Customer Reviews

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

5 star:		(158)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a review written by someone who has played both versions. In this review I'll not only touch on the aspects of Twilight Princess, but also tell you a few differences between the Wii and Gamecube versions, because some will most definitely be curious.

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular games of all time. When a new Zelda game marches forth, the fans are always there. Now, after spending years in development, with delay after delay and ultimately being pushed onto the Nintendo Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is finally here. It's pretty generous of Nintendo to keep the game on the Gamecube as well as pushing it to the Wii. It's great that even those without the Wii can experience this amazing game.

Twilight Princess is by far one of the most instantly absorbing in the series. The game begins with you as Link in the village of Ordan. Things are going well for Link and his friends until a band of monsters riding a boar come and kidnap two of his friends. When Link awakens, he's suddenly thrust into a twilight realm where he meets a creature named Midna, who decides to aid Link on his quest. From the get go, The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess is instantly absorbing. The storyline is by far one of the best in the series and is very engrossing and absorbing.

The first major difference between the Gamecube and Wii versions are the controls. On the Wii you swing the remote and Link swings his sword. Here, it's just the press of a button. For anyone who played the Wii version, it's surprising how much time it takes to get used to the control scheme. When using the slingshot or hero's bow, aiming also feels strange. It's far easier on the Wii. The controls for the Gamecube version are good, though. It's just that if you played the Wii version you have to adjust to it. However, it actually is an entirely different experienece all together. This doesn't mean if you have the Wii version you should go out and buy the Gamecube version. They are, after all, the same game.

The heart of the challenge from the game mainly comes from the puzzles rather than the actual dungeon crawl itself. Most enemies are easily taken down by a couple of sword swings. Some of the puzzles, however, can really throw you for a loop. This also brings about another key difference between the Wii and Gamecube versions. The environments are completely mirrored. In other words, Link holds his sword in his left hand instead of his right. A path that was on the left in the Wii version will be on the right in the Gamecube version. Anyone who played the Wii version first will no doubt find this to be rather confusing. However, most of you are probably getting the Gamecube version because you don't have a Wii. So this is really no problem at all.

A unique twist to the gameplay of Zelda is that Link not only goes around in his normal form, but can become a wolf as well. As a wolf the controls are virtually the same with the exception of Link being able to use senses and dig. You'll also be forced to solve puzzles in wolf form as well, and it does indeed add some variety to the game. As you progress in wolf form, Midna sits on your back and is there to offer advice for you. Gameplay wise, Twilight Princess knows how to keep you immersed in the game.

Visually a Gamecube game has never looked better than this. It's fairly lifelike. It also looks very identical to the Wii version. However, the Gamecube version doesn't play out in widescreen so there's letterboxes whenever you view one of the cutscenes. The game sports some amazing detail, though. Link has never looked better. The land of Hyrule has never looked better. Your enemies and some of the cinematics also sport some awesome detail.

The music still sounds pretty good. A lot of tunes you'll recognize from previous Zelda adventures, but the new stuff sounds pretty good too. There's no voice acting, though, and that still bothers me about Zelda to this day. The Windwaker could've used voice acting and so could Twilight Princess. The story is so absorbing, and it probably would've been better had they added voices to it. Link grunts and such and from time to time one of the NPC characters might yell something, but there's really no spoken dialogue throughout the game. It would've been really exciting to see some of the cinematics brought to life through fantastic voice acting. In the long run this probably won't bother anyone, and its a small price to pay for a game that's as fantastic as this.

For what its worth, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is very good. Its by far the most absorbing story in the entire series, and its gameplay is unmatched. Fans who have followed Zelda since its days on the NES will be pleased at just how far the series has come with Twilight Princess. Its one of the best in the series.

On a final note, the Wii version is superior to the Gamecube version. While they are virtually the same game, the controls of the Wii version are better, and some of the environments look smoother. The control scheme and mirroring of the environments alone makes playing both versions a different experience. However, if you own the Wii version, this different experience isn't so different as to warrant the Gamecube version a buy. The reverse is also true. If you invest in the Gamecube version, it's hard to say, "Get the Wii version too."

Whichever version you get, however, you'll be satisfied either way.

The Good

+Absorbing story
+Fantastic Gameplay
+There's a lot of great detail given to the game
+The puzzles are quite challenging
+The game still sounds good

The Bad

-All this time and the series still lacks voice acting

First of all, I'm not a gamer, at least not in the true sense. There is only one game I play, The Legend of Zelda. At this point, my review will be about Twilight Princess. I will not compare this game to anything other then the other Zelda titles I have played because as I said I haven't played anything else.

Like most Ocarina of Time fans, I have waited for 3+ years for this title. Like most fans when I saw that it was going to be delayed my first reaction was anger and alot of it! After assurances from Nintendo that they just wanted to make the game bigger and better, I saw sense. I was willing to wait if it meant this game would be BEYOND my wildest dreams.

Nintendo has succeeded.

The landscapes in this game are tremendous. However this is not to be compared to Wind Waker. Remember the hours of sailing? I remember saying to my son "Here honey, sail for me while I make a sandwich, OK?"

The 'graphics junkies' might not be too happy with the backgrounds, and if graphics are a priority over gameplay then don't bother with this game. Sorry, but I still love Ocarina of Time with it's 1998 graphics! While it's true that some of the backgrounds are muddy and the twilight realm can be overly blurred, it's still the best looking Zelda game ever. I would have liked to see some of the bright flashy colors of Majoras Mask, but in the long run it probably would have been too 'cartoony' for this dark title.

The gameplay is comfortable and familar. Link has all of his classic moves although some have said that they wish the spin attack would have been more like that of the Wii. On the Wii version of this game, the spin is done with the nunchuck and has to 'charge' for each use, ie. you hear a 'shwing' of a sword so you know the spin attack is recharged. However, on this version, the spin attack can be used over and over as in OOT. The complaint is that enemies will be too easy to kill just like in OOT. My simple suggestion is: don't use it that way then!

There are many new twists on Links arsonal of weapons, I won't give anything away here, but some of these are so foolishly fun you will catch yourself using up all your amumition just for the heck of it.

Links fighting moves are a little slower then OOT or MM. This title is more realistic so that goes with the territory. However it doesn't effect gameplay in my estimation, not like in Wind Waker. The Link of Wind Waker had an annoying habit of bumping his head on the stairs if he was rolling or if you were fleeing an enemy he would pause to jump up on a ledge. Well, I suppose he was a child in that game so I should give him a little slack!
You learn several new moves thoughout Twilight Princess that make battle that much more fun, however, nothing is too difficult to execute. In other words, you don't have to hit 3 or 4 different buttons to do a particular move. Watching my son play 'Lord of the Rings' on the PS2 makes me cringe. I just don't have time for all that! Ahhh, Zelda simplicity!

We have all come to expect side quests and puzzles from any Zelda title, and this game will not leave you dissapointed. However, I will say that one game in particular is alot more fun on the Wii because of it's motion sensing ability, but not to worry there are so many other things to do!

Some have complained about the cutscenes. Remember the cutscenes in OOT?
I always take a bathroom break when the 'goddess cutscenes' come on. How about that annoying owl?
However in Twilight Princess the game will prompt you to 'skip' so if you wish to jump that part, simply hit 'start' and voila, you go on to the next scene.

The characters have depth and back stories. MM really started the whole 'back story with emotion'idea and Twilight Princess takes this to a whole new level. However some of these stories are darker, and it's to be expected.
There is a sadness in Twilight Princess that is absent in the other titles. Some may not like this, but I think it gives Link and the rest of the characters a bittersweet quality, again, adding to the realism. Watch Links expressions in some of the cutscenes, and you'll see what I mean.
There is plenty of comic relief, however, and I caught myself giggling at some of the places Link visits.

It has been said that Twilight Princess is the spiritual successor to Ocarina of Time. How true that stamement is! So which game is better? Twilight Princess or Ocarina of Time? This argument will go on forever probably. However, in my mind the two can't be compared, and I feel it's unfair to do so. OOT was released in 1998, MM in 2000, after all.
For me, they are two very different games both in scope, feelings and character development.

To those who have never played a Zelda title and are thinking about this game, a warning, this title may just hook you. Graphics are nice, but remember, you can dress up a corpse, but it's still dead and has no heart. This game may be a little 'plain Jane' but it's full of life. Ocarina of Time is even more of a 'plain Jane' but is just as lively.

To those who have enjoyed other Zelda titles, let the storyline unfold and let the game stand on it's own. Twilight Princess is a game with heart and soul and depth. It's always darker before the dawn, but that makes fighting evil so much sweeter!

The Twilight Princess, will forever reign as one of the Greatest.

That is no small thing to say, and cannot be said for most games ever released. I read an interview with one of the members of the Zelda team; and in that interview, he mentioned they tried to make Twilight Princess a better game then Ocarina of Time. Now, many people who have played Ocarina will tell you how great that game is. Ocarina is considered by many to be one of the best games ever made. The Twilight Princess meets, and even surpasses its predecessor in many ways.

I finished the game today, and all I feel is stunned. Stunned by its design, the story, the characters, and the deep level of gameplay. Challenging in many ways, yet not so much it is tedious, I enjoyed every minute of the game. I took about 55 hours to complete the game, even after I found every last Heartpiece. Of course, I played through Ocarina so many times that Twilight's similar gameplay and puzzles made it easier to complete. Yes it's true; it is very similar to Ocarina in many ways, in controls, and gameplay style mostly. But different enough to be on its own , and you can play it without playing Ocarina. Although I would recommend playing Ocarina before you finish this one.

My new favorite character is Midna! Midna added so much to the game, way more then Navi. Midna is as unique as fictional characters come, and cute to boot. HA! No truly, I do not want to give out any spoilers, you'll know what I mean when you finish the game. I was yelling at Midna near the end of the game, not because something bad happens but more out of grief. Yelling, "No you can't do it!" I was so involved in the story, that at the end I almost cried.... Only to realize I can play again! Hurray!

Suitable for youngsters (8+) yet deep enough for adults, Twilight Princess is now #1 on my all time favorite games list. I wouldn't say it is the greatest game ever made, just in my humble opinion, one of the best ever.

Ocarina was not my favoirte game before Twilight, just so you know I'm not a total Zelda fanboy. In fact, I have only beat around 10 games on the Gamecube. I mostly play PC games on my beast of a computer.

Please go out and buy this great adventure, either on Game cube or the Wii. You will not be disappointed.

A special thanks to all who made Twilight Princess possible. Thank you for all of your efforts.

Now off to play again!

(This is written by a female 14 year old who is too lazy to get an account) This is a very good zelda game! The graphics are MUCH better than any of the old zelda games. Many of the cut scenes show beautiful landscapes. They make epona look really nice in this game too. The only problem I have ran into so far is the fishing. (I was horrid at fishing on the other zelda games so this was not a problem for me.) The children in this game are very funny, as the charater that replaces your faerie. For any video game fan, this is a very good game to buy no matter what anybody says. No game is fun if you keep compairing it to the other zelda games beacuse that makes you look for problems. It is much more fun if you just play it through and have a good time.

My son has really taken a liking to the Zelda games, so when I went searching for Christmas presents, I was happy to see a new chapter out.

The game arrived and I was a bit dismayed to see a T on the cover, for a teen rating. You see, my son is 6. We decided to have a look.

The graphics are amazing, much of the dialog is pretty hokey, and the game is full of the same tunes as the others (with a few twists); even the monsters are sort of familiar, so the fear we had about a bloody, gory game have, so far, been laid to rest. Link as a blue-eyed beast was different, but interesting.

Should my feelings about the game change, I'll edit this review, but as of now, I've been comfortable with it. We also haven't experienced much frustration so far in figuring things out, as the townsfolk and magical creatures are very helpful.

Just a little addendum: the animation is almost too good in parts. How do I mean? Here's an example: A child is kidnapped by a creature on the back of a large armoured warthog and tied to a pole, which he uses in battle. The lava area is bothering my son somewhat, but it does in the other Zelda games as well. It reminds me of a PG 13 fantasy motion picture. It can be fairly intense. Still amazing...

Loved it. Fell short of Ocarina of Time (which has ruined me for all other Zelda games), but I still loved it.

Just a few things I really liked:

Epona looks fantastic and the animation is just right. I was a tad bit worried about how Epona would carry over, but she ended up being an improvement over the original. Link can finally use his sword while riding, so that's a super plus.

The graphics. Nintendo has always been known for using the Zelda titles to push their hardware to the max, and this is no exception. They surprised the heck outta me, even for a Gamecube title. Link has gotten a huge update and looks gorgeous, but he's still the same fairy-boy you know and love. The environments are almost life-like - attention to detail is phenomenal.

Sound is pretty much the same to me. Link is still silent, and I actually prefer it that way as I think a voice would ruin him.
The sound effects have almost all been updated, but the entire scheme still sounds very similiar to OOT.
There is one new addition, however, and that is Midna. She is the only fully voiced character in the game - speaking a fictional language.

Controls are still the same old same old, and they fit perfectly. Link still doesn't jump (which is fine), and rolling is still a bit faster than running.

The Story. A good one, to be sure, and there is plenty to it. Again, they have expanded on the Dark World/Light World scenario which has proven to be tried and true. In the Dark World (Twilight), Link assumes the form of a wolf. In the Light World, Link assumes the form of the Hero of Time.
It's all very similiar to LTTP - complete with an object that allows Link to remain Hylian in the Dark World, and a mirror that allows travel between the two Worlds.

The cinematics. They looked good, and there were more of them than in past games. There also seems to be an added element of drama that wasn't there in the past.



What I didn't like:

The music in this game wasn't all that great to me. All the past games have had several catchy or memorable tunes, and this one is really lacking in that. The only theme I enjoyed was the Kakariko theme, and I think I despised the Overworld theme. There are some returning OOT and LTTP themes, and they sound good, but the rest are average.

Epona's movement while using the bow. She still runs straight in first-person view. I don't think it would have been that hard to give the player use of a thumbstick here. (Edit: This is not the case on the Wii version - Epona's movement can be controlled while using the bow. I may have overlooked this in the GC version.)

Rupees. There are way, way too many rupee chests in the dungeons. I do like that you can actually put them back if you can't carry them, but jeez louise what a waste of time and effort.
They weren't utilized very well in the gameplay either - the balance was off in my opinion. Either you never had enough, or you were always full. I never found a happy medium there.

The dungeons. Honestly, I found them to be somewhat linear. In LTTP and OOT - I remember being lost quite frequently and having to memorize several areas before getting through a certain dungeon. In Twilight Princess, you are almost given the route you should take instead of having to figure it out. They also seemed smaller to me, but I'm not so sure that is true. It's hard to say.

The Cave of Ordeals. I just didn't care for this at all. If the rooms had been full of puzzles instead of enemies, I would have enjoyed it. But, I found the hacking and slashing rather tedious after a bit.

Sword upgrade. Yes, you do get the Light Sword near the end of the game. But, you only get to use it (with the pretty sparkles and stuff) for a short amount of time. I was very disappointed with that.

Shield upgrade. Missing altogether. No Mirror Shield here, which I was sure would have been in the Gerudo desert.

The Sages. Bringing back the 6 from OOT would have really been a special treat, but the Sages in TP are just generic characters with no real use.

Comic relief. There is hardly any of it!

Finally, the characters. This time around, the characters left much to be desired in my experience, and this is the single biggest kicker for me in a Zelda game. I never really connected with any of them, and even though it is a long game, I hardly got to spend any moderate amount of time with any of them other than Midna.

The children were a complete waste of time, effort, and game space in my opinion. I didn't much care for them, and found them to be very annoying. I didn't really care whether Ilia was dead or alive, and I sure as heck didn't want to go searching for her. The parts of the story regarding them - very boring and merely a barrier to get beyond.

All others - with the exception of the Yeti couple, King Bulblin, The Hero Spirit, and Coro - were just pixels with a certain use.

Side quests, or lack of them. There are poes and golden bugs to be found, but that's pretty much it. I can't recall any special item quests.

Everything else was okay. Most of my dislikes are based on my expectations from the Zelda franchise, and Ocarina of Time, and are not based on poor or low quality development. This game is Game of the Year material for sure - it's just not OOT.

Also, in regards to the comments regarding LOTR. I can certainly see it. The orcish creatures added to the Overworld, the Great Fairy that looks almost identical to the Lady of the Wood, the cutscene showing the greed and betrayal over the Triforce, and a few other similarities here and there do give me a bit of that LOTR feel. I don't really find it to be a big deal, I just don't want it to become the norm in future installations of the franchise.

Oh, and the game-world did seem a bit small to me. After playing Okami (which is very Zelda-like and has a MASSIVE game-world) and OOT recently, TP does seem a little cramped.

Zelda games are released so rarely that I await each release with a certain amount of anxiety, wondering if Nintendo has again managed to craft an experience worthy of the Zelda namesake; is the magic of Hyrule still there, or has it run dry? Fortunately, Zelda: Twilight Princess not only lives up to its predecessors, but surpasses every one of them - yes, including the Ocarina of Time - in terms of scope, storytelling, technical achievements, and entertainment value.

Looking at a map of Hyrule, the one of the first things that hit me about this Zelda was its massive scale. Everything about the game is grand, from the colossal Kingdom of Hyrule to the varied dungeons and gigantesque bosses. Exploring such a large game world should feel like a chore, but it never does. This is partly due to clever pacing, and partly thanks to your trusty steed and some convenient warping abilities acquired later in the game. Even with these shortcuts, this Zelda is one epic adventure; it took me 55 hours to beat Twilight Princess, and I didn't dawdle very much... there are some side-quests and mini-games that I haven't even tried yet.

Of course, Twilight Princess is visually and aurally delicious. Scenery is varied and detailed, striking a good balance between color and realism. The glare effect of bloom lighting is used masterfully to bathe objects and characters in either a moody glow or blinding brilliance, depending on the setting and time of day. This adds enormously to the ambiance of fantasy and magic; a few such treats are the bluish glint of moonlight on Link's sword at night and the fair glow of Princess Zelda's face. Moreover, character models are a vast leap over Ocarina and Wind Waker. Link is a convincing adolescent hero, Midna possesses a mischievous and animated charm, and Zelda is radiant with regal beauty; other characters are just as unique and memorable.

The music is a dynamic mix of moody beats, heroic themes, and emotional ballads, and accents both gameplay and story scenes nicely. A few dungeon themes felt a bit uninspired - I think Ocarina of Time had better dungeon music - and some of the midi voice tracks came off as cheesy to my ears. But everything else is exquisite, from the orchestral fanfare of Hyrule Field, to the restful harmony of Lake Hylia, to the numerous character themes. The context-sensitive music is also implemented impeccably; for example, a partial triumph in a boss battle is accompanied by a heroic crescendo. Sound effects are satisfying, especially the exaggerated echoes of the twilight realm. Voice-acted dialogue would have been nice, but I actually found Midna's gibberish charming.

Storyline has never been the strongest part of the Zelda experience, but I really shines in the Twilight Princess. The progression of events is a bit more linear than in Ocarina of Time, but I don't consider this a defect; this linearity gives rise to a much more engrossing storyline, with better pacing, more surprises, better character development, and even a few moments that tug at the heartstrings, particularly the game's ending. It's not perfect - the ending, for instance, came a bit too suddenly for my taste - and it's still not as complex as Final Fantasy, but it doesn't need to be. For the first time in a Zelda game, I really cared what happened to the characters; this, more than anything, is a sign that the Zelda series has finally grown up.

Of course, the gameplay is superb. This is an epic adventure with many secrets and surprises along the way. Earning money is more fun and feels more useful than in Ocarina. There is a good mix of new and old items to play around with. The environment is highly interactive, and the human/wolf duality is implemented very well. Puzzles are intelligent, sometimes frustrating, but usually logical. And the battle system is periodically made fresh as Link learns new techniques along the way. Some parts would surely be easier with the Wii controller, particularly battles that require precise aiming, but the Gamecube controller is still quite adequate. My one complaint is that boss fights could have been more difficult; ironically, some mini-bosses are harder than dungeon bosses! Nintendo should have included an optional difficulty setting for seasoned players, say, doubling the amount of damage dealt by enemy blows. Still, the game is never so easy as to be boring.

In summary, Twilight Princess is an absolute gem of a game, a beautiful and epic adventure that is nonetheless over far too quickly. My very highest recommendation.

Actually, it comes out on the 12th. Most new released dates are Tuesday hence "hot release Tuesday" at stores like Walmart. Anyway, I wouldn't buy it for 80$ when I could buy it for half the price and make sure I get what I wanted. There is no way the seller's have the real thing unless they are just planning on selling it and then running to Walmart the day it comes out and will ship it on that day instead! This will be an amazing game way worth the wait but make sure you buy it from a credible source.

This game was totally awesome! I heard it was much more fun and challenging on the Wii, but if you're like me and you don't have a Wii, you can still have loads of fun with this game. It was actually supposed to be released on the Gamecube, but they pushed it back so the Wii could get in on the total greatness of Twilight Princess. In my opinion, this game was better than Windwaker, but many argue that the large size of Hyrule Field is equivalent to the Ocean in Windwaker; that is, there is a lot of travel time in this game. A LOT. Although the twilight world is not much of an innovation in the Zelda series, Link's Wolf Form definitely adds a new approach to the overall gameplay of Twilight Princess. If you like any of the Zelda series, I strongly recommend you buy this title, either for the Gamecube or Wii, because it is definitely worth it!

Lets face it, the current generation systems (meaning XBOX, Playstation 2 and the Nintendo Gamecube), are on their way out the door. Some, most notably the Gamecube have forefully jammed their foot in the door and are relenting to move. With the release of The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess, Nintendo shows that they wanted Gamecube fans to have one last great game before the end comes, which it will. And a great game this is! The Twilight Princess was relased on both Gamecube and the Wii, and the graphics for the Gamecube version rival that of the Wii's!!! However, since the Wii is still in its trial phase, that doesn't really say all that much, just that the Gamecube version is no slouch at all! With THE best graphics to ever grace Nintendo's dying system, the Twilight Princess presents us with smooth looking and "darker" graphics. Those of you who have played The Wind Waker and hated the child like animation, fear not! The Twilight Princess' graphics are much more "grown up" looking and much darker, in both shading, look and feel. While the game still has the same problems that other games do on this system (notably the jagged edges that you will see once in a while in the graphics), the game looks stunningly beautiful and fresh. The controls are good ol' zelda controls, so there is nothing to complain about there.
On to the game...
The story like mirrors the Ocarina of Time, the Zelda game released for the Nintendo 64 (way back in the day). For those of you that have spent much blood, sweat and tears trudging through that challenge, your in for a treat! All of the temples, villages and even the great Hyrule Field make their appearance again, this time revamped in both graphics and challenge. For example, you go to the Gorgon mountain, Zora's temple and the forest temple, just like in Ocarina of Time. And you start off in the same viilage (in the same hut!) as you do in Ocarina of Time. Your horse is the same (Epona). But the graphics are much better looking! The sound (especially if you are playing in surround sound digital) is amazing! Everything from chains clanking against the ground, to echos sound true to life and awesome.
The dungeons (in my opinion) are much more challenging in a puzzle aspect, however the bosses are somewhat simplistic. I suppose they made the battles easy because Zelda fans range anywhere from 10 years of age and up. Nevertheless, the boss battles are inventive and creative, many of them have left me in awe (wait till you fight the boss of the Gorgon Mine dungeon)!
I am about halfway through Zora's temple (not even sure how far in the game that is), and I am still intrigued.
Now, don't go thinking that Twilight Princess is an exact port of The Ocarina of Time. No, they have added enough new content to keep it fun and new. For example, following the story of the Twilight Princess, there are "Twilight" versions of the world, where you are transformed into a wolf and you have to complete certain missions before you can turn back into human form. And, you have a permanent sidekick named Midna, who is from the "Twilight" world and who aids you.
I would have to say that sometimes the gameplay when you turn into a wolf seems a little contrived, as if they threw it in just so there would be variation. The wolf missions are all similar (i.e kill a bunch of insects and gather a life force of some sort), but they are fun in their own right. Heck, the graphics and the dungeon missions are worth this game alone!
Overall, if you are a Zelda fan, or just a fan of great adventure games, and you own a Gamecube, pick this one up! Even if you don't own one, this game is worth picking up a Gamecube for. They are really cheap these days, and I would recommend you not go without this experience!