ElectricBlue187
Member
I never knew the 8.8 was Jeff. Now I respect him even more
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Exactly six years ago*, GameSpot reviewed The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
- Thread starter Mama Robotnik
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MisterHero
Super Member
I'm sorry if you can't roll around, dodge, drink super potions and use Skyward's Bow the right way like I can.
I'll admit a device like the Gust Bellows or the Slingshot were less than inspired, but NEVER THE BOW. D:<
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
ChieChieChie
TheGreatDivide
Banned
I'm sorry if you can't roll around, dodge, drink super potions and use Skyward's Bow the right way like I can.
I'll admit a device like the Gust Bellows or the Slingshot were less than inspired, but NEVER THE BOW. D:<
I missed the IR. I found MotionPlus aiming slower and more prone to fuck ups.
toastyToast
Member
Outside of the dungeons, I didn't really like it at all
The opening was tear inducing and that ugly little kid, ugh.
The dungeons were quite good though
I can't recall that episode but wow at the outrage. I remember the E3 2004 unveiling; grown ass men cheering like little kids. I bet most of those complaining were 'of age' now that I think about it
The opening was tear inducing and that ugly little kid, ugh.
The dungeons were quite good though
I can't recall that episode but wow at the outrage. I remember the E3 2004 unveiling; grown ass men cheering like little kids. I bet most of those complaining were 'of age' now that I think about it
QisTopTier
XisBannedTier
Wow we have the same 2 favorite zeldas :lol
The Mana Legend
Banned
I think Twilight Princess is a solid 7/10 game. Boring as shit and easily the worst console Zelda game. But it looks great and has some cool things about it (NOT THE FUCKING WOLF)
But for whatever reason it kept me hooked for the entirety of the game. Maybe because I was expecting something to wow me, but nothing ever did.
But for whatever reason it kept me hooked for the entirety of the game. Maybe because I was expecting something to wow me, but nothing ever did.
To Far Away Times
Member
Midna's desperate hour is perhaps the best moment of any game this generation.
Foliorum Viridum
Banned
How can something that's "boring as shit" be a 7/10? Just because you kept playing in the hopes it would get better? :\
That seems like a messed up scale to me. If I described something as boring as shit, it wouldn't get over a 3. Skyward Sword was so boring/badly designed I didn't get over halfway through it, the first Zelda game I never completed, and I'd give that a 2 probably.
twentytwo22
Member
I thought it was the least-best Zelda I had ever played up to that point. It didn't help that the intro was long and boring. His review seems about right, 8.8 might even be a bit too generous (although understandingly), and fanboys be crazy as hell.
I actually loved the boat. And I loved Zelda. And Zelda II is the best Zelda out there. It's not even close.
If someone from a major publication decides to do it again with an iconic Nintendo franchise, which happens to have an amazing outing with some flaws, sure.
Absolutely. He was being objective, even if I disagree with his comments.
A lot of people don't bother to read and just look at the score though.
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
I thought TP was mediocre and a step down from Wind Waker. But for a strange reason I liked Skyward Sword.
To Far Away Times
Member
Wind Waker isn't even a complete game. That Triforce hunt made me shut off the game for good and I almost always finish every game that I pl
strange reasons are for those who didn't like SS
IrrelevantNotch
Banned
The Uncharted backlash is some of the saddest shit I've ever witnessed
I think the reactions are the result of a bit of a perfect storm. Any of the below reasons would have caused plenty of backlash on their own, but when it all came together it was just too much.
First, up until that point Zelda was seen by many as God Tier. With perhaps the exception of Zelda 2 every Zelda was in that "near perfect" range. Zelda 1 is a classic, ALttP a timeless masterpiece, Link's Awakening beloved by all, OoT game of the forever, MM divisive but excellent still, and WW was the game that took the mass of haters who called it "too cartoony" and showed them what excellence was all about. Even while Mario had faltered and been whored out, Zelda remained near flawless.
Second, the Wii itself. Core gamers eventually would accept that the Wii was largely "not for them", but in 2006 that was still a ways off. Core gamers and Nintendo fans were largely the same group (of course this is still true, but I think it would be fair to say the Wii changed this somewhat). People were excited about the potential of the Wii, and were looking to Nintendo to change everything with these amazing new controls. People, in large, would not begin to accept that motion controls may not be so great for some time.
So here you have two things many of us had already accepted as truths: Zelda is always a 9.5+, and the Wii's motion controls are going to be awesome (the millions, dreaming of lightsaber games, sword fighting, FPS, RTS, etc). Then this review comes along and tells everyone that not only is this Zelda not as good as you knew it would be, but that the Wii is the reason why.
First, up until that point Zelda was seen by many as God Tier. With perhaps the exception of Zelda 2 every Zelda was in that "near perfect" range. Zelda 1 is a classic, ALttP a timeless masterpiece, Link's Awakening beloved by all, OoT game of the forever, MM divisive but excellent still, and WW was the game that took the mass of haters who called it "too cartoony" and showed them what excellence was all about. Even while Mario had faltered and been whored out, Zelda remained near flawless.
Second, the Wii itself. Core gamers eventually would accept that the Wii was largely "not for them", but in 2006 that was still a ways off. Core gamers and Nintendo fans were largely the same group (of course this is still true, but I think it would be fair to say the Wii changed this somewhat). People were excited about the potential of the Wii, and were looking to Nintendo to change everything with these amazing new controls. People, in large, would not begin to accept that motion controls may not be so great for some time.
So here you have two things many of us had already accepted as truths: Zelda is always a 9.5+, and the Wii's motion controls are going to be awesome (the millions, dreaming of lightsaber games, sword fighting, FPS, RTS, etc). Then this review comes along and tells everyone that not only is this Zelda not as good as you knew it would be, but that the Wii is the reason why.
The Mana Legend
Banned
Because it's a decently designed game with great music, great graphics (for the time), and some cool things about it.
It doesn't feel right giving a game a 3/10 when it's as well made as Twilight Princess. I save 3 out of 10s for truly awful games that have no redeeming qualities.
PS. Skyward Sword is my second favorite Zelda game ever. Shit was cash.
Snowden's Secret
Banned
So the big deal wasn't the 8.8 (or at least shouldn't have been), it's that Gerstmann was clearly trolling for hits.
Same as GameSpot's Skyward Sword review, the number 7.5 is (should be) irrelevant; it's that he used factually inaccuracies to justify it.
Same as GameSpot's Skyward Sword review, the number 7.5 is (should be) irrelevant; it's that he used factually inaccuracies to justify it.
Foliorum Viridum
Banned
I understand that view, I guess, but it seems weird to do it that way. If I didn't like something, if I thought it was boring or didn't entertain me, I'm going to rate it way low because that represents my time with the game. SS is functional and has lots of good elements, but it's still a shit game I didn't enjoy, so it can enjoy a shit score that reflects that.
That's what I want from reviews, really. Not "Well I didn't enjoy this game, but it's functional and some might, so... 6 or 7 outta 10 I dunno..." I don't like the way a lot of reviewers approach games as a "consumer guide" and not just a reflection of their experience with the game.
PS: TP is one of the best games I've played, but it was ugly one day one.
Nice art style doesn't make up for its technical shortcomings. Oooglayy.I can't remember how I reacted to this. I certainly know it wasn't batshit insane because I still like to joke about the score 8.8 and I derived a lot of humour from the reaction. But I do remember being curious as to why the GCN version scored 8.9 despite the conclusion being that the Wii version is better. Struck me as rather odd.
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
in retrospect, that review was way too lenient. TP was a waste of time for anyone who's beaten a Zelda game in the past. not a bad game, but really, really boring for fans of the series.
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
gerstmann got a lot of hate during that time, some of it was appropriate... anyone have the gif of jeff and some other fat guy sitting on the couch playing wii bowling?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfBrPCWb9pg
hilarious and pathetic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfBrPCWb9pg
hilarious and pathetic
Dreams-Visions
Member
many account suicides were carried out that week at GameSpot.
ItWasMeantToBe19
Banned
Twilight Princess was pretty awesome I thought. Right up there with Skyward Sword and the Oracle games for my favorite Zelda.
EightBitNate
Member
Wind Waked hate ITT
TheGreatDivide
Banned
I loved the boat when the wind was blowing the right way. When it wasn't I just got angry.
Wind Waker would be the best Zelda easily if it was 1) finished and 2) didn't have a handful of pacing killers.
His reviews for MK vs DC universe (5 stars) and Mortal Kombat (5 stars) on Giantbomb make him really hard to take seriously.
Professor Beef
Banned
TP on the Wii was a terrible port. The GC version was slightly better. I give TP a lot of shit (teehee), but truth be told it's not a terrible game. I just didn't like it, persoanlly. An 8 is probably the best score I'd give it, but anything lower than that wouldn't be correct.
I'd rate MM and WW 10 and 9, respectively.
I'd rate MM and WW 10 and 9, respectively.
devious.one
Member
Instantly brings that Mega64 bit about Gaming Journalism to mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko1sklmOR9E
MushroomSamba
Member
I wouldn't give any of the post-N64 Zeldas anything more than a 7/10 now that I think about it.
They all have promising stuff, but equally flawed by some big problems. Wind Waker looked great and had character, but the sailing shit was so boring and killed my interest. Twilight Princess had great dungeons, but crappy motion controls and lame wolf sections. Skyward Sword would've been fantastic if not for the blatant filler and backtracking.
Recently got a 3DS and Zelda: OoT 3D. I'm hoping the game holds up to my memory of it.
They all have promising stuff, but equally flawed by some big problems. Wind Waker looked great and had character, but the sailing shit was so boring and killed my interest. Twilight Princess had great dungeons, but crappy motion controls and lame wolf sections. Skyward Sword would've been fantastic if not for the blatant filler and backtracking.
Recently got a 3DS and Zelda: OoT 3D. I'm hoping the game holds up to my memory of it.
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