The year is 1998 and to say that I was excited beyond measure is an understatement. I walked into my local Babbage’s, interacted with a lady who obviously hated children, and walked out with my collector’s edition of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I took that golden cartridge home, put it into the…
The Great Bay Coast looks so serene and peaceful when Link first arrives. At first glance, it seems like there’s nothing wrong in the region. Palm trees sway with the breeze, Leevers lurk underneath the sand and the only hints of civilization are an abandoned beach house and a research lab not far away from…
There are many things in life that take me to the happiest of places. One of those things is playing Legend of Zelda games on an almost religious basis. The second is binge watching Studio Ghibli movies. Both have played a very important part in my childhood and are equally as special to me in…
As Link rode past the entrance to Romani Ranch, the darkness of the night sky broken by the light of the Moon, he reflected on what he was there to do. Romani, a new friend and reminder of a home Link had left behind, had asked for his help. “They” were coming. She couldn’t explain…
Link had quickly grown fond of Romani Ranch and the people who call it home, so he is dedicated to preventing these creatures — regardless of their seemingly infinite numbers — from harassing his friends and ruining their lives. The lights, they come from all sides. It’s an eerie radiance that emits from their empty…
Link has passed by the entrance to the Romani Ranch a couple of times now, but all he was really able to do was groan over the fact that a giant boulder had found its way in front of the entrance. The means by which this boulder became a barrier to the ranch are unknown…
What’s better than saving a cluster of innocent Zora eggs from the evil clutches of pirates and giant sea snakes alike? Learning a catchy tune that can summon an ancient turtle for all your efforts, of course. Deriving from a popular sub-genre of alternative rock, new wave is the official little cousin of punk that…
Egg hunting is usually a fun activity for us when Easter is involved, but when it comes to Link and his adventures in Termina, it’s a considerably less pleasant affair. The Zora eggs are in serious danger from the mysterious rise in the ocean’s temperature, and it’s up to Link to brave the depths of…
When I think of the classic Zelda companion, my first thought is usually of Navi the fairy from Ocarina of Time. She is respectful to Link and provides support and friendship on Link’s arduous journey. There is a real bond between the two, almost as if they are destined for each other. And while she…
Ever since I was little I have been fascinated about space. I love to watch science fiction movies depicting the unknown and the out of reach for someone like me. Stargazing is my second nature, almost as if my brain automatically makes my eyes reach for the sky at night, searching for the little sparks…
After nearly nineteen years of longing to one day play Majora’s Mask, I finally got a chance to discover Termina by myself. I had grown up watching my older brothers play various video games and Majora’s Mask was one of them. I had memory fragments of Link being a cute little Deku Scrub and the…
With a task at hand, Link must enter the Deku Palace, forbidden to any race but their own. Putting on the guise of the Deku Mask, he is welcomed, but with limitations. He is let into the grand wooden gate by the two guards out front, telling you that you may witness the public humiliation…
Link is capable of many talents and abilities, but there’s never any doubt that he works hard and earns his status as a skilled warrior. He already saved Hyrule by the end of Ocarina of Time, but unfortunately for Link, that game had a sequel, and Majora’s Mask isn’t prepared to go easy on him.…
Majora’s Mask was clearly a much darker game than Ocarina of Time, but due to time restraints, a lot of material was recycled from the previous game, including its music. While I personally love Ocarina of Time’s soundtrack and view it in only the highest regards, some of the songs I felt were out of touch with Majora’s eerier locations or scenarios. One, in particular, is the “Lost Woods.”
These days, we’re typically used to worldwide launches of Nintendo games, which means, in most cases, each region gets their hands on the latest release simultaneously. The localization process wasn’t always as fast as it is today, with regions outside of Japan typically having to wait longer. For example, Majora’s Mask didn’t reach U.S. shores…
