The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii Version)

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Glitches make this Zelda just short of perfect.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fantastic game has a game-ending flaw that can trap players about 40 hours into the 50-hour game. However, players can avoid the glitch and experience a rich gaming experience IF they follow our directions about saving: create multiple save files at frequent intervals and DO NOT SAVE in the room with a broken cannon. This fantasy adventure features a lot of sword-and-sorcery fighting, but no blood or gore. A few cut-scenes show more intense violence, and in general, the game's tone is darker than many previous Zelda games.

  • As Link matures as a hero, players will help him save endangered children, assist various villagers, and even unite feuding peoples.
  • Lots of sword fights, shootings with arrows, bombing, etc., but no blood. A cut scene shows a character being driven through by a knife.
  • Some characters are depicted partially naked (hair over breasts, skimpy underwear).

What's it about?

One of the Wii launch titles, THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS picks up the adventures of Link, the hero of Nintendo's previous Legend of Zelda games. Link begins as a simple village boy, but after a few hours, players are guiding him into a wide, dangerous world as he embraces his destiny in a battle to save the world from forces of darkness. The darkness in Twilight Princess is literal: To save the world of Hyrule, Link must venture into the Twilight Realm, using slingshots, bows and arrows, cannons, and a new ability to morph into a wolf to conquer challenges and defeat enemies.


Is it any good?

 

Link may not have as high of a pop culture profile as his video game relative Mario, but gamers have been feverishly awaiting his newest adventure for more than three years, and the wait was worth it. This adventure is massive, spanning more than 50 hours, and the combination of the wonderful world and thrilling action makes it a truly incredible game.

Yet the game cannot be called perfect. In fact, it contains at least one glitch that will destroy a player's game roughly 40 hours in. Our advice: Do NOT save the game in the room with a broken cannon, and use multiple save files. Aside from that jarring glitch, Twilight Princess is a long, stirring adventure and one of the best games in the Zelda series.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about fantasy violence vs. realistic violence. Is killing monsters less disturbing than killing people? Do you think Link is a good heroic figure? What does he do to make him a hero? Since this game has a known (but avoidable) glitch, families may also wish to discuss bugs and glitches in games.


This review was written by Chris Jozefowicz
Teen, 17 years old
February 26, 2011
 
amazing game
I played it when it first came out, it is a great game for younger kids, some of the puzzles can get confusing, but its a absolutely great game

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Adult
December 18, 2010
 
Quite possibly Nintendo's masterpiece. At the very least the greatest Zelda game ever.
I have not even finished the game yet and in just 3 hours of gameplay it completely overtook Ocarina of Time as the best Zelda game ever. Basically, everything that I wished I could do in Ocarina I can do in here. There is horseback sword fighting; insane boss battles with powerful graphics (for a Wii); rescue missions; rich and gripping storyline; great role models (namely Link, the studly elf dude on the cover); and.....the list goes on and on. It IS more violent and intense than previous Zelda titles. While there is actually hardly any blood (it is limited to red streaks on the horns of evil creatures, some gates, and black dots flying off of some evil creatures), there are moves that are a bit much for younger players such as being able to knock an enemy down and stab them to "finish them off". When you area wolf, you can bite a bird and thrash it to finish it (actually, every attack as a wolf deals with biting the evil creatures). Some boss battles also deal with stabbing giant eyes on the backs of slightly frightening bosses (such as an eel that is the size of 10 football fields). But yeah, basically the characters are a little more frightening and some of the fighting methods are more "graphic", but not gorey AT ALL. It may sound a bit intense, but it really is all subjective. Me and my 13 year old brother find this to be just fine for our age, but make sure it won't frighten your kids. It is definitely OFF for 0-9. Iffy for 10- some 12. And on for most 12+ There is a little bit of sexy stuff. There are great fairies in the game (they are what gave this game the one lip in the review above). I have not encountered them yet in gameplay, but the "sex" descriptor above refers to the great fairies because nothing else in the game could possibly qualify for it. If you want your child to avoid them (as I plan on doing), tell them to not go through "The Cave of Ordeals". After reading in online guidebooks, I have found that they are not required to interact with to finish the game, and you have to go out of your way to find them, so there's not much to worry about. Also, there is a milk bar owner who has a large and slightly revealing bosom, but other than that there is nothing else revealing, and she is only in the game for a few minutes. Link is a great role model, and so are some of the other characters. This is due to the fact that they risk their lives to save their friends and family to ensure their safety. Link is honest, noble, and inspires a child who is shy and picked on to become courageous (to the point of sacrificing [but surviving] himself to save one of the children who made fun of him). IN SHORT: this game rocks for the older Zelda fans who dawdled around with Ocarina of Time when we were 4 years old, or for the NES Zelda vets of the 80's. If you feel this game is too much for your kid, get them the game I've been clamoring about: Ocarina of Time. It is MUCH less intense than this game, and you can buy it on the Wii Shop channel for 1000 points ($10). Majora's Mask is also awesome, but it's darker and actually kind of creepy. Ocarina: 8+. Majora: 11+. Twilight: 12/13+

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Teen, 14 years old
February 24, 2011
 
An epic Zelda adventure; perfectly fine for ages 11+
Let me start off saying, that is your child is 11+ years and enjoys action/adventure games, get them this. Yes, it is a bit darker than other Zelda games, but I think an 11 year old can handle it. The game delivers what the Zelda series i known for- addicting gameplay, puzzling dungeons, and epic boss battles (though most were a bit easy for me). The graphics on this Zelda game are the best realistic graphics yet to hit the series (I would know; in typical 13 year old girl fashion I was practically drooling when Link went shirtless). Also, be warned, Link will be spending a fair amount of time as a wolf in the twilight, with his sarcastic sidekick Midna. Overall in the realm of Zelda games, this comes close to being one of the best. I do prefer Ocarina of Time over this game, but Twilight Princess is a masterpiece in its own right.

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Kid, 13 years old
January 29, 2011
 
5+
I started playing zeldas in 2003 when i was 4 it was so confusing to me that i finished in a year i still love the zeldas games and buy every sing of their games the legend of zelda is the best games ever.

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Teen, 18 years old
November 20, 2010
 
This game is perfection.
Great game. One of the best Zeldas, coming close to Ocarina of Time. A great game for kids with hardly any real violence involved :)

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Kid, 12 years old
January 18, 2011
 
For 8 and up!
Amazing game. Good role-model. The Palace of Twilight can get creepy though. Also, the Great Fairies are naked but they show the fairy from the chest up and they have LONG hair, and you encounter them only about 4 times and then afterwords they are resembled by a golden fog with fairies flying around it. Plus the Cave of Ordeals is worth it because if you complete it, you get infinite fairies (1-ups) and fairy tears (super potion).

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Teen, 13 years old
October 26, 2011
 
Not the best, but still incredeble!
I love all Zelda games,(CDi are not REAL Zelda games) this is not any different! It might be the lamest Zelda to date, but I'd still give it 4 stars out of 5! The game have a beautiful story you just CAN'T MISS, and it has an amazing game world. Gameplay is not the best i've seen though. It's pretty easy compared to other Zeldas, most likely becouse of these moves called "Hidden skills" and the way most upgrades are required to beat the game. For example the "Master sword" is four times as strong as the first "Wooden sword" and is needed to progress through the game while in the other Zelda games the "Golden sword" is a super strong sword that is super hard to get while the "Royal sword" is the only you needed. Positive messages could be that you help people a lot. There is some village kids in the begining of the game that are hunted by monters. You have to save them and get them home safely to their village. Also ESRB had a good reason to give this game T: some people might say theres no blood in it, but it is. At the first boss you can kill it using a "Hidden skill" resulting realisic looking, black coloured blood beam out of it's eye. Theres also two gates that are stained with realisic, red blood. Two of these "Hidden skills" are a bit violent: "Finishing blow" where you drive the sword through the enemy's heart, killing it, and the "Mortal draw" where you spin and cut the enemy's head of, though the head won't really fly of, it does hit at the throat. Gannondorf, the evil guy gets a sword driven through his heart twice. A cut scene features creepy images, where a group of wizzards gets sealed away: the leader screams, the camera zooming in at his face, and then the place where they stood is empty... I'd like to call it the perfect inrtodiction for new players to the series! (My english is not too good, sorry)

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Teen, 14 years old
March 8, 2011
 
One of my favoraite games of all time
This is a game that has good characters, fun gameplay, and a solid storyline. I wouldn't say it should even be rated T it's not scary and not even a drip of blood or gore in sight or anywhere. It's darker than other zelda games but you know most zelda games are pretty light. I played through the whole game in like twelve hours in like two weeks. So I guess the hours of gameplay really depends on the person. My parents and my siblings liked to watch me play because the gameplay is also fun and exciting. IT'S EPIC and I say it's a must play for the wii.

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Teen, 14 years old
November 25, 2010
 
Perfect for teens
I love this game! It may be a struggle to figure out what to do sometimes because it may not be stated straight out. I really don't think really young kids should play it because of violence and scary images.

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Teen, 17 years old
June 21, 2010
 
AWESOMENESS!!! XD
omg this was my favorite of all Zelda games!!! it's soooo fun to play! GREAT game! get it now! :)

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This review was written by Chris Jozefowicz
Platforms:Nintendo Wii, Nintendo GameCube
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Action/Adventure
Developer:Nintendo
Release date:November 22, 2006
Price:$49.99
ESRB rating:T for animated blood, fantasy violence

This review was written by Chris Jozefowicz

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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