Nintendo celebrates Zelda's 30th anniversary with new amiibo, 'Hyrule Warriors' content

By Danny Cowan September 1, 2016

nintendo zelda skyward sword heads to wii u eshop for 30th anniversary skywardsword

Nintendo plans to honor The Legend of Zelda series’ 30th anniversary with an array of upcoming releases, expanded Hyrule Warriors Legends content, and uniquely themed amiibo figurines that will launch through the end of the year.

To mark the occasion, Nintendo has released a Wii U Virtual Console version of 2011’s The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which is now available digitally via the console’s eShop for $20.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword introduced the floating city of Skyloft, and gameplay alternates between flight-based exploration and combat that unfolds across a series of surface overworlds. Like the original Wii release, the Wii U Virtual Console version of Skyward Sword demands precise motion-controlled swordplay, and requires a Wii Remote along with a connected Wii MotionPlus gyroscope accessory.

Nintendo also revealed an upcoming slate of The Legend of Zelda-themed amiibo figurines that are compatible with a number of series releases across the 3DS and Wii U. New figures include the pixel-rendered 8-Bit Link, Link as he appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Toon Link and Toon Zelda figures inspired by The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

All Zelda-themed amiibo can be scanned by the Wii U GamePad to unlock new content in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The four figures will hit retail on December 2.

The 3DS brawler Hyrule Warriors Legends, meanwhile, has received a new batch of downloadable content to celebrate Zelda’s 30th anniversary. Players who download the third Hyrule Warriors Legends DLC pack will receive the new Sand Wand weapon for Toon Link, along with a dimension-hopping train from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks that can be summoned to mow down enemy hordes.

The new DLC pack also adds Toon Zelda as a playable character, along with a new Adventure Mode map. Players can download the Hyrule Warriors Legends “Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks Pack” from the in-game “Extras” menu starting today.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…

Gaming

Our 5 biggest predictions for the September Nintendo Direct: Metroid, Zelda, and more

Samus gives a thumbs up in Metroid Prime.

Following months of Nintendo-related leaks and a third-party showcase in June, the second full-fledged Nintendo Direct of 2022 is finally happening. February's show had neat reveals of games like Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, Mario Strikers: Battle League, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and Nintendo Switch Sports. Now, Nintendo Switch players hope the September 2022 Nintendo Direct will give a clear idea of what to expect throughout the rest of this year and into the first months of 2023.
Ahead of the showcase's announcements, rumors about a couple of key Nintendo classic remasters heavily circulated. There are also delayed Nintendo Switch titles that we hope finally get release dates. Although there's a chance that none of the following predictions will come to fruition tomorrow, it's still fun to guess what might pop up. As such, here are five announcements we hope to see at the September 2022 Nintendo Direct.
Metroid Prime returns

Metroid fans ate well last year with the release of Metroid Dread, but they've still waited since 2017 for the long-delayed Metroid Prime 4. Although there's nothing to suggest that Metroid Prime 4 will pop up here just yet, a remaster or remake of Metroid Prime seems much more likely. A Nintendo Switch version of the GameCube classic was subject to rumors for years, but rumblings of the game's existence really ramped up in 2022.
From Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb to prolific Nintendo leaker Emily Rogers, the more reliable parts of the gaming rumor mill say that some sort of Metroid Prime rerelease project is in the works at Nintendo. Grubb even claims that it's coming this year, so Nintendo would need to reveal it very soon if that's true. If it is real, the biggest question surrounding Metroid Prime on Nintendo Switch is just how much of a reimagining it is. Will it be an HD port, a more substantive remaster, or a from-the-ground-up remake? Hopefully, we won't have to wait much longer to find out.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess get rereleased

Gaming

Celebrate Kirby’s 30th birthday with a free concert

Kirby on the beach in Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

Nintendo has announced its next Kirby-themed event: A live concert featuring the series' music that will be streamed around the world. The concert will take place on August 11 and be free to watch online, though those who live in Japan can purchase tickets to see the show live at Tokyo Garden Theatre.

The event is in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Kirby series, which is getting a new release this year in the form of Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

Gaming

Skyward Sword HD improves quality of life, but that was never the problem

Link flying in The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword HD

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has a complicated legacy. When it launched in 2011, the game immediately received rave reviews hailing it as a masterpiece. Consensus on the game slowly became more divisive over the ensuing decade, thanks in no small part to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -- a game which retroactively made Skyward Sword’s flaws feel more apparent.

Quality of Life Trailer – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD - Nintendo Switch