Although marginally not as breathtaking as previous Zelda games, it still nonetheless continues the epic series.
Only this time it is a little different - you won't be doing any time traveling, but instead transforming between your real form (Human) and a "Shadow" form (Wolf). Your human form will have access to many types of items, including classics such as the Hookshot (called the "Clawshot"), Iron Boots, Empty Bottles, Bombs, and who can forget - the Bow + Arrow. While in Wolf form, you cannot use any of these items, though you can melee attack and reach places by teleporting and doing jumps with your partner, Midna. The graphics are definitely top-notch for the GameCube, and despite the dawn of the 7th generation, and the outdating of the GameCube, it still pushes the GameCube to the best of its capability in this category. Many textures are just done beautifully, with water a prime example - you'll find it very appealing to look at. The world is also relatively big, though like all the other 3D Zelda games you'll be able to warp. Just about every location from Ocarina of Time is in this game (as it takes place in Hyrule once again), with a few new areas, such as a snow-covered mountain and an entirely new village where you start out in. One thing that isn't so good about the world is the sheer number of vertical cliffs that make the land kind of unrealistic. Also, it would have been nice for bodies of water to not have been so deep. But still this game does an amazing job of producing a next-gen Hyrule.
Epona is back again, and you'll actually see her pretty early in the game. This time however you CAN be attacked while on Horseback, though you are able to run enemies down with ease.
The game has its fair share of sidequests, with many Poe Souls to collect at night, and golden bugs, too. Heart Pieces are there of course, but this time (and for the first) you need FIVE pieces to fill a heart container, leading you ever so more to desire them! There's also the Cave of Ordeals, which like the Gerudo Training Ground, it is something you can do outside the main quest just for fun. You may find that the GameCube version lacks what the Wii version has, but really there seems to be no other reason besides this game to get a Wii, and as long as you are willing to miss out on the motion-sensing controls, you would be saving a good $250! The GCN and Wii versions are pretty much the same, with the big exception of the GCN version's map being a mirror image of the Wii's. Other than that, there are no other differences.
The value is perhaps the most distinct part of this game. You should spend at least 45 hours playing this game, and although the side-quests aren't as prominent as in other Zelda games, you can easily get over 70 hours of play in before it wears out.