Twilight Princess seems to be by far the most controversial Zelda game, and outside BotW, seems for some reason to generate some of the most polarizing opinions of any game in the franchise. I find myself somewhere in the middle of these, as I certainly do not think it is the best Zelda game or particularly close but not at all a bad game, offering a different interpretation of the Zelda universe that I both appreciated but also probably happy was not here to stay.

Nintendo absolutely took a risk with this game's style and in general I think it was a worthy one. It's not my favorite of series' various aesthetics, but the new characters end up having some of the best design in the series. Midna might be the best Zelda partner period, offering meaningful commentary while directly interacting with the narrative and a means to an end, while Zant is one of the creepiest Nintendo villains and is a perfect microcosm of the somberness of the game. The dungeon design overall is good, bringing some particularly unique ideas to the table, particularly in the Snowpeak Temple.

Twilight Princess is a worthy Zelda experience that succeeds in telling a darker story in a darker world. Capped off by a beautiful, melancholic soundtrack, Twilight Princess may not be the best Zelda game but in nearly every case it is an experiment gone right.

8/10