Every Mainline Console Zelda Game Ranked

After the reveal of Wind Waker, which boasted a cel-shaded cartoon-y art style, fans called for a return to a more realistic art style. Nintendo heard them, and delivered what they asked and then some.

The darkest, most mature take on The Legend Of Zelda franchise yet, the visually gorgeous Twilight Princess nevertheless suffers from its refusal to experiment too much with the Zelda formula, the game's central gimmick (the ability to turn into Wolf Link) feeling more tacked on than seamlessly integrated into the gameplay. What could have been a way to majorly switch up the series' combat system ended up being the Zelda equivalent of the Werehog in Sonic Unleashed; the Wolf Link sections (which involved repetitive hunts for Tears Of Light) left fans itching for a return to more traditional gameplay.

Still, the Wolf Link mechanic introduced fans to Midna, the most beloved of all Link's sidekicks. The game's mature storyline also introduced a wealth of compelling themes, telling one of the best and most memorable stories of any Zelda game.

Although it is in many ways little more than a modernised and beefed up version of Ocarina Of Time, which loses some of the earlier title's tightness in its expansive quest and gameworld, Twilight Princess is still worth a playthrough for any serious Zelda fan. Containing some of the best dungeons and items in the series (seriously, we need to see more of the Double Clawshot and Spinner), Twilight Princess is still a contender for the 3D Zelda crown.