Zelda wins Wii players but critics query future demand

news via reuters

The rush to get hold of Nintendo's new Wii video game console is being fueled by demand for another attraction -- the new game in Nintendo's legend of Zelda series -- but game critics were uncertain this level of interest would continue.

Nintendo turned to one of its most popular franchises to make sure its Wii console got off on a good start in the three-way race for sales this holiday, against Microsoft's Xbox360 and Sony Corp.'s Playstation 3.

For almost 20 years the Legend of Zelda has been one of the top properties in the video game industry, selling more than 47 million copies, so Nintendo ensured "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" came in tandem with the launch of Wii.

The new game makes use of the new controls of Wii such as its motion-sensitive controller, with players swinging the remote to make sword attacks, pointing it to fire arrows, and even simulating reeling motions in fishing challenges.

"Nintendo has an opportunity to reclaim the market share lead (with the Wii)," said Jamil Moledina, executive director of the Game Developers Conference.

Nintendo has some ground to make up. Its GameCube held just 14 percent of the global video game market compared to Sony's Playstation 2 winning a 70 percent share and Microsoft Xbox's 16 percent, according to DFC Intelligence.

The new Zelda game has received rave reviews since its release with some critics calling it one of the best Zelda titles yet. According to Gamerankings.com, the title has an average rating of 97 percent among critics.

"It took Nintendo almost a decade to do it, but the publisher has finally created a new Zelda game that is so epic that it deserves to be crowned the best in its class," raved game critic Matt Casamassina on IGN.com.

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