Features

The year 2013, in my opinion, was the high point of the current decade for Zelda. While the legacy of the 2010s is still being written, the 1990s and 2000s are tough decades to beat considering they solidified the Zelda experience and then converted it into an annual franchise. This decade has seen a few…

Music floated through the air, familiar melodies and reassuring rhythms emanating from a heroic ensemble. From the orchestra at E3 2011, whose rendition of a Legend of Zelda medley received impressive acclaim, evolved a new step for the beloved franchise – a full orchestral concert featuring moving arrangements of the best songs in the series,…

We’re 25 years into the 30 Years in 30 Days series, so naturally 2011 marks the silver anniversary for Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. A lot happened this year. That honestly should be no surprise to anyone. Nintendo has celebrated anniversaries in the past, but I think it’s safe to say that what they did for…

The 2000s were an exciting decade for the Zelda series. More than half of the Zelda games in existence were released in that decade — a total of 10 out of the current 18 (if you’re just counting the canonical ones), and every year but one had one. Unfortunately though, the 2010s isn’t looking to replicate…

In 2009 it was time for yet again another Zelda controversy. At the Game Developers Conference, Nintendo announced the next Zelda game for the Nintendo DS: Spirit Tracks. While most people seemed to be excited for Link’s upcoming adventure, there was a fair share of fans that were concerned about the fact that this game…

The 2000s clearly was an amazing decade for Zelda games in comparison to the ‘80s and ‘90s before it. In the 2000s alone, nine Zelda games were released, ten if you count Ocarina of Tim: Master Quest and even more still if you count the spin-off games starring Tingle. This has been, as of yet, the definitive…

2007 was just downwind of Twilight Princess’ debut on both the Nintendo Wii and its older cousin the GameCube, but that didn’t stop the Zelda steamroller from barreling through the year at full strength, for there were several Zelda games still awaiting us down the pike. And for those gamers who were pining for the older…

It doesn’t take much effort on the part of any Zelda fan to remember 2006. It was a milestone for an assortment of reasons. Twilight Princess was released, the Nintendo Wii debuted, and we as fans finally got the first chance to feel the sensation of holding that Master Sword and murdering scores of Bobokins.…

2004 was the beginning of a new era in the Legend of Zelda series. After years of revising what was more or less the same gameplay formula, extensive changes were being made to the series. Miyamoto promised these changes in 2004 and Japanese and European gamers were the first to experience them when The Minish…

Nintendo’s press conference at E3 2004 is arguably the best they ever had. Nintendo was dead last in the console race. The GameCube was not doing well, but Nintendo had big plans for their next console and their next handheld. The conference began with an unfamiliar face taking the stage. “My name is Reggie. I’m…

2003 was a hugely important year for the Zelda series. It was the release year (outside of Japan) of one of the most popular Zelda games ever, The Wind Waker, as well as the release of the Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition and a two game bonus disc for pre-orders of The Wind Waker which included…

The year 2001 gave us both Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons and the year 2003 gave us The Wind Waker. At a glance, the events of the year 2002 don’t appear worth mentioning. The highlight of 2002 is a remake that was bundled with a multiplayer game that many fans weren’t able to…

2001 was a tumultuous year, and a watershed moment for the Zelda franchise and the game industry. It saw the release of not one, but two Zelda games – two Zelda games developed by Capcom, with Nintendo’s blessing. It was a year that polarized and divided the Zelda fanbase more than any other, when the…

The year 2000 was a year of suspense. Conspiracy theorists waited anxiously to see if the year would bring with it the total collapse of the world’s electronics systems, the American public were held in suspense for months waiting for a vote tally that would determine the US election, and perhaps most importantly of all, it…

Have you ever had the thought that, in the world of Nintendo, Link is a much cooler hero than Mario? Or had you ever wanted to see how Link’s sword and shield would go up against Donkey Kong’s brute strength? If Nintendo’s heroes fought each other, who would come out on top? Well, 1999 let…