All I know is that the tech demo does have a higher resolution texture. How much higher will have to be determined through using extensive tools. The game is totally absent of reflections so there's no comparison. Blinn-phong is just a shading model like any others ... I don't think you know anything what you're talking about. The term fixed function shader is an "oxymoron" for the most part seeing as how shaders aren't fixed function. What your likely referring to are the precursors of shader for which these units were fixed function. Transform and lighting units could be thought of fixed function vertex shaders and register combiners could be thought of as fixed function pixel shaders.

MAN there's a lot of bickering in this thread.

To me, I'd have to say there is no way to compare the two because they are two different things. In the 2011 demo there's not a lot going on really. Link "fights" Armogohma, but is he really doing anything? He just enters this gorgeous room and paces around the spider. It isn't really much actually happening and what is happening is clunky looking and there really isn't a lot of moving parts.

The 2014 trailer however, is all moving parts. Link(if that is Link >_>) is out in the world - we'll call it Hyrule - and it's got depth, structure and looks alive. This is all before the horse takes off away from the creature chasing it and "Link" jumps off to attack it. I don't want to go on, to avoid seeming bias, but there is a huge difference in these two creations.

In the end, it's not possible to say one is "better" than the other. The 2011 demo isn't even the same thing! It's a demonstration of the Wii U's power potential that just happens to be Zelda. The 2014 trailer is an actual game, it's a creation that is being worked on and developed as I type this. It is designed to be "better" but it's impossible to call it that - because it's an entirely different idea.

I would like the style of the tech demo, but this looks great as well.

no, just no. the tech demo was already surpassed. in zelda U's case, it surpassed the demo a lot.

then how is it running an open world that surpasses the demo? black magic? because they are doing just that.

it's already confirmed to be link in the trailer.

E3 2014. It's more inspired, plus It's prettier. And I don't understand why some people are saying that Wii U isn't capable because the new style is very advanced. Come on, it looks like a CG movie.

The trailer has less complex shading as a result of being open world. Cel shading isn't a very demanding effect.

just link, horse, vilagers and goats seemed to have cel shading and even then, this link surpasses the tech demo one. did you see the post with the comparison? the one from the tech demo looks good but is just textures on a flat surface without much animation (not very demanding).

Tech demo Link has more demanding texturing and shading though.