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 is one of those games that never really gets old. Despite being released over 30 years ago, it’s still considered one of the greatest installments in a series full of innovative masterpieces. It has brilliant pixel art, introduces several groundbreaking mechanics, and establishes the classic formula that Zelda titles would…
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…
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity does a magnificent job of worldbuilding through its soundtrack, and the four Champions’ themes are great examples of this. Upon starting each of their recruitment missions, the player is treated to an action-packed version of their themes from Breath of the Wild. At least, that’s the case for three of…
The infiltration of Gerudo Valley and the excavation of the Spirit Temple are some of my favorite moments in Ocarina of Time. The memories of the game of cat and desert rat between Link and the Gerudo Guards, following the Poe through the raging sandstorm, delving into the Spirit Temple as both a child and…
Link’s Awakening is undoubtedly one of the coziest Zelda games to date, and its remake on the Switch brings it to record levels of cuteness. Koholint Island is an easy place to feel connected to, and the toy-like art style is a refreshing twist on it. While the visual upgrade is fantastic, the updated soundtrack…
Living during the years when Twilight Princess came out was pretty interesting. Having come out of the Toon Link wars fought throughout the fandom years earlier, many were hyped to see an edgier, more Adult Link from Ocarina of Time inspired version of the hero. With every new trailer and all the bits of gameplay,…
A little less than two years ago, I saw a video of someone playing a cover of “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles, sitting outdoors in a sunny spot to match the positive sound of the song. My favorite part of the video, though, was when a sweet dog came into view and walked…
Poor Spirit Tracks. This game doesn’t get nearly enough credit for all of the wonderful things it has contributed to the Zelda universe. It was the first game to incorporate Zelda as a companion in Link’s journey (albeit in ghost form), and the interactions between the two are just adorable. You get to blow into…
Zora’s Domain is always a magnificent place. Scaling the cliffside as Wolf Link in Twilight Princess is a spectacle, and the town’s luminous architecture in Breath of the Wild is absolutely stunning. Ocarina of Time takes a simpler approach, opting for a small underground lake for the Zora to call home. It’s beautiful in its…
It was generally understood that he was dead. That was the story at least. The princess’s protector had fallen along with the kingdom on the day Calamity Ganon struck. Yet, 100 years later, rumors began to spread. A mysterious Hylian had been sighted performing miraculous deeds. He’d been seen entering dozens of the mysterious Sheikah…
Lookout Landing serves as a home base for Link in Tears of the Kingdom – a role that went largely unfulfilled in its predecessor. To me, the most comparable place in Breath of the Wild was Kakariko Village, where Link could consult with Impa to get a sense of direction. While the Sheikah settlement was…
In 2017, a very special Zelda project was released to the world. It was a monumental success on Kickstarter, accruing well over $50,000 in backer contributions, and the quality of the end result speaks to how well those funds were utilized. The project? A full album of musical arrangements from Ocarina of Time, decadently performed…
I didn’t have a religious upbringing, so throughout my childhood, I found it difficult to understand why many of my peers derived such profound comfort from spending time in churches. Sure, the structures themselves were pleasantly spacious, cool, and quiet, with dazzling stained glass windows I could lose myself in for hours, but that soul-stirring…
A Link Between Worlds is one of the most iconic Zelda games to date. Not only did it serve as a sequel of sorts to the legendary A Link to the Past, it helped to establish a new item system where you can rent many of Link’s classic weapons, such as the Bow or the…
