Legend of Zelda:
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Legend of Zelda:
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The long awaited game is here, and is it worth the wait? As a person who hates RPGS, generally preferring sports, racing games, or frantic shooters, I got sucked in by all the hype. Other than the rave reviews elsewhere, the reason I bought the game is that it seems to have heaps of action, which I like. Zelda is what I call a "go-through" game where you start it, and play it until it ends, as distinct to a "competitive" game where you are actually competing against the CPU or fellow human. Ten years of gaming has jaded me with nearly all "go-through" games. Of this type, Mario, Starfox and Rogue Squadron are my only purchases. The only games of Zelda's type I have ever played through is Castlevania2 and Wizards & Warriors3 on the NES, and Metroid3 on the SNES. In fact, Zelda reminds me a lot of Metroid with its immerse environments, moody music and intense sporadic action sequences. Maybe Zelda is not quite the traditional RPG? So will a review from some one like me match the insanely rave reviews Zelda has received so far?
Just like other games of its type, you wander around, gradually built up your inventory, fight stronger enemies, explore new areas, and reach the finish. Sounds so basic, but as we all know, there is so much more to Zelda than this.
Straight to the point, I am not bored. I don't know what it is, but this game has enchanted, captivated, and almost enslaved me with its magic. Sure you are just running around collecting shit, but why is it so much fun? Probably the sheer ingenuity of the worlds, enemies and puzzles, and a truly interactive environment. The seamless links with the rendered cut-scenes, the story line and overall presentation all adds to the the experience.
What makes this game special is the action scenes. The innovation (innovation is very important to a jaded gamer) of the "Z" targeting system employed is sheer genius that only Nintendo, and I repeat, ONLY Nintendo, could think of. My first interaction with an enemy - some vicious plant - and I nearly wet my pants. The music changed tempo, I locked on, and slash! Of course I had a training attack on stones that one of the helpful villages guided me through. The game caresses and guides you on your way, gradually building up your skills, which you appreciate later on.
Zelda eventually acquires all sorts of goodies, but one of the early ones - the sling-shot - is again masterful. It can be assigned, along with two other items, to your "C" buttons, and its method of use is as good as any weapon that can be seen in any Doom style game. I could go on forever, but it is best the player receive the delight I did in discovering these features.
Other controls are first class too. The jump is automatic, which is how it should be. Like GoldenEye, if no precision jumping is required in a game, then why have a jump button? Of course GE erred in not having the auto-jump, or ability to leap off ledges. In fact all Doom or Quake style games could take a look at Zelda as I have always thought jump buttons to be anathema in these action orientated games. Incorporation of Zelda's targeting system could also be looked at. Again, Nintendo walks away with the innovation points; it is first class.
So why only a "9"? If I was being objective, a "10" would be the score. But some subjectivity must enter the equation to individualise reviews. The "fun factor" is why it drops the mark. Simply, I believe I could be having even more fun than I am having at present. During my Zelda experience there are frequent visits back to F1WGP to complete my championships. And, shock-horror, I have more fun (albeit a different kind of fun) playing F1WGP than Zelda and thus have no choice but to slightly drop the score. Also, the fact that I further interrupted my playing of Zelda to play and finish later acquisitions in Rogue and Wipeout before Zelda, speaks for itself. Then there is Metroid3. A game I played and played, virtually uninterrupted, and once finished, promptly played it again. Been back a third time too. Zelda has not had this same effect on me.
Simply, the quality matches that off the gameplay. They may not wow you initially, but they are fabulously detailed, replete with all the effects that a marque title like this deserves. They are not absolutely perfect though. There are moments of utter brilliance (Hyrule Field and the Owl (well, all the animals and characters) I truly love), but (very) occasional letdowns with over-filtering/blurriness and poor texturing are apparent.
Repeat the first sentence above! The only niggle here is that when you get down to 1 heart life, it beeps incessantly, and can be annoying. In reality though, the only times you will be down to this level off health is during big battles. Occasionally, some of the music is not quite to my liking either, and may not even be necessary during these times either!
The mooted 40-60 hours seems under-estimated to me as I know I have surpassed that duration and have not quite completed it yet - 5 months later! Maybe it is because I am new to these types of games? Maybe it's the mesmerising and compelling gameplay? Maybe it's Rogue Squadron, Wipeout and F1WGP distracting me? Whatever reason, I am not rushing it in hope that it will last forever. It won't, I know, but the very thought that there is still a final showdown awaiting restores some of my faith in mankind.
Again, if was being objective I would not have even scored Zelda as it really is plainly obvious that it is simply outstanding and that anyone remotely interested in video games should play it. For someone who does not generally like these types of games, Zelda has failed to ignite or restore any faith in the genre, BUT reinforced my faith in Nintendo as the premium games designers in the universe. Capable of producing ANY type of game in ANY genre that will appeal to the widest possible audience, these games not only destroy the opposition, but are genre breaking, genre defining or just set new benchmarks that will likely never be equalled.
Mario created its genre, and then totally made it redundant in one foul swoop; it will never be surpassed. WaveRace set new standards for control; broke the racing genre wide open in defining water-based racing that is still to be even remotely rivalled. 1080, set a new bench mark for its genre with realistic and exquisite control, probably never to be equalled. Recently Smash Brothers brought innovation, control and maximum fun to its tired genre. Rare's GoldenEye can be credited with the same. Zelda? It has elements from all of the above.
People have remarked that Zelda may just be the greatest video game ever created, period. Does the Warrior agree with that? Objectively, and as a single player experience, it just might be, especially considering the extra burden of development in three dimensions. Personally, and subjectively, no. I am sure I got more out of Metroid3 back when on the SNES. Though a cross-genre comparison is invidious, F1WGP, ISS 98 and F-Zero do more for me too. But like I said elsewhere, that is a different type of fun, derived from competition and ensuing adrenalin rushes. Zelda's immerse and discovery style fun is great, but the action scenes are even better. Zelda gets its "low" score, not from any real problem or flaw in the game, but because I'm me.
Kingdoms:
The greatest video game ever created
Dungeons:
It apparently ends