For most gamers (if not all), the Zelda series is known as one of the leading mascots in video games, along with Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. These video game icons have ruled the majority of the video game industry with Nintendo pulling the strings over their heads. And they?re determined to stay exactly where they are, as shown with their latest set of games for the Wii. The Italian plumber has shown his astronaut skills in Super Mario Galaxy, Sonic the blue rat has shown his skills in not being able to play properly in a 3D world à la ?Sonic and The Secret rings? and ?Sonic Unleashed?, while Link is riding high with his power to transform into a wolf and making growling noises in Twilight Princess. In short, they?ve all switched profession somehow. So, with no further reminiscing, let?s talk about Twilight Princess:
Zelda: Twilight Princess is the latest game in the Zelda series (except that DS thing, which I promised myself not to touch), just after Wind Waker. It?s very hard to describe this game, with it not being very far away from the old ones. You play as Link, who lives in a small village called Ordon Village. You live a happy farmer life of riding your horse and playing the game ?Combat Tutorial?, until the village is suddenly attacked by monsters and some children get kidnapped, and as the brave hero you always are, you go out to save them. But as you search for them, you?re drawn into the Twilight world, where you are transformed to a wolf. You are imprisoned, but there you meet a little female demon called Midna. She explains that the king of the Twilight world, Zant, has taken over Hyrule and you, as always, are the chosen one who has to save the land while wearing a green shirt and hat as the enemies apparently have some sort of allergy towards that color. It?s pretty much the same story with a different theme, and another world to explore. But despite that, it?s masterfully executed, and feels new and refreshing. It isn?t the story of Link and Ganon that is interesting, that thing has already been used 10 times, it?s the presentation and the small events aside, like the small children you have to rescue.
One thing I did like was the development of Link and Midna as characters. Link is as always a mute, with the only speech ability is to yell ?yaaah!? whenever he swings his sword around, but at least he shows some kind of emotions through this game, even if it only is smiling, as opposed to just opening your eyes in fear like a stupid 5-year old. Midna, on the other hand, is funny with her evil sense of humour and how she can shift from angry to sarcastic to glad.
The game-play? Well, what is there to say, it?s a Zelda game, we?ve all been there (or at least most of us). You run around on fields and in dungeons, killing enemies, solving various puzzles, and collect the classic items; a boomerang, a bow, bombs, etc. And while this sounds repetitive, it?s surprising how they succeeded in making the dungeons and quests so good after doing around 50 of them with all games included. They also improved the items, as they should?ve. The boomerang can now shoot small tornados, you can go all MacGyver on your bow and bombs, and shoot bomb arrows, your grappling hook is? well, still a grappling hook, but now you get two. As always, there are also the optional side quests and mini games, so you can collect heart pieces, Rupees, quivers, and all that stuff that makes the game easier. It?s a fun thing to do towards the end, just for the smug feeling that you get when you?ve completed the game fully as opposed to the others. Another fun aspect they pulled off is the horse riding. You get your horse early on in the game, as most of us want it to be, ?cause it gets pretty boring walking through the entire landscape. And mostly when you?re out on the field, enemies will be riding their giant pigs flinging arrows and shit. So whenever you want a fun horseback riding, sword flinging duel, you can just go out on the field. Altogether, it calls for some satisfying 6-8 hours of gameplay. May not seem like much time, but trust me, it?s some damn fun 6-8 hours, rather than spending 5 of the hours riding on a boat looking for treasure (I?m looking at you, Wind Waker).
One major complaint I have about the game is the use of the Wii Remote. You swing your sword by flicking your hand, which calls for some unnecessary pain, and you aim your bow, slingshot, and grappling hook by aiming, which can come off as a nuisance with the Wii Remote handling like a broken flashlight. This is of course a problem on the Wii, not the Gamecube version, but I was stupidly determined to make some use out of that little children?s console, so I made the stupid choice of getting it.
But altogether, this game is fun, and I?d probably spend more time with it if I got the Gamecube version, so if you?re asking for a yay or nay on this game, I give this game a yay so loud that my neighbours will complain. It?s great fun, a vast improvement on the previous games, and will certainly get a hold on your attention. It certainly held on to mine longer than most games. But then again, I have the attention deficit of a little child and get distracted by anything bloody or brightly colored.
Zelda: Twilight Princess is the latest game in the Zelda series (except that DS thing, which I promised myself not to touch), just after Wind Waker. It?s very hard to describe this game, with it not being very far away from the old ones. You play as Link, who lives in a small village called Ordon Village. You live a happy farmer life of riding your horse and playing the game ?Combat Tutorial?, until the village is suddenly attacked by monsters and some children get kidnapped, and as the brave hero you always are, you go out to save them. But as you search for them, you?re drawn into the Twilight world, where you are transformed to a wolf. You are imprisoned, but there you meet a little female demon called Midna. She explains that the king of the Twilight world, Zant, has taken over Hyrule and you, as always, are the chosen one who has to save the land while wearing a green shirt and hat as the enemies apparently have some sort of allergy towards that color. It?s pretty much the same story with a different theme, and another world to explore. But despite that, it?s masterfully executed, and feels new and refreshing. It isn?t the story of Link and Ganon that is interesting, that thing has already been used 10 times, it?s the presentation and the small events aside, like the small children you have to rescue.
One thing I did like was the development of Link and Midna as characters. Link is as always a mute, with the only speech ability is to yell ?yaaah!? whenever he swings his sword around, but at least he shows some kind of emotions through this game, even if it only is smiling, as opposed to just opening your eyes in fear like a stupid 5-year old. Midna, on the other hand, is funny with her evil sense of humour and how she can shift from angry to sarcastic to glad.
The game-play? Well, what is there to say, it?s a Zelda game, we?ve all been there (or at least most of us). You run around on fields and in dungeons, killing enemies, solving various puzzles, and collect the classic items; a boomerang, a bow, bombs, etc. And while this sounds repetitive, it?s surprising how they succeeded in making the dungeons and quests so good after doing around 50 of them with all games included. They also improved the items, as they should?ve. The boomerang can now shoot small tornados, you can go all MacGyver on your bow and bombs, and shoot bomb arrows, your grappling hook is? well, still a grappling hook, but now you get two. As always, there are also the optional side quests and mini games, so you can collect heart pieces, Rupees, quivers, and all that stuff that makes the game easier. It?s a fun thing to do towards the end, just for the smug feeling that you get when you?ve completed the game fully as opposed to the others. Another fun aspect they pulled off is the horse riding. You get your horse early on in the game, as most of us want it to be, ?cause it gets pretty boring walking through the entire landscape. And mostly when you?re out on the field, enemies will be riding their giant pigs flinging arrows and shit. So whenever you want a fun horseback riding, sword flinging duel, you can just go out on the field. Altogether, it calls for some satisfying 6-8 hours of gameplay. May not seem like much time, but trust me, it?s some damn fun 6-8 hours, rather than spending 5 of the hours riding on a boat looking for treasure (I?m looking at you, Wind Waker).
One major complaint I have about the game is the use of the Wii Remote. You swing your sword by flicking your hand, which calls for some unnecessary pain, and you aim your bow, slingshot, and grappling hook by aiming, which can come off as a nuisance with the Wii Remote handling like a broken flashlight. This is of course a problem on the Wii, not the Gamecube version, but I was stupidly determined to make some use out of that little children?s console, so I made the stupid choice of getting it.
But altogether, this game is fun, and I?d probably spend more time with it if I got the Gamecube version, so if you?re asking for a yay or nay on this game, I give this game a yay so loud that my neighbours will complain. It?s great fun, a vast improvement on the previous games, and will certainly get a hold on your attention. It certainly held on to mine longer than most games. But then again, I have the attention deficit of a little child and get distracted by anything bloody or brightly colored.
