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[EverydayBeast]

The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess HD (2016)

This is originally a 2006 game, Nintendo released an HD version in 2016 and today, 2020, well... good luck finding another realistic, dark Zelda game.

Nintendo made their minds up with Twilight Princess HD and decided to go the realistic route, what we're seeing is basically Ocarina of Time on steroids.

Link is giving up Navi, and Fi instead Midna is introduced and she tries to guide you through twilight realms, temples etc. I like how they get Midna involved and she and does a fine job in her role.

How great is that grin?

From the beginning Link is under pressure as villains' take off with one of the children from his village and has Link and company scrambling through Faron woods to find him.

At this point in the game, Link's intangibles are low, the man had just found his horse, only has a wooden shield, horrendous sword and overall the character is in heavy development.

Controversial decision to transform Link, I won't defend the decision.

There's 9 main temples spread across the land of Hyrule and the Twilight realm, Link must find 3 mirror shards to advance through the Twilight realm and confront the stud Zant who is a minion of the game's main villain, Ganon, oh and save the princess Zelda too from these evil demons.

9 temples, each with their own bosses, the Forrest temple kicks off the quest in the Faron Woods, and each offer an opportunity to get new weapons. The temple design is an all time achievement, and offers traditional puzzles (the one thing Zelda games are measured by on the Internet) you gotta give Nintendo credit here on the level designs.

Gale Boomerang is the perfect starting weapon.

The forest temple's main areas has Link facing enemies, solving puzzles and by this point, the controls (Wii U gamepad) should start to feel second nature.

Another talented level design. Look at the entrance to this temple (Arbiter's Grounds).

If you play through this temple you can complete it in 35-60 mins, the focus on this temple is defeating "Poes" to proceed through it and it pushes masterpiece level design. You get the "Spinner" to advance further in the temple and it's far and way cooler than any other item Link gets in Zelda games.

The Spinner allows Link to grind through areas. Cool.

You can do so much more with the Wii U gamepad because of the second screen, it's an aspect that makes the Wii U so deadly.

The side quests (bugs, poes, howl stones etc.) can be the devil to some, obviously people hate side quests and can be a problem for some, but stepping back and looking at Twilight Princess, is a powerhouse of originality, a huge win for Nintendo and a respectable Zelda installment, it's Ocarina of Time personified.


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I give the game a perfect 10/10 I love it. Hell of a game and I think it's time to blow up the franchise again.

 

[Camreezie]

When are we going to get this ported to switch, I missed out on the wii U version. Surely this and Windwaker HD are the last wii u ports

 

[PotatoBoy]

When are we going to get this ported to switch, I missed out on the wii U version. Surely this and Windwaker HD are the last wii u ports

If we have bad luck, they might wait until the year after BotW2.

 

[chorizosausage#3774]

I played the Wii version, great game. Never caught a sale where I'd get this version. Finished Windwaker HD though.

If they do bring it to the switch it'll be £50 , worth it for new players.

 

[kunonabi]

Loved the Wii version but I hated the Wii U port. The game still has some of OoT's problems but was still a huge improvement that actually got me back into Zelda games.

 

[Birdo]

One of the best Zeldas. Loved the dungeons and puzzles.

TP Link needs to come back (Once we get rid of BOTW Twink).

 

[buizel]

really good game. not as good as this though



i remember that day vividly

 

[Sebastian Suola]

The world feels "off" in this game. The exploration is not that enjoyable. But on the other hand, this game has some of the best dungeons in the series. And Midna is great! I own all three versions of this game!

 

[Captain Toad]

This needs to be on Switch by tomorrow.

 

[Big Baller]

The HD version made me appreciate the game a whole lot more especially after that trash called Skyward Sword.

 

[Hostile_18]

I like the UHD Series X version best!

 

[Bruno_Arrais85]

Zelda collection in 2021 is a lock.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

I loved this one quite a bit.

 

[DGrayson]

That reminds me I need to get this game. One of the last I need to finish my wii u collection

 

[Quasicat]

Between this and Wind Waker HD, my Wii U is still hooked up. I love the familiarity of Midna’s voice and was surprised when I watched this video that explains how it’s a jumbled form of English.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Good Zelda game, but clearly the less inspired of the 3D Zeldas. You can easily see where the game borrows from other games of the time, especially the Fumito Ueda games with the ICO-like lighting in the shadow world and the boss battles that are totally not inspired by Shadow of the Colussus.

The worst thing about TP is that aesthetically it's a hot mess. The character design is aaaaaallll over the place. Those kids and that fat woman will haunt your dreams forever.

Oh, and everything about the controls feels so stiff. It's like the game's engine was made on a N64 and painted over with 6th-gen graphics.

That's a shame because TP includes some of the best ideas and dungeons ever in a Zelda game, and some bosses are just pure hype.

 

[TheMan]

really good game. not as good as this though



i remember that day vividly

Good lord that was 16 years ago. I remember calling around on release night and driving about 30 miles to pick up the gamecube version from walmart. I never got passed the first time you arrive at Hyrule castle. I remember disliking the long-ass intro area a LOT, and then when I arrived at the castle some kid ran up to me and asked me to help him find some chickens or some shit. Just turned it off. I tried getting into it once or twice more but nope. Now I have no idea where my gamecube and that game could be.

 

[Deleted member 1159]

Honestly I think this is the best of the OoT-style Zelda games. Wind Waker is inconsistent, Skyward Sword is sort of a joke, OoT is dated, this one seems to hit the sweet spot. I haven't played the Wii U version hoping it would come to Switch, but I completed the Wii version 3 times back in the day.

BotW is probably my game of the generation but I still like the old Zelda formula for what it was.

 

[SinDelta]

Midna is the best. Shame a lot of the story in Twilight Princess seems to cut off after Arbiter's Grounds. Zant was looking to be a villain with incredible presence, until he was suddenly a loony toon.

A Breath of the Wild 2 with dungeons on par with the dungeons in Twilight Princess will be the best game ever made.

That and

Spoiler: Spoiler

a good repair/upgrade system for weapons and gear.

 

[buizel]

Good lord that was 16 years ago. I remember calling around on release night and driving about 30 miles to pick up the gamecube version from walmart. I never got passed the first time you arrive at Hyrule castle. I remember disliking the long-ass intro area a LOT, and then when I arrived at the castle some kid ran up to me and asked me to help him find some chickens or some shit. Just turned it off. I tried getting into it once or twice more but nope. Now I have no idea where my gamecube and that game could be.

i just came across my wii copy yesterday. though i only played the gamecube one really it was pretty good. still. e3 2k4, nintendo ds proto looking like trash baby, good times.

yeah, on replaying it i kinda dislike the wolf sections.

WHAT WAS WILD

so, after that e3 reveal of Zelda, nintendo IGN forums were ablaze with speculation; and someone made a post that you could turn into a wolf. the post got lost in the crowd; being speculation at the time... but i remember it. suspicious..

A Breath of the Wild 2 with dungeons on par with the ones in Twilight Princess will be the best game ever made.

a breath of the wild with dungeons built into the landscape; and make them impressive looking like in the new Tomb Raider reboots; would be great.

botw temples annoyed me cause skip text load skip text HEERUUUUGGHHHH skip text. move block. DONE. load. and the giant animals werent too impressive, dense or memorable

 

[Alexios]

Awesome game, some sections do drag on a bit too much but they're usually not a huge deal (ie, sure wolf combat isn't great but you easily make short work of most enemies and move on) and the overall game just keeps on giving, every time you think you're probably reaching the end, nope, still awesome cool stuff to get to.

Best fishing mini game yet too, I always thought Nintendo should have made a Link's Fishing Training or something to expand on it similar to the Crossbow Training or whatever on the Wii.

 

[SinDelta]

i just came across my wii copy yesterday. though i only played the gamecube one really it was pretty good. still. e3 2k4, nintendo ds proto looking like trash baby, good times.

yeah, on replaying it i kinda dislike the wolf sections.

WHAT WAS WILD

so, after that e3 reveal of Zelda, nintendo IGN forums were ablaze with speculation; and someone made a post that you could turn into a wolf. the post got lost in the crowd; being speculation at the time... but i remember it. suspicious..

a breath of the wild with dungeons built into the landscape; and make them impressive looking like in the new Tomb Raider reboots; would be great.

botw temples annoyed me cause skip text load skip text HEERUUUUGGHHHH skip text. move block. DONE. load. and the giant animals werent too impressive, dense or memorable

Hyrule Castle in Breath of the Wild does this, a gigantic edifice carved into a small mountain. Now they just need 8 other themed dungeons like it.

Interesting note about werewolf Link rumors - Before Skyward Sword came out I remember speculation of a companion or being that would turn into the Master Sword. It was near confirmed with the teaser promo, with Fi behind Link and Link not having a sword, but I recall that rumor had been around for a while.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

I enjoyed TP in 2006 so when a niece really liked my Christmas gift of windwaker HD and a guidebook, I followed up later and got her Twilight Princess HD and a guidebook a few years ago.

I Haven't got around to playing my copy yet but when I visited her at some point I learned she was stuck on the goat herding section at the very beginning of the game. I quickly solved the goat herding crisis, being the gaming otaku weeabo that I am. But then I felt a tension among the family that I couldn't explain, the dad and mum and brother all looking at each other with expressions of shock or maybe anger.

This is my conjecture but I got the feeling that the controller had been passed around the family trying to herd these goats and there had been yelling and blame games and all manner domestic strife over the effort to get these stupid animals to go where they're supposed to.

I can't be sure that's what happened but I've never seen her playing the game again and I notice when I visit that the guidebook is nowhere to be seen, unlike the guidebook for windwaker which shows all the creases and wear and tear of frequent use. It's not a complete loss though because of the amiibo pack in:

I've at least seen her using the amiibo when she's playing Breath of the Wild. So there's that.

 

[StateofMajora]

I have the amiibo bundle unboxed. Some of the new textures help, but others clash with the original art design. In addition, the lighting in some scenes has been drastically changed to the game's detriment. The original gamecube release is the best version, and I would say Wii gets second place for at least retaining the original look.

Wind Waker HD is somewhat different, at times it looks off (clay link), but at other points it's like it should have looked all along ; there's some very nice lighting present.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

One of the weakest 3D Zeldas, which still makes it one of the best 3D adventure games of all time.

 

[StateofMajora]

One of the weakest 3D Zeldas, which still makes it one of the best 3D adventure games of all time.

I would say it's 2nd best honestly.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

I will need to replay it myself to really assess it properly, I enjoyed it a lot at launch, but I'm curious how I'll feel after Zelda has now finally moved away from the traditional formula. I remember feeling a little bit fatigued with how "conventionally Zelda" the game was but also delighted by some of its great ideas and presentation. I especially liked Midna as a character, I just thought she was great.

Very interesting that the metacritic score is 86. If I recall correctly, that was Jeff Gerstmann's controversial score he gave to the original release in 2006. I like the game better than him, but he must find it amusing that the aggregate critic score is now exactly what he rated it after catching some heat over his review.

 

[SpiceRacz]

Wolf sections aside, this has some of the best dungeons and my favorite Ganon fight in the entire series. It's a god damn masterpiece of a game.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

I really disliked the wolf sections. Didn't finish the game because of them. =/

 

[Saint Boot]

The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess HD (2016)

This is originally a 2006 game, Nintendo released an HD version in 2016 and today, 2020, well... good luck finding another realistic, dark Zelda game.

Nintendo made their minds up with Twilight Princess HD and decided to go the realistic route, what we're seeing is basically Ocarina of Time on steroids.

Link is giving up Navi, and Fi instead Midna is introduced and she tries to guide you through twilight realms, temples etc. I like how they get Midna involved and she and does a fine job in her role.

How great is that grin?

From the beginning Link is under pressure as villains' take off with one of the children from his village and has Link and company scrambling through Faron woods to find him.

At this point in the game, Link's intangibles are low, the man had just found his horse, only has a wooden shield, horrendous sword and overall the character is in heavy development.

Controversial decision to transform Link, I won't defend the decision.

There's 9 main temples spread across the land of Hyrule and the Twilight realm, Link must find 3 mirror shards to advance through the Twilight realm and confront the stud Zant who is a minion of the game's main villain, Ganon, oh and save the princess Zelda too from these evil demons.

9 temples, each with their own bosses, the Forrest temple kicks off the quest in the Faron Woods, and each offer an opportunity to get new weapons. The temple design is an all time achievement, and offers traditional puzzles (the one thing Zelda games are measured by on the Internet) you gotta give Nintendo credit here on the level designs.

Gale Boomerang is the perfect starting weapon.

The forest temple's main areas has Link facing enemies, solving puzzles and by this point, the controls (Wii U gamepad) should start to feel second nature.

Another talented level design. Look at the entrance to this temple (Arbiter's Grounds).

If you play through this temple you can complete it in 35-60 mins, the focus on this temple is defeating "Poes" to proceed through it and it pushes masterpiece level design. You get the "Spinner" to advance further in the temple and it's far and way cooler than any other item Link gets in Zelda games.

The Spinner allows Link to grind through areas. Cool.

You can do so much more with the Wii U gamepad because of the second screen, it's an aspect that makes the Wii U so deadly.

The side quests (bugs, poes, howl stones etc.) can be the devil to some, obviously people hate side quests and can be a problem for some, but stepping back and looking at Twilight Princess, is a powerhouse of originality, a huge win for Nintendo and a respectable Zelda installment, it's Ocarina of Time personified.


host image
I give the game a perfect 10/10 I love it. Hell of a game and I think it's time to blow up the franchise again.

It's in my top 3 fave Zelda games and I am unrealistically hoping for a Switch version.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

I would say it's 2nd best honestly.

Mechanically it's better than OoT in virtually every way, but it didn't have the 'magic'. Perhaps the 13 year old boy playing OoT on launch day over that Thanksgiving break, playing until the dawn every day untill I eventually had the cartridge taken away from me by my parents left a lasting impression.

Majora's Mask was a classic that was one of the few games I 100% completed. Even with GTA3 available at the time I still put a shit ton of hours into MM.

Wind Waker was such a charming game, honestly my 2nd favorite Zelda after BOTW.

Skyward Sword just didn't do it for me. It's the only Zelda game I ever bounced from.

BOTW is a masterpiece, plain and simple.

 

[Azelover]

The Wii U is Zelda paradise.

I just finished this version of Twilight Princess last month.

Game is superb.

 

[Cutty Flam]

The theme to the City in the Sky

Top notch

 

[StateofMajora]

Mechanically it's better than OoT in virtually every way, but it didn't have the 'magic'. Perhaps the 13 year old boy playing OoT on launch day over that Thanksgiving break, playing until the dawn every day untill I eventually had the cartridge taken away from me by my parents left a lasting impression.

Majora's Mask was a classic that was one of the few games I 100% completed. Even with GTA3 available at the time I still put a shit ton of hours into MM.

Wind Waker was such a charming game, honestly my 2nd favorite Zelda after BOTW.

Skyward Sword just didn't do it for me. It's the only Zelda game I ever bounced from.

BOTW is a masterpiece, plain and simple.

TP is certainly different than OOT. But it definitely has its own character. I would agree it does not feel as unique as ocarina did, though I think that should be obvious lol.

Wind waker was unfinished, needlessly padded via the ocean and is my 2nd least favorite, though it’s still a damn good game and very charming.

Although it’s hard to argue it’s not better than skyward sword as a total package.

skyward sword has very satisfying highs, but it’s buried under a lot of crud.

Botw is Zelda in name only, and a hodgepodge of modern tropes that is only appealing because of the visuals. And even then, I love the overall art style, but the character design is unappealing.

Worst 3D Zelda on ahome console.

 

[MaestroMike]

lol I beat it, but I really don't remember too much about it. I know you had to remember previous things you did. Not a game to play, stop and then play a few months later. You'll forget sh!t you need to know. Same with Wind Waker. Gotta beat it within a week or two.

 

[Rentahamster]

I only played the Wii version. It was great!

I wouldn't mind giving the HD version a try someday.

 

[Rival]

This, windwaker, And OOT all coming to switch next year in a single package. Book it.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

Wolf sections aside, this has some of the best dungeons and my favorite Ganon fight in the entire series. It's a god damn masterpiece of a game.

Yup even back then when people were dumping on it with 8.8 I couldn’t understand the criticism where Wind Waker got a pass. The stretch of dungeons from Arbiter’s Grounds to City in the Sky is probably the best stretch in the entire series (though I haven’t played Skyward Sword to compare to). In my book, Ocarina of Time is still #1 but Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild are #2 and #3 for very different reasons.

 

[Lethal01]

Botw is only appealing because of the visuals. , but the character design is unappealing.

Impressive, This isn't a level you see everyday, How do you train?

It's got te best character designs in the series.

 

[StateofMajora]

Impressive, This isn't a level you see everyday, How do you train?

It's got te best character designs in the series.

Yeah, i'm not into that. Everyone looks stupidly lanky, or otherwise ill proportioned, and link is androgynous.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

It's in my top 3 fave Zelda games and I am unrealistically hoping for a Switch version.

This is totally getting ported by 2022.

 

[Stiflers Mom]

Pro:
* Midna
* best Dungeons in Zelda
* incredible first half of the game
* Zant is amazing at the beginning

Contra:
* tension drops off very hard second half of the game
* Zant is lame later on
* hard to go back to these small world areas after botw

 

[chimpsteaks]

If they didn't include the Wolf Link shit, Tears of Light, and all of the other gimmicky filler segments, this game would be a 10/10 and the second coming of OoT. Instead it shall always remain a solid 8.8 that I really enjoyed once but won't replay because I don't want to sit through the bad bits.

That snow mansion dungeon is one of the GOATS btw

 

[Rodolink]

I seldom do 100% playthroughs but did on this one, its not hard as fuck and very enjoyable to get everything specially with the poe finder.

 

[HotPocket69]

When are we going to get this ported to switch, I missed out on the wii U version. Surely this and Windwaker HD are the last wii u ports

Next year for the Zelda 35th anniversary

 

[p_xavier]

I'm currently replaying it on my Wii U. Amazing atmosphere. I couldn't get into the game with a Wii controller and really disliked the intro part so I had never managed to play much of the game.

But man dungeons are amazing. Best in the series are in this game. I just finished Celestia, the haunting mysic, weird orcas, double hookshot, it is just surreal.

 

[MadchesterManc]

Never really got into this one, still can't understand why which is probably why I never refer to it as one of the worst. Maybe I'll pick up the WiiU version to try again. Third time's a charm as they say

 

[Lux R7]

best Link, best Zelda, amazing game.

 

[fart town usa]

Fantastic LTTP thread OP.

Bit the bullet and got this last night off the WiiU Eshop. Thought about going Hero Mode because my only issue with TP is that it really is too easy. I decided to go the standard route because I wanted to see what it was like without the world being mirrored. LOL, way too distracting/disorienting. Muscle memory has me constantly running into walls and it's just more confusing than it should be. I don't mind restarting though because I think Hero Mode is going to be such an awesome way to experience TP.

TP is such a fantastic game, really never understood the hate it gets. It's a long game and the Village beginning that people complain about is just character development. TP had a much more fleshed out story/characters than prior Zelda games. Really looking forward to playing it in bed and absorbing the atmosphere.

Spoiler: trigger alert

WiiU does what Switch don't, lol.

edit- started a new game on Hero Mode and this is easily the best way to play the game. It creates a sense of tension that I've never felt in a Zelda outside of BOTW when you're first starting and getting dominated by enemies. I've already died probably 4 times as Wolf Link because there's no hearts and you can't use potions as the Wolf. Thankfully the respawn system is forgivable and doesn't send you back far. I can't stress enough how damn comfy it is to be playing TP HD in bed with headphones on, it's an absolutely exquisite gameplay experience.