The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess:: A Review

This game has been out for years.  The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released with a lot of hype about it's story, gameplay, and most of all graphics.  While it is graphically pleasing, fun to play, and engaging, I cannot help but notice the errors, downs, and mistakes that the creators put into this game.  I played this game so long after the release that I was not caught in the hype or drama of playing the latest and greatest Zelda game.

Ocarina of Time fans, don't worry, Twilight Princess is not better.
Majora's Mask fans, like me, don't worry, Twilight Princess is not better.
Windwaker fans, don't worry, Twilight Princess is not better.

The Ins and Outs of Twilight Princess
While Twilight Princess takes off at a fair pace, once it's truly left the ground, the scenery changes dramatically.  Nintendo left their colorful artistic style for a more monochromatic style.  It works, but it's not Nintendo's traditional style.  Then, when Link finally becomes a wolf, and the new controls come into play, there is little to do as a wolf, but you'll find yourself spending just as much time as a wolf, frustrated with puzzles.

After a while, you get the Master Sword, and you finally have the long needed control over what form you are in.  Still, the amount of times you need to talk to Midna before doing certain tasks or to do certain tasks almost makes her the new Navi.  You need her to switch between forms, jump to certain platforms as a wolf, warp to certain areas, and lastly, beat the game.  The reason she isn't the new Navi is because she is actually useful, helpful, and wonderful.

Nintendo wanted to make a bigger world, and make a more realistic Zelda.  While the graphics are more realistic, it's not the primary source of realism.  Link's rolls are more accurate, his horse moves more realistically, and Link has more back story.  Overall, many movements, figures, and sounds were improved toward a realistic goal, but it's still Nintendo.  Honestly, I prefer Nintendo's traditional style, so I'm glad Twilight Princess wasn't absent of colors of funny sounds.  You can expect to still feel cartoonish from the sounds and atmosphere.

All of the dungeons are fun.  All except the city in the sky.  I would have to say it is more annoying and more frustrating than Ocarina of Time's Water Temple.  I found myself supplying nearly 4 hours to my log just to figure out how to start the temple.

My friends all told me this game was easy.  They were misleading.  More than half the game was hard, tricky, difficult, or just plain nonsense.  And, the Wii's slightly inconsistent sword swinging system didn't help it at all.

Gamecube vs Wii
I honestly believe that there is a small incentive to get the Wii version.  If you have the Gamecube version, and you want to try the Wii version, I would suggest getting it for less than 25 dollars if possible.  If you have the Wii version, there is no incentive to rollback to the Gamecube version.

Both versions are a mirrored version of each other.  This is NOT because they switched Link's handedness from left to right.  In fact, he could very well have been left-handed or right-handed the entire time.  In fencing, when using a sword AND sheild, it's recommended that your good arm has your  shield, and your other arm control your sword.  So, it could just be Link switching his preference.

Link wields his sword with his right hand in the Wii version because most people are right handed.  Although, it wouldn't really make a difference, since a left-to-right swing is still left-to-right, regardless of which hand you use.  So, left handed people should shut their mouths and stop complaining.  Also, people who complain about the versions being mirrored should also shut their mouths and stop complaining.  Just enjoy your game.

A Few Last Nitpicks (spoilers)
After the final battle, Ganondorf stands up with a sword in him.  Then after he says a few less-than-necessary lines, and the screen just fades.  What happened to him?  Was he just left there?  There is no closure.

Then Midna gets her body back.  No, she is not "hot".  Stop saying she is "hot".  Pretty maybe.  "Hot?"  NO.  She says a few lines, and the credits start.  No closure.

Windwaker closed very well, and we saw Ganondorf die (turn to stone).  There was also great closure before the credits start.  Afterwards, there is extra closer.  In Twilight Princess, there is closure in the middle of the credits.  This scene should have been before any credits screened.  And then more credits happen afterwards.  What a huge mistake.

Ganondorf was not properly characterized.  He seems to be mentioned half way through, then he appears at the end, you fight him, and done.  Zant was characterized beautifully, but that does not excuse Ganondorf.

The world is huge.  But, it's also quite empty.  A lot more could have been done.  And in fact, since a few bridges collapse, we find ourself doing more walking than necessary because there is a huge gap absent of warp points.  Warp points that would have been very helpful.

The Verdict
6.5/10.

Keep in mind that 6.5 is not a bad score.  Twilight Princess is just every element classified by other Zelda games rolled into one, making it an average Zelda game.  There is the multiple world system, multiple forms, collection, the big twist and more temples.  Everything in Twilight Princess had probably already been done before.  It's story, however is unique and engaging most of the time.

Keep in mind also that 7/10 is not average in media.  5/10 is.  In grades, 7/10 might be average for school, but that system is crap, and should not be used for media reviewing.

0/10 - no real incentive to watch/listen/play
2/10 - bad game/movie
4/10 - playable/watchable
6/10 - decent game/movie
8/10 - great game/movie
10/10 - absent of flaws