30.1.2007

The new Zelda game is the last one for the Gamecube. Lucky for me, as I didn't have to buy a Wii to play it and there does not appear to be much visual difference between the two versions. Whichever version you play, it's another outing for Link as the Kingdom of Hyrule is yet again under threat from an evil tyrant. Now, Twilight Princess could well be the best one since Ocarina of Time but it is very fortunate that the Zelda series is held in such high regard among gaming fans, because how many other games could get away with simply re-making the classic format in each new edition, albeit in a shiny new adventure? So if you have played Ocarina or time or Wind Waker or any of the older games,you'll know the story before it even begins. The plot is as follows: A young farmer (called Link we presume, or whatever you name him) leaves his village on an errand only to find that shadowy monsters are turning the land of Hyrule into a place of darkness. The creatures kidnap some of the village children, and when Link follows them he meets up with a small fairy like creature called Midna who convinces him to join forces with her in tracking down some sacred artefacts that will help rid Hyrule of the evil invaders.Now this is all lots of fun, but I really think the series could have done better than simply repeating all of the previous games' ingredients. For example, you once again start out with no money, a health meter of 3 hearts and no decent equipment, but these can all be expanded as time goes on. On your travels you will again encounter the aquatic Hylians and their underwater temple (which starts off frozen), the rock shaped Gorons and their temple on lava-filled Death Mountain, and the man-eating plants and spiders of the Sacred Forest temple. You'll again find a new accessory in each dungeon, from the bow and arrow, to the boomerang, to bombs, and then to the hookshot, and each time you will need to employ the latest one to kill the temple boss. In any lesser game series, this would be unforgiveable repetition, but despite the fact that I have pointed this out, I cannot deny the simple fact that in Zelda games it's all just too good to complain about. And this game is no exception. Use of all the tools and interacting with the environment is as much fun as ever, so the game designers seem to have got away with it once again!The meat of the game is found in the temples, and one more thing that the series gets absolutely right is in the design of it's dungeon layouts. Now in this respect, every game IS different and Twilight Princess is a good example. The dungeons are great - full of clever designs and challenging puzzles. And most of the challenge comes not in skillful fighting or jumping, but in solving the mystery of how you actually get from one room to the next. You really have to look around and think up ways of getting the various doors to open, or to reach very high up switches. The game never tells you what to do, and this has always been the great strength of the series. And of course the temples are full of monsters, most of which are classic Zelda foes. I smiled with recognition when I saw Skulltulas (spiders), Deku Babas (plants) and Keese (bats) coming at me, but then again, because of this I was already familiar with their weaknesses and had little trouble in dealing with them. The same goes for the bosses. If you've played any previous game, you'll know just what weakness to expect, when to defend and when to strike. The boss fights are actually much easier in this game than they were in Ocarina of Time, so if you got through that you can sail through this one.But there has been some amount of innovation. As similar as this game is to it's ancestors, it does have new ideas. Early on in the game Link finds himself transformed into a wolf (it's the only form he can take anytime he is in a part of Hyrule that is enveloped in the Twilight), and several areas of the game are played in this guise. I have to say I didn't really enjoy this aspect, and the first time I had to go though an area as Wolf Link I didn't enjoy it very much. His moves are very limited and fighting is a real chore. I am glad this new concept is here but I think the game designers made a mistake in deciding on the first challenging area to explore would be in wolf form as it not the strongest aspect to the game. There are also accessories/weapons that have never appeared before, and these were very welcome - these new items make the boss battles you use them in some of the best moments of the game (like the Desert Fortress boss fight - wow!) And of course the new graphics are fantastic. The world you live in is huge, with many places to visit and explore. Characters look amusing and well designed, and Link himself has a very appealing face, and quite a graceful appearance, although in his village outfit (before he gets the classic green hero uniform) he looks quite awful and I was relieved that he soon changed out of that daft get-up.What I must say though, is that the game gets better and better the further into it you get. Later dungeons call upon use of every item you have so far accumulated, and don't be surprised if that boomerang that you stopped using once you had all the better weapons still gets called into action again when you had all but forgotten it. You'll also need to be using both wolf form and human forms alternately to access some areas much later on, and often multiple times in the same rooms. But it's all par for the course, because another thing among the Zelda games' greatest strengths is the necessity to never forget what you have LEARNED, no matter how far back in the game it may have been, because be assured that by the end of the story you'll be using every single skill you have to get through the increasingly complex puzzles.I started off this review with my negative thoughts about the repetition of the same ideas in every Zelda game, but in truth I could write paragraph after paragraph about how many aspects of Twilight Princess are pure excellence. It's probably because the basic concept of the Zelda games is just so foolproof. I would imagine that for anyone completely new to the brand that this game could prove to be mind blowing. It's also really lo-o-ong! You'll be able to spend hours and hours on this if you want to. All the mini games, pieces of heart searches and shopping upgrades are still here. And for any existing fans it's a fantastic new environment to play in. I suppose the main drawback for longterm fans is that we are going to know what to do in advance a lot of the time, but the game designers still managed to make me work hard, so I am sure loads of other fans out there won't be disappointed. Even if it's not a revolution in the same way that Ocarina of Time was, it's a quality product in every sense of the word.

1.3.2007

Zelda Twilight Princess has been eagerly awaited by legions of Zelda gaming fans. This version features 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 definitely some advantages 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 thrilled 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 good-against-evil. Rather, with this Link you're not a little 6 year old on a toy sailboat. Your Link is in his late teens, has his own house, owns a horse. He is harassed by three little 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. Remember, 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 regular TV resolution - to show the orange pumpkins, green vines, and fluffy white chickens which make up Hyrule. The water ripples, the dust billows and the fire flickers in the fireplace.How about the sound? The Link games were famous (or notorious) for the silly noises characters make. None talk. I suppose this makes it easy for them to convert the game to every 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 speaking issues. The voices might not know how to pronounce "Shadowfax".Gameplay is just amazing in its length and depth. There are numerous worlds to traverse and dungeons to delve into. There are the standard collection of mini-games, quests, things to collect, 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 move on to something else. It's a world to immerse yourself 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 movements. Instead, you do a fair portion with the regular joysticks for fine movement. The joysticks are used in a more general way, for sweeping sword attacks or relaxing fishing. You can use small movements 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 properly connected!Downsides? The little "he he he" voices can get annoying quickly, especially if you are stuck on a puzzle and they are tormenting you. Sometimes the checkpoints send you back further than you might like.They do a good job of giving you little nudges if you get stuck, helping you figure out your way through the puzzles.In general, I think they struck a great 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 pleased with what the game offers. This is definitely one of those must-have for gamers who like adventure games even the slightest!

21.12.2006

As I have got older, I have moved away from computer games; I do not get the same pleasure out of them as when I was young (an age thing maybe). The Gamecube is the last console I will probably ever own, and so I was glad to see Nintendo release "Twilight Princess" for it because, although "Wind Waker" was decent enough, it did not feel like the true follow up to "Ocarina of Time" and "Majora's Mask" off the N64 and I did not want to retire there. But as you probably guessed from my 3-star review, I am a little disappointed with Twilight Princess too.I will start with what I liked about the game. I thought the temples (or dungeons) were excellent. There are about ten (it really is a huge game)and after the first relatively dull level, I was worried if the makers had ran out of ideas, but thankfully later dungeons prove they have not. Some of the puzzles and environments are impressive, and I thoroughly enjoyed playing through them. There was one silly level near the end, all a little farfetched perhaps, but otherwise I thought the level designs were excellent. I was actually pleased with much of the main quest. With the compulsory tasks outside dungeons, I found there was plenty of variety to keep me entertained. At one point there is an excellent horse-combat sequence, and later you are snowboarding, and this variety is appreciated in a game as large as this.Sadly though, the game feels soulless. What do I mean by this? Well in Ocarina of Time, the best game I have ever played (must have been about ten years old then), I was so absorbed by the world that I could imagine I was in it. The reason why this was the case was that outside the main quest, I could go exploring, and best of all talk to the colourful characters of the world and solve their problems for satisfying rewards. If I ever got stuck on a puzzle, I could maybe go pottering around Lon Lon Ranch for a while, and I knew after every temple, a new area or shop or village would be open for me to explore in my own time. Then I remember the genuine shock of seeing Hyrule Town as an adult, and loved re-exploring the world again. In Majora's Mask (proof that it is possible to follow up a great game like Ocarina of Time while introducing lots of new ideas), Clock Town felt so alive and there was so much to do outside the main quest. I loved both games as a result.Twilight Princess was really poor for this. The only characters with any... character...only have character because they are tied in with the main plot and otherwise have nothing new or interesting to say. In Hyrule Town, there are lots of people but most are mute...and the only ones that do talk say the same thing over and over again which is usually "have you been in the shop yet?" or something very dull like that. Side quests include looking for ghosts and bugs...looking for things around the world...seems very boring and tagged on and I cannot be bothered doing them. To add insult to injury, the rewards for doing these things are extremely disappointing. More often than not, you solve a big puzzle just to get a load of rupees but as the games goes on, you don't need rupees or anything to hold more of them in; there is nothing to buy. There is barely any incentive to explore, and nobody to talk to, and so you are tied to the main quest, making the game seem linear and cold. To me this is, not a minor, but a major drawback to a Zelda game which they spent so much time and effort making.Having said that, my mate thinks this game is great, so don't let me put you off too much.

20.10.2010

Looking at my various Amazon reviews I noticed that I hadn't written a review for this game despite getting my hands on it the day it came out! As with most of my Zelda games I have played this game over and over and I love it. Nintendo's ability to combine new storylines, monsters, places, dungeons and bosses with familiar, loved ones is unique (I for one always smile with satisfaction and excitement at a new item and in comfort at a familiar one!) I can't imagine other games getting away with so much 'repetition', but they successfully exploit our love of the new with our love of nostalgia like no-one else. Many reviewers refer to the OoT (Ocarina of Time) nature of this game, but I think that is unfair.Whilst the landscape overall is something of an homage to OoT, with a large, grassy central area leading into various towns and villages on its perifery it is not correct to say everything familiar in Twilight comes from OoT. Many place names and characters come from much earlier Zelda games, as do familiar items and tunes.The landscape and the storyline is big. Even once Hyrule is saved you can spend hours searching for bugs and heart pieces if you feel so inclined. The new items are innovative, the familiar items have some neat twists, the dungeons and bosses are unique to this game, even if all the monsters aren't. Personally, I liked the wolfie parts of the game even though you can't use any equipment you have acquired, and that's because what sells Zelda to me is the puzzle side of the game and some of the puzzles and challenges need you to be in wolf form, plus he is a handsome wolf!I have played the game on both the gamecube and the Wii and graphically they are exactly the same. Obviously, the controls are very different, but I found them equally easy to use. You can't equip so many items in the Gamecube version as you can in the Wii version, but that is no biggy as far as I am concerend. If you like a more controlled style of play then use a Gamecube version of the game, if you prefer a more intuitive style then use the Wii version.Overall, I would strongly recommend this game if you want to try a more up-to-date Zelda game. However, for me it still didn't come out above OoT and that is for two reasons:-(1) My eyesight is not brilliant even with glasses and I found the rather hazy, darkish, soft focus way the graphics were done hard on the eye. The graphics are luscious and at a glance the game looks lovely, but for someone like me a bit too dark and fuzzy in places and so it was a strain finding my way round certain places; and(2) Even though I love Zelda more for the puzzles than the fights I have to say that overall the fighting, especially the bosses, was a lot easier than I was expecting. I beat every boss and mini boss first time in this game, which is more than I can say for OoT (Bongo Bongo nearly drove me crazy until I finally beat him!). Fortunately, some of the other puzzles and challenges made up for this and it is in these that you may find yourself stuck and pondering.If I could have given 4.5 stars for overall rating I would have, but I can't so it got 4 stars. That said it is a lot of fun and I think deserves a 5 star fun rating. If you like Zelda, this is not a game to be missed even though it is a few years old now.

18.6.2007

This is a massive game that's been in the works for years, the reason I am reviewing the Gamecube version is simply because that is the one I own. Here goes...Graphics: For the 6th generation standards, this looks brilliant, characters and environments are of high quality and are extremely detailed, although despite also being released for the Wii, it doesn't match anything you'll see on the Xbox 360 or PS3. The water effects are very nice and Bosses look just plain awesome.Controls: Because this is the Gamecube version, the controls are the traditional formula, seen in Windwaker and the Gamecube port of Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask. They are not hard to grasp and can be picked up in a matter of minutes.However I did find myself constantly pausing to get items like in Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time, rather than pressing up on the D-Pad, which fustrated me slightly.Gameplay: Simply fantastic, the game is massive and there's loads of places to explore, the dungeons are well designed and the puzzles, although they don't live up to the standard of thier predecessors, are still tricky in places. Countless enmeies are to be slain and the bosses literally take up whole rooms. There's a traditional Zelda feel, especially when you see the nods towards OoT. However, the main reason I've knocked the game down a star is because it is FAR too easy. None of the puzzles and enemies/bosses posed a significant challenge for me and the last boss was a pushover. The game is great, but for those who want a challenge you won't find it here. Also for those who tend to spoil the games for themselves, try not to (I know it's hard right now) but the game is much more enjoyable if you haven't got a clue what will happen next. The Wolf sections are good, the best thing about it is it doesn't get in the way too much, it's essential for some puzzles to be solved, but the game doesn't force you (later on) to play as a wolf too much. Some may see the wolf idea as a gimmick, but it really adds to the gameplay and is only minutely fustrating.Lifespan. 60+ hours, Finishing the main story will take you around 50+ hours, but if you carry on the game to look for heart pieces, poes, and do other side-quests then it'll take you ages. I'm around 61 hours into the game and still haven't completed it 100%. Advice to people playing the game for the first time, don't rush through as fast as you can, just relax and take your time, take out a few hours and just explore the massive Hyrule and no doubt you'll find something new, I still do.So there you have it, the difficulty of the game sets it back from OoT, and I feel as thuogh Nintendo put too many ideas from OoT in there, it's great for that retro feeling, but one of the dungeons main 'theme' is based on one of OoT's. Which can feel a bit iffy for some.Overall I think you should buy this game, but be warned, if you are good at games in general and/or have experienced past Zelda games, then this is easier than blinking.

30.12.2006

After a good couple of years in development, The Twilight Princess finally comes to the cube, but it has exceptionally big shoes to fill. The Zelda series has a history of brilliance, with arguably one of the best games of all time in the N64 installment Ocaraina Of Time.This installment is reeking with nostalgia of that classic game, many of the locations from OOT are present, from Death Mountain to the Gerduo Desert. All in brilliant representation, a personal favorite being Lake Hylia, there is even reference to some of the characters to the N64 title, for instance in the fishing hut or the postman who happily runs around Hyrule field all day long.The controls are practially the same as the last gamecube Zelda,The Wind Waker, but are very effective, and quick to pick up. before you know it you will be darting around the place and stabbing all in your path. There are also many unlockable skills to obtain, you have to search for them all, but they all come in very handy, especially the Helm Splitter and the Shield Attack. Another treat for anyobdy who has played the other installments, is that the soundtrack is virtually the same, it gives it a nice feel to the proceedings.The story is an interesting one, as for the first section, you don't know very much about the enemy you are fighting, all you know is that he is trying to merge the twin realms of twilight (the twilight realm) and light (hyrules) to form an eternal darkness. A single member of the twilight realm named Midna is helping you throughout the quest, who will constantly pop up with adivce on what to do next and aid you when nescasary, but seemsto have her own agenda. You go from simple farm boy, to saviour of the lands, it takes time though, with the sidequests and the 9 dungeouns for you to get through, each with some puzzles that will stump a few zelda veterans.Unfortunatley, with the good comes the bad, and there are a few donwsides to this game, the first being the linear nature of the characters. With Majoras Mask on the N64, you had characters that where fun to interact with and each one had something worth getting involved in, with TTP however, the characters with the most to say are those involved with the story and a few others with sidequests, but most just say the same things. Which to me is a bit irritating, it would have been nice to flesh it out a bit. Midna is pretty much useless in the second half of the game, and is only really handy for teleporting or attaking when you are in your wolf form.Gripes aside, this is a quality title which will took me a good 40 hours to finish on my first go through, which is alot more than you get from some "next-gen" games. If the game had felt more alive, it would have gotten a full 5, but instead gets a respectable 4, it is however a joy to play trough, time and money well spent.

5.4.2007

Over a year later than expected, Twilight Princess finally arrived, and it was definitely worth the wait.Graphically, this game is excellent, and has met a good balance between looking realistic, whilst maintaining the essential spirit of Zelda. The soundtrack is also very good, and seems to me to perfectly capture the series of Zelda.The gameplay is innovative, and the game designers have obviously spent a lot of time developing new items, and new scenarios for them to be used in. However, something that disappointed me was the way that some items seemed to be made redundant as soon as they have been gained - they have their moment in the sun, and then fade into the background,

27.12.2006

I'm not sure just how the Nintendo people do it, but they've managed yet again to produce a superb Zelda game. And if you think "it's not on a next gen system so it's not worth getting", well, you're really wrong, especially since there is no difference between this and the Wii version.The story is what you'd expect for that sort of game, but it's told in such an interesting way that it won't feel that much of a cliche. Your world is in danger, you must save it, and even though at first you don't know much about why, who and how, you'll gradually learn more and more information.The gameplay is just perfect. As much as I think about it, I cannot find any real fault that spoilt my enjoyment while playing the game.

12.1.2007

I would like to state that this is an excellent game, if and only if you consider it on its own merits. As another entry in a long running series of games it somehow disappoints. In the rush to fawn over the 'improved' graphics a few points have been glossed over.As you progress through the game two things become apparent. The first is that while the game's initial forest environment is stunningly detailed the later environments are smaller and spartan in comparison. The second is that the dungeons, although greater in number than before, progressively become smaller and smaller and somewhat linear.

18.1.2007

This Zelda is really two games in one. On the one hand, the core gameplay, the early dungeons, items, horseriding, and even the map and locations are all similar to or the same as Ocarina of Time, although on an absolutely vast scale compared to that game. This means that it will very familiar to anyone who has played that game (it even feels as though it might be running the same game engine, although with much improved graphics). On the other hand there's an entirely new game here as well - one where you get to explore the game as a wolf, travel through the twilight world, watch the story unfold through stranger and edgier cutscenes than ever before, and just be amazed at how massive the whole thing is.

29.12.2006

After Ocarina of Time I thought that was it for me playing games. When it ended I thought that nothing would even come close to its greatness, and with the exeption of Resident Evil 4 I was right, until now. As the Gamecube unfortunatly dies out we are blessed with Twilight Princess the new best game ever made.After playing both versions of the game I would have to say that the 'cube version is better. I just think that the game benefits more from a traditional control pad. Speaking of which, the controls are more fluid than ever and Link seems much easier to control.The first thing that hits you when you load it up though is the outstanding graphics. The intro sequince,

2.2.2006

If you love the Legend of Zelda, then you should buy this game. I couldn't wait to get it home when it arrived at my workplace just before Christmas, and I'm still playing it now. As in Ocarina of Time, Link finds himself back in Hyrule. This time, he travels back and forth between the present world and the Twilight World through portals that open up as you win your way through the game, bringing back items that help Link to overcome his enemies. I was happy to see familiar characters like the Gorons and Zoras and that cuddly cutie Ganondorf. But is it as good as Ocarina of Time? IMO, no. The graphics are great and much more sophisticated, but for some reason I don't feel encouraged to explore the vast world of this game,

2.4.2007

I'm going to keep this review short but sweet, I'm going to grade all aspects of the game out of 10 and I'm going to give a brief explanation beside them all and then a short overall review.Graphics - 10/10 (Faultless in my opinion and there is no difference when compared to the Wii version)Sound - 10/10 (Perfect, the music adds great atmosphere, none of the characters speak, but it doesn't matter in my opinion)Gameplay - 8.5/10 (Good gameplay, the graphics & storyline are definitely gripping enough to keep you there for a while, it has alot of fun & exciting elements and also good brain tingling fun with a good amount of puzzles.

29.11.2012

I have the WII version instead of the gamecube one but they are essentially the same game,albeit with level maps mirrored in places.This being an old game on both platforms the visuals are quite blurry.If your used to todays HD offerings dont be put off by this..after a short while youll become engrossed with the typical Nintendo seminal game play and graphics wont matter a bit.In their day they were groundbreaking but now as with the none hd offering the wii puts out visuals will seem a bit lacking,however most nintendo fans buy the in house titles for the gameplay not the graphics.The game world is huge and some puzzles are quite taxing but there is always something to do..my save game time

23.7.2005

If I wanted to, I could probably sum up this whole review in one word...Wow.After the backlash Nintendo recieved after the cartoony Wind Waker, they decided to rip everything up and start all over again. And it looks like they a good reason for it.Link starts off as a cowboy in this game. He has a crush on a girl called Ilia, who hppens to be the local vet. One day, Link injures his horse and asks a local boy named Colin to help him find Ilia. Ater a touching scene, Ilia is shot by an arrow and Colin is kidnapped, Link runs back to the village, only to find a dark portal standing in his way (the twilight realm)comically, he is grabbed inside. Basically the Twilight realm is like a dark world that is slowly seeping over Hyrule,

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Reviews

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