Zelda: Twilight Princess Discussion (SPOILERS: BEWARE)

[Nintenchris]

This doesn't have the same aesthetic value as Final Fantasy X on the PStwo

 

Oh god no... turn your arse right around an leave this thread and never return.. it will be a much better place without your comments thank you.

[The3rdChildren]

This doesn't have the same aesthetic value as Final Fantasy X on the PStwo

 

But it doesn't have boring random turn-based battles. Surely this evens it all out?

[Jamba]

Yeah that looks about right. Also notice the cross thing in the eye? Doesn't that look like eye of the spider boss in the deku tree in OOT?

 

 

Oh god no... turn your arse right around an leave this thread and never return.. it will be a much better place without your comments thank you.

 

Totally unnecessary. If you don't like his comments you are free to use the ignore facility. Just because you don't agree doesn't make his comment invalid.

[Fresh]

I assume alot have you have seen this but meh;

 

[Eenuh]

Mmmmmm. This game is gonna be so so awesome. If I fail school this year, I know why. =P

 

Couldn't resist watching those two videos. Indeed, don't watch if you don't want spoilers I guess. I'm gonna keep away from videos and pictures from now on, cause there's just more and more chances of spoilers popping up (got some part of WW spoiled by accidentally stumbling on a page filled with pictures of it).

 

Just one thing about the intro that sorta bugged me:

 

The horse didn't really seem to run like a horse, but more like a wolf/dog/some kinda animal that's not a horse. That kinda ruined the overall experience for me. Unless they mean for it to run like that, but that just sorta seems odd. I'm just nitpicking, this game will be great anyway.

 

[The Lillster]

This doesn't have the same aesthetic value as Final Fantasy X on the PStwo

 

Well thats your problem.

 

IMO I think the game looks awesome, maybe the storyline won't be up to much, but when it comes to gameplay Zelda is the best.

 

Also i've played and completed FFX twice, and I really enjoyed the game. However, I currently have no desire to replay it anytime soon.

 

Zelda ALTTP and Zelda OOT I can replay time and again, and still enjoy it.

 

I'm not saying I wouldn't enjoy playing FFX again. I'm just saying that FFX doesn't hold the same replay value that Zelda 3 and OOT hold.

 

Also FFX uses a lot of FMV's to tell the story and make the game look pretty.

 

Another thing, how do you know how much TP aesthetic value has until you've actually own, played and completed the game?

 

Also I don't really understand the word aesthetic, something about beauty?

[LazyBoy]

Okay I figure if I go run out into moving traffic ill be in a coma for at least a couple of weeks, so when I wake up it'll be here. That's if I don't die, but i'm willing to take that risk.

[triforce_keeper]

OMG the opening sequence made me wet....

 

TEH HYPE WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[ZeldaFreak]

The guardian king is waring a mask look at the arms of it, could it be the skull kid or majoras mask, so if we assume that this is the alternate reality to the world out of the original part of OoT then we can assume majoras mask is technically the boss in this.

[Dante]

 

 

[The3rdChildren]

Nice screens.

 

To be honest I don't think any of the spoilers are anything we didn't already know about the game. Anyone fearful of spoilers should sit back and enjoy the trailer - it doesn't really tell us anything we haven't known from very early on.

[Yoshiking]

What about the people who avoided the spoilers early on?

Some people might not even know that

Link is the wolf

 

 

Though that's somewhat unlikely, maybe they've been.. very good at hiding from everyone and everything since E3..

[Mike]

I'm still not watching the trailer, just to be on the safe side. I haven't read any spoilers for a month now, so I reckon I can manage another month and a bit. That is, if everyone keeps up the good work with the spoiler tags, and Americans don't go posting info all over the Internet come November 19th.

[Tellyn]

If people are avoiding spoilers, DO NOT WATCH THE VIDEOS. I don't care what anyone else says, they will reveal quite a lot about the game.

[The Bard]

This doesn't have the same aesthetic value as Final Fantasy X on the PStwo

 

Aesthetic value? FFX is the ugliest game ever, the character animations were so off it was unbelievable, as much as I love the FF series, that game was a major disappointment, in terms of, well, everything.

 

 

This game is far too pretty...

[flameboy]

I got ready to watch one of the movies but i stopped myself halfway, i remember the joy of playing OOT without knowing anything about it. I didn't do it for WW, such was the controversy over its graphics I kept reading more. My advice don't watch the movies.

[Dante]

the twilight king's mask it is a baby dodongo.

 

 

Yeah that looks about right. Also notice the cross thing in the eye? Doesn't that look like eye of the spider boss in the deku tree in OOT?

 

Oh yeah, good eye Jamba.

 

 

Title mp3 rip.

 

Hi-res movies

Title.

 

 

Intro.

[Guest Stefkov]

watched the first new video in college today, the other wouldnt load so im watchig it now. I literally wet my pants watching it.

........................................fuck me ................................that second video...!!!!!!!!!!!!My god my mouth was literally open. I'm not exageratting, it was.

 

[Dante]

Dont forget about the other videos Stefkov.

 

Video 1 - Title Screen

 

Video 2 - Trailer

 

Video 3 - Shop

 

Video 4 - House

 

Video 5 - Town

 

Video 6 - Paper Mario Style

 

Video 7 - Item

[Yoshiking]

I know this is stupid, but seing as my portable DVD for some reason refuses to play the mpeg files on my SD card (dunno, mpeg is supposed to be supported, it plays everything else just fine), I'm gonna go and request a video download in avi. My computer sucks as far as playing videos goes (it only shows, like, 10 FPS), so it actually looks better on my phone, even though its small. However, if I could play it on my portable dvd that would be sweet, so it'd be greatly appreciated.

EDIT: still talking about the trailer, here. lol.

Also, if anyone could link me to the music from the trailer that'd be sweet (dunno if anyone did that already).

 

I'll stop these requests after this, honest.

[Din]

Not gonna watch the videos. I want to experience it when I finally get my hands on this game! Man, I can't f'n wait.

[Tellyn]

Hmm, anywhere else I can download that MP3? It won't allow me to download.

[Ninestein]

Talking of spoilers, did anybody see the VIP article on nintendo UK, introducing the first hours of the game. Some of it is pretty familiar if you've seen the old E3 demos but it's enough to keep me going!

[Dante]

Spoiler alert: the following article contains information on the gameplay and storyline in the first few hours of Twilight Princess.

 

Playing a new Zelda adventure for the first time is one of those rare, special moments in gaming; and they don't come any more special than The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

 

Since it was revealed at E3 2004, fans have been clamouring to get their hands on Twilight Princess; savouring every titbit of info. Today, you've found yourself a feast!

 

Below you'll find the first part of our Twilight Princess hands-on impressions, based on the Wii version which hits shops on December 8. While we've yet to complete the game, we've seen enough to know that this Zelda will fulfil all your expectations - and then some!

 

New beginnings

 

Twilight Princess begins, appropriately, at dusk. As the day's light fades, the view pans down on a pond in a woodland glade. There sits Link listening to an older man explain how Link will be entrusted with delivering an important package tomorrow to Hyrule Castle.

 

The scene fades to the next day and we see Link's treehouse home in Ordon Village. A villager arrives and gives Link an urgent mission: round up the goats! Link isn't a hero yet; he's merely a farmhand.

 

We're now in control of Link for the first time. You move him around with the Nunchuk's Control Stick and press A and B on the Wii Remote to perform actions. Pressing C on the Nunchuk switches to first-person view and you can simply point the Wii Remote where you want to look. Locking onto items and enemies is handled by holding the Nunchuk's Z button.

 

We have no weapons yet, so all we can do is talk to people. As we walk through the village and chat to the locals we hear stories about mischievous monkeys causing trouble in the area. A young girl tells Link that his fishing rod is almost ready, so we make a mental note to come back later.

 

We find our horse Epona (you can change the name if you wish) being washed by a pretty girl about Link's age named Ilia. Growing nearby are reeds that you can pick; blow into them and you'll hear a familiar melody (Epona's Song from Ocarina of Time) which calls your horse to you.

 

The goat-herding minigame is a nice introduction to controlling Epona. You must round up the beasts by coaxing them into their pen and you can even make a cowboy-style 'Whoop!' by hitting A. After each goat is returned, 'Goat in!' humorously flashes on the screen.

 

When we're finished, we're in such a cowboy mood that we giddy-up Epona and make a daring leap over the fence, heading back to town. There we meet Ilia again but she spots an injury on Epona's leg and she chastises us for hurting the horse with our showjumping stunt. Link doesn't speak but from the look on his face, especially his emotive eyes, you can tell how foolish he's feeling at this moment. If you thought the cel-shaded Link from Wind Waker had lots of character, his new realistic look is even more expressive.

 

Lost and found

 

We head back to the village and pay a visit to the shop, where we see a nice Slingshot for sale. Problem is, the shopkeeper is too worried about her lost cat to sell anything today. We won't spoil how we found the missing moggy but we can tell you it involved a crazed monkey, a baby's basket, an eagle and a fish.

 

With the cat safely returned we can buy the Slingshot. Back at our treehouse we also find a wooden sword has been delivered by one of the villagers, so we try out both of our new weapons on a scarecrow outside. A group of local kids looks on, awestruck, and we already begin to feel a little bit more like a hero, even if our clothes are still those of a farmhand.

 

No sooner have we finished practising sword-slashing and Slingshot-aiming with the Wii Remote (which feels fast and very intuitive) than we're called into action. Some of the hero-wannabe kids have become lost in a cave after chasing another wild monkey inside, so we set off - picking up a lantern and some oil on the way from a friendly man with birds in his hair. How odd.

 

Inside the cave are Deku Babas (the man-eating plants seen in previous Zelda games). They look much more menacing than ever; their sharp fangs dripping with green goo. We creep through the tunnel, our lantern cutting through the shadows with its golden light.

 

Beyond the cave, past a poisonous swamp covered in a dark shadowy fog, we find the kids and bring them home. But we have little time to celebrate, as suddenly a horde of monsters crashes into the village and snatches Link's friend Ilia, leaving Link unconscious.

 

When we awake, the village is surrounded by a wall of darkness that looks almost alive. As we walk over to investigate, a huge hand reaches out of the blackness and pulls us in.

 

The dark side

 

In a dramatic cutscene Link struggles in the grip of the shadowy creature until suddenly a Triforce symbol glows on the hero's hand and the monster flees in fear. Link falls to his knees, apparently in pain, and he cries out before morphing into a wolf. Unconscious, he is dragged away and thrown in prison. Meanwhile a mysterious figure looks on.

 

Link wakes up still in wolf form and chained to the floor of a small cell. Already we have a visitor: Midna. Immediately we don't trust her, even though she offers to help Link escape. Maybe it's her imp-like appearance or the way one sharp tooth protrudes from her lip when she grins (which she does a lot). But for now, we have no choice but to go along with her escape plan.

 

Once we're free of the chains and out of the cell (clue: what do dogs like to do with bones?) we're off, running through a waterlogged labyrinth with Midna on our back, battling impressive liquid-like enemies that shimmer on the surface of the water before leaping out and attacking us.

 

Controlling the wolf feels great. It's fast, nimble and reacts to the same controls as when you're a human but with different results. Flick forward with the Wii Remote and wolf Link makes a powerful dash attack. Sometimes you will grab onto enemies with your teeth, when you can repeatedly hit A to gnash and thrash them around. Very cool.

 

As we go, Midna helps us get used to our new furry form by offering advice. By pressing left or right on the +Control Pad we can activate our Sense ability that allows us to see (or, in some cases, smell) things that humans can't.

 

Midna is a creature from the dark world so she has special powers in this place, such as a magical hand that extends from her head - useful for reaching far-off objects and to pull herself and Link upwards.

 

As we head out of the cell blocks we realise we're in the basement of a ruined castle. Midna leads us to the rooftops and we get a great view of the twilight-infested land, as shadowy creatures swoop overhead. Eventually we reach a tower where we see our first human-looking figure since we arrived in the dark world. As the hooded person turns, we suddenly realise where we are.

 

As the figure removes its hood we see the familiar pointed ears and blonde hair of Princess Zelda herself; meaning this desolate place is Hyrule Castle or, rather, what's left of it. Zelda is about the same age as Link but her face bears the burden of a kingdom in ruin. The cheeky, tomboyish Zelda of Wind Waker she is not.

 

Via an impressive cutscene Zelda tells us how the castle fell into the hands of a heavily armoured, cloaked figure she calls 'the King that rules the twilight' who covered the land in darkness, trapping the people in a state of limbo. In the flashback scene we don't see the evil King's face but we have an inkling that an old enemy has returned.

 

But Zelda's story is cut short. Guards are approaching and Link and Midna must flee…

 

Come back soon for part two of our coverage of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess!

 

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is released on December 8 for Wii.

 

[Tellyn]

Thanks Ninestein.

 

Playing a new Zelda adventure for the first time is one of those rare, special moments in gaming; and they don't come any more special than The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

 

Since it was revealed at E3 2004, fans have been clamouring to get their hands on Twilight Princess; savouring every titbit of info. Today, you've found yourself a feast!

 

Below you'll find the first part of our Twilight Princess hands-on impressions, based on the Wii version which hits shops on December 8. While we've yet to complete the game, we've seen enough to know that this Zelda will fulfil all your expectations - and then some!

 

New beginnings

 

Twilight Princess begins, appropriately, at dusk. As the day's light fades, the view pans down on a pond in a woodland glade. There sits Link listening to an older man explain how Link will be entrusted with delivering an important package tomorrow to Hyrule Castle.

 

The scene fades to the next day and we see Link's treehouse home in Ordon Village. A villager arrives and gives Link an urgent mission: round up the goats! Link isn't a hero yet; he's merely a farmhand.

 

We're now in control of Link for the first time. You move him around with the Nunchuk's Control Stick and press A and B on the Wii Remote to perform actions. Pressing C on the Nunchuk switches to first-person view and you can simply point the Wii Remote where you want to look. Locking onto items and enemies is handled by holding the Nunchuk's Z button.

 

We have no weapons yet, so all we can do is talk to people. As we walk through the village and chat to the locals we hear stories about mischievous monkeys causing trouble in the area. A young girl tells Link that his fishing rod is almost ready, so we make a mental note to come back later.

 

We find our horse Epona (you can change the name if you wish) being washed by a pretty girl about Link's age named Ilia. Growing nearby are reeds that you can pick; blow into them and you'll hear a familiar melody (Epona's Song from Ocarina of Time) which calls your horse to you.

 

The goat-herding minigame is a nice introduction to controlling Epona. You must round up the beasts by coaxing them into their pen and you can even make a cowboy-style 'Whoop!' by hitting A. After each goat is returned, 'Goat in!' humorously flashes on the screen.

 

When we're finished, we're in such a cowboy mood that we giddy-up Epona and make a daring leap over the fence, heading back to town. There we meet Ilia again but she spots an injury on Epona's leg and she chastises us for hurting the horse with our showjumping stunt. Link doesn't speak but from the look on his face, especially his emotive eyes, you can tell how foolish he's feeling at this moment. If you thought the cel-shaded Link from Wind Waker had lots of character, his new realistic look is even more expressive.

 

Lost and found

 

We head back to the village and pay a visit to the shop, where we see a nice Slingshot for sale. Problem is, the shopkeeper is too worried about her lost cat to sell anything today. We won't spoil how we found the missing moggy but we can tell you it involved a crazed monkey, a baby's basket, an eagle and a fish.

 

With the cat safely returned we can buy the Slingshot. Back at our treehouse we also find a wooden sword has been delivered by one of the villagers, so we try out both of our new weapons on a scarecrow outside. A group of local kids looks on, awestruck, and we already begin to feel a little bit more like a hero, even if our clothes are still those of a farmhand.

 

No sooner have we finished practising sword-slashing and Slingshot-aiming with the Wii Remote (which feels fast and very intuitive) than we're called into action. Some of the hero-wannabe kids have become lost in a cave after chasing another wild monkey inside, so we set off - picking up a lantern and some oil on the way from a friendly man with birds in his hair. How odd.

 

Inside the cave are Deku Babas (the man-eating plants seen in previous Zelda games). They look much more menacing than ever; their sharp fangs dripping with green goo. We creep through the tunnel, our lantern cutting through the shadows with its golden light.

 

Beyond the cave, past a poisonous swamp covered in a dark shadowy fog, we find the kids and bring them home. But we have little time to celebrate, as suddenly a horde of monsters crashes into the village and snatches Link's friend Ilia, leaving Link unconscious.

 

When we awake, the village is surrounded by a wall of darkness that looks almost alive. As we walk over to investigate, a huge hand reaches out of the blackness and pulls us in.

 

The dark side

 

In a dramatic cutscene Link struggles in the grip of the shadowy creature until suddenly a Triforce symbol glows on the hero's hand and the monster flees in fear. Link falls to his knees, apparently in pain, and he cries out before morphing into a wolf. Unconscious, he is dragged away and thrown in prison. Meanwhile a mysterious figure looks on.

 

Link wakes up still in wolf form and chained to the floor of a small cell. Already we have a visitor: Midna. Immediately we don't trust her, even though she offers to help Link escape. Maybe it's her imp-like appearance or the way one sharp tooth protrudes from her lip when she grins (which she does a lot). But for now, we have no choice but to go along with her escape plan.

 

Once we're free of the chains and out of the cell (clue: what do dogs like to do with bones?) we're off, running through a waterlogged labyrinth with Midna on our back, battling impressive liquid-like enemies that shimmer on the surface of the water before leaping out and attacking us.

 

Controlling the wolf feels great. It's fast, nimble and reacts to the same controls as when you're a human but with different results. Flick forward with the Wii Remote and wolf Link makes a powerful dash attack. Sometimes you will grab onto enemies with your teeth, when you can repeatedly hit A to gnash and thrash them around. Very cool.

 

As we go, Midna helps us get used to our new furry form by offering advice. By pressing left or right on the +Control Pad we can activate our Sense ability that allows us to see (or, in some cases, smell) things that humans can't.

 

Midna is a creature from the dark world so she has special powers in this place, such as a magical hand that extends from her head - useful for reaching far-off objects and to pull herself and Link upwards.

 

As we head out of the cell blocks we realise we're in the basement of a ruined castle. Midna leads us to the rooftops and we get a great view of the twilight-infested land, as shadowy creatures swoop overhead. Eventually we reach a tower where we see our first human-looking figure since we arrived in the dark world. As the hooded person turns, we suddenly realise where we are.

 

As the figure removes its hood we see the familiar pointed ears and blonde hair of Princess Zelda herself; meaning this desolate place is Hyrule Castle or, rather, what's left of it. Zelda is about the same age as Link but her face bears the burden of a kingdom in ruin. The cheeky, tomboyish Zelda of Wind Waker she is not.

 

Via an impressive cutscene Zelda tells us how the castle fell into the hands of a heavily armoured, cloaked figure she calls 'the King that rules the twilight' who covered the land in darkness, trapping the people in a state of limbo. In the flashback scene we don't see the evil King's face but we have an inkling that an old enemy has returned.

 

But Zelda's story is cut short. Guards are approaching and Link and Midna must flee…

 

Come back soon for part two of our coverage of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess!

 

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is released on December 8 for Wii.

 

 

Aw bugger. Sorry Dante I was doing it when you posted yours, never mind.