It’s kind of weird when you see a remake of a remake of a game. After all, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was originally supposed to come out for the GameCube, only to be delayed for a year and also see a bigger configuration on the Wii, with motion controls included. Both versions have proven to be timeless, even though there are some gamers out there believe – and rightfully so – that Ocarina of Time remains the true test of time for the Legend of Zelda franchise.
Still, there’s nothing wrong with a secondary spot on the list, as Twilight Princess is the latest game to be given a solid HD transfer on the Wii U, following Wind Waker. While this game may not be as colorful as that cel-shaded masterpiece, there’s no question that it definitely has a place in the Wii U library, especially as far as its traditional gameplay is concerned.
There is a twist this time around, as Link not only gets to run around with a sword and shield, but also…as a wolf? Yep, for a good part of the adventure, you take the all-fours form, with a weird god named Midna riding your back and telling you what to do, as well as helping you along some platforms on some occasions. It’s a bit unique for something in a Zelda game, and ten years later, it still remains a pretty good part of the game, despite the fact that your attacks aren’t quite as useful as to when you’re human Link. Ah, well, it’s fun anyway.
Of course, the meat of the game is the exploration factor, and there’s nothing like going through dungeons, solving puzzles and taking down enemies that come at you. The combat system, no matter which way you go, is quite satisfying, and the fact that you can explore some deeper spaces to find extra goodies is always extraordinary for a game of this nature. Even the smaller activities, like walking with magnetic boots and even going fishing (yep, that’s back), is magical stuff.
As for the presentation, it’s about on par with what you’d expect with Twilight Princess. While it isn’t entirely at that level of most HD transfers, the 1080p support and 30 frames per action definitely works, and the animations are good, even though there are times the pastel coloring could use a little more touching up. But, then again, that would probably take away from the somewhat dreary mood of the game, so maybe it’s not the end of the world that it ended up the way it did.
The game also features a terrific soundtrack, as well as sound effects that have become tradition with the Zelda series. There’s not too much to complain about here, as they work in either television mode or through your GamePad, if you’re one of those people that insist on playing while something else is on the tube.
A couple more things. First off, the game supports the Wolf Amiibo that comes with it, so you can unlock the Cave of Shadows challenge area and take on a bunch of newcomers. It’s not the biggest of additions, but it’s a cool little extra, and you can utilize the Wolf for a couple of other games too, like Super Mario Maker.
Secondly, Hero Mode is now available right from the start, for those of you that want to adapt to a challenge fairly quickly. This is a huge plus for the game, as I know some of you have already beaten the game the first time through, and really want to jump into what it has to offer. Go for it.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD isn’t the best transfer out there, as some question to its design will come into play, as well as the tiring activity of stopping goats running down the hill. Sigh. Regardless, the adventure is still fresh ten years later, and the wolf adds a fun new degree to the gameplay, even though you have to get used to it.
If you haven’t played it before – on either of the platforms it was offered for – here’s your chance to catch up on time.
