Introduction
It’s
been almost ten years since the earth-shattering
release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
on the Nintendo 64, and since then a few other notable,
but not so much innovative, games in the series
have shown up. Majora’s Mask was a solid title
but didn’t offer a whole lot of innovation,
while Wind Waker may have been too simple and obscure
for some. Regardless, Nintendo decided to seize
the moment by releasing the Zelda title on launch
for the Wii. While the experimental control scheme
does take away from the adventure, you really can’t
consider yourself a Wii owner until you add Twilight
Princess to your collection.
Nintendo
Has the Upper Hand
Without
a doubt Twilight Princess is the best looking game
currently available for the Wii, and this seems rightfully
so for several reasons. Aside from the fact that Nintendo
probably has a better understanding of the hardware
than most other developers, the artistic design used
here is what really makes it stand out. The normal
world is accompanied by a soft glow, brilliant colors,
and an overall careful attention to details, so anything
from leaves on a tree to the expression on a character’s
face looks impressive. Unfortunately, it seems as
if there are still some technical difficulties to
work out because there are a fair amount of rough
edges, low-res textures, and the like. Such flaws
can usually only be seen if you’re really looking
for mistakes, but unless you have a keen eye you won’t
really be bothered. All technical hitches aside, it’s
hard to not admire the visual charm Twilight Princess
has to offer.
As
you might have expected, the sound is also on the
same level as the aesthetics. The soundtrack is obviously
dominant here, and the nice blend between updated
and nostalgic themes works well. It’s entertaining
enough to see if you can remember where certain tracks
originated from, such as that blissfully peaceful
tune from the Ocarina of Time heard right before getting
a power from a Great Fairy’s Fountain. The world
is never quiet because there’s always a thumping
thematic beat or distracting ambient noise to keep
you alert, and the total level of immersion certainly
helps this game stand out. A lot of other sound effects
seem familiar as well, including swords swiping, battle
cries, and bombs exploding. All the new characters
and enemies, with the exception of Link, all have
appropriately sounding jabber to coincide with their
text. While there’s undoubtedly room for improvement
in respect to presentation values, Twilight Princess
is still the most commendable release out of all of
the Wii’s launch games.
Another
Adventure, Same Story
There’s
nothing like the classic tale of a lone hero destined
to save the world from destruction, and the entire
Zelda series has proven this journey to be tried and
true. In the reminiscent land of Hyrule, Link is back
to save the day from the mysterious darkness that’s
been sweeping the land. Certain areas are being converted
into twilight realms, which are essentially alternate
dimensions overflowing with evil. Although the shadow
dweller Midna will act as your guide throughout the
game’s entirety, unfortunately for you the rest
of the creatures aren’t as friendly. As such,
Link will have to restore the light by restoring good
to ten or so temples, each with its own distinct theme.
In
regards to controls, Twilight Princess isn’t
too much of a challenge to pick up, yet it still manages
to utilize the motion sensor technology efficiently.
The control stick on the Nunchuk allows Link to move
around while the Wii Remote is used to aim, attack,
and perform a variety of other functions. On the most
basic level, you can unsheathe your sword by swinging
the remote. From here, you can perform a few different
stabs and slashes based on the motion you make, and
shaking the Nunchuk will even let you do a spin attack.
After making your way through a menu, you can assign
quick-access items to the D-pad. Similar to previous
titles, this allows you to switch between weapons
and valuable items, such as potions, with ease. The
Z-targeting system also makes a comeback, and this
can be especially helpful when trying to pick off
something with your slingshot.
As
far as the actual combat goes, Nintendo attempted
to add a lot of depth to help make every battle unique,
but sadly melee combat can be drab. By reaching specific
predetermined points in the game Link will learn special
skills and abilities, and on paper this seems like
a nice addition. For instance, early on you’ll
be able to perform a finishing move, allowing you
to leap high into the air and pierce your through
straight through the belly of the opposition. Over
time it can be fun to show off all your moves to a
friend, but aside from the occasional boss battle
you don’t really have to think in terms of fighting.
A majority of the enemies you’ll come across
can easily be defeated if you recklessly swing your
Wii Remote without any regard to your surroundings,
and this makes it difficult to appreciate all of the
moves you can learn. It’s not to say that boss
battles won’t be challenging or that even large
swarms of baddies will be complete pushovers, but
there are a considerable amount of encounters which
seem almost pointless.
Combat
has never really been the high point of any Zelda
game. The real key selling point involves the never-ending
flurry of puzzles that Link confronts. From simple
tasks like pushing boxes around to more intricate
maneuvers such as making death-defying leaps in wolf
form, the game requires you to constantly observe
your world. As long as you take note of what you’re
capable of you shouldn’t come across any scenarios
that seem impossible, but Midna can offer key hints
in case you ever get stuck. While some of Link’s
puzzles may resemble past challenges, his new wolf
transformation ability adds plenty of room for innovation.
At first you can only play as a wolf in the twilight
realm, but after a certain point you’ll be able
to switch between human and beast seamlessly, which
is necessary in some instances. The wolf is capable
of things like tracking scents, so following that
nasty green odor can lead you an innocent child held
in captivity. As a whole, the overwhelming feeling
of achievement and sense of growth make Link’s
journey just as rewarding as before.
Twilight
Princess is a remarkable title that shouldn’t
be missed, but one can’t help but to feel a
little shortchanged after seeing how far ahead of
its time the Ocarina of Time was. Twilight Princess
does make use of a relatively untested control scheme,
but other than this it doesn’t feel a whole
lot ahead of its predecessors. Sure improvements such
as new weapons and items, an overall longer adventure,
and a few interesting level designs are all welcome,
but it seems as if Nintendo held back from being too
out of the ordinary this time around. At least half
of the temples have nearly identical elements from
the Ocarina of Time, and sometimes it might even appear
like you’re playing an expansion pack. This
isn’t entirely a bad thing, especially considering
that the Ocarina of Time is arguably one of the greatest
games of all time, but don’t be disappointed
if you don’t find Twilight Princess to be the
breakthrough title you’ve been dreaming about.
Twilight
Princess in the Long Run
This
time around, Link’s journey should take you
at least fifty hours to complete your first time through,
and that’s not even including if you explore
every last nook and cranny. If you aren’t feeling
overly adventurous and stick directly to the storyline
then Twilight Princess will prove itself as a lengthy
action adventure title, but the real fun lies in exploring.
There are so many side missions, minigames, and other
events of that nature that add a substantial amount
to the play time. This is one of those games that
you can play over and over again because each time
through you learn a little bit more about how the
progress flows. If you’re a frugal gamer worried
about getting the most game for your buck, then Twilight
Princess should definitely be at the top of your list.
Conclusion
Twilight
Princess absolutely earns the right to possess the
Zelda trademark, and even though it’s not as
originative as we hoped for this still doesn’t
prevent it from offering a compelling adventure. Sure
some of the motion functions can feel arbitrary from
time to time and some of the levels are a little too
nostalgic for our taste, it’s impossible to
deny the impact this game will have for the Wii. Whether
you’ve been a Zelda fanatic for the last twenty
years or if you’re just looking for a nice adventure
to go along with your copy of Wii Sports, let it be
known that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
is nothing short of astounding.
Gameplay
|
18/20 |
Graphics
|
18/20 |
Sound
|
18/20 |
Value
|
19/20 |
Preference
|
18/20 |
Overall
|
91/100 |
