During its first week, Twilight Princess HD topped the sales charts in the UK at number two in the top forty entertainment software ( GfK ). It seems, to the people in the UK at least, that this reboot of Twilight Princess was totally worth it. As a long time fan of everything Zelda , I do not think Nintendo’s re-release of Twilight Princess is worth my time or money. And let’s be honest, it’s just a cash grab on Nintendo’s part. They don’t actually care if the game is any good.
That being said, re-releasing Twilight Princess does have its advantages. If you’ve never played Twilight Princess , then yes, it so worth the cost. Gaining a new audience with the Wii U and releasing an old Zelda game for it definitely allows for a younger audience to experience Zelda . Having grown up on the series, it feels like an absolute must that my future kids are able to experience the joy of the game as I did. The improved graphics are a given in order to be part of the Wii U system, comparing them to the older systems is for those that did play the game on those systems.
That being said, nostalgia is a significant reason a lot of people by these re-releases. Comparing the updated graphics is only the scratching the surface. The gameplay was changed to adapt to the Wii U, which makes for a very exciting new experience. The GamePad becomes a very convenient map and item change tool, just as if you had the map or guide on your phone ( Aonuma ). There is even a new area unlocked by the amiibo the game is usually sold with.
However, it might be cheaper just to buy the old system and game. If you don’t already have a GameCube or a Wii, they are pretty easy to find and not too costly, ranging from $50 to $120USD. They might be relatively outdated consoles by Nintendo standards, but they are worth the cost for a few other great games, like Ōkami, Skyward Sword, Pikmin, and Eternal Darkness . As such, if Twilight Princess is the gateway for the entire GameCube and Wii world for you, then that’s beautiful. What’s more, if the old system is too expensive, emulators are also great.
Twilight Princess HD is a cash grab the same way Disney’s “re-releases” of their classics like The Lion King and The Little Mermaid are. The game already exists and is more than easily accessible to the average gamer. If Nintendo really wanted to make buying Twilight Princess HD worth it, I would suggest an alternate story or a some kind of “part 2.” By such, I mean a game centred around a specific detail that might have been skimmed over in the original game. For example, Nintendo could expand on some of the Twilight Princess lore. Link could meet a new character, like one of the Ancient Sages. The plot could be based on the idea that the Mirror of Twilight turns out to not be the only Mirror in existence.
Because of these reasons, I just don’t think Twilight Princess HD is worth buying for the Wii U unless you are entirely new to the Zelda series. Even then, the old consoles are not expensive, and emulators are free. Indeed, procuring the old consoles can even open up a whole new world of games that are not possible on the Wii U.