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Why do the Zelda games continue to draw gamers in after 35 years?

Breath of the Wild‘s Link has an important skill that sets him apart from his previous incarnations: cooking. Every other Link in the Zelda series is subjected to a diet consisting mostly of potions and milk, with the occasional bottle of soup if he happens to have a loving grandma. This begs the question of…

The Legend of Zelda has historically preferred not to stay in the same place for very long. It is a franchise that has constantly been on the move, taking players to new settings or new iterations of previous settings with every release. Even when the story returns to Hyrule for the umpteenth time, the iconic…

Hyrule is in peril. Again. Whether it be Ganon or some other big baddie, Link is always the one to vanquish the evil. Because when you think of a farm boy, a carefree islander, or a child living a lie as a Kokiri, you think — “Yeah, he’s right for the job.” But although it…

Koji Kondo once again worked his magic when composing the music for Twilight Princess. Much like previous Zelda installments, numerous songs from its soundtrack have become staples of the series. Most were original compositions that fans have since replayed and remixed countless times over the years, but some were beautifully recomposed from classics, such as…

I remember when The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures was announced for the GameCube. It was in the wake of, at the time, The Wind Waker “fiasco.” The series itself felt a little directionless after the harsh fan reaction to the cartoon-style graphics of The Wind Waker. I was in high school and a…

The Wind Waker is full of memorable moments. Its scenes of action, suspense, drama, and even brief horror have made it an engaging and beloved title for many fans. But as great as those scenes are to establish a grand fantasy epic, it is the game’s humorous moments that make it feel complete. The humor…

Pulling the strings is one of Ganon’s favorite diabolical tactics. Since the days of his Gerudo kingship, the Hero’s archnemesis has mastered the art of manipulation to fulfill his dark designs and fool many a poor soul. Though Ganondorf himself is not afraid to get his hands dirty, he will often leverage someone or something…

Exploration and puzzles are great, but what would Zelda games be if they didn’t also help us let out our aggression from time to time? Swords and sword fighting are synonymous with the adventure genre across all mediums, but I think it’s fair to say that video games offer the most satisfying interactive experience with…

To be fair and honest, I do, in a sense, like A Link to the Past. It is a Zelda game, so therefore I love it. I have a love for every game in the series, even Tri Force Heroes (even if it’s similar to the compulsive love a parent has for a child that…

Despite my best efforts, despite all of my anticipation, and despite my love for all things The Legend of Zelda, I failed at every turn to make the original Hyrule Warriors have any lasting impact on me. When I first learned about the game from a teaser trailer on Nintendo’s YouTube channel, I was drawn…

There’s something to be said about a companion. Someone to share important moments with and to help you bear your burdens. In games and stories, companions help to flesh out the world you explore and often give you an additional reason to go on the adventure. The Legend of Zelda is full of such companions.…

Nintendo is not a company that likes to grow stagnant. Starting from their earliest console, the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo has found ways to make gaming more than just pushing the buttons on a controller. Look no further than R.O.B, the light gun, or the Power Glove for examples of Nintendo has pushed the idea…

I will fully admit that I bought a Wii U just for Pikmin 3. Yes, the HD Zelda remakes, Super Mario Maker, and Nintendo Land games were a good reason to keep it around for a while, but I’ve been a diehard Pikmin fan for years and its third installment was honestly the only reason…

Renowned Irish folk artist Frank Harte believed that musical composition was the essential component to understanding the history of a civilization, and he considered the Celtic ballad as the harmonious equivalent to documented records. The Celtic ballad employs techniques that offer a wider range of possibilities for melodic variation and improvisation, and the spontaneity that…