Finally after nearly a year of waiting Nintendo has released more on Zelda 2005, the upcoming realistic Zelda game we saw at E3 last year.  The most obvious thing about this game is the graphics, which look absolutely amazing, and judging by the movies the Gamecube can handle it just fine with no slowdown.  The water effects in particular look great, looking very realistic.  The world itself looks great, and the enemies are very detailed as well.  It's a huge change from the cel-shaded style that caused so much controversy with Wind Waker.

    The most important thing about any game, however, is gameplay.  It doesn't matter how great the graphics are in a game, if it's not fun it's really not worth playing.  After seeing the trailer yesterday, Zelda 2005 looks like it might end up as one of the most fun games in the Zelda series, if not the most fun.  That's a pretty bold claim, considering that nobody outside of Nintendo has even played the game yet, but there are reasons why it could end up this way.

    First off, it appears that Link will have more moves in this game than he has had in recent games.  Of course the classic spin attack is back, but it looks like the downward thrust that was introduced in Adventure of Link makes a return as well.  He also has a new move where he can jump from a high ledge and deliver a crushing blow with his sword upon an enemy, something that was not present in any of the previous Zelda games.  It is very likely that Link has more moves in the game that we don't know about yet, possibly even the beam attack that was brought back in The Minish Cap, but we will have to wait and see about that.

The downward thrust attack makes a return in Zelda 2005.

    After last year's trailer at E3 it was well known that horseback riding would play a major role in this game, but now it looks as though animals in general may play a large role in the game and not just horseback riding.  During the trailer you see Link riding on a boar which is considerably larger than the horse.  The boar can use it's snout to attack enemies when Link is riding it, and could have some other special abilities we are unaware of right now.  Needless to say this adds a huge dimension to the gameplay experience.  In Ocarina of Time, Link could ride Epona and shoot arrows and that was about it.  In this game, not only can link use an animal he is riding to attack enemies, but when he is on the horse he can use his sword as well as the arrows and possibly even other weapons.  It also looks like Link will have exploding arrows in this game.  In the trailer it shows him riding the horse and shooting an arrow at some bats, and when it hits them it results in an explosion that kills the bat it hits instantly.  It's possible the explosion can take out multiple enemies in a close area, but there's no information about that right now.

Link has exploding arrows in Zelda 2005.

The boar has the ability to attack enemies.

    A few other things in the game worth noting are that in this one scene it shows link picking up a cat, with a few other cats following him.  This could support the idea that animals will be a big theme in this game, or it could just be a mini game or side quest of some sort, only time will tell.  In another scene, Link is battling some Stalfos, and one of them is holding a wooden shield.  When Link attacks he strikes the shield, but rather than simply deflecting the attack, it shatters.  Realism like that hasn't been present in any of the previous Zelda games.  The bosses also appear to be even more detailed than in any previous game.  During one scene, it shows Link being chased by Ghoma, and not only do you see Ghoma's two main teeth, but you see four smaller teeth moving around as he chases Link, looking very menacing.  Link turns back to look at Ghoma at one point during the chase and clearly looks afraid, which again is more realism than previous Zelda games have had.

Bosses will be more realistic in this game than in any previous Zelda game.

    Zelda 2005 will clearly be the most realistic game in the Zelda series.  Because of Link's new moves, some new enemies, and just the complexity of the game, Zelda 2005 has a chance to be the best game in the Zelda series.  Although we won't know for sure until the end of the year, things are looking good so far.  Ganon's Tower will continue to bring you the latest news on this game as it becomes available, so check back often.