The Legend of Zelda: Crystal Fantasy

The Legend of Zelda: Crystal Fantasy is an upcoming action-adventure game set to release for the Wii U in 2018. It will be the 19th entry of The Legend of Zelda series. It will be primarily developed by Nintendo EAD with co-production by CCs Studios and published by Nintendo. As with all of the main Zelda titles since Skyward Sword, this title in the series would continue to challenge the traditional conventions of the series. Similar to Skyward Sword for the Wii, the game is being developed as Nintendo EAD's "swan song" for the Wii U.
==Story==
Being world travelers for thirteen years, Link and Ganondorf decide to head back to their home country, the kingdom of Hyrule, before continuing with their travels. However, they discover that Hyrule is on the brink of destruction again as the Demon King of old, Demise, broke the seal in the Master Sword that imprisoned him and escaped to seek out the Triforce and take the world for his own. In a tragic turn of events, Ganondorf gets possessed by Demise in the process. Link's childhood friend, Princess Zelda, leads him to the Master Sword to help track down the Ganondorf and eradicate Demise. A mysterious motorcycle called the Master Cycle appears from the Master Sword to help guide Link on his quest.
==Game Information==
===Game Controls===
Crystal Fantasy uses a similar gameplay controls shown in The Wind Waker HD and The Legend of Zelda for Wii U where the game makes use of the Wii U GamePad. The Wii U GamePad allows access to Link's gear which gives an overview of Link's main items such as the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield, Link's item inventory which includes items such as bombs and the boomerang, and the map in which beacons can be placed on using the touchscreen. There is also a toggle switch on the GamePad which switches from inventories to a first person perspective exclusively on the GamePad, using gyro sensors to control the camera.
The A button controls context-sensitive actions and makes Link sprint while running. While running, a roll attack could be executed by shaking the GamePad. The sword is mapped to the B button, bottles and other miscellaneous items are mapped to the Y button, and the shield is mapped to the R button. Like in Skyward Sword, there is only one button assigned for weapons such as bombs and the boomerang which is the X button. The Quick Equip feature from A Link Between Worlds returns by holding the X button and quickly scroll through available items. The L button is used for L-Targeting, the R button raises Link's shield, ZL makes use of the bow, and ZR is used for crouching. The D-Pad calls the assistance of the Master Cycle similar to companions in past entries such as Midna and Fi.
===Abilities===
Several features from Skyward Sword return, including the stamina gauge which is used up when Link performs tasks with great effort such as roll attacks and spin attacks and can be replenished with items such as Stamina Fruit and potions. The shield gauge also returns which gives players more strategic uses when guarding.
One of the new maneuvers Link can perform include wall kicking which uses up stamina. This can be performed by running up a wall and kicking off of it using the A button.
===Master Cycle===
The Master Cycle, a motorcycle themed after The Legend of Zelda series which debuted in Mario Kart 8, will play a prominent role in the game, gameplay and plot-wise. The Master Cycle is a part of the Master Sword and can be summoned once Link gains the legendary sword. Much like Epona in the upcoming Zelda title for Wii U, the Master Cycle would be on semi-autopilot and would avoid obvious obstacles such as trees, due to the motorcycle being modeled after the horse. This would leave room for Link to swing his sword and shoot arrows. In addition, much like in Mario Kart games, Link will be able to drift using R or ZR.
===Setting===
To make the Master Cycle seem relevant to its setting, Crystal Fantasy will provide a first glimpse of a more technology-driven Hyrule, although it appears that the technology is still powered through magic itself, including the Master Cycle. Hyrule in this game is also different in terms of how the landscape is formed with similarities drawn from the Xenoblade Chronicles series, specifically in mountainous areas. There are also a handful of areas in Hyrule where the laws of gravity are defied and would come into gameplay much like in Super Mario Galaxy. This is mostly seen with various islands and rocks floating above Hyrule; a few of them even capable of having houses similar to the Sky and Skyloft in Skyward Sword.
Much like other Zelda games, the game contains a second world to explore in. Named the "Crystal Realm," this mysterious realm is made up of shining crystalline structures with an atmosphere colored with a variety of hues of blue, looking somewhat similar to the Silent Realm in Skyward Sword. Weirdly enough, creatures normally seen as enemies in Hyrule are depicted as regular citizens in this realm that Link can interact with like any other side characters. The reason enemies in the Crystal Realm act like normal citizens are tied to the main story of this game.
===Timeline Placement===
Crystal Fantasy was meant to be left ambiguous as to where the game takes place in the timeline with the only clue being that the game takes place after Skyward Sword. However, it was later confirmed that the game takes place centuries after Four Swords Adventures in the child timeline.
There are many references to Skyward Sword, despite Crystal Fantasy and the aforementioned game placed millenniums apart from each other in the official timeline. The prologue of Crystal Fantasy tells the story of Skyward Sword including a brief summary of Skyward Sword's own prologue at the beginning. The main story of Crystal Fantasy also references a few key characters from the that game.
Additionally, the Master Sword becomes the very central plot point of both games, the Ballad of the Goddess from Skyward Sword would also be the main theme of this game, and both games' logos are similar; both depicting the Zelda logo as red with similar fonts for its subtitle in the same color as well as the Hylian Crest with the Triforce depicted in the background with vegetation growing on it. With this in mind, Crystal Fantasy is often considered a very indirect follow up to Skyward Sword.
==Characters==
===Main Characters===
Zelda-CrystalFantasy.png|concept art of Princess Zelda's appearance in Crystal Fantasy
Link-CrystalFantasy.png|concept art of Link's appearance in Crystal Fantasy
Ganondorf-CrystalFantasy.png|concept art of Ganondorf's appearance in Crystal Fantasy
* Link: He is a twenty-one year old world traveler who has traveled with his main companion, Ganondorf, after his parents was murdered by Demise from a previous outbreak when he was eight. As they both traveled the world, Ganondorf has taught him to become a well-rounded sword fighter and an archer. He possesses the Triforce of Courage which leads him to wield the Master Sword and save Hyrule from destruction once again.
* Princess Zelda: She is the eighteen year old Princess of Hyrule who is next in line of ruling Hyrule after her father. She was childhood friends with Link before Link disappeared from her life at the age of five. She possesses the Triforce of Wisdom which helps lead Link to the Master Sword.
* Ganondorf: He is a fifty year old Gerudo who acts as one of Hyrule's diplomats and thus is good friends with the King of Hyrule and Link's parents. Wielding the Triforce of Power, he was the one who fought off Demise when he broke out of his seal at a point prior to the main story before he resealed the Demon King back into the Master Sword. Unfortunately when the seal on Demise broke again, he got possessed by the Demon King as a vessel.
* Demise: He is the fabled Demon King from legends ago who wanted to take the Triforce and rule the world for himself. At a point before the story, the seal on him broke and rampaged throughout the kingdom before Ganondorf was able to reseal him inside the Master Sword. However thirteen years later, he broke out of his seal and would once again take the Triforce and rule the world for himself.
* Master Cycle: This mysterious magical motorcycle appears from the Master Sword and acts as Link's main companion throughout the story. Seemingly programmed with one focus, the Master Cycle guides Link with the final eradication of Demise. However, there seems to be more to this mystic vehicle than what was previously known about it.
===Secondary Characters===
* King of Hyrule: He is the current ruler of Hyrule and the father of Princess Zelda. He is good friends with Ganondorf and is well acquainted with Link as he used to play around the castle with his daughter.
* Link's parents: Link's parents were good friends with Ganondorf as he was in frequent contact with them since they were young adults. They owned a farm and grew a large portion of Hyrule's crops. However, they were murdered by Demise's previous outbreak from the Master Sword and their son was left in the hands of Ganondorf when he was resealed.
===Other Prominent Supporting Characters===
* Talon: After Ganondorf took Link under his care when they left Hyrule, Link's old farm was left in the hands of Talon and renamed it Lon Lon Ranch. He kept the farm as it was and still does the same hard work as Link's parents had done. Throughout the years before Link and Ganondorf returned to Hyrule, he bred special cows able to produce special Premium Milk and opened up a Milk Bar in Hyrule Town.
* Malon: She is the daughter of Talon. She appears to have a special connection to the animals in Lon Lon Ranch. Link entrusts his horse, Epona, to her for the majority of the story as he uses the Master Cycle in her stead. However, there are various times when Link can temporarily ride on Epona again.
==Trivia==
* This is the first time in the series when something from another franchise plays a vital role in a Zelda game story-wise. In this case, it is the Master Cycle vehicle from the Mario Kart series.
* This would be the third game where all territories share the exact same subtitle after Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword.
* This is the first 3D home console Zelda title to share a main theme with another 3D home console title. In this case, Crystal Fantasy reuses Ballad of the Goddess from Skyward Sword.
** This would also be the second 3D home console Zelda entry to use The Legend of Zelda theme in parts of the overworld after Majora's Mask. Additionally, the added verse first found in Link's Awakening is also heard for the first time since the Oracle games seventeen years ago.
* This is the first game to feature two prologues to the story; one telling the story of Skyward Sword before the main title screen and one focusing on Link's point of view of Demise's outbreak thirteen years prior to the main story after the player creates a new file.
** Additionally, this is the first time in a Zelda game where a prologue is playable. The second prologue features playable segments with players taking on the control of a younger Link who is eight years old at this time.
*** This would mean that this is the second game after Ocarina of Time to feature a playable young Link and an adult Link in the same game. Additionally, this game features both the youngest and oldest playable Link in any Zelda game to date.
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