One of the greatest video game tales of our time!
GAMEPLAY: Like most video games, this is where it should shine most. However, it isn't quite perfect. The game is played almost exactly like you'd play a modern Zelda game: Roam around the world, look for a dungeon, get a new power, then fight the boss. However, instead of finding new items to work with, you find brush techniques that you use to perform specific actions, some similar to items found in Zelda games. To use these, you simply call up the brush screen and draw some sort of shape or path which then affects the environment if done correctly, ranging from grappling to flowers to changing it from day to night. Of course, it goes deeper than that, as you get your fair share of sidequests to perform. And by fair share I mean a whole lot; there are dozens of things to do beside the main story arc, from hunting monsters for someone's wanted list, making the trees bloom, finding a local bandit to obtain everyone's lost goods, etc.
While these mechanics work well, the actual combat system can sometimes feel irritating. The main reason for this is the controls. You are given a choice of three main types of weapons to use: a reflector (which doubles as a shield), a whip-like string of beads, and a sword. You will find that the reflector has a slow rate of attacking, and can be imprecise. The same goes for the sword, which is more irritating to use because you'll be waggling your hands all over the place and it won't even register as an attack, resulting in you being pretty much a sitting duck. The last weapon, the beads, I found work best because all you have to do is keep shaking your hand. However, it turns all of your battles into wrist-hurting waggle-fests, which does not fare well. Plus it makes you look stupid as you do it. The developers should've just made the attacks a single button rather than having to shake it. 8/10
STORY: I believe that this is the game's strongest point, as the story is just so dang epic. The first story arc has you preparing to fight the reborn Orochi, and just when you think it's over, the story continues. Defeating Orochi is just about a third of the entire game, and throughout the 40+ hour story, you will encounter several characters that induce a lot of charm into the whole package. There is the lazy hero who is destined to defeat Orochi, the playful Kakori who wishes to become a hero, the mysterious girl who was raised by a bamboo-making carpenter, and of course, the pint-sized boy who is your sidekick throughout the course of the game. It is through these characters that the story gains its true colors, with each and every one of them having a distinct personality. And with each plot twist and story arc, you just can't help but care for the characters and wonder what will happen next. 10/10
GRAPHICS: Another strong point of the game, the graphics are just so unique and beautiful that sometimes you just want to stop doing things in the game and gaze at the scenery. The game truly puts Japanese water-color art to life, and that is quite a feat. 10/10
MUSIC: The music in the game is obviously inspired by old Japanese samurai-era music, and it fits perfectly. While not every track is amazing, there are quite a few that you will be humming to yourself after the Wii is powered off. Plus, after you finish the game, a sound test is unlocked, letting you listen to any track from the game, something that most modern games tend not to do. 10/10
OVERALL: This game is a must-have for any fans of Zelda games or any Wii owner in general. The art direction is flawless, and despite some control issues, it is definitely a game worthy of calling a classic. 9.5/10