For a couple of days I have been in Twilight Princess (herein TP) collecting the oddities: going back to each temple and making sure there are no treasures I missed, pieces of heart, mini-games, etc. I gave a three thumbs up before on Twilight Princess, but I never really went over the game.
Nintendo has really outdone theirselves with this Zelda title, confidently releasing it on the new Nintendo Wii. This is a ported game from the Nintendo Gamecube, albeit completely flipped around (Miyamoto figured the majority audience is right handed, so link should hold the sword on his right). This transition, however does not affect the beauty that makes a Zelda game. A lot of people I have talked to were concerned with the layout of the Wii controller, but I have found TP is not only similar in layout style, it makes the controls better, more fluid, and best of all: you feel like you are Link.
This time, Hyrule is HUGE. In Ocarina of Time (herein OOT, a previous Zelda Title from 1998) one could walk across Hyrule field to get where you needed to go. I bet, if presented the technology, Miyamoto would have designed OOT with the same storyline, but a lot better in graphical terms and size. In TP, you cannot walk around Hyrule Field and expect to get very far quickly. From the start of the game, Epona is yours to reign (Unlike in OOT, You had to earn Epona). TP offers many more undiscovered places, including caves, crypts, graveyards, hidden passages, etc. Aside from 10 Dungeons, there is about 30-40 hours extra of gameplay time if you choose to do sidequests, mini-games, gather the collectibles, etc.
This game is almost a mirror to OOT. I say that because a lot of the places you visit in TP will seem very, very familiar, but different. The game introduces a new realm to the table: The Twilight Realm (Twili Realm for short). The Twili Realm was a void created by the Hyrulian Gods to send the evil Twili (sorcerers who tried to gain control of the Sacred Realm) to this new world. It is somewhat dank, surreal, and if you have seen pictures: looks like something out of the "Outer Limits" series. The graphics are pleasing (when you travel in the twilight) and the music REALLY adds to the feel that this is a downbeat place. Very surreal I have to add again.
With every Zelda game before it: TP has multiple dungeons, each very challenging in their own respects. You should not have difficulty with the first or second temples, but the temples do get harder around the third one. You will again have to use the item treasure found in each dungeon to complete the dungeon and defeat the boss. The only real complaint I have about this game is that the boss battles were somewhat easy. They were challenging, and you had to find a way to beat them, but bosses can usually be taken down in 3 hit cycles, or less. That is saving the final boss though, the final boss is a bit of a challenge in multiple series (quite a few battles). Nintendo has taken a liking to more cinematics, which is one thing Zelda games in the past have been missing. I have no problems with Nintendo choosing MIDI once again for the soundtrack because they are the only ones who are allowed to pull it off, because they do it right.
If you are a hardcore Zelda fan, this game will not disappoint. If you are new to Zelda, this slightly easier title will be a nice welcome one to play. 70 hours of gameplay, beautiful graphics, and challenging puzzles. This is a no brainer that TP is one of the best Zelda games created, albeit one of the best games to be created period. For a long time Zelda fan though, I did get captured in the sense of nostalgia I so longed for in a Zelda game; however the lure and the speciality of the game never sunk in, like it did for Ocarina of Time. If asked my opinion, Ocarina of Time is still the best game in the entire series, and it is debateable that Ocarina of Time is the best game ever created. Twilight Princess definetly swings in there at #2 for me, the game has been a real blast, and has really led me on a nostalgic journey. Ocarina of Time was very closely matched, but not quite. 5 out of 5, again it is a no brainer. Amazing game, and it should be in your collection if you have the Gamecube/Wii. This game is not a rent: it is a must buy.
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