"The faster the framerate, the more stable the 3D effect, so 60FPS is a big deal," says producer.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past 2 will run at 60 frames per second - even while running in 3D, the game's producer has revealed.

Speaking in the latest issue of EDGE, Eiji Aonuma explained the importance of maintaining a high framerate on the upcoming 3DS game, saying:

"The game runs at 60FPS, while all the 3D games up till now have run at 30fps. The faster the framerate, the more stable the 3D effect, so 60FPS is a big deal."

Link To The Past 2, which is due for release later this year, uses the Nintendo 3DS' 3D functionality to deliver depth to the environment.

But players won't be required to play in 3D if they don't wish to, Aonuma confirmed.

"Well, there are players who don't like 3D and always keep it switched off," he continued, "so there's nothing in the game that absolutely requires 3D, like puzzles that can't be solved without it."

VideoGamer.com was given an early look at Link To The Past 2 back in April and came away impressed. More information on the game is expected to be revealed next week.

http://www.videogamer.com/3ds/legend_of_zelda_link_to_the_past_2/news/legend_of_zelda_link_to_the_past_2_runs_at_60fps_in_3d.html

"Well, there are players who don't like 3D and always keep it switched off," he continued, "so there's nothing in the game that absolutely requires 3D, like puzzles that can't be solved without it."

You are defeating the purpose of having the 3DS be 3D.

This sort of refreshing honesty needs to be more prevalent in this industry.

Especially from Aonuma.

I'm waiting for him to admit that he has deliberately been exponentially increasing the time spent messing about in each Zelda game before the player gets a proper sword, just to piss us off.

Well there could always be puzzles that are easier in 3D but making them unsolvable without 3d would not make sense because as he said  some people dont play in 3D  not everyone can see 3d.

And when you think about it  making every game require 3D and forcing everyone to play in 3D would somewhat defeat the purpose of the 3D slider (at least its OFF function)  I mean DS games are in 2D anyways no matter what you do with the slider.

I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me... but I agree that there needs to be more straight-up "This is that, and you're going to like it." instead of dodging the bullet completely.

The purpose of the 3D was a marketing gimmick to make moving systems easier. Now that the results of that experiment have come in, no one has to pretend to care anymore!

Little news like this makes me happy. Hopefully we get the title of the game and a new trailer at E3.

One thing I think Nintendo needs to work on is finding a better way to stream or capture video content from 3DS games for use in their trailers and whatnot. 3DS games always look pretty rough in Nintendo Directs and even on the official trailers on Youtube and stuff (even with the resolution set to 720p or above). Even the 3D videos they occasionally let people download are fairly pixelated. Yet, when you get the actual games, they look fantastic. I watched off-screen vids for Zelda 3DS that gaming press recorded with their phones and whatnot and the frame rate does indeed look silky-smooth and the game looked much nicer than any of Nintendo's "official" footage.

All the spinning in this thread is making me dizzy. How can anyone possibly interpret this news negatively? "We want the game to look nice, so it will run at 60 FPS. The 3D effect will not be absolutely essential to playing the game, but it'll look damn good thanks to that framerate."

Seriously if he said the 3D effect would be needed to complete the game we'd have nothing in here but people complaining that they don't like playing in 3D, they don't WANT to, and that Aonuma is trying to force more gimmicks down their throats.

Instead we get people BEGGING for gimmicks to be forced down their throats. Geez. Guy can't catch a break.

Then there is no point for the 3D to be implemented in the first place. Games can be good and still use 3D. Just like 3D can be lack-lustre, while the game as good, and vice-versa.

I guess that's the best way to put it. But what are Nintendo supposed to do now? Just leave 3D to 2011?