Email: You can’t use the D-pad in ALTTP2

Master Malstrom:

 

Since you’ve been writing about ALTTP2 (or just Link Between Worlds, so I don’t associate them) I just remembered a detail I noticed when I played it.

 

I tried the game at Comic-Con. Aside from the slow, clunky movement of Link in the overworld, which doesn’t FEEL like ALTTP at all, I tried playing it with the 3DS d-pad and it didn’t work.

 

So yeah, you’re forced to use the circle pad, or whatever they call the 3DS stick. I even asked one of the Nintendo people and they confirmed you won’t have the option to use the d-pad. I suggested they added it.

 

This was barely reported, by the way. I only found mention of it here: http://gemakei.com/2013/06/14/hands-on-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-between-worlds/

 

” You sadly can’t use the D-pad but analog control is still a vast improvement.”

Not allowing the D-pad for movement is intentional. I’d be surprised if Nintendo keeps the D-pad onto their next handheld.

Let us never forget that Nintendo tried to remove the D-pad from the Gamecube controller. It was only added in when third party companies cried foul. But since Nintendo isn’t going to be getting any third party companies in the future, I expect the D-Pad to completely vanish from Nintendo hardware. “Now is the time for 3d!” squeals Nintendo.

I strongly suspect Nintendo has a 3d console direction they want to go on. It explains all their hardware decisions including the Virtual Boy. The Wii-mote was their experimental ‘3d controller’ . The Wii U controller display is Nintendo attempting to disconnect the hardware from the TV so Nintendo can put a 3d screen on their home console. Mark my words, this is where Nintendo is going.

It explains why Nintendo’s approach with Mario games for the past couple decades has not been “let us make the most popular Mario game ever” but “let us convert Mario to 3d”. The oldschool Zelda fans are also a problem. This LTTP2 is not LTTP2 just as Wii U is not the spiritual successor to Wii. LTTP2 is a trojan horse to convert old school Zelda fans to ‘3d’. This Zelda game is about 3d and nothing but 3d.

Fuck you, Nintendo.