Reviewing Zelda Twilight Princess

[VideoGameCritic]

Just to let you know, I'm about 12 hours into Zelda Twilight Princess for the GameCube, and I'll probably post a review before I finish the game (which I'm told takes 40-50 hours).  Anyway, as you can imagine I love this game.  It's really a case study on how to craft an action adventure.  However, there are a few minor things that bug me.  First, when you restart a saved game, why does it place you back at the entrance of the dungeon you're in?  Next, I'm not a big fan of re-generating monsters, which happens more than I would prefer.  Finally, an auto-save would have been nice.  The other night I lost about 1.5 hours of progress when I forgot to save.

In case you're wondering about the Wii version, my buddy Jonathan Hawk (aka RPG Critic) is taking care of that one for me.  So there will be two new Zelda reviews posting on this site in the next few weeks.

So what do you think of the Twilight Princess games?  What grade would you give it?  Is it the best Zelda yet??

[Gentlegamer1]

I'm about as far as you are into the GameCube version. I really like it, I hadn't played a Zelda game since A Link to the Past, so this is my first 3D Zelda. One thing though, I think I'm spoiled by the Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind . . . I found myself remarking on how linear and "set up" the game is in contrast to the completely open ended nature of Morrowind. As a table top RPG gamer, I really like the open ended stuff, especially since it is so very rare in video games. That said, I have liked Twilight Princess so far and really enjoy figuring out the "Zelda-style" puzzles. The only thing is that so far, non of the combat has challenged me at all. I can just slash, slash, slash and beat anyone.

[Steerforth]

The best Zelda ever? Who knows. It is certainly a great game, very solid and inspired. A ton of work went into this baby, no doubt. I had fun with it, but like most Zelda games, I have a hard time going back to it after the first play through. The Forest (wind) dungeon, Goron Mines and Snowpeak Ruins are great dungeons, wait till you get to Snowpeak, Critic, they threw a changeup there.

The Goron Mines magnetic boots mechanic is kind of a preview of Mario Galaxy, except at a much slower pace. I love Mario more than Zelda, so that is my must have game.

[Crevalle]

I just rescued that kid from the cage with the monkey--I'm maybe an hour or two into the game, but I just cannot get myself to turn it on again.  The lack of voice is odd to me--it would have added a lot IMHO.  Also, even with the higher grade component cables, the graphics are horrible.

I probably won't ever turn it on again.

[PB Troy]

I haven't gotten to play either version, but I'm torn on whether to pick up the GC version or wait til I buy a Wii and get that version.  So it'll be neat to see which one does better in the comparison!

[Paul Campbell]

[QUOTE=Crevalle]I just rescued that kid from the cage with the monkey--I'm maybe an hour or two into the game, but I just cannot get myself to turn it on again.  The lack of voice is odd to me--it would have added a lot IMHO.  Also, even with the higher grade component cables, the graphics are horrible.

I probably won't ever turn it on again.

[/QUOTE]

Give me a break.  Those graphics aren't "horrible" by any standards.  I assume you don't own any systems from generations other than the current, because those games would be absolutely unplayable by your standards.  They are graphics equivalent to any other really good Gamecube game, and if you think things this generation are just so far and away better than the last, it is my personal opinion that you are nuts or just impossible to please.  It drives me nuts when people act all high and mighty by complaining that anything less than the absolute best graphics on the absolute most powerful system are worthless crap.  It just seems like they are somehow trying to impress people with their tastes.

I'd like to add that I am relieved that there are no voice actors in Twilight Princess.  Too often when they add voices to a character that has been around a long time, it conflicts with what I always assumed their voice would sound like, and really rubs me the wrong way.  Sonic is a great example.  His voice annoys me constantly.  I just don't think he should talk at all.  Adding voices to a Zelda game would be the worst game to do that to, because it has been around so long.

[BanjoPickles1]

Twilight Princess gave me the same feeling that Link to the Past and Ocarina gave me....just that magic touch that sometimes only Nintendo can provide. I'm incredibly grateful they didn't provide voices. Personally, I thought the game was a bit on the easy side but, aside from that, it really was a worthwhile wait. I look at the voice debate like this: Charlie Chaplin's best films were of the silent era, he made only one decent "talkie(his word for them)" and it was where he played a Hitler-esque dictator. Not everything needs to utilize the technology of the times to be fun, look at games like Luminines, Loco Roco, Geometry Wars, etc. They are great games that don't over-rely on technology.

[feilong801]

Twilight Princess is, to me, on an extremely rarified list of games that completely and utterly blew me away. Nothing is ever perfect, but a game such as this is as close as you are going to get.

 

There are dozens of "goosebump" moments, bits that rise above the ordinary and give you that "chill" feeling that is hard to describe. It inspires crazy play sessions, especially when you get to the end. It is a finely crafted homage to all that Nintendo does well. It is, simply put, a skillful mastery of the video game artform.

 

Certainly, you are going to find skeptics that seem to dislike the game for some reason or another. Some of the reasons will be simple reasons of taste, others will be ridiculous bias, almost as if it makes them angry that quality family entertainment exists at all (Paul said it best when he stated that some people feel that a game can only be great if it is on the newest, most powerful platform available).

 

I greatly look forward to playing this game again. Truthfully, only Knights of the Old Republic can even touch a game like this. I loved Oblivion, but that is such a completely different experience that I'm not sure it's fair to compare the two. Zelda and Oblivion aspire to accomplish totally different things, and both execute them superbly.  

 

-Rob

www.rumblepak.net

[Edward M]

What do I think of it?   My answer is, I don't know.    I know this will come as no surprise to people who have been reading my posts, but I'm having trouble witht he controls.    Particullary early on in the game, you have to fish to give the fish to a cat.   But I have the wii version and I cant figure the controls out.   I tried awhile, and gave up and played Metal Slug and Call of Duty instead instead.  Anyone want to help me out?

[feilong801]

You have to wait for the bobber thingie (sorry, not a fisherman myself) to float upright in the water. Once it does, wait for it to quickly sink into the water; that's a fish. Simply jerk upward with the wiimote and hold it up high to reel the fish in.

 

-Rob