Everyone knows the general dangers of smoking. Things like lung cancer, decreased oxygen levels, being stinky, and, you know, death. Twitter user Arare_Wansaka discovered a new one: console coloration. Look at them. Disgusting. Famicoms are usually white or off-white, depending on usage, with gray or maroon accents. The gray and maroon are there, but as…
Why do the Zelda games continue to draw gamers in after 35 years?
YouTuber Shesez, known for his popular Boundary Break series, is back at it with a new spin-off titled Region Break, where it’s discovered how the Japanese version of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link differs from the edition released in the U.S. The differences begin at the cartridge, where in Japan the game came on…
Ah, the title theme of the original Legend of Zelda. It’s a wonderful piece, gracefully using the overworld theme to set you up for the adventure ahead. You might also be aware that it was originally supposed to be an arrangement of Ravel’s Bolero, but that’s not what we’re talking about today. (For details, check…
You wander into the foothills of Death Mountain, sure to bring your Flamebreaker armor or a few Fireproof Elixirs with you. If you take the direct path, dodging Fire Chuchus and Fire-Breath Lizalfos, it may take some time before the melody reaches your ears. When the dust settles, or you’ve gone the indirect route and…
When you think of the Lost Woods in The Legend of Zelda, what do you think about? Do you hear synth tunes as you wander the mist-covered grove? Does the playful tune of “Saria’s Song” float through your mind as you pass through the massive fallen trunks? Or are you haunted by the breeze that…
Few enemies exhibit the same level of variety and persistence as the Wizzrobes do. Since the inception of The Legend of Zelda series, these foes have played the role of mysterious and magical beings of unknown origin who faithfully serve whatever evil dominates Hyrule and its connected worlds. The Wizzrobes are crafty and dangerous, and…
When I was about six years old, my parents bought me a Nintendo Entertainment System, and from that moment on, many of my childhood hours were spent sitting criss-cross applesauce in front of my television playing and replaying my favorite NES carts. New games were few and far between, usually arriving on Christmas Day or…
The characters from the original Legend of Zelda don’t say much, but what they do say is highly memorable. Among the most recognizable quotes is “It’s a secret to everybody,” uttered to Link by a Moblin in hiding. Versions of this iconic phrase have become a recurring Easter egg in the Zelda series (and in…
Nintendo’s franchises are so iconic and genre-defining that it’s sometimes easy to forget that these trendsetters also once relied on various sources of inspiration themselves. Nintendo Producer Shigeru Miyamoto, for example, took the name “Mario” from a landlord at Nintendo Washington’s property warehouse named Mario Segale, according to the book “Game Over, Press Start to…
The old saying is that money does not grow on trees; however, video game worlds typically defy such laws of nature. From question block coins in the Super Mario Bros. series to actual money trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nintendo worlds are filled with creative means to accumulate wealth. Of course, no other currency…
A consistent enemy in the Zelda series, the Like Like has a long-standing tradition of creating problems for Link by attempting to swallow him to steal his belongings. This trait has made them unique when compared to other monsters of Hyrule, though in a way that has generated groans from players instead of praise. As…
A YouTuber named Teppei Okada is well-known for his real-time musical performances alongside classic video games. Recently, Okada uploaded a new performance for the original Legend of Zelda, as well as SNES classic F-Zero. Using a violin, he is very skilled at recreating these nostalgic pieces of music, synchronizing with live gameplay. He even goes…
On this day, May 9th, 2020, we at Zelda Universe honor the memory of lost socks. Whether it be lost in the laundry, forever rolled up under the bed, or eaten by the dog, it’s sad when we lose a matching set of socks, especially if you’re like me and have an abundance of specially…
The “Dungeon Theme” in the original Legend of Zelda was extraordinary for what it was: a song to evoke a feeling of dread and danger in contrast to the exhilarating adventure of the main theme. With such limited instrumentation, it could do little beyond warning the player of the perils they were about to face.…
