The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

Template:Future game Template:GameNav Template:Game The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a Wii U remake of the Nintendo GameCube and Wii game, Twilight Princess. It was officially announced via a Nintendo Direct webcast on November 12, 2015 and will be released on March 4, 2016.^[1] It is the second remaster of a Zelda title on the Wii U following The Wind Waker HD. A bundle set containing the Wolf Link amiibo will also be released.

The game features graphical upgrades from the original version and runs at a higher resolution. It also features some gameplay changes.

Changes and Additions

Graphics

Twilight Princess HD features reworked graphics with primarily new textures, giving the game a cleaner and higher-definition look. As opposed to the 480p resolution of the GameCube and Wii versions, Twilight Princess HD uses the 1080p resolution that is standard on Wii U. This provides for six times the number of pixels, resulting in additional clarity, especially for faraway objects and precise aiming. Most textures in the game are touched up with added details, with notable examples including Link's hair, Zant's armor, and several background textures. Some textures have been changed entirely, including grass in Hyrule Field and a stone Triforce symbol in the Sacred Grove. These textures look less muddy and blurred than in the original. The game also sports brighter lighting and less intense bloom than the original releases.^[2]

Like The Wind Waker HD before it, Twilight Princess HD is not a complete graphical remake as most of its character models and geometry are left untouched in terms of polygon count.

Gameplay Elements

Twilight Princess HD uses the world orientation of the GameCube version in which Link is left-handed, which had previously been reversed on the Wii version to better accommodate players. Similar to The Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD uses the larger resolution to display a less-intrusive HUD during gameplay. Items can now be equipped to three slots — X, Y, and R, while the L button calls Midna. The Right Stick can be used to move the camera freely. The mini-map has been shrunk and now features a translucent black background.

Like in The Wind Waker HD, the game makes use of certain features of the Wii U GamePad to streamline gameplay. The GamePad screen can display a separate map screen for dungeons, and can be used to instantly equip items without having to pause and bring up the inventory menu. It also enables the use of the GamePad's gyroscope to aim, such as aiming the Gale Boomerang or the Bow. The GamePad screen can also be tapped to instantly transform between Link's human and wolf forms without having to talk to Midna, once the ability has been unlocked. The game also features off-TV play. The game is also compatible with the Wii U Pro Controller.

Hero Mode is featured in the game, which is available from the start. Link receives twice as much damage during this mode, and the world orientation is also mirrored. Hearts are not dropped in this mode either, similar the Hero Modes in Skyward Sword and The Wind Waker HD.^[3]

The game also supports the use of Miiverse and features 50 Miiverse Stamps scattered around Hyrule,^[4] including the game's Hylian alphabet, characters faces with different expressions, items such as Rupees, and objects such as Treasure Chests.^[5] These Stamps are found inside of dungeons as well as in fields usually replacing Rupee chests, and must be found before they can be used.

amiibo Support

Twilight Princess HD will be compatible with the Wolf Link amiibo, along with the Super Smash Bros. series Zelda amiibo, including Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, Sheik, and Toon Link.

The Wolf Link amiibo unlocks a new optional dungeon called the Cave of Shadows, which can be accessed anytime from the collection screen.^[6] This Cave of Ordeals-styled dungeon features 40 floors which Link must clear as a wolf, as he cannot revert back to human form while in the dungeon. Each floor features enemies as well as obstacles to clear. If Link has the Giant Wallet when he clears the dungeon, he will receive the Colossal Wallet, allowing him to carry up to 9,999 Rupees. The Wolf Link amiibo can also save a "checkpoint" of the number of remaining Hearts Link has preserved, after which scanning it will restore Link's health to that amount.^[7] The Wolf Link amiibo will also be able to transfer saved data from Twilight Princess HD to The Legend of Zelda for Wii U.^[1] It is currently unknown what kind of feature the Wolf Link amiibo will have in that game.

Scanning the Link or Toon Link amiibo will replenish Arrows, while scanning the Zelda or Sheik amiibo will restore Link's Hearts.^[8] Scanning Ganondorf's amiibo allows Link to take twice as much damage, and will turn his red Heart gauge blue to signify the change. If used while in Hero Mode, Link takes four times the normal damage.^[9] Only one amiibo of each character can be scanned once per day. Scanning Ganondorf's amiibo a second time states that the damage has already been doubled.^[10]

Other Changes

Swimming and riding Epona is improved.^[11]
Only 12 Tears of Light have to be collected in each Province, as opposed to the original 16.^[9]
Rupees are no longer returned to their Treasure Chests if Link's Wallet is full.^[12]
Rupees no longer show a text box with their value after being obtained a second time in the same game file again.
The Wallet sizes are different: the default wallet now fits 500 Rupees, the Big Wallet 1,000 Rupees, and the Giant Wallet 2,000 Rupees as opposed to 300, 600, and 1,000 Rupees respectively.
Link must catch a fish for Sera's cat only once during the beginning of the game as opposed to twice.
A new item, the Ghost Lantern, lights up when a Poe is nearby even during the day.^[13]
The number of Poes defeated and remaining in each area is now tracked on the map screen.

Limited Editions

A limited edition bundle will also be released, including the game and the Wolf Link amiibo. In Europe and Japan, a Sound Selection CD is included in the bundle. In North America, the Sound Selection CD is a pre-order bonus exclusive to GameStop retailers.^[14]

Gallery

The following is a gallery regrouping all of the currently hosted images of Gallery:Twilight Princess HD.

External Links

References

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↑ "You got the Ghost Lantern! This mysterious lantern will light up when there are ghosts nearby." — N/A (Twilight Princess HD)
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