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…
It’s a good thing that most games in the Zelda series feature a different Link. Can you imagine how annoying it would be to go to see Princess Zelda only to find out some dastard had carried her off again? Link would never shirk his duty, but he’d probably spout something like “Really? It feels…
After decades of playing as Link, many players were beyond hyped to play as Princess Zelda in a mainline Zelda game: Echoes of Wisdom. The game promised all the mysteries, puzzles, dungeons, and battles of previous games, but this time we would get to experience it as Zelda. In their art titled “Echoes of Wisdom”,…
Every hero needs a place to call home. Even if your home has been destroyed by your nemesis or is far away from where your quest takes you, heroes need a “home.” They need places to rest, resupply, and often citizens to help. I would guess that few heroes claim an imaginary village dreamed up…
Looking at a list of Nintendo’s most frightful enemies, many of them have a specific ability in common: the ability to grab players and suck up their life. From the constricting grasp of the ReDeads to the Gloom Spawn’s life-leeching grip, these monstrosities are at least partially so scary because escape isn’t always easy. My…
Skyloft is such an iconic location in the Zelda series. Not only does it feature memorable locations like the Knight’s Academy, but it’s the home of charming (and memorably odd) characters like Peatrice who develops a perhaps unhealthy infatuation with Link and the owlish-looking but loving father, Gaepora. All in all, Skyloft feels almost like…
As the plethora of Korok torture memes from Tears of the Kingdom shows, not everyone appreciates the cuteness of those little leafy guys. Perhaps it’s their constant need for attention, always asking to be lugged not just a little ways away, but often up a cliff or on the other side of an enemy camp.…
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to love all things cozy. A warm cup of coffee and a low-stakes book about a baker; a fuzzy blanket and a farming sim like Stardew Valley or Fae Farm; or a clingy cat who wants to be petted while I watch a Studio Ghibli movie are my jam.…
While I didn’t really have pets growing up, getting married to a pet lover and having a child who loves all creatures big and small has made me a big fan of pets and animals in general. It’s even better when you can combine cute animals and video games. I’m definitely on the team of…
In many ways, the story of Ocarina of Time is a story of growing up. Both Link and Zelda begin the story as kids. After their fateful meeting in the palace gardens and their hatched plan to save Hyrule from the cunning Ganondorf, they are forced to grow up. Link’s journey to get the Spiritual…
Link has never been a stranger to bling. Even in the original Legend of Zelda, Link could keep slaying all day by donning the Blue Ring or Red Ring to reduce his damage. In A Link to the Past, the whole first part of the hero’s quest involved getting pendants in a variety of colors…
Creepy and unpredictable. Those are two words that I would use to describe Midna when Link first meets her. Her constant teasing and vague threats of torment mirror her impish form, and she’s certainly not trustworthy at first. Her and Link’s partnering is more one of necessity than anything else. It’s not until much later…
A Link to the Past has one of the more atmospheric openings in the Zelda series. From the moment Link awakens, it’s clear that trouble is brewing. A mysterious voice warns him of danger, his Uncle suddenly leaves, and the young Hylian has to brave the thundering storm that lies between him and his destiny.…
Ever since 2009 and the short-lived acapella singing competition show The Sing-Off, my wife and I have been amazed by the skills of acapella musicians. The astounding sounds they can produce and the way they work to weave them together to make melodies is nothing short of a beautiful, musical jigsaw puzzle. The S.N.O.T. Chamber…
Treasure ahoy! While The Wind Waker is filled with pirates such as the fearless Tetra, the ingenious Mako, and the witty Gonzo, my favorite pirate of them all is a late addition to the crew: Link’s sister Aryll. After rescuing her from the clutches of the Helmaroc King, Aryll joins the buccaneers, even adopting a…
