Game review: ‘Zelda: Twilight Princess HD’ RPG is a remake with mild combat, terrific puzzles
"The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD." (Nintendo)
Screenshot from "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD." (Nintendo)
Parents need to know The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD isn't a new game, but rather a lightly altered remake of a decade-old action-adventure RPG. (Common Sense Media/TNS)
Parents need to know “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD” isn’t a new game, but rather a lightly altered remake of a decade-old action-adventure role playing game. Players control a hero named Link who uses weapons including a slingshot, bow, sword, and bombs to fight fantasy creatures such as skeletons and plants. Combat, while tricky, isn’t particularly graphic, save for occasional splashes of colorful (and quickly disappearing) blood. As in other Zelda games, Link is a good-natured kid who likes animals, helps villagers with chores, puts himself in danger to rescue others, and fights only when attacked or in danger. Parents should note that this game supports Amiibo, most of which are sold separately and necessary to unlock certain optional features, including perks that give Link additional hearts or more arrows.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
“The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD” is a high-definition remake of a game originally launched for GameCube and Wii. It sees the series’ perpetual protagonist Link embarking on a quest to save the kingdom of Hyrule from a new villain — Zant, the King of the Twilight — who has taken over. Link must journey through dungeons, both as a human and in his magical wolf form in the Realm of Twilight, in order to restore light to the fabled Light Spirits if he is to save the world. The remake remains faithful to the original, delivering combat, puzzles, and dungeons that returning players will quickly remember. The move to a high definition platform has resulted in added visual detail, especially in character models and special effects. The HD edition also includes support for several of Nintendo’s Amiibo figurines, which can be used to give Link advantages such as extra hearts and more arrows, as well as unlock a new wave-based combat dungeon called The Cave of Shadows. Veteran players may want to try the new Hero mode, which is designed to increase difficulty. Players can choose to play with either the GamePad or a traditional Wii U Pro Controller, but if they choose the former they’ll be able to interact with the touch screen to view local area maps, manage inventory, and easily assign items and weapons to specific buttons.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
When this game first launched on Wii in 2006, most people were focused on how it made use of the console’s then-innovative motion controls. These controls had players pointing at the screen to aim ranged attacks and swinging a Wii remote controller to slash with Link’s sword. These hardware-enabled mechanics took some of the spotlight off other parts of the game. With this distraction removed, “Twilight Princess” stands as a good — though not necessarily exceptional — entry in Nintendo’s iconic franchise.
Its biggest innovation is Link’s ability to transform into a wolf, which is fun at the start and gives players nifty new abilities (like the ability to sense spirits). But it limits the ways that Link can fight, ultimately making combat less interesting. On the other hand, several dungeons and puzzles stand alongside some of the best in the “Zelda” franchise, deftly mixing combat, conundrums, and Link’s unique abilities. “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD” isn’t essential for those who played through the original a decade ago, but it does provide younger players who missed the Wii and GameCube versions opportunity to try a classic Nintendo adventure for the first time.
RATING AND CONTENT
Recommended for ages 12 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Positive Messages: 3 out of 5
Positive Role Models: 3 out of 5
Ease of play: 3 out of 5
Violence: 3 out of 5
Language: 0 out of 5
Sexy stuff: 0 out of 5
Drinking, Drugs and Smoking: 0 out of 5
Consumerism: 2 out of 5 (Are products/advertisements embedded? Is the title part of a broader marketing initiative/empire? Is the intent to sell things to kids?)
GAME DETAILS
Platform: Nintendo Wii U
Price: $59.99
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: March 4, 2016
Genre: Action/Adventure
ESRB Rating: T for animated blood, fantasy violence
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PHOTOS (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194): MOMS-CSM-GAME-REVIEW-ZELDA
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Topics: t000015421,t000002953,t000015422
