Without a doubt, Twilight Princess has to be the most anticipated Nintendo game ever to exist. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the countless delays that have plagued the game since back in the days when it was still a GameCube title and quite a few E3 expos, but now we can finally put that all behind us as we finally grasp Zelda tightly in our hands. Of course being such a long time coming there is a huge amount of hype surrounding this last traditional instalment in the Zelda series.
Many believed that along with adding Wii functionality to the games, the delays were to make a game that achieved the insurmountable, to best Ocarina of Time from the Nintendo 64 generation. Sure TP is great I’m sure you know, but is it really the best Zelda ever? To be honest yes, and you can read on to see what’s so great about the captivating world of Hyrule this time around.
Link’s sword moves are all mapped to motions of the Wii remote and the Nunchuck. For example slashing and stabbing is performed simply with minor movements of the controller and the famous spin attack works with a simply shake of the nunchuck. For all the stigma about the Wii remote controls in TP being “tacked on” they actually work fairly well in most situations, with the occasional minor niggle that at worst could lose you half a heart. Initially there is a bit of a small learning curve to get used to the nature of the new controls, but thankfully the helpful tutorial section at the beginning of the game ensures that when you finally do set out on your quest, you’ll be ready for all the Twilight can possibly throw at you. For those unfamiliar with Zelda games it’s probably a blessing, since the difficulty of TP has been increased a bit when compared to Ocarina of Time.
Now there are many more enemies with specific weaknesses that must be exploited using your Wii remote swordplay. One of the best things about TP is that the swordplay in the game evolves in this way, as throughout the game link can learn a fairly large number of new sword techniques and combos that will enable you to combat stronger foes. By the end of the adventure, a comparison to your former skill level will probably surprise you. Perhaps a minor letdown is the fact that the wolf combat mechanics when link is transformed don’t end up changing too much compared to the human form, but the abounding abilities you gain in canine form seem to be an offset for the less varied combat. At any rate, you’ll be making the most of both forms to solve all the puzzles you come across and avoid numerous tricks and traps. Whether or not you use the sense abilities and agility of your wolf form or your combat proficiency in human form is up to you, but in most of the dungeon’s you’ll be encouraged to adopt a strategy befitting the situation. In many ways the some of the puzzles are harder than Ocarina of Time and the player is met with huge dungeons right from the very first temple in the game. Not to mention the return of our always beloved gargantuan bosses.
Interesting to note is that many of the weapons in the game are all new, or a spin on an old favourite. Twilight Princess has had a lot of effort put into its design to make it a fresh experience rather than OOT in a new world and the mix of what is familiar and new is balanced perfectly in a way that will make any fan happy. Aside from the main quest there is an abundance of side quests and secrets. Exploring Hyrule is an awe-inspiring experience and it’s easy to simply be lost in the grandeur of the world’s design. At times I found myself riding around Hyrule field for hours in between bursts of the main quest just looking for secrets to uncover and the sense of satisfaction when you find that secret hole or ledge still manages to procure excitement. Not to mention the fact that the gameplay is insanely addictive as well and hits the nail dead centre for the balance between combat and exploration.
The last thing worth mentioning is probably the new character depth in the game. As a player you feel a much greater bond with the various people you meet throughout your journey with Nintendo adding some great emotional depth to the story and have even given link a character of sorts although there is still no dialogue from him. Developing a relationship between link and his partner Midna was something I, and I’m sure many other Zelda fans, will find both interesting and enjoyable. The Twilight Princess story isn’t just about a hero out to save the world, but about a regular person forced to take up such a huge role. Some would argue that’s how it has always been but there is something about the execution and style of it this time around that makes it all the more realistic and believable.
Due to the dual platform release of Twilight Princess, its visual standards have not been optimised for the Wii and are reminiscent of the GameCube generation. However, Twilight Princess for me was one of the best looking games I’d played in quite a while simply because of the way the game is presented as a whole. That’s not meant to be an excuse for the graphics not being the best that the Wii can offer, but TP gains a lot of points because the graphics have a very specific style and flair throughout the entire game. There are some basic textures here and there and of course the game isn’t anywhere near as good looking as the best of the 360, but in contrast characters are vivid, colourful and alive and the landscapes well detailed and designed with some nice lighting effects. Inevitably you won’t particular care that the graphics are of Gamecube quality because after all the time TP has been in development Nintendo have really brought out the best of the last generation of graphics, which to put in simple terms, is still pretty nice.
The sound in Twilight Princess can only be described as superb. The tunes in the game are well suited to their respective areas and several of the tracks contain remixed elements from Ocarina of Time tunes, such as Death Mountain and the Sacred Woods. Each however has been reworked with a new and unique flair to appeal to both newcomers and old fans that will instantly recognise the score. Every theme is every bit as epic as your adventure itself, and I would easily describe it as a benchmark for the soundtrack in adventure games. When this goes hand in hand with the visual presentation, the world of Hyrule comes alive. Nintendo have done a very slick job, however it would have been nice if the score for the game had been done by a proper orchestra instead, as the actual quality of the sound is lacking somewhat.
The game is pretty long. Even for the Zelda enthusiast it will probably take around 50-60 hours to complete if you aren’t purposely speed running through it, and longer if this is your very first Zelda experience. Sidequests galore will have you searching every last nook and cranny for very item and treasure chest, and getting true 100% completion is something of an obsession that will take up a good deal of your time. Like OOT, it is also a title that is enjoyable enough to play through again and again, making it great value for your precious cash. There’s no doubt in my mind that there will still be people replaying this game at the end of the Wii generation and you can quote me on that.
For those that haven’t figured it out already this is the game to buy with your Wii before anything else. It’s a recommendation I make regardless of genre taste or preference because that’s how good it is. Twilight Princess provides an epic and enjoyable experience in spades for the Zelda veteran and the newcomer. Any gamer owes it to themself to play this game, as Nintendo have pulled of something here that is really special. From the gameplay to the presentation, this is top of the range game in every way. So have the years of tireless waiting for the best Zelda game of all time been worth it? Hell yes.
Second Opinion
Twilight Princess is an amazing accomplishment; a rarity that manages to both impress and inspire the gamer. Every moment in Twilight Princess is surreal, and as the boundary between reality and simulation becomes blurred, you become part of the epic story that surrounds the game. Link’s latest adventure is one of his most grand yet, surpassing even Ocarina of Time in terms of narrative quality. With grand visuals and an amazing soundtrack, each of the 40 plus hours you spend with the game will be thoroughly enjoyable.
There are plenty of side quests too, so upon completing the game, there is sure to be other things to do. The grand battles Link faces in the game are nothing short of incredible. The final showdown during the game’s climax among my favourite gaming moments – the atmosphere is sensational. There are some memorable characters in the game too, though it is once again disappointing that no voice acting was utilised. Voices would have added to the richness of the characters and story. Though it has some minor problems, the strengths of Twilight Princess vastly outnumber any niggling blemishes. It is a well-paced game that is accessible to both seasoned professionals and Zelda newcomers.
The Wii-mote and nunchuk work well, adding to the overall experience of the game. Simply put, Twilight Princess is a resounding masterpiece that will go down as one of the most impressive video game titles ever released. I won’t give Twilight Princess an arbitrary rating, as it is irrelevant. The game is brilliant, and manages to live up to its expectations, which is quite a task in itself. If you haven’t got this game already, then do so. You haven’t truly experienced gaming until you have played this one. I know I’ll be playing it again one day soon. -Toby
