The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

By Tenacious Moses
November 20, 2006 17:12 PM PST
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The Best Looking Zelda Game Ever

PROTIP: Midna will offer all sorts of advice, whether you are in the Twilight or Light realm.

From an artistic standpoint, the graphics in Twilight Princess are the best we've seen from any Zelda adventure. Similar to The Matrix, the realms of light and Twilight are clearly distinguished by drastic color changes, which perfectly sets the overall mood. And as to be expected from a Zelda game, the character design is superb. Link is appropriately heroic and the familiar green tunic and cap will instantly transport gamers back in time to the days of the original NES game. The supporting cast is fleshed out by some truly memorable characters, including, of all things, a tribe of monkeys who lend Link a helping hand...or is that paw?

But the real surprise is Princess Zelda, who is portrayed in a brand new and wholly unexpected light. No longer is she the damsel in distressmuch like the series itself, she's matured and grown up. The visuals are, sadly, nothing compared to some of the titles emerging on the Xbox 360 or PS3, and if you're playing on a high-definition wide-screen display, the component cables are a must, but regardless, the visual style and artistic direction is top notch.

Not much has changed in the sound department, however. The haunting score and useful audio cues are all familiar stuff. The only difference is the integration of the speaker on the Wii-mote. It'll act as a secondary sound source that aurally adds to your experience. It's somewhat gimmicky and the sound quality is horrible, but its fun nonetheless.

Take Me Back to the Good Old Days

PROTIP: With the bow and arrow equipped, hold the B button to aim and fire. Once bombs are acquired, combine the two for an arrow of doom.

But enough about the controls and how it looks: at the end of the day, what matters most is that Twilight Princess is still a Zelda title, through and through. The most amazing thing about the Zelda series is that, while they all share a core foundation of gameplay mechanics and design sensibilities, each proceeding title has added something new that makes it unique and compelling. Twilight Princess retains the trademark Zelda touches: there are hidden secrets to uncover, rupees to collect, and chickens to harass.

Also present is the delightful sense of humor, the epic feel of adventure, and the deep and engaging storytelling that brings to mind the genius of Hayao Miyazaki and hey-day Disney. But Twilight Princess is its own game, easily stepping out of the large and imposing shadow thrown by the previous pinnacle of Zelda-dom, The Ocarina of Time. The unique controls have much to do with this but even without it, the game would standout for its seamless blend of action and storytelling. It's a potent brew, crafted from a formula that Nintendo has been perfecting for years, and while the flavor is familiar, it somehow manages to feel new and refreshing at the same time.

Undeniably an Epic Adventure

From start to finish, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an extraordinary addition to the legendary series. The key to Twilight Princess' genius lies in its ability to evoke, and fulfill, a feeling of nostalgia, to return you to the bygone days when you first played a Zelda game. Whether it was the classic 2-D overhead adventures, or the later forays into the brave new world of 3-D that first got you hooked, Twilight Princess brings back all those fond memories, then creates some of its own. If there is one Wii game to own at launch, this is it, but we're guessing we didn't need to tell you that.

PROTIP: The fishing in Twilight Princess could be a game in its own. To fish, let the hook sink, watch the bobber, and snap back on the Wii remote when you get a bite.