Despite Nintendo's best efforts to dial down hype for the upcoming Skyward Sword, the internet can't help but summon GET HYPE mode two months before a huge Zelda release. Right now, Zelda is the most talked about series on the board, and it'll probably remain that way for the rest of the year.
I started getting excited a couple weeks ago, when Nintendo announced a fantastic SS bundle and began sharing more information and media of the game. To scratch my Zelda itch, I decided to replay Twilight Princess (my third playthrough) for the first time in almost four years. TP itself is no stranger to online discussion. From 2004-2006, it was unarguably one of the most anticipated games of all time, carrying something like a ridiculous 80% attach rate with launch Wiis. However, while fans labeled it as the spiritual successor to Ocarina of Time pre-launch, it did not win OoT's universal praise. Many aspects of the game have been criticized over the years, and while some still regard it as an outstanding game and one of the series' finest, others call it crap. Here's my take on the last major Zelda's hits and misses (yeah, long post, but it's Zelda fever so I know some of you sad saps will read):
The Good
- Amazing graphics. Seriously, this game are gorgeous. It may be the most beautiful game of the pre-HD era, and if not, is certainly a contender for that title.
- Excellent dungeon design. There are some notable exceptions, but overall, TP's dungeons are a major triumph. This may be the one area where it trumps its older 3D Zelda bros. Stone Tower Temple alone (and Snowhead if you're a big fan) can't compete with the combined awesomeness of Arbiter's Grounds, City in the Sky, Snowpeak Ruins, and Goron Mines. I'm not even sure if OoT can compete there. Even the Forest Temple was damn good for a starter, and Lakebed continued the tradition of liquid frustration. Most dungeons have a fun gimmick that works well (monkeys in Forest, gravity inversion in Goron, cannons/humor in Snowpeak). Some of these, specifically the spinner rooms in Arbiter's and Link going all Spidey in CitS, represent some of the most awesome gameplay segments in the series.
- Combat is lots of fun. Hold the complaints, soldier - I said fun, not hard. Yeah, I only came close to dying a couple times near the beginning (I began to coast after building up a decent heart count), but I still enjoyed the combat. Swordplay is much smoother than in OoT/MM, and it keeps the same dynamic music popular in Wind Waker. Link has an arsenal of moves and weapons to dispatch enemies. While just going crazy with sword swipes is good enough for many, you can still get creative with Hidden Skills or a bomb arrow to the face. The game pauses for a micro-second when Link delivers a killing sword blow, which makes things all the more satisfying. It could have been harder - I'll touch on that later - but as a secondary feature in an exploration/adventure game, the combat was finely implemented. Hell, let me risk saying that I liked it more than in some games where the combat gets top billing (say hi, God of War!).
- Midna is a GREAT character. Very very unique; kinda hard for me to pinpoint how they pulled off making this goofy looking dwarf imp so coquettish, but it works. She's cocky and witty, but caring, and undergoes much more development than the average Zelda character. She's also very helpful and far more "alive" than Link's usual helper companion. Easily the best support character I've seen in the series.
- Lot of bang for the buck. This is a big game with tons of collectibles, and most of them were fun to get. Even on a third run while using FAQs for the pesky bits, it took me about 35 hours to 100%.
- Fishing, a popular OoT minigame, is expanded and improved. I didn't even know there was another sinking lure and loach in this!
- Bomb arrows. Broken, satisfying as a motha, and better than any magic spell I can remember