RSS
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The most anticipated game of the year arrives. Is it the best Zelda game of all time? Our spoiler-free full review tells all.
November 17, 2006 | 11:24 AM PSTIn 1998, Nintendo released upon the gaming industry what to this very day many regard as the greatest video game of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Released for Nintendo 64 early in its lifetime, Ocarina of Time dazzled critics and gamers alike by transforming the Zelda franchise from 2D to 3D and simultaneously laying the foundation for future adventure games, as well as 3D games in general. To this day, most games employ mechanics and design choices that were invented by Nintendo's cherished N64 classic.
Ocarina of Time was not the first Zelda game that wowed the industry, though. A Link to the Past, for example, was long considered – and still is, by many – the best of the series. However, it is Ocarina of Time that has been used as a benchmark that not only every Zelda game must measure up against, but one that countless games released every year must be compared to. Even nearly a decade after its release, Ocarina of Time remains a seemingly undefeated representation of what a video game should be.
And yet again, there is a new contender on the block – one that has even been referred to as the game that will dethrone Ocarina of Time as the best Zelda of all time by the Big N itself. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess first began its journey to this point in time at E3 2004 as a GameCube title, when Nintendo revealed the game via a one-minute trailer that sent the industry into a collective heart attack. What made the unveiling so eventful was its visual style. Prior to the announcement that Twilight Princess would feature a relatively realistic art direction, Nintendo released The Wind Waker, a cel-shaded entry in the franchise that gave birth to a huge controversy over the subject of the entire Zelda franchises' true and original art style. The entire debate was beaten to death by both sides of the argument, and we certainly don't want to revive it, but most would agree that Twilight Princess represented for a huge chunk of the Zelda fanbase the return home to the series' roots.
The subject of whether or not Twilight Princess is in fact the "greatest Zelda of all time," as Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime so eloquently put it, is one that will remain as controversial and discussed several years after its release as it was leading up until it. The reason for this is one that's bound to disappoint Nintendo fans hoping that Twilight Princess will outrightly dethrone their beloved Ocarina of Time. The simple fact of the matter is Twilight Princess is not as revolutionary or disruptive to either the industry or gaming as a whole as Nintendo's ten-year-old legend was at the time of its release.
That said, Twilight Princess is an incredibly engaging and downright amazing adventure that shouldn't be missed by any single gamer. Zelda fans and gamers alike will fall in love with Link's latest adventure. It is overflowing with game design that satisfies, a story that propels and an experience that immerses unlike any other Zelda ever crafted. But while these little truths are lovely, there are two questions that the world wants answered. Is it the greatest Zelda game ever made, and is it the best game of all time? Read on to find out.
The Rundown
An Epic Tale
Like all traditional Zeldas before it, in Twilight Princess, gamers play as Link, and the title's storyline is more or less centered around him and his adventure. In it, Link starts as a wrangler in the small town of Ordon, which is located in the southern most part of the Hyrule kingdom, a province called Ordona. The game opens up with several cut-scenes, depicting Link as a cowboy in this small, isolated ranch and village deep within Hyrule's most southern forest. It's here that Twilight Princess begins to show signs that it will be a very story-driven affair – at least compared to past chapters in the franchise. Gamers will in fact be happy to know that this trend continues, as the adventure is easily the most story-focused installment in the Zelda series.
We won't go into any more detail about the storyline than what readers will find when they open up the game's instruction manual, which features a lengthy description of the adventure's plot. It's when Link's showing off his sword skills in front of the village's children that a monkey appears. One of the tikes watching Link points out it's one of those monkeys that's responsible for causing all the trouble in Ordon the last few days, and he and the other kids run after the monkey. Link quickly takes off after the children, finding himself deep within an unknown area of the forests surrounding Ordon. Creatures and beasts are roaming everywhere, and Link must make his way through each and every one of them to find the now-lost kids. He eventually finds both the children and mischievous monkey, saving them all.
The next day, Link begins to prepares to set out for Hyrule Castle to deliver the town's tribute – something done once every year. This year is Link's first time handling the annual responsibility, and it's his first time traveling to the distant royal castle, too. Before he can ever leave for his journey, though, a number of events unfold which ultimately prevent him from going to the castle and instead send him off on an adventure that will prove to be far more epic and dangerous. Already – this early in the game – Twilight Princess bests every other game in the series in regards to the amount of sheer story and plotline development. This isn't Final Fantasy, but it's a step in the direction of Square's franchise.
Eventually, Illia and Colin, two dear friends of Link, are kidnapped by an unwanted boar and creature that enter Ordon. Link is knocked out by the incoming boar and struggles with consciousness as the beast and its rider take off with his two friends. When the hero regains consciousness, he hastily begins to look for them both but is just as quickly pulled through a mysterious curtain of what is later revealed to be called the Twilight Realm that has emerged around Ordon. Link then transforms into a wolf, passes out and wakes up in a cell somewhere in the unknown realm.
Beyond here, Twilight Princess' story only becomes deeper and more intriguing. We've said it before, and we'll said it again: this is the most story-based Zelda yet. Nintendo has written a tale that is composed of much more than the traditional "find the kidnapped damsel, collect three gems and kill Ganon" that the series has become known for. This new kind of story is told through in-game cut-scenes, composed of both text dialogue and other cinematic events. Initially, the concept of a cut-scene without Link in it or one where actual events unfold sounds alien – and they are, at first – but Twilight Princess features many where the game's hero isn't involved at all or there are true story-pushing revelations within them. These kinds of scenes are new to both the series and Zelda fans themselves. They are scenes that are included to drive forth the adventure's overall storyline. And they're an admittedly fresh step forward for the franchise.
Ocarina of Time was not the first Zelda game that wowed the industry, though. A Link to the Past, for example, was long considered – and still is, by many – the best of the series. However, it is Ocarina of Time that has been used as a benchmark that not only every Zelda game must measure up against, but one that countless games released every year must be compared to. Even nearly a decade after its release, Ocarina of Time remains a seemingly undefeated representation of what a video game should be.
And yet again, there is a new contender on the block – one that has even been referred to as the game that will dethrone Ocarina of Time as the best Zelda of all time by the Big N itself. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess first began its journey to this point in time at E3 2004 as a GameCube title, when Nintendo revealed the game via a one-minute trailer that sent the industry into a collective heart attack. What made the unveiling so eventful was its visual style. Prior to the announcement that Twilight Princess would feature a relatively realistic art direction, Nintendo released The Wind Waker, a cel-shaded entry in the franchise that gave birth to a huge controversy over the subject of the entire Zelda franchises' true and original art style. The entire debate was beaten to death by both sides of the argument, and we certainly don't want to revive it, but most would agree that Twilight Princess represented for a huge chunk of the Zelda fanbase the return home to the series' roots.
The subject of whether or not Twilight Princess is in fact the "greatest Zelda of all time," as Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime so eloquently put it, is one that will remain as controversial and discussed several years after its release as it was leading up until it. The reason for this is one that's bound to disappoint Nintendo fans hoping that Twilight Princess will outrightly dethrone their beloved Ocarina of Time. The simple fact of the matter is Twilight Princess is not as revolutionary or disruptive to either the industry or gaming as a whole as Nintendo's ten-year-old legend was at the time of its release.
That said, Twilight Princess is an incredibly engaging and downright amazing adventure that shouldn't be missed by any single gamer. Zelda fans and gamers alike will fall in love with Link's latest adventure. It is overflowing with game design that satisfies, a story that propels and an experience that immerses unlike any other Zelda ever crafted. But while these little truths are lovely, there are two questions that the world wants answered. Is it the greatest Zelda game ever made, and is it the best game of all time? Read on to find out.
The Rundown
- The most anticipated Zelda game since Ocarina of Time itself
- 40-plus hour adventure
- Most story-driven Zelda to date
- Play as Link and wolf Link, exploring Hyrule, the Twilight Realm, dungeons and more
- Over 20 different items to find and equip – some new and some familiar
- Completely new motion-sensing controls allow you to attack with Link's sword using real-life hand gestures and aim with items like the bow unlike ever before
- Also available on GameCube in December 2006
- 480p and 16x9 widescreen support (only on Wii)
- Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound support
An Epic Tale
Like all traditional Zeldas before it, in Twilight Princess, gamers play as Link, and the title's storyline is more or less centered around him and his adventure. In it, Link starts as a wrangler in the small town of Ordon, which is located in the southern most part of the Hyrule kingdom, a province called Ordona. The game opens up with several cut-scenes, depicting Link as a cowboy in this small, isolated ranch and village deep within Hyrule's most southern forest. It's here that Twilight Princess begins to show signs that it will be a very story-driven affair – at least compared to past chapters in the franchise. Gamers will in fact be happy to know that this trend continues, as the adventure is easily the most story-focused installment in the Zelda series.
We won't go into any more detail about the storyline than what readers will find when they open up the game's instruction manual, which features a lengthy description of the adventure's plot. It's when Link's showing off his sword skills in front of the village's children that a monkey appears. One of the tikes watching Link points out it's one of those monkeys that's responsible for causing all the trouble in Ordon the last few days, and he and the other kids run after the monkey. Link quickly takes off after the children, finding himself deep within an unknown area of the forests surrounding Ordon. Creatures and beasts are roaming everywhere, and Link must make his way through each and every one of them to find the now-lost kids. He eventually finds both the children and mischievous monkey, saving them all.
The next day, Link begins to prepares to set out for Hyrule Castle to deliver the town's tribute – something done once every year. This year is Link's first time handling the annual responsibility, and it's his first time traveling to the distant royal castle, too. Before he can ever leave for his journey, though, a number of events unfold which ultimately prevent him from going to the castle and instead send him off on an adventure that will prove to be far more epic and dangerous. Already – this early in the game – Twilight Princess bests every other game in the series in regards to the amount of sheer story and plotline development. This isn't Final Fantasy, but it's a step in the direction of Square's franchise.
Eventually, Illia and Colin, two dear friends of Link, are kidnapped by an unwanted boar and creature that enter Ordon. Link is knocked out by the incoming boar and struggles with consciousness as the beast and its rider take off with his two friends. When the hero regains consciousness, he hastily begins to look for them both but is just as quickly pulled through a mysterious curtain of what is later revealed to be called the Twilight Realm that has emerged around Ordon. Link then transforms into a wolf, passes out and wakes up in a cell somewhere in the unknown realm.
Beyond here, Twilight Princess' story only becomes deeper and more intriguing. We've said it before, and we'll said it again: this is the most story-based Zelda yet. Nintendo has written a tale that is composed of much more than the traditional "find the kidnapped damsel, collect three gems and kill Ganon" that the series has become known for. This new kind of story is told through in-game cut-scenes, composed of both text dialogue and other cinematic events. Initially, the concept of a cut-scene without Link in it or one where actual events unfold sounds alien – and they are, at first – but Twilight Princess features many where the game's hero isn't involved at all or there are true story-pushing revelations within them. These kinds of scenes are new to both the series and Zelda fans themselves. They are scenes that are included to drive forth the adventure's overall storyline. And they're an admittedly fresh step forward for the franchise.
< previous | page 1 of 4 | next >
February 8, 2010
