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Metareview: Link’s Crossbow Training

November 21st, 2007 by Eric Caoili

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Four quick explanations for why we're using this lounging lizard for the metareview's post image:
  1. Uh, he's green. Just like Link.
  2. As you can tell from his pose, he's not too impressed with Link's Crossbow Training.
  3. Look at the damn guy. Do we really need to explain ourselves? We wish we could do a metareview on the lizard instead.
  4. Consider the lizard a bonus that we're throwing in with this metareview bundle.
Priced ridiculously low at $20, Nintendo's Zapper bundle seems like an easy buy for most gamers, but for those of you who're waiting for impressions on its pack-in game, Link's Crossbow Training, we've got you covered.

GameDaily -- 80%: While GameDaily feels there's enough in there to keep you playing longer than just an hour or two, the reviewer still wishes there was more to the game: "Although it doesn't have as many options (Practice, four person multiplayer) as Nintendo's famous pack-in, Wii Sports, Crossbow Training will keep you entertained for hours, especially if you love Zelda. And yet, it could have been so much better. Had the developers programmed online leader boards, millions of trigger happy gamers could compete with each other for the best scores."

IGN -- 70%: IGN disagrees and says there's less than an hour's worth of content, but is willing to forgive the game due to its cheap price: "Lasting Appeal: Over in less than an hour. A two-player mode cannot be played simultaneously. Even getting all platinums in levels is not overly difficult. But again, it's only $19.99."

NintendoWorldReport -- 60%: NWR also has some complaints with Link's Crossbow Training's "multiplayer" support: "The game also features a multiplayer mode that misses on almost every level. Up to four players can be chosen, and then any one level can be chosen. Players then pass the Zapper around as they each play the stage alone. This passive multiplayer would make sense if they were doing it to maintain the integrity of high scores, but high scores aren't even recorded when playing in this mode. Overall, just don't expect the game to be a huge party hit, as most of the people will be sitting and watching, awaiting their turns."
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Wii Zapper gets unboxed

November 13th, 2007 by David Hinkle

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For those of you who've been dying to get your hands on the real new Wii Zapper, feast you eyes on these lovely unboxing pictures. Uploaded by flickr user Marvie_3, we get some nice shots of the Wii Zapper itself, as well as the bundled Link's Crossbow Training. So, put your bib on, grab a tasty beverage and get comfortable, because you've got some drooling to do.

Who plans on picking this thing up next week?

[Via Go Nintendo]
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New Link’s Crossbow Training screens show us old haunts

October 30th, 2007 by Candace Savino

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Those of you salivating for a quick dose of Link's Crossbow Training, fret no more! New screens have arrived, for your viewing pleasure. The quality of these shots aren't as nice as the ones we previously showed you, but you can get the gist of the game.

For the most part, you're put in Twilight Princess environments (like the Snowpeak Ruins, shown above). This makes sense, considering the game is only a pack-in using the Twilight Princess engine, but it might not be enough to inspire Europeans to shell out the extra cash for a zapper. We suppose only time will tell.
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Europeans to pay double for Zapper this December

October 26th, 2007 by Eric Caoili

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Though some would argue that €30 (approximately $43, thanks to the devalued US dollar) isn't much to ask for Nintendo's official Wii Zapper and Link's Crossbow Training, when the same bundle will be selling for less than half that in North America, Nintendo of Europe's price point starts to sound like a rip-off.

But that's how much Europeans can expect to pay if they hope to pick up the Wii Zapper set. According to NintendojoFR, the overpriced accessory ships out this December 8th, just in time to rob you before the holiday season. For those of you in the US and planning to pick it up for $20 this November 19th, would you spend $43 on the bundle?
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Link’s Crossbow Training trailer hits the mark

October 15th, 2007 by Eric Caoili

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We have no idea why Nintendo decided to use house music for this Link's Crossbow Training trailer, but if it bothers you that much, you could always just turn down the volume on the Flash video player and make "pew pew" noises, like we did, to go along with the action instead.

The minute-long clip has a lot of scenes recognizable from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but they've been refitted to accomodate the new Wii Zapper and Link's mounted bow. You'll be able to shoot birds flying overhead, Duck Hunt style, and gun down a line of Stalfoses in the pack-in game's three different modes; let's just hope that this synth-heavy song won't be included on the soundtrack when the bundle shows up at stores this November 19th.

[Via Kotaku]
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Link’s Crossbow Training aims screenshots at your eyes

October 12th, 2007 by JC Fletcher

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GoNintendo posted some new screens of the game that's riding along with the Zapper "peripheral", Link's Crossbow Training. And this shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given its provenance, but it looks a whole lot like Twilight Princess!

In these screens, we can see the "Stalfos Defender" game, which looks pretty much like anyone would imagine it: a bunch of Stalfoses walk up to you crossbowably, and you shoot them-- with a crossbow. Other events depicted include a balloon-shooting game, a bird-shooting game, and, of course, the game in which you shoot Gorons in the junk. Basically, if it's in Twilight Princess, and it doesn't seem like it would enjoy being crossbowed, you can crossbow it in this game. We can get behind a concept like that.



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American Nintendo Media Summit reveals Crossbow Training details

October 11th, 2007 by JC Fletcher

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IGN editors and other not-us members of the press are at the American equivalent to yesterday's crazy megaton-tastic Nintendo conference, and they thoughtfully liveblogged the presentation for the rest of us.

It sounds like they're embargoed against revealing too much or publishing detailed videos, which means that, for now, we've got textual reports of the news. Luckily, most of the event consists of a Smash Bros. gameplay demo, which we don't really need to talk about in detail. Guys are playing Brawl! UPDATE: They are enjoying themselves! There's also a short demo of Super Mario Galaxy in much the same vein.

The newest news is about the Zapper pack-in Link's Crossbow Training, about which we formerly knew almost nothing, and now know some things. Matt Casamassina mentions in passing that the game will feature "Score attack. Multiplayer, etc." though it isn't known if this is true for all of the game's modes or only for certain exercises.

One gametype is based on the Ordon Target Training sequence in Twilight Princess, and rewards you for shooting targets while penalizing you for shooting chickens. The "Defender" mode is actually called Stalfos defenders, and has Link defending against skeletal Stalfoses by, well, shooting them with a crossbow.


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Wii Zapper and Link’s Crossbow Training packaging, details

September 21st, 2007 by Eric Caoili

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Along with releasing a boxart preview of its upcoming Wii Zapper (due 11/19/07), Nintendo also shed some light on its bundled game, Link's Crossbow Training, earlier today. The shooter will have 27 stages in total over three different modes -- Target Shooting, Defender, and Ranger -- all of them multiplayer, but played one at a time.

Target Shooting plays as expected, asking you to hit bull's-eyes as they pop up and move around the screen. Defender pits you against a variety of enemies charging towards you from all directions; you can to aim off screen to turn Link and face your attackers. While playing in the Ranger mode, you can actually move Link by using the nunchuck's control stick, exploring and fighting your way through the different missions.

Blast past the post break for close-up shots of the Wii Zapper logo and the Link's Crossbow Training bit.





[Via Press Release]
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WRUP: Pew pew edition

January 1st, 1970 by David Hinkle

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Many of you are probably rocking your Wii Zapper (hopefully gunning down some zombies), but there are also other releases to be considered this week. There's just so much to play right now! So, you can imagine our weekend is going to be chock full of game time.

What about you? What game (or games) will you be rocking? Did you get a Zapper?
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