Rest easy, weary traveler. You have arrived at one of Hyrule’s sparse stables, where you can board your steed, cook a hearty meal, hear news of goings-on across the land, and take a well-deserved load off. If nothing else, you can relax to the soothing music while you put your boots up. The stables in…
Did you play Ocarina of Time when it was first released? If so, you may have noticed that the music in the Fire Temple is different than in re-releases of the game. The Fire Temple theme in the first two versions of Ocarina of Time featured chanting, but all later versions replaced the chanting with MIDI…
One of the joys of following a long-running series is hunting for Easter eggs and other references to previous installments in the most recent release. Zelda games are no exception. I always appreciate the creative ways Zelda developers allude to preceding titles in their work. In A Link Between Worlds, one of the primary story and…
Dungeon themes in Zelda games are usually outshone by the series’ more uplifting melodies. Similarly, the original Zelda games often lurk in the shadows of their more contemporary counterparts. But a recently released classical guitar medley throws a much deserved spotlight on the dungeon themes from the first three Zelda installments. They brilliantly capture the…
Conducting various melodies with a magical baton is a hallmark of The Wind Waker. I mean, the game shares its name with the baton itself. It’s hard to imagine that the baton wasn’t integral to the game’s design from the beginning, but the creators did originally have something else in mind. Had they kept their…
It’s true what they say: taking breaks increases productivity. Getting some space from your current project can refresh your mind and provide an opportunity to view problems from a new angle, often leading to breakthroughs.For the developers of Ocarina of Time, a timely visit to a local theme park provided the inspiration for the groundbreaking…
Two weeks ago, American football fans endured the lowest-scoring, seemingly longest-lasting Superbowl ever. There is a general consensus that the most exciting aspect of the game was the halftime musical performance. Halftime is usually a time where fans get up to stretch their legs and grab a snack, but sometimes, halftime features a show you…
Guru Guru is a recurring character in the Zelda series with a jolly disposition, but who is surprisingly quick to anger over seemingly trivial matters. In Ocarina of Time, Guru Guru becomes enraged that some kid played a song that made the windmill spin rapidly, even though the man is clearly obsessed with things that…
Long ago, nestled among the great pines and brilliant maples, among the ridges of the rolling hills, a young boy steeled himself and entered the dark unknown of a chasm he had discovered in the outskirts of his small rural village, seeking the secrets it held, and, unknown to him at the time, shaping the…
As I was searching for a version of Majora’s Mask‘s “Bremen Mask March” to share with our readers, I happened across this incredible piano cover by Video Game Pianist. I knew I had to share it after only seconds of listening. This musician is extraordinarily talented, demonstrating a mastery of the keys while making it…
Today is the 20th anniversary of Link’s Awakening DX for Game Boy Color. Released five years after the original, this game includes several additions to Link’s Awakening, including the entire game being in color and a new dungeon. The story, however, still centers around collecting the eight Instruments of the Sirens (plus the ocarina) and…
I can think of few locations as epic to host a battle royale among gaming’s most iconic characters as high atop a castle overlooking the vast terrain far below. That’s why it is so exciting that Hyrule Castle is returning as an included stage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, releasing this Friday. Let’s get ready to…
Part of what solidifies an experience as unforgettable is the timing and circumstances surrounding it. That is why events from our youth tend to be deeply ingrained in our memories. For many of us, Ocarina of Time released in the formative years of our lives while we were struggling through middle or high school. Becoming…
One of the most memorable moments from Ocarina of Time is busting out of Lon Lon Ranch on the back of your newly tamed steed, Epona, to venture on horseback across the vast Hyrule Field. Link rides Epona to freedom after the ornery ranch hand, Ingo, locks the ranch gate to prevent Link’s escape even…
When people hear the word “ocarina,” many, including non-gamers, immediately think of The Legend of Zelda, and in particular, Ocarina of Time — and for good reason. Ocarina of Time is widely considered to be among the greatest, if not the greatest video game of all time, and playing a magical ocarina is a primary facet of…
