The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Eiji Aonuma (director) Shigeru Miyamoto (producer) Yoshiyuki Oyama (character design)
Engine	Heavily modified version of the The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker engine.
Platform(s)	Nintendo GameCube, Wii
Release	Wii Version November 19, 2007 December 2, 2006 December 7, 2006 December 8, 2006 GameCube Version December 2, 2006 December 12, 2007 December 14, 2006 December 15, 2006
Genre(s)	Action Adventure
Mode(s)	Single player

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (ゼルダの伝説　トワイライトプリンセス, Zeruda no Densetsu: Towairaito Purinsesu) is an upcoming video game in Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda series, for Wii and the Nintendo GameCube. Originally planned for release in November 2005, Nintendo delayed it so that the developers could add more content and fine-tune the game. The Wii version will be released on the consoles launch dates: November 19 2006 in North America, December 8 2006 in Europe, December 7 2006 in Australia, and December 2 2006 in Japan, making Twilight Princess the first Zelda game to debut alongside the launch of a Nintendo console. The GameCube version will be released on December 12 2006 in the United States, and on December 15 2006 in Europe. Nintendo executive George Harrison said in a recent interview with GamePro that the GC version had been moved up to December 11th, but this has yet to be confirmed by anyone else at Nintendo[1]. In Japan however, it will only be sold online.[2]

At the Nintendo E3 2006 Press Conference, President of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime described Twilight Princess as “...by far the best Zelda game we’ve ever made.”

Twilight Princess also is noteworthy of being the first Legend of Zelda series game to be rated T for teen by the ESRB, for animated blood and fantasy violence, as revealed on the official North American Wii website. [3]

Development

Speculation regarding a realistic Zelda game on the Nintendo GameCube goes back as far as Summer 2000. During its 2000 SpaceWorld convention, Nintendo unveiled the GameCube along with some demos for Luigi’s Mansion, an unnamed Metroid game (later to become Metroid Prime), Super Mario 128, an unnamed Pokémon game (Pokemon Colosseum), and a Zelda demo where characters Link and Ganondorf fight.

When Nintendo unveiled a trailer for what would become The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker during Space World 2001, fans were shocked by the change in direction the Zelda series was taking on consoles. After the game was released in 2003, most criticism of the new style disappeared, as both reviews and word-of-mouth ratings for the game were extremely positive.[4] Many thought this acceptance (and the news that a “sequel”, tentatively dubbed The Wind Waker 2, was being built on the same engine) signaled that the next Zelda console game, (not counting Four Swords Adventures) would continue in that style.[5] (The Wind Waker 2 in question would later go on to become The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS).

At E³ 2004, this misconception ended, when a surprise announcement was made near the end of a Nintendo press conference with a teaser video (Which recieved a standing ovation from the audience). In an explanation for the stylistic departure from Wind Waker, game director Eiji Aonuma described the title as being more specifically targeted to the franchise’s North American audience.

The game was believed to be scheduled for release in November 2005, until August 16, 2005, when Nintendo announced it would be released some time after March 31 2006, because the development team needed more time to work on the game. In February, Reggie Fils-Aime stated in an interview on Spike TV that Twilight Princess would be released in the Fall of 2006, well past the expected Spring or early Summer release but still in time for the holiday shopping season. This delay of Twilight Princess caused a large number of fans to speculate that Nintendo was actually planning to release the game for the company’s new console, Wii. However, Perrin Kaplan, Nintendo’s Vice President for Corporate Affairs, has confirmed that it will indeed be released on the GameCube: “...we feel a commitment to the GameCube owners who’ve been patiently awaiting this new Zelda title, and don’t want to force them to wait and buy a brand new system in order to play the game.” At Nintendo’s pre-E³ 2006 press conference, Reggie Fils-Aime announced that two versions would be released simultaneously in the Americas: one for GCN, and one for Wii. However, it’s worth noting that at one point it was speculated that another Zelda game for Wii was being planned, which had previously caused some confusion. The announcement of two separate releases clarifies the situation and past statements.

On September 14 2006 and September 15 2006, Nintendo officially announced the release dates of Twilight Princess. The Wii, along with the Wii version of Twilight Princess, will be released first on November 19 2006 in North America. Both the GameCube and the Wii version will launch simultaneously in Japan on December 2 2006 and in Europe on December 8 2006. The GameCube version will separately be released in North America on December 12 2006.

File:E3 link art.jpg

Character art, depicting the new Link

Twilight Princess is the first Zelda game to be released in the Americas before in Japan. In North and Latin America, the Wii version of the game comes out nearly a month before the GameCube version does (November 19 2006 and December 12 2006). In Japan, both versions come out on the same date (December 2 2006).

This will be the first Zelda game to debut with a Nintendo console, the Wii. It will also be Nintendo's flagship title for the Wii, apart from the other awaited games Super Smash Brothers Brawl (also featuring Link), and Super Mario Galaxy.

Link's costume takes on a much more lifelike appearance than previous installments, with plainly seen woven tunic, a hat that seems to be stitched together that makes it seem more hand made, the iron boots, and mail, to give extra protection during melee battles. His white under clothing also has stitches and appears baggier to make them look less like "white tights."

Returning in Twilight Princess is the fishing mechanic from the popular Ocarina of Time mini-game, which was inspired by a fishing mini-game in Link’s Awakening. Its exact place and purpose in the game has not yet been confirmed (i.e., a mini-game, sidequest, or part of the main adventure), however, it was revealed by Eiji Aonuma that unlike the fishing in Ocarina of Time, Link will be able to take his boat to different areas to fish. It has been hinted that one of its final uses may be to fish up a boss that Link must then defeat. At E³ 2006, one of the playable demos was a fishing expedition with Hena, a village girl. There were two types for attendees to try: bob fishing and fly fishing.

Very little information is available regarding Princess Zelda’s role in the game. The cloaked figure seen in the opening of the third official trailer released by Nintendo at E3 in 2005 is Zelda, wearing traditional funeral robes and bears a rapier at her side. On this cloak there is also shown a Shiekah symbol that made many fans hope for a bigger role of the Shiekah in Twilight Princess.

The Chinese gaming site Level Up reported that Eiji Aonuma confirmed the game’s length to be over 100 hours in an interview, citing Korean site Ruliweb.com as a source.. However, it was recently revealed that the Twilight Princess game testers took an average of 70 hours to beat the game on the first run-through. Nintendo translator and localization manager Bill Trinen stated that he was working on his second play-through of the game and even knowing what to do, where to go, and skipping cut-scenes, he had logged about 27 hours to make it about two thirds of the way through the temples themselves - and that didn't account for any of the side quests or time sinks like fishing.

Footage from E3 2005 shows Link sneaking up on, and stealing a sword from, a fellow who has invited him to do so. If Link successfully steals the sword, the man will give a brief tutorial of how to use the basic features. Earlier on, Link learns the basics of sword-fighting when he demonstrates his skills to the young children of Ordon in order to help Colin get out of being bullied.

In the Wii version of the game, Link is right-handed although he is traditionally a left-handed character. Link will, however, remain left-handed in the GameCube version. This was revealed by Miyamoto to be because at E3 it was noticed that players were using their right hands to swing Link's sword with the Wii Remote, rather than their left. Since this has no effect on the GameCube version, Link will remain left handed for the GameCube.. It is still not sure if the GCN and Wii versions will be exactly the same, since the whole Wii-version has been mirrored to feature a righthanded Link, thus causing the enemy Darknut to be lefthanded in the Wii, but righthanded in the GCN-version.

Twilight Princess on Wii

Template:Spoiler British publication NGC Magazine claimed, in December 2005, that when the GameCube version is played on Wii, the player will be given the option of using Wii’s unique controller; Reggie Fils-Aime denied these claims, stating that across the board, GCN games played on Wii would not be compatible with Wii's controller. Nintendo of France Director of Marketing Mathieu Minel stated in a subsequent interview with Jeux-France that Twilight Princess would include Wii controller functionality one way or another, but Nintendo quickly requested that this be removed from the interview. In the end, however, Shigeru Miyamoto himself was reported to have confirmed the Wii controller functionality in an interview with Nintendo of Europe. Time reported this also soon after.

Finally, at E³ 2006, Nintendo announced that there will be two versions of Twilight Princess released the same day: one for Nintendo GameCube, and one for Wii (although for their North American release, the Wii and GameCube versions will ship on different days). It is not fully clear what the differences between the two will be, but as demonstrated in the playable demos at E³, the Wii version will use Wii Remote with the Nunchuk attachment, it has also been stated that the Wii version will have enhanced graphics using "the extra horsepower of the Wii console". There will be no fairy in the gamecube version, but there is one in the Wii version. The analog stick on the Nunchuk will be used for movement, and the “point-and-click” capabilities of the Wii Remote can control a fairy on the screen, which serves as a cursor for accessing menus. The Wii Remote will also be used to aim and fire distance weapons like the bow, select boomerang targets, and even be used to fish. Despite speculation about fully motion-sensitive sword control, it appeared it the would be controlled with the B button. However, it was revealed two months later by producer Shigeru Miyamoto, in an interview with Japanese publication Nintendo Dream, that the Wii version of the game had undergone major changes to the control scheme since E³ and would now allow players to swing the controller for sword slashes. Due to this modification, Nintendo has made alterations to the game's bow and arrow controls. In the E3 version, players aimed with the Wii Remote, then actually shot out arrows using the D-pad. With the B button now free, Nintendo has moved the action to the B button. A jab with the tilt-sensitive Nunchuk will cause Link to shove the enemy with his shield, and to use Link’s “spin attack”, the player rotates the Nunchuk. The Nunchuk is also used to throw items via a jabbing motion, and perform a “downthrust” finishing move with a downwards stab. The built-in speaker on the remote will be used for sounds like the bowstring being drawn and released, as well as the classic “Zelda chime”.

Reggie's statement has caused confusion concerning whether or not a GameCube version will also be available in the other regions. It is not yet known whether there will be two separate versions in the rest of the world. Nintendo of Europe has confirmed, however, that Twilight Princess will be available on GameCube in Europe. Shigeru Miyamoto has confirmed in an interview that the only differences between the GameCube and Wii versions of the Twilight Princess are technical (as described above). The Wii version will also display in a 16:9 (wide screen) format in 480p, where the GameCube version plays only in 4:3.

In the Wii version of Twilight Princess, Link, always classically left-handed, will be right-handed. In addition to this, some screens of the game's first dungeon appear to have been mirrored - which led some to suspect that the entire game has been inverted in order to match Link's strongest hand. Miyamoto later stated that the entire game had indeed been flipped horizontally. He noticed that players preferred using their right hands for the free-hand sword, but by that point, all the maps, bosses and models had already been designed with a left-handed stance in mind. The "simplest" solution was to invert the entire game. It is unknown if there will be a mode for left-handed people, with Link being traditionally left-handed. Interestingly, in the GameCube version Link will remain left-handed because it was not inverted along with the Wii version. Consequently, the maps and player guides for the two versions will be mirror versions of each other..

Gameplay

Footage from the game was originally shown at E³ 2004 in the form of a short trailer, and a second trailer was later shown at the 2005 Game Developers Conference. It features a stylized, naturalistic art style (similar to, but more advanced than, that found in Ocarina of Time), rather than the cel-shaded look that The Wind Waker exhibited — although it still makes use of cel-shading effects, using a very heavily modified version of The Wind Waker’s engine. In a further departure from The Wind Waker, Link is once again a young man as opposed to a child, as in the latter part of Ocarina of Time, Link's Awakening, A Link to the Past and in Adventure of Link. The game also takes on a "darker tone" according to Shigeru Miyamoto, rivaling that of Majora's Mask.

Template:Spoiler A number of rumors about the game were confirmed at E³ 2005. The official title, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was announced. (The title was actually first revealed in a pre-E³ scan from Game Informer.) It was explained that Link would transform into a wolf when entering the “Twilight Realm”, a mysterious void that has ensnared Hyrule. This is not a wholly separate place like the Dark World in A Link to the Past, but an evil transformation that slowly spreads across Hyrule.

It was confirmed that the game falls chronologically “decades after Ocarina of Time,” but a long time before The Wind Waker, and that “the hero in the adventure is an all-new Link”. Interviews and a playable demo exposed many new details, such as Link beginning the game as a sort of shepherd or ranch hand, Link battling on horseback, changes in the horse controls from OoT, thematic differences between dungeons, and so on. Live feeds of this demo have also been published.

In recent interviews in Nintendo Power, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and the Spanish magazine Hobby Consolas, director Eiji Aonuma revealed that Princess Zelda and Ganon will be returning. What their roles are is unknown, but the new character art shows Princess Zelda with a thin rapier-like sword. Nintendo has recently confirmed, through new artwork and videos, that the Master Sword will be featured in the game. In the March issue of Nintendo Power, developer Yoshiyuki Oyama is quoted as saying, “I know that everyone’s wondering what's going on with Link’s old nemesis. All I can say now is, we’re preparing more than you could possibly ever, ever, ever, expect... and to stay tuned for more details.”

Aonuma has also stated that the game will be much larger in size than The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. A recent issue of Nintendo Power confirmed there will be a total of nine dungeons in the game. Two of them, from the two E3 demos, were revealed as a Forest Temple and Goron Mines; another two have been shown barely in two trailers. Aonuma disclosed that Link can communicate with animals when in wolf form, but did not elaborate on this. When transformed into a wolf, Link’s senses (smell, sight, and hearing) will also be raised quite significantly. With these abilities come some disadvantages. While he is a wolf, Link cannot use any of his items or open doors until he learns this ability. Aonuma also confirmed that there will not be extensive voice acting in the game. However, characters will still grunt, laugh, scream, and make other such noises, just as they have in previous installments on the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo GameCube.

Weapons and items

The game will feature some as-yet-unrevealed new weapons/items, and many classic Zelda armaments - some with new twists, such as the Gale Boomerang. This novel version of the series staple can create a small whirlwind capable of picking up items, including lit bombs, and delivering them to other locations, such as to an enemy or back to Link.
This Boomerang is, at first, used in the E3 2005 Demo. Link receives it by opening a chest in the Forest Temple.

In some of the most recent screenshots, Link is shown wielding a circular beige colored shield, as well as a new sword. Link starts out the game with a wooden sword.

While Link will start in his farmers outfit, soon in the game he will get the legendary green outfit. Later on in the game though, he will also get an armor, which will give him special abilities.

A Lantern and Lantern Oil are also in the game, which is a first for a 3D Zelda game. The Lantern Oil was shown in the E3 2005 Demo to be held in a bottle, and the Lantern was present in the second trailer.

Classic items including Potions and Bottles will also return. In several videos Link is shown fighting on horseback and then drinking a Red Potion to regain health. A new item that can be held in bottles are bee larva. They can be obtained from beehives Link knocks down. They can be used as fishing bait, or to eat and regain some health. While eating them, Link is said to have a "horrible, but hilarious" face. [6]

Scenes in the sewers from the second trailer involve a flash and humanoid ghosts suddenly appearing in a way which is reminiscent of the Lens of Truth effects. Link receives this ability as a wolf from his sense ability. As a wolf he is also able to find and dig holes to find new passages.

The E³ 2006 demo revealed the return of the Iron Boots (may now be called magnetic boots), which can now be used in conjunction with large magnets to lift Link to new heights.

Twilight Princess introduces a new version of the Hookshot called the Clawshot. There are two types of clawshots; a single clawshot that functions as a Hookshot and a double clawshot that functions as a grappling hook.

In the second Twilight Princess trailer, Link is shown firing an explosive arrow at pursuing dragon-like creatures. Whether this is a new arrow type, or an ability/item which has been seen in previous Zelda games (Bomb arrow, fire arrow, etc.) is unknown. This recalls a feature of Link's Awakening for the Game Boy in which the player is able create an explosive arrow by simply equipping the bow and bombs and firing both at once.

As proven in the artwork above, the Master Sword will make a return, after its previous absences in Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap. It is much longer than it was in the previous games. A screenshot showing Link fighting a Darknut with the legendary sword is one of the first Wii screenshots of the game and is viewable on the official Wii website.

File:Twilight9sj.png

The "Twilight Realm"

One of the new items is a ball and chain, a heavy ball at the end of a chain which Link uses to hit enemies and break through weak walls. Using this item slows his movement however.

The spinner is a floating platform which he uses to hover over the floor and bash into enemies.

Link will have three types of bombs available.

A few of the new trading items are golden bugs and Poe Souls, which can only be found at night.

A heart container will now consist of five heart pieces instead of four. Thus extending your life meter will become more difficult.

As revealed in a recent screenshot, the slingshot will also be making a return in this game. Link will obtain this item early on in the game so that the player can get accustomed to aiming with the Wii Remote. [7]

Environment

Twilight Princess will feature many different types of environments. In the trailers, besides the dungeons (which are an important Zelda feature) and the mysterious Twilight Realm, forest and open field settings were shown, along with the small village where Link lives. There are also mountain areas, where Link was seen apparently sparring with a Goron. Later pictures introduced a market scene, and snowy area where wolf-Link was running. In a recently released video, Link was shown visiting a western-style ghost town.

The "Twilight Realm", which in previous showings of the game was seen to be a desolate, black and white environment, has changed. The Twilight Realm now resembles a hazy, dreamlike, over-saturated landscape, different from yet similar to the game's 'normal' world, somewhat reminiscent of the Dark World in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Plot and setting

Story

The game begins with Link living in Ordon Village , working as a goat wrangler. This changes, however, when he is asked by the village’s blacksmith to visit the Hyrule Castle to deliver an Ordon Sword and Shield they ordered. In doing so, Link leaves behind Ilia, the mayor’s daughter. It is his journey beyond the village which leads him to first encounter with the Twilight Realm. Early on in the game, Ilia and a young boy who has been referred to as “Colin” are kidnapped by a group of monsters. Link is knocked unconscious but later pursues and battles their leader on horseback. After Link enters the Twilight Realm, which, commanded by the Twilight King, reduces people to spirit form. Link, however, is transformed into a wolf instead upon entering, captured and imprisoned in a castle. With the help of a strange, imp-like creature named Midna, he escapes and they join forces.

Princess Zelda surrenders to the Twilight King, who overpowered Hyrule to the Twilight, and demanded either she surrenders and has her people live on as spirits, or they suffer and die. [8]

Characters

Link

Link is once again the main character in Twilight Princess. Instead of living in Hyrule, Link has been raised from a boy in the ranch village called Ordon Village in the Ordona Province—located out of Hyrule. When the game opens, he's seen to be about 16 years old. The blacksmith asks Link to deliver a shipment of a sword and shield requested by the Royal Family. Link agrees to go, and the adventure begins.

This Link sports a Triforce shaped birthmark. [9]

Wolf Link

File:Linkandmida.jpg

Official Art of Wolf Link and Midna

As shown in the E3 2005 trailer, when Link steps into the Twilight Realm, he is transformed into a wolf. It is known that Link will have different gameplay abilities in this form, such as attacking with his claws and teeth (as he is unable to use his sword in this form) or with help from his companion, Midna; it is suggested that Link will also have extraordinary hearing, and the ability to communicate with other animals while in this form. It was also suggested by Eiji Aonuma in issue 178 of Games Master that when in wolf form "the wolf will be able to use items that Link will not." This is similar in style to how some items in Ocarina of Time were age specific.

On September 14 2006, it has been confirmed in footage that Wolf Link has a sense ability. Using this ability, Wolf Link can see spirits (similar to the Lens of Truth in the N64 games). He is also confirmed to dig.

Midna

File:Midna proof.jpg

Midna, Link’s guide.

Midna, a new character, is a resident of the Twilight Realm. At a certain point in the game she decides to team up with Link to fight a “greater evil” that she cannot overcome alone. Midna (once teamed up with Link) breaks out of a "prison" with him. For these parts, the player controls her while she rides on Wolf Link’s back, however, during certain portions of the game Wolf Link may be controlled without Midna (as seen in the snowy landscape featuring Wolf Link without Midna). There has been much speculation regarding Midna’s identity. Official sources, however, do not suggest in any way that she is a familiar character, confirming only that she changes form in the normal world as Link does in the Twilight Realm. She disappears once Link re-enters regular Hyrule (in the demos), and has been said by Aonuma to remain with Link in another form. During the E3 2005 trailer she used her spellcasting abilities to paralyze Twilight creatures so that Wolf Link may attack them with ease. It was also stated by Aonuma that her magic will be leveled up as well as Wolf Link's abilities.

In a recently released video at IGN.com, Midna is seen appearing out of Link's shadow. Also in a recently released video, however, it shows Midna in her Twilight form with Link in his normal form when Link obtains the Master Sword. In the end of another trailer, there is a quick image of what may be Midna threatening Princess Zelda.

Later in the game, Midna will allow Link to teleport across Hyrule, quickly spanning great distances.

Princess Zelda

File:Tloztp princesszelda.jpg

Princess Zelda.

Zelda is the cloaked figure that is seen in some trailers and the "Twilight Princess" from the title. She can be found within the Twilight Realm, having found herself forced to surrender Hyrule to the Twilight King. In an earlier piece of artwork, she is depicted wearing her traditional dress and holding a sword. Whether or not she will fight in the game has not been confirmed by Eiji Aonuma since that artwork was released. According to Aonuma, she will not be taking up her traditional role. (It has been noticed that Princess Zelda wears the Sheikah symbol on her cloak.) At the end of one trailer she is shown casting some sort of spell.

Ganon

It was announced in Nintendo Power (vol. 193) that Ganon will be in Twilight Princess, and that Nintendo is "preparing more than you could possibly ever, ever, ever expect."

Colin

A young boy from Ordon village, and an apparent friend of Link. He is first seen being bullied by two of the village's other young boys (to whom Link must show sword-fighting basics in order to follow Colin into a nearby forest). Colin is captured along with Ilia, the mayor's daughter and Link's closest friend, by a horde of mounted enemies. In the E3 2005 demo, Colin is shown unconscious and held captive by the leader of the kidnappers. Link must do battle with the group in an attempt to rescue Colin.

Ilia

Ilia is one of Link’s closest friends. She is also extremely close with nature, and heals Link’s horse when it is hurt jumping fences. Ilia is also the daughter of the mayor, but would rather spend time in the wild. She is hit with an arrow and kidnapped, along with Colin, by enemies, leading to Link trying to rescue her.

Twilight King

File:Tloztp twilightking.jpg

The Twilight King

The Twilight King forced Zelda to surrender Hyrule to his unstoppable power. At this point, the true identity of the Twilight King is unknown. His presence is first shown in the latest trailer.

Other characters

• Link's Horse (Name can be chosen by the player, but demos have shown the name Epona, as Link's horse was known in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask)
• Four god like entities, otherwise known as the "Twilight spirits".
• Rakka (tall and thin) and Toby (short and tubby) - two clown-like characters
• Hena, a young woman who runs the fishing lake featured in the demo at E3 2006

Animals

File:Linkonhorse.jpg

Link on his horse

Animals are expected to play a large role in the game. Although it is confirmed that Link will (as a wolf) be able to talk to some animals, and maybe even his horse, the exact roles for most of them are unknown. Dungeons will also feature animals for Link to interact and solve puzzles with (as revealed on the show X-Play on G4). In one new dungeon shown in E³ 2005 footage (and in the playable demo), Link rescues monkeys from cages, and in return they help him cross a bridge to the mini-boss’s lair, where he battles the bewitched baboon who locked the monkeys up.

Although the E³ 2005 footage shows the name of Link's horse as Epona, gamers can choose their own name for the horse. Whether or not it has an official story name (as with Link) is currently unknown. In the gameplay trailers, Link picks some “horse grass”, and plays Epona’s Song, which has been confirmed to summon the horse. Confirmed new mechanics for riding include Link doing battle with his sword or bow while on horseback, and being thrown from the saddle.

In one piece of footage a hawk like bird is seen to land on Link's arm, the same bird is later seen being controlled in a similar fashion to the seagulls in The Wind Waker though whether or not this bird is a permanent companion like Epona or just part of a minigame is unknown.

As in the past games, Link can grab hold of cuccos to hover for short distances. This enables him to access secret or hard-to-reach places he could not normally get to. Unlike games prior to The Minish Cap, in which the they were always white (except for a few special blue roosters, with the most famous being Cojiro), some of the cuccos in the E³ footage are brown.

As previously mentioned by Aonuma, Link herds the strange village goats with large ears and horns that connect above their head. He is also able to grab their horns and wrestle them to the ground, which sends them into a dangerous fury (much like the pigs in The Wind Waker, or the cuccos in Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask' ).

Enemies

File:Darknut 2.png

Link battles against a Darknut.

Not much is currently known about the enemies in the game; while some enemies from previous Zelda games return, as seen in the third official trailer, there are also many new creatures. Enemy AI is more advanced than in The Wind Waker.

Some staple enemies return with a new look. Keese fly around to attack Link and are easily defeated, taking only one hit to subdue. They are seen in a forest in the third trailer and a dungeon from gameplay footage.

Another classic enemy in the Zelda series, Stalfos have appeared in numerous screenshots and trailers. A Stalfos is a walking skeleton, usually equipped with a shield and sword, and in most cases they can be defeated by blocking their attacks and counter-attacking quickly before they can defend themselves. Like the Keese, they have been given a new, darker and more detailed look.

In the second trailer, a squat statue comes to life (in similar style to the Armos of previous games) and tries to attack Link with an ax-like object.

Green skinned marauders, reported to be Moblins and Bokoblins, attack Link in various locations including (a new addition to the series) from the backs of boars while he’s on horseback, in what appears to be a new rendition of Hyrule Field. The second trailer also shows that Link can ride the boars when their original riders are gone.

What appears to be a Skull Kid (from Ocarina of Time, one of which played a major role in Majora’s Mask), is present in game footage, seemingly in control of a group of lanky creatures Link is fighting.[10]

The reptilian Lizalfos (and/or Dinolfos) return from Ocarina of Time. These foes make appearances in a number of different places in the trailers. They appear to fight with swords, shields, axes on their tails, and some wear a sort of skull helmet.

Twilight Princess version of the Skulltula.

In several trailers, Link is attacked by huge spiders. Their appearance is reminiscent of a Skulltula, although the skull is only a pattern on the abdomen, whereas the Skulltulas in the N64 games were smaller and had a skull-shaped armored carapace. These spider-creatures are seen in the dungeon in the new gameplay footage. They hang from webs much like Skulltulas, and they also leave their webs and attack Link from the ground. This enemy appears to have the ability to encase Link in a web as seen in the second trailer.

Strange creatures have also been featured in the E3 2005 trailer. They are seen falling from an odd portal in the sky and later being attacked by Midna and Wolf-Link. Flying versions of these creatures have been seen in the latest trailer and in one of the artworks.

Flying, dragon-like creatures have been featured in a few trailers, both flying in the Twilight Realm (in the E3 2005 trailer) and pestering Link while he is on horseback (in the GDC 2005 trailer).

Also in the newest of trailers what seemingly is to be a white Wolfos appears and attacks Wolf Link in the trailer.

In a new video, a horde of Stalchild-like monsters are shown attacking Link.

A Deku Baba (or Boko Baba) is shown in one of the screenshots.

There are new enemies call "wolf stalfos" wich in several trailers link atack them. They look like eskelitical horses

More of the screenshots show Link possibly preparing to fight a new creature, with armor and a short sword, near an icy palace.

Bosses

One of the new mini-bosses is a giant baboon with a black-and-red spider parasite that has the same cel-shaded effect as the new creatures that fall from the portal in the third trailer. The baboon taunts Link and throws a boomerang. Simultaneously, Link is being attacked by an uprooted Deku Baba with three joined heads; it crawls on the ground and snaps at him. Link needs to deflect the baboon’s boomerang back by hitting it, then roll into pillars to knock the baboon off. He then hits its red bottom several times until it is defeated. As demonstrated in the second trailer, enemies’ attacks can hurt each other. The baboon is revealed to be good once it is defeated by Link and the parasitic cap falls off its head.

File:ZeldaTPFireBoss.jpg

Link taking on Pyrus, as seen in the original Zelda Trailer at E³ 2004.

A major boss seen in the third trailer resembles a towering plant with one eye, with two plants on his sides. The baboon, which was previously fought as a mini-boss, allies with you now and swings back and forth across the room along a vine, carrying an explosive insect. Link must use his Gale Boomerang to snatch the bomb and hurl it into the big plant. When the plant is hit, it will give Link an opportunity to slash away at its exposed eye.

Twilit Igniter, Pyrus - a boss, briefly featured in the first trailer at E³ 2004, and included in the E³ 2006 demo, is a giant figure of flame with a dangerous-looking chain, which was used as a whip to knock Link to the ground in the Goron Mines. When Link enters the boss room, the monster seems to be captured in some way (there are chains securing its arms to two columns and it legs to the floor). Link must blind the creature, pull on the chains to topple it by using the Magnetic Iron Boots, then attack it.

Another boss or mini-boss battle is a sort of jousting match with an ugly creature riding a huge armored boar. This was seen in the demo shown at E3 2005. To raise the stakes, the creature has abducted a village boy, Colin, and is dangling him from the end of a pole. The goal of this match is apparently to knock the boar-rider from his mount and off the bridge on which they are jousting by dodging his attack with the analog stick, then slashing with the B button.

In the second trailer, Link is briefly seen running headlong from a giant, black, one-eyed spider through a network of caves. Also, in the E3 2006 trailer a large, one-eyed, underwater worm was shown.

Races

The rock-eating Goron race will return, although it has been stated that these will not be the same Gorons seen in Ocarina of Time. In one trailer, an adult Goron is standing opposite Link, fists up and bouncing around a bit, as though they were having a boxing match (though Link is using his shield). Link blocks one punch, but then takes a hit and is knocked to the ground.

File:Sheikah logo.jpg

Sheikah symbol.

Also worth noting is a rumored return of the Sheikah, a supposedly extinct tribe of ninja-like warriors originally found in Ocarina of Time, who were loyal to the Hylian throne. This speculation is based on the presence of a Sheikah symbol on the back of Zelda’s robes in the trailer. The symbol, seen left, is a stylized eye with 3 spike-like lashes fanning out above it and a teardrop below. Originally seen on the chest of Impa, a survivor of the Sheikah people in Ocarina of Time, it was also worn by Sheik. It is not yet known what role, if any, the Sheikah play in Twilight Princess, as nothing official about the symbol has been said.

File:LOZTPGoron.jpg

A Goron from Twilight Princess.

The Zora people may also be making a comeback. In an interview from EGM’s September 2005 issue, Eiji Aonuma said “...Because [Twilight Princess] is several decades after Ocarina, it’s possible some of the characters from that game might still be alive in this world." "We’ve already shown the Goron in an earlier trailer; I think people can look forward to seeing if we include Zoras as well...” While in the recent issue #204 of Electronic Gaming Monthly, the short description beside the "thuggish" new Goron image says to "expect similarly stylin' makeovers for Hyrule's other races, the zora fishmen and deku scrubs." This may be confirmation that both the Zora and the Deku Scrub races will be appearing in the game. However, the point of view of this remark was from the EGM editor, not from Eiji Aonuma or Shigeru Miyamoto.

The humans in this game may not all belong to the Hylian race. In Ordon Village, the town Link starts out in, the townsfolk all have normal, rounded ears. Template:Endspoiler

Awards

• At E3 2005, the game won the following Game Critics Awards: Best Console Game, Best Action/Adventure Game.
• It was also nominated in the category "Best Action/Adventure Game" by the Game Critics Awards at E3 2006.
• Twilight Princess placed sixth (out of ten products) in the Wired News 2005 Vaporware Awards.
• Voted "Best Game of 2006" on MTV by MTV viewers.
• Won "Best Playable Game at E3" twice on G4 TV's X-Play, once in 2005 and once in 2006.

External links

• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess official site
• Template:Nintendo.com
• Title screen video
• Pre-launch trailer
• Fall 2006 trailer
• Game page at Nintendo.com for Wii version
• IGN coverage
• GameSpot coverage