Aonuma Explains A Link Between Worlds’ Hero Mode Availability

When Skyward Sword was released back in 2011 it was the first game to introduce the Hero Mode. The Wind Waker HD also had a Hero Mode but, unlike with Skyward Sword, you can select the harder difficulty right from the get go. It was announced that A Link Between Worlds’ release would also have Hero Mode, but unlike The Wind Waker HD, you had to complete the game in order to access Hero Mode, like in Skyward Sword. In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Eiji Aonuma explains why. Take the jump to find out for yourself!

His explanation was:

“With The Wind Waker HD we naturally expected many people to have played the previous version, so we made the harder Hero Mode available from the beginning. However, although it is a sequel, this time we have a brand new game.”

“We felt that it was more suitable to have the players first enjoy the game at an appropriate difficulty level and then let them try a harder challenge.”

It’s a fair enough reason as people could be put off the game if they selected Hero Mode on their first play through and then couldn’t finish it. However, with The Wind Waker HD, you are able to toggle the Hero Mode on and off before loading the save file, so it’s reasonable to think Nintendo could have done the same with A Link Between Worlds. This would allow the player to turn the Hero Mode off should they find a certain part too difficult. Even so, I wasn’t too fussed about having to complete the game in order to unlock it as I wouldn’t have selected Hero Mode for my first play through, anyway.

Would you have selected it for your first play through? Would you have preferred to at least have to option? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Official Nintendo Magazine