This time around, every single page is loaded full of content, featuring multiple highly detailed panels packed onto each one. There is a great balance between dialogue and action scenes, and the pacing itself simply feels perfect. Although the page count is nearly identical to Volume 2—at a little less than 200 pages of actual content—it feels twice as long, if not longer, simply because of everything that happens. While the previous volume focused almost exclusively on the first visit to the Twilight Realm and Wolf Link, Volume 3 takes us to the familiar grounds of Kakariko Village, but that is only scratching the surface.
Link and His Resolve
Following the conclusion of Volume 2, Link finally sets out on his adventure, though he is still completely unsure of himself. He has been informed that he is the new chosen hero, yet he cannot see himself as being even remotely close to one. He is indecisive, his past is filled with failures, and up until now, he has only acted in his own self-interest. That said, he is helping Midna with her quest to stop the mysterious Zant from taking over the world, but that is mostly because finding his friends and family from Ordon Village remains his top priority. Unbeknownst to him, their paths will cross in the near future, though not before he gets lost in the woods first, a moment cleverly used to incorporate the video game’s mechanic of obtaining a lantern into the manga’s story.
Throughout this volume, we do get to see Link develop more as a character, eventually putting on his iconic hero’s hat once he is ready to take on the world and “accept” his destiny. Of course, this acceptance means more than just facing the world in his normal body, as he must come to terms with his new Wolf Form as well. Midna calls him a beast, and it is not until now that Link fully embraces it, ripping enemies to shreds and leaving a bloody trail in his wake. For Link, these powers are meant to be used strictly as a means to an end, yet he cannot help but feel as if he is losing himself. But then something happens…
A New Look at the People of Ordon Village
One of the unique aspects of Volume 3 is that it heavily focuses not just on Link and Midna’s adventure, but on the residents of Ordon Village as well. This is where we, as readers, finally get to see what happened to the kids following the attack, and it details how they came to be in the care of the shaman Renado in Kakariko Village. These characters, who were once simple side NPCs to speak to in the game, are fleshed out a lot more here and are given their own moments of character development. Colin especially goes through quite a bit of growth here, as the manga further expands upon a “key” moment for him that was seen in the original game.
Outside of the group in Kakariko Village, we are once again given new insight into Ilia following her kidnapping. This part of the manga is actually one of the darker moments in the volume, as a freak accident arms her with a shard of glass, which she then turns on her own wrist. Of course, she doesn’t fully go through with it, considering she is an important character in the original video game and her death would occur long before she resurfaces in-game. Still, the fact that the manga was willing to show just how much of a mental toll everything has taken on her is pretty surprising. This isn’t the first or last shocking moment in this series, and it is just one of the many scenes in Volume 3 that make it so memorable.
His Return
In a volume filled with so many great moments, it is hard to believe it managed to fit in another “early” key event from the Twilight Princess story: the first official meeting with the Hero’s Spirit.
Those who have read past The Legend of Zelda manga series or played the games will find this moment much more impactful, as Link comes face-to-face with a literal ghost from the past. Although the scene plays out similarly to what was featured in the original game, there is a lot of added context, including a touching interaction between the Hero’s Spirit and Midna. Readers wishing to see more of the Hero’s Spirit in Twilight Princess will be happy to hear that the manga goes much further with his story, and the scenes in Volume 3 are just the beginning of what’s to come. Overall, it is handled extremely well and is sure to fill longtime fans with mixed emotions.
Why is that? Well, if you’re not familiar with the story, how about we don’t fully spoil that one?
Final Thoughts
I know I’ve covered and discussed quite a bit of what is included here, but surprisingly this is only scratching the surface of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Volume 3. There are plenty of surprises left to discover for yourself, and the moments I mentioned are only the basic setup for the events that unfold. It is difficult to stress just how much truly happens this time around, especially after what was on display in Volume 2. That said, it truly is one of my favorite parts of the entire series, but we’re still getting started. There are eight more to get through, and things are just now about to kick into high gear. I honestly think that those who were still on the fence about the series will find this one hooks them, but if not, then maybe the series simply isn’t for you. Even so, this is an excellent story, and one fans will not want to miss.
For those interested in checking it out for yourself, you can do so by heading over to Viz Media’s Official Website.
Story via Nettosgameroom. Read the original article
