New A Link Between Worlds Details Revealed, Including Storyline, Mini Games, and Hero Mode

With the release of A Link Between Worlds less than a month away, we’ve all heard a great deal about the newest addition to the Zelda series.

This morning we have even more to discuss, as Nintendo has

issued a press release revealing some interesting new details. Along

with releasing a basic plot outline, Nintendo revealed screenshots featuring

two new mini games, and confirmed rumors about the highly

anticipated Hero Mode.

Nintendo started the press release off with a basic

outline of the plot, most of which we were already familiar with.

The story begins in

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds with an ominous

threat looming over Hyrule. A mysterious, wizardly figure named

Yuga has been appearing throughout the land, transforming the

kingdom’s seven sages into paintings and spiriting them away

into another world. With the future of Hyrule at stake, Link must

therefore step into the unknown realm of Lorule and stop

Yuga’s nefarious plans in order to restore peace and harmony

to his home world.

During a journey of discovery in both Hyrule and Lorule, Link

will meet characters familiar to fans of

The Legend of Zelda series, such as Princess Zelda and the

elder of Kakariko Village, Sahasrahla, as well as new figures

central to the storyline such as the travelling merchant Ravio, and

the mystical figure of Hilda, the Princess of Lorule. Appearing for

the first time in the series, little is known about Ravio, the item

vendor who sets up shop in Link’s house and provides our hero

with a helpful bracelet… Via Ravio’s shop, players can now

choose to buy or rent key items early on in the adventure, allowing

greater freedom to explore dungeons in any order over the course of

the game. Whether it’s freezing foes in their tracks with the

Ice Rod, or floating upwards with the Tornado Rod, many items will

be pivotal to progressing through the fiendishly designed dungeons

players will encounter.

Thanks to Ravio’s bracelet, Link is able to transform into

a drawing and walk along walls, and this ability brings a new

dimension to the table when solving puzzles, as by merging with

walls, players can see obstacles from different angles and are able

to discover new features. But beware – Link can only merge

with walls for a limited amount of time, so ensure that once the

energy gauge is depleted, he is not in any imminent danger! —

Nintendo

While there’s a lot of repeated information here, the main takeaway is a greater understanding of the nature of Link’s quest, along with a few specifics that weren’t quite so obvious before. Nintendo also revealed two new mini games, Treacherous Tower and Octoball Derby.

For those exploring the detailed worlds of Hyrule and Lorule, a

variety of subquests and minigames are on hand to earn rewards in

the form of rupees or extra heart containers. Treacherous Tower

involves Link fighting his way through numerous floors filled with

a variety of enemies via three difficulty levels, while Octoball

Derby sees Link step up to bat in a baseball-inspired minigame

situated in Lorule where rupees are earned by smashing pots and

knocking over enemies littering the field. —

Nintendo

To no one’s surprise, Nintendo went on to confirm rumors by officially acknowledging Hero Mode, announcing the mode would only be accessible after completing the original quest. However, in an unexpected turn, they also teased a little extra secret to be found only in Hero Mode.

For those who

can’t put down this latest title in

The Legend of Zelda series, once a player has completed

the main game, a Hero Mode will be unlocked, in which Link takes

greater damage from enemies when hit. Intrepid explorers may even

find a small hidden extra waiting to be found somewhere in Lorule

during a second play through… —

Nintendo

While there’s a lot of new information here, none of it will be a shock to fans of the series. Are you excited for

A Link Between Worlds? Any thoughts on the new mini games or what the Hero Mode secret could be? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Gamasutra