The HD version uses detailed, high-definition textures in an attempt to rejuvenate Nintendo's decade-old epic for a modern audience, but the results are mixed. The Harsh Lens of TruthThe most obvious change from the original version of Twilight Princess is the substantial graphical update.
The same could be said about the bustling Hyrule Castle, a large space full of citizens, but few of them offer any appealing distractions from the main campaign. This was a problem for me when it was originally released in 2006, and it’s still a problem now. Though Twilight Princess presents one of the largest incarnations of Hyrule field in the series with nice, long draw distances, packs of enemies are spread out rather thinly across it, and I didn’t find a ton of reasons to explore it outside of a handful of secrets. “While the dungeons themselves are a major highlight, it’s a shame that the overworld, and the towns that dot it, don’t get the same attention they feel empty by comparison. The campaign jumps skillfully between the personal plights of these characters and exploring the devilishly clever dungeons for which Twilight Princess is so rightfully remembered. Along the way you’ll meet interesting characters like Mayor Bo, the highest authority in Ordon Village, whose secret sumo wrestling training will help you enter the Goron Mines, or Midna, a sassy sidekick who hides her motivations for helping Link. You have to get through a slow opening hour, but once the story kicks into gear you’re tossed from the quaint activities of small-town life and thrust into a struggle to save Hyrule from the encroaching minions of the Twilight realm. The fact that Twilight Princess holds up 10 years later is a testament to its ambitious scale, its memorable set pieces, and of course, its finely-tuned dungeon puzzles. Twilight Princess HD doesn't always manage to look this slick, but when it does, it’s a great example of how a new coat of paint can bring back the magic of a classic Zelda game.
It’s a great fight one of many emotional high points in the adventure. This elegantly designed encounter takes place inside the Goron Mines, and you have to make smart use of arrows and the heft of Link’s metal boots to trip the creature up and put him away.
When I’m locked in an epic battle with Fyrus, a fiery boss that looks like a Balrog ripped out of Lord of the Rings, I can barely notice that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a graphical update to a 10-year-old Gamecube game.