VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Newest ‘Zelda’ game truly legendary on the Wii
Every so often, a game comes along that is so monumental it defies even the loftiest of gamer expectations, dramatically redefines the prerogatives of the entire industry and raises the standards previously set by the finest game entries in the history of the medium.
These games often tend to involve the rescue of a fair elfin princess, a vast, field-covered kingdom called Hyrule and a heroic, pointy-eared boy clad in green.
Since the release of the original “Legend of Zelda” on the NES in 1986, the console-based adventures of Link have consistently represented the peak of genre innovation and video game ingenuity, and each of the Master Sword-wielder’s subsequent quests has further perfected the series’ peerless combination of absorbing storytelling and ground-breaking gameplay. The latest entry in this celebrated franchise is no different.
In fact, “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” seems to incorporate and combine the most inventive and memorable aspects of the series while bringing so many refreshing new concepts to the mix that it manages to dethrone the revolutionary “Ocarina of Time” as the most compelling game in existence.
“Twilight Princess” begins like previous “Zelda” titles, with Link enjoying the simple life in the humble, remote village of Ordon. Echoing the isolated tranquility of the Kokiri Forest from “Ocarina” while introducing the horse-ridin,’ “gun”-slingin’ western milieu that permeates the latest incarnation of Hyrule, Ordon Village represents a calm before the shadowy storm that eventually engulfs the hero and his band of young friends in a struggle to save the entire kingdom from the machinations of Zant, the king of the Twilight.
One thing that sets “Twilight Princess” apart from previous entries in the “Zelda” series is the engrossing nature of the game’s narrative.
While previous “Zelda” titles have always maintained enthralling and immersive storylines, “Twilight Princess” weaves a darker and more complicated yarn than the more simplistic “save the princess” scenarios that have made up the bulk of earlier “Zelda” tales.
From the moment players are first introduced to the charismatic and mischievous Midna to the final frames of the game’s climatic ending, every shocking twist and unforeseen turn is rendered in a beautifully cinematic world.
Players are also taken on a much more emotional journey in “Twilight” because of the narrative’s focus on Link’s core allies from Ordon, bringing the story deeper significance and a more identifiable context.
Nothing that veteran gamers have experienced prior to popping “Twilight Princess” into their respective Wii or Gamecube can compare to taking that first step onto the endless expanse that is Hyrule Field. It’s at this moment that gamers will first realize how truly massive Link’s latest dungeon-filled epic really is.
Imbuing the franchise with one of the largest fully-exporable overworlds in console gaming, the wizards at Nintendo have managed to enlarge the gravitas of Link’s perpetual conflict with Ganondorf while crafting the most exhaustive gaming experience in the veteran game companies’ renowned library.
And although gamers feared that applying the controversial Wii control scheme to a title that was originally intended for the Nintendo Gamecube would ultimately detract from the quality of the final product, Nintendo delivered the definitive control scheme for a “Zelda” game, and they essentially ensured gamers that there was no way to pass up purchasing the ingenious Wii.
Using the responsive Wii-mote to swing Link’s sword and use imaginative weapons like arrow bombs and the double claw-shot only serves to further immerse players in the captivating world of Hyrule.
And with lengthy, labyrinthine dungeons that will test the limits of even the craftiest of Zelda fans, an endless number of side-quests and mini-games that are perfectly integrated into the main quest and a collection of some of the most challenging and unforgettable boss encounters in the series, “Twilight Princes” should occupy gamers for months.
Mack Perry is the Utah Statesman video game
critic and an expert at rescuing princesses of all types. Comments about his reviews can
be sent to him at mackp@cc.usu.edu