Want to know what Eiji Aonuma has in mind for Zelda on the Wii U?

The Zelda Wii U technical demo that Nintendo showed during E3 was one demo that many hoped was an actual game, only for their hopes to quickly be dashed. As it turns out it was just made to showcase what can be done and how quickly they can produce it. However, no Nintendo console has gone without a Zelda title and the Wii U won't be any different.

Nintendo Power asked Eiji Aonuma about the demo shown during E3 and what similarities it would have to a final product. He reservedly notes that he couldn't give away all the ideas Nintendo are considering as it would ruin the actual reveal but there is one thing he is particularly interested in that Nintendo did show:

"But one thing I certainly find myself liking is a lot - that you saw in the Wii U Zelda HD experience - is the idea of being able to pill your map onto a separate screen and really make use of that separate display in order to make your adventure more exciting and more streamlined. That is certainly something I find very appealing."

The introduction of a screen in the controller is bound to bring a whole host of new ways to play games and we imagine that this sort of set up, whereby the menu or other important information is shown on the screen, won't be limited to Zelda.

As console graphics have become increasingly powerful fans have clamoured for a realistic looking Zelda, which was briefly hinted at during the GameCube announcement only to take a surprising turn in the form of Wind Waker. The Wii U Zelda demo featured realistic looking graphics but should we expect this from the final game? Mr. Aonuma suggests perhaps not:

"Not necessarily. Really, this time around it was more about seeing what we can do with the Wii U. In making the experience, we had the Twilight Princess art style as a base more or less to gauge what we were doing. But for a Wii U Zelda in the future, there's no art style or design direction that's been laid down - we're very open to distinct possibilities."

Only time will tell if Nintendo decide to use a realistic art style for their next Zelda game but one thing is for sure; whatever style Nintendo choose it will certainly polarise fans.

In the same interview Eiji Aonuma notes that with the increased capabilities of handheld consoles Nintendo are having to work harder on the console Zelda titles. Now that a handheld can play a title such as Ocarina of Time 3D it has left Nintendo contemplating, "well, what can we do to make those home-console Zeldas that much more engrossing and appropriate for being in your room and spending the time to really dive deep in the game?" While motion controls will help Eiji Aonuma admits that the games also need to be, to borrow a phrase from E3, wider and deeper.