Letter Found On Lake Hylian Archeological Dig

Author's Rating:

Pros: Graphics, story, gameplay, um, oh yeah, Midna

Cons: The bosses are a bit too easy (just take off more hearts!)

The Bottom Line: 
Interacting in the story line is definitely different than just watching it.

Author's Review
The following was recovered from a recent dig near Lake Hylia. The editor advises that there are many details regarding the Twilight Princess that follow, and those that are not completely familiar with this subject are advised to read with caution, so that any details they do not yet know are not spoiled.

Dear Midna,

It has been a long time since I felt the need to write a letter such as this. It shouldn't be necessary of course, since you don't really exist, but as you recently asked me to grant one last selfish request, I trust you won't mind if I did the same. I can find no other way to adequately express how I've felt over this long, strange, frustrating, yet somehow incredibly wonderful journey. Like so many though, it almost never happened.

I had largely fallen out of the game console loop after 1996, having neither the means or much desire to follow Nintendo to the N64. Needless to say, quite a bit has happened since then. One time non-players like Microsoft and Sony have now become the industry leaders, while Sega, Atari, and others have long since passed. Still, Nintendo has managed to survive, perhaps more on their strong history rather than innovation (although the Wii should change this). This history consists of some of the greatest game series of all time (specifically Mario and, oh yeah, Zelda), which have been allowed to expand beyond earlier belief on the newer systems, especially with the fantastic 3D-rendering now possible (and I must admit, I may be forever spoiled with the level achieved in Twilight Princess). But, it was not the promise of new Zelda games that drew me back directly. Somewhat on a whim, I found an N64 emulator and started to enjoy some of the games I had missed now 7-10 years ago, including the great fighter platform Super Smash Bros. That game finished quickly though, and news of the much larger Gamecube version was naturally tempting. I was unsure, however, that a Gamecube purchase was worth it for essentially one game. But, my recently graduated brother now had a well-paying job, and made the decision for me with a gift of a Gamecube for Christmas. Naturally I played the newer Smash Bros. religiously, but the newer Zelda games still beckoned.

Your history, Midna, was equally uncertain. Twilight Princess was apparently planned as far back as 2001 as a true sequel to the much-lauded Ocarina Of Time (and the new game certainly has much in common with that title and with A Link To The Past), but many delays started pushing the release date back. Another game, The Wind Waker, would appear instead in 2003, while Twilight Princess hung in limbo. So long in fact that a new system was now planned for release. The much-hyped Wii could use a game to launch it, and it was decided that Twilight Princess would be that game. After a port that necessitated flipping the entire game (so that the many righties would not feel uncomfortable with the left-handed Link) Twilight Princess was finally ready to go in November 2006, while the game that was originally planned for Gamecube would unusually still be released for that system a month later. Just in time for a suddenly Gamecube-curious me to be perusing the stores and saying, "Ooh, a new Zelda game".

I didn't jump in right away though. I still had three other console Zelda's I had yet to play through (along with a GBA one), and it made sense to finish those first. However, that didn't end up happening. I seem to have a sixth sense about some of these things. I'll just suddenly latch onto a movie, TV show, or even people, and then find myself acting quite surprised that I actually enjoy these very much. Perhaps it was this again, but Twilight Princess seemed to have beckoned me in a similar way. I broke down after a month and purchased the naturally high-priced game (a timely gift card eased the pain somewhat), and gave the finger to OOT et al. for now in favor of this new game. I excitedly turned on the Gamecube and cast off the shackles of a dead-end job with low pay for...

...a dead end job with no pay. Well, at least my day off was coming up soon. Now assuming the Link role (you Midna would of course know me as Dave), I began as a goat-herder in the very tucked away Ordon Province. Humble beginnings to be sure, but promise of more lay on the horizon. My sword training soon began, and a messenger was needed to deliver something to the famous Princess Zelda in far-off Hyrule Castle. After some time spent with the locals, I was finally ready for this task. A fair maiden named Ilia was tending to my horse (who I found I could also rename), when suddenly, everything changed.

Monsters swooped in out of nowhere and kidnapped us both. I awoke after some time to find...I was a wolf? Well, I suppose I've always thought it interesting to try being a different animal, but this didn't seem like fun right now as I was chained in a cell in a dungeon. Escape seemed quite hopeless, but then I met you. I didn't find out until later why you searched for me (after all, we had never met), but I was in little position to ask or complain (especially since I couldn't talk). You helped me out of the cell, but with the caveat that I would have to do everything you said. The many others in this position no doubt found this untenable, but I found it...kinky? I admit, I am quite strange, but then again so are you (you look it at least, with whatever that dark thing is on your head, and a ponytail that doubles as a...hand? Cool, but still strange). We eventually made our way to Princess Zelda (after all), and she described my current situation. Most of the kingdom had been taken over by Twilight, specifically thanks to the dark king Zant (imagine my surprise to be facing an enemy not named Ganon). This meant that most of Hyrule lived on in spirit form, and permanently paralyzed by fear. I however had been spared this thanks to being the chosen one (well...) by the gods, who must have something to do with the legendary triforce as that mark adorns me. This of course meant it was up to me again (although along with this strange girl I'd just met) to save the whole of humanity.

As I'm sure you felt too, our relationship was a bit awkward at first. I obviously needed your help to maneuver throughout the Twilight, while you needed me to help you find some Fused Shadows. I'm still not sure what those are, but you gotta collect something in these dungeons. Although you didn't physically do a whole lot to help, your insight certainly did, although I always felt there was plenty you weren't telling me. I was a bit nervous and uncertain, but it couldn't be helped for the moment.

After a number of adventures, we were successful in our task. It seemed our time had come to part. But then things changed again.

Your boy Zant made an untimely appearance, yoinked our Shadows, and cast you out of the Twilight when you refused to help him. Your body couldn't handle this of course, and so we had to rush back to Princess Zelda once more for her help (and it was nice of you not to complain when we stopped off to grab a Poe Soul on the way). Zelda's cure-all powers were alas limited, and when you asked me to continue on without you, I realized just how close to death you were. As Zelda described your "mortal injuries", I stared transfixed, unable to fathom going on without you. However, Zelda was moved by your willingness to give your life for all of this, and transferred to you the ability to survive in this world, while she disappeared behind a diamond of Twilight. There was little to do but continue on through more adventures, but it was different now.

Although you were angry at first, I could tell your perspective had changed. You really were grateful for a second chance, and this was not just because of Zelda but me as well. You would probably expect after our tough early-goings that I would hate you, and no doubt many others do. Gamespot's guide finds you at best to be a necessary evil, and many others likely only see you as ugly and annoying. However, in a game where figuring out what to do is often harder than actually doing it, the one unspoken challenge is to look at you and figure out who you are, and to see you for it. I do admit that I have been far from the finest at the other numerous challenges this game offers, but this is one that I am most definitely up for.

Twilight Princess seems to present a choice of lovely ladies for the hero to end up with. There's the aforementioned Ilia, who lives in my town and looks very attractive. And there is also of course Zelda, who would be the classic choice and who is usually my destiny. But this usually highlights a key difference in this game from many others (and not just the other Zeldas). In those other Zelda games, she is my destiny and that does not change over the course of the game. I didn't expect Twilight Princess to be any different, but the vastness of the game has given me a feeling of spending a long time with the various characters, and I actually feel like I've come a long way from my humble beginnings. Most of all, of course, it's given me a chance to get to know you, and our relationship has grown in so many unexpected ways.

I do have to admit that I was afraid of you at first. I knew little about you, and I feared you would eventually be a traitor. I have a problem trusting myself, and I should have realized that what I saw in your one eye that is visible was not someone who would turn her back on me. What I did see was someone very passionate (and thus often frustrated), but with a huge heart regarding the unfortunate innocents in our quest. And then I found that I couldn't wait to finish the various parts of our quest just so that I could find out more about you. And I did, and you weren't nearly as scary as I thought. All of your actions made sense, and I found that the more I discovered about you...the more I loved you.

'Tis impossible to be sure, but I know I will not feel like this forever. This is because our parting is imminent, which will be best for me in the end. On one level, this is certainly not something I need right now, but on another maybe it is. I have spent a long time loving someone back in the real world; someone who shares a bit in common with you actually. She too is very passionate and yet hidden about who she is. She also dislikes herself, as you certainly seem to. I was unsuccessful in convincing her otherwise, so I hope to at least be able to show you that you are very worthwhile (and were you real...I shudder). And no matter who my character chooses (if anyone) at the end of our journey, know now that I choose you, and without any doubt.

My point in bringing up the old flame is that I was unsure that I could feel like that about anyone else. While your non-existence prevents any feelings from being too deep, I know now that it is possible for me to move on, which is not something I ever expected from just some video game.

So here we are, about to enter your realm for the first time. I could be scared, confident, or indifferent, but I instead find myself excited. Excited because I am going to learn more about you, and that is something I have very much enjoyed doing during the time we've spent together. However, I'm also a bit apprehensive, since I know each day we spend together is one closer to the time when we part. That said, I choose to delay no longer (you've been very patient with the numerous side quests I've done despite the fate of both of our peoples hanging in the balance), and I honestly look forward to completing our quest. We work quite well together now, and I know we will be successful.

But after that...I have little idea what the future will bring. I understand that your people will need you, as mine will need me (Hyrule always seems only a year or two away from life-threatening peril), but also understand that both of our peoples will need us, and not apart. It's clear that we both had prejudices about our peoples, but we overcame those during the time we spent together. If we seal our two worlds again, though, the prejudices will grow again and never go away. The only way to conquer them is for interactions like ours to happen, so we can see that we aren't really so different after all. This is what I see when I look at you.

In a matter of days our quest will be finished, and then we shall part. But before we do, I want you to know what those five stars at the top of this letter are for. They are for you. I do not quite have the perspective to give the rating solely on the game. I have not yet played a number of the earlier games (none of which I can now imagine doing without you), and I do not yet know if this game will have the replay value of those that I have played. Understand that it's not that I consider you one of the greatest characters ever. I don't feel like that. I do feel very comfortable with you, and you have taught me more about myself then I ever would have thought when I first sat down to play.

I understand why we must part, but I only ask you to see that it need not be forever. Hyrule likely won't remain peaceful indefinitely, and I would be honored to work with you again were something to arise. And (in the unlikely event) were peace to reign, I would hope for a fruitful collaboration between our various peoples. Understand at least that you are a truly amazing person, and that I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together. So then...goodbye for now, but only until we meet again. To our current success and continuing adventures!

Sincerely yours,
Dave