Ocarina of Time was the first Zelda title to incorporate a day-and-night cycle into its gameplay, adding a new layer of atmosphere that allowed for deeper immersion into the world of Hyrule. A bustling marketplace by day would fall silent under the watchful eye of the moon, and quirky little shops that shunned the sun…
The Legend of Zelda was a much smaller franchise when Zelda Universe launched in February of 2001. Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages — only the seventh and eighth canon games in the series — had just gotten their Japanese releases. The Wind Waker was still months away from making its debut at Spaceworld…
Over the past 35 years, players of The Legend of Zelda series have faced countless villains and enemies. From slow-moving ChuChus all the way up to Dark Lord Ganondorf himself, Link and the Master Sword have struck evil down again and again. Across the franchise’s history and each incarnation of the Triforce-wielding trio, enemies have…
Link is a protagonist who embodies many noble and inspirational qualities that make him a true hero. His dedication to the people of Hyrule, his kind nature, and his unwavering courage all combine into the silent hero Zelda fans have come to love. But these traits are not the only facets of Link’s personality, as…
Black History Month has always possessed a dual nature. It is a time of celebration for how far we, as a society, have progressed in the march towards racial equality, and a time to honor the amazing individuals throughout history who led that march. But it is also a time of reckoning for how society…
A YouTube video recently posted by charity marathon site Games Done Quick explains some of the glitches used in their Majora’s Mask and Twilight Princess speedruns. Zelda speedrunner Popesquidward plays through both games on livestream while giving explanations of the glitches he uses, and answers audience questions along the way. The video features an all-dungeons…
The Legend of Zelda is a host to many fantastic villages and towns that are exciting to explore. Though, no place feels quite as iconic as Kakariko Village. With several iterations to explore, Kakariko Village always has much to offer to the player, acting as both a cool place to adventure in and a nice…
Ever since his first appearance, Ganon has been terrifying. From his original appearance where he attacked you while invisible to the nightmare fuel of his sinister laughter in The Adventure of Link’s game over screen, the porcine perpetrator is constantly there to haunt the gamer’s waking hours. Even the sight of the spectral Dark Beast…
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…
An aggressive and tenacious breed of monster, the Deku Baba is a plant-like beast that Link commonly encounters throughout multiple versions of Hyrule and its connected lands. This monster could be seen as the Legend of Zelda‘s answer to Super Mario’s Piranha Plant enemies. Both take inspiration from the real-life Venus flytraps, and their functions…
Listening to covers of video game music is one of my favorite pastimes. It allows me to listen to different versions of an iconic song, with one of my favorites being “Gerudo Valley” from Ocarina of Time. This track, in particular, has seen a ton of variants over the years, but I’d like to point…
The first sunset of last year was breathtakingly beautiful where I live, almost as if the sky had been set on fire, and I thought to myself as I stared in awe that this might be a sign that the upcoming twelve months would be good ones. However, we all know how the previous year…
Few of us who have played Twilight Princess will forget that dramatic moment when Link had to run across the fields of Hyrule on four paws with Midna on his back to rescue her. The flame-haired imp who seemed to always have a mocking comment to tease Link with suddenly barely had the energy to…
Werewolves are one of the all-time classic monsters. Their struggle to retain some semblance of humanity as their body and mind transforms and compels them to commit horrific acts is a concept that has gripped the minds of society for centuries. As important but not often as focused on are the victims of the werewolf.…
As a mournful howl echoed through the trees, Uli placed a hand on her swollen belly. She stood in the doorway as Rusl made his way slowly back up the meandering path to their home in the forest village of Ordon. Uli’s eyes drifted to the tree line as a shift in the wind rustled…
