The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

"Probably the only game, Zelda or otherwise, that can rival OOT."

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has got to be one of the most epic and timeless games of the Legend of Zelda series since Ocarina of Time was released. With beautiful graphics with vivid colours yet the not so subtle tone of darkness, enjoyable and nostalgic sounds and music, a very nifty storyline, gameplay that will knock your socks off and a seemingly endless playtime, this game makes for a great buy. If you haven't played Ocarina of Time, do so now. Unfortunately, it may be a few years too late to be able to appreciate the epic proportions to it all. However, as legendary as Ocarina of Time was, and still is (Rated best game of all time many years in a row), Twilight Princess seems to be the only successor to it that is able to usurp Ocarina of Time's throne.

Twilight Princess is called Twilight Princess because it focuses around an alternate dimension known as the Twilight.Because of this areas properties, beings from the "light" world have no idea whats going on. They have been turned into nothing but spirits for as long as they remain in there. But of course, the only way to enter or leave the Twilight is with permission from someone who is originally from the Twilight. Fortunately Link meets Midna in the Twilight, after being transformed into a Wolf in order to not become a spirit. Midna is after the strange Fused Shadow items found in temples across Hyrule. She agrees to let Link help her, for return of some assistance. I have yet to decide if Navi or Midna was the more annoying partner. But at least you're not bugged every time you try to fight something. Eventually, Link gains the ability to morph in and out of his Wolf form at any moment, allowing him to use his abilities anywhere gaining him access to places a human can't ordinarily reach.

First off, I'll talk a bit about the gameplay. A general topic, but best to be covered first over more minor things. Well start with the very fluid controls the game has on the Wii. Some people would prefer more traditional controls and would rather pick up the Gamecubes version of Twilight Princess. But as I've said, the controls are fluid and feel very natural to anyone who isn't just first learning to wield the Wii Remote. To draw your sword and swing it around, it requires movement of the Wii Remote. A simply shake or flick for a swing. This can be combined with other actions, such as lock on targeting or simple directional movement. Links trademark spin attack is from a shake or two from the Nunchuck attachment. Unlike most other Zelda games, Link learns a variety of other moves and attacks as he progresses through the game. Movement is simple with the control stick on the nunchuck attachment, and Item selection is done with the D-pad and the B trigger on the Wii Remote. Most items, unlike previous games, must be selected to the B button before use. You cannot simply equip it from the D-pad like you could in Ocarina's C buttons. You can however, keep certain items out while you use another, such as your lantern for lighting your way in ark caves or smoply at night time.

Yes, the game keeps the Time traveling function of a day and night scheme, however time moves much more slowly then Ocarina of Times, or even Wind Wakers time. Much like Zelda: Wind Waker, the moon you see in the sky changes faces as each night moves on, giving the game it's own more realistic feel. You defiantly don't want to be running around Hyruel Field at night without your lantern. Without the moonlight, it can get pretty scary. And speaking of Hyrule Field, it seems to have massively grown since Ocarina of Time. I haven't compared it yet, but it may be even bigger then the whole ocean of Wind Waker. I've heard it can take upwards of 45 minutes to simply run from one end of Hyrule Field to the other, and I'll believe it. Luckily, Link starts out with his horse in this game, making travels much faster. If you remember, you were able to shoot Arrows from Epona in Ocarina of Time. Well you can still do that, and a whole lot more from your horse (you can name her whatever you like in Twilight Princess), including sword fighting, and chucking bombs. A nice little effect, seen in few Zelda games of the past is the rockets. Equipping Arrows and bombs together, making an explosive projectile.

Now I think that's enough on the gameplay of Link. Lets move to Wolf Link. Playing as Wold Link can be fun, but also a tad annoying. You can't do the things you used to be able to do as a human, however you are able to do things that only a wolf can do. Digging holes and digging up items is one of the first things you learn. Attacking is the exact same as Human Link. Holding all the same controls. However, you don't have a sword, only yuour claws and teeth. But jumping and biting is fun too. Midna rides on your back while you're a Wold. She claims you as your slave pet, and she helped you escape confinement, so you can't really complain. She does help out too, giving you a homing attack with the use of the B trigger. A few of the Twilight enemies can only be defeated in this manner. Other things you can do is sniff out scents and track people down. This is used in combination with your sense ability. Turning on this Sense ability reveals things to you, but greatly limits your overall sight and hearing. With senses enables, you can spot out diggng areas, and see spirits' original forms. You can even howl! Howling is your musical item in this game, as there are others in almost every other Zelda game. As a human, you can whistle with whistling grass, in order to call your horse, or a hawk to attack something.

While in the Twilight, as a Wolf, nobody there can see you. Various actions you do will disrupt the spirits within the twilight. They can't se you, but they can see monsters and their own surroundings. Move something, and to them it looks possessed. The Twilight itself has a yellowish aura. From outside, it simply looks like a semi-transparent wall. From where you enter, you cannot see past it, but it is a solid wall nobody can pass, except for creatures origonally from there, who can then pull you in if they so desire. From an insiders view, everything is normal, aside monsters everywhere, but rom your point of view from within the Twilight, it's much different then the normal world where the Twilight hasn't taken over like the virus it seems to be. The landscape is the same, but with monsters running about, portals in the sky and black fragments of anything floating about everywhere, it's quite an intimidating place.

The beginning of the game seems to be the more stretched out part, while Link and Midna dispels the Twilight from the areas it's overtaking, by finding tears of light in order to revive a great spirit of light, watching over that area. But because at this time, theres nothing Link can do in wolf form for Midna, he must clear off the Twilight in order to travel around as a human. This will allow him into the temples, defeating the various bosses that hold the Fused Shadows that Midna is after. The temples near the start of the game can be pretty long, but closer to the second half of the game, they seem to get shorter, and less stuff happens in between each temple. At the end of each temple, like every other Zelda game, a heart increase is awarded. In both the overworld and in temples, pieces of a heart can be found. But unlike every other Zelda game, the pieces aren't 1/4 of a full heart. They've been shredded into 1/5th of a full heart. Not sure if it's an added difficulty, but they seem to be more easily found then they were in past games.

As you go through the game, you can always take a break and go fishing, or even hunting. Bug hunting that is. There are many different kinda of fish and bugs to collect, but it can take quite a while to find them all. Now with the fishing pole, you can add various forms of bait onto it. From grubs to worms, a lot work. Bait can attract a spicific kind of fish, or just increase chances of a fish finding your hook. Fish anywhere there are fish. This, couples with a ton of various side quests allows for the gameplay time to last well over 100 hours, if you take your time. However a straightforward play of it can take as quick as 20 hours. So if you like long drawn out games or the complete opposite, this game is looking good for you.

And phew, that about sums it up for the massive gameplay featured in this excellent adventure game. But I'm not done yet, theres so much more that makes the game what it is. I've already touched base on the graphics a bit, so we'll move onto the music. It simply fits into the game so well. If you can remember the themes from Ocarina of Time, then you should be able to enjoy the remixed music of places such as Death Mountain, and the Gorons, the Zoras and even Hyrule Field is a remix. The one thing that bugged me about the music is, that when you approach an enemy the battle music sorta just starts. It doesn't have the effect that Ocarina did, where it would slowly and gradually turn into the battle music as you got closer and closer. The limit for how close you need to be in order for this music to start is shortened as well. I've had things unexpectedly fly into my back without warning. But I suppose I should have heard it roaring first, as almost every monster has it's own unique sound, noises or moan.

The sound effects are similar to both Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker. Notably the explosion effect when a monster dies is much like the one in Wind Waker. However, the overall tone of the game leans more towards a darker theme such as Ocarina, or even Majoras Mask. You little pings you hear when picking up rupees are always the same, and I can't imagine anything different. Along with hearts and items, all nostalgic to an old guy like me.

In the end, the game is described in one word. Epic. This game has the epic proportions as Ocarina of Time had in it's day. The game, being available for both the Wii and the Gamecube is a must for anyone with either system. I recommend the Wii version for those with access to the Wii, as the widescreen support (if available to you) and the overall quality put in is only just for this game. If you are planning on buying a Wii anytime soon, don't worry about getting bored anytime son with it, as this game will last you a good while before you can afford your next game. And don't even try renting it, the game is simply too long for a rental period. Plus, sometime down the line, I know I'm going to want to play it again, just as what happened with the past Zelda games. This game is defiantly a keeper.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/16/07