One of the biggest assets that Nintendo’s long-running franchises have is their variety. Time and time again, new entries in iconic series have reinvented themselves. This isn’t always the case such as withPokemonandKirby, but there’s always something new, and both of those series are expanding outward on the Nintendo Switch. Mario in particular has a library of games that won’t be mistaken for each other anytime soon. Except for the occasionalSuper Mario Galaxy 2orNew Super Mario Bros. 2, many titles have a distinctly experimental feel to them.
The Legend of Zeldais much the same way. Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf have appeared on many stages over the years, sporting different adventures and graphical styles. The chibiLink to the Pastlook came, went, and came back again, and the cell-shadedWind Wakerstyle provided many games with a simple but pleasing art direction. The core dungeoneering structure has mostly stayed the same, but evenBreath of the Wildbroke that upwith a much larger focus on overworld travel and mini dungeons. Among these titles fallsThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, a game that is both standardized in many ways and novel in so many others.
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Twilight Princess’ Presentation Has Never Been Seen in Another Zelda Game
One of the first things players will notice aboutTwilight Princessis how it looks. The darker and more realistic visuals of the game dominated its marketing campaign back in the early 2000s, as well as many fan discussions regarding the title. Some feel like the game was trying too hard, while others see it as having the most interesting and mature look out of all the 3DZeldatitles. Whatever one’s stance is on it, this look is deeply integrated into every aspect ofTwilight Princess, with excellent enemy designs and a macabre Twilight Realm full of visually captivating foes and textures. The HD re-release helped shine some extra light on its surprisingly vibrant color usage, and the game looks all the better for it.
Indeed, the presentation ofTwilight Princessis a core part of its experience.The Legend of Zeldahas had plenty of cinematic moments and atypical cutscene direction. Some moments inTwilight Princessare so avant-garde that they call to mind similar sequences inMajora’s Mask. Something about dialing up the realism and keeping most scenes grounded makes more intense moments likeLink’s vision of the past and Ganondorf’s deathhit even harder. Not only do the cutscenes impress, but so do the temples and boss fights.Twilight Princesshas some of the most visually interesting and well-designed instances of both in the franchise, and in the era ofBreath of the Wild’s five compact dungeons with five associated bosses, fans appreciate whatTwilight Princessdid now more than ever.
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The Story of Twilight Princess Ranks Among Zelda’s Best
Building off ofTwilight Princess’s mature tone and grandiose presentation is its story.The Legend of Zeldais no stranger to having massive colorful casts, especially when most speaking NPCs have a unique design.Twilight Princessgets some flack for its slow beginning, but it firmly establishes Link as a central figure with many friends of all backgrounds in his hometown. Upon leaving it, he meets more people in the enigmatic resistance and other folk like the Spirits of Light, the people of Kakariko Village, the Fishing Pond siblings, andthe primary villain Zant. Even bit roles like Agitha and the Postman are entertaining. With a grand narrative taking players through Hyrule, its surrounding history, and its mysterious past, a new face always feels around the corner.
Of course, the characters ofTwilight Princesscould not be complete without Midna. This Twili imp is a core figure in the narrative, being responsible for Link’s escape from his initial imprisonment as Wolf Link. It’s arguable whether the “Twilight Princess” in the subtitle is referring to the deposed Princess Zelda as Midna claims or to herself, as she turns out to be exactly that in the Twilight Realm. Her sassy attitude and shifting motivations, combined with her usefulness in both gameplay and cutscenes, have endeared her to fans beyond any other supporting character in the franchise. There’s a strong argument thatMidna is one of the best reasonswhyZeldafans should tryTwilight Princess.
Tight Gameplay Brings Twilight Princess Together
That brings matters to the gameplay.Twilight Princessplays like a polished version ofOcarina of Time, which fans and detractors have spent many years arguing over. Regardless, its dungeon items are satisfying to use, even if the Spinner and the Dominion Rod are rendered obsolete outside their home turf. The Gale Boomerang, formal debut of Bomb Arrows, andDouble Clawshot are worth the price of admissionand remain useful and fun tools throughout the game. Wolf Link also adds an interesting wrinkle to some combat encounters, especially the fast travel point fights that serve as combat puzzles designed for him.
The final piece of the puzzle is Link’s own sword and shield, which always make for a great combat experience. After refinements inThe Wind Waker,Twilight Princessrepresents the most polished and expansive version ofOcarina of Time’s combat yet. If the player gainsall seven Hidden Skills from the Hero’s Shade, their repertoire will be massive. The only problem is that the game as a whole is too easy for all of these moves to be relevant. At least the final multi-stage duels with Zant and Ganondorf test the player’s full skillset. The wrinkles thatTwilight Princesscan be played with normal buttons or motion controls depending on the version, which also may come with a horizontally mirrored world, is just the cherry on top.The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princessremains a unique experience in the 3DZeldamythos, and it is worth the time for any curiousZeldafans.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princessis available now on GameCube, Wii, and Wii U.
