Graphics: 10
Gameplay: 8
Storyline: 8
Audio/Sound: 9
Suspense: 8
Overall: 9
Rated T for Animated Blood and Violence Available for Wii and Gamecube Consoles
Comments: Since Ocarina of Time, everyone had wanted a game with the same feeling and same thrill, that kept the same expectations and fun Ocarina had to offer. Majora's Mask only gave the thrill, but the feeling wasn't there. Wind Waker gave the feeling but didn't give the thrill. But did Nintendo's newest release for the Wii, the Twilight Princess accomplish both? Well, that's for each one of us to find out, but here's how my deduction went:
Nintendo kept this a bit active by giving us a wolf form, and being able to slash around while being on a horse, and even teleporting. This kept the gameplay in some parts very vivid, and interesting. However, looking at the standard Link play, sword hacking and slashing didn't over go a major transformation; the skills put out through the quest to get, where nothing more than ideas from the Wind Waker (except for a few that seemed to be "new" ideas). In the other hand, they did add new things that you could not do before as Link, like slash while running, and like mentioned, slash while riding a horse. These, even though small changes, did bring the in-gameplay value some jump. As for being in wolf form, a lot of the same attacks and tactics did apply, and here's where we had new attacks. I guess one could say it is funner to be in wolf form, just to launch at an enemy and cling to it and bite it until it dies; that never got old. Sometimes as a wolf you'll have more fun, because the gameplay while being a wolf will be more dynamic, and same physics apply with the Wii-mote, except you can't use items. Only your senses, claws, mouth, ear and nose... oh and tail.
The Wii-mote on this game works like a charm. There were very few times where I had problems, but that was because I wasn't using the Wii-mote right. The handling of the Wii-mote feels natural and nothing near forced, and the same goes for the nun-chuck, which in my opinion, rocks. It's comfortable, easy to use and feels just right. There was a downside, but this may be with just me; when selecting the items you may often "forget" which button is which to put an item on your shortcut icons, and may even accidentally put something else by mistake when you are in a fight and need a weapon fast, so it is best to pause for a moment when changing items so you don't end up getting something you are not looking for. this may because of the button placements, or simple because of the adapting theory.
Overall however, the controller scheme is awesome, and works well with the gameplay. Doubtful users of the new controller WILL find it weird and gimmicky, but please keep that thought out of your head, and if you do, you'll do fine. The only people I've seen had problems are those people which think or believe the new controller is funny, weird, or awkward. Think innovative, and keep an open mind and you shouldn't have much problem adapting.
Yes, it's a gamecube port. Yes, it has its graphic. No, they aren't crappy. The graphics where artistically beautiful and not glitchy looking. For the gamecube quality it had, I must say I was impressed, for the best graphics I've seen on a gamecube game was from Resident Evil 4, and for me this was on par, but was able to show far more in range than RE4. There were vibrant, and vivid colors, and very good use of physics when it came down to facial expression on characters's faces and even on enemies themselves. When it was windy it showed; when you were falling it showed, when you were wet from going swimming, it showed. All this gave the gamecube graphics a plus. A sense of realism was present, even if the game did not have the Wii's full graphical power, and this tops it to a 10 out of 10.
What can we say about the sound? Sure there was no voice acting, and no orchestrated soundtrack, but a lot of the music in Twilight Princess was as good as most of the other songs found in past Zelda games. A lot of the tunes heard in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask make a comeback with some remixing and extra stuff thrown in there that really gives the music the pinch to love it. The music felt about right in every occasion. More than enough times I wanted to hear the music louder or for more time because it intrigued and fascinated me. For example, from one of characters in the game Serenade of Water comes as their little theme, and I must say it gave me the good goosebumps because it was purely a good revamp of the original. Other songs like the song of healing come back better as you play them, but not using an ocarina. With what? Well play and see.
Aside from music, sounds we hear are that of the characters "quick action" noises, such as sighs, screams, yells, etc.. But these sounds are good quality nonetheless. You'll often hear Midna's giggle which is both funny and creepy. As you run through Hyrule field you may sometimes hear a certain character "Oy!"-ing at you and giving you some nifty info. But out of all of the voices and noises, Midna's takes the cake by having the most. She's the only with any "voice acting" even though her voice acting is basically jibberwalk, so you can't really understand her, but that's why there's always been text.
Overall the sound is awesome but not perfect, but it certainly is worthy of some kind of soundtrack. It will really only hurt you if you hate reading, so if you do, I advice you to not play at all.
There are some things on this game that will rather feel unfulfilled or rehashed. This is where certainly the game hurts: from it's 30-40 hour quest play, to the small numbers of minigames and sidequests, to seemingly collecting stuff to get something to be able to get something else, to its seemingly empty fields.
The main quest will not take you much if you have been playing Zelda games or adventure games for a long time, but if you are a newbie, or you have played a few, then it might take you a while. The game itself feels short, because of some unattended things (which I'll leave you to find out). As you go, the action seems to slow down and the traveling seems to get shorter, thus you may get a sensation of "come on!"
However, the storyline will keep you wanting to know what is next, even if you might feel what it is already, and the few extras can still pose some fun for you to do. The ending might be good depending how you did through the last part of the game. If you completed while wanting more, obviously, you are going to be disappointed, but if you finish the game, while you did everything else, and followed the storyline closely, then you'll probably will be ok with it.
Overall, even if the value of the game is damaged by the things mentioned, it keeps strong by keeping the essence of a Zelda game, and even after you finish it, you might end up playing it again, just to see how fast you can do it, or you can do the challenge by clearing the game only with three hearts. Either way, you'll have fun.
I felt the game gave me half the feeling, and half the thrill I felt in Ocarina of Time, but in a good way, kind of like half full. By no means this means it deserves a five; Majora's Mask and Wind Waker did good on my scores, but this one does better, because it did keep me entertained and coming back to play with no real boring or filler parts, and even after beating it, I still come back and just roam around see what I can do, or find things I missed. So yes, in essence, I liked Ocarina of Time more, but rest assured that Twilight Princess is no major huge disappointment. You will have your quirks here and there, but nothing huge to strike down lower than the CD-i games.
Play it with an open mind, and with a Zeldian heart, and you might have yourself a winner for next year.
Judgement: Although some things seem amiss or rehashed, Twilight Princess keeps a strong execution as a successor to OoT.
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