I said it in the past and i'll say it again, Twilight Princess is the worst Zelda game i have played
it just abuses the formula. it did not offer anything new and exciting rather then it's visuals, that at least to me, are weak, blend and boring.
The fact that the game trays so desperately to be Ocarina of Time, just make it unoriginal. the story was fine, the level design was average (besides the third and forth dungeons which where great), the overworld was big, yet very empty. and the game just lost steam in it's last third. the sty in the sky was a cool concept, i agree, but it just didn't deliver.
But perhaps what was the worst thing, it lacked the magic that makes Zelda spacial, that feeling of true wonder when you get to explore the great sea in Wind Waker, when you realize that Skyward Sword has Robot Pirates the travel in time and just wondering around in Ocarina of time. it just felt bland..
But that is just my opinion
I don't know where all of you who blame TP trying to "copy" OoT are coming from. Honestly, TP is somewhere in the middle when it comes to my favourite Zelda list, and there sure are some things wrong with it (long and tutorial-like intro, too empty overworld, too easy enemies and bosses etc.) but out of all of them, I think it "trying to copy OoT" is the least valid complaint.
This is Zelda, what do you expect? Of course you'll always find similarities to older games. The only thing similar to OoT is that typical
"Rather peaceful beginning - minor plot twist - collect three pearl/pendant things - get the Master Sword - major plot twist (something happens to Zelda) - beat more dungeons - face off Ganon"
formula, which by the way was introduced in aLttP - and yet I see no one complaining about OoT "copying" it, TWW "copying" and to some extent SS "copying" it. In my own opinion they should change this formula a bit, even more than they changed it in SS but why, in some peoples' opinions, is TP the only one not "allowed" to use it!?
Let me see how it "copies" OoT:
- Is there a sword skill system in OoT?
- Is there an ice mountain region in OoT?
- Is there something comparable to Midna in OoT?
- Can you transform in OoT?
- Is the Temple of Time a dungeon in OoT?
- Are there items like the Spinner, Ball & Chain, underwater bombs etc. in OoT?
- Is there a major sub-antagonist character like Zant in OoT?
- Can you time-travel and grow up in TP?
- Do you have to get the power of sages in TP?
- Can you play Ocarina songs with many effects, like making it day/night in TP?
...and the list goes on
I think TP has made enough changes to the formula to stand out as unique, just because they're not as drastic as in WW with the flooded world they are there.