There are many games in the Zelda series where Link is accused of being lazy. From the lofty heights of Skyloft to the land of Twilight, Link loves a good sleep. Perhaps the greatest example of this comes from The Wind Waker. It’s been my experience that when it comes to calling someone calling you…
I will likely always have a fond spot in my heart for Four Swords Adventures. I think a big part of it is that I first played it, not with four players, but as a pair with the person who later became my wife. Another thing that really made me fall in love with the…
Being the bearer of the Triforce of Courage, Link is known for throwing himself into danger. Players force the hero into battle after escalating battle against Bokoblins, Darknuts, and larger beasts ranging from Gleeoks to whatever form of Gannon awaits at the end of the quest. In Tears of the Kingdom, one of the greatest…
When it comes to story, A Link Between Worlds will always be blessed for one particular new character: Ravio. This silly looking character find of 2013 will always be a favorite of mine because of the duality of the character. At first, it seems like he is just a silly little guy wearing a body…
A kingdom conquered. Surrender to the darkness just to save your people. A princess garbed in a black cloak like funeral garb. Twilight Princess is a bleak story. Through their use of leading lines and facial expression, Icezimy is able to convey the profound sorrow of a princess whose kingdom has been lost along with…
A final boss battle is the cherry on top of a great game. It tops off the experience and rewards the player’s patience and perseverance. And The Legend of Zelda certainly has the vibes going for it. The treacherous trek through Death Mountain with its ominous music and the unsettling breathing of the enemy you’ve…
I don’t know whether this is a hot take or not, but here it is: Spirit Tracks features one of the best Link and Zelda relationships in the whole series. Part of this is likely due to the fact that Zelda plays a consistent, present role in Link’s adventure. Despite being a literal specter after…
Few video games are able to capture the spirit of adventure as much as the Zelda series. Whether it’s venturing into the then expansive Hyrule Field of Ocarina of Time or leaving the Shrine of Resurrection for the first time in Breath of the Wild, there are just some moments that hit you with a…
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a pretty dark game; after all, every time the player loses their last Link vanishing into a pit or under an Iron Knuckle’s blade, they are met with the nightmarish laugh of a gloating, risen Ganon. Yet, even in those moments of defeat, players only find themselves back…
Poor Link. Being the Hero of Hyrule is a bit of a lonely life. Sure, during each adventure he makes a variety of friends across his travels, but much of his time is spent in lonely travel. Whether it’s the steady gallop of Epona across the fields or the slapping of waves against the sides…
Princess Zelda knows the feeling of sacrifice before Tears of the Kingdom even starts. After all, she single-handedly held back Calamity Ganon for a hundred years while Link rested and healed. Alone in the foul beast’s cocoon she battled for a century. Even knowing this, her draconic sacrifice hits players even harder. Watching her willingly…
Few enemies in The Wind Waker are as fearsome as the Darknuts. Once they catch a glimpse of the diminutive, toon Hero of the Winds, they will not stop. They lumber towards battle with sword and shield at the ready. Sometimes they stand alone, while other times they circle around Link revealing through this behavior…
Trains! Toon Link! Toon Zelda! Despite its initial cuteness, the actual story of Spirit Tracks is actually a surprisingly dark tale. Within the early moments, Princess Zelda is nearly killed only to haunt the hero for the rest of the adventure. Chancellor Cole and the Demon King Malladus are suitably creepy, especially with the latter’s…
Echoes of Wisdom gets off to a rollicking start, leaving little time for rest. From the initial but temporary Link battle against Ganon, to Zelda’s stressful escape from first the encroaching rift, then the patrolling Hyrule Castle guards, the player is thrown from one moment of conflict to another. In some ways, Suthorn Village is…
The Minish Cap has a lot of things going for it. The sprite work is beautiful. The characters are hilarious. The deepening of Vaati as a villain beyond what we’d seen in previous games is masterful. Perhaps more than all of those things, what makes The Minish Cap so good is its core mechanic of…
