Same as before, just that the annoying bits are now nerfed and, therefore, more enjoyable. The improved visuals and controls, along with those things that were already good in the original edition, make for a perfect Zelda game in my eyes.
This game is incredible outside of the forced wolf sections and the sometimes janky camera. This is peak Zelda design, in it's world and dungeons. Do yourself a favor and play this game.
zelda
Twilight Princess was one of my favorite games of all-time when it released in 2006, but for the life of me I wouldn't have been able to tell you much about what I experienced with it. That's the curse of a poor memory, and that time period in particular is a hazy one for me. Sometimes, however, that works in your favor. In the case of Twilight Princess HD, it absolutely did, allowing me to do what is often extremely difficult: re-experience something I loved all over again as if it was the first time.
In regards to classic 3D Zelda games, Twilight Princess stands atop them all; I felt that way then, and I feel even stronger about that now. It's the ultimate evolution of what the tried-and-true formula had to offer, wrapped up in the traditional Zelda adventure I still adore, along with a strong supporting cast (including the best-written and most memorable side character these games have ever possessed in Midna), the absolute pinnacle of dungeon and puzzle design, the best combat the series has ever brought to the table, and an unmatched atmosphere that gives Twilight Princess its defining look and feel. There are obvious elements that don't stand the test of time when compared with how much of a jump forward Breath of the Wild was (notably the scale of the world), but I can still appreciate those aspects of Twilight Princess for how bold they felt at the time.
In terms of the HD version, there were some things left to be desired. Horse controls seemed like a decided downgrade from what I remember of the original, and I really felt like they could have done more to improve the camera system. Also, as someone that played the Wii version, the Wii U gyro controls just don't compare to the precision of the Wii remote's pointer, and I missed the little bit of immersion that came with using motion controls for your sword. The game looks quite sharp, however, and I was surprised at how well the art style held up with only the minor improvements done to it.
I'm always a little leery going back to games like this that I haven't experienced in ages, and it actually took me six years after buying Twilight Princess HD to even get around to playing it. From what little memory I possessed of the original game, there was still an overwhelming sense of attachment to my time with it, and my hope was that those feelings would still shine through some 15 years. I'm happy to say they unquestionably did.
In regards to classic 3D Zelda games, Twilight Princess stands atop them all; I felt that way then, and I feel even stronger about that now. It's the ultimate evolution of what the tried-and-true formula had to offer, wrapped up in the traditional Zelda adventure I still adore, along with a strong supporting cast (including the best-written and most memorable side character these games have ever possessed in Midna), the absolute pinnacle of dungeon and puzzle design, the best combat the series has ever brought to the table, and an unmatched atmosphere that gives Twilight Princess its defining look and feel. There are obvious elements that don't stand the test of time when compared with how much of a jump forward Breath of the Wild was (notably the scale of the world), but I can still appreciate those aspects of Twilight Princess for how bold they felt at the time.
In terms of the HD version, there were some things left to be desired. Horse controls seemed like a decided downgrade from what I remember of the original, and I really felt like they could have done more to improve the camera system. Also, as someone that played the Wii version, the Wii U gyro controls just don't compare to the precision of the Wii remote's pointer, and I missed the little bit of immersion that came with using motion controls for your sword. The game looks quite sharp, however, and I was surprised at how well the art style held up with only the minor improvements done to it.
I'm always a little leery going back to games like this that I haven't experienced in ages, and it actually took me six years after buying Twilight Princess HD to even get around to playing it. From what little memory I possessed of the original game, there was still an overwhelming sense of attachment to my time with it, and my hope was that those feelings would still shine through some 15 years. I'm happy to say they unquestionably did.
The best dungeons in the series, and midna is by far the best companion, unfortunately the world is pretty bland
i am until the day i die a twilight princess long opening tutorial section apologist
The definitive version of Twilight Princess. Includes quality of life changes that really streamline the experience, and makes the beginning Wolf Link sections feel like less of a drag.
I finished this game very quickly. I have been umming (and ahhing) about what to say about it since I finished it because I felt like I should have more to say about the game, but I don't. I think this was the first Zelda game I ever bought, I had seen a trailer for it and at one point in the trailer Link dives off a cliff into some water and I thought "that looks great, I'm going to buy that game and do that."
I got the game and have vivid memories of running around ordon village, trying to get that fucking cat to go home. I felt like I tried everything and in the process became familiar with the space and the people in it. I was stuck there for what felt like hours, and as a kid I had nothing else to be doing. I eventually decided to go fishing because I felt like I'd done everything else and you know what? I caught a fish and that little twat came running. that is my main memory of the game, I definitely got to the first dungeon but I don't remember if I finished it or not. I definitely had nostalia for the game.
I have played a number of other zelda games now including one called OCARINA OF TIME, and decided it was time to go back to Twilight Princess, so I got it on the Wii U. I knew what I was doing in Ordon village so flew through that pretty quickly, it was nice to go back, but it didn't feel quite so brimming with life this time round, maybe it's just because I'm older! Anyway, I got to the first dungeon and well, played the whole game. I was regularly reminded of why I loved Ocarina of Time so much, there's so much that that game got right that, and Twilight Princess in a lot of ways feels like Ocarina of Time 2, except lacking the charm and a lot of what made the tone and atmosphere of that game so great for me. A lot of Twilight Princess felt very lifeless to me, especially after coming from Skyward Sword, the heart of the game is Midna, who IS great. She is easily the best part of the game, and the moment where you are carrying her to Castle Town is probably the best moment in the entire game. I don't really have any complaints about the gameplay, I'm sure it is basically just OoT but smoother in a lot of ways! I enjoyed the way the combat worked as human link, except you could still just get away with spamming if you were feeling lazy. The dungeons are all pretty good, they're quite lengthy but yeah, they're good! I became pretty tired of the one where you're controlling all the little soldier statues though. I have strongest memories of the water temple and the final (?) dungeon, I really liked those ones.
I think that this is a really good game, but it very rarely wowed me, it felt like stuff I'd done before, even though I know that I hadn't. The early game section that I'd done before was the part I enjoyed the most, I think! The rest of the game just felt, fine. It was good. I couldn't put the game down, but I didn't have much to say about it. When I did get to the Zora village though, I found a big cliff and made Link dive off the edge into the water. I think it was worth the wait.
I got the game and have vivid memories of running around ordon village, trying to get that fucking cat to go home. I felt like I tried everything and in the process became familiar with the space and the people in it. I was stuck there for what felt like hours, and as a kid I had nothing else to be doing. I eventually decided to go fishing because I felt like I'd done everything else and you know what? I caught a fish and that little twat came running. that is my main memory of the game, I definitely got to the first dungeon but I don't remember if I finished it or not. I definitely had nostalia for the game.
I have played a number of other zelda games now including one called OCARINA OF TIME, and decided it was time to go back to Twilight Princess, so I got it on the Wii U. I knew what I was doing in Ordon village so flew through that pretty quickly, it was nice to go back, but it didn't feel quite so brimming with life this time round, maybe it's just because I'm older! Anyway, I got to the first dungeon and well, played the whole game. I was regularly reminded of why I loved Ocarina of Time so much, there's so much that that game got right that, and Twilight Princess in a lot of ways feels like Ocarina of Time 2, except lacking the charm and a lot of what made the tone and atmosphere of that game so great for me. A lot of Twilight Princess felt very lifeless to me, especially after coming from Skyward Sword, the heart of the game is Midna, who IS great. She is easily the best part of the game, and the moment where you are carrying her to Castle Town is probably the best moment in the entire game. I don't really have any complaints about the gameplay, I'm sure it is basically just OoT but smoother in a lot of ways! I enjoyed the way the combat worked as human link, except you could still just get away with spamming if you were feeling lazy. The dungeons are all pretty good, they're quite lengthy but yeah, they're good! I became pretty tired of the one where you're controlling all the little soldier statues though. I have strongest memories of the water temple and the final (?) dungeon, I really liked those ones.
I think that this is a really good game, but it very rarely wowed me, it felt like stuff I'd done before, even though I know that I hadn't. The early game section that I'd done before was the part I enjoyed the most, I think! The rest of the game just felt, fine. It was good. I couldn't put the game down, but I didn't have much to say about it. When I did get to the Zora village though, I found a big cliff and made Link dive off the edge into the water. I think it was worth the wait.
good as fuck but it has some pacing issues so 4.5
Love it. Although WW is my favourite, I appreciate their willingness to drastically shift the tone of the franchise from one game to the next.
Wolf Link stuff is alright.
This is basically the true (and only) sequel to Ocarina of Time, to me. That's not necessarily a positive or negative comment, just throwing it out there.
Wolf Link stuff is alright.
This is basically the true (and only) sequel to Ocarina of Time, to me. That's not necessarily a positive or negative comment, just throwing it out there.
An excellent Zelda entry. Nothing more nothing less. HD fixed being stuck on Wii/Gamecube
best zelda game, midzel canon
I hate the Wii version of this because it flips the whole game and throws my sense of direction off, but it was still a cool thematic approach to Zelda that was a lot darker and scarier, and had possibly the most in-depth story in the series yet. I think linear Zelda is Zelda at its best, so games like TP will always appeal to me.
trop bien on pouvait se transformer en furry et tout
I waited way too long to finally play this game, if anyone hasn't played this yet, just play it. So memorable.
I wish I could like this game. I really do. This game tries to be everything the previous ones were, but more. Longer dungeons, more in-depth story, bigger world. While I can't necessarily say it fails at any of these aspects, it doesn't consider whether or not that's what these games needed. Sure, the dungeons are longer, but all that does is make it long enough to get sick of it, and want to leave by the end, rather than feel like an accomplishment. Sure, the story is more detailed, but all it really amounts to is putting the same car you've been using for the last 20 years on a new road. Sure, the world is bigger, but it's small enough to make every place seem recognizable, and big enough to make traversing it a slog to go through, making exploration feel like a chore, rather than a wonder. The game adopts a new art style, in an attempt to please fans who were put off by Wind Waker's unique look, but all it resulted in was the geometry, and in the case of the Gamecube/Wii versions, textures aging like milk. Even for standards from 2006, the art style is constantly clashing. I could take 3 different characters, and you wouldn't even be able to tell that they were supposed to be in the same game. I'm glad so many were able to see what I wasn't in this game, but I don't think I'll ever be able to turn around on it, as much as I wish I could.
Played on CemU emulator.
Played on CemU emulator.
Twilight Princess seems to be by far the most controversial Zelda game, and outside BotW, seems for some reason to generate some of the most polarizing opinions of any game in the franchise. I find myself somewhere in the middle of these, as I certainly do not think it is the best Zelda game or particularly close but not at all a bad game, offering a different interpretation of the Zelda universe that I both appreciated but also probably happy was not here to stay.
Nintendo absolutely took a risk with this game's style and in general I think it was a worthy one. It's not my favorite of series' various aesthetics, but the new characters end up having some of the best design in the series. Midna might be the best Zelda partner period, offering meaningful commentary while directly interacting with the narrative and a means to an end, while Zant is one of the creepiest Nintendo villains and is a perfect microcosm of the somberness of the game. The dungeon design overall is good, bringing some particularly unique ideas to the table, particularly in the Snowpeak Temple.
Twilight Princess is a worthy Zelda experience that succeeds in telling a darker story in a darker world. Capped off by a beautiful, melancholic soundtrack, Twilight Princess may not be the best Zelda game but in nearly every case it is an experiment gone right.
8/10
Nintendo absolutely took a risk with this game's style and in general I think it was a worthy one. It's not my favorite of series' various aesthetics, but the new characters end up having some of the best design in the series. Midna might be the best Zelda partner period, offering meaningful commentary while directly interacting with the narrative and a means to an end, while Zant is one of the creepiest Nintendo villains and is a perfect microcosm of the somberness of the game. The dungeon design overall is good, bringing some particularly unique ideas to the table, particularly in the Snowpeak Temple.
Twilight Princess is a worthy Zelda experience that succeeds in telling a darker story in a darker world. Capped off by a beautiful, melancholic soundtrack, Twilight Princess may not be the best Zelda game but in nearly every case it is an experiment gone right.
8/10
Good HD remake. Made the game more accessible for me :)
Epic Zelda adventure
Midna and the best dungeons in the series make this an easy second favorite Zelda.
This version has a few changes such as added stamps instead of loot, and vastly different textures not always for the better. There is also a late game battle gauntlet that has been changed due to the introduction of the Wolf Link Amiibo. It includes the best parts of the Wii and GameCube versions and is the best way to play the game.
Ugh the best Zelda game made even better. Look at that ratings distribution in the bottom left!
Temple of Time has to be my favourite dungeon of all time, no pun intended, purely because of the build-up to it, with Wolf Link visiting it first and then regular Link going back in time, hearing that amazing music again, and then unlocking a whole dungeon inside it. Not to mention the skull-kid battles and that giant spider boss, holy shit!
The amount of stuff there is to do in the overworld is also a highlight to me. There is literally so much to find and collect in this one that it makes Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, and Breath of the Wild seem almost empty in comparison. This actually became the baseline that everyone subliminally compares the content in other Zelda games to!
They need to put this on Switch. I would gladly pay any amount.
Temple of Time has to be my favourite dungeon of all time, no pun intended, purely because of the build-up to it, with Wolf Link visiting it first and then regular Link going back in time, hearing that amazing music again, and then unlocking a whole dungeon inside it. Not to mention the skull-kid battles and that giant spider boss, holy shit!
The amount of stuff there is to do in the overworld is also a highlight to me. There is literally so much to find and collect in this one that it makes Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, and Breath of the Wild seem almost empty in comparison. This actually became the baseline that everyone subliminally compares the content in other Zelda games to!
They need to put this on Switch. I would gladly pay any amount.
FANTASTIC ZELDA GAME
In parallel to finishing my 100% run in BotW, and only days before TotK gets leaked released, I squeezed in my long delayed jump into Twilight Princess. I just noticed it took me three months to finish this, I stretched out my gaming sessions way too much. Consequently, I feel like my review would be a little too skewed, consciously afraid of consuming too much Zelda and getting to TotK with dreaded Hylian fatigue.
But man, is this entry of the franchise weird. I can see that it is generally agreed that it has a problem with pacing, with a very slow and pained beginning; and the character design is, let's say, bold at least. I am not a big fan of the loli stuff they decided to go with for Midna as Link's companion, nor I am really invested in most of the other secondary characters, with the great exception of the yeti couple.
The game shines, however, in its second half, when the player gains momentum after a few dungeons. There is room for epicness (and for OoT fanservice) with no compromise on worldbuilding. The soundtrack is definitely a blast and the gameplay has a few interesting things that make TP worth trying even after playing later entries of the franchise first (sword techniques, for instance).
In summary, it is not going to be my favorite Zelda game but I appreciate the risks taken. Now giff TotK ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
But man, is this entry of the franchise weird. I can see that it is generally agreed that it has a problem with pacing, with a very slow and pained beginning; and the character design is, let's say, bold at least. I am not a big fan of the loli stuff they decided to go with for Midna as Link's companion, nor I am really invested in most of the other secondary characters, with the great exception of the yeti couple.
The game shines, however, in its second half, when the player gains momentum after a few dungeons. There is room for epicness (and for OoT fanservice) with no compromise on worldbuilding. The soundtrack is definitely a blast and the gameplay has a few interesting things that make TP worth trying even after playing later entries of the franchise first (sword techniques, for instance).
In summary, it is not going to be my favorite Zelda game but I appreciate the risks taken. Now giff TotK ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
One of my favorite games of all time, though it does have some low points that cannot be ignored the incredible heights of the game make up for all of it in my experience
This is the most Zelda game of all time, there isn't any game that is more Zelda than this one, if there was a Zelda game award this would be the number 1 Zelda game because it is indeed a Zelda game.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is an HD remaster of a Gamecube/Wii game from 2006 sharing the same name, this game follows more in the footsteps of Ocarina of Time rather than trying to be its own thing like Wind Waker. It pretty much takes the best of both Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker to make the ultimate modern Zelda experience, but did it deliver what Wind Waker couldn't? In my honest and humble opinion, it did a wonderful job at being Ocarina of Time 2.
Twilight Princess takes place in a more darker and realistic world with a really intriguing premise that starts really well but unfortunately gets dragged down by the recurring Zelda tropes that just keep Twilight Princess as a Zelda game and nothing more. What I'm trying to explain is mostly what Ganon does to the story, I personally have no issue with Zelda tropes I really do like them, and I get happy whenever I see a nod to a previous Zelda game, but then you already know what happens and what will happen, the whole dark world idea was great till it was revealed that it was just Ganon being responsible for everything, it's really just like any Mario game where the bad guy always ends up being Bowser, but then again it's just a Nintendo game, we enjoy them for the gameplay and not the story but it's always nice to see a nice and original plot from time to time, I love the Zelda franchise but I wish they did a bit more with it story-wise.
Outside of the story feeling somewhat unfinished and the Zelda tropes being overly present in this game whether you like it or not, the gameplay is still fantastic. It really feels like a big next step for the franchise, not an innovative step like Breath of the Wild but a step that just really polishes what was previously made. The game takes a more linear approach to its story, the idea is the same as in Ocarina of Time where at first you start with the three elemental dungeons and then go for the dungeon related to the mages, the only difference is that the "open world" is barely used, especially early game where you'll spend most of your time as a Wolf without the ability to do anything as Link. So the world ends up just being a transition in between dungeons with barely any exploration or character interactions, it may be a good thing for some but I did like the NPC-based puzzles in OoT with some nice fetch quests here and there, it made the world more alive and I barely felt like any NPCs actually matters in Twilight Princess, they ended up making a more realistic world but at the price of losing its liveliness.
The dungeons themselves are honestly the main focus of the game, most of them are overall really well made, some like the water temple can be somewhat infuriating to figure out but overall they all are fairly simple to figure out, a guide is not necessary for this game. The item pacing is really good and the new items are really fun like the spinner or the double Hookshot, god bless the double Hookshot. And surprisingly the bosses are really well made too, my favorite being Zant, it uses the boss refight near the end of the game trope that usually often sucks like in Wind Waker but this time instead of refighting the boss you have to fight Zant using the ability of the bosses in their respective arena making you use reuse the same item you previously used for that specific boss.
Overall this game might not be the most original game of all time, and it might have not inspired the game industry like with OoT and BOTW, but it did a really good job at being a Zelda game and I will forever appreciate this game as the ultimate 3D Zelda game, so unless Nintendo actually brings back the OoT tropes/formula, Twilight Princess will stay as the ultimate modern OoT experience.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is an HD remaster of a Gamecube/Wii game from 2006 sharing the same name, this game follows more in the footsteps of Ocarina of Time rather than trying to be its own thing like Wind Waker. It pretty much takes the best of both Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker to make the ultimate modern Zelda experience, but did it deliver what Wind Waker couldn't? In my honest and humble opinion, it did a wonderful job at being Ocarina of Time 2.
Twilight Princess takes place in a more darker and realistic world with a really intriguing premise that starts really well but unfortunately gets dragged down by the recurring Zelda tropes that just keep Twilight Princess as a Zelda game and nothing more. What I'm trying to explain is mostly what Ganon does to the story, I personally have no issue with Zelda tropes I really do like them, and I get happy whenever I see a nod to a previous Zelda game, but then you already know what happens and what will happen, the whole dark world idea was great till it was revealed that it was just Ganon being responsible for everything, it's really just like any Mario game where the bad guy always ends up being Bowser, but then again it's just a Nintendo game, we enjoy them for the gameplay and not the story but it's always nice to see a nice and original plot from time to time, I love the Zelda franchise but I wish they did a bit more with it story-wise.
Outside of the story feeling somewhat unfinished and the Zelda tropes being overly present in this game whether you like it or not, the gameplay is still fantastic. It really feels like a big next step for the franchise, not an innovative step like Breath of the Wild but a step that just really polishes what was previously made. The game takes a more linear approach to its story, the idea is the same as in Ocarina of Time where at first you start with the three elemental dungeons and then go for the dungeon related to the mages, the only difference is that the "open world" is barely used, especially early game where you'll spend most of your time as a Wolf without the ability to do anything as Link. So the world ends up just being a transition in between dungeons with barely any exploration or character interactions, it may be a good thing for some but I did like the NPC-based puzzles in OoT with some nice fetch quests here and there, it made the world more alive and I barely felt like any NPCs actually matters in Twilight Princess, they ended up making a more realistic world but at the price of losing its liveliness.
The dungeons themselves are honestly the main focus of the game, most of them are overall really well made, some like the water temple can be somewhat infuriating to figure out but overall they all are fairly simple to figure out, a guide is not necessary for this game. The item pacing is really good and the new items are really fun like the spinner or the double Hookshot, god bless the double Hookshot. And surprisingly the bosses are really well made too, my favorite being Zant, it uses the boss refight near the end of the game trope that usually often sucks like in Wind Waker but this time instead of refighting the boss you have to fight Zant using the ability of the bosses in their respective arena making you use reuse the same item you previously used for that specific boss.
Overall this game might not be the most original game of all time, and it might have not inspired the game industry like with OoT and BOTW, but it did a really good job at being a Zelda game and I will forever appreciate this game as the ultimate 3D Zelda game, so unless Nintendo actually brings back the OoT tropes/formula, Twilight Princess will stay as the ultimate modern OoT experience.
i like this one more than i want to admit.
These are easily the best dungeons in the entire franchise with their own mechanical and aesthetic themes that are just SO COOL. This whole damn game is so cool with its dark tone and epic narrative that just goes together so well.
These are easily the best dungeons in the entire franchise with their own mechanical and aesthetic themes that are just SO COOL. This whole damn game is so cool with its dark tone and epic narrative that just goes together so well.
Part 4 of my father and son 3D Zelda saga.
Twilight Princess, while still a game that I absolutely adored, kinda stayed in the shadows when I think about my favorite Zelda games. Something about it didn’t stick in my head as much as all the other ones.
That being said I think if you look at this game more objectively that it is the best OG 3D Zelda, and it’s not really that close. Twilight Princess has the greatest story, characters, dungeons, bosses, and feel of any of the OG 3D Zelda’s. TP is also a powerhouse when it comes to charm and atmosphere throughout.
For some reason TP wasn’t as deeply lodged into my nostalgia engine as the previous 3. Although I truly believe that this game is fantastic, it just isn’t as special to me as the previous three for one reason or another.
As for my playthrough with my son, he absolutely loved this one. He said that this is his favorite, and having played each one back to back, and this probably being the best one it definitely makes sense.
Twilight Princess, while still a game that I absolutely adored, kinda stayed in the shadows when I think about my favorite Zelda games. Something about it didn’t stick in my head as much as all the other ones.
That being said I think if you look at this game more objectively that it is the best OG 3D Zelda, and it’s not really that close. Twilight Princess has the greatest story, characters, dungeons, bosses, and feel of any of the OG 3D Zelda’s. TP is also a powerhouse when it comes to charm and atmosphere throughout.
For some reason TP wasn’t as deeply lodged into my nostalgia engine as the previous 3. Although I truly believe that this game is fantastic, it just isn’t as special to me as the previous three for one reason or another.
As for my playthrough with my son, he absolutely loved this one. He said that this is his favorite, and having played each one back to back, and this probably being the best one it definitely makes sense.
Midna is kind of Mid, especially with the series already doing her unwilling/smug partner schtick with Tael and Ezio. As for the game itself, it's ok. I gave it the old college try and may come back again. Zelda just wasn't a series I could get into.
This is a very uneven game. There are some parts of it that are my favorite parts of the whole series, and some that make me not want to ever replay this.
The game's biggest sin is how strict it is about when and where you can warp. It puts a lot of arbitrary limits that don't actually affect the world or storytelling that much, and just make things feel like a hassle of constantly asking "can i warp yet" until the game finally says yes. The in-between sections, where you're outside of temples, can be total slogs sometimes, especially towards the back half of the game. So much needless backtracking and fetching, made worse by the again draconic warping. This isn't too major of a complaint, since you don't use her that much, but holy god above are the horse controls ever awful. Extremely clunky and unresponsive, I don't know how an N64 game got it right while this completely fumbled the ball.
All that aside, however, this is the most fun I've had with this series in a long time. Midna is such a wonderful companion; her dialogue is delightfully spunky, she's actually useful both in the story and in gameplay (unlike near every one of her contemporaries in the series), and she has some shockingly compelling character growth for one of these games. The combat is ridiculously fun, easily the best in the series, it's super nuanced and it allows you to pull off cool combos and finishers rather than the typical "block, hit, block, hit" affair. My favorite part of the game by far, though, is the temples. I know a lot of people complain that they're too long, and while I agree, that's personally a plus. I love how atmospheric and labyrinthine they can feel, like you really are an adventurer lost in some ancient structure. Even outside of that, they feel much more unique in this, with some pretty interesting concepts that are executed really well. Also, the art style. Even the people who don't like this game have quietly applauded it, and for good reason. Everything has such a carved, abstract look to it that makes certain designs really pop out and leaves nothing looking bland or uninteresting; even the most basic of enemies are memorable just because of how they look in this style. I wanted to mention this but didn't know where to put it, but I feel like this is the true sequel to Ocarina of Time. I can't really place why, but a lot of this game has a vibe of taking place long after it, and this Link pulls upon the power of Ocarina Link. It's a really, really interesting vibe that makes me love the game even more.
All told, this is a great game with some soaring highs and some screeching lows. It definitely feels more subjective than other games in the series, I see some people praise the aspects that others criticize. Me personally, I'd consider myself a fan of it, even with its flaws. Its length will prevent me from coming back to it too often, but I still had a really fun time with it, and I definitely recommend it.
The game's biggest sin is how strict it is about when and where you can warp. It puts a lot of arbitrary limits that don't actually affect the world or storytelling that much, and just make things feel like a hassle of constantly asking "can i warp yet" until the game finally says yes. The in-between sections, where you're outside of temples, can be total slogs sometimes, especially towards the back half of the game. So much needless backtracking and fetching, made worse by the again draconic warping. This isn't too major of a complaint, since you don't use her that much, but holy god above are the horse controls ever awful. Extremely clunky and unresponsive, I don't know how an N64 game got it right while this completely fumbled the ball.
All that aside, however, this is the most fun I've had with this series in a long time. Midna is such a wonderful companion; her dialogue is delightfully spunky, she's actually useful both in the story and in gameplay (unlike near every one of her contemporaries in the series), and she has some shockingly compelling character growth for one of these games. The combat is ridiculously fun, easily the best in the series, it's super nuanced and it allows you to pull off cool combos and finishers rather than the typical "block, hit, block, hit" affair. My favorite part of the game by far, though, is the temples. I know a lot of people complain that they're too long, and while I agree, that's personally a plus. I love how atmospheric and labyrinthine they can feel, like you really are an adventurer lost in some ancient structure. Even outside of that, they feel much more unique in this, with some pretty interesting concepts that are executed really well. Also, the art style. Even the people who don't like this game have quietly applauded it, and for good reason. Everything has such a carved, abstract look to it that makes certain designs really pop out and leaves nothing looking bland or uninteresting; even the most basic of enemies are memorable just because of how they look in this style. I wanted to mention this but didn't know where to put it, but I feel like this is the true sequel to Ocarina of Time. I can't really place why, but a lot of this game has a vibe of taking place long after it, and this Link pulls upon the power of Ocarina Link. It's a really, really interesting vibe that makes me love the game even more.
All told, this is a great game with some soaring highs and some screeching lows. It definitely feels more subjective than other games in the series, I see some people praise the aspects that others criticize. Me personally, I'd consider myself a fan of it, even with its flaws. Its length will prevent me from coming back to it too often, but I still had a really fun time with it, and I definitely recommend it.