By the time Link emerges victorious from the Angler’s Tunnel in Link’s Awakening, he knows there is something amiss about the island of Koholint. That still doesn’t prepare him for the supernatural surprise awaiting him at the dungeon’s entrance. With his mind already on finding the next Instrument of the Sirens, Link is startled to…
I’ve previously written about how The Wind Waker‘s creators purposely designed the game to evoke feelings of joy and highlight the pleasures of island life. An important part of achieving this was the meticulous sound design mimicking the relaxing sounds heard at the beach. The swishing of the breeze through the trees. The crashing of…
Though I sometimes dread participating, I often find icebreakers to be the most interesting and memorable parts of work meetings. They are a chance to learn something new about your coworkers, find shared interests, and build collegiality. In my opinion, the icebreaker question that elicits the most engaging answers is, “What is one thing no…
When a character becomes iconic, it is easy to forget that they were likely inspired by preceding characters or other sources. Such is the case with the main cast of The Legend of Zelda, who have come to be archetypes in the video game world. For example, the name “Zelda” itself has become synonymous with…
“Failing upwards” describes how some people benefit, usually in their career, despite a series of failures. It explains how some people tend to move up the ladder even though they may not be the most qualified (if qualified at all). In the Legend of Zelda universe, the character that may best fit this description is…
There are many endemic threats in Breath of the Wild‘s Hyrule. Scorching deserts, lava-spewing volcanoes, and freezing mountains are among the hostile environments where unwary travelers risk exposure. The land is teeming with various, bloodthirsty monsters. Rogue, laser-firing death machines roam free. Even the wildlife can dish out serious damage (ever been headbutted by a…
The Great Calamity and the 100 years of ensuing misery and sorrow likely put a pretty heavy damper on the holiday spirit in Hyrule. Yet, in one corner of the wilderness, seemingly unfazed by Ganon’s spreading malice, our hero defies the humbuggery and finds a way to be festive. In December of 2016, Nintendo released…
I wasn’t a fan of Breath of the Wild‘s Sheikah Slate at first. I found it a little farfetched to use what was essentially an ancient, magical smartphone to guide my journey through the wilderness. Part of my distaste may have been because I’m too attached to my phone in real life, and I wanted…
High on a rock spire in the midst of Lanayru Sand Sea, Link searches Skipper’s Retreat for the Ancient Sea Chart, his only hope of navigating the dried up ocean in search of the mighty Sandship. Link examines the Skipper’s ancient abode and discovers evidence of the Skipper’s past life. Pictures on the wall show…
As a proud member of the San Diego Zoo, I receive their annual calendar that showcases a different animal resident every month. This June’s poster fauna was a bird named “Handsome.” But it was no ordinary bird. It’s enormous, hooked beak and wide eyes gave this avian a prehistoric appearance that threaded the needle between…
Upon boarding a Traveler’s Ship in the south-eastern quadrant of the World of the Ocean King, Link encounters seven identically dressed sailors appearing to be gazing out to sea, six doing so through handheld telescopes. In one corner of the ship, a sailor stands empty-handed, staring at the wall. Link can’t help but feel bad…
The characters from the original Legend of Zelda don’t say much, but what they do say is highly memorable. Among the most recognizable quotes is “It’s a secret to everybody,” uttered to Link by a Moblin in hiding. Versions of this iconic phrase have become a recurring Easter egg in the Zelda series (and in…
When you first played The Wind Waker, did it feel like you had already met Aryll before? Maybe its her chipper demeanor, or the way she dresses? Or could it be the strange love she has for seagulls? There’s something about Aryll that makes her seem instantly familiar to Zelda fans. This is because she…
The machines are everywhere. It’s hard not to notice them since they are found in subway stations, convenience stores, and just about every other place you may visit as you move around in the hustle of Tokyo. Some stores are dedicated solely to them, offering stacks of coin-operated, hand-cranked apparatuses for customers to try their…
We learn much about Link through his interactions with the various inhabitants of the lands he travels. Sometimes, through the player’s ability to choose how Link should react, the player learns a little about him or herself. In that way, some characters that Link encounters serve as moral tests, questioning how Link, and the player…
