The main problem with "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess", the thirteenth installment in Nintendo's iconic series, can be summed up in three words: "Ocarina of Time." Now, before you scream, I need to be heard out. I'm not saying "Ocarina of Time" (hereafter referred to as "OoT") was a bad game. It was actually a masterpiece of its time. However, the fact remains that "Twilight Princess" at times comes off as a shadow of "OoT."
The game centers on Link, a farmhand in the village of Ordon. After a series of bizarre circumstances occurs, and a devious plot to cover the kingdom of Hyrule in a phantom realm of Twilight emerges, Link and his new cohort, an imp-like creature "Midna", must save the world from devious forces.
The game has many strengths and weaknesses. Here's my breakdown of basic gameplay facets:
Graphics... 9 out of 10. The graphic and design department is fantastic overall. Taking a more realistic look after the prior entry (the cartoonish "Wind Waker"), this entry is seeping with visuals akin to Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films. Everything is very much darker and grittier. While I enjoyed "Wind Waker", "Twilight Princess" has a unique flavor. The only thing keeping this from getting a 10 is some minor issues. Mainly that the graphics weren't quite up-to-snuff for the time. This game came out in 2006, when HD was becoming prevalent. And the fact that the game has lower-resolution, Standard Def visuals does make it look more aged than it should. (Particularly when playing it on an HD TV-set. Everything is a bit too pixelated and washed out, even for a 2006 release.) However, the design is good. Particularly the amber toned "Twilight Realm" is eerie and glorious.
Sound... 10 out of 10. The music and sound design is top-notch, and this is to be expected from "Zelda." Many iconic themes are present, and the new music and sounds are also amazing. (The Twilight Realm really stands out)
Control... 8 out of 10. The controls are perfect for the Gamecube edition. However, the Wii Edition did leave a sour-taste in my mouth. They aren't bad, just a bit too jarring and different. Also, some of the basic functions in both versions (particularly climbing) is nightmarish. Not only is Link's climbing animation PAINFULLY slow, but the controls are too sensitive. Any movement of the control-stick, even a slight quiver, will make Link crawl in a different direction, which is frustrating beyond belief. But all in all, tight, concise, controls.
Now that we've covered the basics of the game from a technical level, let's analyze the pros and cons of the gameplay.
As I said, this is a game of many strengths and weaknesses. Among the strengths... The story is the most thematic and cinematic of the series at the time of release. Characters are developed more than before. The game takes time to establish itself, creating a more enriching experience. The characters are extremely likable. In particular your new "sidekick" Midna, a mischievous character who will steal your heart. By far the best "sidekick" in the series. Gameplay is also fun, and gives you the choice of progressing through the story, or doing many available side-quests, like collecting the souls of ghost-like "Poes", searching for insects to help a collector, finding heart-pieces to increase your health, etc. There's a lot to do in the larger and more expansive world.
The darker tone and cut-scenes also give us a unique view of the franchise, and there's plenty of spooky fun to have in the Twilight. (Which I dubbed "Hyrule: The Silent Hill Variation")
That being said, there are big issues with the game that do hold it back. For starters, this game can be a chore to play. The opening of the game, put in place to establish the setting and characters, can become infuriatingly dull. Especially on a second play- through. Well over an hour is devoted to tedious tutorials, repetitive scenes, etc. before the first dungeon of the game is reached. I have more than once anticipated a new play-through, only to quit half an hour in because I was just so bored with the opening.
The larger, more expansive world and dynamics of the game also lend to a clunkier, slower story. Hyrule field is enormous, many areas are huge, and the game is not always specific about what to do. There will be a lot of slow, blind wandering in the earlier parts of the game. And it does affect the score.
There are also lots of tiny problems that add up. (slow climbing animations, questionable designs, useless items like the Top, etc.)
Finally, the major problem is that this game feels like an attempt to cash in on "OoT." The last game took the series in a new direction, and it worked. Despite it's graphics, "Wind Waker" was a triumph, and did everything right. It perfected the controls, found a great balance of gameplay and story and it gave Link an unprecedented amount of expression and character. While many consider "OoT" a masterpiece, for me, "Wind Waker" is the masterpiece. A perfect game. However, fans wanted a darker game, so the "Wind Waker" sequel for Gamecube was dropped for this.
And this does feel like a shoehorned attempt to appeal to "OoT" fans. It takes so much from "OoT"... to the point you encounter the spirit of Link from "OoT." It used a similar graphical style, hits similar notes, etc. It felt like they were trying too hard to make "Ocarina of Time: The Gritty Reboot" instead of giving this game it's own identity.
But those complaints aside, this is still a fun, solid game, and a good addition to the series. Unfortunately, it's just one of the weaker ones.
"The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" gets an 8 out of 10.
The game centers on Link, a farmhand in the village of Ordon. After a series of bizarre circumstances occurs, and a devious plot to cover the kingdom of Hyrule in a phantom realm of Twilight emerges, Link and his new cohort, an imp-like creature "Midna", must save the world from devious forces.
The game has many strengths and weaknesses. Here's my breakdown of basic gameplay facets:
Graphics... 9 out of 10. The graphic and design department is fantastic overall. Taking a more realistic look after the prior entry (the cartoonish "Wind Waker"), this entry is seeping with visuals akin to Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films. Everything is very much darker and grittier. While I enjoyed "Wind Waker", "Twilight Princess" has a unique flavor. The only thing keeping this from getting a 10 is some minor issues. Mainly that the graphics weren't quite up-to-snuff for the time. This game came out in 2006, when HD was becoming prevalent. And the fact that the game has lower-resolution, Standard Def visuals does make it look more aged than it should. (Particularly when playing it on an HD TV-set. Everything is a bit too pixelated and washed out, even for a 2006 release.) However, the design is good. Particularly the amber toned "Twilight Realm" is eerie and glorious.
Sound... 10 out of 10. The music and sound design is top-notch, and this is to be expected from "Zelda." Many iconic themes are present, and the new music and sounds are also amazing. (The Twilight Realm really stands out)
Control... 8 out of 10. The controls are perfect for the Gamecube edition. However, the Wii Edition did leave a sour-taste in my mouth. They aren't bad, just a bit too jarring and different. Also, some of the basic functions in both versions (particularly climbing) is nightmarish. Not only is Link's climbing animation PAINFULLY slow, but the controls are too sensitive. Any movement of the control-stick, even a slight quiver, will make Link crawl in a different direction, which is frustrating beyond belief. But all in all, tight, concise, controls.
Now that we've covered the basics of the game from a technical level, let's analyze the pros and cons of the gameplay.
As I said, this is a game of many strengths and weaknesses. Among the strengths... The story is the most thematic and cinematic of the series at the time of release. Characters are developed more than before. The game takes time to establish itself, creating a more enriching experience. The characters are extremely likable. In particular your new "sidekick" Midna, a mischievous character who will steal your heart. By far the best "sidekick" in the series. Gameplay is also fun, and gives you the choice of progressing through the story, or doing many available side-quests, like collecting the souls of ghost-like "Poes", searching for insects to help a collector, finding heart-pieces to increase your health, etc. There's a lot to do in the larger and more expansive world.
The darker tone and cut-scenes also give us a unique view of the franchise, and there's plenty of spooky fun to have in the Twilight. (Which I dubbed "Hyrule: The Silent Hill Variation")
That being said, there are big issues with the game that do hold it back. For starters, this game can be a chore to play. The opening of the game, put in place to establish the setting and characters, can become infuriatingly dull. Especially on a second play- through. Well over an hour is devoted to tedious tutorials, repetitive scenes, etc. before the first dungeon of the game is reached. I have more than once anticipated a new play-through, only to quit half an hour in because I was just so bored with the opening.
The larger, more expansive world and dynamics of the game also lend to a clunkier, slower story. Hyrule field is enormous, many areas are huge, and the game is not always specific about what to do. There will be a lot of slow, blind wandering in the earlier parts of the game. And it does affect the score.
There are also lots of tiny problems that add up. (slow climbing animations, questionable designs, useless items like the Top, etc.)
Finally, the major problem is that this game feels like an attempt to cash in on "OoT." The last game took the series in a new direction, and it worked. Despite it's graphics, "Wind Waker" was a triumph, and did everything right. It perfected the controls, found a great balance of gameplay and story and it gave Link an unprecedented amount of expression and character. While many consider "OoT" a masterpiece, for me, "Wind Waker" is the masterpiece. A perfect game. However, fans wanted a darker game, so the "Wind Waker" sequel for Gamecube was dropped for this.
And this does feel like a shoehorned attempt to appeal to "OoT" fans. It takes so much from "OoT"... to the point you encounter the spirit of Link from "OoT." It used a similar graphical style, hits similar notes, etc. It felt like they were trying too hard to make "Ocarina of Time: The Gritty Reboot" instead of giving this game it's own identity.
But those complaints aside, this is still a fun, solid game, and a good addition to the series. Unfortunately, it's just one of the weaker ones.
"The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" gets an 8 out of 10.