In Defense of The Wolf Form

If you've read my review of Twilight Princess, you'll know I disliked Wolf Form. It wasn't very efficient and when we had to change into it, I thought it was a bit of a pain, as well as the places where you turned into the Wolf Form.

At least until a while ago, I realised two things.

#1: When I was going over to Hyrule to go see Zelda for the second time (you know, with Midna looking really bad), I had to sneak through Telma's bar and then into a section of sewers that required a little puzzle to get through. After seeing Zelda, I realised something: I had fun. As Wolf Link (I previously thought that was impossible).

#2: In a reply to one of the more critical posts of my review, I stated that 'no transformation is supposed to be designed for combat'! What I didn't realise at the time is that my statement includes Wolf Link. Wolf Link isn't designed, no matter how much the energy field would like to disagree with me, designed for combat.

And since my main complaint about Wolf Form was how bad it was at combat, I would like to withdraw that complaint and give an apology. So...sorry, everyone.

There! Now, I came to the opinion that Wolf Link was designed for Stealth and Tracking. Stealth because of the sneaking through Telma's bar level, the way he latches on to some enemies (kind like he's grabbing them and tearing off their necks) and tracking, because, well...the scents.

This does not, however, excuse Nintendo from some bad mistakes. One, the energy field. It clashes horribly with Wolf Link's role (a stealthy hunter) by giving it an edge in combat. I recently went through the game, deciding not to use Wolf Form to open portals. This made opening portals fairly challenging, and it increased my fun levels. If Wolf didn't have that energy field, opening the portals would be harder...and thus helping the difficulty complaint.

Two: The way they handled the scents. You see, IMO, Wolf Link is supposed to be a tracker. You'd think that, instead of forgetting scents as he came across new ones, he'd be able to switch between scents as he wished. I also think that the Poe's scent would work much more than just in the spirit temple. I thought, after getting it, that I'd be able to use it to track down the rest of the poes around Hyrule Kingdom. No such luck. Also, a place they could've used scents is when we were hunting for those blasted light bugs, instead of displaying them on our mini-map. Like if you killed a bug then learned it's scent after you got the tear, and then when you come to a new group of bugs, you could just switch to the scent of bugs and start hunting. I think that would help those levels not be so repetetive as it makes it so you don't already know where you're going but are following a trail. Because, for me, following scents was always fun, and now I can see it.

Three: Another fairly crucial piece of Wolf Link, as mentioned above, is the requirment of stealth. The early sections of Wolf Link had this, with you sneaking around the village, trying to find a sword and shield. And then later, when you have to sneak around Telma's Bar to help Midna. Incidentally, I had the most Wolf Link fun while I was doing this. But there wasn't really any stealth after that, what with Link's ability to change around, so I don't have any complaints. Any more stealth levels would've felt unnessescary and a little repetetive. So, yeah. Good Job, Nintendo. You made the right decision: Just the correct amount of Stealth levels.

So, yeah: The complaint about how jerky Wolf Link's combat is doesn't really apply because, IMO it wasn't designed for it. Though I would've liked to see more scent tracking (and the ability to remember different scents), though if you're willing to make it more challenging to open portals by using regular Link, I think you'll (the rest of the anti's like me) be pleasantly suprised. Needless to say, I look upon Wolf Link with far more favor than I previously did. His ability to dig and hop great distances now has a bit more leeway with me.

And if this doesn't quite sound like a defense article: Let me tell you: This is a big leap for me. I find Wolf Link acceptable now, as opposed to completely disgusting prior.

One thing you have to keep in mind about the whole Wolf Form in TP is that it's the first time any kind of transformation like that has been done in Zelda games. So it was more like a prototype, if you ask me. Because it's a prototype, it's not going to be perfect, and there will be flaws. I'm sure (or at least, I hope) that Nintendo's learned some things about implementing transformations from this game. I'm sure (or, again, I hope) that in the next Zelda game with a transformation like TP had (if there is one), it will be better implemented. I agree that the Wolf Form in TP wasn't perfect, but it's also the first step in the right direction, perhaps.

Another thing about what you said about being able to switch between scents. I agree that this should have been an option. However, having to look for things, rather than just follow a trail to them, makes the game a little harder, and promotes exploration. It's not necessarily a bad thing that they do it this way.

Originally Posted by Hetalia Canadia

Another thing about what you said about being able to switch between scents. I agree that this should have been an option. However, having to look for things, rather than just follow a trail to them, makes the game a little harder, and promotes exploration. It's not necessarily a bad thing that they do it this way.

My response to this, would be that there's a difference between 'promoting exploration and difficulty' and 'making something so difficult and repetetive that no one wants to do it' (I have never found all of the poes. Just saying).

Sure, promoting exploration seems like a good idea, but if you're making it into a job, I'd say something needs to be done. :/

Okay, so the Poes were a little out of the way. I even resorted to looking up their locations in the end, and I'm not a big fan of game guides. The bugs, though, were incredibly easy to find, since they were even marked on the map. So, yeah, maybe using the Poe's scent found in Arbiter's Grounds wouldn't have been a bad idea.

I agree that the attacking wasn't that good, but that was just then you waggled the remote/B button (wii/gamecube) the energy field was alright, it made it quite a bit easier. the scents were put in just to make sure you didn't get lost.

What I liked was when Midna was sick and you had to get her to Zelda, but that is just because Midna's lament is one of the most awesome songs ever!

I think the need to switch between wolf link and human link made nice puzzles that we havn't seen before that I appreciated.

the attacking wasnt good, but wolves kick ass!

Originally Posted by Hetalia Canadia

One thing you have to keep in mind about the whole Wolf Form in TP is that it's the first time any kind of transformation like that has been done in Zelda games.

Haven't played MM have you?

Originally Posted by Fulcon

And if this doesn't quite sound like a defense article: Let me tell you: This is a big leap for me. I find Wolf Link acceptable now, as opposed to completely disgusting prior.

HISSSS HISSSS, TRAITOR!!!

And I'm sticking to my view of Wolf Link: Completely pointless and uninnovative.

Originally Posted by Double A

HISSSS HISSSS, TRAITOR!!!

And I'm sticking to my view of Wolf Link: Completely pointless and uninnovative.

Hmmmm...can I get some reasoning behind it?

I thought it wasn't that innovative, but was anything in TP really all that innovative (aside from the Wii stuff)? Was TP even supposed to innovate? I just bet that the Wolf form was put in as a nod to transformations, and a way to try to make them better.

Wolf Link was buit for stealth and tracking. We got a lot of the Tracking, but not a lot of stealth.

"Wolf Link was completely uninnovative."

Originally Posted by Fulcon

Hmmmm...can I get some reasoning behind it?

Okay then.

Originally Posted by Fulcon

I thought it wasn't that innovative, but was anything in TP really all that innovative (aside from the Wii stuff)? Was TP even supposed to innovate? I just bet that the Wolf form was put in as a nod to transformations, and a way to try to make them better.

Originally Posted by Hetalia Canadia

One thing you have to keep in mind about the whole Wolf Form in TP is that it's the first time any kind of transformation like that has been done in Zelda games. So it was more like a prototype, if you ask me. Because it's a prototype, it's not going to be perfect, and there will be flaws. I'm sure (or at least, I hope) that Nintendo's learned some things about implementing transformations from this game. I'm sure (or, again, I hope) that in the next Zelda game with a transformation like TP had (if there is one), it will be better implemented. I agree that the Wolf Form in TP wasn't perfect, but it's also the first step in the right direction, perhaps.

..really?

go play majora's mask before you make yourself look worse..

Originally Posted by Fulcon

I thought it wasn't that innovative, but was anything in TP really all that innovative (aside from the Wii stuff)? Was TP even supposed to innovate? I just bet that the Wolf form was put in as a nod to transformations, and a way to try to make them better.

No offense but that's one of the most intelligent things I've heard you ask! That's why I forgive the lack of innovation in TP it was described as "The last Zelda of its kind" or something like that. So really TP was just meant to be sort of a last hurrah for the tradition Zelda formula(suppossedly) and we'll get something entirely different with ZWii. The wolf form actually combined several items(eye of truth, shovel, and pegasus boots to a degree) into one transformation.

Originally Posted by Double A

"Wolf Link was completely uninnovative."

Okay then.

Why are you crying about innnovation? Does every game have to innovate? Some people think games were better years ago so why shouldn't Zelda try and find its roots?

Okay, so I made a few mistakes. Link transformed, quite a few times, in MM. However, it was still a little different from Wolf Link. The main difference being that Wolf Link is a full-on animal transformation, rather than something humanoid (Deku Link, Goron Link, Zora Link, and Oni Link were all humanoid creatures). Fighting is different for animals and for humanoid creatures, which may or may not be one of the reasons why the fighting for Wolf Link seemed so bad in the game. It's also the first time they've done the whole senses thing and the forcefield attack. It's not the first time they've used transformations, but rather, transformations of this kind. By this, I simply mean that Link wasn't humanoid, but rather, an animal.

Originally Posted by Double A

"Wolf Link was completely uninnovative."



Okay then.

...okay then.

However, I don't think most of the Wolf Link sections were fun, at least not for me. The fun parts, while few, were very well done. It's a shame we didn't get more like them.

Fulcon: Which parts were fun and which weren't again?

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

Fulcon: Which parts were fun and which weren't again?

The bug (tears of light) hunts and hunting for poes were bad.

The second one is optional I admit, but the bug hunts could've been handled better. Since Wolf Link is a tracker, it would've made more sense to have to follow a 'scent' rather than have them show up on your mini-map. I believe the 'mini-map' part helped make it seem more repetetive.

You were going "okay, I need to go there, then there and then there..."

Whereas, if you were just following a scent: "Where are you leading me, dust-cloud-trail?"

As for the 'fun' part; I thought that anything having you sneak around (like you should be doing as a Wolf) was great fun.

Fulcon: Sneaking around was fun. The bug part would have been better if they did what you suggested but how would that have worked if they're flying around?

Oni: Simple: The scent leads you to the general area, but not to the exact location. Like it leads you to the place they were for the past ten minutes but then they start moving again.

Fulcon: Interesting. But doesn't the minimap do that too? It leads you to area which is marked by the dot but you actually have to find where the bug is(whether it be underground, inside a stove, or clinging to a wall) on your own.

I thought Wolf Link has a cool look, great fighting tactics, fit the look of Link as an animal, is useful and was full of win.

If Link was a bird, it would be easy to get to places and pointless to attack(peck).

My opinion.