Zelda: Twilight Princess

[Davros sock drawer]

Dunno what special voodoo magic Nintendo have in the Wii but this looks very decent considering it's basically a GC game running at 576i resolution.

Now that I've got an RGB cable I think it looks spectacular. Especially some of the interiors.

Assuming I get a whole Heart Container from the next boss, I've only got 3 heart pieces left to get.

[inquisitor]

The game has some fantastic little touches like when you use the lantern in the basement of your house and the falling leaves when you climb up the vines. I still prefer the graphical style of WW though, I can see this looking very dated in a few years time.

[Davros sock drawer]

I'm getting nowhere on one of the Heart Piece games.

The Dragon Flying Game, where you have to get fruit combos. I've only managed to finish the course once, with 271 points, and it says you have to get over 10,000 to get "something special".

I'm rubbish at it.

[Davros sock drawer]

Only get the strawberries.

Been trying. Hit a rock!

Even so, those are only 10 points each!

[Davros sock drawer]

Oh blimey, I see. Going to take me a while I think.

[dojo99]

I suppose I need to press on with this game. Haven't played it since before Christmas, what with all of the Christmas festivities and stuff. Only on the 3rd temple...still...after having it 3 weeks.

[Comrade]

I've just been playing around on this and I can confirm that that guy in the STARS tent is definitely meant to be Tingle. After beating both his games if you talk to him he does this incredibly camp pose which I'm sure Tingle also did in WW. So that's it for me. Tingle's in the game, h8terss!!!!

Oh and I finished the game again, and Linkster:

I can see now why you might think Link is coming back. I originally thought that Ilia watching and Link on the horse were in the same shot, but as they're not I suppose it is plausible that she could be watching Link return.

HOWEVER: I think this is unlikely. Firstly, there's the shot composition - Ilia is on the right of the screen (Wii version, fact fans!) watching to the left, and then we see Link riding from the left to the right of the screen, implying it's in the same direction as she's looking, i.e. away from her.

Secondly, the ranch bloke is calling at Link's house and he isn't there. This implies that he expects Link to be there, and the fact that he isn't implies he's just left.

And thirdly the fact that you can't see Ilia's face seems to mean to me that she's sad, which she would be if Link had just left to go adventuring and shit.

So It seems to me to be pretty conclusive that Link has just totally dumped Ilia in order to shack up with Zelda (while totally hitting the Great Fairy on the side). Sorry!

[Jarik]

Love these sliding crate puzzles, just found a

hidden cave full of them.

And no this isn't sarcasm, I genuinely like them.

I loved those too. So satisfying when you figure them out.

They remind me of an old NES game that was built around the concept of creating & sliding around Ice Blocks & I hope it might appear on the VC.

[Cosmic_Guru]

Some thoughts on completing the game

64 hours put in and I saw most of it including 30 floors of the Cave of ordeals. Some of that time was wasted in trying to get the knack of certain actions so probably around 60 hours of decent play which was hugely enjoyable.

The highlights were

• Getting the spinner and using in the first part of the boss fight – a genius section with the minions acting as a shield protecting the vertebrae

• Using the claw to deal effectively with the shelled enemies and jellies which up to that point had been troublesome

• Snowpeak ruins and the 1080 snowboarding déjà vu to reach it

• Getting the statues to smash things to smithereens

• Rampaging through the trolls in the palace grounds on a buffalo

• Taking the canoe ride downstream

• Taking Epona for a ride later in the game when you can move freely around

• The Wii controls which by and large worked brilliantly until at the end you are sword fighting like a master with Ganondorf (take note Red Steel)

• Having bosses which by and large were easy – it fits with the concept of having an evening to explore a dungeon and complete it rather than having a save point immediately outside the bosses room and being prepared to retry and adjust your tactics

• Seeing the end credits reflect your progress in the Cave of ordeals

The lowlights were

• The segmentation and fixed camera of Castle City – during the day there is a lot going on but you don’t really appreciate it

• Some of the muddy textures, although parts of the game are satisfying visually

• The limited uses of cash – its not as if the magic armour is essential to complete the game

• Reset rooms and respawning enemies – so last gen

The most irritating sections were

• The first iteration of the last boss where the timing to return the energy pulse seemed almost impossible

• The escort mission until the birds were brought down

• The second phase of the fish boss where getting a target was very tricky

• The first enchanted grove section where the wretched piper kept disappearing

• The mines sub-boss

• The climbing of the wind vanes towards the end of the temple in the air – again getting a target icon was very tricky

I did not get all the hearts or all the bugs or poes, and indeed could see little motivation in doing so, or in completing the caves of ordeal. So there seems little replay value other than perhaps a speed run to focus on the essentials only.

Where next I wonder for the franchise?

[bcass]

Seeing the end credits reflect your progress in the Cave of ordeals

I haven't even been to the Cave of Ordeals yet, and I completed the game nearly a week ago. Maybe the ending is better when you've done all the Cave. That might explain why the ending was so lacklustre. That's probably wishful thinking... Although I did complete the game with the threadbare of achievements. I haven't even found all the Skills yet.

[Cosmic_Guru]

I haven't even been to the Cave of Ordeals yet, and I completed the game nearly a week ago. Maybe the ending is better when you've done all the Cave. That might explain why the ending was so lacklustre. That's probably wishful thinking... Although I did complete the game with the threadbare of achievements. I haven't even found all the Skills yet.

I dont think so - maybe a couple more shots of the additional springs containing fairies or a lingering shot of the chief fairy or something. On the other hand I would not have liked missing out on the later skills, particularly the one where you sheath the sword and quickly draw it which is excellent against the heavily armoured stages of the darknuts

.

[Blu3Flame]

Oh man I so fail at Zelda, anyone got any tips for getting the hot spring water across to castle town.

I keep getting attacked by nasty spinny things which come out the ground, so I put the water down to deal with them and they spin right into it.

[Number 28]

I just went a bit further north, then headed west, and down a bit to the bridge. Nothing at all appeared, strangely. I think I was just lucky.

Edit: That'd be east in the Wii version I guess.

[A Hen]

Oh man I so fail at Zelda, anyone got any tips for getting the hot spring water across to castle town.

I keep getting attacked by nasty spinny things which come out the ground, so I put the water down to deal with them and they spin right into it.

I just ran through Hyrule field, taking as direct a route as possible. I can't remember if I wove about to avoid the enemies, or if I just ran straight ahead, as I tried both methods, and only one seemed to work. On my first try, this seemed impossible, but I did it on the second or third attempt, so just keep trying.

[Steven]

Sat down last night - 37 hours in... and managed to erase my file while talking to someone. Being kicked in the guts, head and nads would have winded me marginally less.

Now about to start the second dungeon again at 3 and a half hours in. Still feel a little sick (was about to start dungeon seven)

[R0b]

That's terrible.

[diggler]

Doh! Hopefully won't take you too long to blaze through the dungeons again now you know the way. Can you skip the cut-scenes too?

[robdood]

well, I just finished it..

Thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. The last boss fight was totally crap though. Boo. No where near as epic or dramatic as OoT's..

Ah well. 67 hours, 18 hearts though. I'm sure there's a fair bit of stuff for me to do still.

[Davros sock drawer]

Just got the last two bugs. Much easier than finding the Gold Skulltullas in OoT, and nowhere near as satisfying, as the game pretty much hands them to you on a plate. Pretty though, and a reasonably useful reward.

On a bit of a Poe hunt now. I was wondering, are there Poes in the earlier dungeons (i.e. before you can change into the wolf at will)? I don't remember seeing any.

I also attempted the Cave of Ordeals, and got killed after meeting 4 fairies. I think I was quite near the end, will try again in a minute.

[linkster]

I've just been playing around on this and I can confirm that that guy in the STARS tent is definitely meant to be Tingle. After beating both his games if you talk to him he does this incredibly camp pose which I'm sure Tingle also did in WW. So that's it for me. Tingle's in the game, h8terss!!!!

Oh and I finished the game again, and Linkster:

I can see now why you might think Link is coming back. I originally thought that Ilia watching and Link on the horse were in the same shot, but as they're not I suppose it is plausible that she could be watching Link return.

HOWEVER: I think this is unlikely. Firstly, there's the shot composition - Ilia is on the right of the screen (Wii version, fact fans!) watching to the left, and then we see Link riding from the left to the right of the screen, implying it's in the same direction as she's looking, i.e. away from her.

Secondly, the ranch bloke is calling at Link's house and he isn't there. This implies that he expects Link to be there, and the fact that he isn't implies he's just left.

And thirdly the fact that you can't see Ilia's face seems to mean to me that she's sad, which she would be if Link had just left to go adventuring and shit.

So It seems to me to be pretty conclusive that Link has just totally dumped Ilia in order to shack up with Zelda (while totally hitting the Great Fairy on the side). Sorry!

I need to get hammered and do it again.

[robdood]

Yeah, you're going to love the reward for doing the cave of ordeals...

[Davros sock drawer]

I don't care, it just HAS to be done!

[robdood]

Weird thing is, I KNEW i shouldn't ahve gone and completed it before getting everything. I have no motivation to now...

I have 10 heart pieces left (im guessing) and a bunch of bugs, etc. But really, whats the point? I may go back to it in a while, but as it is I'm thinking I'm done with TP.

It really does have some of the best puzzle/dungeon design ever though, doesnt it?

[Professor Puzzles]

I'm in the middle of a massive back and forth quest between dungeons 6 & 7.

Here, for no particular reason, is my list of favourite dungeons so far, starting with the best and then heading quickly downwards to the shit ones.

No. 5

No. 2

No. 4

No. 1

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No.3

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And No. 6 - an appaling, tedious slog but with two great bosses.

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: Judging by the comments, people really didn't get all the various hints in Dungeon 3, eh?

[Davros sock drawer]

Weird thing is, I KNEW i shouldn't ahve gone and completed it before getting everything. I have no motivation to now...

I have 10 heart pieces left (im guessing) and a bunch of bugs, etc. But really, whats the point? I may go back to it in a while, but as it is I'm thinking I'm done with TP.

There's never been any point really, but as it's always been optional, I've always felt inclined to collect everything I can in a Zelda game. It helps that a lot of the Heart Pieces are gained from playing enjoyable mini games though. I've only got two more to collect!

[linkster]

You finished it now Davros?

[Davros sock drawer]

..

And No. 6 - an appaling, tedious slog but with two great bosses.

What was wrong with dungeon 6 exactly?

No such thing as a "shit" Zelda dungeon.

You finished it now Davros?

No, I'm wrapping up as much stuff as I can before tackling

The Twilight Palace

which is Dungeon 8, yes?

How much stuff did you have still to get/do when you had finished Linkster? I think I've got nearly everything now, all upgrades etc.

[Professor Puzzles]

It was one of those times where I knew the solution to something and knew how to do it, but it just took ages and ages to do, by which I mean...

Getting that massive statue all the way from the top of the dungeon back down to the bottom. Too much like hard work for me. Loved Snowpeak ruins, though; such an unusual place for a Zelda dungeon and the ball and chain is a fantastic item.

[Sir DangerM]

.::: Judging by the comments, people really didn't get all the various hints in Dungeon 3, eh?

Is dungeon 3 the water temple? If so what were the hints you speak of? I didnt find it hard, just boring. After that temple the game definitely seems to be picking up.