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: The Wind Waker engine.
Platform(s)	Wii, Nintendo GameCube
Release	Wii November 19, 2006 December 2, 2006 December 7, 2006 December 8, 2006 GameCube December 2, 2006 December 12, 2006 December 12, 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 the latest video game in Nintendo’s critically acclaimed The Legend of Zelda series, for the Wii and 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 versions were released on the console's launch dates, in November and December 2006, making Twilight Princess the first Zelda game to debut alongside the launch of a Nintendo console. The GameCube version was released in December 2006.

Link, the protagonist of the game, initially an assistant in a farm-like village, travels to Hyrule, the game's setting. He encounters a number of enemies, and with the help of the creature Midna, fights the twilight spreading across Hyrule.

Twilight Princess is the first game in The Legend of Zelda series to be rated T by the ESRB, for animated blood and fantasy violence.

Plot

Template:Spoilers About 1000 years after the events of Ocarina of Time, the game begins with Link living in Ordon Village, working as a ranch hand. He is asked by Rusl, the village's blacksmith, to deliver the Ordon Sword to Hyrule Castle. Before he can begin his journey, Link, the mayor's daughter Ilia, and Rusl's son, Colin are ambushed by a group of monsters. Ilia and Colin are kidnapped, and Link is knocked unconscious. Upon awakening, he pursues them, only to be pulled into the Twilight Realm, transformed into a wolf, and imprisoned in a castle. An imp-like creature named Midna helps him escape from his cell, and the two join forces.

Link and Midna travel through the castle until they meet another one of its prisoners - Princess Zelda herself. She explains that a member of a race known as the Twili is trying to merge the Twilight Realm and Hyrule to fuse them into one land of darkness. In order to defeat the king who rules over twilight, Midna is searching for a forbidden weapon called the Fused Shadow that she can use to defeat the evil king and save the Twilight Realm. Midna herself cares nothing for the fate of Hyrule, focusing on her personal vendetta against the Twilight King.

During the quest to assemble this weapon, it is discovered that the Twili are a race of beings descended from the individuals banished to the Twilight Realm by the gods of Hyrule. The Twili were interlopers with great magic who went to the holy Sacred Realm in order to establish dominion over it, causing a war to break out in Hyrule. After these sorcerers became too powerful, the goddesses sent three light spirits to seal away the beings' magic, and sealed the beings themselves away into another realm known as the Twilight Realm. The Twili who are left are the descendants of the original beings who were banished. The goddesses created the Mirror of Twilight, a device to banish beings into the Twilight Realm (though it can also be used to enter the realm normally).

After many trials, Link and Midna re-assemble the Fused Shadow. However, the king of the twilight, Zant, appears, takes the Fused Shadows, and curses Link by embedding a stone into his forehead causing him to be trapped in his wolf form, and fatally injures Midna. Zant leaves, and Link rushes Midna back to Hyrule Castle to seek aid from Princess Zelda. At Hyrule Castle, Princess Zelda reveals that the only way Link can return back to his normal form is to find the Master Sword. Midna's life is fading away, and Zelda sacrifices herself to save Midna by turning herself into light and putting herself in Midna, this allows Midna to be her normal self in the world of light, not just a shadow, Midna and Link then venture deep into the Sacred Grove, and obtain the Master Sword. He also gains the ability to transform between wolf and human form through use of the stone that cursed him and the Master Sword.

Midna explains that the only way to save Hyrule and stop Zant now is to find the Mirror of Twilight and use it to confront Zant with the Master Sword. However, when Link and Midna reach the Mirror, Zant had already broken it into four fragments. Only one fragment of the Mirror of Twilight is present. The ancient Sages who guard the Mirror appear, and reveal that an evil man named Ganondorf was sealed into the Twilight Realm after he was captured by the Sages. Midna reveals that only the true ruler of the Twili could destroy the Mirror of Twilight, and that Zant could only fragment it.

With the help of a group of Hylians intent on establishing peace: Shad, Ashei, Auru, and Rusl, Ordon's blacksmith, Link ventures back in time to the Temple of Time, still intact, the City in the Sky with the Sky Cannon, and the Snowpeak Ruins, where the shards were sealed away. With the Twilight Mirror restored, Link and Midna confront Zant in the Palace of Twilight in the Twilight Realm and finally learn that Zant was actually in line to become the true Twilight King, but was passed over. When Zant was passed over in the choice for ruler, he went into a crazed rage, and was approached by the spirit of Ganondorf, who selected him to be a vessel for his power and help him regain his previous power (and unknown to Zant, be his puppet). It is revealed that Midna is the true Twilight Princess, and was overthrown by Zant and turned into an imp using Ganondorf's power. Link defeats Zant, who claims that he will be revived as long as Ganondorf lives. Midna kills him using the regained Fused Shadows, which hold more power than she realised.

Link leaves and returns to Hyrule to save Zelda. The castle is engulfed by a barrier erected using Ganondorf's power, and Midna uses the Fused Shadow to break it. Link and Midna infiltrate Hyrule Castle and reach the top throne room to find Ganondorf sitting at the throne, and Zelda's lifeless body suspended above him. Ganondorf possesses Princess Zelda's body, and fights Link. Link wins the battle, and Midna then uses the Fused Shadow to purge Zelda of Ganondorf. He then turns into a beast-like form and attacks Link. Link defeats him, and Midna returns Zelda's soul to her body. Before the three of them can celebrate, Ganon's soul appears. Midna warps Link and Zelda to safety in Hyrule Field, and then tries to destroy Ganon using the Fused Shadow.

As Link and Zelda appear in Hyrule Field, they turn to Hyrule Castle and see a giant explosion eminating from it. They then see Ganondorf on horseback, holding Midna's helmet — he has defeated her. Princess Zelda uses her magic power to summon the Light Spirits. The spirits bestow upon her the Light Arrows, and then Link and Zelda re-appear in Hyrule Field on Epona and battle Ganondorf. Ganondorf falls from his horse in battle, but rises one last time to challenge Link to a one-on-one sword duel. In the end, Link defeats Ganondorf by driving the Master Sword into his chest. As Ganondorf stands impaled, the Triforce symbol fades from his hand. A vision of Zant briefly appears on screen, in which his neck suddenly snaps. Before his death, Ganondorf says, "Don't think this ends here...The history of light and shadow will be written in blood!"

Now that the threat of Ganon has ended, Hyrule and the Twilight Realm are saved. Additionally, the curse that Zant put on Midna using Ganon's power has been lifted, and Midna regains her true form. After Link and Zelda are reunited with her, they travel to the Mirror of Twilight, to see Midna off before she returns home. Before Midna warps away, she shatters the Mirror of Twilight with a tear, sealing off the link between Hyrule and the Twilight Realm. The children of Ordon are shown returning to their families, and Fado and Ilia are shown near Link's house. At the end, Link is shown riding away from Ordon after returning the Master Sword to the Sacred Grove. The final image is of the statue of the Triforce and the Goddesses above the throne room in Hyrule Castle, now restored. Template:Endspoiler

Gameplay

Twilight Princess 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 and in The Adventure of Link. The game also takes on a darker tone, rivaling that of Majora's Mask.

Link transforms into a wolf when entering the Twilight Realm, a void that has ensnared Hyrule. This is not a wholly separate place like the Dark World in A Link to the Past, but a festering malignancy across Hyrule.

The Wii version uses the "point-and-click" of the Wii Remote as a "fairy" cursor, for accessing menus, and for using various tools such as the Hero's Bow, Clawshot, and Fishing Rod; it uses the Nunchuk attachment analog stick for movement. In order to swing the sword, the player makes a slashing motion with the Wii Remote. A jab with the tilt-sensitive Nunchuk will cause Link to perform one of his secret moves, the shield attack. To use Link’s “spin attack”, the player swings the Nunchuk horizontally.

In order to use items, the game allows the player to equip the items to the left, right, and down positions of the D-pad using the item screen (-). When an item's respective direction button is hit, the item is switched into the B button for easier use. The built-in speaker on the remote is used for sounds like the bowstring being drawn and released, as well as the classic “Zelda chime”.

By comparison, the GameCube version uses a control scheme similar to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, with the B button used for sword attacks, other items mapped to the X, and Y (but not Z like in The Wind Waker, which is now always assigned to Midna interaction), the L button for lock-on, and the C-stick used for manual camera control.

In Twilight Princess, Link learns more moves than in any other Legend of Zelda game to date. Link also shares similar moves between human and wolf, for example when an enemy is on the ground, Link has the option to finish them off by plunging his sword into their chest or in wolf form (on poes, to rip out their souls). Link can communicate with animals in wolf form as if they were people. When transformed into a wolf, Link’s sense of smell is greatly improved. With these abilities come some disadvantages. While he is a wolf, Link cannot utilize any of his items, or open any doors with handles until he can transform into human.

There is no extensive voice acting in the game. The characters laugh, scream, and make other such noises, as they have in previous installments on the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo GameCube. In conversations, Link remains silent, and his responses are implied, much like other The Legend of Zelda games. The only character who is completely voiced is Midna, but she speaks in gibberish.

Weapons, items and abilities

Further information: Weapons and items from The Legend of Zelda series

Basic quest items

Link first acquires a wooden sword, but later upgrades to the Ordon Sword (a regular metal sword) and then the Master Sword. In the Palace of Twilight, the Master Sword is further upgraded. Link obtains a wooden shield early (Ordon Shield). This can catch fire (similar to the Deku Shield in Ocarina of Time). The shield can be replaced with the Wooden Shield, or the metal Hylian Shield, which does not catch fire.

The Slingshot also returns from previous installments of the series. Link obtains this item early on in the game before entering any dungeons. Though you keep the slingshot, it is essentially replaced later in the game by the Bow, which has similar controls and is more powerful. A Lantern is also in the game, for the first time on a home console game since Link to the Past where it originated. The game features many classic Zelda armaments, some with new twists, such as the Gale Boomerang which can create a small whirlwind capable of picking up items. The Iron Boots also return, which can now be used in conjunction with magnetic surfaces to attach Link to the ceiling. Link has three types of bombs available: Standard Bombs, Water Bombs (bombs that can be used under water), and Bomblings (bomb with legs). Link can combine items such as the bombs and arrows to create bomb arrows, among other items. Twilight Princess also introduces a new version of the Hookshot called the Clawshot. This item functions similarly to the Hookshot, except that Link can hang from the claw, and when hanging from a ceiling he can extend or retract the chain to move up or down. This is later upgraded to two Clawshots enabling movement without touching the ground in certain areas by firing one whilst remaining aloft with the other. The Dominion Rod is used to bring some statues to life. The Spinner (a new item) is a large top-like object which Link uses to move over quicksand and attack enemies. It is also used to ride along tracks in the Arbiter's Grounds and other locations. Another new item is the Ball and Chain, a heavy ball at the end of a chain which is used swinging to hit enemies and break through weak walls and blocks of ice. The Hawkeye is a new addition in the series, which is purchased at the Malo Mart after the archery test in Kakariko is completed. It acts like the telescope from Wind Waker, but is a mask of a hawk head. It can be combined with the bow, which acts like a sniper rifle. Finally Ooccoo is a character present in most dungeons. When discovered, she behaves as a warp item, much like Farore's Wind in Ocarina of Time. She will let Link set a warp point inside a dungeon, and return to it later on.

Collectibles

There are four different sets of clothing in the game: The farm outfit he starts in; the green "Hero" tunic; the Zora Armor with flippers and diving mask that allows him to breathe and swim freely underwater, yet increases the damage taken from fire and ice hazards tenfold; and the Magic Armor, which makes Link temporarily invincible (at the cost of rupees). Classic items such as Potions and Bottles also return.

24 species of golden bugs can be found around Hyrule. Catching these bugs and giving them to Agitha, a girl located in Castle Town, will give Link wallet upgrades, first to a capacity of 600 rupees, and then to 1000 after capturing all 24 bugs and returning them to her. There are twelve male and twelve female bugs, however the male and female snails when looked at both say "it might actually be a male/female" on both genders as snails are hermaphrodites.

A heart container now consists of five heart pieces instead of the traditional four.

Abilities

During the game Link gains a number of new sword techniques at various points. These techniques are learnt by first finding "howling stones" in different areas of Hyrule whilst in wolf form and in the Twilight Realm, and howling a song (different for each stone). A golden wolf appears and tells Link to find him in certain places marked on the game map. Once at this marked point and in human form outside the Twilight Realm, the wolf can again be seen and Link is warped to a supernatural area which appears to be on top of clouds. Here the wolf transforms into a skeleton dressed in Roman armor. The beast teaches Link up to seven new techniques by allowing Link to try them out on him. After the final technique is learnt, the skeletal being makes a claim to being a previous hero who could not pass on these techniques to anyone and that the sword manoeuvres can only be taught to those of his bloodline. It has been rumoured that the skeletal being is a previous Link, possibly the Hero of Time. The first technique taught by the skeletal warrior must be learnt, as the game cannot be completed without it, the other six are optional.

In wolf form, Link automatically has a "sense" ability. Using the sense ability, Link can track down certain characters by following their scents with his enhanced senses. As a wolf, he is also able to find and dig holes to find new passages and uncover buried items such as hearts and rupees. He can also search for Poes in his wolf form, which can only be attacked when using his wolf senses. These are collected for a side-quest.

File:Twilight9sj.png

The "Twilight Realm"

Characters and bosses

Main article: Characters in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Enemies

See also: Enemies in The Legend of Zelda series

File:Darknut 2.png

Link battles against a Darknut in the Temple of Time.

The Enemy AI of Twilight Princess is more advanced than in The Wind Waker,, challenging players a little more.

Staple enemies such as Keese return in Twilight Princess, with a number of new creatures as well. Although Moblins appeared in the 2004 Trailer, they did not show up in the final release. Instead, their relatives, the Bokoblins, return alongside a new Moblin relative called Bulblins. Bokoblins in Twilight Princess are modeled to look like goblins or orcs, and can be found in various areas, wielding wooden swords. Bokoblins, unlike their The Wind Waker versions, have whitish hair, and look much more human, having lost their snouts, tails, and fur. Bulblins, a little more dangerous than their cousins, are armed with maces or bows, and can ride in pairs on boars. Another classic enemy in the Zelda series, Stalfos, appear in the game, though their appearance has changed drastically since Ocarina of Time. Darknuts return, as well. They are more powerful than in previous installments, where removing their armor forces them to drop their broadsword and instead draw a longsword and battle much faster than before. Beamos make a comeback in Twilight Princess, though instead of the metallic incarnation, they are now stone blocks with red eyes on spinning heads, which shoot beams of lava instead of lasers. The reptilian Lizalfos and Dinolfos return from Ocarina of Time, as well. A Skull Kid makes an appearance in Faron Woods's Sacred Grove, and Skulltullas return with an overhauled appearance; now appearing as massive spiders with a skull-motif on their thorax rather than simply a skull-like carapace with legs as in previous games. Smaller Skulltulas act like their Ocarina of Time counterparts, while the larger, armored variety actually drop to the ground and attack Link directly.

File:NewSkulltula.png

A Skullwalltula in Twilight Princess.

Poes return, though now carrying scythes for a weapon, and Link may collect their souls as a sidequest. Link also encounters fire-breathing lizards, Dodongos, though they now walk on four legs. Other returning enemies include Deku Babas, Stalchildren, Tektites, Shellblades, Biris, Leevers, Chuchus, Iron Masks (or Hiploops, as similar monsters in Majora's Mask were called), Torch Slugs, and Wolfos. All of these returning creatures have a darker, more detailed look. Some returning creatures are given more abilities, while others have certain abilities cut back. One such example are the Redead Knights of Arbiter's Grounds. While retaining the freezing scream of the Redeads present in both Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker, these new creatures attack with swords and have armor, traits that were not present in the previous incarnations. Also, it should be noted that the Octoroks are missing from this game, but a similar enemy, the Toadpolis, can be found. Only two areas have this enemy in Twilight Princess: a hidden grove in Lake Hylia and two rooms in Goron Mines. While their appearance is much different than an Octorok, they behave in the same manner.

Twilit Messengers are among the new enemies found in the game. Dropping from Portals from the Twilight Realm, they attack Link in various locations. In combat, if all but one Twilit Messenger is slain, it will revive its fellow Beings with a horrendous scream that temporarily freezes Link to the spot. When a group is defeated, the portal they fell from can be used to return to that location via warping. Twilit Parasites, invisible bugs found in the Twilight Realm, must be destroyed in the twilight. They carry Tears Of Light, the fragmented powers of the spirits. A Giant Twilit Parasite is fought at Lake Hylia as the final keeper of a Tear of Light. There are new enemies called Stalwolves, skeletal wolves, which attack Link during the night in Hyrule Field, similar to the Stalchildren of Ocarina of Time.

Races

• Hylian

The Hylians are a race that closely resemble humans. Most characters in the game are Hylian. The Hylians are distinguished from humans by having long, swept back, pointed ears. Notable Hylians in the game include Link, Princess Zelda and all members of The "Group" except Ashei and Rusl.

• Human

Some of the characters in the game are Human. They are distiguishable by having "normal" rounded ears and sharing their appearance with real life humans. In Twilight Princess notable humans include Ilia, Colin, and Malo, Talo and Beth.

• Goron

The Goron race has returned in the latest installment of the Zelda series. Aside from being taller, they retain many of the same features as the Gorons from past Zelda installments, only differing in that they now have a more rock like appearance with a rocky crust that can be seen on their head and back areas, and also wear tribal markings on their skin and loincloths. They serve as enemies in the game at first, rolling into Link like boulders upon noticing him. A little later the player is taught how to fight off this attack. Upon completing the second dungeon, the Gorons decide to make peace with the humans (which the Gorons call them instead of Hylians) and no longer attack Link.

A much larger Goron featured in early game artwork serves as a Mini-Boss in the second dungeon guarding the Hero's Bow. This Goron is noticibly different as it is much larger than most Gorons (albeit not as large as Biggoron featured in Ocarina Of Time) and also features large pieces of metal grafted onto its back and arms.

The Goron Patriach Darbus serves a boss in which he becomes Twilit Igniter Fyrus and grows to size almost as big as Biggoron.

• Zora

The Zora people also make a comeback. They live along Zora River and Link plays an important role in helping the Zoras on several occasions. Some Zoras also wear unusual, fish-like masks.

• Sheikah

Though the name is not directly stated, Impaz is heavily implied to be a Sheikah because she said she was named after the one who made the Hidden Village (Impa from Ocarina of Time) and is in the same clan as they were. Impaz also has noticably red irises just like Impa. During Ocarina of Time, many Sheikahs also resided in Kakariko Village, although that was some time before the events of Twilight Princess.

• Gerudo

The Gerudo race itself has not returned, as Ganondorf is the only one present in the game. It is unknown if the Gerudo died out, or were simply just excluded from the game for no apparent reason.

• Yeti

The only Yetis that exist in the game are Yeto and Yeta. They are married and own a mansion called "Snowpeak Ruins".

• Twili

The latest race to be revealed in the The Legend of Zelda series is the Twili. They are the descendants of a group of mages who defied the gods and attempted to take over the Sacred Realm. As a result, they were banished to the Twilight Realm for their actions. Both Midna and Zant are Twili.

• Oocca

Another new race, the Oocca, are said to be an ancient race that created the Hylians. They are small, flying creatures that have human-like heads and bird-like bodies. They dwell in the City in the Sky, which Link must visit toward the end of the game.

The only key character from this race is Ooccoo. For each the first seven dungeons of the game, she will help the player escape the dungeon at any time after freeing her from a pot. Her son, Ooccoo Jr., will help the player return to the dungeon at any time, too. Her main goal is to return to the City in the Sky after finding the keeper of the Dominion Rod.

• Cats and Monkeys

Though not really races they do appear in different places and ,in the case of the monkey's, help you in a dungeon. They both seem to have a "boss" and stick together.

Locations and dungeons

Main article: Places in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Music

Music once again plays a role in Twilight Princess. While Link does not carry a musical instrument of any type until well into the game, he can pick grass from certain patches and whistle with it to call an animal, either a Hawk or Epona (later on, an instrument shaped similarly to the grass used to summon Epona is given to Link and has the same effect as the aforementioned grass). Also, while as a wolf Link can howl near the same patches, to the same effect. When Link is in his wolf form, there are six "howling stones" located around the world where, after Link howls a certain melody shown on screen a few times, a golden wolf appears and jumps somewhere else in the world. Link must then change back to his human form and find the wolf to learn a hidden sword technique. The songs howled by Wolf Link are taken from Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker, with the exception of the final howling stone, which is the "bass" of the game's Hyrule Field main theme.

In a first for the Zelda series, part of the soundtrack has been orchestrated as opposed to using MIDI. The fact that Nintendo has decided to use mostly MIDI for the soundtrack, however, has been a point of criticism. MIDI allows the background music to be more dynamic, but the sound quality suffers. Koji Kondo, the lead composer for the game's soundtrack, originally stated that he "would really like to push for" the music to be orchestrated. Part of the full soundtrack (featuring the songs "The Legend of Zelda: Orchestra Piece #2", "Hyrule Field Main Theme", "Ordon Village", "Kakariko Village", "Death Mountain", "Midna's Theme", and "Illia's Theme") is received when a Nintendo Power subscription is purchased (the subscription also comes with a game guide for Twilight Princess). A soundtrack also is packaged with the Twilight Princess Collector Box, an exclusive item sold at Target stores. There are also two bonus tracks present on the Soundtrack. The first on the OST known as "DS Trailer Pack" was the original theme that was to be used for the instead of the present Hyrule Field Main Theme. It bears a close resemblance to the Hyrule Field Theme Music of Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker

Development

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.)

The game falls chronologically about 100 years after Ocarina of Time, though the reference to being before The Wind Waker has been omitted in recent interviews with the developers. Interviews and a playable demo exposed many new details, such as Link beginning the game as a ranch-hand, Link battling on horseback, changes in the horse controls from Ocarina of Time, thematic differences between dungeons, and so on.

The game received Game Critics Awards at E3 2005 for Best Console Game and Best Action/Adventure Game, and the award of Best Playable Game at E3 2005 by G4 TV's X-Play. Twilight Princess received the same awards, except for Best Console Game, at E3 2006 as well.

The game was delayed extensively; Its original release date was somewhere 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. 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.

On September 15 2006, Nintendo officially announced the release dates of Twilight Princess. The Wii, along with the Wii version of Twilight Princess, was released first on November 19 2006 in North America, with the GameCube version coming on December 12 2006. Both the GameCube and the Wii version launched simultaneously in Japan on December 2 2006. Europe and Australia saw the Wii-version launched on December 8 2006 and December 7 2006 respectively, while the GameCube-version was launched on December 15 2006 and December 14 2006 respectively.

File:NewLink.png

Character art, depicting the new Link

The cloaked figure, first revealed in the opening of the third official trailer released by Nintendo at E3 in 2005, is Zelda, wearing traditional funeral robes and bearing a rapier at her side. On this cloak there is also shown a Sheikah symbol.

According to statements from Nintendo, such as from translator and localization manager Bill Trinen, it took the Twilight Princess game testers an average of 70 hours to beat the game on the first run-through. He 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.

Twilight Princess on Wii

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; and it was not suspected that two versions of the game would be released. 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 would be two versions of Twilight Princess: one for GameCube (released on December 12 2006), and one for Wii (released on its launch date, November 19 2006).

Shigeru Miyamoto had said 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 also displays in a 16:9 (wide screen) format in 480p, where the GameCube version plays only in 4:3. 480p is possible on early DOL-001 models of the GameCube using the component cable.

In the Wii version of Twilight Princess, Link is right-handed, despite his famous left-hand preference. Miyamoto noticed that players preferred wielding their "swords" right-handed, 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 horizontally (ironically, there is no mode for left-handed people). In the GameCube version, Link remains left-handed, and the maps and player guides for the two versions are mirror versions of each other. Anything in the game referring to east/west or left/right is changed accordingly between the two versions.

Many saving bugs present in the NTSC release for Wii have been fixed in the PAL release for Wii and the USA release for GameCube.

Reception

Reviews and awards

Compilations of multiple reviews
Game Rankings	Wii: 94.7% (based on 60 reviews) GCN: 96.3% (based on 9 reviews)
Metacritic	Wii: 95% (based on 57 reviews) GCN: 96% (based on 8 reviews)
Publication	Response	Comment
CVG	Wii: 10 of 10	"The greatest Zelda game ever? Yes"
Famitsu	Wii: 38 of 40
GamePro	Wii: 5 of 5	"Undeniably an epic adventure"
GameSpot	Wii: 8.8 out of 10 GCN: 8.9 out of 10	2006 Award for Best Wii Game 2006 Award for Best GameCube Game
GameSpy	Wii: 5 of 5	Editor's Choice 2006 Game of the Year (Console and Overall)
Game Informer	Wii: 10 of 10	Game of the Year
IGN	Both versions: 9.5 of 10	"Ocarina, your time is up" Both versions: Editors Choice Best Wii Game of 2006 Best Gamecube Game of 2006
Nintendo Power	Wii: 9.5 of 10 GCN: 9.5 of 10
EGM	Wii: 10 of 10	Platinum Award
Nintendo Magazine	Wii: 97%	Gold Award
X-Play	Wii: 5 out of 5[1]	Game of the Year
GST	Wii: 10 of 10	Platinum Award	Game of the year

The game has received universal positive reviews. Most reviews have praised its art direction.

Some aspects of the game's design have been criticized. Reviewing the Wii version, GameSpot reviewers complained about the feeling of "tacked-on" Wii controls and out-dated graphics, a consequence of the game being designed primarily for the older GameCube platform. GameSpot, however, called Twilight Princess the best GameCube game of 2006 as well as the best Wii game. It was also one of the ten nominees for GameSpot's "Game of the Year" award.

At Game Rankings, a web site that compiles game reviews and averages reviewers' scores, both versions of Twilight Princess have achieved an average of 94.9%, making the Wii version the 19th highest-reviewed game ever, as well as the highest ranked game of 2006. The GameCube version is currently unranked. The Wii version is currently the highest-ranked Wii game.

At Metacritic, another review aggregate site, Twilight Princess has received an overall average of 95 out of 100, 4 points fewer than Ocarina of Time.

The game received Spike TV's Critic's Choice Video Game Award and also won Game of the Year along with Best Action Adventure Game on X-Play. [2] The game was the best title of 2006 according to Game Trailers

Sales

During its first week of sales, the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess sold 454,000 copies in United States, 139,011 during its first two days in Japan, and 240,000 during its first weekend across Europe.

GameSpot quotes a Nintendo source stating that in the first eight days of the Wii's release, three out of four Wii system purchasers also purchased The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The game has sold over 2 million copies since its release. During the month of December 2006, both the Wii and Gamecube version of the game have a combined sale of 1,052,100 copies sold in the US.

External links

• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess official site
• Template:Nintendo.com
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Reviews at Metacritic
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Reviews at Gamerankings.com
• Game page at Wii.Nintendo.com for Wii version
• IGN coverage
• GameSpot coverage
• Legend of Zelda Wiki