Legendary Zelda Game excedes expectations

Most long-time Nintendo supporters live by their own special calendar, punctuated not by days, weeks and months, but by the release of producer Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma's "Legend of Zelda" games. The three milestones on this calendar, all designed as flagship games for their respective consoles, are 1992's "A Link to the Past" for the Super Nintendo, 1998's "Ocarina of Time" for the Nintendo 64, and now "Twilight Princess" for the Nintendo Wii.\nThe difference with "Twilight Princess" is that not only is it the premiere launch title for the Wii, but it's also sort of a final epitaph for the underappreciated Nintendo Gamecube. Having played the game on both consoles, it is an unquestionable work of genius, as it plays to the strengths of both systems.\nIt all boils down to a player's preferred control scheme, as the Wii and Gamecube versions of "Twilight Princess" are essentially identical otherwise. Having owned and beaten the Gamecube version, I must confess to preferring the more traditional controls, but "Twilight Princess'" masterful implementation of the Wii's nunchuck and motion sensing controllers is an accomplishment of which every Playstation and Xbox game developer should be rightly jealous.\nThe story, certainly the darkest and most ominous of all "Zelda" games, establishes a dichotomy between the real world and the world of twilight. As Link tiptoes between both worlds, taking the form of both his hero self and that of a nimble wolf, you'll tackle the toughest dungeons and trickiest puzzles in any "Zelda" title, and enjoy innumerable side quests and a brilliantly realized and expansive incarnation of Hyrule.\nGraphically, "Twilight Princess" stands tall over every previous console generation title, but, even on the Wii, falls slightly short of current generation standards. Fortunately, this is only a minor quibble when the overall scope and execution of "Twilight Princess" is taken into account. The Wii's utilization of widescreen and high-definition capabilities is impressive, but Miyamoto and Aonuma's vision feels right at home on a 4x3 tube TV as well.\nTowering atop the shortlist of 2006's best video game achievements, "Twilight Princess" is an unparalleled marriage of nostalgia and technology. With the next Wii-only "Zelda" installment, "The Phantom Hourglass," already visible on the horizon, this is a time for celebration for all "Zelda" enthusiasts.