Link’s Crossbow Training – Details

Link’s Crossbow Training is the newest title featuring our favorite Hyrulian, Link. The thought of this shooting-gallery style game brings back memories of mini-games past that were included in previous Zelda games. But, what can we expect from this new adventure? Will we be hitting moving targets, balloons, ducks or more evil looking creatures? Will we be hitting anything familiar to our memories? You are about to find out because today we received all the gory details on Link’s Crossbow Training for the Wii which comes packaged with or without the Wii Zapper.

With dozens of stages including shooting stationary targets and defending a supply wagon from onrushing hordes of enemies (didn’t we already have to deal with that one in TP?), the game also includes multiplayer modes where you can share the Wii Zapper to shoot for the high score.

Requiring both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, they are housed in the same frame where the control stick on the Nunchuk controls player movement and aiming the Wii Zapper moves the targeting reticule on the screen. Pulling the trigger fires Link’s crossbow and by aiming off screen, players can turn Link to face in a new direction. These actions are only for stages that allow Link to move about. Now that we have the workings of the Zapper out of the way, we can get to the real reason you are reading this….game info!

MORE AFTER THE BREAK 

Link’s Crossbow Training has three basic game styles: defender, ranger, and target shooting. There are 27 stages in total, and these categories represent only generally how each individual stage operates. Each stage’s goal is to earn the highest score possible within the time limit. All rounds can be played with multiple players: Players pass the Wii Zapper around and then play one at a time and compete for the high score.

Here are the three game styles:

Defender: In defender rounds, players remain stationary but can look and aim in all directions – sometimes even in a full 360 degrees – by aiming off screen. Hordes of enemies assault Link, and he must fight them off. These battles have a great deal of variety, from fighting off skeletons in a desert to defending a wagon from boar-riding Bokoblins.
Ranger: In ranger rounds, players can move throughout the level using the control stick and aim anywhere they want by aiming the Wii Zapper wherever they want to look. In these missions, Link storms enemy encampments, fights his way through a forest and seeks out his foes while exploring the environments.

Target Shooting: In target-shooting rounds, players shoot bull’s-eyes as they pop up on the screen. In early stages, targets are stationary. As the game difficulty increases in later levels, the targets move. Hitting the center of the bull’s-eye nets more points, and hitting targets in succession without missing earns combo multipliers. Link can aim anywhere on the screen.

Look for the Wii Zapper and Link’s Crossbow Training (bundled and stand alone) in North American stores on November 19th and check back often for updates.