The Zelda series is no stranger to referencing other Nintendo properties. Some games like Ocarina of Time choose to be much more subtle, like paintings in a window, others like Link’s Awakening take a much more blatant approach, like Kirby appearing as an enemy. Even though The Minish Cap is one of the few Zelda games not created by Nintendo, it has plenty of references to Nintendo’s flagship series Super Mario, such as cameo enemies, visual references, and even audio references.
Similar to Link’s Awakening, there’s a handful of enemies in The Minish Cap that are straight out of Super Mario. You can find Spinies and Bob-ombs in the Cave of Flames, both of which operate similarly to how they do in the Mario series: the Spinies become vulnerable when they flip over and the Bob-ombs explode after a bit. In the clouds, the iconic character Lakitu can be found, although he shares little with his Super Mario iteration other than his visual design.
The references don’t end with the enemies, though. At Mt. Crenel, the beanstalks used as ladders use the exact same sound effect as beanstalks from Super Mario World, which also are used to ascend to higher parts of the stage, although they’re usually a way to access secret areas in the Mario series. In the Palace of Winds, there are chain-link platforms with spinning gates that bear a strong resemblance to those seen in Bowser’s Castles in Super Mario World, as well as in levels like Pinna Park in Super Mario Sunshine.
Admittedly, I’ve always found references to other games very charming, so it’s easy for me to get excited for small nods such as these. I think of it as a fun little reward for being a dedicated Nintendo player, and I look forward to the small references included for longtime fans like myself. As a matter of fact, The Minish Cap itself would go on to be referenced with the Minshi Woods of Breath of the Wild. I don’t doubt that someday, the cycle will repeat once again and Breath of the Wild will be referenced in a game that comes out years from now.
