Tuesday 05 Feb 2008

Link’s Crossbow Training is founded upon a simplistic idea that has resulted in a simplistic game, but one that is packed full of great game play promising hours of competitive fun.

Set in the Hyrule realm from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, this shooting-gallery-style game sees players stepping into the shoes of hero Link to guide him through a series of crossbow shooting tasks.

First off it is necessary to point out that the game is bundled with the latest accessory for the Wii, the Wii Zapper. The Wii Remote and Nunchuk fit snugly inside this gun-like apparatus (with the Nunchuk’s chord wrapped safely inside a handy compartment) and voila, you can play arcade style games in your living room. The Wii Remote slides on top of the gun, the barrel as it were, while the Nunchuk forms the gun handle. There is a grip beneath the barrel for your right hand, while your left hand wraps around the lower handle and the Nunchuk. Both the Wii Zapper and the game retail for a very competitive $20.

Point and shoot

The controls of the game are simple and intuitive, although it may take a few stages to really familiarise yourself with the new control scheme and get optimal performance from the Wii Zapper. Despite the Wii Zapper becoming a little heavy after a time, there is something that just feels right about using it to aim and shoot Link’s crossbow with. I can only imagine that upcoming titles that are compatible with the Wii Zapper (such as Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Ghost Squad, Medal of Honour Heroes 2 and, my personal favourite, House of the Dead 2 & 3 Returns) will have improved on the Zapper formula and blow our minds away.

This really is a game that, for me, defines the pick-up-and-play genre. Simply pull the trigger button on the front handle to shoot and point the Wii Zapper in the direction you want Link to move. Aim off screen to turn Link in a new direction. Some stages require you to use the Nunchuk as well, with Z being used to zoom and the control stick used to move Link in every direction.

Levels galore

The game consists of 27 stages within the 9 levels. Each level has three stages where Link takes on the role of target shooter, defender and ranger. Gamers of different skills will be able to enjoy this game and it is clear right from the start that you can get out of this game what you want to. Each stage has a time limit within which Link must complete the task and points are awarded based on accuracy. For instance, you can collect points from shooting the targets but can earn more points for consecutive hits. You can also collect extra points for hitting various other objects such as pots and signs. Keep an eye out for that lucrative gold coin but watch out for that hive! It may also be helpful to note that you can release an exploding arrow after holding the trigger button down for a few seconds and that hitting the bulls-eye on the targets increase your score.

Target shooting is what the name suggests, with the targets becoming harder to hit as you progress in the game, some moving and some earning you negative score. Defender sees Link defending familiar Twilight Princess locations, such as Hyrule Castle and Ordon, against enemies that will be familiar to Zelda fans including Keese and White Wolfos. Link is stationary in these levels and players will usually have to keep an eye on a radar system to help locate enemies who may be lurking 360 degrees around him, both on the ground and above!

Ranger Link

It is the Ranger levels that really shine in the game, and perhaps the game’s greatest failing point is that they are not longer. Ranger sees Link stepping into locations from the Twilight Princess. He must navigate through these in order to defeat a certain number of enemies within the time limit. Prepare to face Skulltullas, Goblins and Gorons even a few boss battles (I don’t want to ruin the plot completely!) before the game is over.

The tasks get progressively more difficult and sometimes you may have to enlist the help of the green power-up. This will bestow you with an automatic weapon for a limited time with which you can eliminate the hordes of enemies heading your way. As you progress in the game also take note that certain targets may deliver negative points and that you will be penalised if you hit the unlucky creatures who are carrying targets…or enemies.

It would be amiss of me to not point out that the graphics in this game are top-notch, how could they not be when they are taken directly from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The accompanying Zelda-themed music is equally as beautiful and, combined with the stunning scenes, you may just find yourself being so enthralled with the surroundings that you miss a few targets completely.

The attention to detail, as is the case in any Zelda game, is phenomenal - from Link’s footsteps crunching the snow to your arrows reflecting off enemies’ shields and Epona’s hooves falling as the day fades and night covers the Twilight realm.

Of modes and medals

There are three game modes, these being Score Attack, Multiplayer and Practice. Score Attack enables players to load their Mii’s details (with a maximum of eight Miis) before heading off into the game. Multiplayer enables up to four players to compete in a turn-based game that follows the same stages and levels from Score Attack while Practice unsurprisingly lets you practice every stage and level.

There are four medals which players can earn, these being the usual suspects – bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Players must meet a minimum score (bronze medal) to unlock the next level. These medals mean that you will find yourself wanting to retry each level to better your score or beat your friend’s score. Adding to the competitive side of the game is that up to four players can join in the fun. Each level can be completed with four friends passing the Wii Remote between one another. However, the lack of a simultaneous multiplayer mode is disappointing and takes a lot away from the game play.

Once you pop the disc in you will notice that only three stages are open, you will need to play though them and score the minimum bronze medal on each stage to unlock the next stage and proceed in the game.

It is not a long game and most gamers will probably play it through in roughly two hours, depending on how good a crack-shot you are. However, you will enjoy the multiplayer aspect of this game for many hours to come, much like Wii Sports and Wii Play. The real beauty of the game is that you will find you will want to immerse yourself in the Twilight Princess realm, either for the first time or to return again to this wondrous world created for us.

Pros: Great price; simple pick-up-and-play style; short mini-games; fun but challenging; competitive multiplayer.

Cons: No simultaneous multiplayer; too short.

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Contributor:	Lisa

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