Games

Best of 2008 | 07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, The

EMAIL PRINT wii

9.2 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 73 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 687 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: November 19, 2006

Summary

When an evil darkness enshrouds the land of Hyrule, a young farm boy named Link must awaken the hero - and the animal - within. When Link travels to the Twilight Realm, he transforms into a wolf and must scour the land with the help of a mysterious girl named Midna. Using the power and unique control of the Wii console, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess features precise aiming control using the Wii Remote. The Wii Remote and the Nunchuk controller are used for a variety of game activities, including fishing and special sword attacks. Players ride into battle against troops of foul creatures using an amazing horseback combat system, then take on massive bosses that must be seen to be believed. [Nintendo]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameFAQs GameSpot Guide GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

GameSpy

An excellent addition (and homage to "Ocarina") to the franchise, and you'll have an enormous amount of fun playing it from start to finish. Get over the fact that the Wii's hardware is simply not as powerful as the other next-gen machines and get into the fact that Twilight Princess is one of the best games you'll play this year.

Read Full Review >

100

1UP

Truly fantastic. It's not a reinvention of the genre like Ocarina was -- but it's much better, because it takes all its predecessors' raw ideas, perfects them, and creates an experience that's at once new and familiar. It's rare to find a launch game that truly justifies the purchase of a new console, but this is precisely that.

Read Full Review >

100

Game Informer

As monumental as each entry has been, nothing, and I repeat, nothing can prepare you for the adventure that unfolds in Twilight Princess. The debate that has waged for decades over which Zelda game should stand as the series’ best will at long last come to a satisfying conclusion, as this is unquestionably the greatest Zelda yet.

Read Full Review >

100

Games Radar (in-house)

One of the most stirring, rewarding gaming experiences in history.

Read Full Review >

100

Computer and Video Games

It's the biggest Zelda game ever without a doubt and the extra year of development has clearly done it a world of good.

Read Full Review >

100

NintendoWorldReport

Rather than drastically reworking the series, Twilight Princess refines and expands almost everything you already love about Zelda, and it looks damn good doing it...One of the best games of all time.

Read Full Review >

100

GamePro

The key to Twilight Princess' genius lies in its ability to evoke, and fulfill, a feeling of nostalgia, to return you to the bygone days when you first played a Zelda game.

Read Full Review >

100

Deeko

If you add in the incredibly well designed control scheme, as well as Link's new ability to turn into a wolf, you've created an adventure that easily stands head and shoulders above that seen in "Ocarina"... Twilight Princess is easily one of the most phenomenal times you'll ever have with a video game.

Read Full Review >

100

G4 TV

In many ways, Twilight Princess is a love letter to "Ocarina of Time." There are tons of subtle nods that a watchful gamer will spot. It’s the glorious world the N64 wanted to show us, but couldn’t.

Read Full Review >

100

Next Level Gaming

Without a doubt the best Zelda title ever.

Read Full Review >

100

N-Insanity

Put all doubts about how the control scheme fits with the Wii-mote aside, and just embrace the greatness of what this "realistic" Zelda.

Read Full Review >

100

Gaming Age

A masterpiece and a AAA launch title for the Wii. The dungeons are fun and the puzzles, while sometimes difficult, always make sense. The scope of adventure and exploration cannot be matched by any other game.

Read Full Review >

100

Cheat Code Central

Twilight Princess captures the heart and soul of what a Zelda adventure is known for and manages to surpass the current benchmark, "Loz: Ocarina of Time," widely considered to be one of the best games of all time.

Read Full Review >

100

DarkStation

Perfection is redefined in Link's latest adventure, and making it easily the best game ever, bar none.

Read Full Review >

100

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Twilight Princess is a rarity: a game that spans 60 hours and never once feels boring. Between the immaculate gameplay, the devious puzzles, and the gripping story, it's simply the best Zelda ever. And that's saying a lot. [Jan 2007, p.56]

100

GameShark

Twilight Princess reminds you why you began playing games in the first place.

Read Full Review >

100

Sydney Morning Herald

Imaginative and masterfully designed, Twilight Princess is every bit as good as the best Zelda adventures. It is hugely rewarding and absolutely essential for new Wii owners.

Read Full Review >

100

N-Europe

A fine demonstration of the genre and the medium, and will leave the masses breathless.

Read Full Review >

100

Nintendojo

Not only immersive, but addictive. Once quest has begun, it will be near-impossible to put the controllers down until Link and Midna have saved the day.

Read Full Review >

100

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Fifty-plus hours, an immense adventure, and a sexy new style? Twilight Princess may not perfect, but it's darn near close.

Read Full Review >

100

Times Online

The game contains scores of puzzles, requiring a mixture of logic, observation and luck. What’s great is that it gives you time to solve them, rather than placing you under constant pressure from grisly baddies. There’s also a plot-twist or two.

Read Full Review >

100

Thunderbolt

Mixing the classic Zelda formula with a more mature tale, Twilight Princess is an epic of the highest caliber that gamers will not want to miss.

Read Full Review >

100

The Wiire

Does Twilight Princess surpass Ocarina of Time? Again, depends on your perspective, but this latest Zelda is bigger and deeper in every way imaginable, so I'm inclined to say yes.

Read Full Review >

GameBrink

It truly is, in my opinion, the best and longest Zelda ever made. With nearly 70 hours of playtime committed and more still to do, I cant think of a better experience or value this holiday season.

Read Full Review >

eToychest

From its characters and epic, if somewhat predictable story, to the gameplay itself, Twilight Princess is a terrific extension to one of the most timeless and important franchises in video game history.

Read Full Review >

Just RPG

The lasting appeal of Twilight Princess is one of its main selling points. It is immense. Averaging around 50 hours (only for the main quest), it will keep players busy for a long time.

Read Full Review >

WHAM! Gaming

It’s a huge game with an enthralling storyline and a huge mix of different gameplay elements that will keep players from ever being bored.

Read Full Review >

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

As one of the most well-rounded, charming and utterly captivating games we've ever played, Twilight Princess is a game that everyone must experience, regardless of gaming preference. [Christmas 2006, p.52]

NGamer UK

You'll be slowing down through the final spectacular dungeons because you won't want it to end... The best Zelda ever made. Wii's off to a stunning start. [Jan 2007, p.32]

Kombo

Twilight Princess is not as revolutionary as "Ocarina of Time." It doesn't reinvent a 2D classic as a 3D one. It doesn't revolutionize the adventure genre. Instead, it takes everything about the Zelda universe and improves upon it. It is bigger, and it is better. But it’s not new. It is a great evolution of the loved series.

Read Full Review >

GameTrailers

Twilight Princess gives you just about everything you were hoping for in a new Zelda game while supplying things you didn't even know you wanted in the first place. The tone is decidedly darker, the overly melodramatic moments are subdued, and it deliverers that razor-sharp Zelda gameplay...It's easily one of the greatest games ever created.

Read Full Review >

Console Gameworld

If "Ocarina" was a great step forward from its Super Nintendo predecessor "Link to the Past" in terms of plot development, Twilight Princess is leaps and bounds ahead of "Ocarina."

Read Full Review >

Games Master UK

A massive and engaging adventure that uses the Wii controller superbly. Amazing. [Christmas 2006, p.52]

Gaming Nexus

The best the series has to offer up to this point. It gives a tantalizing taste of the Wii’s potential and an experience so big, only hardcore RPG’s can compare in depth and breadth.

Read Full Review >

VGPub

Even if you own a Gamecube, this is the version you should be buying because I can’t imagine playing it any other way, nor would I want to.

Read Full Review >

Pelit (Finland)

Quite simply an excellent action-adventure. The killer-app of all times. [Jan 2007]

Jolt Online Gaming UK

It’s not perfect and there’s no real reason to prefer the Wii version over the Gamecube’s, but The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is every bit the masterpiece gamers have been craving for, and proves there’s life in the old wolf yet.

Read Full Review >

Gamers Europe

Is it better than "Wind Waker"? Yes – much better. Is it better than "Ocarina of Time"? That’s one that might need some retrospective analysis in a couple of years to figure out, but it's certainly going to be a close call.

Read Full Review >

PALGN

It's hard to imagine Zelda getting any better than this. Quite simply, one of the best games ever created.

Read Full Review >

Play Magazine

I don’t think Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will manage to duplicate the legendary status of its predecessor, but it has already managed to accomplish a similarly impressive feat: hundreds of thousands of people bought a $250 Wii just to play it three weeks early, and no one seems to regret it.

Read Full Review >

Worth Playing

While melee combat isn't particularly better, projectile combat is significantly improved.

Read Full Review >

Nintendo Power

At its core, Twilight Princess delivers the same awesome adventuring as previous games in the series, but Hyrule has never seemed so real and alive. [Jan. 2007, p.98]

GameZone

It’s a lengthy, massive adventure that, no matter how long it takes you complete, will still be met with the response, “I wish it could’ve been longer.”

Read Full Review >

IGN

The greatest Zelda game ever created and one of the best launch titles in the history of launch titles – second only, perhaps, to the at-the-time ground-breaking "Super Mario 64." It is also one of the finest games I have ever played.

Read Full Review >

My Gamer

The controls are as perfect as a port could possibly be, and never get in the way of your quest.

Read Full Review >

Play.tm

It might not be the utterly revolutionary Zelda title that we all expected and its not without its faults, but one thing is clear: Twilight Princess is worth the Wii's price tag alone, even if the fishing does put you at risk of a coronary.

Read Full Review >

Action Trip

Just after I beat this game, after well more than twenty hours, I feel like I'm just scratching the surface.

Read Full Review >

GamingTrend

The game is huge and you may not even get to the first dungeon for hours.

Read Full Review >

AtomicGamer

Twilight Princess definitely was not a disappointment, though I really wish there had been a traditional control scheme offered.

Read Full Review >

Da Gameboyz

But it is the new Wii specific controls that I found brought a new dynamic to the third-person controls that Nintendo pioneered with "Ocarina of Time."

Read Full Review >

Gamer 2.0

The game is not perfect and certainly could have been improved with updated visuals and sound effects, as well as possibly even a little more variety than the already interesting dungeons.

Read Full Review >

Gamestyle

The Twilight Princess is a triumph. Every dungeon reveals something new whether it is weapons, environments, brilliantly designed puzzles or bosses.

Read Full Review >

3DAvenue

It has its problems and it's a bit of a let down considering the next generation console, but what Nintendo have done is used the Wii's strengths well with this game and that along with an excellent storyline, makes Twilight Princess a must have for early Wii owners.

Read Full Review >

Boomtown

The game's sound effort is nothing short of impressive, with a particularly thumping, epic soundtrack playing throughout.

Read Full Review >

AceGamez

For all the ups and downs Twilight Princess takes in terms of presentation, there's simply no denying the wondrous, deep adventure and revolutionizing gameplay that takes the edge off of the lack of graphical power.

Read Full Review >

Gaming Target

The game just doesn’t significantly benefit through using the remote. Everything that is done with the remote could just as easily be done with a Gamecube controller.

Read Full Review >

games(TM)

While some are sure to brand it 'stale', Twilight Princess succeeds in being not only a superb game, but also one that can appeal to both new and seasoned Zelda players at the same time - something we feel time will show to be a very difficult thing to achieve. [Christmas 2006, p.116]

Electric Playground

Twilight Princess is a great game because it's full of so many activities, and just about every one of them not only finds a cool way to use the Wii control, they're just plain fun. This is a game full of creativity in its creature design, puzzle design, combat, and story.

Read Full Review >

The New York Times

The new control scheme is beautifully integrated into the game, and it feels perfectly natural to start waving your hand like a maniac whenever danger approaches.

Read Full Review >

VideoGamer

A brilliant, near flawless addition to the series and an easy contender for game-of-the-year.

Read Full Review >

Armchair Empire

Interestingly, it’s the game’s inability to escape certain problems of previous games, like cameras and finding hotspots, as well as clinging onto the standard Zelda formula of traveling from dungeon to dungeon on a grandiose collectation that holds the game back. Despite this, it is still a must-have for anyone who owns, or is thinking of picking up a Wii.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer

Sure, there are times in the game when you want to shake Miyamoto and co by the lapels for including elements of the game which remain dogged by old-school convention, but they represent a flea bite on what is just a stunning and relentlessly enjoyable game.

Read Full Review >

Yahoo! Games

It looks fantastic, drawing on the power of artwork instead of graphics hardware. There's nothing here that you couldn't do on the Gamecube, which is why Twilight Princess will also be released for the Gamecube. But the visuals hold their own against any next-gen system.

Read Full Review >

GameDaily

Twilight Princess stands out as one of Nintendo's more attractive games, thanks to its fabulous draw distances, breath-taking imagery, life-like animations, imaginative character designs and dramatic action sequences.

Read Full Review >

Edge Magazine

With the focus on elaboration rather than evolution, Twilight Princess triggers more memories than it creates, yet it's still an effortless classic that towers over the gaming landscape. Ignore it at your own cost. [Christmas 2006, p.68]

GameSpot

Twilight Princess contains the same expertly designed puzzles and time-tested gameplay that you've come to expect from the series, though parts of its presentation feel stuck in the past.

Read Full Review >

netjak

There are the issues with clipping and shadows that you expect from a launch title, but the problems are never so bad that you have trouble figuring out what you’re looking at. It is a little strange, however, seeing the Matrix-style animations associated with the world of twilight. Overall, the game looks very nice, but nothing about it screams "next-generation."

Read Full Review >

GamerNode

We've played it forever, but it still has that Zelda magic.

Read Full Review >

Game Revolution

Pretty much everything is just like earlier Zelda games, and that’s good from a nostalgia point of view, and bad for originality.

Read Full Review >

Digital Entertainment News

The story is very good, but the gameplay execution leaves me wanting. A solid adventure game, but it seems to be coasting on the strength of its star.

Read Full Review >

RPG Fan

A fun, but dated and unoriginal flight through the land of Hyrule. The main quest may be longer than most, and the sidequests may be in abundance, but that doesn't help Twilight Princess from feeling like the same thing we all played nearly ten years ago.

Read Full Review >

GameCritics

Using the wolf's sense to see the Twilight Realm is a ghastly, beautiful effect to be sure, but contributes little to the player's sense of discovery, save for a few holes to dig or making a few jumps that would otherwise be impossible.

Read Full Review >

Game Almighty

Fans of the series will be delighted by the recurring themes, but may be soured by a strong sense of repetition.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 687 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Ian gave it an8:
I totally agree with Megan's first statement. Everyone is overrating this game because they want it to be a better Zelda game than it was. Don't get me wrong: It was a good game. It just wasn't a GREAT game. It borrowed so many things from Ocarina of Time that it crossed the fine line between homage and repetition. The motion controls for aiming the bow and clawshot were great, but swinging the sword has never felt so unsatisfying. All the bosses lacked the epic feeling of OoTs encounters. The developers saw fit to add size instead of strength to these vast enemies, instead of making them fun or challenging. There are quite a few redeeming qualities of this game that make it good and worth a purchase. The swordfighting on horseback is very fun, and simply riding the horse is fun, too. The dungeons are extremely well detailed and constructed, all of them excellently conveying their elemental themes. The graphics are a vast improvement over OoT, the game this one desperately wants to be. The ultimate reason to purchase this game, however, is the most climactic and satisfying final boss sequence I've ever played. I won't spoil it except to say it is everything you would ever want in Legend of Zelda final showdown. Overall, a good outing for LoZ on the Wii. Let's make the next installment a GREAT one.

glotero l gave it a10:
This was my first zelda game. Before i tried it out, i thought this series was boring, after i played it i was just blown away by how long and complete this game was. the story was impeccable and put me more into the game, the controls were easy and well made, the graphics while dated, still impressed me and i think it looked beautifull-plus graphics don't necessarily make a good game. the dugeons were geniusly design! incredible game, after super mario galaxy this is the 2nd best game i have ever played. now i need to try ocarina of time!!

Jack H gave it a9:
It's a masterpiece, albeit a slightly flawed one. It starts off a bit slow, and will frustrate some with it's clever puzzles, but all in all, it's an epic game. I can't deny that my 70+ hours spent completing this game were mostly great. Out of that, maybe around 3 or 4 of those hours I was bored or frustrated with it, but compare that to thie time I spent with it, and it's negligible.

John B gave it a10:
Twlight Princess. This was propably the most anticipated game ever for me, and even though the game did dissapoint me a little in certain areas, it's still so much better than the majority of games that anything else but 10 would be understatement. Everything in the game from the graphics to gameplay and plot is perfected, and the game pulls you in with the force rarely seen in videogames. Well, there are exceptions like Okami of course, but for my opinion, Twilight Princess is the best of it's genre. Never frustrating, never boring or dull. I just just wish they would have treated Zant differently, now the character just pisses me of (everyone who's completed the game know what i mean...).

Michael B gave it a10:
My first Zelda game, must say it was the best game i have ever played, subsequently bought the much revered 'Ocarina of Time' and thought it didn't stand a patch on TP. It is very easy to familirise yourself with the characters and I found a soft spot in Colin, personally. Gameplay is both challenging and exciting. My favourite point about this game must be the soundtrack, I have never heard greater music for a video game and would instantly buy a soundtrack CD if it were released. The music is produced by full orchestra and sounds glourious both in and out of the game. The iconic Hyrule Field theme tops the list, being its greatest auditory asset. The graphics are also slick enough to enjoy fully but, graphics aren't everything... A great game, Nintendo may well have set a standard it will be hard put to beat in its next release.

Ian F gave it a9:
The game is stunning and the play smooth A must for all Zelda fans. Gave it a 9 because it seem overall too easy. The time spent in between dungeons was way to short. Wish there were more games and prizes to win. Exploring seemed not as necessary or a waste of time compared to previous Zeldas. There was also nothing to waste rupees on buying. Ruppee collection was way to easy.

Tom H gave it a9:
One of the best games I have ever played in my life. I have been a Zelda fan since I was a kid and continue to be as of today for many reasons. This is the darkest storyline out of the series with the twilight world and zant. If you have mastered other zelda games it should take you around 90 hours to master this one, tons of side quests and the dungeons are very difficult so I must say "prepare yourself".

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, The

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases