Skip to main content

6 ways Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is different from the original

Almost 10 years after its original GameCube release, Nintendo has breathed new life The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess with a remastered version of the game for the Wii U. While a decade-old title doesn’t exactly feel “modern,” Twilight Princess is still technically playable on the Wii U assuming you still have your Wii Remote and nunchuck. So, what makes this new version special?

Rather than simply “uprez” an old game, Nintendo has tweaked and altered the original to create a slightly modernized, but ultimately true-to-form upgrade on the original. Here’s a breakdown of the features that should make Twilight Princess HD the best version of the game available.

Recommended Videos

Enhanced graphics (obviously)

It’s right there in the name: The Wii U version of Twilight Princess sports a visual overhaul to make it look good in 1080p. The new version has more detailed textures and improved lighting, including enhanced shadow animations. As Digital Foundry pointed out, some characters feature entirely new assets — Link’s hair has been completely reworked — and some areas feature new basic assets, such as extra trees. Here’s a video comparing the three versions, which shows that, while there was very little visual difference between the GameCube and Wii versions, the Wii U HD remake look much sharper in all the right places.

Zelda Twilight Princess HD: Wii U vs GameCube vs Wii Frame-Rate Test

There are some aesthetic changes as well. Zelda historians will be happy to hear that the world of Twilight Princess HD is based on the original GameCube version. (Yes, Link holds his sword in his left hand.) The mirrored version of the world, created for the Wii version to accommodate right-handed playing is also included in the game, but we’ll get to that later. Nintendo also leaned more heavily on the “bloom” visual effect seen framing the edges of the screen during cutscenes, giving the game a more distinctive “look.”

Wii U controller & Miiverse support

As usual, Nintendo uses the second screen on the Wii U controller to make your life a little easier. You can check your minimap on the screen, as well as switch items on the fly without pausing the game. If you prefer, the game also features Wii U off-screen support.

Zelda Twilight Princess HD: Wii U vs GameCube vs Wii Frame-Rate Test
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nintendo has also sprinkled around collectible Zelda-themed Miiverse stamps, which can be used to add some flair to Miiverse notes.

Streamlined gameplay

As with the Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker HD remakes, Nintendo altered the game in spots, correcting common complaints from the original Twilight Princess, and generally made the pacing of the game more amenable to modern players. Switching between human and Wolf Link, for example, can be triggered with a single button press. In the original versions, you had to speak with Link’s companion Midna to trigger the transformation. Since you need to switch between forms frequently for both puzzles and combat, it should be a huge time-saver. Link will also have a larger wallet at the beginning of the game.

Other fixes apply directly to specific parts of the game. A new item, the Ghost Lantern, helps Link find lost poe souls hidden throughout the world. Though the ghosts are a collectible throughout the game, they are introduced during a specific, potentially frustrating mission. During an early section of the game, Link must collect “tears of light” to earn the ability to switch between human and wolf form; According to GamesRadar, the number of Tears of Light Link needs to acquire has been decreased from 16 to 12 in the Wii U version.

Hero mode

For veterans, Twilight Princess HD features a harder “Hero mode,” which can be switched on at the start of a new game. Hero Mode takes place in the bizarro mirror version of Hyrule from the Wii version of Twilight Princess, and enemies deal double damage and never drop hearts.

New dungeon: The Cave of Shadows

In addition to all the tweaks and improvements, Twilight Princess HD features an entirely new dungeon. If you have the Wolf Link Amiibo, which comes with retail version of the game, you can play a new optional dungeon called “The Cave of Shadows.” Rather than a puzzle-based exploration, the The Cave of Shadows dungeon offers a series of wave-based combat challenges for Wolf Link. And yes, there is a new item waiting at the end for players who complete it.

Amiibo support

Amiibo collectors can also use the other Legend of Zelda figures to give them a leg up or increased the challenge of Twilight Princess HD. Using the Zelda and Sheik Amiibo gives Link more hearts. Using Link or Toon Link gives him more arrows.

Using the Gannondorf Amiibo, on the other hand, makes Link take double damage and turns his hearts blue. This, combined with Hero Mode, opens up the opportunity for a Dark Souls-esque hardcore mode where Link takes 4x damage.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD hits Wii U March 4. Players can pick up the disc-based version, which comes with the Wolf Link Amiibo, for $60, or download it from the Wii U eShop for $50.

Mike Epstein
Former Associate Editor, Gaming
Michael is a New York-based tech and culture reporter, and a graduate of Northwestwern University’s Medill School of…
All Silent Hill games in order, by release date and chronologically
A girl staring at a shrine.

Among the best horror games in video game history, the Silent Hill franchise might be the most iconic. Starting back on the PS1, this claustrophobic and psychological horror series stood apart from the rest with its dense fog and otherworldly monsters. Sadly, the franchise has had more lows than highs after the third entry, but it is making a strong comeback as of late. Now is the best time to immerse yourself in the dark world of Silent Hill, but where should you start? Unlike the Resident Evil games, which are very tied together, the lore and canon of Silent Hill is much harder to track. Make sure your radio is turned on and grab a pipe as I walk you through the entire Silent Hill series in release order and chronologically.

All Silent Hill games in release order

Read more
How to make copper chests in Minecraft
Copper chests in Minecraft.

Before the last update drop of 2025, copper was kind of useless in Minecraft. We all used to toss away this material since it had so few uses, but now there are some very compelling reasons to hang onto it. The first is to make Copper Golems, a new creature that can help out around your base. But, to give them more value besides their company, you will need to make some copper chests as well. Note that you need to make a Copper Golem before you can get the recipe for a copper chest, which I will explain in detail below.

Read more
Romero Games’ cancelled title might not be dead yet
John Romero

In the wake of Microsoft's layoffs and studio closures last week, rumors circulated that Romero Games — the studio founded by Doom creator John Romero — had also shut down after funding for its still-untitled game was pulled. Those rumors are false, and the studio is still alive and kicking, even if it isn't out of the woods yet.

Romero Games shared an update on its social media accounts late yesterday afternoon that the studio "is not closed, and [they] are doing everything in [their] power to ensure it does not come to that." Perhaps more exciting is the possibility that the cancelled game still has a lifeline.

Read more