User:GlitterBerri/Prerelease:The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Early Sword on A

=August, 1997=

In August, a new interface was revealed. The Sword on A interface was almost identical to the interface seen in the final version of the game, except that the function of the A and B buttons was swapped.

Interestingly, Nintendo appears to have struggled greatly with the decision of whether to place the action button on A or B in its next two Zelda games as well. Prerelease screenshots for Majora's Mask and The Wind Waker reveal that both games boasted a Sword on A interface for a considerable amount of time during their development periods.

Specifications & Release Date
In August, Nintendo confirmed what would become the final size of the Zelda 64 cartridge: 256 megabits (32 MB). The game had ballooned to four times the capacity of Super Mario 64.

However, the good news came with a disappointment: Nintendo chairman Howard Lincoln announced that Zelda would be delayed in order to ensure that the game was perfect and had enough time to be fully debugged.

"Nintendo has confirmed it: Zelda 64 will weigh in at 256 megabits -- or 32 Megs!" ~ Zelda 64 News: The biggest Cartridge Game Ever - N64.com, Aug. 21st, 1997

"MLB Presents Ken Griffey, Jr. and Zelda 64 will both see delays, each for its own unique reason, Howard Lincoln, Nintendo’s chairman, said. Lincoln explained that the development staff at Nintendo Ltd Co. will simply need more time to ensure an appropriate amount of debugging and the game’s perfection." ~ Zelda 64 News: The biggest Cartridge Game Ever - N64.com, Aug. 21st, 1997

NP: Do you plan on using the Rumble Pak with many other games?

Miyamoto: I think most of my games like Zelda 64 and Yoshi's Island 64 will make use of it.

Interface
GUI: With the introduction of the Sword on A interface, the B button was once again shown on the screen, and Link gained a magic meter.

A Button: In this interface, the A button has moved from atop the C buttons to sit beside them. It seems to function as just another button to equip items to. Link is seen with a sword, bombs, and his bow on A. The sword icon has changed again and resembles the Kokiri Sword, owing to the gem in its hilt.

B Button: The B button serves as the action button. Its function changes depending on context cues. Its default use appears to be calling Navi, whose name appears on the button in Japanese as "ナビィ". In these screenshots, it also reads "おりる" (Drop Down) when Link hangs from a suspension bridge above Dodongo's Cavern, and "ジャンプ" (Jump) during the battle with Gohma.

C-Left: A redesigned bow and Link's sword are shown equipped to C-Left. The number of arrows Link carries differs between screenshots.

C-Right: Link's sword and bombs are shown equipped to C-Right. The number of bombs Link carries is always 8.

C-Down: Equipped to C-Down is the Forest Medallion, which is not an item that can be set to C or used in the final game.

Hearts: Link still has 5/8 hearts, but the heart icons have changed to match their appearance in the released version of the game.

Rupees: The rupees have moved back to the bottom left corner of the screen, and the font size has increased again. The counter reads 00.

Magic Meter: The magic meter, matching the size of the small Magic Meter in the final game, is empty.

Sword
Link's sword.

Bombs
Link's bombs.

Bow
Link's bow.

Wind Medallion
Though this medallion is known as the Forest Medallion today, it was originally called the Wind Medallion and functioned like Farore's Wind, though it could be used anywhere in the game. (This is still possible to do in early cutscene environments.)

Its original name, 風のメダル (Wind Medallion) can still be found in the game's files.

Megaton Hammer
The Megaton Hammer.

Navi


Navi can now be called using the B button. She appears to turn pink around enemies.

Epona


The first appearance of a horse. This one appears to follow Link around.

Gohma's Lair


Our first view of Gohma's Lair. Child Link didn't exist at this point, meaning that the battle was originally planned for Adult Link and his bow.

Fire Temple


Link in the Fire Temple.



Its appearance doesn't seem to have changed too much in the released game.

Dodongo's Cavern


Link pushes a wall at the side of the main chamber of Dodongo's Cavern. These no longer exist in the final game.



He then clambers up a ledge in the same room.



The room in which the Lizalfos fight takes place seems unchanged.

Lake


Link runs around a lake, perhaps the same seen in the screenshots from April, '97.

Desert


Squat palm trees that didn't make it to the final game.



A clear blue oasis, and the first picture of the Megaton hammer.



Link slips and slides around in the sand.



Greyish structures surround him.

Lizalfos


Lizalfos in Dodongo's Cavern.

Gohma Larva


Gohma's larva.

Gohma


Link battling Gohma. It's clear from his depleted arrow count that Gohma was originally defeated with Adult Link's bow, rather than Child Link's slingshot.

=September, 1997=

http://web.archive.org/web/19990222023550/http://www.zhq.com/entry/news/september97.htm

Sept. 28th, 1997

Zelda 64 Prepare to journey once again to Hyrule, land of the ancestors of the gods, in Zelda 64. As Zelda 64 gets closer to release this winter in Japan, additional details about the game's setting and story line are being revealed by the game's developers.

Even though Zelda 64's story is set in the misty past, players will once again take on the mantle of the young hero, Link (perhaps and ancestor of the Link character who appeared in the Super NES and Game Boy games). As the story begins, Link is preparing for his coming-of-age ceremony, where he will receive his guardian spirit. In the tradition of his people, children receive a fairy from the Fairy Tree when they reach adulthood. This fairy becomes a person's life-long familiar, and accompanies him or her as they seek their fortune in the maze-like forest which surrounds their village, or in the lands beyond.

Link's ceremony, however, is not destined to be a happy one. The Fairy Tree, source of guardian spirits, is captured by a strange creature from the depths of the forest. Link is able to locate his guardian spirit, Navie, and with her help, slay the creature. However, in the process, the Fairy Tree is grievously damaged. As its life force ebbs, the Fairy Tree speaks the words that will shape Link's destiny.

"Do not allow the thief, Gannondorf, to claim the Triforce..." the Tree mystically communicates. "Oh brave one, you must take this sacred stone to a wise man..."

Gannondorf was infamous throughout the land for his evil practices as the king of thieves. He lusted for the power of the Triforce, and searched throughout Hyrule for its resting place. Since Gannondorf was searching through the forest of Link's people, Link knew he was in great danger. He took the sacred stone from the Fairy Tree and set out for Hyrule Castle, the capital of the Hyrulian people.

Upon entering the castle, Link is welcomed by the young Princess Zelda, a woman of the Hyrulian royal family about the same age as he. She is well aware of the crisis facing the land of Hyrule. Zelda relates further details about the Triforce's hiding place, telling Link that he needs to find the three sacred stones that fit into a magical Ocarina, which serves as the key to hidden realm. Link's race with the evil Gannondorf to find the sacred stones and the hiding place of the Triforce is on!

Zelda 64 tells the story of an earlier age of Hyrule, when Gannon was merely known as the king of thieves and not the powerful creature of evil he becomes in the other Legend of Zelda adventures. In this role playing game, the story unfolds in a realistic 3-D world. The depth of the backgrounds, the dramatic camera angles, and the realistic objects and animation all combine to create one of the most immersive gaming experiences ever.

Although the game play has been designed so that anyone can enjoy it, the adventure will not be without its challenges. Great battles will reward the courageous.

The fairy, Navie, will accompany you on your journey, providing hints, warning you of enemy attacks and helping you search for items.

While a North American release date has not been announced, the game is targeted to be released in Japan by the end of 1997. Zelda 64 will be a 256-megabit cartridge.

Game Specifics
While June and July's Nintendo Power magazines cited the game's size as 128 Megabits, September's Nintendo Power #100 upped the ante to the size of the released game:

"'When completed next year, it should be a record-breaking 256 megabits.'"

In addition to the memory capacity, the game's scale was heralded:

"'As for the setting, Miyamoto told us that the world “is a size that would be difficult to cross in an entire game day. That’s why Link will be able to drive a vehicle.” He didn’t tell us exactly what sort of vehicle - A Linkoln, perhaps.'"

The "vehicle" referred to is almost certainly Epona.

Story
At last, September brought a little more detail about the title's story, straight from Nintendo:

"Finally, Miyamoto spoke to us about the story and setting of the most anticipated of upcoming N64 games. The biggest news is that Ganon will return as the bad boy of Hyrule. As Zelda fans know, Ganon has a thing for the Triforce and Princess Zelda. In the new adventure, Zelda will once again fall into the villain’s clutches. Part of the game will explain why Ganon, once a lowly thief, became such a twisted despot."

"Miyamoto also described several areas, mentioning mountains, valleys, a deep “fairy” forest, and the mythical Zola Lake."

"As it turns out, everyone in Link’s clan has a fairy helper."

Summary
From these tidbits of information, we can ascertain that some of the basics of Ocarina of Time's story had already fallen into place: The existence of Kokiri Forest, Link's identity as a Kokiri, his receipt of Navi the fairy as a tradition of his tribe, the rise of Ganondorf, and Zelda's kidnapping.

The locations cited are a mountain, a valley, Kokiri Forest, and something called Zola Lake.

Navi
More detail was released about Navi, as well.

"'So who is the little fairy that flies everywhere with Link? As it turns out, everyone in Link’s clan has a fairy helper. These fairies aren’t just the healers form previous Zelda games. They can help in many ways, including in battle.'"

Concept Art



 * First appearance of Sheik, though she didn't appear in screenshots until Apr. '98, and she was in her final form.
 * Early Master Sword design. (Introduced in Oct.)
 * Unseen Stalfos design, carries shield similar to Link's. (Final design introduced in Oct. Is this an experimental design from the redesign phase?)
 * Navi looks like the fairy from LttP.
 * First depiction of Ganondorf. (Introduced in Nov.)
 * First depiction of Princess Zelda. (Never seen in prerelease shots, I think.)
 * Zelda is holding Ocarina of Time. (Introduced in Oct.)
 * First appearance of Child Link. (Introduced in Oct.)
 * First depiction of Hyrule Castle. (Introduced in Oct.)
 * Link has brown Epona from August. (New design introduced in Oct.)
 * Link has plainer shield from August. (New design introduced in Oct.)
 * Shield design is upside down.
 * Link has white sleeves from Oct.