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- By Zach Eckerdt
- Trail Staff Writer
Welcome to Part 2 of my Wii Review. Now that you’ve seen the basic capabilities of the Nintendo Wii console, it’s time to actual look at one of the hottest selling games for the Wii: The Legend of Zelda; Twilight Princess. After a disappointing go with the Nintendo Gamecube’s Legend of Zelda: Windwaker, I entered the new Zelda game with caution.
Twilight Princess offers a style to the Nintendo 64 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which gave my first breath of relief. The graphics rated somewhere between the X-Box and X-Box 360 with regular A/V cables. The opening screen for the game offered sweeping cinematography of Link, the hero, riding his faithful steed.
The screen prompted me to start and I started a file by entering my name and my horse’s name. This was all done with pointing of the Wii-mote. Then I was given the option of adjusting my screen setting, and, finally, the game began.
The game opens up in a quaint village where Link lives and works at a ranch. He is the unofficial older brother of all the children in the village, and these children will be included in the first of his adventures.
In typical Legend of Zelda style, you must solve a number of villagers’ problems and puzzles in order to receive needed items. In this case, Link receives a sling shot and wooden sword to start the game. This is where we begin to really see how the control system will lay out. The nunchuck attatchment is used to direct Links movement, while the Wii-mote directs his attacks. For example, with left and right jerks of the Wii-mote, Link pulls out his sword and swings it, and allows him to swing his sword on the run. Later in the game this allows Link to attack enemies from horseback.
With shooting weapons, such as the slingshot, the Wii-mote offers itself as an aiming device. Gravity still applies though, as longer shots cause projectiles to arch. This also allows for link to shoot from horseback while still guiding the horse with the Nunchuck.
An interesting addition was that of a multiple lock-on feature, where Link locks on to up to five enemies, and then attacks them all at once with items like the boomerang.
The game also offers a fishing mini-game, where the Wii-mote is used to cast the line, and the nunchuck is used to actually reel in the fish.
The Wii-mote utilizes the rumble feature throughout the game, and also uses accompanying sounds to actions taken in the game. Examples include the sound of the reel, the sword hitting an enemy or Midna, your guide throughout the game, trying to get your attention.
As Link progresses in the game, he is transformed into a wolf. The wolf character uses different actions than Link, and players use wolf senses and skills to complete levels. These include hightened senses of sight and smell towards paranormal beings and being able to track characters in the game, while digging for treasure and in dirt to get into buildings.
The story line stays true to the Zelda style, with side-missions that assist the locals of each town on the huge map, gaining the tools needed to accomplish each mission, and working through giant temple-puzzles in order to work towards saving the world.
The game also offers considerable length. I’m 25 hours into the game with a pretty quick puzzle-solving pace, and still have several missions to accomplish. There are also many twists and turns within the story line, making it difficult to predict when I’m getting near the end of the game.
The game offers free roaming across a large map, the ability to go and fight monsters whenever you please, but also being able to work to solve immense puzzles that, at points, take some serious thought, but not so much that you throw your remote through the screen.
The true novelty of the game is the interaction of the controls. Although there were some sensor problems as my remote battery began to fade, I found that as I got used to the controls, it truly pulled me into the game. Also, the game focuses more towards the adult gamer with darker story lines, creatures and temples to fight through.
Overall the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a must-have for any Nintendo Wii owner.