Zelda Universe-25 Years in 25 Days: 2004

Zelda Universe’s 25 Years in 25 Days continues through Zelda history with the year 2004. This was the year that Nintendo announced their newest handheld and newest console, the Nintendo DS and the Wii, at E3. Fans were also shown the first trailer of the new Zelda game that would be coming out on the GameCube. Due to the dislike of the graphics from the previous title, The Wind Waker, many fans were skeptical about this next game. That game went on to become Twilight Princess and it exceeded everyone’s expectations by showing us realistic graphics. But aside from E3, what else happened in 2004? This year also gave us two new games that would complete the Four Sword trilogy, Four Swords Adventures on the GameCube and The Minish Cap on the Game Boy Advance. Be sure to head over to Zelda Universe to read the whole article and to leave your comments.

Nintendo’s press conference at E3 2004 is arguably the best they ever had. Nintendo was dead last in the console race. The Gamecube was not doing well, but Nintendo had big plans for their next console and their next handheld.
The trailer that followed easily makes lists of the top moments of any E3. A lot of fans had expected a new Legend of Zelda game to be announced, but no one expected what was shown. I remember talking about it on various forums and heard all of the arguments. “Nintendo doesn’t have time to make a whole new game engine to make the new Zelda game realistic. The new one must have cel-shaded graphics like The Wind Waker.” “Nintendo won’t make a realistic Zelda game because that’s what everyone else is doing.” Suddenly every argument was shattered when Nintendo did show a realistic Zelda game for Nintendo Gamecube.
In 2002, we were introduced to Vaati and the Four Sword. In 2003, the story of Ocarina of Time was continued in The Wind Waker and the Four Sword was all but forgotten. In 2004, Nintendo revisited Vaati and the Four Sword in Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap. When grouped together with Four Swords, the three games complete a trilogy telling the story of the creation of the Four Sword, the sealing and release of Vaati, and Vaati’s eventual destruction.

2004 was a big year for Nintendo and for Zelda. Even though we wouldn’t see Twilight Princess for another couple years, the trailer at E3 gave fans something to be excited about. Many people were shocked when they were shown realistic graphics, and just like Wind Waker, there were those who didn’t like them. I liked the realistic graphics of Twilight Princess just as much as I like the cel-shaded graphics of Wind Waker. Graphics aren’t too big of a concern for me.

What do you guys think? How did you feel when the DS and Wii were announced at E3? Do you like the Twilight Princess graphics? Are they better or worse than those of the Wind Waker? Have you played all the games in the Four Sword trilogy? Tell us in the comments and come back tomorrow for 2005!

Source: Zelda Universe

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