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Nintendo - Zelda Bonus Disc Hands-On, 2004 Releases Trailed

Posted by simoniker on from the glitchy-and-scratchy dept.

Thanks to Game Informer for their hands-on impressions of Legend Of Zelda: Collector's Edition, as the GameCube bundle/bonus compilation approaches release. The article describes "The first two old-school games [The Legend Of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link] look just as they did when they released way back in the day", and shows comparison screenshots for the N64 titles [The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask], for which "...the graphics are now in high-res." Elsewhere, 1UP has news on Nintendo release dates for 2004, as "The four-player GameCube Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is still on track for February 9", and "will share that ... release date with Metroid: Zero Mission for Game Boy Advance... [which] expands on the original 8-bit Metroid adventure with revised levels, new story elements, and other added features."

40 comments

  1. hmm... by hiroshi912681 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    majora's mask seems to lose some drawing distance. and that sucks about the sound hiccups... I guess the gcube's n64 emulator wasn't really up for emulating games that needed the extra memory module.

    I wish they showed screenshots at higher res... and screenshots of the other games. I'm curious to see how well the nes games look on the tv. Also, is Zelda II based off the US version or the Japanese one? There were some differences in music, and sprites... other misc stuff. (*the only one who probably cares*)

    If they look blurry or stretched... then that would suck. I heard that metroid prime's unlocked NES metroid kind of sucked about that. It might not be able to go into a low resolution (stuck at somewhere close to 640x480?).

    I personally recommend IMBNes for PS1 if you're picky like me. Since it's PS1, it uses a resolution very close to the original NES (actually shows a little more pixels... but on most tv's, you can't tell the difference). And, it was also designed to emulate the palette just as the original NES output. So, not only are the games in perfect colours, they also look amazing with s-video.

    1. Re:hmm... by edwdig · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Here's the deal with the N64 emulation. The N64 has 43 megs of RAM - 3 of which is video ram, so 40 megs working space. Of that, 24 megs is fast RAM and 16 is slow RAM.

      Ocarina of Time is 32 megs, and the N64 has 4 megs RAM. That leaves 4 megs for the emulator, which is plenty. The only hiccups you get are when swapping data between the fast and slow RAM. The only noticable time is when going to the inventory menu.

      I'm not 100% positive, but I think Majora's Mask is a 64 meg cartridge. Which means the game must be streamed off the disc. Even if it's only a 32 meg cartridge, it uses 8 megs of RAM, which means you still couldn't fit the ROM + RAM used + emulator in memory at once. So you've got to stream the ROM from the disc.

      As for Metroid in Metroid Prime, I didn't notice anything odd looking. It was kinda funny when I tried it on a progressive scan TV though - you could very clearly see each pixel.

    2. Re:hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Both games are 32 MB (256 Mb), assuming the ROMs I have are real:

      33554432 Zelda 64.v64
      33554432 Zelda MM.rom

      IIRC, Zelda MM required an extra 4 MB RAM expansion pack to be installed in the N64.

    3. Re:hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'd just like to point out a slight mistake in what you just said. You mention the N64 has 43 megs of RAM. I believe you were refferring to the GC.

      They probably could have solved the problems with the emulator if they could somehow shrink a meg or two off the rom, in order to allow everything to fit at once. If they were able to change the button graphics, I dont see why they cant find a way to trim a bit of the rom off. In the Zelda Master Quest Bonus disc that came with the Wind Waker, the entire ending was put into an FMV that streams off the disc. This is why the ending doesn't work in the leaked master quest rom on the internet. Surely, removing the ending should've given them the free space they need? It's a shame they had to sacrifice graphics quality instead of trying to make everything fit.

  2. Haha? by Monthenor · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Is this a joke? Look at the screenshots...it becomes clear that if you want to play N64 games, you're better off buying a cheap used N64 from eBay. I honestly couldn't believe that the ones with poor draw distance were the GameCube version. But sadly, look at the image names. The columns are not mislabeled, it really does look that bad. All the advantages of "high-res" go right out the window when you don't update the textures at the same time. And there are sound errors now? So not only is the game not updated for the new console, it's not even as good as the first version. Maybe Nintendo should take some programming tips from the evil emulator community.

    --
    Co-founder of GerbilMechs
    1. Re:Haha? by Quobobo · · Score: 1

      It sucks, but I really don't think it's as much of a problem as you make it out to be. Aside from the opening scene, the Gamecube pictures look much better to me.

    2. Re:Haha? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      All the advantages of "high-res" go right out the window when you don't update the textures at the same time.
      No they don't. You're insane.
    3. Re:Haha? by xenocide2 · · Score: 1

      I agree that the intro scene looks a lot better on the n64 version. I can't recall if that's really how it was or the author mistook one for the other (down to misnaming the files). But I can tell you that if it's anything like the bonus disk to Wind Waker, the high res really does make a difference. They apply some nice filtering techniques on the textures, and I'm pretty sure they redid some of the main characters. In particular, I remember Link looking much better on the Cube. Thats not to say they can't screw up Majora's Mask. Just goes against my own tuition is all.

      --
      I Browse at +4 Flamebait

      Open Source Sysadmin

    4. Re:Haha? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "my own tuition"

      I would think with all that "tuition" you are paying you would be taught to spell.

    5. Re:Haha? by Guppy06 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Maybe Nintendo should take some programming tips from the evil emulator community."

      Like what? The only emulators the community has come up with for GameCube play Chip 8 and Game Boy software. To my knowledge, the emulator community has yet to produce an emulator for a console that adequately runs a console from the generation immediate preceeding it. The closest thing to that is a port of SNES9x for N64 that runs incredibly slow. It's just too difficult when you don't have the option of just throwing more RAM and a faster processor into your box.

      Nintendo has managed to get a decent version of N64 games to play on a console that simply was not designed to play N64 games. While it may not be perfect, it's still good (better than what these games look like on an N64 emulator for a PC, I'd wager), it's cheap and it allows players who don't have an N64 (quite possible with the recent spike in GCN sales) to play some of the greatest games in gamedom.

      You think the EMU community can do better? Put up or shut up.

    6. Re:Haha? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "my own tuition" HA HA HA!!!

      you're so fucking retarded...this is amazing. i am printing this post out right now and it is being hung up on the door to my office. wow, this is amazing. figures you'd go to a state school.

    7. Re:Haha? by xenocide2 · · Score: 1

      On the contrary, I've been linguistically challenged for quite a while now! The other year I came up with the word evility, as an "adjective form of evil," as I recall thinking at the time. If simply screwing up single word in a late night posting is hilarious, then you should hang around, I'll be a regular laugh riot!

      --
      I Browse at +4 Flamebait

      Open Source Sysadmin

  3. Slowdown/Flicker by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    From the GameInformer link: The first two old-school games look just as they did when they released way back in the day. We did notice some slowdown, though, particularly when a large group of enemies are on-screen or if there are a lot of projectiles floating around.

    This slowdown was there on the original NES too, and in every emulator I've used. An easy was to see it is to go to the graveyard in Zelda 1 and release as many ghosts as you can.

    The flickering was due to a hardware limitation of the NES - you could only have a certain number of sprites per scanline. If too many characters were at the same vertical position on the screen, they couldn't be drawn simultaneously, so they'd flicker. This was really bad in Bubble Bobble. Many emulators don't enforce the sprite limit, preventing the flickering.

    1. Re:Slowdown/Flicker by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Continuing in that GameInformer paragraph: "But, on the positive, a lot of flicker that was present in the games when they released on the NES and SNES is magically gone."

      These people are paid to write about video games and they don't even know what system Zelda 1 and 2 were released for?

      --
      I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
  4. No Link to the Past? by indros13 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I'm sorry, but I seriously think that the SNES Zelda was the best one. Given its (relatively) small size, why couldn't they include that in an emulator? Now I won't be able to travel by duck...

    Except on my ZSNES, of course.

    --
    Under capitalism man exploits man. Under communism it's the other way around.
    1. Re:No Link to the Past? by fireduck · · Score: 4, Informative

      They're currently selling Link to the Past for the GBA. Giving it away free as a bonus might not be in their best interest.

    2. Re:No Link to the Past? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just pick up a used dreamcast, they are cheap. The SNES Zelda plays at about 98% speed with sound on. I recently played through the whole game and didn't have to turn the sound off for speed once, not even during a boss battle. Not all SNES games run that well on the DC though. Use DreamSNES for Zelda 3 and NesterDC for the others. All NES games work perfectly with NesterDC. Since it is DC, no mod chip is needed.

    3. Re:No Link to the Past? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The guy wants to play Zelda 3, and you recommend that he find/buy a used Dreamcast, find/download/burn an emulator, and find/download/compile/burn a ROM disc?

      Why didn't you just recommend that he buy a GBA and LttP/4S? Or a GameBoy Player and that same game. Or even a SNES and a copy of the original LttP. 100% accuracy beats 98% any day, plus you're staying legit in all of these cases.

      Sheesh, kids these days. Show them the price of technology, and they will come up with costly means for bypassing that price.

  5. FF: C by Newtonian_p · · Score: 2, Interesting

    FF: Chronicles looks sweet. This may be the trailer they're talking about.

    --

    There are 2 kinds of people in this world: Those who write in decimal and those who don't

    1. Re:FF: C by shadowcabbit · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Thanks for pointing out the trailer.

      By the way, is it just me, or does FF:CC seem to look and feel an awful lot like a Zelda game, almost more so than an FF game? Judging by the trailer and the seemingly action-oriented combat, it looks that way to me. Of course, I'll buy it either way, but I'm more looking forward to Sword of Mana first...

      --
      "Why Subscribe?" Good question...
  6. Well.. by shoptroll · · Score: 1
    Well the only reason that the sound etc is different for Japanese Zelda II is because that was originally for the Famicom Disk System attatchment. All you pick up from that is an additional sound channel I believe, which is noticeably different, but its not that big a deal.

    Besides, they eventually converted that one to cartridge in Japan along with Metroid and other FDS games.

    --
    Insert Sig Here
    1. Re:Well.. by hiroshi912681 · · Score: 1

      not only that, but there were some different songs... most notably the cave song

  7. Why not sell it? by Trillian_1138 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I still don't understand why they're not selling the bonus disc. I don't want another GameCube, don't want any two of the games that are required to get the bonus offer, and don't want Nintendo Power.

    Why not LET me pay $25, which is more than Nintendo Power without the cost of actually sending me the magazine I don't want. Nintendo Power used to be the only good source for Nintendo info, but with dozens of websites out there it's useless. I don't want it.

    Couldn't Nintendo make MORE money this way?

    -Trillian

    1. Re:Why not sell it? by smoondog · · Score: 2, Insightful

      One word: eBay. You will find gamecube games at a reasonable price there.

      -Sean

    2. Re:Why not sell it? by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Funny

      Subscribe to Nintendo Power, keep the disc, and send me the mags. :P

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    3. Re:Why not sell it? by edwdig · · Score: 1

      They aren't selling it because they want to limit the supply. They want a strong Christmas for the GameCube. By making the disc limited, it makes people feel they should buy a GameCube now instead of waiting. If they sell the discs in stores, people will continue putting off a GameCube purchase.

      The offer of buy 2 games, get the disc free is again designed to increase sales during the holidays.

      Consider Nintendo Power to be targeted advertising. It's a magazine that heavily promotes Nintendo's upcoming games, and it's pretty much only read by people who buy a decent amount of Nintendo products. By making you get the magazine, odds are you'll read it. They're hoping that the magazine will make you buy at least one game that you wouldn't have bought otherwise.

    4. Re:Why not sell it? by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      Simple, buy a cube or subscription for someone for Christmas. You get the disk, they get a game system. Or buy two games, which irritates me, because I JUST DID(SC 2 and Viewtiful Joe), and there's only ONE game left out that I want. Grrr.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    5. Re:Why not sell it? by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      From the nintendo.com/zeldaclassic/ site:
      (choose from: Mario Party 5, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and 1080 Avalanche)

      So, it appears that it's not just any 2 games, and frankly I might be buying 2 of those games, but I don't think that's how I'll be getting my Zelda disc (since I'm buying another Cube soon anyway and decided to use the disc as a bonus justification). Perhaps when I pick up Mario Kart and Mario & Luigi I'll register to get the disc and give it away as an XMas present.

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    6. Re:Why not sell it? by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      Wimpy troll. Keep trying. :)

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    7. Re:Why not sell it? by Zed2K · · Score: 1

      So think of it as buying the game but getting the subscription for free instead of the other way around. Just toss the magazine if you don't want it.

  8. "Chutzpah" by BTWR · · Score: 1

    Wow... I can't believe how many complaints and whines people are having over a FREE game collection! I mean, if I BOUGHT one of those Atari of Namco collection cds and it was buggy, then I'd be really mad. But when I get a FREE collection of classic games with the purchase of Mario Kart and Mario Party 5 (which I was going to buy regardless) I can't see how I can complain at the free perk!

  9. So where is actually BEING SOLD? by eamonman · · Score: 1

    Arrgh. I want this bundle so bad, but I don't see it anywhere on presale. Yeah you see the news reports finally confirming the bundle this last week. But I don't see it being on presale anywhere.
    The only things I have found it actually available is the Euro presale of Double dash + the Zelda bonus disc for $173.

    --
    0- Eamonman Proud member of DNRC
    1. Re:So where is actually BEING SOLD? by Gr33nNight · · Score: 1

      Go to Walmart on black friday. They are selling the Zelda/Gamecube bundle for $80.

    2. Re:So where is actually BEING SOLD? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      some walmarts are actually selling the bundle for $80 NOW. instead of waiting for Black Friday.

    3. Re:So where is actually BEING SOLD? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      link for proof :)

    4. Re:So where is actually BEING SOLD? by Funk_dat69 · · Score: 1

      I saw the zelda gamecube bundle at Fry's in Austin last night.

      --
      FUNK!
    5. Re:So where is actually BEING SOLD? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think its being "officially" released next Monday or Tuesday in the US but someone said it was already available so Im not sure.

      According to nintendo.ca its going on sale here in the great white north on the 19th (wednesday)