A great game and the top game of the Wii Release This game is a personal favorite of mine. The Wii is my first Nintendo since NES and as such it was my first 3D Zelda game I have ever played and I became an instant convert. While some people say that it is simply a rip off of the OoT but I believe that this game can stand well on its own.
Gameplay:
-The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a great example of gameplay done right. The Wii controls have been integrated seamlessly into this game and in many instances actually are an improvement over traditional controllers. This is especially true in the many minigames that are tied into the games storyline. Many would be difficult if not impractical on a traditional control scheme. Combat in the game is virtually seamless and become second nature faster than you might expect.
-One of the greatest virtues of Zelda games is the dungeons and puzzles and this is even more true with twilight Princess. The game provides you with the tools necessary to complete the tasks ahead of you but it is completely up to you to figure out how to use these tools to reach you objectives. Some of the puzzles in this game are truly difficult and contrary to some peoples belief this game is definitely not for kiddies as many of the puzzles and dungeons would be nearly impossible for children to decipher.
-The transportation scheme in this game is also very effective and effectively eliminates drag that would be cause by the long distances needed to be traveled in this game. These methods include flying and warping which become very commonplace in the later portions of the game.
Gameplay Score:10
Graphics:
-One area in which this game suffers is graphics. Essentially this is a Gamecube game and suffers from its graphical limitations. Characters in the game ofter appear stiff and wooden when compared to other next generation games that are being released. Also in areas there can be found areas of relatively bad textures and while this has no impact on the gameplay itself it can be annoying. All this said it still is a good looking game with very good graphics for a Gamecube title.
-What redeems this game in this area is its absolutely stunning artistic design. This game shows how a little tough given to overall image can make up for inferior graphics.
Graphics Score:9
Sound:
-The Audio in this game has its highs and lows. Many orchestrated pieces in this game are simply amazing and while most of the game is midi music, which can get annoying, it actually adds to the overall moods of the game. The sound during cut scenes are really amazing and greatly contributes to the impression of grandeur that the scenes are aiming to create. There is still room for improvement in this area though as more orchestrated pieces would be beneficial.
-Another concern that many have with the game is the absence of any voice acting. While I personally prefer not having the voice acting I can see the concern and I hope that Nintendo acts on it in the next Zelda title.
Sound Score:9
Value:
-This game really gives you an astounding amount of bang for your buck. The game is huge and is filled with 56-60+ hours of available gameplay and even more if you aim to do everything that the game offers. Few other games offer so much content for the price of a single game. The game also has a stellar story that really involves the player and if someone is looking for a game to lose themselves in but isn't willing to lose their souls to the World of Warcraft this is the game for you.
Value Score:10
