HOW IT LOOKS-

The game uses a much more realistic and dark style, and while Majora's Mask had dark themes mixed with playful imagery, Twilight Princess incorporates melancholy themes with dark visuals. The world is open, not necessarily big, but open to explore at your own pace, and as the story progresses it changes around you. The enemies all have similar dark looks, with twisted physiques and human like qualities, it only draws you deeper into the world. Graphically the game looks excellent, and playing it on the Wii helped to refine it. 

HOW IT FEELS-

Themes are important in video games. If The Last Of Us had inconsistent themes then it would be much harder to take it seriously. Twilight Princess incorporates Majora's Mask's time element in a much more subtle way. From the time you're introduced to Hyrule Castle you can see it off in the distance surrounded by a barrier. Having it there, since you start the game, is an excellent way to have it in the players minds while playing. The game keeps the strange characters that have become a staple of the series and makes them feel fresh and exciting. I mentioned that the world changes around you and I fully believe that. Although you may not see physical differences, the way you perceive the world changes while you play. You feel like you're making progress and the story drives you forward.     

The game feels like a combination of Majora's Mask and Ocarina of Time, (Ocarina's exploration and Majora's dark world).

HOW IT PLAYS-

As I am filth and don't own a GameCube I played the Wii version of the game. This was back when Skyward Sword's precise cutting wasn't around, so frantically swinging the Wiimote was just like mashing the attack button (although this became troublesome later). Moving and exploring is easy and fun. Combat is beautiful. Each enemy has it's own style of fighting and you have to adapt to fight that enemy. For example, there's this one enemy that, at certain points in the story, will surround you in a barrier and you'll be forced to fight it. If you don't know when this is going to happen it can be quite nerve racking. The only way to beat them is to transform into Link's wolf form. 

Every temple is fun. Yes, there is a water temple. No, it doesn't suck. Every temple in the game will make you think, and puzzle you. You'll need to go back and think hard about the puzzles. Every boss is unique and requires a special way to beat it. Even the "shoot it in the big glowing eye" boss still felt like a challenge, and added another level. I would recommend not touching a walk through for anything, because you will feel like you'll want it.

LINK'S WOLF FORM-

I honestly think this needs it's own sub-heading because it sounds really silly at first. Link is transformed into a wolf whenever he enters a Twilight Zone (haha). This restricts his access to items and forces you to solve puzzles, in a way that is unique to Wolf Link's ability's. I felt like this was a really cool part of the game, and once you're able to transform whenever you want the game felt like it had really taken it up a notch. Wolf Link's combat feels unique and he is necessary to complete most temples. 

FINAL THOUGHTS-

The game looks great and feels great. I remember getting really frustrated with Ocarina even though I love that game. I got frustrated while playing Twilight Princess but only because I was frustrated with myself. The game gives you everything, you never get confused unless the game wants you confused and it does this consistently. The world is so varied and interesting. Going to the desert for the first time is incredible and filled me with the kind of wonder that I don't really get any more. 

If you haven't checked out this game yet, please do. For your sake.

The Technomancer

Actual RPGs are hard to come by these days. Many people mistaking label leveling up a skill in a linear corridor shooter as an RPG, but developer Spiders know the truth. The Technomancer is an open world cyberpunk RPG set on Mars with a heavy emphasis on storytelling and unique melee combat. The Technomancer is also a spiritual successor to the severely underrated Mars: War Logs. Spiders have a proven track record when it comes to developing a proper RPG with compelling story aspects, so we're excited to see if The Technomancer can keep Spiders' track record polished.

We Happy Few

If you thought the underwater city of Rapture from BioShock wasn't fueled by enough fictional drugs, We Happy Few is for you. We Happy Few is a psychological horror game set in an alternate 1960's England where all citizens are required to take a drug called "Joy." More about the game will be known once it is released to Steam early access and Xbox Game Preview July 26th.

Cuphead

Cuphead is a 2D platformer with the artstyle of a 1930's cartoon. At the beginning of the game, the player loses a bet with the devil and spends the rest of the game attempting to repay the lost bet. Recently announced for Cuphead were more platforming areas to compliment its brutal boss fights. One of Cuphead's hooks is its punishing difficulty. See for yourself.

Vampyr

From the developers that brought you Life is Strange... comes Vampyr. Vampyr is a third person RPG that casts you in the role of a doctor turned vampire as he deals with the duality of saving lives and taking them. The video game industry has been absolutely starved for a good vampire game since Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. Let's hope that Dontnod Entertainment can revitalize this undead genre.

Yooka-Laylee

Banjo-Kazooie fans rejoice! No longer are you trapped under the mighty boot of Microsoft. After a very successful Kickstarter, many of the original Rare Ware developers were able to fund the Banjo-Threeie that we never got. Yooka-Laylee is a third person platformer that takes more than a few pages from Banjo's playbook. The colorful, cartoony visuals are back, as well as the collect-a-thon gameplay that gamers from the early 2000's know and love.