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Link's Crossbow Training

EMAIL PRINT wii

8.3 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 34 critic reviews
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Based on 18 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

Genre(s): Action, Shooter

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: November 19, 2007

Summary

Link returns from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to pick up the Wii Zapper and take aim at a host of targets in this shooting-gallery-style game. Anyone can pick up the Wii Zapper and become a master marksman in the quick-play shooting galleries of Link's Crossbow Training. Dozens of fast-paced stages offer a wide variety of game play, from shooting stationary targets to defending a supply wagon from onrushing hordes of enemies. Multiplayer modes let players and their friends share a Wii Zapper to shoot for the high score. Link's Crossbow Training comes bundled with the Wii Zapper. The Wii Zapper requires the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, housing both in a comfortable and intuitive frame. The control stick on the Nunchuk controls player movement (on stages that allow player movement), while simply aiming the Wii Zapper moves the targeting reticule on the screen. Pulling the trigger fires Link's crossbow. By aiming off screen, players can turn Link to face in a new direction (again, on stages that allow this). Link's Crossbow Training contains three basic game styles: target shooting, defender and ranger. There are 27 stages in total, and these categories represent only generally how each individual stage operates. Each stage's goal is to earn the highest score possible within the time limit. All rounds can be played with multiple players: Players pass the Wii Zapper around and then play one at a time and compete for the high score. [Nintendo]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Gaming Target

You can argue that Link’s Crossbow Training could’ve been fleshed out with additional levels and modes.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

If you plan on getting more Zapper games though, it's worth the plunge. [Jan 2008, p.72]

GameSpy

It's great for family gaming and the competitive edge offered makes it attractive to core gamers. If only Nintendo had bothered to include global ranked high-score leaderboards.

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GameDaily

So while Crossbow Training isn't a deep experience (it really needs online leader boards), it's addictive and justifies buying the Zapper.

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Computer and Video Games

A short but challenging and surprisingly addictive score-based bash. It's great for the price, but proper multiplayer and online scoreboards would have made all the difference.

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GameZone

The Wii Zapper is a decent peripheral, but it feels cheap. While I question some of the design choices, however, they're easy to get over. Link's Crossbow training is a great introduction into shooting games for those just now getting over Wii Sports.

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Cheat Code Central

Even if you feel you're more precise by simply holding the Wii-mote, you definitely have to give the Zapper a try and play until you're awesome at it. It's worth it and it brings the game to a whole new level!

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AceGamez

The most exciting aspect of Link's Crossbow Training is the price. For £20 you get the game and the Wii Zapper in a sleek white box. It's excellent value and helps you to overlook any shortcomings that the game might have.

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Games Master UK

It's the lightgun version of "Wii Play" - if you liked that, you'll find a lot more to like here. [Jan 2007, p.63]

n-Revolution Magazine UK

Good clean fun. [Issue#17, p.84]

Extreme Gamer

Overall you can’t go wrong with the Wii Zapper. For a cheap price of $19.99, you get a peripheral and a quality game. Even though the Zapper itself is only a piece of white plastic which may cause you some serious hand cramps, it is nonetheless still functional and lets you break in Link’s new toy, the crossbow.

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N-Europe

It’s cheap and it’s fun - Link shoots, and he most definitely scores!

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

Link’s Crossbow Training does an excellent job of throwing in an entertaining couple of hours to start you off with your brand new peripheral.

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games(TM)

Genuinely good fun for all – A pleasant surprise. [Feb 2008, p.132]

NGamer UK

The Zapper is okay in certain games but this one doesn't need it. Sluggish aiming, too. [Feb 2008, p.48]

Console Gameworld

Not a full game, but nonetheless surprisingly polished and only costs $20 with the Wii Zapper.

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1UP

You're better off picking up a third-party Wii lightgun casing if that's what you're after, but Crossbow Training provides a surprisingly satisfyingly -- and cheap -- slice of Zelda all by itself.

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GameSpot

Though it's extremely short, Link's Crossbow Training is a fun shooting game that's good enough to overshadow the faults of the main part of the package, the Wii Zapper.

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IGN

It's a short, but nevertheless fun demo that reunites Zelda fans with one of Nintendo's greatest icons while simultaneously providing a new way to see the lands and enemies that Link explores and fights respectively. The shooting mechanics are well done and the visual presentation looks like something right out of Twilight Princess – which, obviously, it is.

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Gamers' Temple

The Zapper might have its problems and Link's Crossbow Training might be one of the shortest games in history, but for only $20, it fairly fun.

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Game Informer

What you are really buying when you pick up this bundle is a fun minigame that comes with a packed-in controller novelty. [Feb 2008, p.99]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

If high scores aren't much of a motivator, the game gets old fast. It's a snap to unlock the entire game in one sitting.

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Nintendo Power

It's just too darn short--you'll probably make it through the entire single-player mode in just over an hour (add another hour to get platinum medals on every stage). [Holiday 2007, p.84]

GamePro

I'd suggest you pass this one up unless you're a Wii fanatic, a light-gun aficionado, or a Zelda freak who just has to have every single Link game around. [Feb 2008, p.77]

PALGN

Link's Crossbow Training isn't going to change your life, but combined with the Wii Zapper, it's extremely good value. For less than $50, you could do much, much worse.

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Zentendo

Don't even bother with the Wii Zapper, it's a gimmick. Link's Crossbow Training is an average shooter which provides short bursts of enjoyment, but overall is a fairly basic game with a few highlights.

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NZGamer

The game looks and sounds like Zelda but truthfully is Zelda in name only. Don't expect to be charmed in the slightest.

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NintendoWorldReport

It's nice to revisit some of those wonderful Twilight Princess environments, but don't expect the disc to live in your Wii for very long.

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Kombo

The problem with Link's Crossbow Training is unusual. It's not that it's a bad game. Instead, it's that there's just not enough to it.

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PTGamers

We expected more from Nintendo, maybe a game able of bringing home the fun that we used to have on the arcades. They choose to stick with a familiar franchise and create something really simple.

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VideoGamer

As a budget release you can forgive many of its problems, but that doesn't make it a better game.

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Eurogamer

The Wii Remote and Nunchuk work perfectly fine on their own - especially considering the Wii Zapper is both less accurate and less comfortable.

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Game Revolution

In the end, the Wii Zapper is just a hunk of plastic and the game is too short and kind of boring. Link's Crossbow Training will make a nice chunky gift to fill in blank spots under the tree, but all wrapped up like that, you can never be sure exactly what you're getting.

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The Wiire

A more thorough multiplayer experience with some form of online component could have raised this game's value substantially.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mark D gave it an8:
I found the game to be very entertaining, especially the graphics and sounds. The biggest challenge is figuring out when to use the "fire" arrow which takes longer to shoot, but does more damage. I also like that you can shoot everything, and depending on the game, the item shot will yield different point values. Sometimes you get lucky and get the "floating golden star" which yields a high point value of about 800 points. Every once in a while you'll shoot something that will take away points, like killing the live chicken. I just wish there was a better way to remember where and how to get all of the high point values besides just trying to commit them to memory.

Doug L gave it a7:
I like the game but dont really like the two handed zapper. I do enjoy the NYKO perfect shot with this game but the trigger is a bit tight. A good game for those who miss duck hunt etc. the "ranger" missions are a lot of fun especially for someone who played/finished twightlight princess. Would not have spend $50 on this, but for 20-25 it is fun if you want some light-gun action.

Kenneth B gave it a9:
I like the game very much but ,the levels are too short.need more levels later on in game with smaller targets.the zapper is a bit small for the back of my hand is against it.each time I pull the trigger ,the zapper moves throwing off my shot

Benihana B gave it an8:
Really good game. Just wanted the wii zapper for other FPS, this game was a great bonus gift. My wife loves to play it too... Can not go wrong if you were planning on buying the zapper anyway

d L gave it a10:
Hours of addicting game play have kept my wife and I attempting to progressively out do each other for the last 3 months.

Benjamin B. gave it a7:
I finished the game after about three hours with all the medals but it's always a fun to replay it, especially with friends. But it stays just a quite nice, very short shooter, no must-have if you don't need a zapper. Do not expect too much and you won't be disappointed.

Brody S. gave it an8:
First, I must say that the Zapper peripheral is not as bad as people seem to think it is. It genuinely improves my aim and stability on games like this. As for the game itself, it's simply too short. The environments are creative, the enemies are varied, and the boss battles are fun, but the entire game can be beaten in an hour. The multiplayer mode extends the fun a little more, but the game just needed to be larger. But for 20 bucks, what am I complaining about?

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Link's Crossbow Training

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