1UP previews Zelda: Twilight Princess for GameCube
by Blake Snow 
{ Dec 6th 2006 at 7:25PM }
Let's be honest: Nintendo pulled a fast one on hardcore US Zelda fans -- for better or for worse -- by delaying the originally planned GameCube Twilight Princess until after the Wii version launched with the company's new console. The controversy, however minor, is probably only amplified by our scrutinization having no material effects on the masses buying the game. Furthermore, a majority of reviewers believe the added motion controls on Wii add value to the gameplay, arguably justifying the delayed launch which inevitably helps move Wii units. But this is despite being unable to formally compare the final product with the GameCube version.
Enter antsy 1UP who imported the already released in Japan GameCube version in an effort to preview its old school way of doing things. From the article: "With no Wii Remote to speak of, the GC version forces players to revert to the classic style of controlling Link, where the B button is used to swing the sword and additional weapons and tools like the Slingshot or Gale Boomerang are mapped to the X and Y buttons ... Surprisingly, I had no problem slipping back into the 'old' controls, and in some instances, actually preferred them."
Zelda: Twilight Princess for GameCube hits US stores on December 13. For the record, I enjoy the Wii version but am still curious to see how well the final GameCube version will be received.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zac @ Dec 6th 2006 9:43PM
Finally, The whole reason I bought a GC a year ago was because of an "April Release" day for this game...
I'm definately buying this for the cube.
Thank God I never reserved it.
ShortFinal @ Dec 6th 2006 7:35PM
My Wii disc is completely different from that one, didn't realize there were multiple designs.
Adam @ Dec 6th 2006 10:19PM
Same here. Wasn't there supposed to be a gold box edition? Never heard anything about that
Jon @ Dec 6th 2006 7:53PM
#1: That's the Japanese Wii disc.
vidGuy @ Dec 6th 2006 7:56PM
@ShortFinal,
Mine is too. Gold and has Link on the front. I guess first editions were special "gold" editions like previous games? I thought they weren't doing that this round.
Having put 15 hours into this game, I don't see how it would be any more fun on the GC. The Wii controls add to the experience, for the most part, especially when using items like the bow (which I can aim and fire a lot quicker on the Wii than the GC) and the Gale boomerang. Even when the controls don't aid much, like the sword-swinging (IMO), they still beat out the boring B button.
isagani @ Dec 6th 2006 7:55PM
the Wii disc above is the Japanese release.
I'm getting the GameCube version of the game since I was able to pick up a PS3 and Resistance-thus no money at the moment for a Wii. It's for the best anyways because I want a black Wii and Mario
Eaode @ Dec 17th 2006 4:59PM
Oh, I thought I had some special preorder gold disc.
Stupid Japanese disc :(
bokchoi @ Dec 7th 2006 6:59PM
I am actually expecting the GameCube version to receive a much higher rating. The Wii version was basically the same game with the controls literally just pasted in, so its interesting to see how this game will handle on its "original" controls.
Maybe the 8.8 riots will finally simmer down when this is released for GC.
digitalFrequency @ Dec 6th 2006 8:30PM
looking at the gamecube version, i noticed that they had camera controls for the thing. i completely forgot about camera control in twilight princess... but yeah, that's a shortcoming for the wii version. it's pretty much a shortcoming for most adventure games unless someone comes up with a clever way of controlling the camera... like maybe holding C while moving thumbstick or wii-mote.
to be fair, fishing won't be the same on the gamecube version, that and aiming. sniping with the bow was awesome. they needed a mini-game that used it like in ocarina of time.
Silver R. Wolfe @ Dec 6th 2006 10:03PM
I've been waiting for the GC version of Zelda. The Wii version was nice, but not enough to sell me on a $250 system just to play it.
Harry @ Dec 6th 2006 9:26PM
I think the gamecube version will be just as fun. Although the controls are awesome on the Wii, it's not what makes the game. It's puzzles, bosses, dungeons, all the things that make zelda ZELDA. The only thing that might be different will be the aiming for the bow, slingshot, etc.. I dont know about you guys, but i HATED aiming in OoT. Especially when the analog stick started to get old and you hear that squeaking noise, but that's a different story. Nintendo just made the option of getting the GCN version for those who didn't camp out to get their Wii. Another reason nintendo did this (the more obvious one) was to sell Wii's and it WORKED. The Wii wouldn't have sold as much had Zelda not been a launch title. (Wii sports is awesome though) I'm a fanboy, i love nintendo, i have a Wii, but i probably wouldn't have camped out had there been no Twilight Princess.
......whatever it's still gonna be better than wind waker.
Kanadwen @ Dec 6th 2006 11:12PM
So, you CAN buy it at your local gaming store? You don't gotta order it online?
Ninegauger @ Dec 7th 2006 12:01AM
I almost want to get the Gamecube version too... I just want to press a button to swing my sword. For the next Zelda game, presumably for the Wii I hope they come up with something better in terms of control, not that it was bad or anything but it always felt tacked on, because essentially it was.
I don't exactly what they could do to improve it, but they invented Z targeting so I'm sure they'll think of something unique for Wii Zelda.
Xeroderma @ Dec 7th 2006 12:20AM
A major part of why I strayed from console gaming and became a hardcore pc gamer was the console control schemes. PC was just so much easier and customizable for games. Especially FPS and adventure games. I cant picture playing Z:TP on the gamecube, I'm about 24 hours into it on the Wii version and there is no way I would have had as much fun or spent this much time playing it if I would have had to go through the dungeons without the Wii Control scheme.
To each their own though
Ferior @ Dec 7th 2006 12:42AM
So... they didn't make a gold disc version of Twilight Princess?
I admit, I'm kind of disappointed.
vidGuy @ Dec 7th 2006 2:20AM
Yes, they did make a gold disc version, Ferior. It's just the official U.S. disc, not a first-run only type.
waxc3 @ Dec 7th 2006 8:02AM
i can not support the waving and moving controls on the 2 new systems.
i will only play this on the gamecube and am glad i have my 360 to keep me in high def games.
Mr.Blonde @ Dec 7th 2006 12:53PM
I'll be buying the GC version, it is a zelda game and will be good no matter what [nintendo] system it is on. My friends are getting Wii's this year so i'll just get a remote and go round theirs if I get bored.
GlitchCog @ Dec 7th 2006 9:25AM
Aiming stuff like the bow and arrow or the slingshot will be infinitely harder. I can't imagine doing parts of the game that require timed precision aiming without the remote; but the sword slashing will be better as a button press. The only reason to make sword attacks with the remote is if you can control the direction of the attack.
Q Manning @ Dec 7th 2006 10:58AM
You guys are crazy. Swinging the sword is one of the best parts of using the Wii controller. Perhaps even better than aiming and such. I love it.
Oh, and the BEST thing about the Wii version, and what's making it hard for me to go back to XBOX360 or Gamecube - SEPERATED HANDS for the controllers. Honestly, this may be the coolest thing about the Wii. It's just infinitely more comfortable than having to hold your hands together.
You don't realize how laborious playing with a traditional controller is until you can freely seperate your two hands, then are forced to go back. EVERYONE should seperate their controllers after this generation. Period.
vidGuy @ Dec 7th 2006 11:39AM
@Q Manning,
I totally agree about the hand separation. Everyone originally thought that the Wii setup was going to be harder to hold because you have to point in the direction of the screen, but I actually sit with my hands on my lap, one hand on each thigh/knee, and it's tons more comfortable than a standard controller setup.
waxc3, I hope you at least try the Wii out. You'd be missing out on what a lot are calling the best new experience this generation if you didn't.
ZippydeBrain @ Dec 7th 2006 1:09PM
I defnately have to agree with the comments on the seperate controls. There is probably a strong medical (carpal tunnels syndrom or however it is spelled) since you can hold your hands in a natural way (wrists together is not a natural position) when you don't need to point at the screen. Aiming is a lot faster than it was using the older system, though it requires you to actually be able to aim. My gut reaction to the Wii Controller was that Nintendo had gone mad. But it actually is a lot of fun. The Kids love it,parts of my family that are mot big gamers enjoy it. A 4 year old can learn to try bowling. (While there is considerably less skill involved than say, actually bowling, there is still some skill involved. My bowling scores are not that much higher than they are in actual bowling.
I have played the game for hours at a time, and never left the game with tired hands. Seriously. When you play a game with the older controllers you tend to hold tight for long periods and get tired thumbs from pressing buttons over and over (which they are not really intended to do) as opposed to waving the thing around, which you can do with your wrist, elbow, shoulder or whole body depending on the game or the context.
There are some irritants, but in Zelda at least they are minimal. The camera is absent, but unlike the older games, I have rarely found a need for it. (The C button still makes the camera face where you are looking.) Though maybe thats helped by the whole Widescreen TV thing. I have rarely needed to look outside of the regular viewing area.
Josh @ Dec 7th 2006 2:23PM
I'm getting the GameCube version, so the release date is important to me. Is it really the 13th, or is it shipped the 11th, or what?
flyNN @ Dec 7th 2006 3:39PM
Zelda is NOT a Wii game. SOOOO much of Zelda is exploration- not being able to look around WHILE moving is SUPER LAME.
You can tell the Wii interface was an ad-hoc, last minute, novelty. It's still Zelda and I'm having fun, but as far as the Wii is concerned, I'd much rather play Wii Sports.
ZippydeBrain @ Dec 7th 2006 4:49PM
"Zelda is NOT a Wii game. SOOOO much of Zelda is exploration- not being able to look around WHILE moving is SUPER LAME."
In previous games I used the C knob a fair bit. The camera had a tendency to float and it was hard to get it in the right place. I have made it 3/4 of the way through the game, and I really hadn't noticed that the camera control was missing until I read it here. I don't think it ever crossed my mind. Occationally, mostly in Temples or Dungeons, you do need to look up and down (in addition to the left and right that you do get by pressing C) Most of the time, when you need to look up, you have an object that you need to use to look up with, and at that point it worksfine. In a perfect world, it may have occured to someone that by rotating the numchuck (asuming it can detect that) while pressing C you can rotate links head, but what can you do. There are little things left over grom the gamecube that are a pain (like the fact that you cannot control the horse while using the bow and arrows, despite the fact that the movement control is available for use thanks to the remote aiming mechanism. The next Zelda game should be even better. (Hurry up guys :P)
You can tell the Wii interface was an ad-hoc, last minute, novelty."
ZippydeBrain @ Dec 7th 2006 5:17PM
Sorry, Missed commenting on:
"You can tell the Wii interface was an ad-hoc, last minute, novelty."
Which was not my comment...
Yes, much of this was taken directly from the Gamecube controls and not modified as much as it could be. It seems that it should have been technically possible to use the controls to direct the attacks in a certain direction, use the numchuck to look around, use the remote numchuck in combination to imitate the bow and arrow, but they didn't. That would, perhapse, be nearly starting over for a large part of the game. How long does it need to be delayed? Do we want more complex changes that are not properly tested? If nothing else this is a good step, since a huge deviation from the common accepted controls could have been a big mistake. It took a long time to get used to Super Mario 64, and subsequent games got way more complicated in their use of the controls and the 3D environment. At this point everything that uses the Wii remote etc... is an add on, since most video games take over 3 years to develope!
It is a substantial conceptual innovation in gameplay that has the potential to change gaming in a big way...if Nintendo keeps the new USES of this technology coming.
Don Jose @ Dec 9th 2006 5:51AM
Yay! The only Nintendo product I've been interested in in the last year and a half! Hopefully I won't be too busy with any of the (almost 20) 360 games I've bought in the last 11 months...
Gavroche @ Dec 13th 2006 5:28AM
I think i agree with the people who're saying that the Wii version is lacking when it comes to camera controls. Dont get me wrong, the game is AMAZING, the best game ive ever played, but one of the best parts of Windwaker for me was being able to pan a full 360 view of me sailing around all day. It was just beautiful. On Epona, well, you dont get much camera freedom. I just can't help thinking the Gamecube version might get a higher rating simply for the camera. But in any case the games still 10/10 in my book.
Nihar @ Dec 13th 2006 5:05PM
I got TP on GC 12/12/06 and It is AMAZING. It it is in every better than Oot and will become a new standard for all future games, just like the standard for Majora's Mask, Windwaker was Oot. The controls, are very simple and easy to learn, especially if you palyed Oot. You can literally pick up the controler and start playing, and learning curve is 10 minutes for basic controls. The total Learning curve is about 30 mins. You can for the first time skip cut scenes making re-playing the game even more fun. Camera is amazing, no camera glitches found! The graphics are soo cool and colorful. Compared to Oot the graphics are amazing. The whole game as a whole including graphics,gameplay and story and everything else are AMAZING. A great game no matter what, fun for all ages.