It's been the generation of remakes for The Legend of Zelda. The main entries from the N64 and GameCube have now all been given the remaster treatment, though many will think of this title as a Wii game. A decade on from its original waggle-heavy release, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD gives a second chance to one of the most talked about and debated entries in the series to date. A well written storyline and a lengthy adventure await Wii U owners, and once again Nintendo and its partners - Tantalus Media, on this occasion - have breathed new life into a key release while remaining faithful to the source material.
What's interesting about Twilight Princess, and its dual identity as a late arrival on GameCube and launch title on Wii, is that most will know the game from its waggle-heavy incarnation. In 2006, when motion controls were an exciting idea that truly captured the zeitgeist, swishing a Remote around - with minimal accuracy - had an immersive feel. Time wasn't necessarily kind to that control scheme, however, especially when MotionPlus arrived and showed how rudimentary the sword wielding was - the pointer aiming, to be fair, aged gracefully.
Considering we're looking at an adventure that - in our case - hits about 35 hours, it's a blessed relief to use well refined, reliable controls here on the Wii U. This title follows the template laid down by remaster predecessors on both 3DS and Wii U, utilising the GamePad touch screen for item management on the fly in addition to a readily available map. The bulky controller also mimics its predecessors with excellent gyroscope aiming, which is ideal for tightening a shot's aim in tandem with the left stick. Switching to the Wii U Pro Controller brings a more traditional feel, meanwhile, with a pause screen when managing weapons and items; it's equally comfortable, overall, with the ergonomic pad design compensating for the loss of the GamePad's bells and whistles. It's easy to take for granted, but the controls are carefully thought out, allowing all of a player's focus to be directed to on-screen events rather than grappling with a Remote.
Prior to going back to the Wii original we were trying to recollect how it even worked, considering the limited physical input options in the last gen control scheme. Every button on the controller is put to work here, with unique movesets for both human and wolf Link. Not only are you targeting and using items on the shoulder buttons, but all four face buttons are put to work - most valuably, the right analogue stick provides the expected smooth camera control. Physical controls suit the relatively intricate combat far better, too - you learn a number of special moves from a mysterious figure (we'll let you figure out who he is for yourselves) and each are needed to exploit the weaknesses of specific enemies. Weak minions can be swatted aside with rapid taps of the B button, sure, but that isn't a strategy that'll hold in later challenges.
Overall, the sensible controls make the game feel easier (in the standard difficulty, at least), and certainly less fiddly than a decade ago. It's not all bang on the money, however - Epona can still be a little awkward to manoeuvre, rather like a real horse in fairness, but it should surprise no-one that this was touted as an area of improvement for the next home console game when it was presented way back in December 2014. Wolf Link also has his moments of awkwardness, though in both of these cases the complaints are very minor; it's also part of the reality when working with animations and mechanics a decade old.
Beyond the excellent (and diverse) controls Twilight Princess, for all of its structural ambition a decade ago - which we'll come to - still maintains a core simplicity that beats at the heart of almost all Legend of Zelda titles. You can distract yourself with side quests and collectathons if you please, but the foundation of the experience is in a structured story, which even at 30+ hours maintains its momentum. Perhaps more-so than its Wii successor, Skyward Sword, this is an entry in the series that ensures plenty of variety as you work through the narrative.
Structurally the world of Hyrule follows the usual template, but it's the scale that stands out. Among the usual fields, volcanic mountains, ice-covered lands, mystical temples and more, this game works hard to find variety in dungeon design and gameplay. There are moments where you snowboard down a mountain, walk upside down with magnetic boots or battle with fierce winds and lengthy hookshot mazes. There are hidden areas in which collectibles require combat or puzzles before giving up their reward, and the usual distractions - like fishing - are included and can easily suck away a lot of your time.
It's a large, interesting world, and the core cast of characters also deserves credit. Link forms unique bonds with various protagonists, with subtle cutscenes and dialogue bringing these relationships to life. The stand-out bond is with Midna, who is far more than an incessant busy-body in the style of Navi from Ocarina of Time. Midna's character evolves nicely with the plot, with intentions and behaviour that follow a pleasing arc - the friendship with Link, which is sometimes expressed with a mere nod or smile towards each other, is one of the best partnerships the series has seen. Beyond those lead characters, there's charm and variety to Hyrule's citizens, some with memorable subplots and tales to share; Zant, for example, is a delightfully quirky villain.
The storyline itself is certainly a highlight, with our appreciation for it renewed when revisiting this remaster. Themes of loyalty, friendship, power and greed make their usual appearance, and what's striking is the cinematic flair that Eiji Aonuma and his team demonstrated. We're pretty sure there were some fans of The Lord of the Rings original trilogy movies in the development team, as some sequences bear an uncanny resemblance to key moments from those films. Throw in some nods to Westerns and the Zelda franchises' own sense of drama, and you're left with a game full of heart.
Of course, the tough question with any HD remaster is whether it's worth spending a full retail price on the experience. For those that haven't played Twilight Princess before the answer is a simple yes. The audience that has played it beforehand, though, has various features and upgrades to help inform the decision.
In terms of visuals, the 1080p and 30fps lock are both excellent, though it's a pity the Wii U doesn't have enough grunt to achieve 60 frames. Tantalus has done excellent work in improving textures, and once we snapped out of our 'mind's eye' perspective of how this looked on Wii we appreciated the scale of the improvement. Improved lighting is also a factor, and there are moments where Twilight Princess HD is truly beautiful. On the flipside a relatively small number of enemy character models - such as moblins - are rather ugly by modern standards, so there are occasions where the improvements are let down by the source artistic design. It's also worth noting that we have the same old midi soundtrack here, as per previous re-releases, which doesn't stack up too well against Nintendo's modern day live band and orchestral efforts.
Beyond that we have off-TV play on the GamePad and, of course, the implementation of amiibo. The Wolf Link amiibo unlocks the Cave of Shadows, a challenge area of which a similar equivalent existed in the originals; in this case you clear levels filled with enemies to earn small rewards (mainly Rupees) and eventually a larger wallet. It also offers the ability to 'save' hearts to replenish in-game, though it feels somewhat inconsequential as the standard difficulty isn't overly taxing. Finally, you can quick load your save game with a tap of the figure, though in truth that's merely a gimmick.
You can also use the Zelda franchise Smash Bros. amiibo once a day to reload hearts, arrows or - with Ganondorf - crank up the damage caused by enemies. If you want a major challenge you can play Hero mode right off the bat and scan a Ganondorf amiibo. In a neat touch, too, the normal difficulty setting has a left-handed Link and the GameCube layout, while Hero mode is a right-handed Link and the mirrored layout from the Wii game. Tweaks have been made to the game's balancing, too - currency and wallet expansions are a little easier to pick up, and the Tears of Light collection sections as Wolf Link have been mercifully scaled back. Add to this Hylian Alphabet Miiverse stamps that you can find in treasure chests, and you have some neat extras that cater to dedicated fans.
The Hero mode's availability from the start is a smart decision, giving a notable challenge for those that desire it from the beginning. As for the amiibo implementation, it's easily ignored; thankfully the game doesn't push it heavily, mentioning the features once after the prologue and simply leaving an amiibo area in the main menu. If you find the idea of amiibo in a Legend of Zelda game distasteful then fear not - you miss very little by ignoring them entirely.
As for whether this does enough to justify a full price purchase for those that have already enjoyed the game, that is - of course - a subjective matter. We will say that the notable improvements in the sharp visuals, the excellent controls and other extras add up to deliver a definitive version of Twilight Princess.
Conclusion
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is an excellent addition to the Wii U library. We do acknowledge that it's a series entry that has its critics, with them often citing a lack of revolution from the Ocarina of Time template, in particular. Those that feel that way have little incentive to revisit it on Wii U, but this writer certainly feels that it stands on its own as an accomplished game - opinions, when it comes to a series as immersive and demanding as The Legend of Zelda, are everything.
Beyond that, what we have here is an attractive remaster with some nice additions, encompassing improved controls, visuals and enjoyable extras for fans. It's a deep, involving 30+ hour adventure, which draws the player in with plenty of honesty and soul; we're certainly glad this one has come to light.
Comments 166
It a good game I get it
Seriously thinking about getting it, now. Again.
i enjoyed it on the wii so i'm pretty excited to play it on wii u. also my wii game went missing after i moved, so i've not played this game in a long time lol
thinking of getting this over March Break but I kind of want Pokken Tournament more. So we'll see if I get it or not.
Can't wait to get it!
Glad it did so well. May pick up later in the year.
Glad to know the remake holds up nicely. This is the only 3D Zelda game I haven't played besides Zelda U, and I'm really excited to play it! I just wish the soundtrack was orchestrated... then it would be 10/10!
Can you walk around in first person mode like in Wind Waker HD or do you have to just stand still while enjoying the scenery?
Played it on Wii and, to be honest, it wasn't one of my favourite Zelda games and not one that I've ever revisited, but then I had a similar experience with Wind Waker on the Gamecube and really enjoyed it when I played through the HD version. Lacking a European release date for Fire Emblem, I figured I'd pick this up and give it another spin. I'm looking forward to being able to play it without the Wii remote controls!
Good review Thomas.
I think this was the last game I bought for my Gamecube before getting the Wii.At the time I thought it was the weakest Zelda I'd played but I'm looking forward to giving it another chance.i'm not sure I'll get it at launch as I'll be busy for the next couple of weeks but soon after.
Already preordered it months ago just for the amiibo alone. Never particularly liked nor hated TP so I am not as hyped for it as I am for other games.
@LegendOfPokemon The only one? I didn't realize Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword were all erased from the timestream.
Can't wait for this to come in the mail!
DPD tracking shows my game/amiibo/soundtrack bundle will be delivered in an hour
My copy has been shipped today from ShopTo so i may even get this as early as tomorrow but latest Thursday I have never completed this game so can't wait.
Loved the original, and I can't wait to relieve all those memories again.
@bro2dragons My bad. I meant to say it's the only one I haven't played. Sorry for the confusion! (The original comment has been fixed too by the way.)
Got an email from Nintendo Store at 7:47 am UK time, saying that my copy has been dispatched, so if I'm lucky, I could have my copy tomorrow. =)
This should be a good excuse for me to finally 100% Twilight Princess.
Preorders months ago, can't wait till Friday.
It would have been nice if the experimental first person combat view was added back in. I think it was only dropped once the Wii was added as a platform because of the handedness issue but before they decided on flipping the game for the Wii.
Was the original 60FPS?
Hurry up, Friday. I want that Wolf Link amiibo and CD. I'm such a sucker for collector's items.
@TruenoGT So you're going to torture yourself for 4-5 years just to save $30?
@GraveLordXD
You are aware that there was a Gamecube version?
Already pre ordered mine
@TruenoGT
I didn't max out the Wii version but like you I'll wait until this drops in price. Doesn't strike me as an essential purchase and I've a huge backlog as it is.
When videos from Alex start, does anyone else say or mouth his "hello there lovely people" intro along with him?
Question: can you get rid of some of the clutter on the top screen like WWHD?
Looking forward to this, yeah it's a revamped old game, but I never had it before and it has always intrigued me as I loved Wind Waker on the GC and it would be nice to see this in HD.
lol at GameXplain for giving this a "meh" rating. Andre has to be the worst reviewer and Nintendo fan of all. This is why Nintendo Life is so much better at reviewing games.
No framerate improvements at all for a $50-$60 remaster is a pretty lame deal. Imo there's no point in a remaster if your just gonna lock it at 30fps again.
Three more days until my Wii U serves a purpose again!
@abbyhitter Opinions. Everyone has them. While I think this is by far the best 3D Zelda game, I can see why some people won't like it (like the artstyle and the pacing). As long as he doesn't claim something like "go play Ocarina of Time instead of this" I'm fine with his opinion
I was hoping to hear more about the new cave. Mainly, is it worth spending ten extra bucks over for the amiibo?
@J_watch They no doubt tried 60FPS, but I guess there were dips in a lot of places.
What is wrong with 30FPS anyway? The game is running slighlty faster than normal TV/films run at (28.9 avg.), so is perfectly playable.
I would never tell anyone that they should buy a game, not my business. All I am saying is, with the extra's, FULL 1080P, not upscaled, amiibo support, and a constant 30FPS, in MY opinion, it is worth a purchase. I do however, respect your opinion, which is no more, and certainly no less valid than my own opinion.
This game was both awkward playing on both the GC and Wii. While playing on GC the sword swinging felt off and weird. For the Wii it just didn't feel like I was wielding sword. Skyward Sword was the true motion control experience. Im sure the sword swinging will be the same on TPHD
I'm looking forward to this but I'm disappointed that hero mode is locked into wii mode. I played the wii game 3 times (once by borrowing my friends wii, a second when I got my own, and a third doing a minimum heart challenge) I want to play this on hard, but not in wii mirror mode. Guess I'll have to find a Ganondorf amiibo...
Getting the amiibo bundle. I originally played it on Gamecube. Close to the end of the Wii's lifespan, I bought a copy of the Wii version used, but didn't get very far. Very excited to play it again, the last battle is unforgettable.
@Judgedean No, the original was in 30fps, which is the main reason why the remaster is in 30fps as well, same as with Wind Waker. Much harder to do a 60fps remaster of a 30fps game and have it look good.
Hm. I really would like to play this in gamecube layout mode, actually. That's a great touch.
@LemonSlice Thanks for the info. I have no problem then if it runs at the same speed as the original.
I can't wait to replay this game with decent controls and clean textures.
Thankfully I am getting it at discount on Friday (I love discounts)!!
(I really don't remember much about this game outside of Minda, Blizzaga, and good dungeon designs).
I originally played this on Wii. I didn't mind the waggle too much because it was so new at the time, but after playing Skyward Sword I could never go back to the straight waggle-for-button-press schematic.
I would love to play this in hero mode because I thought the original was too easy, but I also would like to play it in left-handed GCN mode, since I have never played it that way. Sounds like you can't play hero mode in left-handed Link mode? That's a shame.
Still, I'll probably check this out at some point.
Good review. I can't wait to lose myself in this game again.
The last time I was this excited for a remake was when Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix was released!
Can't wait for friday...
I think I'll wait two years to find a used copy for a reasonable price as I did with WW HD.
Sad it wasn't 60fps, but whateves. Did they remaster the midi music at least? They did this for Wind Waker!
I have the Amiibo, soundtrack bundle on pre-order. It's last call to change my mind! But I think i'll keep it. It's Zelda and I freaking love that amiibo. The bundle will be expensive in the future I bet. And Midna is best companion!
I would play mirrored Hero Mode from the beginning, definitely. I only ever played the normal GC version.
@akaDv8R From what I remember hearing it's locked at 30fps because the game engine screws up and creates some graphical and physics problems. It would have been a lot more work fixing those for the sake of 60. TP runs in a modified Wind Waker engine, so that's Nintendo's excuse for both HD ports.
It's an understandable reason, but at the end of the day I get a sub-par product missing a crucial selling point. I don't mind the original running at 30, it was already running on ancient hardware at the time. But I'm not going to drop full price for a game I already played when I expect better from remasters in 2016.
Also thanks for being mature about this, hope you enjoy the game m8.
I want to dedicate my time to this but I'm beating Bioshock Infinite first. I should be more then half way through.
I'm looking forward too playing thru this remaster seeing where it's improved.
@J_watch No worries buddy. As I said, we each have our own opinions, and they are just that, OUR opinions. We have no right to try and force them onto others.
It is not just because of the HD make over that I am getting the game. I only ever scratched the surface of the original version, so it will be virtually like playing a whole new adventure for me.
All the best for the future mate, keep on gaming.
@whodatninja not sure i don't think so, but the game would be weird in places with the music altered that midi music adds to the style of the game in some ways. say it was redecorated version when you leave it on button press and song loops it would be odd
@akaDv8R it's fun in the dungeons and late game the first part can be a little long. but it's setting you up to know the gameplay for the rest of the game tbh.
If this becomes a part of the Nintendo Selects program in a few years I will certainly pick it up then but until that happens I am content with my GameCube copy. If I hadn't already played it I would have preordered it ages ago because this really is one of the best Zelda games in the series.
It's the third time I will be buying this game and I ain't even mad.
@TruenoGT yeah i've 100% the wii version also... but that was a long time ago for me, i don't know about you though (bet your hyped for gunvolt 2?)
@GraveLordXD
I never wagged any arms playing this.
I distinctly recall aiming with motion controls (which worked amazing aiming while on horseback) and making slight slicing motions with my wrist to swing my sword.
No, I don't recall wagging any arms in the air...
@Shiryu 2nd time here, i don't feel mad either when it's a timeless classic you can always replay and enjoy. that's worth more than the price to me alone.
I guess for anyone who has never played this game it will be a new game and I guess 90% is fair enough for an Nintendo only site.
But the other side of the coin is the complete lack and choice of new Wii U games.
The new Zelda, Starfox and other new games are no where to be seen but out of the blue an old game is given a makeover and rushed out at full price is all we have.
A review should reflect that this is an old game and well played by many who have already played full price for the original.
And like a book or a movie the element of surprise the second time around is not longer there and for that reason a game like this should have points deducted.
If this game does sell well, it will be because there is little else to play on the Wii U.
@JaxonH tbh same for me i was sat down and stuff, i have seen videos of people playing standing that made me lol.
@zool it's highly rumored zelda is being tp like. on wii u/ nx so that could be why, if we don't hear about it at e-3/before then i'm gonna start getting annoyed. but still it's no sony's the last guardian yet.
@abbyhitter - yes.....I also tend to say the buh bye with him at the end
@zool so when a book gets re released in say a new generation at full price you think the same thing. how about when movies are put back in cinema's for anniversary's they aren't cheap either, your logic is a bit one sided. you shouldn't deduct points off a game the game unless it's say... broken and even then they still get free passes by most people, Bethesda games in general for one buggy as hell on release. but get high scores still when others would be nuked for that.
@Gerbwmu lol. I'm glad that I'm not the only one.
@abbyhitter well yeah the meh is getting panned but gamexplain is usually fair, i had a bad feeling about him reviewing it though, he should have gave it derrick to review tbh as has let it known he dislikes tp with a passion.
@zool - Pokken Tournament gets released in 2 weeks and Star Fox is still scheduled for April 22nd. 3 games in less then 2 months, even if one is a remaster, isn't too bad considering Nintendo is basically doing it in there own.
Having never played TP, and I don't watch lets play videos, means it's a brand new game for me so It will be nice to throw some time at it in an attempt to break my Xenoblade and FE Fates addictions
I will get this eventually when it is cheaper but it really is a rip off at full retail price for those that played it before.
Midi soundtrack for this price and the availability of most of the tracks in Orchestra quality to Nintendo is just a slap in the face.
@kenrulei I prefer Derrick over Andre any day. I'm not subscribed to their channel (don't want to give them that pleasure), but I pop in occasionally over there to listen to discussions. Andre's voice and opinions are so cringe-worthy. I much prefer Alex's video reviews here over Andre's at GX.
This will be my third time owning this game also, though I never finished it on Gamecube. This will be my first time buying it at full price - Gamecube was a Xmas gift from my dad, and the Wii copy was bought used.
@JaxonH Once again, you make so much sense. Thank you.
I'll even go as far and say there is no need to flail your arms around in the air when playing Skyward Sword (well, most of the time). Just use your wrists properly and you'll be fine. It's just like Splatoon's motion controls; there is no freakin' need to move your whole arms around. It's all in the wrist.
Simply put, if you're playing Wii games (even Wii Sports) and flailing your arms around, you're probably doing it wrong.
@ThomasBW84 Nice review. I do have a question to ask, though...
"In terms of visuals, the 1080p and 30fps lock are both excellent, though it's a pity the Wii U doesn't have enough grunt to achieve 60 frames."
Where did you get this information from? Not that I'm doubting you, it's just that I thought the reason why this game isn't at 60fps was because of one of two things (maybe both): the fact that the game's physics would be changed if the frame rate went up to 60fps, and, quite frankly, laziness (see Wind Waker HD).
£40 for an HD upscale that adds a Poe Lamp? Then another £11 for an amiibo if you actually want any new content? No, I won't bother unless I see the Special Edition for £35 or less.
To people saying their order has been posted. You could well get it early (especially with shopto) but my GAME order has been dispatched but they send it with an order that the postman not deliver till Friday. It sounds dumb and not sure how it works but its basically so they cannot be held responsible for non delivery.
Also...Every one to their own and all that. But I find it dumb that people played games for years without caring about frame-rate (unless it was pure shite) and now all of a sudden everyone is an expert. Not buying a game as it is 30fps instead of 60 ????? why. 30fps is fine. The human eye can read 60fps sure but 30fps is fine and fluid. film for years was 24.9fps. Settings on modern tvs revert to 24.9 as it is a popular effect. I get games are different as they are animated but I think you need to reevaluated why you are playing games in the first place if such an issue stops you buying a game. I am paying £38 for an amiibo a sound track and a £40 game, so I think its a good deal.
@Antray1984 Makes you wonder how people played on old consoles back in the day.
Twilight Princess wasn't my favorite Zelda . In fact I barely even remember it. I played it on Wii nearly 10 years ago, and haven't played it since. I'm looking forward to revisiting it and seeing how much I remember.
@Antray1984 well i live in the uk i used Nintendo store and i got bravely second a day early so yeah could be a thing.
Shopto deliveries always comes early for me. Never had that with Nintendo store but good luck anyway. I didn't go with nintendo as didn't really want the free t-shirt.
I spoke to GAME when my Street Fighter V game was shipped 5 days early and they said it was just a precaution. And it was indeed posted on the release day.
"but it should surprise no-one that this was touted as an area of improvement for the next home console game when it was presented way back in December 2014."
Why is it appropriate to mention Zelda U at all in a review of Twilight Princess HD? Can't help but try to get more clicks by linking another Zelda related article?
"In terms of visuals, the 1080p and 30fps lock are both excellent"
The framerate is not locked. Y'all even had an article in which you shared DF's video to show this. Throwing around buzzwords that you can't back up is unethical.
@WiltonRoots I remember street fighter 2 on the SNES. Black bars and slow down all the way.
Considering this was my first Zelda game, I'm 100% getting this!! So glad they decided to do an HD remake
@Vee_Flames That's a fair point, that was an assumption on my part (which is naughty). Maybe the Wii U can do 60fps for the game on a technical level, and personally I wish it was.
I played the Gamecube version about 3 years ago and honestly didnt love it. I may pick it up down the line if its discounted or something but I didnt ever plan on replaying it after the once. Awesome release for those who loved it though!
@Antray1984 the sandwich breaks you could have with early SNES games - when Super Ghouls and Ghosts had too much on screen, you didn't really need a pause button...
Sure hope this game is compatible with NX down the line, enjoyed the original quite a bit.
@MasterS7000
I think mine was a minute earlier lol. I 100% it on wii but I'm more than happy to do it again in hd lol
@RainbowGazelle
What BS are you spreading? The bundle which includes the amiibo and soundtrack is 43£ (on Amazon UK, 49€ on France) and not 51£ (40£ + 11£) as you're implying. The bundle even went as low as 35£ on Amazon.
I loved to play TP with nunchuk and wii remote. Why does this sound outdated..? The future of gaming depends on innovation, which the nunchuk and wii remote was and still is! Personally I moved away from gaming on consoles because too many buttons with subsequent too long learning curve for me. If I buy TP HD will be impuls purchase, will see. Good review Thomas.
@kenrulei we have thousands of books and movies to choose from so yours is not a logical argument. We have no new Wii U games to choose from.
@Gerbwmu you are happy to play TP and are happy with Nintendo. That's all good for you.
You said ''3 games in less then 2 months, even if one is a remaster, isn't too bad considering Nintendo is basically doing it in there own.''
That is an argument for saying we have to many seperate console systems.
@ThomasBW84 Haha, I guess it's bit obvious that lots of people would be quick to label the Wii U's power as the reason why TPHD is only 30FPS.
But yeah, I wish it was 60FPS, too... and I'm very certain the Wii U can handle it.
@Project_Dolphin Good point, back when playability came before stubble.
@RainbowGazelle The amiibo ost bundle is on Amazon for about £43. Not a bad price at all.
But in general, remasters like this should only be AT MOST £25-30.
Preordered this with the amiibo. I can't wait to dive into one of my favorite Zelda games again. The soundtrack is one of my favorites.
@Ronnie1969 I do wish it had wii motion plus controls. More options is always good! I never played the Wii version, only GC.
@Project_Dolphin you are right, quantity is not something I would accuse Nintendo of. : )
Unless you are including the 90% of indie games that are poor quality and overpriced and the Wii games with poor graphics and overpriced.
You are making a good argument for console owners to keep old consoles and games rather than having to buy them back from Nintendo.
I really liked this on the Wii, controls and all! But I've never felt the need to return to Zelda games when I've fully beaten them. It's such a story based game and I spend allot of time on each game that I feel no pull to play them again. If any were really changed I might feel differently but I'd probably want to play wind wakerHD before this anyway if I did return to a Zelda!
While I certainly don't need the game and paying a full price for it seems stupid, I still might buy it.
I've come to the conclusion that it might be wise to buy physical copies of Wii U games now, because Wii U is selling so few units and it will be discontinued soon, that Wii U games them self might become rare (and sought after) in the future.
I agree with the article that, if you haven't played this game before, it is worth the full price. However, the new features aren't enough for me to purchase the game again at full price. The idea of "Hero Mode" being simply a damage increase, heart scarcity and mirror map, in this case, feels like a wasted opportunity in the franchise as a whole. Master Quest nailed the difficulty, though, by upping the puzzle challenge, putting enemies in tricky places, and thinking creatively in general. I hope that Hero Mode will go back to that formula in future releases!
I have spent over 80 hours on the Wii version. Regarding the game, the review is quite honest and I like that you highlighted the story. Compared to Skyward Sword, the world, the story and the side quests are much more interesting. Skyward Sword was highly repetitive and Twilight Princess is not. I would add how annoying Fi was and Midna is not when comparing Midna to other characters of the series. Also, the extras that you talk about are not that neat in my book.
As the review pointed out, the remaster is lacking 60 FPS display and the visual improvement is rather slight. However, I've been wanting to replay one of my favourite games for years and the higher resolution and sharper visuals are selling me this remaster. I didn't use any guide back then and I missed a few poe souls. The review also forgot to mention that they are easier to find now. I recommend this game and this remaster to everybody, but not because it's a great remaster, which is not, but because it's just one of the best games and hey, it looks better.
Sorry to mention it every time, but the new website is uneasy to browse on desktops.
It seems a bit weird to me that a 10 year old game from previous two generations can't be made to run 60fps and 1080p on Wii U. The machine is no weakling when you look at Nintendo's other releases and 3rd party games like Fast Racing Neo.
I remember playing this on the Wii, and my then two-year-old daughter would watch it like it was a cartoon. She's now 12, and I'll be watching her play it on the Wii U...assisting where necessary, of course. Circle of something.
As soon as I get this I'll be loading up Super Mario Maker to unlock the Wolf Link costume and then make some levels using it.
Looking forward to grabbing the special edition when my pre-order comes through. Had to pre-order the MegaMan special edition on 3DS from the US because Canada only got four or some such nonsense.
One would believe that after 10 years, geeks and otakus would stoo whining about "the waggle" controls on the wii.
Boy I was wrong.
It wasn't bad then and it isn't now. Stop making a big fuzz about nothing. Only N64Kids that cannot and will never accept the fact that the Wii was a successful console whined about the wii controls. Nobody cared.
Grow up.
People seriously critize it for lacking in revolution from "Ocarina of Time," often cited as one of the best video games of all time?! I'm not a big Zelda fan, but I'd think that would be a good thing. In my book, it certainly beats all the sailing you do in "Wind Waker" or the uncomfortable timed pressure used in "Majora's Mask" (the same reason I think "Pikmin 2" beats the original "Pikmin").
@VanillaLake In that case, shouldn't it only be recommended to those who don't already have the original game? If it's a lousy remaster then just save your money and replay the old version.
so now no waggle its supposed to be a positive, when the game came out I remember Nintendo fanboys saying the motion controls were the best thing ever
@DualWielding
I still think motion controls are cool.
OK so I played this on Wii and hated it. The graphics were muddy and blurry, the character designs were ugly, the wolf combat 'magic walls appear - select all the baddies then press a button which will make your wolf jump around automatically and kill them all otherwise they'll all come back to life forever' thing was no fun at all, and it seemed like I spent hours just riding a retarded pony through narrow rock ravines.
I said 'eff this!' and gave up on it at the start of the underwater temple entrance. I'd just had enough.
I'm seriously tempted to get this though, but I think I'd regret it...
I better get cracking on FEF. I want this day one. I know those controls are gonna be smooth.
@BulbasaurusRex You have a point but there are just a few games I would buy because of a few visual enhancements, and I already sold my copy of Twilight Princess Wii (not for much though).
@BulbasaurusRex You, I didn't say lousy!
Not giving the public a wiimote/m+ control option is pants. I really liked the motion controls ... especially for aiming. Should've overhauled it an added motion plus to the sword swinging for the people that preferred that control scheme. Another stupid oversight to add to the list.
@toxibunny I would say wait for a sale, but it's Nintendo and they don't really do that
I'd love to replay TP with Hero Mode, HD graphics, and all the little extras...but not for $50.
This is the only Zelda I ever played, but never finished, so I am glad I now get the chance to finish it. I'm very happy about this, given the 30 year anniversary. I'm currently playing the OG Zelda and once I'm done, it's on to this. It's really cool to revisit old games, especially classics like Zelda.
Glad to see the game got a great score! Twilight Princess is my favorite Zelda game, but I already have it on the Wii. I'm occupied with other games right now, so I wont' be getting this game for a while. I'll probably pick it up eventually, when the first price drop happens. To everyone who is getting it day one though, enjoy it!
@GraveLordXD
I do prefer a tradition twin analog setup in most scenarios, but I don't loathe Wiimote. At worst it's a subpar alternative; at best, a superior control scheme unrivaled.
I refuse to play Pikmin games without a Wiimote (well, stylus on the gamepad works for Pikmin 3). It just ruins the game using analog because not only can you not aim precisely enough, you can't simultaneously move and aim in different directions which is a crucial mechanic.
As for games like TP I really didn't dislike the Wiimote- I didn't find it to be that much better (the aiming while riding and higher precision and response time of aiming in general was awesome), but at the same time the motion to slice with the sword got tiresome.
Wiimote can be superior in a few select games, while for the rest it's inferior or par for the course at best. Metroid Prime 3, Pikmin 1/2/3, Wii Sports [Resort/Club], and a few others I wish would indefinitely support motion.
But as for the rest- the vast majority- yes, I'd prefer a normal dual analog setup
@Minotaurgamer Excuse me for complaining about a game that I can't even f***ing play on the Wii because I'm left handed and me not being crazy enough to buy a expensive Gamecube copy of it. Stop standing for other people like a SJW and defending Nintendo as if they can do no wrong for Christ sake.
On some forums I find it funny that people are buying it for the updated graphics... the same people that once said graphics don't matter.
Nintendo should have done a whole lot more Wii and GameCube refurbished games to milk money. Not my money but I am sure there are enough people willing to buy the same game many times over. Nintendo missed a trick here.
Skyward Sword, Galaxy etc., refurbishes should already be in the works. Not many more people are going to buy the WiiU. Exploit those that did.
@GraveLordXD I gave on the Wii version after 5 minutes because of that.
@GraveLordXD I gave on the Wii version after 5 minutes because of that.
Nintendo can do no wrong with this game. I love it. The salivation is real.
@J_watch Lol, you are either incredibly sarcastic with a cracking sense of humour or have the most inept intelligence. Lol. On a serious note 30fps is PERFECT for this style of game!
@Chaoz You can hold the Wiimote with your left hand, you know. It can't be that hard to adjust to the visual disconnect of Link swinging his right arm while you swing your left.
@earthboundlink Someone else might have said this, but you can play "Hero Mode" in the GC world if you have a Ganondorf amiibo! Yay for locked content!
Got it on wii and had it preordered since last year my body is ready to re play through this again.
Also I will probably use this release as a opportunity to pick up the original gamecube release a bit cheaper after a few months
I'll definitely pick this up at some point as I never played fast the first dungeon since I only borrowed the game from a friends for a short time. I'm just waiting until I can find it cheaper, preferably without the amiibo.
I can't wait to play this without having to pay absurd amounts of eBay for GameCube games yet again or having to shake a stick
I have the digital version pre-ordered. Can't wait to play it on Friday.
The best Legend of Zelda in my opinion.
Gee, what a surprise. Turns out this is good after all. I suppose Star Fox Zero will be the next game everyone will be whining about.
Anyway, nice review. However...
"In terms of visuals, the 1080p and 30fps lock are both excellent, though it's a pity the Wii U doesn't have enough grunt to achieve 60 frames."
I found this to be a little presumptuous. Maybe 30 fps was an intentional move? I do recall Nintendo saying that 60 fps didn't feel right for Wind Waker HD.
Once I finish my playthrough of Skyward Sword, then I'll have TP HD to hold me over until Zelda U releases. Since I am/will be playing through both of these entries for the first time, I'm perfectly content with the wait.
Still have my 'Cube version. I'm debating hard about this one.
@zool well yeah... cause the nx is coming it's always like this
cant wait to pick my copy/bundle amiibo edition up
I might need to run out tomorrow and pre-order this just to get the soundtrack CD they are offering at Game Stop. TP interested me very much when I played a friends copy on my gamecube because I loved the creepy character designs of some of the villagers, (baby face?) the almost Majora's Mask dark designs without the annoyance of being Majora's Mask, (I know, I know. I don't like Majora's Mask. It's fine, move along.) and Midna... I did a lot of extra work for Midna. She is by far my favorite Zelda character.
To be fair, I only made it up to the third dungeon on that playthrough many years ago, but I always wanted to finish it.
I may have to cancel my pre-order for this, I'm just over whelmed with games right now. Street fighter 5, Fire emblem fates, Project x zone 2, digimon cyber slueth...
but i'm worried the amiibo along with the game may be hard to pick up down the road.
@3MonthBeef I'll half agree, some games are like new games each time you play. Games like Fire Emblem and Chess where each game is unique. But an adventure game like TP when played a second time does lose the surprise element, you know what is round every corner. A lot of reviews say good game but no replay value.
I'm not saying TP has no replay value but the replay value has certainly diminished. For me anyway.
@Splatburst I'm talking about Nintendo's RRP. They want £40 for the game on its own, or £50 for the Special Edition, which is scandalous.
@whodatninja That's a decent discount on Amazon's part, but like you said, Nintendo shouldn't be charging so much in the first place.
@RainbowGazelle I agree with you. But it's Nintendo and they like to overcharge. And they don't like to put their games on sale.
But sometimes with Amazon and Nintendo games, they drop the price on release day. I hope this happens with Twilight Princess!
@whodatninja Ooh, that'd be good. I'll keep an eye out for that!
Oh my game better be here for Friday D: They fail so often and I won't get it until Monday. Let's hope for the best!
And the Amiibo...yes. Oh yes.
"It's all progress on Wii U then, except for one small sticking point. Moving to 1920x1080 has not come entirely without a penalty, and Twilight Princess HD has frame-rate dips not seen on GameCube and Wii." More on Eurogamer here: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2016-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-hd-face-off
So the new dungeon gives you a wallet.
That's pretty anti-climatic.
"though it's a pity the Wii U doesn't have enough grunt to achieve 60 frames"
Are you sure? That this game doesn't have it doesn't mean the Wii u isn't capable!
"a challenge area of which a similar equivalent existed in the originals"
So in other words they removed it and replaced it with this Amiibo nonsense?! Good job Nintendo!!
Im waiting on the wolf link amiibo adition to be delivered and I will love the game because, frankly, it is the best Zelda game and therefore one of the greatest gaming experiences ive ever had. But im sorry, there is no getti g around the frustration that this is a rather lazy port. Plus the fact its the third remaster of a Zelda game in as many years is a worryingly large amount of evidence to suggest Nintendo are running out of ideas for the Wii U.
Thanks for the info concerning controls. It was the poor controls that prevented me completing this the first time round. Order has been dispatched and looking forward to it.
@Henmii I blame the 1080p resolution. I kinda wish it was 720p so we could have 60fps.
If anyone has read one of my previous comments, you will know that I only scratched the surface of this game when it first launched.
I have heard and reac many differing opinions as to how good this game compares to other Zelda games.
I would really appreciate it, if people who have played the game before from the NL community, could give me their opinions as to what they think/thought of this game. All opinions are much appreciated.
Despite people criticizing the visuals, I actually really like them. Want to get this game and am still in two minds because unlike most people I liked the controls for the Wii version and didn't like the gamepad controls for Wind Waker HD. I also find it awkward swapping out equipment on the gamepad and don't find it makes much of a difference.
@akaDv8R I'm a huge fan of Twilight Princess and it's actually my favourite Zelda game. Once you get past a certain point (won't spoil it for you) in the game it all picks up from there but does take a bit of time to get going.
I first got Twilight Princess on Gamecube I love the dungeons in this game and for me there's so many moments where I just thought "WOW!". Bomb arrows are really cool too!
Lots of stuff like bugs and the usual heart pieces to collect too which is great. If you're missing any heart pieces you also get clues to show where the missing ones are if you're a completionist.
Link learns several extra combat moves making combat more interesting. I really enjoyed the story and exploration, it's truly an epic zelda game, just my opinion though.
Got my copy today but haven't had time to play it yet. Man evening tomorrow night should cure it though
The area that you snowboard down into has to be one of my favorite areas in any Zelda game to date. I'm being vague on purpose in case anyone hasn't played this gem yet. So many good memories.
Can't wait to play this
"The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD gives a second chance to one of the most talked about and debated entries in the series to date. "
Seems like that could be used in a review for any Zelda game remaster.
Anyway, never got around to this on the Wii so looking forward to playing this for the first time, with the "definitive version."
I am playing the Wii version of this game. The normal Zelda levels are very good but the werehog level is very boring.
Hmm... I'm interested, but not sure I can afford to throw money at a game I already own right now. I wonder if there's a chance of a Skyward Sword HD release? I realize that game required a Wiimote, but if this game can transition to a gamepad, there's hope, right?
Would have preferred wii controls as an option but the gamepad for inventory is more than enough to hook me. This is one of my favorite Zelda games anyway. I barely slept the week it came out (first game I bought with my day 1 wii).
Fed Ex just dropped off my copy!!!!!
@bensunuii that's kinda funny since it not sold by itself.lol
For those wondErin the game is improved. Remember catching the fish and trying to guide the cat? Well this time the cat runs all the way home once you have the fish.
9? Really?
Wow I will have to dust off my Wii U. I have always wanted to play this game, I had it on the Wii but the waggle controls turned me off to the game and I could never find a GC copy cheap enough. Going to be picking this up this weekend.
tired of ugly remakes for 60 dollars we need FIFA , RACING , SHOOTER we need 10 big titles a year at least not only virtual console games and remakes that have to cost 5 dollars on wii because it so old .
In recognition of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
I have always loved Twilight Princess. The HD version could have been better, but even though I admit that Twilight Princess HD release trailer did not properly show it, Twilight Princess HD is a much bigger upgrade than The Wind Waker HD. Basically, all textures are new, from the grass of Hyrule to any painting in Snowpeak Ruins. The resolution boost is far more noticeable than in Wind Waker HD, because Twilight Princess is naturalistic and Wind Waker is toon. The game looks nicer and crisper than ever.
I love Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, but I really think Twilight Princess is the best The Legend of Zelda game ever:
· It's absolutely full of the best features in the series,
· the story is original and dark,
· it doesn't seem to be continuously censoring itself,
· it has a huge amount of varied things to do and places to visit,
· it's never cheap backtracking unlike Skyward Sword.
· The naturalistic visuals are the best in the series this far, specially in the HD version, and they fit best the nature settings of the series and the emphasis on making the player feeling an adventurer.
· The dungeons are unique and really clever (feel more intelligent by not using any guide).
· Midna is not a cheesy or annoying mentor (hello, Skyward Sword, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks).
· The combat has some tweaks and twists including additional techniques, but it's not unnecessary complex.
· You can be Link, his wolf form, you can ride Epona or a Bullbo, you can fly hang off a Twilit Carrier Kargarok...
· There are cool mini games and side quests.
· The soundtrack includes great old songs plus some interesting new melodies.
· It's not too similar to Ocarina of Time as some people say.
Twilight Princess is arguably the best game Nintendo has ever made.
I just started playing this recently. Probably my 15th playthrough total, but first in the HD version. I just recently looked back at your original Wii review and I couldn't believe you guys not only gave it an 8, but went further on to say it was one of the weakest in the franchise.
I personally believe that this is not only arguably the best Zelda, but one of the top 10 greatest video games of all-time. Such an incredible experience.
This is by far the greatest game ever made, in my personal opinion. Not only does the darkest entry in the Zelda franchise leave its mark for future titles, but it provides a refereshing look into a new realm that isn't even close to a carbon copy of the legendary "Dark World". At times the game can be repetitive in nature (the tears of light are unbearable), but it more than makes of for this flaw with an excellent story and amazing entry in the series. It is really biased with me, but I will stand in my opinion that this is not only the greatest Zelda title ever made, but the greatest game ever made, period. It's not a popular opinion at all, but it's the one I hold.
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