The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is the latest video game to come from Nintendo’s critically acclaimed “The Legend of Zelda” series for use on both the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo Game Cube. The Wii version was released on the day that the console was launched (November and December 2006) and made this the first Zelda game to be debuted alongside the launch of a Nintendo console. The version for the Nintendo Game Cube was released in December 2006.

The main protagonist in this game Link who was initially an assistant at a farm like village but who travels to Hyrule (where the game is set). There he encounters a number of different enemies and with the help of Midnas (a creature) fights the twilight that is spreading across Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda: “Twilight Princess” is the first game in the Zelda series to have a “T” rating by the ESRB because of the animated blood and fantasy violence that is contained within the game.

What is special about the Wii version is that it uses the “point and click” of the Wii remote as the “fairy” cursor for the player to be able to access menus, as well as being able to use various tools such as the Hero’s Bow, Claw Shot and Fishing Rod. You can also use the Nunchuk attachment analog stick for movement as well. For the player to swing the sword, the player needs to make a slashing movement with the Wii remote while a jab with the tilt sensitive Nunchuk will cause Link to perform one of his secret moves known as the shield attack. If a player wishes to use Link’s Spin Attack they need to swing the Nunchuk horizontally. In order for a player to use items, the games allows them to equip the items to the right, left, and down positions by the D-pad using the item screen when that item’s respective direction button is pressed, and this item is then switched into the B button for easier use. The built in speaker on the remote is also great, as it is used for sounds such as the bowstring being drawn and released as well as for Midnas’s laugh and the classic “Zelda Chime”.

During this game in the Zelda series, Link learns more moves than other previous games in the series and will also share similar moves when between human and wolf form. For example if an enemy is on the ground, the Link can either finish them by plunging his sword into them when in human form, or when in wolf form, rip out their souls. Also, when Link is wolf form, his sense of smell is heightened. But with such abilities there are disadvantages to being able to be either wolf or human form. Unfortunately, while in wolf, form he cannot utilize items or open any doors with handles until he has transformed back to being a human.

Since its release there have been a number of positive reviews in respect of the game and most of the reviews have praised it art direction. However, some reviewers at GameSpot complained about the feeling of “tacked on” Wii controls and out dated graphics because of the game primarily being designed for the Game Cube platform, but they did say it was the best Game Cube game of 2006 as well as being the best Wii game. It has also been nominated as one of the ten for Game Spot’s “Game of the Year” award.

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The Nintendo Wii is setting out to make waves in the world of video gaming. It is doing this by changing the way in which we play games as well as giving people the opportunity to send text messages or leave messages directly from the Wii’s console. But really the Wii is setting itself apart from the other consoles on the market because of its remote controller.

There are many video game veterans around who will remember the annoying figure in the Nintendo original game “Duck Hunt” who would often appear when they were struggling with the game. This mean and vindictive dog would appear and laugh at the player when they continued to miss the birds that were coming at them faster and faster. However if the Nintendo Wii had been around at the time then, many would have been able to avoid the dog or would not have had to blame him so much for their shortcomings.

With the emergence of the Nintendo Wii, the gaming industry will be set alight with a remote controller that has motion detection technology and puts the player right in the game. Imagine what it would be like if you could finally become one of those funny looking figures in a Nintendo game. The Wii can provide this for you. If the game calls for swinging (like when using a golf club) you hold the Wii controller in your hand and then swing like you would if holding a golf club, and this is where Nintendo takes over.

What happens next is that the controller sends a signal to the sensor bar that is placed in front of the TV (you can be up to 30ft away from the bar). What is great about this console is that you and your family will get a little physical exercise while playing a game in the comfort of your own home with the great games that are provided in the Wii Sports package.

The controller allows you to control your character’s movements along with the action that is happening in the actual game. It does not matter whether you are skateboarding (Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam) or Swimming (Sponge Bob Square Pants: Creature from the Krusty Krab), as you control every aspect of your players movements just as you want them to happen in the virtual world of gaming.

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The Nintendo Wii is the newest game console and is about the size of 3DVD cases stood beside each other. It comes with a front loading disc assembly that is able to take not only regular size CD’s, but Wii discs and the smaller Game Gube discs as well.
It is driven by a PowerPC Processor from IBM and it really nothing more than a powerful version of the Game Cube that it is replacing. It also comes with a newly developed onboard graphics engine (made by ATI) and 512mb flash memory for storing games. It also allows you to connect an external memory card to it for more storage. Also the Wii has built in Bluetooth enabling which allows up to 4 cordless Wii controllers to be used at any one time so the whole family can play together (a family that plays together, stays together). In addition it has 4 Game Cube controller jacks along the top so that if you want it can be used for corded play. Plus it has 2 USB ports for additional peripherals as well as 2 Game Cube memory card ports so you are able to load and possibly save Game Cube games to and from the Wii.

Another additional benefit of the Wii is that it has Internet access and there is USB. You can get an Ethernet adapter which in turn will give the Wii network capability should you want access to online features.

However, the Wii, although it can take a standard CD, is not designed for playing back DVD’s (unless Nintendo make some changes), and this is a disadvantage for this system as all the others have a DVD playback feature.

Maybe this is a marketing ploy on Nintendo’s part, as they would prefer it to be home gaming center rather than a home entertainment center.

The biggest benefit for most people, where the Wii is concerned, and those people who already own some Nintendo console such as the Game Cube, Nintendo DS etc, is that it has backwards capabilities. Can you imagine the money a family will save because they know that the kids Game Cube and Nintendo DS can also be used with the Wii and the whole family can play the games together?

A major advantage of the Wii is its parental control feature that comes with an update and prohibits the younger users from playing games that are considered unsuitable for their age level. Should your child attempt to play a game, th Wii reads the content rating encoded in the games data, and if the rating is greater then the age limit set on the Wii system, then the game will not load until the appropriate password is correctly entered. But unfortunately, this feature does not affect those games specifically designed for the Game Cube.

So overall the Wii looks like a very good investment for a family. It is a very valuable game system as Nintendo are committed to producing games that are targeted to adults as well as for children to enjoy. Plus with its parental control option it means you can have a say on what games you kids play.

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