As far as the game mechanics are concerned, there was a lot of pre-release concern that the Wii controls would take away from the experience and just wind up being gimmicky. But as I mentioned earlier, whether you are playing Link as a human or Link in wolf form (they switch off depending on where you’re at in the game), the controls may seem complex but become second nature as you work your way through the game. Aiming with the remote takes a little practice, but by the time you pick up the boomerang, it will become a key part of your arsenal, along with the sword fighting that is done by waving the remote, shaking the nunchuck or mixing things up with a button press and a wave or two. Even the diehards should love this one.

And that’s the beauty of the game. From those who have followed the series from the beginning to people like me who are new to the whole Zelda experience, this game has something for everyone, and frankly, it’s given me faith in this medium again, knowing that beyond the graphical firepower of the PS3 and Xbox 360 that a simple game with a simple story and simple mechanics can still make me pull all-nighters just so I can beat one more boss or enter one more new area.

That’s truly what gaming is about.