Another great Legend of Zelda game.
There are a lot of things this game did right. The classic 3D Zelda formula shines through, and it really gives this game a strong kick of nostalgia. Trust me, its for the better. Despite this game's slight departure from the classic Zelda storyline, it still plays out like a classic... with lots of secrets tucked in every corner, challenging dungeon puzzles, boss monsters of impressive scale, and an enourmous cast of endearing characters. There's always something to do... minigames galore, and sidequests too. Every once and a while you'll happen upon the random mini-dungeon... a great new addition. What used to be a one-room hole with some fish in it turned out to be long, winding corridors filled with monsters and chests. Treasure hunting is now a viable carrier choice in Hyrule. I must say I'm pleased.
Perhaps the absolute best part of this game, which sets it apart from those that came before it, is the story. I was really impressed with the more cinematic tone this game took, with new characters and charged emotion over top of a dramatic conflict.
The music was also spectacular. Though they opted for the synth-style tracks you might have found in generations past instead of digital recordings, it definently fits with the game. I'm going to go ahead and say this game has the best soundtrack of any Zelda I've played ever... and a better one than many that I've played recently.
So, all is well and good right? Great game, pretty (if dated) graphics and sound, a new adventure and a new story... what could be wrong?
I'm going to say it... the worst thing to happen to Twilight Princess was Wii.
The control scheme had it's moments. It was fun at first. As I played on, however... I began to realize that the Wii controller on this game was holding me back. I thought back to Ocarina of TIme and Majora's Mask... how I could dart and roll about in combat, switch items without worry, and shoot with pinpoint accuracy on the draw. Even after extended play, these tasks are impossible in Twilight Princess. First off, the swordfighting is executed by physically swinging the Wiimote. The direction or speed really has no bearing on the execution of the attack... you just wiggle it and you go. Ok, not too exciting... but the problem is that it was slow. There always seemed to be a noticeable delay between my wiggles and the sword swipes. All too often, I'd get clobbered in the face by a bat that snuck in while I was fidgeting to draw my blade. Most other attacks are executed by moving the Nunchuk in some fashion. Again, easy enough, but the problem here is that sometimes I might gesture for one attack and produce the other by mistake. The delay is also apparent here too. My frustration led me to making short, sharp thrusts with the Wii controls, which really didn't seem to help but tired out my wrists. Simply put... attacks should have been assigned to buttons. Aiming with the pointer was cool. It seemed to work well, but again it had problems. After all that sword swinging and shield-thrusting... the odds of your cursor being pointed at the screen as you draw an item in the heat of battle is about zero. When this happens, Link will freeze in place and a POINT WIIMOTE AT SCREEN message will persist until you do so. In your clamor, you will wildly aim all over the screen before you get your bearings, and by then it will be too late. Z-Targeting saves you in this department... however, the maximum radius of Z-Targeting is very small. As you move about in combat, you disengage very frequently, which can be disorienting and frustrating.
It is a blessing inside a curse that the vast majority of combat in Twilight Princess, like any other Zelda game, is extraordinarily easy. After you've aquired some extra hearts and healing items, you will be nigh unstoppable for the remainder of the game. The only real challenges in battle will be the particularly crazy fights, where you forget exactly how a particular enemy or boss situation is to be handled. Personally, I would have liked to see more challenging combat... but I say that about every Zelda. Thankfully, the rewarding elements of exploring the dungeons and occasional exciting miniboss fight help keep you on your toes somewhat.
The Verdict:
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a worthy followup to the 3D Zeldas before it. It improves on the Zelda formula in some ways, and does not fix what isn't broken. For fans of the franchise, at times it will be nostalgic, at times it will be rehash, but far and away it will make you remember why games like this are so cool.
Fans of fantasy games should definently give this one a try. The Wii controls are certainly new but not always for the better. This is hands-down the best Wii game so far, and should be a part of every Wii owner's collection. If you are not fortunate enough to have Wii yet, you could pick this up on GC... which I almost wish I did. The Wii controls don't add a significant amount to the experience, in my opinion. I would have preferred a more precise control scheme as opposed to one that thinks flailing your wrists wildly is an engaging way to emulate swordplay.
+Classic 3d Zelda gameplay returns
+New story is a cut above those before it
+Excellent soundtrack
+The new dungeons are extra long and puzzling (as they should be)
-Combat is too easy
-Graphics and sounds, though great, are somewhat dated
-The Wii controls add nothing to the experience that the occasional frustration does not take away