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When an evil darkness enshrouds the land of Hyrule, a young farm boy named Link must awaken the hero and the animal within. When Link travels to the Twilight Realm, he transforms into a wolf and must scour the land with the help of a inexplicable girl named Midna. Above and beyond his trusty sword and shield, Link will use his bow and arrows by aiming with the Wii Remote controller, fight while on horseback and use a wealth of other items, both new and ancient. 
The most epic Zelda ever launches with the Wii. | 
Link roams an completely new land of Hyrule. View larger. | 
Take control of your trusty horse as you travel from quest to quest. View larger. | 
Link must solve a number of challenging puzzles to progress to boss battles. View larger. | 
Fishing with the Wii Remote is a fun and valuable recreation. View larger. | Link's journeys, reinvented
Hailed by many as the best Zelda game since 1998's Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess thrusts players into a uneasy world ravaged by a perilous magic. Generous a new, more realistic visual style than the before Zelda title, Link looks much more like an adult than in before installments and fits well into an background that provides Zelda fans with a much more gritty and grim background to explore. The entirety of the quest fits this darker mood, as both Link and NPC's alike share the same concern for the changes about in Hyrule. More than just a spiritual successor to before Zelda installments, Twilight Princess offers players a new way of controlling Link through dungeons, forests, towns, and the bizarre Twilight Realm: precise weapon controls with the Wii remote! Players can use the remote to control Links' weapons counting the sword, arrows, and boomerang. This new control scheme allows for much quicker and more right control than on before Nintendo hardware. For example, waving the remote in the air will result in Link the acting the same go with the sword. To fire off on arrow, players "pull back" on a virtual controller string as the Wii remote's speaker lets players know that the pellet is ready for release. It all works incredibly well and adds to the title's immersion and style- you feel more in the center of the action than in before Zelda games. As impressive as the new control scheme is, the scope and size of the new land of the Hyrule is equally as impressive- truly the Wii's first epic adventure. Perfectly crafted and four years in the making, the land players travel through is vast and diverse as the dungeons and monsters that lie within. As players assemble triforce pieces from the distant sections of the continent, they will get to know many uncommon villages and foes. Thankfully, Link will be able to go over long stretches of land quicker thanks to "Epona," your faithful horse. Epona also helps Link become a more effective fighter, as a number of powerful and impressive sword strikes can be launched while galloping through fields of enemies. The Twilight Realm awaits
Like most games in the Zelda franchise, Link starts his adventure with small more than the clothes he has on an an thought that something has gone awry. After an early trip to the Twilight Realm, in which Link appears as a wolf, a forthcoming shadow occupier named Midna will meet up with players and give caring advice on gameplay. Fortunately for players, this virtual supporter spells out ways to be a more effective explorer in and out of the shadow world. Early stages of the game have Link spending a lot of time in the Twilight Realm, and open-air areas of Hyrule, attempting to clear areas of the weird darkness that has seemingly fallen over every village, forest, and field. As the tale progresses, players will learn the cause of the shadows, and what they must to do vanquish them for excellent. Puzzling puzzles
Link once again finds himself in a number of classic Zelda-esque puzzle scenarios in which he must light torches to unlock doors, raise and lower water levels, and fight enemies to assemble keys and open chests for vital rupees. A number of the dungeons bestow unique puzzle challenges that rely on the player's skill to hone their Wii remote's control, such as an air castle in the sky that can only be accessed by an exceptionally right grappling hook toss. In general, Twilight Princess is more challenging than the average Zelda game, with a number of boss battles having protracted hit sequences with small help potions about, and even less notification. Still, there's never been an adventure encounter such as this, where players can factually charge at a dungeon boss with their fists and punch the air to defeat an enormous foe. As the finest Zelda encounter in nearly ten years and the game fans have been waiting for, Twilight Princess will delight young and ancient gamers alike.
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 Fantastic, Relating Gameplay for All Ages |
| Review Date: November 23, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Lisa Shea, |
Zelda Twilight Princess has been keenly awaited by legions of Zelda gaming fans. This translation facial appearance a more adult Link who rides a horse, swings a sword and saves the day.
The title is available for both the GameCube and the Wii, and there are certainly some compensation with the Wii. First, you can see the game in 480p, which is DVD quality. It's not quite high definition, but it's still quite nice! Second, you get widescreen, which means you get much more game to see on the screen. Finally, you get to use the motion sensing controllers on your Wii to swing your sword, go fishing, aim your slingshot, and much more.
First, the gameplay. Most gamers will be tickled to hear that Link is less cartooney in this game. That's not to say it's a mature title - it's still a game without blood. You kill evil enemies who vanish in a puff of smoke. You go on a variety of quests, and it's very much excellent-hostile to-evil. Rather, with this Link you're not a small 6 year ancient on a toy sailboat. Your Link is in his late teens, has his own house, owns a horse. He is on the spot by three small tykes, but there's a certain young lady whose large eyes catch at Link's heart.
In no time at all Link is out in a world which is not all butterflies and daffodils. There are dark things afoot in Hyrle. The land is covered in twilight, and you turn into a wolf to deal with the shadows. Your senses serve you well in this realm. It's not too scary for kids - but it gives the game much more depth for older players.
The graphics are rather impressive for a Link game. Dredge up, the game is still a cartoon, so you're not seeing detailed tanks or the pores in the characters faces. The world you are in is stylized. There is plenty of detail in 480p - or even in fixed TV pledge - to show the orange pumpkins, green vines, and fluffy white chickens which make up Hyrule. The water ripples, the dust smoke and the fire flickers in the fire.
How about the sound? The Link games were well-known (or notorious) for the silly noises characters make. None talk. I suppose this makes it simple for them to exchange the game to every foreign Foreign language in the world - they just change the text out and are all set. Also, you can change your name and your horse's name without any language issues. The voices might not know how to pronounce "Shadowfax".
Gameplay is just incredible in its length and depth. There are numerous worlds to traverse and dungeons to delve into. There are the ordinary pool of mini-games, quests, things to assemble, puzzles to solve. You could easily play this for months and not be done. This isn't a game to race through to say "I solved it" and go on to something else. It's a world to throw physically into physically in, to get to know every hill and dale, to track down those secret locations.
I really like how the Wii controllers integrate into the game. It's not like you are using them constantly, getting exhausted with hand schedule. Instead, you do a honest part with the fixed joysticks for fine passage. The joysticks are used in a more general way, for sweeping sword attacks or relaxing fishing. You can use small schedule if you want - but it's much more fun if you get into the spirit of things and swing away. Just make sure you have that wrist strap by the book connected!
Downsides? The small "he he he" voices can get annoying quickly, especially if you are stuck on a puzzle and they are displeasing you. Sometimes the checkpoints send you back additional than you might like.
They do a excellent job of giving you small nudges if you get stuck, helping you figure out your way through the puzzles.
In general, I reckon they struck a fantastic balance between "tame enough for younger kids" and "in depth enough for older players". There are a lot of teen and adult Zelda fans out there, and they'll be quite satisfied with what the game offers. This is certainly one of those must-have for gamers who like adventure games even the slightest! |
Unquestionably Breathtaking
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| Review Date: November 20, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Katie, |
If you loved Ocarina of Time as much as I did, this will make you pleased.
The graphics are gorgeous. The scenery is incredible. All looks wonderful, and the best part is it still feels like a Zelda game. They resolute to revert back to the N64 Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask style graphics (but much cleaner, of course) rather than the cell shaded Wind Waker. I like the realistic character design much more for Zelda than the cartoonish one from the other recent games.
You can also get Twilight Princess on Gamecube, but the Wii translation has some extra benefits. One such benefit is the interactivity. When you go fishing, you use the motion insightful controller to cast the line into the water and reel the fish back. This makes it a lot more fun than the somewhat deadly sit-there-and-wait-to-press-A fishing game in Ocarina of Time. I'm glad they revamped the fishing and brought it back. Also, it is much more integrated in the gameplay than the last fishing minigame in a Zelda game (which was, of course, in Ocarina of Time). You use fish in sidequests and for other purposes.
As far as the control, it feels very untreated. You use one Wii-Mote and one Nunchuck together for it. You control Link's passage and targeting with the left hand and you use the right hand to go your fairy around with the motion sensor, and to supplement the left hand with looking around, that action button, and other functions. It's hard to give reasons for without trying it physically, but trust me, the controls are fantastic.
You start out the game with your horse, Epona. You also get the option to name both Link and Epona when you start your file, although I'm not sure if this will have any effect other than what NPC's in the game call you. Sometimes games use naming for codes ("If you enter your name as ___, ___ will happen" type things) but somehow I doubt it for this game. Anyway, the controls for Epona are fantastic too. Just like Ocarina of Time, you can press A to speed her up and jump over fences. She is very wonderful and detailed too. When you make turns, you can see Link pull in the reins. You use Epona for many minigames as well as just getting around. In the beginnig of the game, for example, you use her to herd goats into a shed. It's a lot of fun, and horseback riding is another figure I'm glad they brough back.
Also, don't worry if you saw Link with the weird goatherder outfit in all of the previews - he does get his original outfit later on. The dungeons are Awe-inspiring. It's rated Teen, but Zelda games have never included inappropriate content in my opinion. You do kill monsters, but there is no realistic blood or gore, or suggestive themes. The rating says "Full of life Blood, Fantasy Violence". Trust me, it's fine for kids. The action is all "hero hostile to evil" type action. This game is a total blast, and both new and ancient-school Zelda fans will like it. Even if you've never played a Zelda game, try this one - it'll get you hooked. |
See The Light of Zelda
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| Review Date: January 24, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Andrew, Chicago, IL, USA |
Once again, Nintendo is able to give a stellar addition to the well loved Legend of Zelda series. Despite the fact that the games ordinarily control the same three core characters (Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf), the games take up again to be original. More significantly, though, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is engaging, challenging, and fun.
A few centuries after the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the descendents of Link and Zelda, who themselves are also named Link and Zelda (the various games in the series take place across various time periods, with the main characters being represented by ancestors and descendents, all of whom strangely share the same names). Link is a farmer in a southern province of Hyrule while Zelda is, as always, the princess of Hyrule. In an fascinating go, the people that link lives with may not just so be Hylians; Hylians, counting Link and Zelda, have always been characterized by their pointed elf-like ears, but Link's fellow villagers have rounded ears that we have.
The first few tasks of the game have Link production with mundane tasks in order to learn the various controls for the game, which, for the Wii translation, is exceptionally vital. But, after being questioned to bring a gift to the royal family, inexplicable and eerie beasts show up and enshroud the land in a inexplicable twilight. Link is turned into a wolf while trying to fight the monsters, and is subsequently knocked out and jailed. While in jail, he meets Midna, who helps free Wolf-Link in exchange for help with a yet-to-be-revealed task.
From there, Link and Midna work as a team to rid the land of Hyrule of the weird twilight. The quest takes Link and Midna to previously seen locales of Hyrule such as Death Mountain (where Gorons live), Lake Hylia, Zora's River (home of the Zoras), and Gerudo Desert. New places contain Snowpeak (home to one of the weirdest dungeons I've encountered in a Zelda game) and Link's home of Ordon.
As the game goes on, Link's quest takes new turns and has events that are some of the most epic actions I've ever seen in a Zelda game. While Ocarina of Time was an epic tale overall of how Link, Ganondorf, and Zelda first crossed paths, there are moments in Twilight Princess that seem to be taken directly from The Lord of the Rings. The final battle of the game is also very well constructed and fun to engage in.
The Wii gameplay is incredible. Swinging the Wii Remote to swing Link's sword, pointing the Remote at the screen to aim the bow, and using it as a fishing rod truly bring the player into the game in ways the traditional control system could never attempt. It also allows for a much smoother form of horseback combat than that bestow in the N64 versions (though it was still hard). If you have a Wii, I certainly reccomend this translation over the Gamecube one (the only downside is a loss of continuity; since Link is ordinarily left-handed, the programmers were worried that right-handed people, who are the majority, would have distress using the sword, so they flipped the game around; what this means is that Gerudo Desert is now in the East and Kakariko Village and Death Mountain are now in the West, though in the Hyrule in Ocarina of time, the desert was in the West and Kakariko and Death Mountain were in the East).
I have to say that the only thing that I would change about this game is the inclusion (or lack thereof) of magic. For some reason, even though magic exists, Link does not have a magic meter. Consequently, there are no spells or magic arrows (or green potions), and the Magic Armor, which makes Link invulnerable while in it) is powered by rupees, which can be very annoying. Still, aside from the complaint, this is an incredible game. The tale is fantastic, the gameplay is top-notch, and the graphics are incredible. This game may not be as excellent as Ocarina of Time, but it is very, very close. |
Not perfect, but the next best thing
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| Review Date: November 25, 2006 |
| Reviewer: , |
Okay, i know there is a lot of hype about this game and i assure you, it's the best Legend of Zelda game ever, but there are a few negitive comments that should be adressed.
First up, the sword swinging is very cool, i'll admit, and it does add another level of immersion, but, you do not control the angle and force that Link siwings with (sorry to anyone who was really hoping if not). Pretty much, waving the controlller back and forth, will yeild the same results as intricate swinging motions (again, sorry).
Second, this game will have you banging your head hostile to the wall several times throuout the tale line, some of these puzzles are just immense! if you really like puzzles than this is your greatest dream, but if not, it can get a small annoying.
Finally, although the bosses are spectacular and will really wow you graphics wise, they are not all that challengin. I'm a experienced person Zelda player so this may just be since i'm used to figuring out bosses, but sieriously, som of the Ocarina of Time bosses presented a much larger challenge.
Now for the excellent stuff. Graphics wise, these are the best nintendo has bent and are ten times better than the Wind Waker ones. The tale line is really long and has a ton of side quests so it will keep you busy for a while (60-70 hours at least!!) and some of the new facial appearance counting horseback fights, and incorperating the wii remote into the game really adds to the completion of the game that we all know and like. Despite some of its drawbacks, it's a must-have game for anyone who owns a wii.
Graphics: 5/5
Music: 4.5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Length: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
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Absorbed in Twilight
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| Review Date: November 26, 2006 |
| Reviewer: S. Rhodes, |
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most well loved 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.
Twilight Princess is by far one of the most instantly absorbing in the series. The game starts 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 animal 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 absorbing and absorbing.
The control scheme is not so terrible at all. You'll control Link using the remote and nunchuck attachment. Swinging the remote makes Link swing his sword. It doesn't take a lot of work to do it either. A simple flick of the wrist is all it takes to make Link swing his sword. In addition, shaking the nunchuck causes him to do his well-known spin-slash attack. The controls are surprisingly fluent and very well responsive. Its an fascinating way to play Zelda, and there's no steep culture curve to it.
The heart of the challenge from the game mainly comes from the puzzles rather than the actual dungeon crawl itself. Simply since once you do get used to the Wii remote and controls you'll have a pretty simple time getting through the dungeons. The game provides a targeting system for you, and so you'll find it really simple. Using projectiles like the slingshot is also made simpler with the Wii remote. You simply aim at objects and fire. If you miss its completely your own fault.
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 effectively 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 its hard to judge Twilight Princess. Its a pretty game, but as you probably probable it pretty much looks like a late Gamecube release. This may be since Twilight Princess wasn't intended for the Wii in the first place, but the Gamecube. To the games credit though, it has a lot of detail going for it. Link has never looked better. The land of Hyrule has never looked better. Your enemies and some of the cinematics also sport some awe-inspiring detail. So while it does look like a late generation Gamecube game, keep in mind that it still looks excellent and that it probably even looks smoother and runs better on the Wii. Load times are effectively non-existant here.
The music still sounds pretty excellent. A lot of tunes you'll recognize from before Zelda adventures, but the new stuff sounds pretty excellent 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 tale 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 excellent. Its by far the most absorbing tale in the entire series, and its gameplay is unmatched. Fans who have followed Zelda since its days on the NES will be satisfied at just how far the series has come with Twilight Princess. Its one of the best in the series.
The Excellent
+Absorbing tale
+Fantastic Gameplay
+There's a lot of fantastic detail given to the game
+The puzzles are quite challenging
+The game still sounds excellent
The Terrible
-Graphicwise, its really pretty, but you can't help but admit its just a late Gamecube game
-All this time and the series still lacks voice acting |
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