The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess -- The Art Design of Twilight.

When Nintendo unveiled the Gamecube at Spaceworld in 2000, it teased the world with footage of what was presumed to be the next installment in the long-running Legend of Zelda series. That footage was of a realistic looking approach to the game's art design. Fans of the series the world over were in great anticipation of the title. Cut to a year later at the next Spaceworld when the world got its next look at what now was Wind Waker. As everyone should know by now, Wind Waker used a cel-shaded look that Nintendo called Toon Shading. A bullshit term for cel-shading because Nintendo can't admit to copying anything being the innovators they believe themselves to be. The new graphic style for Wind Waker split the fans squarely into two camps. One group that absolutely loved it, and another group that absolutely despised the look. Apparently because Wind Waker didn't set the world on fire with its sales and the hate it camp was so very vocal about the graphics Nintendo caved in to the pressure and created a somewhat more realistic style with Twilight Princess. I say somewhat more realistic art style because it really just appears so on the surface. Link looks more adult. He's more of a young man instead of a child or teenager. Link may be, but the rest of the world is inhabited with more of the fantastical in both enemies and the non-player characters. They haven't attempted to make the Tektite the most realistic spider they possibly could. They've kept the fantasy. They've mixed in some real world with the straight out of Lord of the Rings aspects. Kakariko Village for example comes off as an old west mining town. One of the dungeons has a strong Egyptian vibe. Overall it results in the most bizarre Hyrule yet. It has a mixed and matched feeling that somehow works. The slightly realistic Link and the bizarre world he finds himself in this time around certainly give the story more weight than that of Wind Waker. But the fantasy and whimsy of other Zelda titles are still present in Twilight Princess. There are other aspects that help make Twilight Princess seem a bit more adult than previous titles. There are some surprisingly vicious actions in the game. Especially as Link in wolf form. Link more than bites the enemy, he latches on and shakes them violently,  ripping into them as a wolf really would. There isn't any blood of course, but the action itself is violent. Link has special finishing moves available to him should he find them. A couple them are also rather violent. There also seems to be touches of sexuality. In the way the barkeeper insinuates certain things and in how Midna is drawn and reacts to her riding of Link in wolf form. Midna has a rather womanly form and she grunts and has some slightly suggestive sounds going on. I know Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask had some sexuality, but it somehow seems more out in front in Twilight Princess. The game definitely manages a more adult feel to it than Wind Waker. It's quite welcome by me. Next time should cover the story of Twilight Princess.