Nintendo has released a short video showing how developers have tested the Ultrahand ability in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Meanwhile, some fans were already queuing up 72 hours before the release…

Nintendo recently showed off some early test footage of how the Ultrahand ability in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was being tested. The ability allows Link to build and control structures and vehicles. It’s one of the most prominent new features in the new game.

Most Zelda games do not pick up directly where the previous game left off. But Tears of the Kingdom is one of the relatively few direct sequels to The Legend of Zelda, alongside games like Link’s Awakening and Majora’s Mask.

The new game picks up a few years after the events of Breath of the Wild. Ganondorf returns to Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom includes several new mechanics that players can try out when the game launches on May 12. (Our review will be available after 2:00 pm today, so be sure to check back on theGeek this afternoon if you’re interested.)

However, it seems that someone on the development team accidentally posted a development video ahead of time. In it, you can see a clip of an early version of the game. The video was spotted by an eagle-eyed Reddit user named Emotional-Ad-1188, who shared the link on the game’s subreddit.

The video shows Link using the Ultrahand to drive a pair of player-made vehicles. The first one is essentially a car made up of four giant gears. These are attached to a stone plate. The video soon cuts to the same car, now fitted with a magic cannon. As the vehicle rolls over the bridge, Link fires the cannon with his Ultrahand, firing a projectile a certain distance ahead. A second cut takes viewers to the final scene, where Link stands on a handmade boat with two paddle wheels.

The Tears of the Kingdom hype train reached full speed

Some Zelda fans are so eager to play Tears of the Kingdom that they’re camping out for three full days to get their hands on the game early on launch day

A Zelda fan who goes by OfficialCND on Twitter is camping out 72 hours before the game’s release. The fan posted a picture of himself standing in line at Nintendo’s Rockefeller Plaza in New York. Apparently, he’s one of the many who are willing to fight fatigue and back pain to be among the first to help Link take his first steps in the new adventure. By OfficialCND:

“10 am today till 10 am Friday = 72 full hours. This will be the longest I’ve ever waited without leaving the line.”

For casual players, the waiting time may seem excessive. After all, those who want to play Tears of the Kingdom as soon as possible can launch the digital version as early as Thursday, May 11, at 9 pm PT, according to Nintendo. But people still like physical media. Especially for highly anticipated titles. And the wait for a physical release allows gamers a sense of community by connecting with other fans, and they’re eagerly awaiting the chance to own their own copy.

Moreover, some of those waiting outside Nintendo NY may have already pre-loaded the digital version of Tears of the Kingdom and brought their Switch with them to play it on Thursday night. So their first experience with the game could be a communal experience with the hardcore fans stationed around them.

Source: Reddit, Twitter

Totk very early development footage
by u/Emotional-Ad-1188 in tearsofthekingdom

I made it to the #TearsOfTheKingdom line @NintendoNYC !

10am today till 10am Friday = 72 full hours. This will be the longest I've ever waited without leaving the line. Wish me luck!

Day 1 vlog coming out tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/neNQdJuyrv

— Alex CND (@OfficialCND) May 9, 2023