Hyrule Warriors

Hyrule Warriors is an upcoming game for the Wii U releasing in 2014. It combines the action of 's  series with the world of, and will be developed by Nintendo and Tecmo Koei.

Story
Long ago, a hero wearing a green tunic fought against the forces of evil that were after the Triforce, an ancient and powerful relic. The hero broke the evil's spirit into four pieces, sending three pieces off into the depths of space-time, and sealing the fourth piece at the entrance to the Temple with the Master Sword. Ever since then, a sorceress has watched over the balance of the Triforce.

One day, Cia, the sorceress who was tasked with maintaining the balance of the Triforce, became infatuated with Link, a young Hyrulean soldier. Those feelings transformed into jealousy towards Zelda, and eventually corrupted Cia. With Zelda gone missing, it is up to Link to fight Cia and find the young princess.

Gameplay
The gameplay is very similar to Tecmo Koei's Dynasty Warriors series of video games, but instead uses the setting and characters from Nintendo's Zelda series. The player controls various characters throughout the game, including Link and Impa. While there is a far stronger emphasis on combat than other games in the Zelda series, the player will still use common items from prior games in the series, such as Swords, Bombs and the Magic Rod as weapons. Many of Link's signature moves appear in the new combat system, such as the Spin Attack which takes the form of a Musou Attack, a special attack that renders the user invincible for the duration. Link is also seen using various sword and shields, including the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. Discovering new items and opening Chests is also present in the game, although the full extent of these is unknown.

Unlike most normal Zelda games, vast hordes of weaker enemies like Bokoblins are set to appear, often alongside greater foes such as King Dodongo, encouraging the player to think tactically. The player character will also fight alongside regular Soldiers and other playable characters for the first time in the series. The game will also feature multiple locations throughout Hyrule that will function as battlefields.

The player can collect Rupees and other useful items to upgrade weapons and craft badges, which can then be used to bolster each character’s abilities. Additional game progression is evident in the reveal trailer: early on, Link only has 3 Heart Containers, a regular Sword, and a regular Shield. Later in the video, Link is seen wielding the Master Sword and a Hylian Shield, as well as owning 10 Heart Containers. There will be multiple weapons, such as Link's Sword and Shield combo which is oriented around speed and heavier weapons that rely on power.

The game will also feature both online and local co-op modes. In local co-op, one player uses the Gamepad as their screen. The Wii U Pro Controller and Wii Remote with Nunchuk control styles will be available options for both multiplayer and single player. In single-player, the Gamepad functions as a sub-menu, akin to how it was used in.

Playable Characters
For the first time in the series, multiple playable characters with fully unique moves and weapons are playable. These are set to be unlocked as the player progresses through the story:


 * The Hero, Link: A strong young soldier in Hyrule's Army, who possesses the Triforce of Courage. He is kind, can speak with fairies, and has a strong sense of justice. His main fighting style revolves around swordplay with a sword and shield, but he can also use fast magical weapons like the Magic Rod, as well as heavy weapons like the Ball and Chain.
 * Princess of Hyrule, Zelda: The princess of Hyrule, who leads her army against Cia's. She is very dignified and beautiful. She uses a rapier and a bow in battle as well as having a unique mechanic where she summons orbs of light in order to enhance her attacks, but can also use the Baton, which lets her use music as a weapon.
 * The White Sorceress, Lana: A sorceress with a deep knowledge of spells, monsters, and using spells on monsters. Lana and Cia have an unspoken hostility, even beyond the normal anger that war brings out. Lana is fiercely determined to put a halt to Cia's plans, even at the cost of her own life or happiness. Her default weapon is a book which gives her the ability to form barriers which, when shattered, can cause immense damage to enemies. Her second style is a staff allowing her to access the power of the Great Deku Tree.
 * Hyrulean Captain, Impa: Attendant and vassal of Zelda. She is the leader of a family charged with supporting Hyrule's royal family from the shadows, and is immensely loyal to Zelda. She fights with a giant longsword, which she uses back-handed. Her fighting style consists of quick and precise attacks as well manipulating water to take the shape of weapons. Her second style uses a halberd and allows her to manipulate fire.
 * Sheikah Warrior, Sheik: An individual of questionable origin, Sheik is revealed to Link and Impa during a time of great need. Though quiet and betraying very little emotion, Sheik never-the-less finds ways to make a lasting impact on fellow warriors with a very distinct way with words. Introduced as a Sheikah, Sheik is ready and able to assist Hyrule's efforts, even if Impa is highly skeptical.
 * Goron Chief, Darunia: Leader of the Gorons, Darunia is an extremely powerful force, even within his tribe. And just like all Gorons, his rock-like body makes him tough to mess with. While he can sometimes be very stubborn, he does so out of love for his Goron brothers. Darunia swings around the Megaton Hammer like it weighs nothing at all, even though it weighs a ton!
 * Zora Princess, Ruto: A bit of a tomboy, Ruto is the princess of the Zoras. She may come off as a snooty, spoiled brat, and she is, but Ruto is also quite refined and dedicated to her cause. She does what she has to in order to protect those she loves most, and that certainly includes her future husband, Link (it’s complicated). Using the Zora Scale, she can summon giant waves that crash into enemies as well as create bubbles of water that she can swim through.
 * Twilight Princess, Midna: The Twilight Princess, who has wandered away from her family for unknown reasons. Although she is smart and kind, she has a tendency to look down on others and get into trouble because of her sharp tongue. She was turned into her current form by Cia, and thus seeks to return to her normal form. In battle, she uses magic and can summon Twilit wolves in order to ride or use as attack beasts.
 * Princess of Insects?, Agitha: The self-proclaimed princess of the insect kingdom. Agitha keeps a bright smile on at all times and looks at the world through a sweeter lens than her allies. But just because she's so cheery doesn't excuse her from battle! Her parasol is her standard weapon, though her real strength resides in the bugs she summons forth in times of need.
 * The Goddess Sword, Fi: The spirit of the Goddess Sword sealed inside the Statue of the Goddess in Skyloft. With extensive knowledge and a highly analytical mind, Fi thinks things through logically and offers advice and wisdom to whoever holds the sword. Her body is made of a blue, metal-like material. Fi floats and moves in the air, and transforms into a sword to attack.

Enemy Characters
Enemy characters that function in similar ways to player characters, having a presence on the battlefield. As of yet, it is unknown if they will also be playable.


 * Cia: Cia the Black Witch, once tasked with maintaining the balance of the Triforce, her jealousy of Link and Zelda causes her heart to be consumed by a dark force.
 * Valga: A warrior that struck some kind of deal with Cia, wields a spear.
 * Wizro: The spirit of a cursed ring, given form by Cia.
 * Usurper King, Zant: An evil Twili who covets the throne.
 * Demon Lord, Ghirahim: The Demon Lord who tried to resurrect his master; the leader of the demons who was sealed away.
 * Ganondorf: Ganondorf appears in some unknown capacity. It is implied that he is responsible for Cia's corruption and is the hidden true main antagonist.

Development
Hyrule Warriors was announced on December 18, 2013, on a Nintendo Direct. The game was announced as a collaboration with Tecmo Koei. As such, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata stated that the game would not be the next main series installment of The Legend of Zelda series, but rather a spinoff from the Dynasty Warriors series. The game, however, is still being produced by long-time Zelda developer Eiji Aonuma. The game is scheduled for release in Japan on August 14, 2014.



Timeline Placement
Eiji Aonuma has stated that Hyrule Warriors exists as a "separate dimension" and is not part of the main series. However, he goes on to suggest that while the game does not slot into any particular part of the timeline, it has links to different periods of the timeline, and that characters have been "brought together". He said that he had been thinking of it as being similar to The Avengers.

Limited Editions
Two limited editions of the game are set to be released in Japan exclusive to Amazon Japan. The Premium Box edition includes a copy of the game, an art book, a Triforce table clock, and the Courage and Wisdom DLC costumes set. The Tresure Box edition also includes the extras from the Premium Box, plus the Power DLC costumes set, a scarf like the one used by Link in the game, and a Treasure Chest replica with sound.