March 3, but a digital option will also be available. If you’re going for the latter option, keep in mind that the game takes up 1.3 GB of space.
This isn’t the only file szie we have for a Switch title. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes up 13.4 GB, for instance. Other file sizes are located here.
E3 2017 is still a few months away, but preliminary floor plans are already online. Nintendo once again looks to have three booths in the West Hall. The big N is estimated to have reserved 32,000 sq ft total.
Here are a few other floor plans:
GiantBomb has shared another 21 minutes of footage from Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. Take a look at the latest gameplay video below.
Retailers in Japan are beginning to carry what seem to be new designs for eShop cards. They all have the red / white Nintendo logo as well as a potentially new render of Peach.
We also have another look at the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe box. That includes a look at the back of the packaging.
Thanks to NintendoPSX for the tip.
It’s a big day for 3DS. Way back on February 26, 2011, the handheld debuted in Japan. That makes the 3DS six years old.
3DS still has life in it all of these years later, as Nintendo continues to produce software for the system. On top of that, there are apparently plans for 2018 as well. So while Switch approaches and also offers portable functionality, 3DS appears to be here to stay… at least for now. Mario Sports Superstars, Pikmin, and Ever Oasis are among the titles to look forward to this year.
We’ve mentioned in our hands-on preview of the Switch hardware that the system is very quick. Turning the system on and off only takes a couple of seconds. For Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the boot process is also short while closing it essentially happens right away.
