Twilight Princess

Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess as most Zelda players would know are on a very different scale when it comes to graphics and art style. With Skyward Sword looking like a water color painting whereas Twilight Princess is very dark to fit its “Twilight” atmosphere. A very passionate Zelda fan has recently come up with a mod pack which gives Twilight Princess the graphics and bright color of Skyward Sword. This has created a very interesting mix of the games, read more after the jump!

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While I feel it doesn’t need mentioning, I will nevertheless point out that there is no such thing as a “worst” or “best” Zelda game due to the fact that we each of us has a different idea of what exactly the Zelda recipe ought to be; my “best” might be your “worst” or vice versa. Also there’s the simple fact that even the lowest ranked Zelda game is considerably better ranked than most other games.

With that out of the way, this week we will take a look at Twilight Princess–and we will do so in a slightly different structure than in previous weeks, as evidenced by the title.

 
 

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Hi dear readers, and welcome to another exciting segment of Timeshift Thursday! Similar to last week I will be taking a good look at one of Link’s epic battles, where the gamer may have had a very memorable and inspirational experience, while examining the reasons as to what made it so incredible. I’ve drawn my thoughts from Twilight Princess where quite a few one-on-one combat events happen and have picked the one I found the most exhilarating.

This week features Link’s horseback fight with King Bulblin and it includes a stunning clash atop the glorious Bridge of Eldin. With Link clinging onto Epona’s reins, while trying to slash at the King of Bulblins and risking taking a disastrous plunge off the edge, this does happen to be one courageous act by our hero!

Would you like to learn more about Link’s Bridge of Eldin battle with King Bulblin? Hit the jump if you want to read deeper into the article!

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Reproduction in the Zelda Series

CameronMay 3rd, 2013 by Cameron

There are many species in the Zelda series which have unknown methods of reproduction. Three of these species have picked at my curiosity in particular, the Gorons, the Deku race, and the Kokiri. There are many theories as to how Gorons reproduce, and none for the Deku race or the Kokiri. I shall go through these theories, suggest my own, and at the end, you can tell me the races in the Zelda series which you have always wondered about, and your ideas. Sound like a good idea? Good. Let’s go!

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Which Art Style is Your Favorite?

CameronApril 28th, 2013 by Cameron

As Zelda fans, we have undoubtedly been subject to the greatest variety in art style and graphics in a single video game series. We’ve seen 2D, cel-shaded, 3D, 2D cel-shaded, realistic, impressionistic, and variations of those listed. People always have very different opinions on which one is the best and why. So that’s what I’m here to discuss. I shall explain each art style or graphics implemented by each game, and then you can simply pick which one is your favorite. Don’t let your opinion go unheard!

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Nudity in the Zelda Series

CameronApril 24th, 2013 by Cameron

Nudity, whether it be partial or brief, is not uncommon in the Zelda series. When nudity is depicted in a Zelda game, it is never overly explicit, thus, the ratings on any one game are not higher than they are. Though it is definitely present in the series, and it is not a new aspect, beginning as early as Link’s Awakening. This can be a somewhat controversial topic, as people all have very different ideas on what nudity adds or takes from the Zelda series, whether or not it is necessary, and if it should be continued in future games or not. Various aspects and depictions of nudity will be utilised as I further discuss the positives and negatives of nudity in the Zelda franchise.

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I’m sure most of you have probably seen this poster before. If not, well there it is. The poster for Twilight Princess. But this poster has much more information within it than meets the eye. Not only does it define aspects of the game like horseback riding and wolf form but it also gives pieces of the plot of the game away to us.

If you want to know more about the the hidden and yet obvious symbolism of this poster you can find out after the jump!

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Every now and then, an observant (and diligent) YouTuber uploads a fascinating video that reveals a whole lot of information about a Zelda game that we didn’t know before. This time, notable gaming commenter Yuriofwind has found time for everyone’s favourite wolf-related Zelda title, Twilight Princess, in his “Gaming Mysteries” series. By doing what seems like a ridiculous amount of research on the announcements leading up to the release of Twilight Princess in late 2006, Yuriofwind has compiled twelve minutes’ worth of interesting lesser-known facts about how the Wii launch title came to be. Specifically, he compares features included in the beta of the game with what eventually made it to the final release, including differences in the various locations, enemies, and, most interestingly, pure gameplay mechanics. Just how different was Twilight Princess before we got our hands on it? Read on to find out!

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Alex Plant at GenGame recently published an article on the upcoming Zelda title for the Wii U and Twilight Princess. As the article points out, Twilight Princess was seen as a return to form after the departure that Wind Waker was, and the Wii U title has the potential to be the same thing after the experimentation of Skyward Sword. Hit the jump for the article and some thoughts on it. Read more…

Who’s Your Favorite Partner?

Minish PantsApril 8th, 2013 by Minish Pants

In almost every Zelda game since Ocarina of Time, Link has fought side by side with an invaluable partner, who grows with him and provides him with special abilities. In a way, each partner is really the protagonist of their respective game. The impact we feel from Link’s transformation from average boy to fabled hero falls a little short. Sure, Link grows in spirit and power dramatically by the end of each of his adventures, but his personality rarely goes through much of a metamorphosis. From beginning to end, he is kind, brave, bold, unflappable, athletic, and naturally gifted as a fighter. An effective protagonist needs a little more depth. And that’s exactly what we get from many of his sidekicks. Before we pick our favorites, let’s look back at the many companions that have aided Link on his adventures. (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD)

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Continuing our series on Overworld Themes, today I will be looking at Twilight Princess. Nothing else.

My primary reason for singling out this one game’s overworld is due to the way its music is used. You do not just hear the Hyrule Field theme while in the field itself, but there are also a considerable number of other areas in the game which use the same notes for their primary refrain. This is present to a much smaller extent in some other Zelda games, but none as prevalent as Twilight Princess. Its overworld theme serves as much more than just your usual Hyrule Field music; it is a theme song for the game as a whole, the notes of which ring synonymous with its main events.

Jump in to see some examples of how Twilight Princess‘s theme is used!

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: Hyrule Castle

Axle the BeastApril 2nd, 2013 by Axle the Beast

Here we are: Hyrule Castle, the last dungeon in Twilight Princess left to review, is so much of a mixed bag for me, you have no idea. And I don’t mean that like it’s got some good and some bad, so it just ends up being mediocre. Hyrule Castle has some really great aspects but also so many things missing, that while it’s good, I get a sense of disappointment when I go through it. But, before I discuss what’s missing, let’s look at what this dungeon did right.

Thematically, Hyrule Castle takes the cake. The outside areas in the courtyard are shockingly unusual and subtle. When it comes time to enter the final dungeon of the game, and you know it’s going to be the iconic Hyrule Castle that you can see from much of the overworld, you don’t really expect such an atmospheric, silent area for the beginning of the dungeon. But this courtyard area is both pretty and eerie, though neither feeling is overpowering. It’s just this quiet, mysterious courtyard, with mist and falling rain, casting a blurring and glowing effect on the castle proper; even the dungeon’s introduction portion continues to set up the mystery and anticipation of the dungeon itself, just as seeing Ganondorf’s barrier around it has done throughout the entire second half of the game. That’s kind of cool.

The interior areas help build atmosphere as well. An eerie rendition of the old Hyrule Castle theme from A Link to the Past plays as you explore the totally posh interior of the castle, creating an eerie regal atmosphere as you explore rooms that are very fitting for such a theme both in terms of visuals and function. Every puzzle — though they are few in number — feels like something you might see in a castle, and all of the rooms continue to look regal, but different in their own ways. I especially liked seeing things like the dark room where you’re supposed to light torches, because it looks fancy like all the other rooms while being totally claimed by darkness, making it a room that both continues and departs from the core theme of the dungeon. That’s an excellent thing to see in any area just for the sake of variety, and it’s well-executed here.

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Zelda Fanart Spotlight – Purge

KnowleeMarch 23rd, 2013 by Knowlee

Today’s Zelda Fanart Spotlight is on deviantART artist animagess‘s Twilight Princess fanart “Purge“. This fanart is a creative take on the scene that takes place in the game where Link finds the Master Sword and goes to use it to return to his true form. Since the Blade of Evil’s Bane can repel evil it will remove the darkness that surrounds him. When that darkness is removed it is transformed into a dark crystal that later Link can use to change into his wolf form at will. Midna is also shown to be close at hand and ready to grab the crystal and keep it for future use.

I’m pretty sure Link feels that even though being a wolf does have its perks sometimes its nice to be a human as well.

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: Palace of Twilight

Axle the BeastMarch 12th, 2013 by Axle the Beast

Okay, this one’s a bit weird for me to review. The Palace of Twilight is the second to last dungeon of Twilight Princess, and like the true final dungeon, it’s a bit shorter and less impressive than you’d think; both of the game’s final dungeons dial it down a bit and are on the shorter, more straightforward side. On paper this is a lame move and normally it would be something I’d criticize the dungeon for more than I do, but I think at least in this case I can’t really say the dungeon is bad because there is something it does pretty well at: Level design. But I’ll get to that in a bit.

First off, let’s discuss the dungeon’s themes. This is where I feel the dungeon is the most disappointing, but in a way it’s not exactly the fault of the dungeon on its own. The Twilight Realm is discussed throughout the game; it’s ultimately a major part of the story and discussed pretty frequently throughout the game, never more specifically than by Midna just before entering it:

Some call our realm a world of shadows, but that makes it sound unpleasant…

The twilight there holds a serene beauty… You have seen it yourself as the sun sets on this world.

Bathed in that light, all people were pure and gentle…

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Welcome to another segment of Timeshift Thursday! It’s great to have you join me as we discuss some of my favourite areas from past Zelda games and I would go so far as to say that this will probably be my most controversial editorial yet. I say this because I’ve read so many different opinions about this particular area and the actual Zelda title itself. Yet, I’m welcome to any comments you have about my different tastes in the Zelda series so let’s get into it!

Because almost all Zelda titles take place in the land of Hyrule, Nintendo can always be counted on to give us a beautiful Hyrule Field for Link to explore. Starting with the original NES adventure and fast forwarding all the way to Twilight Princess, Hyrule Field has been a memorable experience for players to travel in. By the time Ocarina of Time was being developed Nintendo even implemented a new method of travel, horse riding, by adding Epona to the Zelda series and giving us plenty of memories for our gaming childhood. We’re not here to talk about Ocarina of Time’s Hyrule Field, though. No, Nintendo created a greater, more expansive Hyrule Field which I love exploring to this day and hope to convince at least some as to why I thoroughly think Twilight Princess’ Hyrule Field as the greatest in the Zelda series.

Are you interested in taking a look at and sharing your opinions about Hyrule Field in Twilight Princess? If so, please hit the jump below and read my thoughts as to why I enjoy this area!

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Twilight Princess Hylian Shield Cake

queenkoopaMarch 6th, 2013 by queenkoopa

Not everyone wants their mum to make a birthday cake for their “special day,” unless of course your mum’s baking skills match the legendary craftsmanship wielded by the ancient Hylian blacksmiths! Few of us can say that they have ever gazed upon such a glorious Zelda tribute in edible form as this 18-year old’s shining birthday cake. The cake is a stunning replica of the Hylian shield design debuted in Twilight Princess.

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: City in the Sky

Axle the BeastFebruary 26th, 2013 by Axle the Beast

I’m going to give a heads-up on this one: Unlike all of my other dungeon reviews, the subject of this one is the only dungeon in the entire Zelda series I think I truly hate. I wrote once before that I’ve never had fun with it at any point, so while I will try my hardest to look for good things in the City in the Sky, this review is going to be virtually entirely negative. This dungeon represents nothing for me but broken dreams, and as such, this will be more rant than review. You’ve been warned!

There’s so little to say about the City in the Sky when it comes to its visuals, audio, and overall themes. It’s a city — er, well, place of some kind — in the sky. There is very little done with the architecture to make it interesting, though. Other locations in Twilight Princess very uniquely make themselves out to be believable locations in the world; the Goron Mines look and feel like mines, and Snowpeak Ruins looks and feels like a frozen-over mansion. The City in the Sky is a city populated by the Oocca, but the only recognizable dwelling is at the beginning, and otherwise the dungeon looks like a nondescript industrial facility. There isn’t really any theme coherence here. That might be fine if the dungeon was cool anyway, but really, the City in the Sky is primarily filled with a massive misuse of the concept. At no point does this dungeon really capture the romance or mystery of being in a settlement that high in the sky. As a result, it fails in capturing the epic qualities that the final main dungeon of the game should have, and even if it didn’t have that lofty goal to rise up to, it’s still thematically boring and just dull to look at.

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Flute Boy’s Meadow – Malo Mart

JordanFebruary 25th, 2013 by Jordan

This is it, folks. I promised I would start writing about some Zelda songs I don’t like, and so I decided to begin with the king . . . the one song I hate so much I avoid its location at all cost.

Malo Mart.

This song is the theme for a shop owned by a kid who looks like a baby. Its Castle Town branch is painted in colors and designs so incredibly bright and colorful they would make a Brony puke. The customers and sales representative ceaselessly perform a dance that no sober human being would dare be caught performing. And everyone is so. Bloody. Cheerful. All to the tune of this song.
Normally this is the part where I say “jump on in to read about it.” Today I will simply say,

“Abandon all hope ye who enter here.”

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: Temple of Time

Axle the BeastFebruary 19th, 2013 by Axle the Beast

In my dungeon review last week I said that Snowpeak Ruins was the last dungeon in Twilight Princess that I had any personal fondness for, so you already know that I don’t particularly care for the Temple of Time. That’s not necessarily to say I find it bad, however. The word I would probably choose for the Temple f Time is… solid. It does its job, but it doesn’t really excel at it.

I think that’s a little unfortunate because this ended up being one of the most epic dungeon premises in the entire game. A hollowed-out tree in the woods, a lava-filled mine, a temple at a lake’s bottom, a haunted prison in the desert, and an icy ruined mansion… do any of these concepts really beat returning to an iconic location from the most-lauded game of the series by traveling back in time? You enter the Temple of Time in the Sacred Grove where you found the Master Sword, passing through a door with nothing on the other side only to end up in the past within the intact Temple of Time, with its familiar shape and unforgettable music. The ensuing dungeon, undiscovered within the outer temple during your journey in Ocarina of Time, should have been one of the most impressive dungeons ever.

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LIMITED CHANCE ITEM – NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Canadian cheap-shirt website ShirtPunch is at it again today with another awesome Zelda-themed design! These guys have already brought us numerous cool, clever, and otherwise gotta-have shirts based on our favorite series, and they certainly have not disappointed with today’s design, “The Hero’s Journey.”

This shirt, which is dark blue in color, features a circular silhouette filled with all sorts of Zelda goodies. Jump inside for a better look!

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Timeshift Thursday – Kokiri Forest

TimothyFebruary 14th, 2013 by Timothy

Most Zelda fans were introduced to the world of Hyrule by starting off in the gorgeous Kokiri Forest; at least I was. I’m sure plenty of readers remember slotting in the masterpiece of Ocarina of Time into their Nintendo 64 console and, for the first time, control Link in a full 3D environment. Kokiri Forest was the perfect introduction for newcomers and old-timers to start a Zelda adventure because of its spacious, beautiful environment, joyous themes of its inhabitants, the Kokiri, and its ability in taking you away to a virtual reality where your dreams of living that particular lifestyle were genuine. It reminds me of another group of people and their lifestyle from a different fantasy world which I will be discussing in this edition of “Timeshift Thursday”.

Another hot topic we will look at is the discussion of where Kokiri Forest and the Kokiri are in Zelda titles released after Ocarina of Time such as the Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. Are there any resemblances from those games which could give us an idea where Kokiri Forest is actually located? Where do the Kokiri reside after the events of Ocarina of Time? Some theories which have arisen from these interrogative thoughts may sound shocking or seem absolutely weird but hopefully you will enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed researching into them.

If you would like to learn more about Kokiri Forest and the Kokiri click the jump below!

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: Snowpeak Ruins

Axle the BeastFebruary 12th, 2013 by Axle the Beast

Ahh, Snowpeak Ruins… Time to review this unusual dungeon. Last week I wrote that I felt Arbiter’s Grounds’ level design was very unoriginal, mostly pooling from previous dungeons’ ideas and using its elements in uncreative ways (for better or for worse). Snowpeak Ruins is the exact opposite. It is completely nontraditional, both thematically and design-wise, and that makes it one of the most interesting dungeons in Twilight Princess. Unfortunately it also marks the last dungeon in the game that I have a personal fondness for, though that’s not to say that I find all of the rest to be bad dungeons.

Tucked away mysteriously into the cliffs at the end of Snowpeak, it’s the fifth dungeon in the game, and takes after a specific structure — a mansion — in terms of shape and theme. This makes it exactly the same as the Sandship in the later Skyward Sword (as I wrote in its review), in that it has tight rooms that are realistically themed and proportioned after the rooms you’d actually see in such a building. This is immediately apparent upon acquiring the dungeon map; it looks like a mansion, even when just looking at its layout.

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Timeshift Thursday – The Hidden Village

TimothyFebruary 7th, 2013 by Timothy

Hello fellow Zelda Dungeoners! Welcome to an all-new weekly feature I will be starting today called Timeshift Thursday in which I’d like to share in detail some of my favorite Legend of Zelda exploration areas from past titles in the series. For my first feature, I would like to take you back to an area from my fave Zelda title, Twilight Princess, where Nintendo, for the first time, greatly emphasized a wild western theme into its number one action-adventure series. Everything from the featured battle with the enemy to the stunning music portrays a western theme. Yes, I’m talking about the Hidden Village which is explored near the end of Twilight Princess.

The Hidden Village has plenty to reference from Zelda titles situated earlier in the timeline, especially concerning a certain NPC who Link meets in the rundown ghost town infested by Bulblins. As we will see, a particular tribe used the Hidden Village for significant importance as this actual village resembles a familiar setting from an earlier game and we will learn more about the mysterious character who manages to resist the enemy residing in the area.

Are you interested in learning about the Hidden Village in greater detail? If so, then join me in striking a timeshift stone and returning to the past as we take a look at this secluded area from Nintendo’s masterpiece in Twilight Princess!

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Hot on the heels of their last Zelda video just a few weeks ago, gaming trivia site Did You Know Gaming has followed up and released a third video collection of interesting Zelda tidbits and random knowledge. Narrated by YouTube user PeanutButterGamer this video compiles numerous pieces of info about Zelda that have yet to be featured in their videos yet. While much of the trivia is pretty well known and/or has already been featured on their site, there are some new bits that even I had never heard of! Go ahead and make the jump to see the video.

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Zelda Recipe Box

PhoebeFebruary 6th, 2013 by Phoebe

Are you one of those people who likes to cook? But you always find that all your recipes end up scattered all over the place or in a disorganised pile? A user on Imgur has recently uploaded some cool images of another fantastic Zelda creation which will surely keep your recipes organised! Jump to read more!

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: Arbiter’s Grounds

Axle the BeastFebruary 5th, 2013 by Axle the Beast

My apologies for the delay in writing this review, but now I can finally cover Arbiter’s Grounds. Scary dungeons are common in the Zelda series, starting with Ocarina of Time’s Shadow Temple. The Zelda games have often had a single dungeon ripe with scary elements, and Arbiter’s Grounds continues this trend but combines it with multiple other elements, particularly those of a desert dungeon. But how does it stack up to other dungeons in general, scary or otherwise?

Arbiter’s Grounds is an iconic location. It serves as the main landmark of the Gerudo Desert, representing it in scenes like when the wolf songs are being played. It’s something you see a lot throughout the game, but it finally takes on more sinister connotations when Auru speaks of its purpose and nature. When revealed to be a cursed, demonic prison, the familiar landmark becomes ominous. This feeling gets more intense when you enter the desert, approach Arbiter’s Grounds in the distance, and finally reach the prison just as night falls.

Atmospherically, Arbiter’s Grounds measures up to that anticipation. Thematically, it’s a bit of a different story. The dungeon has terrific atmosphere. Being dungeon equal parts horror dungeon and desert dungeon, it winds up feeling very much like a tomb or pyramid. The place has a sense of dread, supported heavily by its soundtrack. This theme communicates an unseen evil; the thudding and the eerie vocals and high-pitched sounds communicate something twisted and dark behind the scenes, but as of yet it’s currently unknown. The strings used give the dungeon a sense of the regal, supporting the tomb feel. This is a pyramid, a burial ground, and it is guarded — or guards — something very dark. The ruined pathways, quicksand, trapdoors, and hieroglyphs all over the walls all support this theme.

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Games do not need HD graphics to look good. A statement sometimes resented in the gaming community, but games such as The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword have shown gamers that a game can indeed look beautiful without the need for HD graphics. That being said however, it is still undeniable that HD graphics do improve upon the look of games substantially and eliminates the slight out-of-focus look associated with standard-resolution graphics, which are now often considered sub-standard. Our sister site, GenGAME has posed an interesting question in terms of how HD graphics would affect the look of Zelda; to be more precise, out of the three most recent home-console Zelda games, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, which looks the best when converted into HD? Hit the jump to find out more!

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: Lakebed Temple

Axle the BeastJanuary 22nd, 2013 by Axle the Beast

Ahh, the Lakebed Temple. This is the water dungeon of Twilight Princess, and the third dungeon in the game. Perhaps I haven’t been around different forums enough, but I don’t ever really seem to hear that much about this dungeon, and when I do, rarely very many positive sentiments. No one seems to really like the Lakebed Temple that much particularly. I think that’s a shame; I like this dungeon quite a bit. I’ve written before about how I think that water dungeons have an unfairly bad reputation, and how I quite liked the infamous Water Temple of Ocarina of Time. The Lakebed Temple is no exception to this, and it’s actually my favorite water dungeon of the 3D Zelda games.

Conceptually, the Lakebed Temple initially comes off as a ripoff of the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time, because they’re both located at the bottom of Lake Hylia. This is very different visually in Twilight Princess, however, as you descend well below where the light shines brightly, descending into the darker depths of the lake and into a small pit where the temple entrance is located. For someone claustrophobic like me, this makes the dungeon pretty creepy right off the bat.

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Flute Boy’s Meadow – Ilia’s Theme

JordanJanuary 21st, 2013 by Jordan

Say what you will about Twilight Princess. Complain about its dungeons, its opening two hours, its art style, whatever you want. But do not complain about this game’s music.

As part of my play-through of every Zelda game in a year, I finally got around to starting the GameCube version of Twilight Princess last night. As I slogged through the endless opening sequences of the game, one thing kept me from ever skipping a cutscene or complaining about fishing with weird controls: that music. One tune in particular really stood out to me. “Ilia’s Theme” plays a fair number of times in the opening parts of Twilight Princess as the relationship between Link and his friends are developed for the player. With its sweet tune and the gorgeous scenes that accompany it, it’s hard to get bored of this song.

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Zelda Fanart Spotlight – Ganon

KnowleeJanuary 12th, 2013 by Knowlee

Today’s Zelda Fanart Spotlight is on deviantART artist ItsOver900O‘s Twilight Princess fanart of Ganon. Ganon is up and ready to fight Link to obtain what he believes is rightfully his: the kingdom of Hyrule. Surrounding him is some of the ruins of the throne room’s pillars that he has knocked over in his many attempts to ram into our beloved Hero. Even though he has missed many times, Ganon will certainly not give up that easily…

Link better keep on his toes to make sure this beast doesn’t run him over!

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: Goron Mines

Axle the BeastJanuary 8th, 2013 by Axle the Beast

Ah, time to review the Goron Mines. I might recall incorrectly since I wasn’t really keeping track of Zelda news at the time, but I remember that during the pre-release buzz for Twilight Princess, Nintendo seemed to show this dungeon more than the others. Certainly, particular chambers of this dungeon, like the open room with the Bulblin Archers, and the dungeon boss were familiar sights for many before the game released. So in a way, that put more pressure on the Goron Mines than really any other dungeon of the game. We’d seen it already, so the dungeon had the challenge of impressing us further when we actually played it.

The dungeon is solid, but it has a number of shortcomings that I’d like to get into, and I don’t believe that’s because I had too high of expectations from it being hyped; I think it falls slightly under the quality we tend to expect from good Zelda dungeons (though it’s by no means the only dungeon in the series to disappoint, nor does it disappoint too severely). As usual, I will start with the dungeon’s thematic design before I get into gameplay.

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Twilight Princess Dungeons: Forest Temple

Axle the BeastJanuary 1st, 2013 by Axle the Beast

I’m finally kicking off this series with, of course, the first dungeon of Twilight Princess: The Forest Temple. Like the Woodfall Temple from Majora’s Mask, this dungeon is very basic in theme and has some challenging puzzle design instead of being a tutorial session. It’s not overly difficult, of course, but it definitely doesn’t waste time teaching you the game. And, unlike most first dungeons of the series, it manages to establish its own identity and style, forming its own unique experience within the whole of Twilight Princess.

This dungeon, like a lot throughout the recent Zelda games, has an iconic appearance from a distance. It’s basically the hollow of a giant tree. Bringing to mind the Great Deku Tree to some (though there isn’t any concrete connection between the two), the dungeon’s interior definitely brings to mind that of Inside the Deku Tree from Ocarina of Time: Inside it is woody, with walls made of wood, floors made of wood, and just generally a lot of wood. Walls covered in vines and other growths, plant enemies, and additional, artificial structures built within are other similarities. Arguably the structures make more sense in the Forest Temple, because this place is no longer a living tree.

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Zelda Fanart Spotlight – The Twili Tribe

KnowleeDecember 29th, 2012 by Knowlee

Today’s Fanart Spotlight is on deviantART artist Ganondorfs-Girl‘s fanart, “The Twili Tribe“. This particular piece of fanart is the product of an art trade that took place about six months ago where the artist would put an artist’s original Twili character in this art piece in exchange for that artist drawing an artwork of one of her original characters.

It took some time to complete as one can tell from the time between when the trade was announced to the when the artwork was completed. Nonetheless the finished product is an awesome one.

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Flute Boy’s Meadow – Snowpeak

JordanDecember 24th, 2012 by Jordan

Merry Christmas my Zelda Dungeon friends, and welcome to this week’s Flute Boy’s Meadow!

Considering tomorrow is Christmas and most of the world’s weather finally realized it’s December (we saw our first flurry of the year on Friday! Halt the presses!) I thought it would be appropriate to focus on one of Zelda’s colder, more icy songs. For today’s feature I have chosen to look at “Snowpeak” from the soundtrack of Twilight Princess. This song is a very quiet and subdued remix of the game’s “Hyrule Field” theme.

If you’re ready to read more about this frosty tune, then grab some hot chocolate and jump on in!

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Nintendope Remix Video

SetterwindDecember 17th, 2012 by Setterwind

If you want to relive some nostalgic and old-school Nintendo moments from your favorite games, just watch this video from polygon on YouTube. It covers several popular Nintendo games going way back and uses the audio from the games to make an awesome music remix. These games include the original Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess along with many other favorites such as Mario, Kirby, etc. Take the jump to watch the video and see what you think!

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