The opening drags and wolf Link feels both overused and underutilized, but Twilight Princess is still a solid 3D Zelda. I had some reservations about the darker tone and design, but I grew to enjoy how seriously this game takes itself. This is pretty subjective; Midna really grew on me, for example, but if she hadn't, this game would easily be a star lower.
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.
Although this is not my absolute favorite Zelda game, the HD remake brought me back to the Hyrule I remember as a kid. The graphics upgrade in this game were truly stunning compared to the SD version. The game is....long and linear. But let's be honest, nothing beats exploring the kingdom of Hyrule with a companion and alternative fur suit version of yourself. This game is fantastic, I HIGHLY recommend (but please, play the HD version, not the SD.)
Pretty good. Gameplay's a tad lacking. Dungeons are easy and forgettable (Palace of Twilight though is garbage). Combat is interesting, but not well executed, as I found more advanced moves to be kind of finnicky (the back attack for example is undermined by Link's wide roll curve, even on bigger enemies).
The atmosphere is amazing and by far the most memorable thing about this game. It manages to look mature, but not edgy and still have some Nintendo whimsy seep through in the form of many NPC's. The story's nothing noteworthy, but that's always the case with Zelda (except for Skyward Sword, Link's Awakening and Breath of the Wild imo). The music is also really goated.
8/10 - Really good, but not great.
The atmosphere is amazing and by far the most memorable thing about this game. It manages to look mature, but not edgy and still have some Nintendo whimsy seep through in the form of many NPC's. The story's nothing noteworthy, but that's always the case with Zelda (except for Skyward Sword, Link's Awakening and Breath of the Wild imo). The music is also really goated.
8/10 - Really good, but not great.