Zelda fans have been waiting for the next iteration in the series, but once again they are treated to another remastering of an older title. After hours of gameplay, the question begs to be answered: is it worth investing more of your time and money into a game that was released back in 2006?
Visual upgrades and new features
Playing this game brings one back to the controversy that Nintendo sparked when it released a digitally remastered version of Zelda's The Windwaker last year. Franchise devotees were hoping for a brand new entry in the series but once again they had been given the HD treatment, but unlike the debacle that was the Windwaker, Twilight Princess does have some amazing new features that could swing a consumer either way.
Starting with the touch screen, players can switch easily between different items in their inventory with the flick of their fingers. A simple nuance for sure, but ultimately important for rendering the original Wii title accessible to newcomers and veterans alike. Now the clumsy item screen has been abolished, with the touch pad serving as a displayable inventory menu that no longer breaks up the action packed gameplay one feels when roaming through the dungeons of Hyrule. But this isn't the only new aspect embedded into Twilight Princess' software.
Visual upscale blessing and curse for Nintendo's latest remastering
Miyamoto's crew worked hard to take the original graphics processor of Twilight Princess and give it a complete overhaul on the Wii U.
With 1080p up-scaling and a plethora of digital edits during cinematic cut scenes, Twilight Princess HD looks stunning from a cosmetic standpoint, but with further observation the viewer sees how aged the game looks. Midna's sprite in particular has seen better days, as Link's cohort tends to distort during specific intervals in the game, most notably during the transition sequences the protagonist has between his human form and his wolf counterpart.
Such stunning upgrades to original ip's can have the adverse effect of downgrading newer visuals, which is clearly evident in this remastered edition. Twilight Princess is a great Nintendo title, but now with the cosmetic upgrades, the 2006 original release on a modern console looks dated at best. This game isn't merely an upgrade from the original Wii.
Having originally been published on the Gamecube, this latest incarnation of the Zelda franchise is a remaster of a remaster, proving that some things don't always get better with age.
Twilight Princess suffers from identity crisis
It seems nowadays everything is incorporating touch pad technology. Disney Infinity, Skylanders, Super Smash Brothers, and now Twilight Princess. The incorporation of the wolf Link Midna amiibo is a nice touch that allows players to switch in a blink of an eye between the protagonists two alter egos.Amiibo functionality has become the new trend in gaming, and now with it being featured in a Zelda title, it seems like the next step for the Japanese company would be to utilize it in future Mario games.
All this is fine if you haven't played Twilight Princess before. Visual upgrading, touch pad technology, amiibo functionality, and clear audio translations are terrific touches for the third version of a decade old game. Another trip through the Hyrule fields isn't necessary if you've already done it twice before. Unlike other masterpiece remasters like the first Resident Evil, Twilight Princess was fine just the way it was back in 2006.
