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Miyamoto Interview: Skyward Sword Perfect Game for Casual Players?

ConnorDecember 31st, 2011 by Connor

Recently, a Q&A interview with Shigeru Miyamoto was posted about the Wii and 3DS. None of it was Zelda-related, but if you want to read the whole thing, be sure to check it at MercuryNews.com. However, there was one thing we thought should of been pointed out and that was Miyamoto’s response to a question about the Wii and Skyward Sword. Although The Legend of Zelda series mainly focuses on intense gamers, according to Miyamoto, Skyward Sword was mostly aimed at casual gamers.

“To appeal to both is an idealistic thing. We are always trying to achieve that goal, but the fact of the matter is the Legend of Zelda franchise is known for its rather sophisticated game controls.”

Miyamoto goes on to say that in order for casual gamers to play Skyward Sword, he would have to make the controls less sophisticated and simpler to use.

With Skyward Sword we tried to make it simpler. You can control the movement of Link much more intuitively. I don’t know if I can say this is the perfect game for casual players, but I think we have come up with something attractive enough even for those players who have never played these sophisticated action games to understand their real attraction.”

I suppose getting more people to play games like Zelda is a good thing, but Nintendo are focusing too much on casual gamers and should really focus more on intense gamers because newer installments are getting far too easy and eventually boring. Let’s just hope the Wii-U brings out less easy games and more difficult games, just like the old days.

Let us here what you have to say in the comments below. Do you think Nintendo should focus more on intense gamers or stick with attracting more casual gamers?

Source: MercuryNews.com

Category: Skyward Sword
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  • Fused_Shadow19

    Skyward sword is great for casual gaming

  • shiekah

    Really, that is quite odd, since Skyward Sword is now being praised as the best zelda game by numerous die hard Zelda fans. If this is what Nintendo considers "casual", then what do they consider "hardcore"?

    • Fused_Shadow19

      the original legend of zelda?

    • Nano

      Zelda II?

      • unknownman

        ALTTP?

    • TriforceHermit

      The CD-i games? Every time I even see someone play them I cough up blood.

      • Me

        You might want to look up hardcore.

        • unknownman

          from dictionary.com hardcore means, unswervingly commited; uncompromising; dedicated

      • Heriod77777

        Yah, what do you call hardcore gamers? It did get a bit easy ( I am still not done yet though) later on after defeating the first Bokoblins. What I think would be hardcore is if they set Link against a army of Darknuts.

  • http:///http://www.zeldadungeon.net/ awsomeMrlink

    SS was supposed to be for casual players? I didn't know that(or I forgot……), I thought it was for Hardcore guys……It must have Demise that made me confused.

  • Krazy4Krash

    What we need are some games that provide a decent challenge.

    • Fused_Shadow19

      NO ARGUMENT.

    • gravendoom75

      like zelda 1 REMADE

    • cameron

      skyward sword was not easy you idiot.

      • Allen

        Wow, harsh. Skyward Sword was not easy but was not hard either. Then again the only hard Zelda to me was Majora. For some reason its dungeons were very challenging, and I have beat all 16 games. They are just very fun amazing story driven games.

      • TriforceHermit

        Whoa, what a minute! The normal mode is easy and for casual players. Hero mode is for intense players. They made their own system for both.

        • Heriod77777

          Yes, there may be Hero mode for intense players but they have to beat normal first which sets everything as old when in Hero mode unfortunately….

          • zeldaboy

            i beat ss and i still havent gotten around to playing hero mode because its going to be the same but just a little harder and kind of easier because i know where to go and how to get there they should have made it like oot 3d where it was harder and flipped around and they should make the games more like twilight princess because ss was a little to catoony

          • Twilight Sage

            thank you. Just, thank you good sir. I'm sick and tired of people downing TP, it was 1) A Great Game and 2) Had great graphics, I want a zelda with TP, "dark" visuals! That is the one thing i would change about SS

          • zeldaboy

            exactly

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Thareous Thareous

    I consider myself a casual player, though I enjoy games with varying degrees of difficulty a little more. Miyamoto-San deems making easier titles will probably draw in new fans, though here in the West more gamers appreciate challenge. Personally I'd want them to keep the difficulty to the same level as Skyward Sword, or go somewhat higher with it.

    • Heriod77777

      Same here! I would like it a lot more if they just had a bit more to explore and throw at me. But Skyward Sword is still my favorite game even though it could of been better.

    • bob

      Me two.I really can't order any collectables or buy any thing involing zelda, mainly because there expensive sometimes and i'm only 11

  • blacknight

    I'd like to see some more "master quests" in future zeldas. They can make the normal game as easy as they like as long as I can have my master quest.

    • ShadowCon

      I would agree, but only if we can get master quest straight away. I'd like to have a challenge right away rather than having to unlock it, personally. I feel like we should be able to decide from the start whether we're choosing the casual or hardcore route.

      • http://Zeldadungeon.net Spazyjosh

        How about this if you want to start on master quest it will take you to the last boss on normal if you can pass it on your first try it will let you start on hero maode but if you cant you have to play through on normal.

        • http://cakecrumbs.livejournal.com Dionysian

          Nice idea, but the spoiler factor would stop me from even trying the final boss.

    • guest

      I like that they added Master Quest to OoT when they re-released it. However, when they release new games I would rather have one long quest than two very similar ones where one has different puzzles and enemies.

      • zeldaboy

        if you look at oot 3d it flips it so you get lost alot more

    • zeldaboy

      like oot

  • Link and Cuccos

    I would like Nintendo to focus more on intense and challenging games, but Skyward Sword is by all means NOT a "casual" game.

    • ???

      Yes, you're right!

    • lonlonmilkman

      Its not a hard game, if anything its easy. The combat was not challenging almost everything could be overcome by the shield bash, including demise and the dowsing made exploration easy

  • bradley

    Skyward Sword is not a "casual" game by any means, but the graphics *****s are going to have a field day with this.

    • Heriod77777

      What do you mean?

      • bradley

        The graphics *****s and XBox fanboys.

  • Guest

    I think what Miyamoto was saying wasn't particularly that they're making games easier to appeal to casual gamers. What it sounded like to me was that games (like SS, for example), have more intuitive controls and are therefore more accessible for casual gamers. Intuitive, streamlined, and accessible games don't necessarily mean "easy."

    • guest

      You stole my name and my comment!

      jk

    • Me

      I think he was also trying to say that you don't have to be a diehard Zelda fan to truly enjoy Skyward Sword. Skyward Sword ended up being a game that anybody could play even if they didn't have any Zelda experience.

  • guest

    From what he is saying, it doesn't sound like he thinks SS is a casual game. Instead, he is saying that they were trying to introduce some elements that would draw in casual gamers.

  • Jason

    What the – come on man, get the headline right…

    Miyamoto's quote says:

    "I don’t know if I can say this is the perfect game for casual players, but I think we have come up with something attractive enough even for those players who have never played these sophisticated action games to understand their real attraction."

    He does NOT say that it is the PERFECT GAME FOR CASUAL PLAYERS – in other words, he says that he *wouldn't go that far.* But he does think that the controls make it simple enough for a non-hardcore Zelda fan (CASUAL PLAYER) to APPRECIATE.

    • Mases

      Agreed. I added a '?' to the end. Raising it more as a question than a statement.

  • A Link to the Past#1

    Skyward Sword is definitely not the best in the series.

    • TriforceHermit

      No argument there. Its not the best, but its not far off.

      • lonlonmilkman

        True dat, to be the best in my oppinion it would have to have a much bigger and less linear map that actually interlocks

        • bob

          -THATS MY MOTTO- But its still a awesome game

  • SkywardoSwordo

    Have it ever occurred to you guys that Miyamoto meant that control wise and interface wise that Skyward Sword is a great game for casuals.

  • TriforceHermit

    I believe he meant that it was the perfect game for casual players, but also a good game for intense players. Hero Mode makes it intense anyways.

    • Vaati Reborn

      I have to disagree with hero mode. I barely notice the 2x damage, potions are really low in cost, the enemys are as hard as before, and the game world hasn't changed at all. Besides if you get stuck on a puzzle, the Skyloft Sheikah Stone becomes pre-equiped with all hints.

  • KAD

    The term "casual gamer" has been thrown around so much that it's basically lost any real meaning. Even developers struggle when they invoke the phrase, because the concept they're attempting to explain can be difficult.

    Nintendo has been very concerned with the inability of people who play easy to access games, to cope with more complex titles. What I think Miyamoto is probably trying to get across here is that Skyward Sword's interface is a better learning tool than past games. But that doesn't mean Skyward Sword as a whole is what people imagine as a "casual" game. SS, if anything, is more complex as it gradually layers mechanics. It also puts a big emphasis on Hero Mode, the official second quest for the hardcore gamer.

    If one notices, other Nintendo titles recently have explored this problem. Mario 3D Land has its own "second quest" for the experienced gamer, but tries to balance that with elements that ease the less experienced player into the complexity of a 3D platformer (versus a 2D game). It's a false dichotomy to ask "should Nintendo make games for casual or hardcore players?" Nintendo games, traditionally, try to remain accessible to everyone. As they've moved into creating more complex titles, they've struggled to find a way to maintain that policy. Their current strategy isn't a bad one; balance the "front half" of the game so that anyone can play, or are eased in, and leave a much more difficult back half for the experienced, or enthusiast, gamer. (The back half of the stars in the Galaxy games, second quests in 3D Land, the latest Kirby, and Skyward Sword, etc.)

    • Supportedcoffe

      I agree. When it comes to games nintendo is handling things great, it's the consoles they need to focus more on the hardcore market because they are the ones who buys the third party games and games like zelda.

  • A_LINK_IN_TIME

    Skyward Sword is far more hardcore than the majority of Wii games and it's that core audience Nintendo is clearly endeavoring to target with the Wii U.

  • blacknight

    Don't think I like nintendo's love affair with the casuals, Will we ever get a zelda with such a depressing mature atmosphere as MM again?

  • Grey

    I think they should keep doing what they are doing, since most of us seem to love it.

  • JuicieJ

    Skyward Sword is the perfect game for both casual and hardcore gamers.

  • http://twitter.com/Earthbound_X @Earthbound_X

    Not sure I can agree with this. I have a feeling that a lot, if not most of Zelda fans are older gamers, who have been gaming for years, and played the series from the start, including myself.

    It's just weird to think Skyward Sword could be someone's first Zelda game.

    • blacknight

      the way I see it is nintendo is going to continue making zelda games with accessibility first in mind. I'd like a zelda game which already assumes we know whats going on and what a hookshot is.

    • Lonlonmilkman

      15 years old, Wind Waker, Majora's Mask, Ocarina Of Time (master quest, original and 3d) Twilight Princess, Zelda 1 and 2, A Link To The Past, Links Awakening, Minish Cap, Four swords anniversary edition, Spirit Tracks, Phantom Hourglass, Skyward Sword but unfortunately not crossbow training. My siblings are also fans ranging from 12 to 19.

    • bob

      TP was MY first game, and then I eventually caught up with (most) of the others. Its never to late to be a zelda fan

    • Kindodeku

      … yeah but didn't the older fans play zelda when they were kids? so why can't people today, become fans of zelda at a young age???

  • Rinku

    Skyward sword is the best zelda game ever in my opinion can it be better hell yea it can no game is perfect

  • bioshadow

    I agree, too many games easy games were made this year. Fi was way too helpful and the heart medal in Hero Mode just seemed to take away from the challenge of it. Although I don't think it shpuld be as hard as Zelda 1 or 2 (Totally hidden, no way of knowing tons of secret chambers/very hard to fight) I do hope they make some more diffiuclt games especially Zelda. I think the last challenging game I played was Okami and Professor Layton (the later is actually ment to be hard though)

    • andyjoe522

      If you really think the Heart Medal took away the challenge, just don't carry it.

    • mmmm

      Zelda 1 and 2 were hard because at that time combat was poor

    • bob

      If anything, Fi wasn't very helpful. Most of the stuff she said was very vauge and were mostly reminders. (I still think Fi is awesome though.)

  • Vaati Reborn

    They need to keep the balance of both easy, and intense. If they do that, their fanbase of casual, and serouse gamers will combine, giving them more money to acomplish making more games of the balance, upgrading every time. Though if they obuse the balance, the fanbase will shrink do to bordom. Then they need to choose easy, or hard, as well as take the time needed to come up with characters, character development, story, etc. As long as Nintendo makes wise choices, the Zelda games will keep getting better!

  • MLink96

    I though Nintendo said SS would be hard,, it is very easy o.o But still harder then some zelda games :P

  • ElAmigo

    In terms of mechanics Skyward Sword has by far been the most complex, also the fact that it doesn't suffer from the syndrome that previous console Zelda titles did where the dungeons debut item was only used in that dungeon and then for the most part grew dusty the rest of the game. I'd say it's more casual in the sense that it has it's own tool to teach you how everything works from controls to items themselves (don't remember other Zelda games having that but it's been a while) and also Fi is there to lend you a hand as well as the Sheika Stone in Skyloft.

    In terms of best Zelda game so far, it's a pretty subjective topic but imo it has been in a sense. The whole entire world and dungeon design in my opinion beats every other game and as far as the "Zelda and Link" installments of the franchise they definitely have the best characterization and are actually emotionally connected in many ways. What lacks imo is the music really which is a huge part of the Zelda franchise and what has been proven to be the best producer of nostalgia. For me it ties with MM for best of the franchise so far.

    • mmmmmm

      the whip wasnt used much

    • visitor

      I dont understand why people think this. In Ocarina you use your bow and arrow hookshot bombs hammer throughout most of the game sure a few you dont. But people dont give it enough credit and other zelda games they do vary in how much you use your items.

  • joh

    i liked skyward sword's controls! thought they were genius! worked so perfectly

  • ZoraM

    I don't think games are getting easier. Well some may be, but I think we are gettin better at gaming. I think it's like a process of evolution. I play games I used to think we're hard and now think that they are easy. It may just be me but perhaps others have noticed it.

    • Zeldajames

      Play Ocarina of Time again it still has a challenge in the temples and its over a decade old. Skyward swords dungeouns were relativly easier. not to say they werent fun but they were easier.

  • Shiekah

    People on this site need to grow up. If anyone says skyward sword isnt their favorite or the best you get flagged down. It was a awesome game one of the best ever. But its not the best. Let people expresss an opinion people dont thumb down because its not your precious opinion. Have some respect for fellow zelda gamers opinions.

  • KIndodeku

    I'm not sure if Nintendo did this with SS. but if there's so many freaken hardcore fans who want a hard zelda game they should make a "master quest" hardness for each game that comes as a selection without having to beat the game once. so there would be a beginner setting and a expert setting for the fans who want to play a hard zelda game. and please hardcore fans stop complaining. if the game was hard to play, nobody but hardcore fans(who want a hard zelda) would play Zelda. when i play a game I like challenge, but when it's so hard you can't progress in the game… it gets ridiculous and boring, and I get angry. so suck it up! and Ocarina of time's dungeons are freaken easy. don't pretend that you think they're hard.

    • zeldajames

      I was just stating compared to skywards they were designed better and had more of a challenge never said they were "hard". they had a better design and a greater challenge.

  • BKD

    well its the by far the hardest zelda within the last 10 years so clearly they listen to the fans too

  • coolnessofcool

    Well, if they are doing this, maybe there creating more hardcore gamers(but I am not a hardcore gamer) for the wii-U, by bringing in people that don't even play videogames at all.

  • Neutopia

    Well I think that the games should be a little bit harder, I haven't been able to stop playing my TurboGrafx-16 lately, and every once in awhile I'll pop in a Wii game and most of them are so easy it's embarrassing, don't get me wrong though, I love Nintendo and will always support them but I definitely hope Nintendo games start upping the difficulty level with the Wii U.

  • Multi712

    I think it is a good game. It can be hard at times to attract the hardcore gamers and then the side quests, storyline and the enemies progressively getting harder is good for less action minded players. Overall i would say that Skyward sword is good for new comers to the series and those who have followed the series from the begginning, because of the history in the gameplay. For hardcore gamers i dont think it is that hard, but playing it in short burst (eg 1-2 hours a day) can make the game interesting. It makes up for the difficulty level by the interesting storyline and lots of things to do everytime you play. 

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