| Every past release of The Legend of Zelda game series has always stood out as a must play fantasy adventure game that all ages can enjoy. Now with the 13th installment in the franchise, The Legend of Zelda – Twilight Princess, Nintendo take things one step further by making this not only the first Zelda game for the Wii but also (thankfully) one of the best Wii games ever made. Ten years after the last Zelda outing, Oceania, and taking four years to development by one of the best gaming teams in the biz, Twilight Princess stands out above so many games of its ilk as more beautifully designed, exciting and epic than anything you have ever seen before, and will likely see again for a good long while. |  Available Through Amazon.com |
Graphics
From the box art down to the gameplay itself, Zelda takes a serious and darker turn instead of the cartoony and colorful approach of previous entries. The end result, thanks to the graphics enhancements of the Wii, gives Twilight Princess huge merits for having some of the best technically designed graphics on the Wii system to date. This isn’t only noticeable in many of the great cut scenes but you’ll also enjoy the good graphics that Twilight Princess has to offer when you start exploring the land of Hyrule and many of the detailed environments throughout. For one thing the water effects are amazing, and the frame rate plays it smooth at 30 frames.
Sound
Zelda fans who love all the classic tunes will enjoy the musical pieces that Twilight Princess offers. What really stands out is the epic score that build on the atmosphere of what is currently taking place in the game, making this a much more cinematic affair than previous Zelda releases. Also sharp and clear are the games many sound effects, especially during the fighting scenes that inspire you to keep hacking away at your enemies, creating a full-bodied surround sound experience second to none at this time.
Gameplay
Twilight Princess is the perfect example on how games should really be made for the Wii Remote. GameCube players of Zelda will be encouraged to play Twilight Princess on the Wii as it creates a whole new gaming experience, making it almost seem like a completely new game! Gamers who played the previous Zelda titles will be pleased to have the same combat system from Wind Waker and other older Zelda games. Now with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, you can run around a lot more freely and swing your sword by doing a gesture instead of pressing a button, adding to the realistic interactive effect the game has overall. While this may seem like too much effort, the winning part of it is that gestures can be minimal or long depending on preference without disrupting the whole gameplay experience. Anyone can pick this game up and start hacking and slashing for hours without getting tired.
Those who love to play with Link’s projectile weapons will be addicted in accurately aiming for shots just by pointing the remote to your target. This beats out the old analog aiming by a huge margin and you’ll never go back to those controls again once you try it.
Twilight Princess is an incredible world to explore with tons of side quests as expected with a Zelda release. You’ll spend hours in familiarizing yourself with all of the beautifully rendered lush areas that Twilight Princess offers.
Overall
The Legend of Zelda – Twilight Princess clearly stands out as one of the best Wii games ever. It has a captivating storyline that exceeds any other Zelda game. It is a lot more real than its predecessors and the darker, more serious setting serves as a refreshing change, a first for the series. The Wii functionality seals the deal and won’t let you put down the controller once you’ve got your hands on it. Anyone looking for a breathtaking adventure of epic proportions with hours of gameplay and truly eye-catching design should try this game right away.