Zelda Informer

Daily Debate: Should Zelda U Have a First-Person View Option?

Link 2 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:02:00 +0000

All Zelda games that took the leap from two-dimensional to three-dimensional are in third person. This thought first entered my mind when I looked at the variety of games that I play. Some have a first-person view, while others have a third-person view. Here is my question for you: should Zelda U have a first-person view?

If you've played other games that have both perspectives available, you know the effect of switching between first and third-person. We've already seen some actual gameplay footage of Zelda U, and it is definitely played from a third-person perspective. Should there be an option for a first-person perspective? It could be nice to be able to switch between the two. First-person might be easier for one-on-one combat, while a third-person view may be more productive in a puzzle.

This is for you to decide! Should Zelda U have a first-person view option?

Meet the Staff: Katie MacLean

Mases — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 16:30:00 +0000

Well, hello there fellow humans! I'm Katie, and I am from a whimsical land down under known as Australia. I draw, play games and study character design at University. Have an old photo, from 2013! Now, let's get on with boring you all with my life story!

I'm honestly not sure how to begin my story, but let me start off with: I've never truly considered myself a “gamer”, although I frequently play any game I can get my hands on. I, apparently, started playing video games before I could even walk properly (ask my mum, she told me so), and have since been obsessed. What was my first console? The SNES! I don't recall which games I played as a “baby”, but I do know that while I was growing up I had a huge obsession with the original Mario Kart, Super Mario Kart! Other games I owned were Metroid, Super Mario Brothers and The Lion King (yes it was a game on the SNES, not just a movie). They're the ones that spoke to me the best, and Super Mario Brothers will forever be burned into my brain. Why? Because I was playing it, when I was about four years old, and managed to crack my forehead open - which required a hospital trip and stitches. How in the world did that happen? Long story short, I died and laughed hysterically (as I did every time I played, because that stupid jump the pixel little plumber men did when they were hit sent me into fits), fell off the lounge and slammed my head into the coffee table. What a clumsy, silly child I was!

A devastating part of my life was when my mother sold the SNES, I remember crying and not understanding why we couldn't keep it! That console was literally my life. If I wasn't at school or drawing, I was playing all the games (although, admittedly, I cannot remember all the games we had). So, you can see why I was upset.. What was I going to do with my time?! A few weeks later, my birthday rolled around and I opened a rather giant present – a Nintendo64! I was stoked. Not only did I have a new console to spend my time with, it was covered in Pokemon! I had been introduced to the N64 before I received mine, as my cousin owned one. But when ever I played her N64, I deleted all the games because I was young and didn't realise that was so important to everyone. *cackling*

Now, the N64 was the introduction I received to our beloved Legend of Zelda. The first Zelda game I ever played was Majora's Mask... and because of that it will always be held dear to me. It was released two weeks after my birthday, and I'd always been into girly, yet creepy things, so my mum bought it on the day of it's release (the timing of the purchase was purely accidental). Yeah, yeah, the first game came out in 1986 and my first experience was in 2000! Oh no, I mustn't be a real fan because I discovered a series years after the first game was released! All you fans who believe that you're above newer fans to the series should watch this video, right now. It's not about the Zelda series, it's about the Star Wars fandom... But it applies all the same.

Once I lost my Zelda “virginity” I hungered for more! I discovered Ocarina of Time at a friends place, and played that to the end. Then my mother found an old Zelda game for the original Gameboy: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. I played L.A. over and over again for years... and fast forward (skipping through the GameCube games) until I found Twilight Princess. I immediately became obsessed and from then on my love for the Zelda series became an obsession. I'm now that crazy girl who has Midna, Majora's Mask and Tael tattooed on random places on her body, with more planned for the future.

Which brings me to the present day! I live life drawing crappy drawings of my favourite game characters (from Zelda, Midna is actually repeatedly drawn. I'm a little nuts about her), I study design, teach myself coding in my spare time, do awful Cosplays... and I work for this wonderful site as a Copy Editor, and I post to the ZI Twitter during the times that the American crew are sleeping.

How did I get to work for ZI? I liked them on Facebook and loved their posts, then one day saw an advertisement for a Copy Editor position. I thought about applying, then not (because who would want to hire me?), then I thought “ah, screw it” and applied. A day or two later I had an interview and here I am!

Just a quick note: The Zelda series isn't the only thing I live for. I love many movies, games, artists, and books - but do not feel the need to expand on any of these aspects, but I will give a quick list of some of my favourites:

Movie: Beauty and the Beast
T.V. Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Game: Bioshock
Book: Vamped by David Sosnowski
Artist: Sakimichan

So, what made you love the Zelda series? Are you a long time fan, or new?

TL; DR: I'm Australian, grew up with Nintendo, enjoy Zelda and work for Zelda Informer. I'm also super lame. Deal with it.

The Transformation of Majora's Mask: How Deku Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Conservation

Alpha — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:50:00 +0000

For the past couple of weeks, we've learned about numerous ways in which Majora's Mask 3D will differ from its original version on the Nintendo 64. Many of these changes have been applauded by the fanbase, and rightfully so – Nintendo is taking this opportunity to fix little issues that players have had with the game for years. While only a few of these changes could be called major, they are all being made with the belief such alterations will strengthen the experience.

Yet some of these changes do far more than that – a handful of them offer us some unique insight into the minds behind the Zelda series, and how those minds have themselves changed in the past fifteen years. We can examine these changes to Majora's Mask and infer the motivations behind them to learn how perspectives may have shifted and opinions varied amongst the developers as time has passed. Over the next few days, we will focus specifically on how the changes to certain magical abilities found in Majora's Mask reveal a fundamental shift in mindset concerning the use and purpose of magic power in the Zelda universe.

Without further ado, let's begin today's analysis. And what better way to start a series on magical abilities than with the very first one you receive in the game?

Deku Link: The Deku Bubble Attack

Early on in Majora's Mask, Deku Link revives Clock Town's Great Fairy and, in exchange, is granted magic power. With it comes the ability to shoot bubbles at various targets and enemies, but in the original game it really wasn't that useful after a while – it took a few seconds to get a good sized bubble ready, could only go so far before fading away, was tricky to aim, and had a somewhat erratic movement that could send it off course with ease.

These details all seem to have been changed for Majora's Mask 3D, however. Now the Deku Bubble has a built in targeting system and travels in a straight line, making it much more useful. Additionally, the charge time for a full-sized bubble appears to have been greatly reduced; it would not surprise me to learn that the travel distance has increased as well, though this is harder to determine using secondhand footage. Such changes seem like nothing but a boon at first. Easier aiming? That's a plus. Improved accuracy? That's another plus. Quicker charge time? Better distance? All of it sounds simply fantastic. This once weak and tough-to-use skill has now become a much improved tool for players to use often.

But let's shift gears and try to look at the Deku Bubble from a different point of view. Rather than thinking about it as players, try to put yourselves in the shoes of the developers and figure out what these changes mean from the perspective of game design. What does this altered design do for players of Majora's Mask? What did the original version do, and how does this new version make gamers play differently and think differently about the Bubble mechanic and its uses?

For new players of the original Nintendo 64 version of the game, getting magic at first probably felt like a really cool new skill. The fact that it granted them a projectile attack certainly didn't hurt things either. Try to put yourselves in their shoes and imagine what they experience:

You exit the Fairy Fountain, brimming with Magic power, and probably the first thing you do is spot that balloon of Jim's and decide to shoot at it yourself. You press the button to fire a bubble and -
- oh. Hm. It's just switched to first person view. No targeting reticle or anything. Oh well, it's still pretty obvious that you just need to orient yourself to face the balloon; not hard for a target that's so big and moves so little. You point the screen straight at it and hit the button again! Out comes -
- oh. Huh. Tiny bubble, only goes a few feet before vanishing into thin air. Well, no worries. The instructions you got in the Fairy Fountain said something about holding the button down, right? Let's just do that. Hold, hold, hold... Okay, this bubble's got a nice size, so let's release the button and -
- uh-oh. It's flying through the air, but it's wobbling all over the place. If it keeps doing this there's no telling where it'll end up! Should you have gotten closer first? Was your aim off? Why is it bobbing and weaving like that instead of going straight!? Is it even going to -
POP!
Haha, got it! Take that, balloon!

This first experience with the Deku Bubble teaches the player a lot about this ability all at once; its many faults – charge time, difficult aiming, shrinking in flight, and wobbly course – are all discovered in that first use. It leaves a particular impression on the player, and, being that it's directly tied to magic (you just got magic right before this, magic specifically unlocked this ability, and this is the only "magical" thing you can do at this point in the game), players are going to associate that same impression with magic: the Deku Bubble, and therefore magic itself, is not reliable.

Majora's Mask's first magical ability specifically and immediately teaches players to not rely on that Magic Meter, to use it sparingly and only when the situation necessitates they do so. Trying to use it in combat or other similarly tense situations is not a good idea, as there is no guarantee that it will see you through your trials.

That lesson won't always ring true, of course – later abilities and powers are far more useful in such situations. Some are even required. But this sets an underlying standard of caution when dealing with magic that persists throughout the entire gaming experience.

Such a cautious standard sets the stage for teaching a different but perhaps even more important lesson for this game: magic power should be conserved. Majora's Mask has a number of magically-based items and abilities, and you realize early on that you don't know when you'll need to use one of them to defeat an enemy or solve a puzzle. Think about it – when you got the Fire Arrows for the first time in this game, did you immediately start using them to blast away all of Snowhead Temple's enemies? Even though you intuitively recognized that most of the snow- and ice-based enemies would die to Fire, I bet you didn't.

The standard was already set. You conserved your magic even though it was far more useful now than the Deku Bubble had ever been – because that's what the Deku Bubble taught you to do.

And that's good, because although the game had only a few puzzles and enemies that absolutely required magic to overcome them, such obstacles often arose at points when regaining magic would have been a tricky task. Most dungeons and boss battles need it, for example, and it is a terrible feeling to have to leave those to go refill your magic – especially when the game's time mechanic might force you to undo all of your progress before you manage to return. By establishing this standard of magic conservation early on, the game actually helped players to avoid such frustrating incidents in the future.

It's a genius little bit of instruction-through-gameplay...and Nintendo has decided to change it.

The Meaning Behind the Changes

Although this teaching may still survive somewhat, the changes to the Deku Bubble mechanic are likely to blunt the lesson it once taught and could render it far less effective.

The new implementation of a targeting system, straight line of flight, and faster charge time make the bubble a far more reliable weapon; distance may still be a factor, but players will find it much more useful. In turn, they will find magic itself to be far more useful; as such, will they not be tempted to use it more? Will it not become harder for them to learn to conserve magic? Is a small bit of practicality worth losing that early teaching?

Well...maybe.

These changes are not necessarily bad – it all depends on what else Nintendo has altered in this game. Is it now easier for players to refill their Magic Meter on the fly? That is, are there more Magic Jars scattered about to make such a task easier? If so, then the lesson of the old game will not apply as strongly in this remake. If you can restore your magic power more easily in those key situations, then the need to teach the player to not rely on magic is mitigated, so it makes perfect sense for the Deku Bubble to match this new standard.

If such changes have not been made, however...then Nintendo is setting up new players to fail in frustrating ways. Anyone who does not learn to conserve their magic early on could find themselves unable to cross gaps in Snowhead Temple that require the Goron Spike Roll; they might lack the magic needed to create an icy path across the water in Great Bay Temple; they may have to flee the battle with Gomess because they can no longer fire Light Arrows to expose its weak point. If you've played Majora's Mask before, you can no doubt think of plenty of other situations where running out of magic would prove frustrating or even detrimental to your enjoyment of the game.

We cannot say for certain whether or not the changes to the Deku Bubble will be good or bad until we've played the remake for ourselves and seen firsthand whether or not Nintendo has compensated for the altered standard in other ways. But bad or good, this change is a prime illustration for how the developers' thinking towards magic has shifted in the past fifteen years, as it specifically shows us one such transformation:

In Majora's Mask, magic was something to be conserved; in Majora's Mask 3D, it is something to be used frequently.

Such a reversal of expectations is especially surprising when viewed in light of the Zelda games that followed this one's original release in 2000. Magic entered a severe decline in the years that followed; of the eleven games of the core franchise which followed Majora's Mask, only one – The Wind Waker – contains a meter specifically devoted to the use and empowerment of magical items. Any items or abilities that could have used such a meter – the Cane of Pacci, for example, or Wolf Link's Sense ability – were of a small number in their game, and thus they had restrictions other than a Magic Meter placed on them to prevent over- or misuse by the player. The Cane of Pacci can only affect a limited number or type of targets and enemies; the Sense ability sharply decreases Wolf Link's range of vision, providing a subconscious push for gamers to turn it off as soon as possible so that they may once again see their surroundings clearly.

Nintendo's track record as of late has been to ignore magic and the potential that it holds; yet the changes to the Deku Bubble (along with other abilities that we will discuss in the coming days) indicate that they see such powers as items which should be exploited and utilized often in a variety of situations and against a number of enemies. Every aspect of the Deku Bubble has moved to reflect this, to empower this ability and increase its use and functionality so that gamers can employ it far more often.

These seemingly-contradictory stances can and will be reconciled by the time we reach the end of this short series, but to do so we must examine other magical powers in Majora's Mask 3D and determine what they say as a whole. With the number of magic-related changes to this remake, there is a fair amount to discuss and consider as we try to make sense of this and discern the underlying attitude that Nintendo, and the Zelda team in particular, has taken towards the power of magic over the years.

For today, however, we have said enough on this matter. Tomorrow we shall reconvene to look through another magic-empowered ability from the game that has seen some changes for the 3DS remake. I hope to see you all there.

Until then, this is Alpha, signing off to go do...stuff.

The Transformation of Majora's Mask

How Deku Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Conservation
How Goron Link Reveals a Change in the Avoidance of Magic
How Zora Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Necessity
How the Remake Reveals the Decline of Magic's Value

The Transformation of Majora's Mask: How Goron Link Reveals a Change in the Avoidance of Magic

Alpha — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:57:00 +0000

Majora's Mask 3D features numerous changes from its original version on the Nintendo 64, and it in turn offers us unique insights into how the minds behind the Zelda series have changed over time. By examining differences between the remake and the original, we can explore the possible motivations behind these changes and learn how the perspectives and opinions of Nintendo's finest may have shifted and varied over the past fifteen years. Specifically, through the study of certain magical abilities that have been altered for Majora's Mask 3D, we can reveal a fundamental shift in the mindset concerning magic power in the Zelda games.

We began by discussing the Deku Bubble and how its changes show this shift by degrading one of the game's early lessons about conserving magic. Today we'll be continuing our study of magical abilities by focusing on the next of Link's transformations, Goron Link. Although his particular ability has not seen such obvious changes as his Deku counterpart's, there is still much that we can glean about Nintendo's mindset by looking at the more subtle differences in the remade title.

Without further ado, let's begin today's analysis.

Goron Link: The Spike Roll

The Goron Mask is a fan favorite in the community, in no small part due to one of its primary and most-used abilities in the game: Goron Link's capacity to curl into a ball and roll along the ground at ever-increasing speeds, until he takes off like a rocket and spikes shoot out of his back. It's an exciting and empowering moment when the player first takes off like that, suddenly able to fly across almost any landscape with a speed they could never have expected of the big and bulky Goron form.

Players of the original game are likely well-familiar with how this mechanic functions, but let us recap for those who have not yet managed to experience it. When Link takes on his Goron form, holding the A button allows him to curl into a ball; moving the control stick at this point enables him to swiftly roll in that direction. Should he roll a long enough distance without hitting any bumps in the road, he will eventually charge up the roll and enter Spike Roll mode, a much faster roll that can damage enemies and use specially-placed ramps to leap over certain pits. The Spike Roll does require magic power, however, and once it runs out Goron Link is forced to revert to his standard roll speed until this magic is refilled.

Given its usefulness and positive reception, any changes made to this ability would no doubt require careful consideration and need to be minor so as to retain the mechanism's appeal. Two such changes managed to make it through to the 3DS version: a functional change involving the controls for the Spike Roll, and an aesthetic change to the visual effect associated with this ability. Neither of these are major changes, and players should not expect them to have any substantial effect on gameplay. But when considering both together, we can observe yet another way in which Nintendo's thinking about magic power has changed over the years.

Functional Change: The Curl Button

The change in controls related to this ability is very slight, so much so that few gaming sites and previewers have bothered to even mention it. It is a simple change to the curl button: no longer are gamers required to hold the button down. One press will have Goron Link curl, and releasing it does nothing; it is only with a second press that the mode is exited and Link returns to his upright position.

Much like the changes to the Deku Bubble, the shift in controls for the Goron curl and roll makes sense from a useability standpoint. In the original Majora's Mask, if the player is rolling a fair distance, their fingers might tire from holding the button down for the whole journey; their thumb might also slip off the button from time to time, exiting the Spike Roll automatically and forcing them to charge it up again. This simple change allows gamers to relax a bit while rolling from place to place, and it ensures that unintentional motions of the hand won't unexpectedly end the mode. For many gamers, this will likely be seen as a big help.

But what do they show us about the game from a design standpoint? When we look at the original version and the remake's controls, what can we infer about Nintendo and its change in mindset?

Let us first examine the other half of the Spike Roll's changes, and come back to these questions after we have the rest of the big picture in mind.

Aesthetic Change: The Charging Animation

By "charging animation", I mean the familiar fiery aura that appears around Goron Link as he rolls in the original game. The aura begins as only a small pinprick at his sides, but as the roll continues it grows until it encompasses Goron Link's form completely, at which point the Spike Roll is achieved and the orange-red hue vanishes from around him.

For the remake, Nintendo has opted to redo this animation in a surprising way: they have actually made the aura less noticeable than its original version. You can see it in this video below:

The aura now starts off full-sized, surrounding Link completely, but at the beginning it's only a few tiny orange streaks in the air that can hardly be seen. As the charging animation continues, additional lines are added so as to cover a wider area, thus making the aura stand out a bit more, but it still remains rather translucent up until the point that the charging completes and you enter the Spike Roll.

I call this change surprising because, if anything, I'd have expected Nintendo to do the opposite – given the smaller screen size this game will be played on, it would not have been unreasonable to make the aura more noticeable so that players could easily determine how close they were to entering the Spike Roll state. The charging animation for the Goron Roll serves as a visual cue for the player, informing them at any moment just how near or how far away they are from achieving the Spike Roll; by opting for a less visually noticeable animation, Nintendo has weakened one of the key methods for tracking this progress.

Granted, this won't matter much in practice, though it still could affect the gameplay a bit. All this does it make it a tad trickier to keep track of how close you are to obtaining max speed, and that's not a very big of a deal; most Majora's Mask veterans will be able to adapt to the change without much difficulty, and newcomers won't know anything else anyway. So it's not really something worth complaining about.

But then...that's not why we're looking at these changes, now is it?

The Meaning Behind the Changes

So there are two rather minor difference to the Goron Roll that we've zeroed in on for today's discussion: first, the Curl button no longer needs to remain pressed in order to keep Link curled up; second, the Spike Roll's charging animation is now much less visually noticeable.

As we said yesterday, the changes observed in these articles are not necessarily bad ones – especially not the minor ones we're looking at today. Even with the other alterations we have and will discuss, we won't know if other tweaks and alterations have been made to compensate for these discussion points. Indeed, if these were poor decisions, in all likelihood we'd have seen articles and videos about them from gamers who have already received review copies. No one has really bothered to mention this article's changes at all, so chances are good that any effect they've had on the actual gameplay of Majora's Mask is negligible.

Yet that is not what these articles are trying to focus on. Rather, we are attempting to use these differences to see how Nintendo's stance on magic has shifted over the past decade and a half. These two changes are especially telling once you start to consider them from the stance of a player who learned well the lesson that the Deku Bubble originally sought to teach: that magic is something to be conserved.

For players who focus on conserving their magic power, the Goron Spike Roll has never been something to use on a constant basis; rather, it was a tool to be reserved for only the moments when it was required to complete the task at hand. Only when that speed was a necessity – when racing your opponents, as in the Goht battle or the Goron Races, or when ramping over gaps, as seen prominently in the Snowhead Temple – did they rely on the magic-consuming Spike Roll. At all other times, they would avoid letting their roll reach full speed so as to avoid using magic.

Such players should quickly see that these two tiny alterations will make things just a tad more challenging for them. Before, they could watch an easily-discerned visual cue on their roll's progress and simply release a button to avoid spending magic on the Spike Roll; now they must pay close attention to an easily-ignored aura and press a button in order to exit that rolling state. Before, avoiding the Spike Roll occurred when they relaxed (observe the aura, release the button); now they are required to work to save their power (focus on the aura, press the button). To put it simply, the game design reveals the following about Nintendo's mindset:

In Majora's Mask, using magic required the player to exert effort; in Majora's Mask 3D, they must exert effort to avoid using it.

Again, this "effort" is marginal, and the real focus should be on what the default state of the game's play and controls are. The passive response is now to use magic; before, it would avoid magic usage. Nintendo has made it so that cancelling magic usage requires effort and intent by the player, where before it was the opposite – players had to purposefully hold the button, intending to use magic, in order to enter the Spike Roll.

This lesson is somewhat echoed in our previous focal point, the Deku Bubble: the many risky factors of using the Bubble in the original game served to force the player to exert effort to use it effectively. It was on the player to judge the distance, aim correctly, account for the wobbling flight path, and ensure they had enough time to get the bubble large enough. For the remake, while avoiding the use of the Bubble does not require much effort, it is quite clear that the effort involved with actually using it has been greatly lessened.

We will be able to see another example of this much more clearly, and in a much more pronounced way, during tomorrow's discussion. I imagine those of you who have recognized the pattern of these articles can already take a good guess at what we'll be examining then. Hope to see you all back here as we continue.

Until then, this is Alpha, signing off to go do...stuff.

The Transformation of Majora's Mask

How Deku Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Conservation
How Goron Link Reveals a Change in the Avoidance of Magic
How Zora Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Necessity
How the Remake Reveals the Decline of Magic's Value

Popular YouTubers Featured in Latest Majora's Mask 3D New Nintendo 3DS XL Commercial

Nathan — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:22:00 +0000

Nintendo continues to push their YouTube representation, as some popular YouTubers are featured in their latest commercial. The footage was likely taken from a prior media event, but they certainly look like they are having a good time. The video actually contains two commercials back to back, with the second one featuring Monster Hunter 4, the other game being heavily advertised with the New Nintendo 3DS XL due to the new camera use and its improved textures on the platform.

Be sure to check back here and our Twitch Channel on Friday as we'll be doing a livestream marathon of Majora's Mask 3D where we have a staff member who has never played the game before taking his first crack at it. He'll be using our Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough if and when he gets stuck!

Hey, Look, Listen: Analyzing Handholding in The Wind Waker

Paul Grzelak — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 18:08:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a magnificent adventure that actively encourages player-driven exploration and discovery unlike any other Zelda game I’ve played for this Hey, Look, Listen series. By the end of my 30 hours and 37 minutes with this gem from the GameCube era, all I could think about was my desire to run back into the embrace of its tremendous open world.

I will definitely revisit the Great Sea soon, likely in the form of the HD remake. But today, I will share with you the statistics I gathered on how much handholding The Wind Waker employs, so we may objectively judge it alongside the other games in this Hey, Look, Listen series.

For those new to Hey, Look, Listen, this is a series of articles that seeks to objectively analyze handholding in a collection of Zelda games—namely Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword. Think of this as a look at backseat driving in video games, focusing on titles in the Zelda franchise.

I have decided the best way to analyze handholding objectively in Zelda games is to conduct an audit of the five games mentioned above, with what I consider to be an average playthrough of each game. During each playthrough, I keep a tally of things like Camera Movements, Gameplay Interruptions, and other things that could be considered handholding, and then compare the statistics from each game against each other.

You can read more about my methodology, how I define each of the measured criteria, the purposes for conducting this audit, and more in the first article of the Hey, Look, Listen series, here. You can also read my completed audits of Skyward Sword here, Majora's Mask here, Twilight Princess here, and Ocarina of Time here. Today, I will analyze the data on handholding gathered from my recently completed playthrough of The Wind Waker—with infographics, raw numbers, and commentary.

Special note: While this analysis of The Wind Waker will include some comparisons to the handholding statistics in other Zelda games in this audit, this article will not come to any definitive conclusions about handholding in all of these Zelda games. That topic will be covered later on, once the statistics can be properly analyzed in full, and presented professionally, and complete with answers to many of the questions and discussions Zelda fans have had for years about handholding.

Today, our focus is on an analysis of handholding in The Wind Waker, and a deep look at how handholding in this game functions. I hope you find this look at The Wind Waker to be as insightful as the analysis of each game audited before it.

Gameplay Interruptions (GPIs)

A Gameplay Interruption (GPI) is a moment in a Zelda game where my control over Link and events happening on the screen are unexpectedly suspended. This does not include moments when I activated switches, opened doors, or performed other actions where I expected my control to be suspended. However, GPIs do include moments when the King of Red Lions suddenly took control of my sailboat and started to speak as I approached a location, or moments when taking a few steps into a room caused the game’s camera to cut to a perspective high up so I could better see the area I’d just entered.

I encountered 101 GPIs during my playthrough of The Wind Waker, which is 25 fewer GPIs than I encountered during my playthrough of Skyward Sword, but less than half the number of GPIs I encountered in my Twilight Princess playthrough (205). However, when compensating for the fact that Skyward Sword took me nearly nine hours longer to complete than The Wind Waker, The Wind Waker had more GPIs than Skyward Sword on an hourly rate, with an average of 3.3 GPIs per hour, versus 3.21 GPIs per hour for Skyward Sword.

GPIs in The Wind Waker were not distributed evenly among different sections of gameplay. The first two hours and four minutes of gameplay contained 24 GPIs, but the following two hours and 49 minutes of my playthrough contained only 12 GPIs. I also encountered a massive spike of 10 GPIs during the hour-long quest to find Jabun, and another 10 GPIs in 32 minutes as I struggled to complete Mila’s theft side quest.

Beyond that, I have little to say about The Wind Waker’s GPIs. I felt it provided an adequate balance between player control and interruptions to it, and my statistics reflect that. I can’t put my finger on any one major cause for The Wind Waker’s 101 GPIs, since my statistics show only minor spikes during dungeons and few clusters aside from the instances mentioned above. One thing I do know is the King of Red Lions was a small contributor to the GPIs I encountered. Speaking of whom . . .

Companion GPIs

Companion GPIs are a subcategory of the broader GPI counter, meant to highlight instances when Link’s Companion is the direct cause of a Gameplay Interruption. In The Wind Waker, Link’s Companion is the crimson sailboat known as the King of Red Lions. While the King of Red Lions interrupted my gameplay unexpectedly a mere 14 times over the course of my playthrough of The Wind Waker, I didn’t want to end my Companion GPI counter with him alone . . . At least, not at first.

I initially planned on adding what ended up being another 12 tallies to this counter for Extra Companion GPIs, but ultimately decided not to go through with this plan for multiple reasons. If you are interested in why I tossed 12 tallies from this counter out the window, (and subsequently removed 16 similar tallies fro m my analysis of Twilight Princess and 14 from my analysis of Ocarina of Time, respectively) then I encourage you to read the Other Handholding Factors — Important Things I Couldn’t Count section near the bottom of this article, under the header Extra Companion GPIs.

Moving on . . . Because the King of Red Lions was the source of only 14 of the 101 GPIs I encountered during my playthrough of The Wind Waker, and the distribution of those 14 Companion GPIs are so lopsided, hourly rates don’t apply to this counter for this game.

All 14 of the King of Red Lion’s Companion GPIs occurred over a nearly 18-hour stretch between the moment I set sail for Dragon Roost Island, to the moment I arrived at the Wind Temple. And Six of those 14 Companion GPIs happened during the 60 minutes I spent on the quest to find Jabun.

That’s not to say the King of Red Lions holds the player’s hand only 14 times in The Wind Waker. The King of Red Lions was a persistent driver of the game’s narrative, providing Link with directions on where to go next and what he must accomplish, both in Cutscenes and during GPIs that were initiated by other sources. But, directly interrupting my gameplay in The Wind Waker was something the King of Red Lions did less even than Tatl did in Majora’s Mask.

Chimes

I define a Chime as a moment in a Zelda game where part of my HUD lights up and gives me an audio cue so I can press a certain button; usually, this is done so my Companion can tell me some optional information. In The Wind Waker, Chimes were those moments when I was prompted to tap the A button so Link could pull out his little Pirate’s Charm and remotely listen to someone talking to him.

Over the 30 hours and 37 minutes I played The Wind Waker, from the first intro cinematic to the end of the credits where I almost cried (yes, really), I was prompted to pull out this charm only eight times. And four of those happened during Link's first visit to the Forsaken Fortress. Two more chimes happened later during my visit inside Dragon Roost Cavern, and the final two happened on the first visit to Hyrule Castle and inside Ganon’s Tower.

Now, this doesn’t mean the A button on my HUD turned into a prickly pear only eight times in The Wind Waker. In fact, this part of my HUD changed with an audio cue dozens of times in combat with larger enemies so I could counter attacks. I didn’t count any of these combat-oriented chimes because these are not examples of The Wind Waker holding the player’s hand as much as they are opportunities for players to choose how they want to fight their enemies. Timed button presses, complete with on-screen prompts, are a part of the combat in Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword as well, and I did not include those on-screen prompts in my Chime counter for those games, so I will abstain from doing so in The Wind Waker as well.

One other Chime I did keep track of, however, was caused directly by Medli and Makar in the Earth and Wind Temples respectively. Basically, a Chime went off whenever I mind-controlled Medli into a beam of light, and every time I mind-controlled Makar near a patch of soil. These Chimes only exist to let players know they’re properly positioned for a context-sensitive action; players can use Medli’s harp to reflect light, or let Makar plant some seeds. And in my playthrough, I encountered 29 of these Chimes: 16 in the Earth Temple, 13 in the Wind Temple, and nowhere else in the entire game. This brings the total number of Chimes during my playthrough of The Wind Waker to 37.

The bottom line on Chimes in The Wind Waker is, outside of the extremely contextual chimes that happen only in the Earth and Wind Temples, this game features very few Chimes. In fact, if measuring things just by Chimes that allow players to access optional information, The Wind Waker holds the record for the fewest Chimes out of the five Zelda games analyzed in this audit.

Perhaps those numbers would be different if I hadn’t included Wolf Jumps in my analysis of Twilight Princess, or not counted so many Garo Robe Encounters during my playthrough of Majora’s Mask, but I am unable to go back and change those counters now.

Camera Movement

What constitutes Camera Movement? For the duration of this audit, the key features I’ve looked for when deciding to mark a tally for Camera Movement are:

Player control is suspended, whether expected or not
Link is no longer in the frame or is no longer the center of the camera’s attention
The camera moves in a way it usually wouldn’t when under player control to show the player something, usually a change in their surroundings
The cinematic angles, unique animations, lengthy exchanges of dialogue, and unique musical scores that denote Cutscenes are not ALL present (these two counters are not supposed to overlap one another)

In The Wind Waker, this encompasses a broad number of things, including the camera cutting away from the player’s control to show a chest materializing, a shot of a door opening once a switch is activated, or showing a different angle of a room once the player enters it. All of those events are common throughout every Zelda game analyzed in this audit, but The Wind Waker also presents two unique triggers for my Camera Movements counter: playing the Wind’s Requiem, and the Grappling Hook.

Basically, every time I played the Wind’s Requiem, I counted the scene that shows the wind changing directions as a Camera Movement. And every time I used the Grappling Hook to latch onto a beam I could use it to swing from, (including Valoo’s tail) I counted the scene that plays after a successful grab as a Camera Movement. Yes, both of these Camera Movements are very dependent on variables such as player skill level and how much a player wishes to explore, but no matter what, someone who plays The Wind Waker’s story from beginning to end will encounter a significant number of these scenes, and that is why I included them in my counter for Camera Movements.

As a result of all that, I counted a total of 539 Camera Movements over the course of my 30 hour and 37 minute playthrough of The Wind Waker. The Wind’s Requiem accounted for 83 of those 539 Camera Movements (15%), and the Grappling Hook accounted for 59 (9%).

The Wind Waker leads the other games in this audit in Camera Movements by a healthy margin, even topping Twilight Princess’s previous record of 505 Camera Movements. And because the Camera Movements counter provided us with such a large number, we can once again analyze hourly rates, unlike with the Companion GPIs and Chimes for this game.

When averaged out, The Wind Waker provided me with 17.6 Camera Movements per hour, placing it once again ahead of the record for Camera Movements previously set by Twilight Princess, (15.2, in this case) but the distribution was not consistent throughout my experience. The Wind Waker continues the trend set by previous games in this audit, where a higher number of Camera Movements were found in its dungeons than in other parts of its game world. In fact, despite spending only 31% of my play time in The Wind Waker’s dungeons, (I’m counting Ganon’s Tower as a dungeon despite it lacking a dungeon map) they still provided me with 44% of all Camera Movements I encountered.

I also had a tremendous spike of 69 Camera Movements during the Earth Temple, and I blame all of that on the way The Wind Waker handles the light reflection mechanic. Whenever Link reflected light onto a specially-marked wall or elephant statue, the camera would cut away from the player to show the object being destroyed. The dungeon is littered with these walls and statues that can be destroyed with reflected light, each one of which triggered a Camera Movement. Similarly, I blame the remarkably high 52 Camera Movements in Dragon Roost Cavern on its persistent use of struts for the Grappling Hook to swing from.

Some other peculiar moments I encountered while collecting Camera Movement data occurred in the Savage Labyrinth and on Bomb Island.

The Savage Labyrinth is a mini-dungeon of sorts where Link must defeat every enemy in a room before proceeding to the next floor down, and must continue facing room after room of enemies before obtaining a required Triforce Chart on roughly the 25th floor down. However, after defeating every room of enemies, the camera would always move to show me the opening to the next one, which added 27 Camera Movements alone. In fact, the Savage Labyrinth averaged an astounding rate of one Camera Movement per minute in this way. These Camera Movements were completely unnecessary, and did feel like handholding. In fact, I’m inclined to believe that the designers at Nintendo understood this, for the similarly-structured Cave of Ordeals in Twilight Princess only provided one Camera Movement to the first opening door, but none after that.

As for Bomb Island, this small island features a secret cave, completely optional to explore. But in order to progress in this cave, I had to defeat a pair of enemies so one of them could curl into a ball that I could lift and use to weigh down a switch in order to open a door. However, every time the switch was pressed down or lifted up, a Camera Movement would cut to the door, showing the bars moving up or down, and I had a very difficult time safely transporting a curled enemy to the switch before the other would attack me, or getting to the opened door in time before the enemy uncurled and the door closed on me. This maddeningly frustrating segment of my gameplay probably should have added just five or seven Camera Movements to my counter, but because of how difficult it was for me to complete, and the fact that so many actions would consistently trip the Camera Movement counter, I racked up 20 Camera Movements (and one tally for my Frustration counter) in this one little cave.

Redundant Information

I encountered only eight moments in my playthrough of The Wind Waker where characters informed me of painfully obvious information, or repeated information other sources had just mentioned using slightly different wording. How can that number be so low? I think a big part of it has to do with the fact that Link’s Companion, the King of Red Lions, doesn’t follow him absolutely everywhere he goes like Companions in other games, so that’s one less character available to say anything.

Regardless of the reason, my playthrough of The Wind Waker contained very few instances of Redundant Information. In fact, it could have just six instances of Redundant Information if we exclude the two times that the password to the Pirate Ship was reiterated to me by members of Tetra’s crew.

Frustration and Joy

I love this game. I love sailing the high seas, pulling up treasure from the ocean floor, the musical compliments to Link's sword strikes, the colorful environments that relentlessly beckoned me to explore and have my own adventures, and the way the game repeatedly played my heartstrings like a harp. Maybe that’s part of the reason why my playthrough of The Wind Waker racked up an astounding 225 moments of Joy and a paltry 14 moments of Frustration.

To be fair, I knew from the beginning of this audit that my Joy and Frustration counters were never going to provide nearly as insightful findings as my other counters, because they are based on such subjective data. And as a result, I am not giving them nearly as much attention in this audit. Nonetheless, I feel the Joy counter helped me see the good in these games rather than just looking for the bad, as would probably have been the case if I only used a Frustration counter.

And The Wind Waker did prove to be a Frustrating experience from time to time. I had to repeat the first rope-swinging tutorial with Niko more times than I ever expected to, I was hopelessly lost for two hours when trying to find the Ghost Ship for the final Triforce Chart until I used Zelda Informer’s Walkthrough of The Wind Waker to help me, and as much as I enjoyed the fight with Puppet Ganon, I found his final form to be almost unbearably difficult. But overall, it was a very positive experience for me.

So the bottom line on Frustration and Joy in The Wind Waker is it turned out to contain the most Joyful moments out of the games in this audit, and it is tied with Twilight Princess for the fewest Frustrating moments. However, those achievements are unlikely to mean anything when I decide which of these Zelda games holds the player’s hand the most or least.

Cutscenes

During my playthrough of The Wind Waker, I counted 50 Cutscenes, which is fewer than any other Zelda game in this audit. However, when accounting for the amount of time each playthrough took, The Wind Waker’s average of 1.63 Cutscenes per hour is edged out by Skyward Sword’s 1.4 Cutscenes per hour.

However, the Cutscenes in The Wind Waker were unevenly distributed throughout the game. In fact, 74% of all Cutscenes in The Wind Waker took place over three relatively distinct sections of the game around the beginning, middle, and end of The Wind Waker’s narrative. I had witnessed 12 Cutscenes by the time Link finally left Windfall Island for the first time, which was barely two hours into my playthrough. Fifteen Cutscenes took place between the start of the quest to find Jabun, and the moment I left Tetra at Hyrule Castle, and another 10 Cutscenes were packed into the final 104 minutes of my playthrough. The remaining 13 Cutscenes in The Wind Waker were sprinkled between these three narrative-heavy segments, and included several lengthy stretches without any Cutscenes at all.

I should also address that I was asked over social media about the reasons why I include a counter for Cutscenes in this audit. I want to clarify that not all Cutscenes are inherently handholding elements of a game, nor do a higher number of Cutscenes in a video game mean that the game is of lower quality or caters to a less sophisticated gaming audience. Cutscenes serve a wide variety of purposes in video games: they can be a reward for completing challenges; sometimes they can convey points of a game’s narrative more coherently than gameplay alone can; they can teach the player about important things they must know or should be aware of while playing the game; and much more.

However, with some exceptions, Cutscenes in general interrupt or limit the player’s control over events on the screen. And this is certainly the case is many Zelda games.

One of the key arguments against handholding in video games is they strip away player agency. A puzzle is no fun to solve if someone tells you exactly how to solve it, for one of the main reasons why solving a puzzle is a fun thing to do is the sense of fulfillment and accomplishment we experience when we solve the puzzle ourselves.

Solving a puzzle is not satisfying on its own, but overcoming the challenge of solving a puzzle is. Handholding removes or mitigates the challenge and, conversely, the satisfaction we experience when the puzzle is solved.

The way that Cutscenes tie in with handholding is that Cutscenes inherently mitigate challenge. They temporarily change video games from a medium where player input is key, into to a medium where player input is minimized or removed. This turns the active gameplay experience into a more passive viewing and listening experience.

To bring this back to my point above, Cutscenes strip away player agency because they reduce the ability the player has to control the events on the screen. So, not only do most Cutscenes provide some of the symptoms of handholding in general, they also frequently explain events in the game to the player.

In the case of Zelda, many Cutscenes contain information pertinent to the gameplay about where the player should go or what they should do. Rarely are players provided with an opportunity to advance a Zelda game's story by setting their own objectives or finding out on their own where they must go in the game world next. These things are more often than not told to the player directly in Zelda games, usually during Cutscenes, and that can feel like a handholding experience.

I could continue writing a great deal about this topic, but for now, I hope this helps explain to readers why I’ve kept track of Cutscenes over the course of this audit of handholding in Zelda games.

Other Handholding Factors — Important Things I Couldn't Count

Extra Companion GPIs

Readers familiar with the Hey, Look, Listen series might remember how I agonized over adding an extra category to my Companion GPI counter to keep a tally of additional characters who could be considered Companions, and who hold the player’s hand to some degree or another. And I made this decision primarily to account for The Wind Waker’s Earth Temple and Wind Temple, both of which Link explores while accompanied by Medli and Makar respectively. Furthermore, Tetra acts like a Companion for Link at certain points in The Wind Waker, aiding (and interrupting) him on the first exploration of the Forsaken Fortress as well as the final battle with Ganondorf.

However, when the time came to count up and consider the data for all my counters at the end of my playthrough of The Wind Waker, I realized that I really shouldn’t be counting these Extra Companion GPIs in the first place. The Companion GPI counter is unique among my other counters; it exists not as a counter on its own but as a sub-counter that exists within the GPI counter.

The only reason the Companion GPI counter exists is to count the number of times Link’s Companion is the source of GPIs. The only Companions in this audit are Fi in Skyward Sword, Midna in Twilight Princess, the King of Red Lions in The Wind Waker, Tatl in Majora's Mask, and Navi in Ocarina of Time.

The topic of what makes Link’s Companions his Companions is not a discussion I want to discourage people from hav ing. Indeed, I would love to explore this topic in much greater detail, but coming up with a concise and universal way to define Link’s Companions is not among the purposes for conducting this audit. So for the sake of keeping this audit as focused as possible, I am not going to count some monkeys in the Forest Temple, Medli, Princess Zelda, or a host of other characters in this audit as Companions.

A part of me feels disappointed to simply remove all 12 of the tallies I tediously tracked for Extra Companion GPIs in The Wind Waker. But I have identified these tallies as little more than a distraction, and they have no place in this particular audit.

The Ballad of Gales

You know the sequence that plays every time you play the Ballad of Gales while sailing with the King of Red Lions? Well, after I decided to keep track of all 83 times I changed the direction of the wind with the Wind’s Requiem during my playthrough of The Wind Waker, I figured I should apply the same thinking to this short scene that plays every time Link wants to initiate The Wind Waker’s take on fast-travel . . . And that’s when I realized I shouldn't count the times I played the Ballad of Gales as a form of handholding. The Ballad of Gales is not handholding, it’s just The Wind Waker’s version of fast-travel.

Majora’s Mask has fast-travel, and so does Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. Fast-travel in these games entails watching a short, unskippable scene of Link getting zipped away to another location, presumably to entertain the player while the game loads up a different part of the game world. I didn’t add tallies to the Camera Movement counters for any of these actions in any of these games, and making an exception for The Wind Waker would contradict my methodology for auditing these other games. And this audit has to be consistent.

Despite the fact that I tediously kept track of all 27 moments I played the Ballad of Gales to fast-travel in The Wind Waker, I have decided over the course of writing this article that they should not be included in my analysis.

Companion GPIs When Leaving the Map

When Link approaches the edge of the map of the Great Sea, the King of Red Lions will interrupt the player's gameplay, tell them they're not allowed to leave, and turn them around. I'm not counting any of these scenes in my audit for the same reason I excluded the Door Chimes in Ocarina of Time (where Navi would shout, “Hey!” every time I touched a barred door or a locked door without a key) from my audit of that game.

The only reason anybody would encounter these Companion GPIs is because of an accident or pure player curiosity. It’s not handholding, it’s just the game providing a nice substitution for smashing the King of Red Lions’ face into an invisible wall. For the record, I didn't encounter a single instance like this during my playthrough, but I remember what they were like.

What's Next?

I have now finished collecting data for Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, and I have analyzed each one of them individually. But, this audit isn’t over just yet! One more article in this series must be written: a comparative analysis of the statistics from all five games.

Despite all the work that has been done on this Hey, Look, Listen series so far, it still has not yet achieved its goals:

Objectively determine which of these five Zelda games has the most or least handholding
Objectively determine which Companion in these five games holds the player’s hand the most
Make an informed prediction about what to expect from Zelda U

Those goals and more will be achieved two weeks from now with the seventh entry in the Hey, Look, Listen series: Analyzing Handholding in 3D Home Console Zelda Games. I’ve already collected all the data I need to compose that article, but I’m going all-out with the visuals this time, so the next entry in this series will be heavy with infographics. In the end, this will provide us with the first statistical analysis of handholding in Zelda games, and hopefully provide a kernel of objective information in an opinion-driven discourse that has gone on for years in the Zelda community and the world of gaming.

Full Spreadsheet of The Wind Waker Playthrough Data

Jim Sterling Praises Nintendo and Koei Tecmo's Approach to DLC in Hyrule Warriors

Nathan — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:10:00 +0000

Some of you may be wondering who exactly Jim Sterling is and why you should care what he thinks. He's a video game journalist who runs a fairly popular YouTube channel and his own personal site where he does video game reviews. He is the former reviews editor for two really popular sites in Destructoid and The Escapist, where his most popular YouTube offering, the Jimquisition, got its start. All of this gives you some background, but the most important reason you should care about what he has to say is that he's often right, and often one of the most informed people in the industry.

To understand this you need to go back and watch some of his prior Jimquisition episodes. While his style of delivery isn't for everyone, his messages are on point, supported, and always make sense. That brings us into today's Jimquistion video - one in which he praises how DLC is handled in Hyrule Warriors. Now, it's fair to say Nintendo handles DLC rather well - though they aren't perfect (Wii Sports U). Still, in an age where DLC can almost be a word that strikes fear and overpaying for cosmetic changes, Hyrule Warriors offers oddles of new content, characters, costumes, and weapons, all while still providing some content for free, extending playing time for the game even if you never purchase any DLC at all. On top of that, the original game felt complete and jam packed with content as it is - truly making the DLC feel like the bonus content it has always been.

What do you think about how Nintendo has handled the DLC (or in this case, Koei Tecmo)?

GoodSMILE Teases Two Brand New Legend of Zelda Figures

outsethero — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:06:00 +0000

If you're a fan of GoodSMILE's wide variety of figures, especially their Wind Waker Link Nendoroid, then you're gonna be in for a treat. During this year's WonderFest, GoodSMILE took the opportunity to unveil a plethora of new figurines, two of which will make The Legend of Zelda fans very happy.

The first of the two figures to be revealed was the scaled Skyward Sword Link figure you see above. Featuring one of Link's most iconic artwork poses, this figure is incredibly detailed and makes Link look a little bit older than he does in the game. There is currently no release date or pricing information available as of right now. The other figure that was announced was a Majora's Mask Link Nendoroid. GoodSMILE did not have a prototype of the figure, so the announcement came in the form of a small art piece of the design propped up on a wall. Just like the Skyward Sword Link, there was no release date or pricing information released for the figure.

I, personally, cannot wait to see fully painted images of these two! I'm excited to see the different expressions they'll go with for the Young Link Nendoroid, too. What do you think about these two new figures? Excited to add them to your collection or are they not really your thing? Let us know down in the comments!

Source: GoodSMILE's Facebook

Caption Contest 004: "Give me MM3D, NOW! I can't hold it in until Friday!"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Thank you, Nate, for covering for me in my absence last week. I really enjoyed everyone's responses to Ben as well as the Deku captions this week. This feature continues to be a favorite of mine as each week passes, with you all posting funnier and more creative captions. I have full confidence that this week will continue that trend. Majora's Mask 3D comes out this Friday, and our friend here is having a hard time waiting these last few days. So tell us, ZI fans, what is he going through right now?

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Like I said before, Majora's Mask 3D is just a few days away, so make this Caption Countdown contest count. Use the image at the bottom of the page and leave your caption in the comments section below. If you accidentally post as a guest, simply log in and reply to your comment with your username. If you post your caption as an image and it doesn't load, wait 5-10 minutes and check back, it usually just takes a few minutes to load properly. Don't forget to check back throughout the week and upvote your favorites and maybe you will be one of next week's winners!

by: Hylian Ticipated

by: Lumiangames

by: Jmember12

by: Gabriel De Leon

by: Bitmin

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Sean Keenan - "I don’t want no scrub, scrub is a guy that can’t get no love from me"
Peter M Wall - “…this is your friend on drugs…(Say no to drugs)."
Pedro Vasconcelos - "Can you knot?"
Laikue - "Stop. Hammer Time."
Schwartz Ichenbachen - "Deku Butler's Son: 'BROTHER DO YOU LOVE ME?'"

Link's thoughts: 'Be strong, Clarence. Be strong for mother.'"

This week's photo:

Majora's Mask 3D Demo Available at Best Buy and other Select Retailers

Nathan — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:41:00 +0000

While some of you may have already stumbled upon the Majora's Mask 3D demo at your local stores, they seem to have completed their retailer penetration just in time for the week of release. PressStartToPlay discovered a slick kiosk at Best Buy while looking for some amiibo, and personally I have seen the demo at my local GameStop as well. For those curious if they should give the demo a try this week, it contains 3 sections. You can explore Clock Town, play the first few minutes of the game, or fight one of the bosses. Overall, it's a well rounded demo that gives a nice taste for the game itself.

If you aren't sold on if this remastering is worth it, now is the time to go try out it for yourself! You can check out our Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough this week as well, as it launches this Friday.

Source: PressStartToPlay

Buying a New Nintendo 3DS XL to play Majora's Mask 3D? Order Now: Red Version Sold Out at GameStop

Nathan — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:50:00 +0000

It looks like we're reaching the stage of sellouts for the launch of the New Nintendo 3DS XL. While the Majora's Mask and Monster Hunter 4 version of the console have been sold out for weeks, one retailer has sold out of one of the two normal color variations. GameStop has completely sold out of the red version of the New Nintendo 3DS XL online, while in store they will likely be sold out within a day or two as well. While other retailers still have this color in stock, if you want to ensure you get the color of your choice at launch to play Majora's Mask 3D (Note: You only need a normal 3DS to play the game, but some may prefer the new features) you should get a pre-order in soon, because they might not be as plentiful at launch as most of us suspected they would be.

Source: GameStop

Nintendo UK Says the Company's Focus is on Existing Fanbase with Majora's Mask 3D and New 3DS

RODTheMaster — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:59:00 +0000

This Friday is undoubtedly a big day for Nintendo. With the release of the New Nintendo 3DS, Majora's Mask 3D, and Monster Hunter 4, Nintendo has dubbed the day its "lucky" Friday the 13th. Nintendo has struggled over the last few years to both effectively appeal to existing fans and bring in new ones, but it seems the company is taking more notice of its hardcore fanbase. Recently, Nintendo's UK head of consumer marketing James Honeywell told gaming publication MCV that the company will be "initially targeting the firm's existing fanbase" with this Friday's releases before focusing on newer audiences.

Honeywell explained that with the releases of Majora's Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4, Nintendo is treating existing fans as a priority. He stated:

"Majora’s Mask is a title that fans have been asking for a long time so it has an instant base. Beyond this we really want to make sure we introduce it to a whole new audience. For Monster Hunter we really feel now is the time when we can really open the title up to a Western audience. The developers have listened to existing players and given them more of what they want, but also ensuring that this new installment is the most open to newcomers."

Given that Majora's Mask already holds a strong fanbase that heavily influenced Majora's Mask 3D's development, Nintendo could have easily targeted Majora's Mask 3D to a primarily new audience. Decisions that appeal to a new audience are not necessarily problematic, but they may cause current fans to feel ignored. I find the confirmation that Nintendo is focusing on the hardcore Majora's Mask fans to be reassuring, as it shows that the remake was designed with those fans in mind and their input was considered heavily during the game's development.

Do you feel that Nintendo has effectively focused on hardcore Zelda fans? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Source: MCV via Nintendo Everything

Daily Debate: Should Link Speak in the Zelda Netflix Series?

RODTheMaster — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:01:00 +0000

Last week, we reported that video streaming juggernaut Netflix was in talks to produce a live action Legend of Zelda series. As shown in the various discussions taken place over the weekend, we all have our own distinct perspectives on the news. The aspect of the series that many fans feel needs to be treated correctly is the presentation of the Zelda characters we all know and love. Undeniably, the most important character to consider is series protagonist Link, as his treatment in the Netflix series has the ability to completely make or break the series for fans.

When we think of The Legend of Zelda, one of the first images to come to mind is that of our green hooded hero. Serving as a way for fans to see and explore the Zelda universe, Link plays an essential role in series and would seemingly serve the same function in a live action adaptation. But one question that arises with Link being portrayed in a live-action series is how exactly he will communicate. Save for a few noteworthy instances, Link does not speak in any way other than a few "hyuts" and "hyeahs". So given Link's hesitancy to speak actual words of dialogue, what would be the best way to handle his portrayal in the Netflix series?

One choice for Netflix to consider is to have Link remain mute and thus serve a more limited role in the series. The report mentioned that Netflix was looking to make the series a family friendly version of Game of Thrones, a series that deals heavily with politics and inter-family relations. Therefore, if Link was to stay quiet, he would most likely remain in the background while more chatty characters discuss the conflicts and politics of Hyrule. The problem that arises from this choice is that Link, the main protagonist and driving-force in the game series, would have a smaller and more diminished role in the show's action.

Another avenue that Netflix can take is to give Link dialogue, and thus a more active role in the series. By its very nature, The Legend of Zelda deals with the independence and isolation of our hero, as he explores mysterious places by himself. A series that follows a completely silent hero for long stretches of time may prove too difficult for show-runners to handle correctly. So, giving Link a voice would allow the audience to better relate with the character on screen and to more explicitly know his thoughts throughout the show. However, Zelda fans have always been invited to use their imaginations in regards to Link's voice and thoughts. If the series was to give Link a voice that sounds contrary to how long-standing Zelda fans have always imagined it, these fans may feel alienated with their established perceptions of the Zelda series discredited.

The issue of Link's voice will remain a worrying topic until the Netflix series is eventually released. So until then, I ask you to offer your opinions on the matter. Should Link remain silent in this live action series, as he has in the games? Or should the show-runners give Link a voice, so that viewers can better know his thoughts about the world around him? Join the Daily Debate!

The Bit Block Discusses What They Want to See in Netflix's Zelda Series

RODTheMaster — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 01:50:00 +0000

To the surprise of many, Netflix was reported last week to be working on a live action Legend of Zelda series. Fans have already begun sharing their thoughts on the news, offering various perspectives on what a live action Zelda show should or should not be. YouTube show The Bit Block (managed by WiiFolderJosh) recently sat down to discuss the prospects of the Netflix series. The hosts talk about what they would like to see in a live action Zelda adaptaion, including possible plotlines, tone, and character design.

Hosts Josh Thomas and Dan Goslin share some interesting ideas on what the live action Zelda series could look like. They first question the general nature of the show's plot and characters. While Netflix has already been reported to be making the show a family friendly version of Game of Thrones, The Bit Block speculates that the series could present a darker, more dramatic take on the Zelda universe. They even discuss the possibility that the show could focus on the exploits of Ganondorf, which could prove interesting.

The discussion also touches on the topic of different Zelda races appearing in the series, such as Zoras or Gorons. Goslin states that he would like to see these creatures depicted in a style similar to the nightmarish monsters seen in Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. In a more light-hearted option, Thomas shares that he would rather see the races of Zelda a la Jim Henson's puppets in Labyrinth. Both possibilities could be interesting, but I see the use make-up to be much more likely.

The final topic the hosts consider is how the series will continue beyond a single season. Thomas expresses his excitement over the possibility that each season will follow the plot of a different game in the Zelda series, making way for different stories and tones as the series continues. Such a thing is probably a long way off, but I would love to see an stylized Wind Waker series.

What do you think of their suggestions? What do you think would make a great live action Zelda series? Let us know!

Famitsu Magazine Gives Majora's Mask 3D a Score of 37/40

moothsda — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 22:56:00 +0000

Famitsu Magazine, the most popular gaming magazine in Japan, has published their review of Majora's Mask 3D in their latest issue, and it's won an incredible score of 9/9/9/10, or 37/40.

The way this works is Famitsu hires four different reviewers for each game, in order to get a much more informed and balanced opinion. So 9/9/9/10 means that three reviewers gave the game a 9 out of 10, and one gave the game a perfect 10 out of 10.

Here are all of Famitsu's review scores for this week:

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (3DS) – 9/9/9/10
God Eater 2 Rage Burst (PS4/PSV) – 9/9/9/9
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round (PS4/XBO/PS4/360) – 8/9/9/8
Terraria (PS4) – 8/8/8/7
Fuuraiki 3 (PSV) – 7/7/8/7
The Keep (3DS) – 7/7/7/7
Tappingo (3DS) – 7/7/7/6
Otoko Yuukaku (PSV) – 7/7/8/6
Excave: Unmei no Mugentou-Hen (3DS) – 7/7/6/6

Famitsu has a great track record with the Zelda series, since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was the very first game to ever get a perfect 40/40 from Famitsu, and since then, Wind Waker and Skyward Sword have both gotten a perfect score as well. Only 22 different games have ever gotten a perfect review from Famitsu, and very few have gotten as close as 37/40, so this review for Majora's Mask 3D is absolutely stellar.

What do you guys think? Do you like Famitsu's reviews? Should Majora's Mask 3D have gotten a lower score, or perhaps something even higher?

If you're interested in looking at the actual reviews in detail, they're available in this week's issue of Famitsu.

Source: Nintendo Everything

Japanese Majora's Mask 3D Perfect Guide Cover

RODTheMaster — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 22:34:00 +0000

Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu routinely releases quality strategy guides for the industry's largest releases. As expected, these Perfect Guides offer a collection of tips, maps, and walkthroughs to help gamers through their favorite games. Famitsu's Perfect Guide for Majora's Mask 3D is due out this week in Japan and we can now see teases of the guide's cover. While it'll be difficult to secure the guide outside of Japan, we can all still express amazement at the sweet cover art.

The guide's cover art is reminiscent of the game's cover, but with a few additional flourishes; this book may be something to track down for collection enthusiasts. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Perfect Guide will be released alongside the game on February 14th; as stated above, the guide is only planned for release in Japan (available here). In the past, specific Perfect Guides have been imported and made available in other regions, but it remains unclear if the same will happen with Majora's Mask 3D. Fortunately, western fans can still get their hands on the Majora's Mask 3D Standard Edition Prima strategy guide. Fans can also check out our walkthrough of Majora's Mask 3D.

What do you think of the cover art? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Twitter (graphμre)

Cosplay of the Week: Saria by The Zelda Project

Mases — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:36:00 +0000

This weeks Cosplay feature is by the lovely folks at The Zelda Project, and it's a tiny bit different to the normal Cosplays we see. This week I'll be showing you guys a gorgeous Cosplay of Saria... By a young girl!

This Kokiri child has absolutely flawless design, and the costume has been replicated almost exactly like the beloved Ocarina of Time character.

For this Cosplay photoshoot the team travelled over 1425 miles, in total, to capture the mysterious style of The Lost Woods. It's been very nicely done. Adella, the photographer, has definitely picked the perfect girl for this Cosplay. Her photography is on spot, as well.

The Zelda Project has a few photosets you can check out on their website, so I suggest you do so! We've got a mini gallery below for some of the images of Saria, but you can see more over at ZP's website and you can check out the behind the scenes of each photoshoot.

Don't forget to tag any Cosplays you do on Twitter with #ZIcostume for a chance to have an article written about you!

What do you think of this adorable Saria Cosplay?

Meet the Staff: Carlos Eduardo Pérez

CE_TheLord — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:17:00 +0000

Who is this guy?

Ladies and gentlemen. Hello. My name is Carlos Eduardo Pérez, I'm from Nicaragua and I'm 17 years old (Although I'll turn 18 later this year) I'm that kind of guy that loves videogames, movies, TV shows, japanese manga/anime and loves drawing videogame characters. I'm somewhat shy and a bit on the reckless side. My native language is spanish but playing videogames helped me to learn english from a very young age (With some help from school obviously) so it's technically a native language of mine aswell. I also love science and physics, and I like to learn about videogame development, so that's the reason I love Unseen64.

I'm a die-hard Zelda fan (I'm writing for Zelda Informer, duh) and also an avid chess player, which is my second favorite hobbie. I spend my time reading random stuff on the Internet and drawing. Now that I've introduced myself, let's dig deeper so we can find out the purpose of this pointless article.

What's the deal with him and videogames?

My first memory of me playing a videogame is in my grandma's house when I was like 2 years old, playing Super Mario Bros. She says that I found my dad's NES (Yes, he loves videogames) and then she pluged the console and let me play it. The thing is that I loved that NES, I played games like Duck Hunt, Super Mario Bros and Super Mario Bros 2. That was long ago and I can't remember if I played any other game on that old NES. Luckily enough I also found my mom's Sega Genesis (Yes, she also likes videogames) in my other grandma's house. Then I discovered one of my most favourite games ever: Sonic The Hedgehog. I played that game for hours! and I also played one game that unfortunately I can't remember, it was a 2D platformer about an armadillo knight or something like that in a blue armor. I also have some memories of me playing A Link to The Past and some Castlevania games but I can't remember if I ever had a SNES in my hands.

This guy is talking about everything but Zelda!

Well, when I was 3 years old I got my first console: a Nintendo 64 system and my first game was Super Mario 64. That day, videogames officialy became part of my life. The magic of traveling trough different places like Peach's Castle or Bob-omb Battlefield was really awesome, and my dad helped me a lot when I was stuck in some places, together we completed Super Mario 64. After completing that game I got my first Zelda game: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It literally became the best game I've ever played! My dad and I spent an entire month finishing the game, I remember that we got stuck on Shadow Temple and he went to look online for a guide about what to do, when he returned I was already battling against Bongo-Bongo, I'll not gonna lie, I felt awesome since then. Later I got F-Zero, Pokémon Stadium and my second Zelda game: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Honestly that game was so hard that I never got to finish it. I left the game in the Ikana Valley temple. Then my 2 year old sister broke the game and I was upset for like a year.

When the Nintendo Gamecube system was released I literally begged my parents to buy me one. And after an entire year of begging I finally got my Gamecube. My first game was Luigi's Mansion, I'll admit that I was so scared about that game that I got afraid of dark, but after I got over that trauma I finally decided to give the game a try. Later I got The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and I don't understand why people hate that game so much. I freaking love toon-shading in games and that's what makes The Wind Waker truly magical. Before my Gamecube died my last games were Metroid Prime 1 & 2, all the Star Fox titles available, all the Sonic games available on the console, all the games that had Mario in the box and then my final game which was Twilight Princess. Twilight Princess is the first Zelda game that I was able to complete without help from anyone.

Literally, Zelda beame my favourite game series ever. I had Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword on Wii. And now on Nintendo 3DS I have Ocarina of Time 3D, the 2 DS Zelda games and I'm planning on buying Majora's Mask 3D next month. I've been growing up with the series, and now I'm patiently waiting for the arrival of Zelda U!

That was your past, so what are you doing now?

As I grew up I had to learn that if I want to achieve something, I have to fight for it. I had a somewhat difficult life in this recent 4 years and sometimes I feel like I'm giving up. But I'm glad that I have my family and friends supporting me. As I grew up, I liked the idea of writing about videogames, this was mainly because I hated the click-bait journalism, filled with fanboys and trolls. So I oftenly looked for news in different gaming sites. In one of those times I found Gamnesia. "Wow..." That was my first impression when I read some editorials and the topics they talked about. Then I discovered their sister site: Zelda Informer. And I fell in love with it. Articles like Destined to Fade or A Secret and Personal Journey really got me, and when I saw that Zelda Informer was looking for writers I contacted Nate with no hesitation, because I wanted to write articles and editorials like those mentioned before. Now I proudly can say that I'm writing for Zelda Informer. I mean, I never thought that I could be one of the chosen ones to write on Zelda Informer! I'm actually here as an editorial writer, so I'll finally be able to write great articles about the franchise I love so much. I'm also learning coding on Unity, and later this year I'm going to study game development on CryEngine 3.

As I get older my videogame tastes also change, some simple minigames cannot entertain me anymore as before. So in my search for games that give me memorable experiences I've discovered great franchises that I love very much, even if some of them are outside of Nintendo systems I like them a lot. Metal Gear Solid, Monster Hunter, Xenoblade Chronicles, Fire Emblem, Kingdom Hearts, Persona, and lots of games that I didn't knew too much about are now in my favorite games list. But without forgetting my roots obviously, some game series from my childhood are now gone like Crash, Spyro, Megaman or Banjo Kazooie. But fortunately, games like Super Mario, Zelda, Metroid and lots of Nintendo series are still there, offering quality games and giving me enjoyable moments.

What do you expect about the future?

My dream is to become a game developer, even if I end up just developing indie games, that's what I love and what I want to do. Videogames are art, and the experiences, characters, music. Everything is just a perfect blend of ingredients that transform into something magical. That's why I also like movies, books, anime, manga, everything. Because the stories they tell are simply amazing. I hope to be a great writer here at Zelda Informer. The staff of this page is awesome, filled with different people with different opinions and tastes. The debates and conversations we have in our private chat are just hilarious and what I like the most is that we are like a family, the Zelda Informer family, not just some random group of writers.

I know some of you are wondering when I'll finish talking in this long, overly dramatic post. So I'll finish here saying thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this little resume of my life.

Villains of the Zelda Series: Lord Ghirahim the Perfect

Link 2 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 20:01:00 +0000

SPOILER WARNING FOR SKYWARD SWORD

Introduction

My first reactions to Ghirahim were the same as many fans' first reactions: “What am I looking at?” It's obvious that my younger self, trying out the Skyward Sword demo in Target, could not comprehend the sheer majesty of this fabulous villain. The snake-tongued demon we all know and love is what I like to call the perfect villain.

Ghirahim's Legacy and Physical Appearance

The Internet has dubbed him "fabulous", as I constantly hear him being described. When Skyward Sword was released in 2011, fans went wild with memes and fan art of him. Ghirahim soon received a reputation of being "the sexy villain" to some fans.

Despite being a demon, Lord Ghirahim is quite handsome. He boasts the aura of a diva and is often seen taunting you with hair flips and a fashionable wardrobe.

For a demon, Ghirahim is quite the fashionista. He wears blue diamond earrings and sports a red and gold cloak. Underneath that cloak he wears fancy white spandex.

If you're a fan of anime, you may know that some characters tend to be a tad bizarre. These characters seem to be successful assets, engrossing millions of fans across the globe.

Anime fans often find these strange characters to be cool, and even idolize them. If you think about it, this is similar to what Nintendo did with Ghirahim. After all, Nintendo is a company based in Japan, so it makes sense that Nintendo's works could be influenced or inspired by anime.

Ghirahim is an eccentric character, yet so many fans love him and think of him as being the greatest Zelda villain to date.

The Little Things

Ghirahim's looks are fabulous, but let's focus on some small details for a moment. While my sister was watching me attempt to play through Skyward Sword yet again, she made a remark about Ghirahim's voice. In my opinion, the voice actor Nintendo picked for Ghirahim was the right choice. The small grunts, sighs, and laughs of Ghirahim truly add an air of evil and smugness to his demon identity.

What about Ghirahim being a sword? This is a detail that some fans tend to overlook. Much like Fi being the Goddess Sword, Ghirahim is also a sword: Demise's blade. Ghirahim appears to be more liberal than Fi when it comes to shedding the appearance of a sword to become more of a humanoid. This small detail strikes me as such an interesting side fact and shows off a little bit of his personality.

The Mind of the Villain

Ghirahim is calm at times, even borderline friendly. Out of sheer mercy, he promises not to slay Link during their first encounter. It appears as though Ghirahim, though being evil, has dignity and a moral code. On the other hand, he can quickly become hateful and enraged, as we see in Link's second encounter with Ghirahim.

He appears to be cool and collected, but upon recounting Impa's interference with his plans, he is infuriated to the point of having a fit of rage. It is possible that Ghirahim is bipolar, as his mood shifts rapidly between manic, depressed, and outraged on a regular basis. He could be screaming at Link in one text box, but in the next text box he is calm and peaceful.

The demon lord has intense rage and anger, but when he is in a fair mood, he is polite and controlled. It is this detail that makes Ghirahim so mysterious and difficult to relate to. It's nearly impossible to guess what is going on inside his head during his quest to resurrect his master.

Closing

We have explored Ghirahim's appearance, his mental process, and the small details that make up his personality and character development. What do you think, is Ghirahim truly the perfect villain? Do you think Nintendo made a mistake by creating such a flamboyant character? Let us know in the comments.

Other articles in this series:

Villains of the Zelda Series: Demise the Demon King
Villains of the Zelda Series: Yuga the Flamboyant

Artwork done by: narytaa, PikminAAA, Archangel-Kuroji.

Meet the ZI Staff: Jeff Edelstein

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:41:00 +0000

Hello, Zelda Informer readers! My name is Jeff Edelstein (the lovely woman beside me in the above image is my girlfriend) and I am one of the copy editors/ writers for our site, and have been since mid-June of last year. Since then, I've managed our weekly Photoshop Contest, some interviews, our Facebook page (along with Nate and Kasia, another staff member) and most recently, the Fan Music Spotlight. Although some of you might not recognize me as an author, if you remember the Zelda Misinformer article from last August, you're familiar with my work - but more on that later.

Late to the Party

Although I consider myself a huge Zelda fan and Nin-ten-year-old (*bad-dum, tsh*), I didn't start out as such. Originally, I was a Sony gamer, and my first console was the Playstation, but this was soon followed by the Game Boy Advance, where I experienced my first Zelda title: The Minish Cap. It was an odd introduction, to say the least. My appreciation for the series grew as I made friends with those who regarded the series much more highly than I had, and was exposed to more of the titles. One of my fondest memories from that time was playing through most of The Wind Waker with my best friend; we would've finished that one too if not for that darn Triforce quest. Soon, I was spending a summer enjoying Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, all on my own.

My love for the franchise was firmly established when Skyward Sword released. Not only was this a day-one purchase for me, but I played through it for four days straight, beating it on the dawn of the fifth day. I can even vividly recall playing from 6 am one day to 2 am on the next: a feat which I hope to repeat when Zelda U comes about later this year. Needless to say, I've been happily expanding my Zelda horizons since, playing through the original Legend of Zelda, Link's Awakening, and a few others, leading to my job here on ZI.

Writing about Zelda

I was hired here shortly after E3 of 2014 as a writer. When I learned that ZI was looking for copy editors, however, I applied to be moved up. A week later, I was beginning to edit and approve other writers' work, and I haven't looked back. Although the brunt of my work here entails editing our writers' posts for grammatical, syntactical, and logical errors, my involvements with this site typical go much beyond this. During any given day, I search through various news outlets dozens of times, finding stories that are relevant to our site and our readers, and sending them to our writers to draft up, or writing them up myself.

Additionally, I help manage our Facebook page and our various daily/weekly features. My work on the former is mostly centered around posting links to our news articles and scheduling them appropriately, although I do post simple image posts from time to time (nearly all of our image posts come from my co-worker, Kasia). As for the weekly features, I ran the Photoshop Contest last fall until we reorganized our Weekly Features. Since then, I manage our Fan Music Spotlight, in which I showcase an artist or two from YouTube who use inspiration from Zelda - and I love it. As a musician of very different training from those who take to YouTube, I am amazed by their talent, dedication, and skill every week.

As I stated above, I also had a very brief stint as the publisher of our equally brief Saturday weekly feature, Zelda Misinformer. This came about from a suggestion on the part of one of our fans (now staff member) who suggested a satirical take on our news. To make a long story short, it was not particularly well-received (looking at you, Jerk Edelstupid), and we decided to move to a social media-exclusive endeavor, now on hiatus.

Favorite Feature

The aspects I enjoy most about working here are getting to know the fans (from my co-workers, to the readers here, to artists with whom I have the privilege of speaking), and helping readers get the info they need as quickly and pleasantly as possible. In regards to the former, interviews, features, and discussions both on the site and in our backroom chat make my work fun. When it comes to latter, I'm just happy to see a fan, whether a friend or a stranger, read something we've posted and become as excited as I am to report it. This may be my first experience with gaming journalism, but I intend to prolong my stay for as long as I can.

More about Me

In addition to Zelda, I'm an avid fan of myriad video game series, ranging from Pokemon, to Super Smash Bros., to Final Fantasy, to Metroid, to Monster Hunter, as well as individual titles such as Xenoblade Chronicles and The World Ends With You (hence my avatar on the site). My favorite genre tends to RPGs, as I love to become immersed in the stories, the worlds, and the various battling mechanics they tend to offer. As such, while Zelda is my favorite game series, Zelda games are not my favorite (if that makes any sense at all).

On the musical side that I hinted at earlier, I've been playing piano for nine years and singing for about half that time. Although I was classically trained, I love to learn unorthodox music, such as that found in theater and in various video games. One unique field of interest that has grown out of my video game obsession and musical experience is a love for video game music (VGM). While I can't pin down a favorite artist (I sort of tend to just obsess over an album for a long while, then move on), I was on a Smooth McGroove binge for a long time last year. If you haven't heard his a cappela arrangements of Zelda themes and beyond, you're missing out.

Outside of video games, I'm a reader, a researcher, a student, and juggler/joggler. While I won't dive into the details of all of those here, juggling is actually my favorite hobby outside of writing here and playing video games, although it is a rather recent one (I began to learn in June of 2013). This led to my audition and acceptance to the student-produced circus at my university, in which I perform with my juggling team. And while I must sadly inform you that I do not juggle chainsaws (I hate that commercial...), I juggle balls, clubs, grapes, and am learning torches at the moment. One of my short-term goals in this area is to learn to juggle on a slackline and perform in this act as well. Another is to joggle a second 5K (I've already got one under my belt).

If you have any more questions about me, feel free to ask away in the comments! I'm always happy to chat.

Daily Debate: Should There be a Limit to How Many Zelda Games are Released per Console?

CE_TheLord — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Generally speaking, most Nintendo consoles have two main Zelda titles in their games library with only a few exceptions like the SNES or Gameboy Advance. In the last few years we have seen a constant flood of Zelda titles either in the form of remakes, spin-offs or main titles. Some people may argue that we're getting way too many titles in a short span of time, but others may see it like a good thing considering that it'll help us to keep waiting for Zelda U. So in other words: How many Zelda titles should be released per console?

Currently, we have The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Majora's Mask 3D will be released this week, so that's a total of 3 Zelda titles on Nintendo 3DS. On Wii U we have The Wind Waker HD, Hyrule Warriors and later this year we'll have the long awaited Zelda U. In total, Wii U will also have 3 Zelda titles by the end of the year. Basically, current consoles have had a healthy dose of Zelda games. Even more than most Nintendo consoles out there.

Titles like Hyrule Warriors and the recent remakes are meant for giving the fans some Zelda action while developing a major title or simply to better understand a console. But maybe these titles can give developers less time to focus on a new title. The good thing is that commonly a third party company is put in charge for the development of side titles and remakes. But the games libraries of either the Wii U or Nintendo 3DS could become saturated by Zelda titles.

Can something like having too many Zelda titles ruin the series? Hell no!

"In my opinion, the more Zelda games, the better; it's nice to embark on an epic adventure filled with great characters, memorable battles and new puzzles. But on the other side, it means that games will have shorter development times, which means less content, less time to take maximum advantage of the console, and less overall quality in the game.

I think nobody wants a rushed Zelda game, filled with glitches and underwhelming gameplay. The Legend of Zelda titles are known for being extensive in content and polished in all possible ways, but that's in part because these titles take so long to develop. Long development times mean we'll get titles later and fans will probably get desperate waiting for the new game to arrive. So the question remains: Should there be a limit to how many Zelda games are released per console?

The Transformation of Majora's Mask: How Zora Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Necessity

Alpha — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Thus far we have examined the alterations to the magical abilities of two of Link's transformations, Deku Link and Goron Link. From the former, we learned that Nintendo now expects magic to be used more frequently; from the latter, that they have made some abilities now require more effort by the player to avoid using magic than it does to use them. Both of these shall be reiterated today, and a greater gravity towards this subject shall emerge, as we complete the triad by examining a change to Zora Link's abilities.

Without further ado, let's begin today's analysis.

Zora Link: Full-Speed Swimming

I'm sure many of you saw this one coming.

Of the changes that Majora's Mask 3D has received, few have so many people on the fence about it as Zora Link's swimming mechanics. Some have applauded the choice; others call it a terrible decision. Although I would like to refrain from judgment until I have played the game and experienced it for myself, I have to admit that I definitely lean towards the latter camp. I have long held Zora Link's swimming as the undisputed king of all swimming mechanics in video games (all video games, mind you, not just the Zelda series); no other game that I've played has ever come close the sheer fun and usefulness of swimming as a Zora. However, most reviewers haven't been too critical of the change – the game's scores are still pretty darn high – which is pretty much the only thing giving me hope about it right now.

Despite my obvious bias, I can still understand the arguments being put forth by the opposite side. Zora Link's torpedo-like speed is not the best for maneuvering around obstacles or navigating tight spaces; having a slower speed thus provides players with a method to weave through such areas with a minimal amount of frustration. For gamers who could not adjust to the rapid speed, it can only be expected that they would praise the decision to slow things down. And it's not like torpedo speed is gone – players can enter it at will by activating their shield.

However, this shield requires magic to use, and therefore Zora Link's full speed has become dependent on the player possessing magic power. Forget whether or not you like this change or not – the simple fact is that this displays a severe departure from the original mindset of those who created the game for the N64. To understand how, one need only examine the areas in which Zora Link's swimming is employed.

The Settings of the Swimming

Despite being much loved by the fanbase, Zora Link's unique abilities are perhaps the most limited of any transformation in the game. Only in underwater areas can he truly shine, and only a select few locations are expansive enough for him to actually need to swim in. Let's examine each of these regions and determine the basic features of their submerged sections:

Great Bay: a vast, empty region which Link must swim through to reach certain destinations
Pirates' Fortress: a giant pool at the entrance; lengthy underwater tunnels with the occasional mines to maneuver around inside
Pinnacle Rock: a wide open underwater expanse
Great Bay Temple: a central chamber with a sharp current, from which are multiple offshooting tunnels that lead to large rooms that, at least underwater, are rather empty and featureless
Waterfall Rapids: a lengthy stretch of river with obstacles that are easily maneuvered around (save for in the racing minigame, where that maneuvering is the entire challenge)
Ikana River: an empty, straight river
Stone Tower Temple: two rooms – one with a some mines to swim around, one that is very deep and has few obstacles – connected by a long tunnel
Zora Moon Dungeon: a series of long, interweaving, empty tunnels

From a design standpoint, then, there appears to be three different types of underwater areas in the game:

Vast, deep regions with almost no details, secrets, or puzzles – examples being Great Bay, Pinnacle Rock, and the entrance of the Pirates' Fortress
Long and narrow rivers/tunnels that require little maneuvering, unless such maneuvering is the entire challenge behind the area – examples being the flooded inner corridors of Pirates' Fortress, the Beavers' Waterfall Rapids, Ikana River, and the Zora Moon Dungeon
Areas which combine the previous two, often via vast, deep chambers connected to one another by long underwater tunnels – examples being the two dungeons to feature submerged areas, Great Bay Temple and Stone Tower Temple

Examining the bodies of water in this way reveals a fundamental truth in the thought process that went into designing these areas: in Majora's Mask, the underwater regions are specifically constructed for Zora Link's torpedo-speed swimming.

With his full speed, Zora Link has the capacity to cross the vast distances of the first type of water region with ease, taking a minimal amount of time to do so. Following the path of the second type is similarly simple, as he can jet through these areas to reach the other end; his maneuverability underwater ensures that he can avoid any obstacles so long as the player is paying enough attention to see them as they approach. The third's combined approach show off both of these strengths, though they can be a bit more challenging as players try to hit a single tunnel offshooting from a larger room – but then, that is why these areas are in dungeons, where more challenging features are to be expected.

As a result, having a slower swim speed for Zora Link completely contradicts the design of the swimmable regions. It may offer the player better control, but the number of locations where such control would be worthwhile are few and far between. For the majority of underwater areas, reduced speed turns a quick trip from point A to point B into a lengthy trawl as Zora Link paddles along at a slow pace. This will affect player enjoyment – who really wants to take five minutes to cross Great Bay? – as well as task completion – collecting the Zora Eggs, for instance, is now a much more tedious ordeal, as it requires that you cross several of the game's massive bodies of water multiple times.

"But that's why they just tied torpedo-speed to the shield!" supporters of the change will cry. "You can still reach that speed whenever you want!"

Yes, that's true...at the cost of magic power.

The Meaning Behind the Change

Once again, we can see a fundamental shift in Nintendo's attitude towards magic by examining this aspect of the remake and original. We've already seen that altering the magic-related abilities of Deku Link leads to a downplay of the importance of conserving magic; similarly, the changes to Goron Link's Spike Roll makes using magic the default purpose of rolling around. But Zora Link's changes take it far beyond both of those.

The fact is that no player will swim across Great Bay, or pretty much any other underwater region of the game, with regular speed if they can help it – doing so would take far too much time, and there is nothing of interest in these regions to make the slower pace enticing. There will be a handful of instances where one may turn off the shield so they can navigate around an obstacle or two, but once they're through that, the shield and speed will be turned right back on again. As a result, when it comes to Zora Link, using magic has now become a necessity.

Altering the swimming mechanic reveals that Nintendo not only expects players to want to use magic on a regular basis – it punishes them if they do not, with lengthy swims eating up hours of the Terminian day (not something you can always afford in Majora's Mask...). Compare this to how often the shield was needed in the original version: such occasions were so rare that some players probably went hours as Zora Link without even realizing they had such an ability. The shield of Majora's Mask for the N64 was cool and quick-to-use, easily killing most enemies it touched, but was only necessary for the Gyorg fight; all other enemies could be maneuvered around and sped past if the player lacked or didn't feel like spending magic power.

The original title specifically allowed players to use their magic sparingly, or not at all if they chose to. By tying the torpedo-speed to the magic-consuming shield for the remake, Nintendo has now forced us to use magic power on a regular basis; to do otherwise is to turn a quick trip across the ocean into a long and boring journey. Such a move efficiently illustrates one of the key ways in which their attitude towards magic has changed in the past decade and a half. Put simply:

In Majora's Mask, conserving magic was a simple task; in Majora's Mask 3D, doing so is a tedious burden.

Using magic allows for what many gamers consider the "standard" of swimming; to not use it becomes an arduous issue that gamers may not be able to afford. It remains possible to avoid using magic as Zora Link, but the inefficiency and – to be blunt – sheer boredom of such an option ensures that it will only be willingly selected by players who absolutely refuse to use up their magic power.

...*exhales*

My bias is showing again, isn't it? Five drafts of this article and I still can't get rid of it completely... Okay, other side of the coin – this is not necessarily as detrimental as I've made it out to be. As we've noted in earlier articles, how good or bad these end up being depends on what other changes Nintendo has made to the game. Is the sea floor now riddled with Magic-restoring options that Zora Link can pick up at will? Then this isn't as bad; players can use up magic and refill it as they swim. However, this admission does not in any way affect today's observations – it is still tedious to have to constantly be on the lookout for Magic jars, and players will still have to go out of their way to keep their magic from running out. I am simply admitting that the developer may have accounted for this problem and taken steps to keep it from becoming a detrimental issue.

Regardless of how each of us stands on the issue, this does further help us to zero in on what Nintendo's stance towards magic has become in recent years. We have three main points about the changes to magic in Majora's Mask 3D that reflect the changed thought process of the company behind it. The gameplay no longer teaches players to conserve magic; the controls have shifted to make using magic a more default state; and now Nintendo is quite simply forcing us to use up our magic power in order to stave off the tediousness and boredom of the slow swim speed.

With these three points in our arsenal, we are now prepared to tackle the core change that has taken place amongst Nintendo's staff in the past fifteen years. Their opinion on magic, its purpose, and the player's desires with it have all undergone a transformation in that time span. Come tomorrow, we will at last look at what our three main observations can tell us when viewed together.

Until then, this is Alpha, signing off to go do...stuff.

Artwork by: lychi

The Transformation of Majora's Mask

How Deku Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Conservation
How Goron Link Reveals a Change in the Avoidance of Magic
How Zora Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Necessity
How the Remake Reveals the Decline of Magic's Value

Daily Debate: Should Disney Work With Nintendo to Release a Zelda Movie?

Link 2 — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:48:00 +0000

Almost all of us have heard of the new Legend of Zelda Netflix TV series being developed. It's obvious a spin-off movie using the same actors and storyline is possible as well. Who could produce such a movie, let alone produce it well? While discussing a Disney/Zelda affiliation with the other Zelda Informer staff members, most us agreed that Disney should leave Zelda alone.

Alas, there was one staff member who actually entertained this idea. Paul, the creator of the Hey, Look, Listen: Analyzing Handholding audits had this to say on the subject:

"Consider the fact that since Disney purchased Marvel for roughly $4 billion in 2009, the Marvel universe as a collective franchise has exploded in popularity, due in no small part to a series of blockbuster films financed by Disney. I wouldn't call myself a fan of comic books, let alone the movies staring Thor and Captain America and Iron Man and all the rest, but these movies seem to have been very well-received by fans and mainstream audiences alike. Disney's name might not be prominently placed on Marvel stuff, but they are instrumental in the production of these films."

I believe it is safe to say that everyone reading this has seen at least one Disney movie, or at least a movie where Disney helped with the development. It's no question that the name Disney stands out in the production of any movie/TV show/video game, and they have pumped out some record-breaking blockbusters. To some, when they think of a big movie producing company, they think Disney. Could Disney's imaginative and creative minds develop a Zelda movie in the right way?

Let's take a look at Disney's Guardian's of the Galaxy. Yes, Marvel produced this movie, but Marvel is owned by Disney. For the sake of argument, Marvel is Disney. Chris Pratt, the lead role in this particular film, thought this movie was going to bomb. He thought it was going to be the end of his career, and that Disney was making a huge mistake. An action movie such as this with talking animals could never make the big bucks, supposedly. Yet, it did. Disney yet again pulled it off. A supposed box office bomb became one of the most successful record-breaking movies of 2014, thanks to Disney's innovative minds.

What do you think? Could Disney, in conjunction with Nintendo, somehow produce a halfway decent movie based on The Legend of Zelda? Would it completely bomb, or would it make box office history? This is for you to decide.

Sheik and Toon Link amiibo Available at GameStop

Paul Grzelak — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 02:15:00 +0000

Those in desperate need of Sheik and Toon Link amiibo figurines are advised to hop over to GameStop's website where they've just been made available for purchase. Both amiibo figurines are retailing for $12.99 and the Sheik amiibo can be found here, while the Toon Link amiibo can be found here.

Sheik and Toon Link have been some of the most difficult amiibo to obtain since the line of figurines launched in November of last year. So if you've got a lonely place on your desk or on your Wii U GamePad with one of these figurines' name on it, get them while you can!

Rumor: Twilight Princess To Be The Next Zelda Remake On New 3DS

Cathron — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 02:57:00 +0000

Fans wondering what Zelda game will be remade next don't have any solid leads to go on, but a new rumor circulating is that Twilight Princess will be remade for the New Nintendo 3DS. Of course, it should go without saying that the rumor is just that... a rumor. It is in no way confirmed by Nintendo. The image paired with this article is also fake, just a picture made to go with this article.

The rumor comes from multiple GameStop employees who, over a span of days, have confirmed that their local Nintendo representative has said Twilight Princess could be the next Zelda remake, and it would be for the New Nintendo 3DS and maybe also for PC since is a really popular platform and also use 1 of the 11 Best Gaming Desks for PC or Console Gamers in 2017. The employees, who shall remain unnamed due to not being authorized to speak to the media, have said a woman that works as a representative for Nintendo and visits multiple GameStop locations to deal with Nintendo products has been buzzing about the rumor. The woman mentioned handles Nintendo demo units placed in GameStop stores, among other duties, and already has the New Nintendo 3DS and Majora's Mask 3D, according to the employees.

They did say she couldn't officially confirm the news, but she has mentioned the rumor on multiple occasions. If the rumor is true, it would line up with Nintendo's recently-announced strategy for more remakes to come for the New Nintendo 3DS. After all, with games like Xenoblade Chronicles (originally released for the Wii) being ported to the New Nintendo 3DS, we know that the upgraded processor under the hood can handle Wii remakes.

What fans do know for certain is that Majora's Mask 3D launches on Friday, February 13 in the United States.

Fans may have wanted an HD Twilight Princess, and that may still come, but if this rumor does turn out to be true, would you be excited to see Twilight Princess on the New Nintendo 3DS? Would you rather see Skyward Sword on the new handheld?

Get a Majora's Mask 3D Poster with Nintendo Force Magazine

CE_TheLord — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 19:39:00 +0000

Update: As of February 11, this Kickstarter project has been successfully achieved its goal of reaching 2,000 total subscribers, meaning all copies of issue #14 of Nintendo Force will ship with a Majora's Mask 3D Poster.

Due to the incoming launch of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Nintendo Force Magazine is including a poser ofThe Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D with an issue of its magazine if it manages to hit its first stretch goal of 2,000 subscribers within the next two days. In other words, the next issue of the magazine will come with a Majora's Mask 3D poster if enough of us subscribe in the next 48 hours. This is in addition to another poster that is already going to be coming with the next issue, making it two posters in one issue should this stretch goal be met. That's 2 posters on the same package, which in my opinion is a great deal.

You now have one more reason to subscribe to Nintendo Force Magazine. If you'd like to know more about the magazine itself, we covered its Kickstarter campaign just a few days ago.

Source: Kickstarter

Eiji Aonuma Introduces Goron Racing in Majora's Mask 3D (English Translation)

Nathan — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 07:36:00 +0000

Eiji Aonuma has been releasing videos related to Majora's Mask 3D in Japan. While these videos are fun to watch on their own, we thought we would do something a little different - offer full English translations when we're able. Our translation team did a fantastic job translating and our video editing team made the subtitles rather seamless. We hope you enjoy the video and can fully understand the joy Eiji Aonuma is expressing throughout. We'll be looking to translate other text and videos in the future, so stay tuned!

Some Target Stores May Be Selling Majora's Mask 3D Early

outsethero — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:28:00 +0000

It seems that with every big game release there must always be that one store that breaks the official street release date. It happens all the time, almost without fail, and Majora's Mask 3D is no exception. One very lucky Tumblr user by the name of Zethofhyrule posted some pictures yesterday on his blog of a copy of Majora's Mask 3D at a shelf in a Target store.

Which specific location this was taken at is currently unknown to us. There is also no official word if the game was available for purchase or if it was just put up for display, but the price tag and protective case does make the former seem a lot more likely. Even Zethofhyrule himself did not state whether he actually bought the game or not, so aside from these two images, we don't know much about this early release

Although it's safe to assume this is probably a shelving mistake on this one store, going out and checking your local Target wouldn't be that bad of an idea. You might even be lucky enough to find yourself a copy! If you do, not only will you be one of the very first people to get to play the game, you'll also be one of the first to try out our Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough! I'd say that definitely warrants a quick trip to your local Target, wouldn't you?

Source: Tumblr

Meet the ZI Staff: Al Luijendijk

TheGaspNinja — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 20:17:00 +0000

Hey there random citizen of whatever country you live in! As everyone else on the site is doing an entry into this whole 'Meet the Staff' shenanigans, and I noticed some people seemed to enjoy them thoroughly, I thought I'd give some loyal readers a warm and wonderful shout out! Truyth, dildo and of course that wretched TheMilkman, I hope you read through this wonderful wall of text and enjoy my 'bore-y' (as truyth put it) existence. Let's get to it!

My name is Al. I start this paragraph with a lie, of course. My real name is not actually Al, which is in fact my pseudonym/nickname. When I was a wee little foetus, having just engaged in the process of growing all the little limbs and body parts my body houses today, my parents decided on calling me Anne. Just to confirm, yes I am indeed a male homo sapien. The only explanation I can give you for this is that, taking into account I have Fries (frees) ancestry, Anne is in fact a unisex name, which is also not pronounced in the traditional English way, but in the dutch way (awnuh).

Moving on, I am a 16-year-old kiddo living in Belgium, near the capital. I've lived in an uncountable number of places around the world, and therefore know many different languages. All in all, I've moved around sixteen times throughout my existence. I currently attend a high school focused strongly on art, and am very engaged in the process of creating interesting images using any means. I've done painting, sculpting, photography, film, drawing, etching, and carving to only name a few. I visit museums and exhibitions almost as often as I go to conventions, which is a lot. Therefore, I am also very engaged in anything geeky and enjoy fan-boying(?) about all kinds of stuff, but especially The Legend of Zelda.

My first encounter with the Zelda series was when my brother downloaded a Nintendo 64 emulator onto his computer (the sneaky bastard), along with dozens of roms including Ocarina of Time. I faintly remember the title screen along with its music coming through his underpowered little speakers, then heading through the menu eventually messing around in kokiri forest for a little while. Moving on several years to 2008, where I was becoming a conscious (and annoying) little fellow.

Following a burst in curiosity for all things gaming, the 2-year-old Nintendo Wii caught my eye, and I knew I needed to own it. I think you can guess what I asked for for Christmas the following December, along with a certain game I still hold dear to my heart. That game was indeed The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and I drooled over the thing for the whole of December, constantly bugging my parents, asking when the hell I was finally going to receive the game that I longed for so strongly. Skip to the 24 December and picture a young little boy ripping apart the packaging that encased my Wii, then later tearing the wrapping paper off a wonderfully beautiful copy of Twilight Princess, and then picture me playing for around two weeks, then throwing it in a corner to gather dust. Anti-climactic, huh?

Anyway, Twilight Princess did spark a strong interest in the Zelda series for me, which has grown severely over time. Nowadays I'm everything some casual Zelda fans hate, namely a speedrunner and avid collector among other traits. I also enjoy prancing around or acting weird in front of a camera (have you noticed?). My Zelda collection has grown severely over the past half a year, as I have been (stupidly) pouring all my money into Nintendo's already very deep pockets (yet I still can't find that wretched Sheik amiibo anywhere). My greatest love for Zelda, though, comes from the community. Never in my short life have I ever experienced anything like the Zelda community, and it's almost n00b embracing characteristic, aside from the ugly ducklings such as Truyth and dildo (points finger accusingly). The fanbase captured my heart and has held it captive in a tiny little cage ever since, feeding it only small tidbits of Zelda U footage once every couple months.

Zelda Informer is my way of saying thanks to the community. It engrossed me in theorising about unexplained lore holes, and researching any information I missed in the few Zelda games I played when I entered the colourful yet rowdy saloon that is the Internet for the first time. Writing news articles, discussing in the comments, and generally being part of Zelda Informer was really my way of giving something back to you bunch of weirdos sitting in front of a computer reading this stupid little article. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You guys can pick up that thank you in the literal bottom of my heart as you still have it captive in that tiny little cage. Don't you dare touch anything else though, there's some seriously creepy stuff in there. I have enjoyed every moment of working for ZI ever since Nate responded to my (random) e-mail back in September 2014 (it took him over a month to respond) and hope to stay for many more months to come. Some of my highlights are creating the first podcast animation, unboxing several items, being on three podcasts which Adam so wonderfully hosts, and only recently streaming for the website on Twitch!

You're probably all expecting me to do that little list thing, so here it goes:

Favorite Zelda: Twilight Princess
IMO Best Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Favorite Zelda Character: Midna
Favorite non-Zelda Game Series: Portal
Favorite Anime: Sword Art Online (or Kiss x Sis (Hehe))
Favorite Movie: Donnie Darko (Watch it.)
Favorite Musical Genres: Swing, Blues, Rock, Metal
Celebrity Crush (f): Chloe Grace Moretz
Celebrity Crush (m): Nathanial Rumphol-Janc
Sexual Orientation: Sasquatch
Favorite Animation of 2015 (until now): ME!ME!ME!

Right, if you made it this far I thank you very much, and hope to see you commenting on my next post, or my next unboxing, or chatting and interacting with me on one of our future streams! Also, be sure to head on over to our twitch this Saturday where I will be playing through Majora's Mask 3D blind. (Help.) Any more questions or just want to chat? Hit me up in the comments! Any hate mail? Send it to zeldainformerpodcast@gmail.com, and make sure to address it: "To Adam, with love!" See ya!

Youtube: TheGaspNinja

Twitch: TheGaspNinja

Twitter: @GaspOnTwitch

Edit: I did eventually find a Sheik amiibo! Yay for me!

All Versions of the New Nintendo 3DS XL are Now Sold Out at Gamestop

Link 2 — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 21:03:00 +0000

If you were on the site a few days ago, you might remember that the Red version of the New Nintendo 3DS XL is sold out at Gamestop. We have now learned the Black version is sold out there as well. Personally, I didn't expect for these glorified upgraded 3DSs to sell out from a retailer before it's release date, mere days from now. Obviously the North American gaming community is very eager to get the latest in Nintento handhelds.

If you were planning on pre-ordering a NN3DS last minute, don't fret! Best Buy still has both Red and Black versions of the New Nintendo 3DS XL in stock for $199. I would act quickly, as Best Buy is the only retailer left that is allowing pre-orders for these systems. Hopefully the pre-orders won't get canceled like they did with the NN3DS Majora's Mask Edition.

Source: Gamestop

Legend of Zelda Easter Egg Found in Dying Light

Link 2 — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 21:05:00 +0000

Recently, a Mario easter egg was discovered in Techland's open world horror game, Dying Light. Today, another Nintendo easter egg was found in the game, as a very familiar-looking blade has been sighted. That's right! The Blade of Evil's Bane, the Master Sword, is included in this game recently released for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

To me, this particular Master Sword looks most similar to the Master Sword in The Wind Waker. You can compare the picture above to the picture here for yourself. It's strange to find two Nintendo easter eggs in a game that is not available on the Wii U or 3DS.

Maybe the developers wanted Dying Light on a Nintendo console, but Nintendo said no. What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments.

Source: GameSpot via YouTube

GamesMaster has Announced a Majora's Mask 3D and Skull Kid Figurine Giveaway

Link 2 — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 23:41:00 +0000

UK magazine GamesMaster has announced a new free giveaway on their Facebook page. A collectible Skull Kid figurine is being given away, as well as a copy of Majora's Mask 3D! There is no mention of shipping limitations, so I assume that you can enter regardless of where you live. However, since GamesMaster is a UK magazine, the copies of Majora's Mask 3D are most likely region-locked. There is no mention of a deadline, so we suggest entering as soon as possible.

The instructions are simple.

"Just answer this question in the comments below:
Boomerangs, hookshots, bomb bags... There are plenty of recurring items in the Zelda games. But what new idea for an item do you think would work?"

The Facebook post can be found here.

Source: GamesMaster via Facebook

How GameStop is handling New Nintendo 3DS Trade-Ins

Paul Grzelak — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:36:00 +0000

If you plan on trading-in your current Nintendo 3DS for a New Nintendo 3DS from GameStop, be prepared to follow a somewhat lengthy process in order to transfer all your data to the new system.

An article by Polygon highlighted the process several GameStops reported customers will have to go through in Ohio. Calls to GameStop stores in Washington confirmed the process consumers must go through in order to trade-in their current 3DS for a New 3DS and keep their data:

Go to GameStop and purchase your New Nintendo 3DS for $200
Take the New Nintendo 3DS home and transfer the data from your old Nintendo 3DS's to the New Nintendo 3DS (this process includes transferring the data from the old console's SD card to a PC, then transferring the data from the PC to the Micro SD card for the New Nintendo 3DS)
Take both your old Nintendo handheld and the new one back to GameStop
Sell the New Nintendo 3DS back to GameStop for a full $200 refund
Trade-in your current Nintendo 3DS for $100 of in-store credit toward the purchase of a New Nintendo 3DS
Repurchase the New Nintendo 3DS using your in-store credit to reduce the cost of the new system

To be fair, this process has less to do with GameStop's policies and more to do with Nintendo's design of the 3DS itself. This whole process could probably be worked around if Nintendo allowed players to back up their data online and download it digitally.

Technically, a PC is not required to facilitate the transfer of data from one SD card to another, but the alternative method, a wireless transfer, can take several hours.

Does this change your plans to purchase a New Nintendo 3DS? Have you already figured out how you're going to transfer your data from the old system to the new one? Do you refuse to give up your current Nintendo 3DS? Let us know and tell us your stories in the comments below!

Source: Polygon

Fan Writes a Beautiful Introspection Article Inspired by Majora's Mask

RODTheMaster — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:54:00 +0000

There is little argument that Majora's Mask is among the most dark and emotionally compelling entries in the Zelda series. Many aspects of the game's story and design are responsible for this fact, but not many people have taken the time to explore exactly how the game works to affect a player's emotions and sense of self. BuzzFeed editor Alanna Okun recently shared a moving analysis of the emotions evoked by Majora's Mask, reflecting on themes of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness in both the game and in life.

From just the opening line, Okun's article, titled "Lost And Found In 'Majora's Mask'," establishes Majora's Mask as a central presence in her life:

I have beaten The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask more times in my life than I’ve been in love.

She continues to share in what ways the game reflects her own characteristics and flaws, explaining how Link's journey is just as much an internal struggle as it is an external one:

Because Majora’s Mask is the perfect fever dream for anyone who wrestles with anxiety and obsession, with a secret harsh longing for control. What if you could return, again and again, to the time just before it all went wrong?

Okun shares that, as a child, she never let Majora's Mask's Moon fall, always restarting the game's three-day cycle before it crashed into Termina. She admits that it was her resistance to failure and uncertainty -- her reliance on control -- that stopped her from watching the moon fall:

Because I’m not used to letting myself fail, to letting myself wait, to letting myself not do. Because it turns out that it takes a hefty dose of downtime to bring about the destruction of the known universe!

The article ends with Okun sharing her experiences in Majora's Mask 3D, and how she reconciled the worries within the game and within herself. Reading the final paragraphs with the Song of Healing really has an amazing effect. I recommend everyone read this article; it not only identifies themes within the game but it questions the inherent flaws in all of us.

If you are a fan of Majora's Mask already, take the time to examine how the game has impacted you on a deep, emotional level. I even recommend you share the article with those who are unfamiliar with the game, as it has things to say to them too. Who knows, maybe this article will inspire them to play through the game themselves.

What did you think of Okun's article? Do you relate with her experiences in Majora's Mask? Do you have an interesting story of how the game impacted or inspired you? Share your thoughts with us.

Source: BuzzFeed

The Transformation of Majora's Mask: How the Remake Reveals the Decline of Magic's Value

Alpha — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 17:28:00 +0000

For three days we have examined the ways in which magical abilities have been altered for this remake, and with what we've learned we can now delve into the core change that has occurred in Nintendo's perception of magic. Doing so permits us to predict how they may use and employ magic in the future of the series – and I am sorry to report that, for those of us who love magic and the many powers it has afforded us, that future does not appear very bright.

Without further ado, let's begin today's analysis.

The Evidence Thus Far

Over the past few days, we have made a series of core observations that we will use as evidence for our final conclusion. These are key observations into how magic was treated in the original release of Majora's Mask compared to how it is in the new Majora's Mask 3D. Specifically:

In Majora's Mask, magic was something to be conserved; in Majora's Mask 3D, it is something to be used frequently.
In Majora's Mask, using magic required the player to exert effort; in Majora's Mask 3D, they must exert effort to avoid using it.
In Majora's Mask, conserving magic was a simple task; in Majora's Mask 3D, doing so is a tedious burden.

When Majora's Mask released in 2000, the game was far more reserved concerning its magical powers and abilities. Using magic was not encouraged, actually using it required a conscious choice and effort by the player, and there was no punishment for those of us who wished to save Link's magic for the moments when such a power was absolutely required. Such things have been flipped on their head for the remake, as our analyses have shown – using magic is encouraged, if not required, far more often in the game.

And I feel this needs to be said, especially after seeing some of the comments on previous articles: all of this was and is a very deliberate decision on the part of the developers.

Yes, certainly, most of the changes to Majora's Mask 3D were probably implemented in order to make these abilities and systems easier for the player to use. But this begs the question: why did Nintendo not make it this way originally? Why did the Goron Roll require the button to be held, why did the Bubble only go a short distance before fading away, and why did Zora Link's torpedo-speed swimming not require magic?

The Zelda team did not just wake up one morning and find that a wizard had left behind the specific mechanics for these systems on a computer screen in the office. They worked at it themselves over a lengthy period of time, deliberating, play-testing, and refining every single system in the game. It was a conscious decision on the part of the original developers, reached after many ideas and alternatives had been explored. They intentionally programmed the Bubble to move *this* slowly, to wobble around like *that*, to take *this* amount of charge time to reach full size – and they did it because they decided those were the optimal settings for this system to have. Every aspect of every system in the game was crafted with a similarly deliberate reasoning and purpose. Sure, it might have made certain systems less useful, and maybe it even introduced a few frustrations into the mix – but they decided that such costs were worthwhile.

Yet now we see many changes being made to the previous standards. Be they for better or for worse, this implies that the team no longer agrees with the original intent and purpose behind these systems; why alter such things otherwise? It can only be that in recent years the developers have experienced a shift in their reasoning and focus. Examining the differences between the old and new versions of the same ability will allow us to gather insight into exactly what this shift was and how it may yet affect Zelda games of the future.

The Change Behind the Changes

So what, then, do our three key observations tell us about how this game, and therefore its developers have changed throughout the years? What is the common ground that we can discover behind these three points?

When you examine the first part of each of our points – Majora's Mask a) saw magic as something to be conserved, b) required players to proactively choose to use magic, and c) made it simple to avoid using magic – a common theme rings out: magic is valuable. It is treasured. The developers made the original game under the expectation that magic would be used sparingly and that players would not want to use up magic too frequently.

The flipside of our points shows that the opposite is in place for the remake, which a) encourages players to use magic, b) requires players to proactively decide against using magic, and c) punishes players who steadfastly horde their magic power. Majora's Mask 3D has been crafted under the expectation, then, that magic is to be used often and that players will be willing and able to use magical abilities at any time. It is no longer considered a power to be reserved for dire situations, but rather a tool to be employed commonly and at the player's whim.

And maybe that's true – maybe gamers these days are more willing to use their magic power for trivial tasks like jetting around Zora Cape at full speed. I'm not that way, and I'm sure we have several readers who feel the same as me, but perhaps we're in the minority these days.

Even then, that doesn't change the fact that Nintendo's attitude towards magic has shifted.

Magic is now seen as commonplace, as a tool to be employed often rather than sparingly, empowering abilities that are expected if not required to be used frequently. The once-treasured status of magic appears to faded in Nintendo's eyes; it is no longer a special or valuable power to keep in reserve, but rather it is seen on the same level as Arrows or Bombs: mere ammunition for Link to use some of the powers that he will have to use again and again and again in order to overcome obstacles and enemies – and ammunition that is expected to be abundantly available for refilling. To put it simply:

In Majora's Mask, magic was treated as a treasured resource; in Majora's Mask 3D, it has become a cheap commodity.

The Meaning for the Future

That Arrows and Bombs comparison wasn't chosen at random; I get the feeling that it is exactly how Nintendo views the Magic Meter. If so, then it is no coincidence that the latest game, A Link Between Worlds, used a similar meter for the empowerment of both magical and non-magical items – because the developer views such things as equal. This may well be the reason why magic power has all but disappeared from the franchise in recent entries.

Despite fans constantly clamoring for the awesome feeling that magical powers and items can provide, if magic power is viewed simply as ammo, what incentive is there for Nintendo to bring it back for future entries? If there is nothing special or unique about it, why should they bother – especially when such a system can often induce frustrating moments?

Think about it: if you use up all your magic swimming through Great Bay Temple, then come to a room which requires Ice Arrows, you're going to be prevented from continuing – all because an unrelated system consumed your ammunition of magic. When multiple systems require the same resource to be used, that resource had better be plentiful and easy to find; otherwise players are going to run out and grow frustrated with the experience.

You probably won't get into that exact situation (the current from the central room of Great Bay Temple will carry you along just as fast without magic), but the example is still effective: why have multiple weapons and abilities tied to the same type of ammunition? Then if you overuse it in one area, you're locked out from using all those other powers and items that you might need. It is far more reasonable and far less frustrating to just give each a different type of ammo. From the perspective of magic, if you assume players will want to use and abuse it constantly, the classic magic meter becomes a very impractical system.

As developers who apparently expect us to want to overuse magic, then, removing this system from future games is the obvious choice. Until their opinion on this system changes, until they see it as more than mere ammunition, until they once again recognize it as a power brimming with the potential to unlock the most powerful of moves and creative of items...we simply should not expect it to return to the series. A dedicated magic meter shared among a multitude of items is a hassle that forces an extra set of restrictions and conditions on the developers – they must place refills constantly throughout the world to ensure that the player does not run out, and might not be able to explore certain puzzle ideas if it would run the risk of wiping out the meter in the middle of solving it. Nintendo is certainly up to such a challenging task, don't get me wrong, but why would they willingly spend time with all that when they could simply remove magic and use that same time to create or enhance other systems and abilities?

Magic has declined in the eyes of Zelda's developers; perhaps it has even declined in the eyes of the series' players. Until it is treasured and valued once more, maybe it's really better left out of our games after all.

Closing Comments

I want to say one more thing before we conclude: I really, really hope I'm wrong about all this (oh gosh, the critics in the comments are gonna have a field day with that one! Haha). Magic is something I love in video games, and it would excite me to no end if Nintendo confirmed that green bar beneath the hearts in the Zelda U footage was indeed a dedicated magic meter. I'm not getting my hopes up, obviously; I wouldn't have written this series if I didn't believe that this theory held some weight. But if Miyamoto and Aonuma wanted to give us a little surprise...well, I certainly wouldn't complain about it.

Nevertheless, whatever the future of the Zelda series may bring, be it with magic or not, we can expect a fantastic experience. For all its changes, Majora's Mask 3D is going to be a blast, as will Zelda U, and so will whatever the next game in the series after it is. Nintendo will do things that we'll like, things that we won't, things that we can't understand but end up enjoying anyway. Even if we have to wait another fifteen years for them to rediscover the joys of a well done magical system, the trip to get there is going to be filled with some great games and experiences.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Until we meet again, everyone, this is Alpha, signing off to go do...stuff. Like prep for tomorrow's launch. Hope you all enjoy the remake as much as I will!

Artwork by: Ry-Spirit

The Transformation of Majora's Mask

How Deku Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Conservation
How Goron Link Reveals a Change in the Avoidance of Magic
How Zora Link Reveals a Change in Magic's Necessity
How the Remake Reveals the Decline of Magic's Value

New Photos of Skull Kid and the Majora's Mask New 3DS

Ghirahims-Left-Shoe — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 19:56:00 +0000

More photos have surfaced online of the Majora’s Mask version of the New Nintendo 3DS and the Skull Kid figurine that some of you will be lucky enough to have coming your way tomorrow. These pictures show the NN3DS’ box, as well as the console from multiple angles, up close and personal. We even get a shot of it opened, showing off the nice large screen and familiar controls. The Skull Kid figurine is shown from almost every side, so you can get a sense of the fantastic attention to detail that went into its making.

The most striking feature on both may just be Majora's Mask itself. The precise detailing of the mask on both items stays true to the game, and is nicely rendered on the figurine especially. You won’t have to worry about it having one of those cheap, off-center paint jobs. All the lines are where they should be.

What do you think? Are they what you expected? Do you think Nintendo could have done better with the special edition merch? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Neogaf.com via NintendoEverything

GameTrailers Announces Majora's Mask Video Retrospective

RODTheMaster — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 22:25:00 +0000

One of the longest running video series on game-enthusiast website GameTrailers is their GT Retrospectives series. In this series, they look back at classic games of the past and explore their impact on the gaming world. After almost a year hiatus, GameTrailers has finally announced the next featured game in the GT Retrospectives series. Just in time for Majora's Mask 3D's release, GameTrailers will soon focus on the original Majora's Mask as a way to kick off their retooled retrospective format.

The Majora's Mask retrospective will be GameTrailers' first episode in the series since May 2014. The website admitted that production of these retrospectives has slowed because they no longer have the resources to produce them in a large, multi-episode format. However, GameTrailers' announced that the Majora's Mask episode will begin a series of shorter, but more in-depth retrospectives of individual games. This new series format is expected to follow a monthly release schedule.

By only focusing on one game in a given retrospective video, GameTrailers should be able to devote more time to in-depth discussion. Not much is known about the upcoming Majora's Mask episode, but it will most likely explore the circumstances of the game's release, its unique take on the Zelda series, and its impact over the last 15 years. This new episode will follow a series of other Zelda GT Retrospectives from 2006.

Are you excited for GameTrailers' new Majora's Mask retrospective? What do you want them to focus on in the episode? Let us know.

Source: GameTrailers

Nintendo World Store Selling Exclusive Majora's Mask 3D Poster at Midnight Launch Event

RODTheMaster — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:17:00 +0000

The Nintendo World Store in New York City is holding a "Triple Launch Event" at midnight EST tonight in honor of the New Nintendo 3DS, Majora's Mask 3D, and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. For those lucky enough to attend, the store is making a limited edition Majora's Mask 3D poster available for sale exclusively during the event. No price has been announced, but I expect these posters will fly off the shelves rather quickly.

Fans began lining up at 6 A.M. this morning for tonight's festivities. The Nintendo World Store's doors will open at midnight EST, with a series of cosplay contests and givaways taking place. The exclusive Majora's Mask 3D poster is a great addition to what I imagine will be an exciting night for fans in New York. The rest of us however will simply have to hope the poster will be made available elsewhere.

Source: Twitter (Nintendo_World)

Miiverse Highlights: #WeeklySuggestions

outsethero — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:12:00 +0000

Welcome to yet another Miiverse Highlights: ZeldaI nformer's Thursday Weekly Feature! Last week we held our second #WeeklyChallenge in which we celebrate the upcoming release of Majora's Mask 3D by asking everyone to draw us their favorite mask from the game! Those that wanted a higher chance to get their drawing featured could draw someone other than Link using or wearing the mask. Now that the week has passed, it's my duty to look at all of the responses and choose the most original, funny and/or passionate pieces of art we received.

If you're new to this feature, here's how things go down. Miiverse Highlights consists of two things, a #WeeklyChallenge and a #WeeklyPoll. When a #WeeklyChallenge is issued, Zelda fans will be asked to draw something based on the Miiverse Community the challenge is posted in for a chance to have their drawing featured on our site. A #WeeklyPoll, on the other hand, will ask a question based on the series or a specific game where, after the week is done, I will take the most-voted answer and choose the best drawings and screenshots on Miiverse that I can find based on that answer.

It seems that, just like our first #WeeklyChallenge, this week's feature has been rather unsuccessful. In fact, it did worse than our first challenge. In the span of 7 days, our Miiverse post only managed to get two drawings. Our first #WeeklyPoll, however, managed to get a pretty good amount of responses and turned out to be a lot more successful than our #WeeklyChallenges.

Because of this, I've decided to open up suggestions for Miiverse Highlights. The whole point of this feature is to be able to not only take advantage of Miiverse's fantastic community, but also get to connect with our audience and form our very own community. So, if you have any ideas on how we could improve our #WeeklyChallenges, or if you have a good idea for a new #Weekly event, please let us know down in the comments!

But in any case, just because we only received two submissions doesn't mean we're not gonna feature them! So, without further ado, here are the two drawings we received!

Simple and to the point, a user going by the name Red1456 drew us the Bunny Hood as their favorite mask from the game! [Ok, it may not be an actual mask, but it works like one in-game.]

We may not have received many submissions, but even if we did I'm sure this one would have still been one of my favorites. Nummonkee has drawn us a fantastic piece featuring Anju and Kafei, both stretching their arms out towards the game's physical manifestation of their undying love, the Couple's Mask. A fantastic piece of art.

Now, on to this week's event! Since last week we had our #WeeklyChallenge, it's time for another #WeeklyPoll! With less than a day before Majora's Mask 3D comes out, this new poll will also celebrate it's upcoming release. This time around, we ask everyone in The Legend of Zelda Series Community to tell us what their #1 favorite character is from the game! If you'd like to leave a response, log in to your Miiverse account using your Nintendo Network ID through your 3DS, Wii U, or Computer, find our post on either The Legend of Zelda Series Community or Zelda Informer's official Miiverse account, and leave your answer as a reply! To make sure you respond to the correct post, we'll have it embed at the end of this feature. Don't forget to also leave a #Weekly event suggestion or #WeeklyChallenge improvement down in the comments below. Happy posting!

Daily Debate: Should Future Zelda Games Implement a Level Up System?

Link 2 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Leveling up your character in video games has been an entertaining element for many since the 1980's. In fact, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link had a leveling up system: upgrading magic, health, and attack damage. We saw the return of this system in Hyrule Warriors, but on a more complex scale. Do we as a community want the ability to level up Link in future Zelda titles such as Zelda U?

Some might say that leveling up systems are just designed by video game companies to force the player into spending more time than they originally would playing the game, specifically to improve their character's stats. It is precisely this element in Hyrule Warriors that creates such replay value, but some gamers may not like to relive their games that often. It could become annoying to have to improve your character by focusing some extra game time on just that.

On the other hand, leveling up Link could become a very fun activity for some players. This is what I believe made Pokémon such a success, because they were one of the first video game franchises to add this way to reward play time. Some gamers are more than delighted to spend that extra hour every so often to improve their character's stats.

What do you think? Should future Zelda titles implement a way to level up Link? Would this increase annoyance during future Zelda games? Let us know in the comments.

Meet the Staff: Matthew Lerch

Mases — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 18:17:00 +0000

Hey, everyone! My name is Matthew Lerch and I'm coming at you from planet Earth. I'm here to spin you a tale of how this all got started for me. I'll be filling you in on what I like, what I do here, and how much I'll love you for not pointing out the fact that I have a nose piercing. With that said, I'm anxious to connect with all of you since I really work behind the scenes more so than others. So sit a spell and let's get more acquainted with one another. :]

"It's Dangerous To Go Alone!

Take this." That's where it all started for me. When I was a little tyke—probably around five or so—I started playing the original The Legend of Zelda. Now, I understand that since I started with the original, I'm leagues ahead of most of you and my passion and love for the series is probably greater than your own, so don't bother comparing how much you love Zelda with how much I love Zelda (obviously a joke, hahaha). I’m not entirely too certain how I managed to navigate through the majority of that game at such a young age, but it was love at first play. I somehow missed The Adventure of Link, but the next Zelda title I got into was Link’s Awakening for my original Game Boy.

To this day, Link’s Awakening holds a special place in my heart and remains one of my favorite titles. After that, it was Ocarina of Time for me, as my family was able to acquire a Nintendo 64 (never owned a Super Nintendo, so I missed out on that generation). We grew up kind of broke, so this was huge, haha. A little while after that, I was able to get my hands on Majora’s Mask. This was instant love and Majora’s Mask is the game that’s responsible for truly igniting my passion for the series. This title will always be my favorite and I have been dreaming of a remake or re-release for years. Now, that dream is coming true and I couldn’t be more excited! I would haul my N64 system around just to play this game wherever I was able to. It was also one of the first times I actually felt myself feel connected to characters and the fictional world I was diving into. Majora's Mask has an incredibly gripping story and I felt my heart and mind being torn along with those of the inhabitants of Termina.

After this, I obtained a GameCube and eventually was able to pick up Wind Waker. A lot of people around its release kind of shat all over the idea of a cel-shaded Link and environment. However, I loved that art style and I thought it brought a new dynamic to the series. It was something different, but I loved it all the same. I’ve watched friends play Twilight Princess, yet—and I know I’ll receive a lot of hate for this—I haven’t played through it on my own. I’ve heard only good things and can’t wait to sit down with it.

I unfortunately missed a lot of the handheld titles. I had an original Game Boy, a Game Boy Color, and missed out on all of the Advance and DS systems until I got a Nintendo 3DS for my birthday a year and a half ago. I apologize for being late to the party! I picked up A Link Between Worlds and really enjoyed it. Shortly after, I picked up Ocarina of Time 3D.

What I Do Here at Zelda Informer...

My work at Zelda Informer consists of Walkthrough Creation and Editing. Now, I was only hired on in mid- to late-November of 2014, so I haven’t been able to dish out as much content as I have been wanting to. However, I have been formally introduced recently to the process on our end and you will all be getting a lot of content from me in the near future. I am nearing the completion of a Guide for Majora’s Mask (for the Nintendo 64) and will be updating it when I receive my Majora’s Mask 3D copy (which should be around February 17th; and yes, I linked that to our Walkthrough page!). That way, you guys have something to keep up with on your own copies of the game!

Aside from that, I have a lot of material written for A Link Between Worlds that I will complete after I finish the Majora’s Mask guides. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I welcome it all with open arms. Only being involved for a couple of months, I’ve met a lot of fantastic people and like to think of my fellow staff members as my virtual family. It’s nice having such a supporting and understanding crew to work with. It's not all just fun and games here, ladies and gentlemen.

I consider myself to be a bit of an achievement hunter and “completionist,” so when the opportunity came about to apply for a Walkthrough Creator/Editor, I jumped with excitement when that door opened with Zelda Informer.

A Little More About Yours Truly <3

I am twenty-five years old, currently reside in the Florida panhandle, write whenever I can, and wait tables and tend a little bar at my full-time job. I am studying at The Art Institute Online right now for my degree in Media Arts & Animation. Thus, on top of class and my full-time job, I stay a little too busy for my own good! I wish I was able to spend more time working on content for all of you, but unfortunately, I have to work with the time that I'm allotted. Just know I’m still hard at work for all of you, our wondrous fans and followers, and I do not aim to disappoint!

A few of my other favorite video games would be the Dead Space series, Borderlands 2 (specifically the second one, as I didn't dabble much in the original and haven't played PreSequel yet), Pokémon titles, The Elder Scrolls, and even older things like Banjo-Kazooie and Star Fox. I also enjoy watching shows, cartoons, and anime when I can find the time. I grew up on Scrubs, and also enjoy How I Met Your Mother, Parks and Rec, Full Metal Alchemist (original, haven't dabbled much in Brotherhood), Berserk, Trigun, and am currently trying to finish Death Note.

Music is also another passion of mine. I used to play in a band where I did “vocals.” I listen to a wide array of styles of music. My all-time favorite band is Enter Shikari. My current rotation is Enter Shikari, Stray From The Path, Tycho, Gideon, Comeback Kid, Thrice, Stick To Your Guns, Senses Fail, and a few others. Some of my favorites include Say Anything, Thrice, For The Fallen Dreams, Mumford & Sons, and okay, the list really goes on, haha.

I also enjoy participating in obstacle course races (OCRs). These are races like Savage Race, Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, etc. I’ve completed one Savage Race and got hooked immediately. It’s an exhilarating experience and I love pushing myself to see what I’m physically capable of. I have my first Tough Mudder coming up in March—and that’s close to an eleven-mile course! And the picture over yonder there is of me when after I got hosed off after one of my races, haha.

I’m sure there are some things I left out, but you all need to get out of here and get to playing and reading some more of our material. Keep an eye out for that Majora’s Mask 3D Walkthrough that will be out so shortly! Be sure to drop me a line and let me know what you think when it’s out in full. For now, I shall return to the shadows from whence I came and begin writing more content for your precious faces. <3

Nintendo Books A 299-Seat Theater For E3 2015, Could Be Used For Zelda U Presentation

Cathron — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:49:00 +0000

The E3 gaming expo is just four months away, and fans are anxious to see what Zelda news awaits them at the conference. They'll likely be treated to a new trailer, some story information, and perhaps even a release date. Fans may not know exactly what information Nintendo will choose to release, but they might know where Nintendo will release it.

E3 is scheduled to be held from June 16 -18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and NintendoEverything is reporting that Nintendo has booked a 299-seat theater. While Nintendo hasn't specified what they'll use the theater for, there is a chance it could be used for a Zelda U presentation.

Zelda U will easily be one of the largest releases Nintendo puts out in 2015, if not the largest, and it's safe to bet that the long-awaited title will get its own event. Of course, Nintendo could use the theater for other presentations as well, maybe even for Starfox U. The company has also reserved three other booths in the West Hall.

What do you expect or hope to see with regard to Zelda at E3 this year?

Source: NintendoEverything

Majora's Mask 3D Has Arrived, and so Has Our Walkthrough!

Nathan — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:47:00 +0000

While we're aware many of our friends in Europe were lucky enough to play Majora's Mask 3D a day or two early, the game has officially launched in the United States (and the rest of the world) as of today. We'll be doing plenty to celebrate the release, including a live stream over on our Twitch channel on Saturday. We've also been slaving around the clock to prepare our Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough. The walkthrough will contain the necessary information to 100% both the 3D version of the game and the original. We're still busy updating and adding chapters, and hopefully by the end of today our 100% guide will be complete, with a spoiler free and side guides by the end of the weekend.

Enjoy your journey through Termina!

Majora's Mask 3D Producer: "Remakes Kind Of Hurt"

Cathron — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:47:00 +0000

Majora's Mask 3D has officially been released, and the producer, Eiji Aonuma, took some time to reflect on transitioning the Zelda title from the Nintendo 64 to the Nintendo 3DS.

IGN had a chance to speak with Aonuma concerning his reflections on the game. They asked him about his experience, and he said, "To put it as bluntly as I possibly can, remakes kind of hurt.”

He followed that statement up with:

“You’re looking at all the decisions you were making and sometimes you’re saying to yourself, ‘I can’t believe I was thinking about it like that,’ or, ‘Why did I think it was okay to make the user do that in that situation?”

In spite of the "hurt," the producer said he valued the experience of going back to the game and recreating it. Aonuma continued to say that Miyamoto once told him that before Aonuma could make something new, he had to go back to something he'd created in the past and learn from it. Though he described revisiting his older work as an "uncomfortable experience," Aonuma told IGN he learned plenty.

Source: IGN

Smooth McGroove Sings the Oath to Order

Paul Grzelak — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 19:31:00 +0000

Whether you're still waiting to get your mitts on a copy of Majora's Mask 3D or just need some tunes to pass the time, YouTuber Smooth McGroove has you covered with this a cappella rendition of the Oath to Order.

McGroove is most well-known for his YouTube videos that give an a cappella twist to beloved soundtracks from video games, and this is only his latest cover of Zelda music. I think it's fair to say that McGroove's voice carries this Termina-saving song from the game to new heights.

Are you a fan of Smooth McGroove? What did you think of the video? Let us know in the comments below!

Aonuma Says Retirement is Not Too Far Off, Considering Successor

Link 2 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 21:34:00 +0000

Eiji Aonuma has acted as the producer of 10 Zelda titles, the director of four Zelda titles, the designer for Ocarina of Time, and the supervisor for Hyrule Warriors and The Minish Cap. He's had a hand in molding the Legend of Zelda series since OoT, and was a game system director for Majora's Mask 3D. The community has always supported him.

Aonuma has participated in countless interviews, but most recently he appeared in a GameSpot interview to answer questions mostly based on Majora's Mask 3D. In this interview, Aonuma, who turns 52 next month, reveals that he ponders about picking a successor almost daily, and says that retirement isn't a long ways off for him.

Could Zelda U be the last Zelda related title he participates in? Will he continue to work on Zelda games, but play a smaller part in the development?

Here is an excerpt from the interview regarding his retirement:

My final question: you've been known as the caretaker of the Zelda franchise for such a long time. Have you wanted to branch out from that at all, or are you content with taking overseeing this franchise?
Honestly, I'm getting to the point in my career where I have to think about what sorts of things I want to do and how much time I have left before retirement. I've certainly enjoyed all the time that I've spent working on Zelda games, even when it's a struggle, I've absolutely enjoyed it. But I'm probably not too far from retirement. I should start to think about a successor, someone who can take over all of this. That's a very important decision, but that's one of the things that is bouncing around in my head on a daily basis as I work.

Source: GameSpot

Ocarina of Time Took Three Years to Make, Experienced Multiple Delays

Tpaul Homdrom — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:12:00 +0000

The latest Iwata Asks interview is all about Majora's Mask 3D. Iwata speaks with Eiji Aonuma, Mikiharu Ooiwa (director of the remake), Tomohiro Yamamura (liaison between Aonuma and Ooiwa), and Tomomi Sano (liaison later in development). While most of the interview talks about Majora's Mask 3D, Iwata and Aonuma also reminisced about the development of the original Majora's Mask and its predecessor, Ocarina of Time, which went through several release delays:

"Iwata: Didn't Ocarina of Time take three years to make?
Aonuma: It did.

"Iwata: Eventually Ocarina of Time came to be considered the pinnacle of 3D games and was praised all over the world, but on the other hand some people were asking why Zelda games only come out once every three years.
Aonuma: Right, the game's release date was delayed several times."

Release dates being delayed is nothing new in the video game industry, and such delays are often met with mixed reactions. These feelings can come to a boiling point under the right circumstances, and Miyamoto apparently is no stranger to the concern over delays:

"Iwata: Talking about release delays... that made me remember when MIyamoto-san told me about a time when he visited Kanazawa... he stopped by a convenience store. Then the store clerk noticed Miyamoto-san and actually got mad at him saying "Miyamoto-san! What are you doing here at a time like this!" (laughs)
Aonuma: (laughs) That clerk must have really been waiting for the game to come out!"

Iwata expresses his belief that those delays might have influenced Miyamoto wanting the next game to come out sooner, eventually leading to Majora's Mask being developed in just one year.

How do you feel about delays for video games? Let us know in the comments below, and check out the rest of the Iwata Asks interview piece here.

Source: Nintendo

Aonuma Says Next Zelda Remake Might be Based on Fan Demand

Link 2 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:43:00 +0000

If there is one element that I love about Nintendo, it's that they listen to their fans. Legend of Zelda boss Eiji Aonuma recently told us in an interview by GameSpot that the next remake could be largely influenced by what the fans want.

He said Nintendo has always paid attention to what fans expect from them. Aonuma was excited to work on Majora's Mask 3D to begin with, but was also enthused with all the support from fans who didn't even know if the project was even happening, he said.

I guess we can thank the fans and organizations such as Operation Moonfall for this wondrous 3D remake!

An excerpt from the GameSpot interview:

As far as what games might be remade in the future? I think that we always pay a lot of attention to user demand to see what sort of things people are talking about. When I first came to this 3DS Majora's Mask project, it was something that I personally had really wanted to remake for a while. But at the time that I first started working on it, I didn't really know if people wanted it. If they'd want to buy and play it. So I was really happy to see as I was coming into the later stages of development of the game, that there were a lot of player voices out there of people who were saying that they wanted this game to come out. And I was really happy to see that.

Source: GameSpot

Aonuma Made Majora's Mask because He Didn't Want to Remake Ocarina of Time Dungeons for Master Quest

RODTheMaster — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 21:53:00 +0000

Satoru Iwata recently sat down with Zelda franchise director Eiji Aonuma to chat about Majora's Mask 3D for the newly-revived Iwata Asks interview series. In the interview, Aonuma explains the specific circumstances behind the decision to develop Majora's Mask for the Nintendo 64 in the first place. As some fans may already know, the idea for Majora's Mask sprouted from the development of Ocarina of Time Master Quest on the ill-fated Nintendo 64 Disk Drive. Aonuma explains that the idea more specifically stemmed from his disinterest in repurposing old dungeons for the project, and his somewhat rebellious tendency to develop entirely new dungeons in secret.

Iwata begins the interview by asking Aonuma about the original Majora's Mask's development:

"Iwata: First let's start by asking you about the Nintendo 64 version. If I remember correctly, the development for Majora's Mask began when somebody requested that it be made in one year.
Aonuma: You're right. Since we already made The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, we had 3D models that we invested a lot of time in to build. This all started by (Shigeru) Miyamoto-san asking whether we could make a game in one year if we repurpose the models. But we were already talking about trying to make Master Quest for Nintendo 64DD
Iwata: At the time when Ocarina of Time came out, there was a plan in the works of releasing Master Quest for 64DD.
Aonuma: Correct. We were told to repurpose the dungeons from Ocarina of Time and make a game out of it, and I was handed the baton to make that happen."

The initial decision to release Master Quest makes a lot of sense considering Ocarina of Time's three year development cycle. Miyamoto requested that a new Zelda game be developed in a year, and a reworked version of Ocarina of Time made the most sense.

However, Aonuma explains that he began to grow disinterested and bored with the process of repurposing already-existent dungeons:

"Aonuma: However, when we made Ocarina of Time, we made those dungeons thinking they were the best we could make. That's when Miyamoto-san asked me to remake them, so I hesitantly obliged...but I couldn't really get into it.
Iwata: To Aonuma-san, you just made the ultimate dungeon, so you didn't want to ruin a perfect formula."

Aonuma then reveals how he rebelliously began work on entirely new dungeons, under the nose of his superiors:

"Aonuma: ...So I secretly started making new dungeons that weren't in Ocarina of Time, and that was much more fun to me. So, I grew up the courage to ask Miyamoto-san whether I could make a new game, he replied by saying it's ok if I can make it in a year."

This story really shows the innovative heart of Aonuma, who pushed himself to move out of the ordinary with Ocarina of Time and create something entirely new with Majora's Mask. It also shows how receptive Miyamoto was with Aonuma's ideas, as he could have easily dismissed the development of a completely new Zelda game in favor of the safer Master Quest option. I'm glad they decided to push forward with Majora's Mask, as the year 2000 would have been far more disappointing with just the release of Master Quest.

Source: Nintendo

Aonuma Recommends Ocarina of Time for Newcomers to the Zelda Series

Link 2 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 22:33:00 +0000

In an interview with GameSpot, longtime Zelda producer and director Eiji Aonuma was asked which Zelda title a newcomer to the series should start with. Aonuma considers Ocarina of Time the best to start with, as it was the first game he had worked on in the Zelda series. He then explains that the player should continue on to Majora's Mask afterwards.

Playing Majora's Mask first could be quite confusing for a first-timer to the Zelda franchise, because he or she wouldn't know the backstory behind it. This is why Ocarina of Time should be played first. Ocarina of Time is also a good introduction to the Zelda series because it is easily available on the 3DS. Physical copies may be hard to find, but it can always be downloaded via the Nintendo eShop. Otherwise, the player would have to own or buy a Nintendo 64. The game is also available on the GameCube, not to mention the Wii and Wii U via Wii virtual console.

Here is the excerpt concerning this topic from the interview:

But as for where I think it would be best for a new player to the Zelda games to start, since the first Zelda game that I worked on was Ocarina of Time, I feel like I really used that as my base and built on that going forward. So, based on my personal experience, I would probably tell people to start with Ocarina and then play Majora's Mask next. I think that's a good flow.

Do you agree with Mr. Aonuma? If not, which game should be played first? Let us know in the comments.

Source: GameSpot

Amiibo Could Come to a Future Zelda Game

Link 2 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 21:58:00 +0000

Information just jam-packed in the latest GameSpot interview with Zelda series boss Eiji Aonuma. We have learned that he is considering a replacement for himself, and that the next remake will be decided by the fans. Now we have learned Aonuma would like to use amiibo in a future title, possibly a Zelda one.

Aonuma reveals that amiibo were almost going to be compatible with Majora's Mask 3D, but the idea was eventually scrapped due to the type of gameplay that Majora's Mask contains. He even said that a Skull Kid amiibo was considered, much like the Special Edition statue pictured above.

Here's an excerpt of Aonuma speaking during the GameSpot interview:

We really did want to do amiibo, like with Skull Kid, that would work with Majora's Mask. But one of the things that was really difficult was, because this was a remake of the game, we didn't have the opportunity to build the kind of gameplay that would connect to using an amiibo in this way. Ultimately, and unfortunately, we had to back off of that idea.
But looking forward, I really want to do something like that on a new title. So I hope you're going to look forward to that.

It's really a shame that amiibo couldn't have been incorporated into MM3D, but let's hope that a Skull Kid amiibo is still possible. Would you like to see a Skull Kid amiibo? Let us know in the comments.

Source: GameSpot

Star Fox Reference in Majora's Mask Might Have Been Coincidence

Link 2 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 23:31:00 +0000

For those of you who do not know, the Nintendo 64 version of Majora's Mask contains a supposed easter egg referencing Star Fox. Masks resembling a fox, a bird, a rabbit, a frog, and a pig are all set in a row on Majora's Mask's mask collection screen.

A recent GameSpot interview with Eiji Aonuma, the director and producer of many Zelda games, explained that this reference was actually not intended by him. However, he goes on to explain that an employee could have orchestrated this easter egg without telling Aonuma. Whatever the case, it's a fun little detail that you can add to your mental bank of Zelda trivia.

Here is a quote of what Aonuma said regarding this matter:

You know, as it turns out, I think the ordering of those masks in the N64 version might've been entirely coincidence! As we progressed through [the] game's development, they just lined up that way. Or, I guess the other possibility is someone did it on purpose, but they just didn't tell me about it!

Do you think this was merely a coincidence, or an intended easter egg? Let us know in the comments.

Source: GameSpot

Aonuma Elaborates on Majora's Mask's Planned Seven-Day Cycle

RODTheMaster — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 23:22:00 +0000

In the recent Iwata Asks interview, Zelda director Eiji Aonuma further elaborated on his original intention for Majora's Mask to have a full week time cycle. Rather than just the three days seen in the final release, developers originally planned to give players seven full days to replay over and over again. While this may sound exciting to people who were hoping for more content in the game, Aonuma explained that there were various reasons that contributed to this limiting of days in the final game.

In the interview, Aonuma explained the original plan for Majora's Mask:

"Aonuma: ...From there, the "Three-Day System" was born. It's where you would be playing the same three days over and over again.
Iwata: You needed a completely new idea to make something in such a short turnaround like one year, and that was the "Three-Day System".
Aonuma: Right. But at first, it was one week."

The developers felt that players would grow bored replaying a full week, and that seven days of content would be too much for players to remember:

"Iwata: Three days was originally one week?
Aonuma: That's right. But when you returned to the first day it was like "Do I have to go through an entire week again...", so we thought three days would be just right.
Iwata: Wait, it got decided just like that? (laughs)
Aonuma: (laughs) In this game the townspeople do different things each day and many different things happen, but when the timespan becomes a week, that's just too much to remember. You can't simply remember who's where doing what on which day."

Aonuma then explained that if the team were to include a full week in the game, Majora's Mask would have certainly been delayed:

"Iwata: Moreover, you probably wouldn't have been able to make it in a year if you were aiming to make a game filled with so much content for seven days.
Aonuma: Right, we never would have been able to do it. We felt it would be best to make it a three-step process, and we compressed all sorts of things we had planned for over a week into three days.
Iwata: That's how it led to the game feeling like it's packed to the gills with content. You squished all sorts of ideas you were originally planning to use in a week into only three days.
Aonuma: I think so."

I personally appreciate the three-day cycle, as seven days would have been way too much for my young mind to handle. I also share Iwata's sentiment about Majora's Mask feeling packed with content, a fact that I also contribute to the three-day cycle.

What are your thoughts? Would you have liked seven days to relive agin and again in Majora's Mask? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Nintendo

Hubh

moothsda — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 01:22:00 +0000

ello

moothsda — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 01:27:00 +0000

Aonuma Explains the Decision to Use Masks as a Theme in Majora's Mask

RODTheMaster — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 02:11:00 +0000

It's difficult to imagine that Majora's Mask could exist without the use of masks. By its very name and nature, masks play a crucial role in the game's story and gameplay. In today's Iwata Asks, Zelda director Eiji Aonuma shared why his team chose to use masks as a central feature in the game. The choice to include masks seems like an obvious one to fans, and it would seem the choice was just as obvious for the development team.

Aonuma explains why the use of masks was expanded from Ocarina of Time to Majora's Mask:

"Iwata: By the way, why masks?
Aonuma: The development of Ocarina of Time was so long, we were able to put in a whole lot of different elements into that game. Out of those, there were ideas that weren't fully utilized, and ones that weren't used to their full potential. One of those was the mask salesman.
Iwata: When Link wears the masks, sometimes the reactions of whoever he's talking to change.
Aonuma: That's right. So in Majora's Mask we felt it would be fun if Link himself transforms whenever he puts on those masks.
Iwata: Before that Link was never able to transform.
Aonuma: Right. As a basis of Zelda games, you're able to use items to do all sorts of different things, and we felt it would be a lot of fun if Link would acquire all these abilities by putting on these different masks. We felt that would expand the gameplay. So we made the game so Link could transform into Deku Link to fly in the air, Goron Link to roll across land, and Zora Link so that he could swim underwater. We also gave each of them a storyline.
Iwata: You covered land, sea and air! (laughs)
Aonuma: We did. Once we decided we were going with masks, everything just came into place.
Iwata: Like all the pieces coming together.
Aonuma: That's exactly it."

It's hard to imagine Majora's Mask being as special as it was without the use of masks. Mask transformations truly gave way to interesting gameplay features that future Zelda games have not explored again. I personally would love to see Aonuma make use of masks and transformations once more.

Would you want to see masks return in a future Zelda game? Share your thoughts with us!

Source: Nintendo

Aonuma: Full Hearst Put into Ocarina of Time, But Sense of Unfulfillment Indured

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 02:27:00 +0000

In a brand new Iwata Asks (the first one in almost a year!), Eiji Aonuma and the team behind Majora's Mask 3D had a lot to say about both the current game that was released just today, Majora's Mask 3D, and some of the development on prior games. In one of these examples, Eiji Aonuma claims that the team behind Ocarina of Time put everything they had into the game, but still came away with a sense of things being unfulfilled. Like they brought all these ideas to the table but could never fully explore them all. Eiji Aonuma went on to say:

"Aonuma: I guess so! (laughs) At that time we were making Ocarina of Time wanting to be really proud of our work. We wanted to go out with it with our chests up high, harking to the world that this is the 3D Zelda game. We really were making the game with all our hearts into it. Even if it took a long time, we wanted to put in everything we had.
Iwata: As a result of that, you ran into a situation where you made a lot of delicious dishes but had run out of places on the table to put them on.
Aonuma: We did. Because of that, there was a sense of unfulfillment among the staff, where a lot of us wanted to do things differently with certain elements from Ocarina of Time, and also wanting to do things they weren't able to before. If we gathered all new staff to work on it, it would have been impossible to make in only one year.
Iwata: You were fueled by your regrets of what you made but weren't able to fully use to fruition. Because you were fueled by it, you were able to put on a bunch of new ideas on top of the "Three-Days System" and they all fit together nicely. That's why you were able to make something with so much content in only a year."

Interesting stuff indeed. Eiji Aonuma and the rest of the Zelda team sure picked the right aspects to expand upon!

Source: Iwata Asks

Majora's Mask Development Could Have Had Delays but Eiji Aonuma Refused to Delay it

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 02:45:00 +0000

As it turns out, Miyamoto was willing to break his own time table for the betterment of the Zelda staff working under Eiji Aonuma while they developed Majora's Mask. While Miyamoto was the person who gave them the one year restriction, towards the end of development he softened and told Eiji Aonuma he could delay the release of the game. This was mostly because the team was working insane hours to try and meet the release deadline that might have been a bit unhealthy. Eiji Aonuma seemed to act as if he was insulted at the notion, quickly turning it down and even acting mad at the suggestion:

"Aonuma: At the time when I was told I had to make it in a year, I was extremely focused on thinking how great it would be if we could make it happen, and how disappointed I would be if I couldn't do it. I started working on the game with that kind of mindset, but towards the end of the game's development, we had to work under severe time constraints. That's when Miyamoto-san told me that we could delay the game's release. That's when I...
Iwata: Did you get angry?
Aonuma: I did! I got mad. I said to him, pretty loudly, "There's no way we can do that now!"
Iwata: Oh wow! (laughs)
Aonuma: I also remember telling him "We'll definitely make this in one year!" Looking back at it now, I said something unbelievable to my boss!
Iwata: You really were young! (laughs)
Aonuma: Yeah. Miyamoto-san did tell us to make it in a year but he must have been concerned towards the end.
Iwata: He must have been worried that you were all exhausted.
Aonuma: I suppose. And at that time, I did have a sense that I was being pushed on by something strange.
Iwata: You may have been wearing one of those masks! (laughs)"

Eiji Aonuma certainly was dedicated to the task at hand, thus failure was not an option. We're certainly glad, as we ended up with what many consider to be one of the better and most unique entries in the series.

Source: Iwata Asks

Majora's Mask Was Designed to Challenge Ocarina of Time Veterans

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 03:19:00 +0000

As we dive further into the new Iwata Asks with Mr. Aonuma, we're getting a clearer picture on many of the design principles behind Majora's Mask. One of those was to get rid of the inviting nature of Ocarina of Time and literally dare gamers to "beat me if you can". Arguably this is what lead to a really strong attachment by those that achieved the ultimate goal, though at times this very thought process also turned many gamers off. Here's what Eiji Aonuma had to say on the differences in approach between the two titles:

"Aonuma: When we talked about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time¹¹ in a previous Iwata Asks, we talked about hospitality.11. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS: This is an action adventure game released for the Nintendo 3DS console on June 2011.
Iwata: It was about "hospitality on the attack¹²".12. Hospitality on the attack: Mentioned in Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Original Development Staff-Part 2. The developers stated than when they replayed the Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64 to get references for remaking the game for the 3DS, they mentioned that they "sensed an immense amount of hospitality" when they played through it for the first time in a while.
Aonuma: But Majora's Mask isn't like that. It's all a challenge to our players. It's like we're saying to them "can you clear this?"
Iwata: It shifted from hospitality to a challenge.
Aonuma: It was something like until then you were welcomed with open arms being invited to come in, and now you're being told at the door to go home if you don't have what it takes! (laughs)
Iwata: That might be true. When I played the game when it came out, it was like the game itself was screaming out to me, questioning me whether I had the dedication to play forward.
Aonuma: That's because we didn't put in any kind of elements where we show people how to play this game. The game was made for those who have played Ocarina of Time, so I felt like there wasn't a need for step-by-step instructions.
Iwata: It was like "clear it if you can".
Aonuma: So those who have played it still strongly remember how the game felt like it was a challenge, even though 15 years had passed. That's probably why it led to such a strong reaction."

Interesting stuff. Thoughts? Art found here.

Source: Iwata Asks

UPDATE: Majora's Mask Clock Tower Watch For Sale on Etsy Uses Stolen Art

moothsda — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 21:38:00 +0000

UPDATE: This seller has been confirmed to be using stolen art without permission. We have been contacted by the original artist, mntorankusu, who has proven that this watch is using his original fanart of the Clock Tower clock. We have removed the link to the Etsy listing and the artist's shop, and encourage you all to abstain from buying this watch. We apologize for any harm caused, and we in no way want to promote profiting off of stolen art.

Original Post:

A fan-made watch based on the clock from the Clock Tower in Majora's Mask is now for sale on Etsy, and it looks absolutely amazing.

The artist, Happy Mask Association, has made tons of different watches like this one, including a Smash Bros. watch and a Metal Gear Solid codec watch. They're each for sale for $25, and have gotten intensely high reviews. [Links removed]

If you're looking for a new watch, you should definitely check it out!

Here are the official item specifications:

Handmade item
Materials: stainless steel, genuine leather, leather, watch gears
Made to order
Feedback: 21 reviews
Ships worldwide from Florida, United States

You can buy it here, and be sure to check out the artist's shop here. [Links removed]

What do you guys think about this watch? Honestly, I absolutely love it; I'm probably going to order one later. I've been telling people that Nintendo should make something like this for a while, and it's great to know I'll be able to get it.

Brilliance in Level Design: Skyward Sword's Ancient Cistern

Tpaul Homdrom — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:41:00 +0000

Hello everyone! For those who don’t know, this article is a continuation of a series about level design in Zelda games. I’ll be looking at every single dungeon in: Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and A Link Between Worlds, seeking to find which dungeons are examples of excellent level design, and then bringing that analysis to you fine folks.

It’s taken me quite a while to get this article out. Part of that is my methodology for writing this article series: I play through the games, dungeon by dungeon, gathering my thoughts on the dungeon (or recording the playthroughs when I can) and then thinking whether or not that’s a great dungeon for this series. I actually thought I would use the Lanayru Mining Facility, but even though I still like the dungeon, it had some tedious gameplay mechanics that dock a few points from its otherwise delightful design.

Today we’ll be looking at a frequently lauded dungeon from Skyward Sword: the Ancient Cistern. This dungeon constantly finds its way onto top ten dungeons lists, but all I ever hear this dungeon praised for are two things:

The theming (Heaven and Hell, Buddhist symbolism, etc.)
The boss fight (Koloktos)

After that, I hear nearly nothing about the actual design of the level itself. So I won’t be talking much – well, at all, really – about the spiritual themes and whatnot present in the Ancient Cistern. Because, quite honestly, this dungeon would be a fantastic example of exquisite level design without any of that symbolism. Let’s dive in, shall we?

The Opening

The Ancient Cistern opens up in grand fashion, with a massive watery central hub around a giant golden statue. There are walkways along the edges, lily pads to jump across, and a whole bunch of water to swim in, but no clear direction of where to go.

It’s much like Ocarina of Time's Water Temple in that regard, or many of the often derided water-based dungeons in Zelda titles. However, this gives the player time to explore and spend some more time swimming with the recently acquired Water Dragon’s Scale. Underwater, two giant hands hold silver rupees, and spin-dashing across them nets the player a whopping one hundred rupees each, but also causes the hands to close.

A curious development, right? Further examination shows the backs of the hands have symbols. Similar symbols are found by swimming around to the back of the statue. But what could these symbols mean? Entering the statue’s interior doesn’t yield much. Running along the walkways leads to a door going through a room, but the door at the end of the room is locked with a strange mechanism. A pedestal next to the door hints at a secret pattern, but what could it be?

This process of player discovery ( Fi doesn’t give you any clues of how to solve it!) is brilliant. Trial-and-error will get you through the strange rotating lock; I’ll admit, my first time through this dungeon a year ago, I passed by trial-and-error (a lot of error). However, heading back out into the statue room, there’s another pedestal to be found next to the statue, and it reveals the secret pattern. Those symbols found on the backs of the statue’s hands and other places? Those show the way to strike the rotating lock to proceed.

It’s a fun way of exploring the main area and gives the player a chance to take their time, put clues together, and deduce a solution. In an era of Zelda titles often ridiculed for holding the player’s hands too often, this is a welcome breath of fresh air.

Indiana Jones and the Ancient Cistern?

The Ancient Cistern's item is the Whip, and what a brilliant tool it is. The entire dungeon is designed around using the Whip in many different manners, evoking memories of a famous treasure hunter. Before we get into its uses, though, I want to touch on the mini-boss before it: the Stalmaster.

This mini-boss does a great job emphasizing Skyward Sword's love it or hate it motion control swordplay. Using four different weapons and being able to block from three directions at once (and sometimes four!), the player will have to use nearly every type of sword slash available. Both types of vertical slashes, both directions of horizontal slashes, and the stab attack are all used to excellent effect against the Stalmaster. For those like me who enjoy the sword combat in this game, this fight is a really exciting and enjoyable battle. As the Stalmaster becomes weaker, he switches his blocking positions more often and attacks more frequently, forcing the player to up their game as well. And once this foe is defeated, the Whip is acquired, and it has a ton of different uses.

The Whip's most obvious use is swinging across chasms. It’s not all that different from the Grappling Hook’s use in Wind Waker. But this is no simple Grappling Hook clone, oh no. The Whip can do what the Grappling Hook does, but because of the addition of Wii Motion Plus, it can also be used to flick switches back and forth and pull bird monsters out of the sky! The motion controls add to the feel of using the whip as well, pulling you into the game and making you feel more like you’re actually using a whip.

I love the way this item is implemented in the dungeon. It feels seamless to go from swinging across a gap, to grabbing and flicking a switch one way, to ripping a key off of a Bokoblin guard. There’s even a fun swinging puzzle where the player has to guide their swinging movement to jump onto a pull-down switch to open a gate. There are also lily pads throughout the dungeon. Link can fall onto them to flip them, but if their bottom stem is sticking up out of the water, the Whip has to be used to flip it back to a platform.

It may have simple uses (swinging, grappling certain enemies, activating switches), but the way in which the Whip is used makes it exciting, fun, and intuitively integrated into the level design.

Plus, you have to add points for an item that makes you feel like Indiana Jones. And it isn’t just the item that makes you feel like Indiana Jones! The dungeon itself has a sort of “treasure hunter” vibe to it. The Ancient Cistern is much more about puzzle-solving and traversing the area than combat. Rotating cylinders covered in vines provide exciting climbing scenarios. The aforementioned lily pads are all about puzzle-solving; they function as platforms to jump across, but sometimes they need to be flipped in order to reveal passages to swim through.

The dichotomy between the upper, golden level filled with light, and the underground, dark, spooky portions of the level work great for this type of theming as well. Above, the dungeon feels like a palace, a place full of treasure. Below, it’s rotted, dank, dark, probably smells bad, and is full of bats, reanimated corpses, and deadly poisonous water. Above, you feel relaxed, but below, you feel the tension, the danger, the claustrophobia. Maybe it’s just me, but the Ancient Cistern felt like it could have come straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. And that’s worth tons of points in my book.

When Automatons Attack

One reason I didn’t touch on the Buddhism themes of the Ancient Cistern is because I just don’t feel it. I know that was the intent of the developers, but like I said, this dungeon really feels to me like a treasure hunting expedition, not a spiritual quest of enlightenment or whatever.

However, the other part of the Ancient Cistern that is constantly lauded – the boss battle – is something I cannot ignore. This boss battle rocks. I’m a big fan of all of the boss battles in Skyward Sword (except The Imprisoned… meh), but Koloktos is easily one of the very best.

Koloktos really goes all-out against you. I like aggressive bosses, because they really challenge you to learn their attack patterns and respond, rather than just use the dungeon item to stun them, then hack away with your sword. Yes, Koloktos still gets “stunned” through use of the Whip, but the process through which this happens is sheer brilliance.

Koloktos has a ton of different attacks, and two different forms. His (her? Its? Whatever) first form is stuck in the center of the room. Giant hands will try and smash you, and he’ll throw boomerang axes (can Link get some of those in the next game?) at you if you keep too much of a distance. All of the arms have joints, however, and yanking on these joints with the Whip will disassemble them in raucous fashion, eventually leaving Koloktos armless and open to attack.

After a few rounds of this, however, Koloktos decides he’s had enough. He emerges on legs and pulls out six swords! Now it’s on. The ancient automaton will then pursue you around the room, slashing with his swords in multiple different patterns. He can also summon cursed Bokoblins, which actually serves to be more hilarious than anything else, because you can get him to destroy the cursed ‘blins for you.

This second form is even more exciting because you don’t stun him without getting aggressive yourself. Thing is, he’s constantly on the attack, so it takes a combination of guts and timing to find an opening. By disassembling Koloktos’ arms now, he’ll drop his swords, which Link can pick up and use against him, a la Wind Waker. Evade his attacks and rush in close to hack off his limbs, then smash away at the core with a sword bigger than Link is tall!

It’s a memorable and challenging boss fight to cap off an impressive dungeon. It truly feels like the Heart Container and upgrade to the Goddess Sword are earned through wits and combat prowess. That may be my love of Skyward Sword talking, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt uncommonly rewarded through this particular victory.

Conclusion

For those curious about what makes the points above marks for “brilliance” in level design, here’s sort of how I look at the levels, in a series of questions I ask as I play through these dungeons:

Is the dungeon layout intuitive? (i.e. will the player get unnecessarily lost or confused because of poor level design?)
Does the dungeon teach the player?
How does it match up with the game as a whole?

Great levels, in my opinion, are fair. Unnecessary difficulty, like needing to memorize the dungeon to avoid deaths, are not okay in my book. They should also teach the player, introducing new concepts in controlled environments, but then combining them in interesting ways later on or placing them in more dangerous environments to challenge the player to expand on what they’ve learned. They should also fit within the themes and progression of the game, building on what has come before that point, and preparing the player for what comes next.

The Ancient Cistern is a delightful treasure-hunting excursion (seriously, I can’t get behind the whole Buddhism thing – this is totally an Indiana Jones level, and I love it). The Whip is a fantastic item, but items alone don’t make the dungeon. It’s about how they’re implemented into the puzzles and exploration, and the Whip is so intuitively integrated into nearly every facet of the dungeon and boss fight, it’s impossible to ignore. Cap it off with one of the best boss fights the series has ever seen (#opinions), and you’ve got yourself one heck of a dungeon.

What are your favorite Zelda dungeons? And what did you think of the Ancient Cistern? Agree or disagree, leave your comments below!

Previous dungeons analyzed:

Fun Fact: Ocarina of Time 3D Didn't Have a Director, Majora's Mask 3D Only Had One Half the Time

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 03:39:00 +0000

In general, most video games made today have a set order of accomplishing tasks, such as having a director. In fact, the director is often more important than the role of producer, since they manage and often control the entire direction of a game. This is true even in developing remakes and remasters. Oddly enough, Ocarina of Time 3D apparently didn't have an official director, while Majora's Mask 3D didn't get one until half way through development. While the credits do give three people director roles, I wonder if those were just last minute title assignments, rather than actual directors based on words from both Grezzo and Eiji Aonuma:

"Ooiwa: I'm Mikiharu Ooiwa of GREZZO Co., Ltd.¹³ I wasn't from the beginning, but I was tasked on the role of director for Majora's Mask 3D.
Iwata: What do you mean by "tasked on"?
Aonuma: I requested that a director role be made mid way during development. For a while I didn't think there was a need for one.
Iwata: Ah, I get it. At first, you thought you didn't need a director since this game had an original to work off of.
Aonuma: There was no director when we made Ocarina of Time 3D. But that wasn't the case at all when we started working on this game! (laughs)"

I always love hearing about what goes on behind the scenes, especially for these roles, as what we sometimes see in the credits doesn't necessarily tell us the full story.

Source: Iwata Asks

Tomomi Sano Made Recommendations on Fixes in Majora's Mask 3D, Never Beat Original Game

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 04:02:00 +0000

While we don't inherently know what changes Tomomi Sano may be responsible for, we do know she had a direct role in the changes presented in Majora's Mask 3D to help gamers get through the game who might have given up on the experience the first time around. We noted she didn't beat the original game because it gives you a good frame of reference for what sort of changes she might be responsible for - such as potential changes made to boss fights, swimming, or the Bombers' Notebook. However, that's purely speculation. For now, I'll just let her get introduced to you and let you decided what she might have done for the game:

"Sano:Hi there, I'm Tomomi Sano, also from SPD. Like Yamamura-san, I worked as the Nintendo liaison for this title. Although for me, I joined during the latter half of development so most of the components were already finished. So my role was to review the existing issues with the game that were found by Mario Club¹⁴, and if there were moments where it seemed like the game was putting on too much of a challenge like what they were saying just a while ago, I went over those areas from a player's perspective and made recommendations on whether we should fix certain issues or leave them as is since they add as a part of the challenging flavor to the game.
Aonuma: You say "from a player's perspective" Sano-san, but that's exactly the case since you actually played the Nintendo 64 version yourself when it was out, as one of our customers. So whenever I wondered what it would feel like from a fan, I always asked Sano-san.
Sano: I was originally a fan of the Nintendo 64 version so I played it when it was out, but...I was one of those that lost the challenge! (laughs)
Iwata: You couldn't clear the game?
Sano: Unfortunately, no."

So far, I enjoy all the changes, so it's nice to know with whom I may be able to thank for them.

Source: Iwata Asks

Eiji Aonuma Didn't Want to do Majora's Mask 3D, Miyamoto All But Demanded it be Made

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 04:17:00 +0000

Despite being Eiji Aonuma's first major Zelda project that he ran, it appears Eiji Aonuma wasn't really that keen on making a 3D version, even with Ocarina of Time 3D on the table. However, Miyamoto was rather insistent it happen, practically demanding Eiji Aonuma to make it happen. In the end, everything worked out and not only was Miyamoto happy, so were the fans and Eiji Aonuma ended up having a good time.

"Iwata: Well, so let me ask the group; how did recreating that "challenging" game Majora's Mask get started?
Aonuma: Here again, it came from Miyamoto-san. He told me one day "let's release Majora's Mask for Nintendo 3DS." Sano-san mentioned how she lost the challenge, and I think Miyamoto-san feels quite strongly that there are quite a lot of people like her, who gave up on the Nintendo 64 version part way through the journey. He probably felt that it was such a shame in how we put in so much in the game, but then people aren't able to see them because they weren't able to get there. Of course, we were the ones who challenged the players if they could clear these mysteries in the first place! (laughs)
Iwata: Well, it did turn from hospitality into a challenge! (laughs)
Aonuma: Well, when I was told that by Mr. Miyamoto, all I could say was "you're absolutely right." An added benefit of releasing it for the Nintendo 3DS was that if you get stuck somewhere in the game, you could just close the lid and put it in sleep mode¹⁵, so it was all the more reason to work on Majora's Mask. However, I couldn't just simply say "yes, I'll do it."15. Sleep mode: This mode is when a 3DS console is closed shut while it is on. By doing so, the device will save energy, making it easier to continue playing games after the console is opened up again.
Iwata: Now why is that?
Aonuma: I said this before, but it was one of those games where I was able to do quite a bit because I was much younger.
Iwata: Right.
Aonuma: So I didn't want to open that lid again! (laughs)
Iwata: What do you mean you didn't want to open the lid! (laughs)
Aonuma: I knew that as soon as I opened it I would break out in cold sweat! (laughs)
Everyone: (laughs)
Iwata: So Aonuma-san, you wanted to keep it closed forever?
Aonuma: As in a "please pretend it didn't happen" kind of way! (laughs) Of course we're not allowed to pretend that it didn't happen, but I didn't want to work on another iteration. But I was met by Miyamoto-san's firm "nope".
Iwata: He told you to make it in a year for the Nintendo 64 version, and told you to not run away for the 3DS version. Miyamoto-san's such a strict man! (laughs)"

I find it interesting he wanted to pretend it never happened, just so he wouldn't have to revisit it. Thoughts?

Source: Iwata Asks

Aonuma's "What in the World" List Guided Majora's Mask 3D's Development

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 04:32:00 +0000

Aonuma was tasked by Miyamoto to replay the original N64 version of Majora's Mask and come up with a list of thins he would have done differently today. Not expecting to really notice much of anything, he ended up coming to an inpass over many of the design choices in the game, leading him to create a "What in the World" list, something that added to and passed around constantly during development. It appears to be one of the main guiding principles of the game, and is directly responsible for the Boss fight changes, where he has no idea "what in the world" he was thinking when he originally designed them without a designated weak spot.

"Iwata: So development started when you passed on the "what in the world" list to Ooiwa-san at GREZZO?
Ooiwa: Well, we didn't have that list when we first started working on the game, so at first we played the Nintendo 64 version through and through. We started off by playing in a lot of different ways, captured video, and made a list. Then we heard from Aonuma-san that he wanted to add in new elements.
Iwata: So from the beginning, he wanted to put in new ways to play, rather than making a simple remake of the Nintendo 64 version.
Ooiwa: Exactly. So within our team we brainstormed on all sorts of new ideas that could be put into the game world of Majora's Mask. We presented our ideas to Miyamoto-san through Aonuma-san towards the end of 2011.
Iwata: That's about six months after Ocarina of Time 3D has been released. Didn't you get nervous having heard that you had to present to Miyamoto-san?
Ooiwa: Oh, my heart was pounding while waiting for the response! (laughs) But thankfully the presentation ended just fine. It was at a later time when we received the "what in the world" list, which to us was like a challenge of itself.
Iwata: What was then a challenge to the players was now a challenge to the developers.
Ooiwa: That's exactly it! (laughs)
Yamamura: That "what in the world" list was first drafted by Aonuma-san, which then I played those parts through to confirm, and had Mario Club play it out too. There were new "what in the world" things from those steps as well, and we compiled them all in one list.
Iwata: So the "what in the world" list went through an upgrade since it left Aonuma-san's hands.
Yamamura: Right! (laughs) (spread hands widely top to bottom, as if holding a big batch of paper) We handed it all to GREZZO and asked them "We have all these points that need to be addressed. From where should we get started?" That's when the real development began.
Ooiwa: When we had taken a look at the "what in the world" list, Aonuma-san's confessions were written everywhere! (laughs)
Iwata: Confessions? (laughs)
Aonuma: I wrote in a bunch of comments on where I thought things weren't good. Like, "I'm sorry that this comes from the one that made it this way, but..."
Ooiwa: That was on the top of every list.
Aonuma: And "At the time, I think there was something wrong with me..."
Ooiwa: He said something similar every time we had a meeting! (laughs)
Yamamura: "What in the world" was something that he said all the time! (laughs)
Aonuma: Every time a "what in the world" came up, I always apologized and made excuses on why I did what I did at the time. I was probably able to do that because I thoroughly replayed the game first, and that I had a clear idea on what needed to be accomplished.
Iwata: You were able to see a clear direction on how to create it for the Nintendo 3DS.
Aonuma: That's correct, but the sheer amount was astounding. Of course, at the time I must have been keeping an eye on everything, so I thought to myself why were there so many things that I wanted to fix.
Iwata: I also have a lot of things that I made in the past where I would do things differently if I had the chance! (laughs)
Aonuma: But I have so many! It's a lot! (laughs)
Iwata: Why are you saying it so proudly! (laughs)
Everyone: (laughs)
Aonuma: I knew I didn't want to open the lid from the get go, and it turned out that my instincts were correct.
Ooiwa: But think about it this way, you were able to fix every "what in the world" in the game because we had this opportunity.
Aonuma: I guess you're right. That's because there were people who were able to make things right... Thank you so much for all you've done.
Ooiwa: Oh no, you're very welcome! (laughs)
Iwata: How does it feel cleaning up after someone's mess?
Ooiwa: I always felt like it was a challenge bestowed upon our team because of the trust and rapport we established when we worked on Ocarina of Time 3D.
Iwata: Because you were trusted, you were given a challenge.
Aonuma: Right, I think because we had GREZZO work on the remake of Ocarina of Time 3D, they had a deep understanding of the program, so we knew they could get a clear understanding of Majora's Mask once they played it. A development approach like this one was only made possible because GREZZO worked on the remake of Ocarina of Time 3D."

Source: Iwata Asks

Slowing Down Time Like in Majora's Mask Could Return in a Future Title

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 06:03:00 +0000

GameSpot got a chance to sit down with Eiji Aonuma and talk a bit about the current and future ongoings in the Zelda franchise. One of those topics covered a bit of both – using time mechanics from Majora's Mask in future Zelda titles. Aonuma was asked if any of those mechanics could return in a future and Aonuma seemed to suggest one particular mechanic may return, so certainly some thought has already been put into it.

"With the way that you progress through this game as opposed to more traditional Zelda games, especially with all the time manipulation, is that something that we might see again sometime in the future?
Aonuma: One particular game element, being able to slow down the passage of time, I think that's something that we may be able to revisit in the future. But if we were to do so, it would have to to be implemented in a different way. It would have to be different to be meaningful. So that's something you might see again in the future."

Would be interesting to see how they would pull that off, as it would indicate time playing a somewhat bigger role in general, where slowing it down would actually be a benefit to the player. What do you think?

Source: GameSpot

ZIPodcast Episode 23: Valentine's Day Episode

Acohen95 — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 19:00:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

This week we talk about movies, cast our own actors in the new Zelda TV Series! On the cast this week is Adam (As always), Chris (Results May Vary), Tyler (He writes articles people hate a lot), and Jeff (I wonder if he'll be my valentine?). With lots of movie news this week and Majora's Mask 3D about to be released, this week we took a change of pace and talked about a wider range of nerd culture. Also, Chris confesses his love for Dan Jones and we discuss our plans for Valentine's day! (Warning, this podcast may affect those with lactose intolerance, as there are incredibly cheesy moments). This was a great casual conversation perfect for a cheap Valentine's Day Date idea (We'd like to think so). So don't hesitate and join us for episode 23 of the ZIPodcast!

Special thanks to everyone who wrote in and contributed to the podcast. Want to have your voice heard on the podcast? Send us your theme song submissions, topics, questions, and fan art by way of email (ZeldaInformerpodcast@gmail.com). We'll be sure to give you a lil shoutout/thanks in our credits section. Podcast is recorded on Thursday Evenings, so please submit your topics ahead of that time. Hope you enjoy the episode and have a lovely Valentines Day Weekend.

Comment Topic Of The Week: What are you doing for Valentines Day?

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Watch Us Livestream Majora's Mask 3D Marathon Right Now

TheGaspNinja — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 16:04:00 +0000

Watch live video from zeldainformer on www.twitch.tv

Although Majora's Mask 3D was effectively released yesterday, today we will be livestreaming through the entirety of the game blind and in one sitting! Following last week's livestream where we played Ocarina of Time 3D and gave up 9.5 hours in, our staff member Al is determined not to wallow in shame this time, especially since this is the first time he'll be witnessing the whole game! Check out the full livestream above, or come hang out in the chat by redirecting to our Twitch!

Grezzo Didn't Know About the New Nintendo 3DS Until Late in Development

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 17:36:00 +0000

Grezzo, the company responsible for Majora's Mask 3D, apparently wasn't even aware of the New Nintendo 3DS until very shortly before it was unveiled publicly in a private meeting at Nintendo's headquarters. Aonuma really had only one demand during that meeting – to create a free roam camera with the C-Stick. This is because of how much he fell in love with it in The Wind Waker – he just knew it was an experience he wanted in Majora's Mask 3D (and, likely, all future 3D Zelda titles). The meeting itself was a bit of an odd one, because Nintendo usually met with Grezzo at their place in Tokyo, but this particular meeting made Grezzo come to Nintendo.

Ooiwa: We were already in the second half of the development stage. We finished the porting processes in general and were starting to incorporate the new challenging elements one by one. That's why we usually had our meetings at the GREZZO office in Tokyo around that time, but one day out of the blue, you had asked us, "How about having a meeting in Kyoto for a change?"
Iwata: Now that's a suspicious invitation! (laughs)
Ooiwa: It was! (laughs) However, at the time, we thought, "It isn't bad to have meetings in Kyoto once in a while." So we decided to take up the offer.
Iwata: At the time, you probably thought "Yes, we get to visit Kyoto for the first time in a long time!" all the while being oblivious to the workload that awaited you. (laughs)
Ooiwa: That's right! (laughs) After we got there, we were shown the New Nintendo 3DS.
Yamamura: The system wasn't announced yet, so we asked you to come all the way to Kyoto.
Aonuma: And when they arrived, I immediately requested to add a feature to spin the camera with the C-Stick¹⁸in-game.18. C-stick:An analog stick newly added on the left side above the A B X Y buttons on New Nintendo 3DS consoles.
Ooiwa: I was surprised that you asked for such a request at that timing! (laughs)
Aonuma: Sorry about that, but I really wanted to move the camera around in this game. We integrated the free-to-control camera for the first time in The Legend of Zelda:The Wind Waker¹⁹, and from that experience I knew how well it felt when I was able to use that.19. The Legend of Zelda:The Wind Waker: An action adventure game released on Mar. 2003 for the GameCube console.
Ooiwa: So, after that I brought back a large task given by Aonuma-san. However, at the time, the New Nintendo 3DS system was still confidential, so we couldn't talk about it to most of our staff. We had to gather up a limited number of people, such as the programmers in charge, and worked on this task in a hush-hush manner.
Iwata: "Hush-hush", huh! (laughs)
Ooiwa: But thanks to integrating this feature, players can now see the icon of this game, the Moon, while they move Link around.
Aonuma: And you couldn't do that in the Nintendo 64 version. You have an idea that the moon is falling lower, but you couldn't really see it.
Sano: You expect the Moon to look bigger on the third day, but you can't really see it. But now, you can enjoy gazing at the Moon whenever you want! (laughs)
Aonuma: It's really nice, isn't it? (laughs)
Iwata: But wasn't it hard to add the camera rotation feature after you had reached near the end of the development process?
Ooiwa: It was. After all, Majora's Mask has many types of programming that determines the camera controls.
Iwata: So it's a system where there are many different types of camera programs depending on the scene?
Yamamura: That's right. There are various types of camera programs that adjust to match different scenes like climbing ladders and flying as Deku Link. Even compared to Ocarina of Time, there are quite a number of them.
Ooiwa: This is why we had to experiment on an enormous scale of how we could combine the many camera programs with the camera controls of the C-stick.
Yamamura: Above that, we needed to consider Link's transformations. The default Link and Goron Link are different heights, so the height of the cameras are different, too.
Ooiwa: And by being able to moving the camera around freely, you're now able to see stuff that you weren't supposed to see...
Iwata: So those are the problems you faced when integrating the C-stick.
Ooiwa: Right, so unexpected problems appeared here and there, so it wasn't an easy task.
Iwata: I see. I think I learned another reason why developing this game took such a long time! (laughs)
Aonuma: But we gained a tremendous result for pulling through, didn't we?
Ooiwa: Definitely.

Source: Iwata Asks

Aonuma: Didn't Want Majora's Mask 3D to be Easier, Failure on the Player Rather than Design

Nathan — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 18:07:00 +0000

One of Aonuma's big goals with Majora's Mask 3D was to not make the experience easier - he wanted the challenge of the original title to remain intact. Rather, he was focused on taking some of the frustrations out of the game due to poor design and making it so when you failed, the player understood that it was their own fault for that failure, rather than some arbitrary design in the game that felt flawed.

Iwata: So it may sound impossible when the game is described as being as challenging as the Nintendo 64 version, and at the same time it may seem easier to play, but what it really means is that the unreasonableness of the Nintendo 64 version has been taken out, but the challenge is still there.

Aonuma: That's absolutely right. I repetitively told the staff to never make this game easier. For example, when you fight the bosses, I believe that you gain true satisfaction after you try many different things, and finally take the right steps to defeat it.

Iwata: Also, the thrill of not having enough time to get things done in three days is what defines this game, so if that's taken out it'll turn into an unmemorable game.

Sano: Well, if you clear the game without having the Moon fall from the sky at least once, it wouldn't leave a strong impression either.

Aonuma: I agree! (laughs)

Source: Iwata Asks

Aliens in Majora's Mask Were Included Due to a UFO Boom in Japan

Link 2 — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 18:53:00 +0000

Ever wondered why aliens were included in Majora's Mask? The answer was revealed by Legend of Zelda boss Eiji Aonuma in a recent interview with GameSpot. The interview was basically centered around Majora's Mask 3D, among a few other Zelda-related things.

Aonuma says aliens were included in Majora's Mask due to a then-recent fascination with aliens and UFO invasions in Japan. The media were starting to focus on extraterrestrial life as well, so I believe Nintendo thought it would be a good idea to include some modern trends in MM. Aonuma also says that he thought aliens would be something interesting and scary to incorporate into the game. After all, Majora's Mask was designed to be a somewhat creepy game. It's amazing how 15 years later we notice all these details that we may not have questioned when we played the original game.

Here is a quote from the interview about the aliens:

"But the reason we used this at the time was because Japan was experiencing something of a UFO boom. And it even went so far as for shows on TV to cover it and explaining to people what cattle mutilation was. So even to see words as scary as 'cattle mutilation' on TV and the idea of UFOs abducting people led to this whole idea of Earth being invaded by aliens becoming rather popular. I thought it would be really interesting and scary to use in a game. That's how we decided to go with that." — Eiji Aonuma

Source: GameSpot

Termina was Designed to Appeal to Adults

Link 2 — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 19:38:00 +0000

In a recent GameSpot interview with Zelda head Eiji Aonuma, so many details are being revealed. Aonuma specified that Majora's Mask was developed to appeal to a larger audience, and the goal was to entice an older audience than what Zelda's current reach was. This could be the reason why Majora's Mask has so many elements of horror and scariness.

Aonuma also explains that Ocarina of Time's development team had many opportunities to turn the game into a somewhat scary experience as well, but didn't take them. Nintendo was taking a real gamble developing the kind of game Majora's Mask is. They were basically experimenting with the Zelda franchise as it was known at the time. It's amazing how many details are surfacing about the development of Majora's Mask with the release of its highly popular 3D remake.

Excerpt from the actual interview regarding this topic:

"There were some opportunities to do rather dark and scary things in Ocarina as well. You know you had the "seven years later" version of the world that Ganon had wrecked. But in the case of Termina, we're really doing something a little bit different. We're changing the entire game world around this concept. And what we were going for here was trying to age-up the demographic of Zelda a little bit. We were thinking about a world that might be particularly appealing to adults who would play this game." — Eiji Aonuma

Source: GameSpot

Land of Lost Souls: How Loneliness Defines Termina And Its Residents

Cathron — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 00:27:00 +0000

Majora's Mask is a mysterious Zelda title full of many different themes and identities. The land of Termina was so surreal compared to Hyrule that it just lent itself to many interpretations and ideals. Perhaps one of the biggest themes in the recently-remade title is loneliness.

I've already touched upon Link's loneliness in a previous article concerning what he really lost when Navi left him at the end of Ocarina of Time, so I won't focus on the hero for this article. The main point of my previous article was to highlight Link's frustrations at not being remembered as the Hero of Time and how he desperately went to find Navi because she was the only one who remembered the events of the Adult Timeline while still existing in the Child Timeline.

Skull Kid

Instead of Link, I want to start with another character from Majora's Mask... Skull Kid. It isn't too far into the game before a cutscene is delivered that shows a sympathetic take on the alleged villain of the game. In it, Skull Kid had left the land of Hyrule and somehow ended up in Termina. We don't know how many times Skull Kid had been to Termina in the past, but we know he had been there prior to meeting his two fairy friends Tatl and Tael. This is established because he had a friendship with the four giants of the land.

It's those four giants and their relationship with Skull Kid that eventually drives him down a path of loneliness. Or rather, when the four giants leave him behind, he interprets their actions to mean that they either don't like him anymore, or they'd forgotten about him. Understandably, he was upset, and if he felt ignored, he'd go through great lengths to get their attention again.

The friendship between Skull Kid and the giants must have been strong. Maybe they were the first real beings to even pay attention to him. We already know that because of his mischief (and perhaps his appearance) that no one in Clock Town wanted anything to do with him. The giants paying attention to him must have felt great; the outcast finally had friends, four of them! Maybe they played games, or more importantly, maybe they just sat and listened to the problems of a depressed individual who got lost in the woods as a child and died alone as a result, becoming a skull kid.

For the first time since taking on his present form, Skull Kid had friends to love and hold him. He must have been ecstatic. Then, at some point, they disappeared, leaving him all alone once again. The pain from their disappearance must have been devastating, causing more grief than Skull Kid had when he was alone before meeting the giants.

This brings me back to the first cutscene in the game that paints a sympathetic portrait of the enemy known as Skull Kid. The scene shows two fairies, cold and wet, looking for shelter outside of the swamp in Termina. They find a hollowed out fallen tree to hide under. This gets them out of the rain, but they're still cold and wet.

In the silence, they hear a wheeze and then another. Looking down, they find an imp who is also cold and wet. Taking pity on him, the two fairies huddle together with the imp for warmth until the storm passes. Eventually the three become friends, and this must have caused Skull Kid to become a happy individual once more. They played games, made music, and formed a strong bond through companionship.

Still, despite making new friends, there was a bitterness in Skull Kid's heart toward the giants. How could they just leave and forget about him like they did? Although he was happy to have new friends, these two fairies could not possibly fill the entire void in Skull Kid's heart that formed as a result of the giants leaving him behind.

Skull Kid eventually runs into the Happy Mask Salesman, loots his bag while the salesman sleeps, and finds Majora's Mask. The mask, being filled with evil desire, takes advantage of Skull Kid's anger and lament toward the giants. And eventually, the heinous mask drives him to a point of insanity where he is deranged enough to destroy an entire land, just to get back at the giants that supposedly abandoned him.

Link eventually stops Skull Kid and reunites him with the giants. It is there that the giants inform Skull Kid they never forgot about him. They then reconcile with their hurt friend. After they leave once more, Skull Kid rejoins his two fairies and prepares to enjoy a carnival with them, the void in his heart filled once more.

Goron Elder's Son

Most may not consider the Goron Elder's son to be much more than a whining brat that needs to be put to sleep, but consider why the child is crying in the first place.

The child is lonely and cold. A snowy curse has been placed on the Gorons' home, and they're all going to die if the curse isn't lifted. Gorons, as a rock race, like it hot. They can't swim, and they hate the cold. Most of the time, they're found living in or near volcanoes. The eternal winter placed on Snowhead is slowly driving the race into extinction, and as the mountain range is their home, they can't simply let it go.

Back to the child, though, the Goron Elder is named as his father. Darmani is probably like an older brother to the child. Both are missing when Link arrives in the mountains. The Gorons already know Darmani is dead from trying to tackle the Snowhead issue on his own; they even made him a grave.

The child may not know about Darmani being dead, but he certainly knows that he has been missing for a while. If the two really do have a brother-like relationship, that makes it all the more depressing when one realizes that Darmani is dead. The child would take solace in the loving arms of his father, but the Goron Elder, too, leaves to go combat the Snowhead issue on his own.

As a result, the child is left alone. Facing their annihilation, the Goron village certainly isn't full of hope. Instead, it's gloomy and quiet, aside from the child's cries. Unable to even cry himself to sleep without his father's lullaby, the child is miserable. So, he expresses himself in the only way he can, with tears and wails of misery. He wants his father. He wants his friend. Neither can be found.

Fortunately, we know this tale, too, has a happy ending. Link comes along and saves the Elder Goron, so he can eventually be reunited with his son. Link also defeats the curse at Snowhead, ensuring the survival of the Goron species.

Pamela

Another young lonely individual in Majora's Mask is Pamela. Her father is disfigured and eventually becomes a partial Gibdo. Pamela's father moved the two out into Ikana Canyon to study the undead and other paranormal lifeforms.

No one else lives in Ikana Canyon except for Dampe in the graveyard, so it's likely that is where Pamela's isolation begins. There are no other kids to play with, no people to talk with, and the only other living person in the canyon is her father. And thanks to a curse, she eventually starts to lose him, too. He turns more and more into a Gibdo, and soon other Gibdo appear, surrounding Pamela's home, refusing to leave.

The panic would be overwhelming for anyone but especially a little girl. She's trapped in a decaying land crawling with hostile members of the living dead. She cannot go for help, as Clock Town his terribly far for a little girl to travel on her own. Who else can she turn to for assistance? Dampe? If she does know him, she certainly doesn't trust him, or she would have probably asked for his help.

No hope, dwindling resources like food and water, and a sick father all contribute to mounting pressure that a girl her age shouldn't have to carry on her own. Fortunately, Link comes along, as he does for just about everyone else in the game, and saves the day. He cures her father and drives off the undead, allowing the tiny family of two to continue their existence together.

The Deku Butler

Wrapping up this article: I wanted to touch upon perhaps the loneliest soul in all of Termina, the Deku Butler. Link first meets the Deku Butler after finding the Deku Princess and returning the swamp to normal.

The Deku Butler is ordered by the king to give Link an item as a sort of thanks for his assistance. Link goes to a shrine to meet the butler, and he kind of challenges Link to a race. This brief competition relights a joy in the butler's heart that he hadn't felt since his son left the Deku Palace for unknown reasons. He tells Link that after the race is completed.

The butler says he felt like he was racing his son again. This combined with Link's appearance stirred emotions in the butler, and he reveals to Link that his son has been gone for quite some time. He also reveals that he doesn't know where his son is or even if he is okay.

After the game is beaten and the doorway under the Clock Tower is reopened, the Deku Butler ventures outside of Termina to find his missing son. We see him weeping in front of a dead Deku in a short clip, and it is presumed that it is his son. It is the same one that Link runs into before he enters Clock Town shortly after being turned into a Deku himself.

It's a widely-accepted theory among many fans that since the other transformative masks house souls of the dead (like Darmani the Goron), it is the butler's son whose soul is trapped inside the Deku mask. Although it isn't confirmed or explained, it seems that Skull Kid, using Majora's Mask, ripped the soul of the butler's son out of his body and used it to turn Link into a Deku. Then, when Link is healed, the soul stays trapped in the mask.

If this is the reality, it's certainly all the more depressing because this is one problem in the game Link cannot solve. The Deku Butler finds his son, weeps over his corpse, and that's the end. There is no bringing him back to life. There is no peace to be had for the butler. The only thing he has left of his son are memories of a time gone by when the two would race together.

Loneliness certainly does appear to be a common factor for many people in the land of Termina. Everyone is in danger when the moon is threatening to crash into the surface, but beyond that, there are many other problems that arise for characters like Pamela, Lulu, and more. Maybe that is why Link ended up in Termina in the first place. While trying to deal with his own problems, he stumbled into the lives of others and ultimately saved many from their own loneliness.

Daily Debate: Should the Zelda TV Series Exclude Link?

Paul Grzelak — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 02:47:00 +0000

When one ponders the possibility of a Zelda television series or movie, the general idea that pops into one’s head is an adaptation of one of the games, likely Ocarina of Time. The story would follow the events from the game, with the viewers following Link around on his adventure and Navi as his sidekick; the show would also likely implement plenty of creative license to better flesh-out the characters and locations and enhance the dialogue from the way it appeared in the 1998 original.

Of course, this premise poses several problems—perhaps the foremost being this would essentially be a one-man show. A television adaptation of any Zelda game’s story would have to dedicate ample screen time to Link adventuring on his own, either exploring the land in search of treasures or completing obstacles in dungeons. Given that the most successful shows on television usually entail an ensemble cast of characters with most screen time dedicated to dialogue and characters interacting with each other, a Zelda television show like this probably would not last very long.

Another major problem of a one-man show that follows a close adaptation of one of the Zelda games is the question of who should be cast as Link? Even if you could find an actor with proven credibility in carrying a one-man show (Tom Hanks and Will Smith come to mind), the choice of casting for this one critical role could too easily make or break the series, and Zelda fans clearly have strong opinions on who should be cast in a Zelda television show.

So why not remove Link from the Zelda television series altogether?

Or at least don’t make Link the primary character of such a television series. The Zelda universe is full of so many more stories than just one guy in green. What if the Zelda television series followed the events of Hyrule’s downfall during the seven years that Link was sealed away in the Temple of Time in Ocarina of Time? What if the television show was set in Hyrule and highlighted the events that took place between, say, Skyward Sword and Minish Cap? If we entertain the possibility that a Zelda television show even happens, why does it need to focus so much on Link?

Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Art Source: Imani Gray

Majora's Mask 3D Trailer Highlights Reviews

Tpaul Homdrom — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 18:36:00 +0000

A new trailer for Majora's Mask 3D is here, and like many trailers that come out on or after the release of a product, this trailer focuses on review scores and the accolades the game has received. Such trailers for movies will frequently tout the "#1 Movie in the World" rating (which often only lasts for a few weeks before another movie takes the crown), or other claims from film critics.

This trailer does the same thing for Majora's Mask 3D. Whether it's the "9 out of 10" score from GameSpot, or the claim "It's a must-own action adventure" from Yahoo! Games, this trailer makes it clear that Majora's Mask 3D has been very well-received.

Check out the trailer above, and let us know in the comments below: if you've picked it up yet, are you enjoying Majora's Mask 3D so far? And what do you think of these types of "accolades" trailers?

Reggie Is Randomly Popping Into 3DS StreetPass Mii Plazas Playing Majora's Mask

Cathron — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:33:00 +0000

Fans that have SpotPass enabled on their 3DS systems (both original and new) could be in for a surprise as the president of Nintendo of America drops in for a special visit playing Majora's Mask 3D.

That's right, the Mii of Reggie Fils-Aime, the chief operating officer of Nintendo of America, is randomly appearing in the StreetPass Mii Plaza for some 3DS owners. He's even wearing an Epona hat and playing Majora's Mask.

Apparently, no other requirements need to be met for the Nintendo of America president to appear. Users that have SpotPass enabled could very well run into Reggie. Has he appeared on your 3DS yet?

Source: NintendoFuse via NintendoEverything

Daily Debate: Should More Zelda Stories be Explored Through Graphic Novels?

Jyaxen88 — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 21:02:00 +0000

About a month ago, we received word that the A Link to the Past-based graphic novel would be returning to print after a twenty-year hiatus. While manga adaptations of many Zelda titles have occurred, they have become conspicuously absent as of recent years. To some extent, it could be argued that there is no longer as dire a need for them, as the improvements in video games as a storytelling medium have left fewer holes to fill. Nonetheless, fans continue to establish lore, background stories, and history for Hyrule, filling in the gaps with their imaginations. Should this responsibility be left to the fans?

As a visual medium, graphic novels are much more controlled and concise than video games; they show you a particular story, no more, no less. On the converse, video games enable players and fans to learn as much or as little about the story of the world they explore, dictated by the individual's unique play style. Both these methods of storytelling leave blank space in the overarching narratives, and run the risk of leaving story fanatics dissatisfied and burgeoning with questions, theories, and more. The old style of producing manga adaptations of Zelda games does little to remedy this issue, as they follow relatively the same storyline. This does not have to remain the case.

If graphic novels were produced in tandem with the Zelda series as supplementary additions to the story, fans would be provided with a much more fulfilling narrative. One of the best examples of which I know is the original side story in the Majora's Mask manga adaption. I won't spoil it for those who still haven't experienced it, but it provides an explanation of the origin of Majora's Mask, and it's rather intriguing. Additionally, much like the choices afforded to players in terms of how much story they'd like to experience when it comes to the games themselves, those who want the extra story elements can get the novels, while others remain satisfied with what the games have to offer.

Obviously there's a lot more implications when manga adaptations and/or graphic novels are brought into the mix, but I believe it would be for the best for fans for the sake of provided as complete a story as possible. Sure, these new stories that answer the unanswered questions of the games are helpful, but they also tend to draw out more queries from fans; there is no true end to fan speculation and story creation. Nonetheless, I would love to see some original graphic novel content to add to the intricate storylines of The Legend of Zelda. What stories would you like to see pursued? Do you want to see more Zelda graphic novels? Should story just be expanded within the scope of the games themselves? Should More Zelda stories be explored through graphic novels? Join the Daily Debate!

Shout-out to Jake from the ZI Podcast for giving me the idea for this debate!

Really Freakin' Clever Releases Clock Town Funk Parody Song

Nathan — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 01:57:00 +0000

Really Freakin' Clever has done it again, releasing yet another Zelda parody song, this time based off the Uptown Funk song by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson. It's pretty neat and flows surprisingly well, though some may not consider it as funny as some of their prior work. That being said, it's just a solid listen and something I have just added to my daily playlist while doing work at Zelda Informer. Just remember to let the Clock Town Funk You Up!

I hope you're all enjoying trekking through Termina yet again in Majora's Mask 3D! If you get stuck, be sure to check out our Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough, as it will be updated with screenshots and other new information through the Woodfall Temple tonight, and the rest of the game as the week goes on!

Aonuma Remade Every Boss Fight in MM3D; Didn't Want Players to Rely on Random Chance

Jyaxen88 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 05:21:00 +0000

Among the various subjects upon which Aonuma touched in his Iwata Asks discussion was that of the boss fights in Majora's Mask 3D. As many have noticed from pre-release videos and, now that the game is out, from their own experiences, the fights have been changed rather drastically from their original iterations in the Nintendo 64 version. These alterations were even more drastic that we realized, and with good reason: Aonuma built them up from scratch. His reasoning behind it includes a hope to guide the players to find the bosses' weaknesses more easily, or at least enable them to do so without relying on random chance.

The relevant part of the discussion is below:

Yamamura: So, instead of giving out or forcing the answers onto the players, we focused our energy on how well we can communicate the meanings of the missions to the players. By doing this, I think we were able to make the challenges more comprehendible while keeping the same level of challenge as the Nintendo 64 version.

Aonuma: A great example for this are the boss battles.

Ooiwa: That's right; Aonuma-san said that he wanted to change all of the boss battles.

Aonuma: I've been saying that all of the boss battles are weird. All of them. When you first face a boss, it is natural to start looking for its weakness so you can figure out where to attack it. However, in the Nintendo 64 version of this game, you couldn't see the weaknesses at all.

Iwata: This is because you created this game as a challenge for the users to figure it out themselves, right?

Aonuma: This would be all right if the users understood this while they were fighting. However, this turned into a game where players won by randomly attacking the boss, without really figuring out what was its weakness.

Ooiwa: I personally wanted to fix this too. After I found out we had the same concerns, we reconstructed the battles by focusing on making the objective easier to understand, ensuring that there is the "a-ha" moment for the players, and the strategic elements that are needed to take them down wherever possible.

Iwata: So, you've remade every single boss fight?

Aonuma: Every single one of them. However, their models are virtually the same as the Nintendo 64 version.

Yamamura: However, the bosses' movements and strategies to take them down have all changed, so it took about the same effort as creating the stages from scratch.

While I certainly understand wanting to make this game less frustrating for players, it does seem a shame to ease up on an aspect that could be said to add to the unique difficulty of this title. Nevertheless, it is extraordinarily impressive that Aonuma and his team went to such lengths to improve the experience. Additionally, if you're lost on how Termina has changed since you've been away, be sure to take a drop by our comprehensive walkthrough for some tips. Are you enjoying these and other changes made in this remake?

Source: Iwata Asks

Zelda U's World is as Large as the Wii U Can Handle

Jyaxen88 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 13:17:00 +0000

Even with the release of Majora's Mask 3D behind us, we still have an extremely exciting year ahead for Zelda fans with the release of the next truly "new" game in the series: Zelda U. Thankfully, it doesn't look like we'll have to wait too long to learn more about it. In a recent interview with gaming publication Gamereactor, Aonuma not only discussed Majora's Mask 3D, but also talked a little bit about the still mysterious Zelda U. Among the aspects he touched upon were the sheer size of the in-game world in the Wii U title, indicating that it will be as large a world as the console can handle.

Aonuma's comments are as follows:

"A huge, seamlessly unfolding world is something that can't be achieved if the hardware isn't advanced enough. . . "Ever since we made the very first generation of Legend of Zelda games though, we've had as large a world as can be realised with the hardware, so you could say it was inevitable that we've now done the same with the new Wii U title.
When I first showed off the new Zelda game on the Wii U, it seemed everyone was very excited and started proclaiming that a Zelda game had at last become open world! Zelda games have always allowed you to roam and explore a huge world.
What’s changed now is that the hardware has progressed to the point that you can now explore this vast world seamlessly; the underpinning of the game hasn’t changed." — Eiji Aonuma

Given that Aonuma previously indicated that the world of Zelda U would be about as large as Kyoto, it's not truly surprising to see that its pushing the Wii U to its limit. Nevertheless, it's encouraging to hear that the development team is maximizing their utilization of the console. Additionally, given the size of other Wii U titles, namely Xenoblade Chronicles X (and its FIVE continents to explore), we are getting closer to understanding just how large this world could be.

Source: Gamereactor

Aonuma Talks About Zelda U's Map Integration on the GamePad, Compares it to a Smartphone

Nathan — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 14:35:00 +0000

Eiji Aonuma did a recent interview with gaming magazine Gamereactor, by its own admission the #1 gaming magazine in Europe. While we haven't had a chance to read the full interview, Gamereactor released a tease of the interview on their site, where Aonuma talks about Zelda U. Keep in mind the original interview itself is more focused on Majora's Mask 3D, so it's unclear how much new information the interview will contain. However, it is possible he talks a bit more about Zelda U than what they are teasing. Earlier we mentioned his reference to how big the game world would be, and now we're going to talk about his remarks about the GamePad in comparison to real life:

"Recently, I've taken to relying on the map on my smart phone when I'm out walking in a place I'm not familiar with. A map isn't something you keep tucked away in your bag, it's by holding it in your hand and being able to constantly check it as you move forward step by step that gives you that sense of adventure." — Eiji Aonuma

He supposedly says this in comparison to the GamePad itself, but since we don't have the interview in our hands we'll just take Gamereactor's word on it. Obviously there is a bit more stuffed in that interview about Zelda U, so if you happen to have an issue or pick one up today, be sure to let us know what new information it contains so we can share it with the rest of the world that, unfortunately, can't get this magazine.

Source: Gamereactor

Caption Contest 005: "But first, let me take a selfie."

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 18:30:00 +0000

It's Caption Contest Monday again on Zelda Informer! I hope those of you affected by Winter Storm Octavia, like myself, are staying warm with your new copy of Majora's Mask 3D [Walkthrough]. By the way, thank you for taking time away from the game to visit us here and hopefully participate in this weeks contest. Last week was a lot of fun and we got some great responses from you all, and I expect this week to be even better. Toon Link has always brought some really great captions, so I'm looking forward to seeing them all next week.

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Use the image at the bottom of the page and leave your caption in the comments section below. If you accidentally post as a guest, simply log in and reply to your comment with your username. If you post your caption as an image and it doesn't load, wait 5-10 minutes and check back, it usually just takes a few minutes to load properly. Don't forget to check back throughout the week and upvote your favorites and maybe you will be one of next week's winners!

by: Darkspinesonic3

by: MoG

by: Nelfaffiny fefferfeffr

by: Lumian

by: monkee-goro

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

O'Chap - "Give grandma some suga!!!"
Zebrob - The Walking Dad
Raven - The reason why the hand in the toilet doesn't have paper...
stoneytg- "lol look I swiped all the toilet paper from the Stock Pot Inn. The guy in the toilet is going to be so pissed"
JakeEverfree - "Funny story, I fell down the stairs with a bunch of toilet paper...also, a little help?'"

This week's photo:

Aonuma Explains the Bombers' More Active Role in Majora's Mask 3D

RODTheMaster — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 19:46:00 +0000

If you've been enjoying Majora's Mask 3D over the last few days, you may have noticed that the gang of children known as The Bombers are much more chatty than they were in the Nintendo 64 original. Rather than serve no real purpose after giving Link the Bombers' Notebook, The Bombers' now offer numerous hints regarding the people and events around Clock Town. In last week's Iwata Asks, Eiji Aonuma explained that it was his decision to give The Bombers a more active role in the remake because he wanted players to see their usefulness throughout the entire game.

Aonuma and Mikiharu Ooiwa of GREZZO Co., Ltd (co-developer of Majora's Mask 3D) explained how the Bombers changed from the N64 to the 3DS:

Ooiwa: This was mentioned earlier, but we thought it would be a waste if the players didn't discover the fun elements of the game, so we focused on every detail in the game when we were improving and adjusting the contents. For example, we made it so The Bombers will give you some hints, and improved The Bombers' Notebook

Aonuma: The Bombers in Clock Town consist of five young boys, and they tell you that they're collecting information about the town. However, in the Nintendo 64 version, they didn't give you any useful information. So players might've thought, "What's the point of these kids?!" (laughs)

Iwata: How can you say that when you're their original creator? (laughs)

Everyone: (laughs)

Aonuma: So after I felt those regrets, we decided to make these kids more active in the 3DS version.

Ooiwa: There are many events that occur in the town, but it was easy to miss what was going on in the Nintendo 64 version.

Aonuma: And above that, events happen on a specific time, so if you're not in the area when the event happens, you will end your experience without ever knowing that such events existed.

Ooiwa: So this is why we had the Bombers give out hints.

Aonuma: Also, the Bombers' Notebook has improved quite a bit. The double screens on 3DS systems make it easy to read. You can get much more information out of it, and it now even has an alarm system that would alert you when specific events take place. That's really convenient, right?

Ooiwa: Right. Because they have finally realized their mission as a secret society, they actually started collecting information. (laugh)

Iwata: So now no one will think "What's the point of these kids?!" when they run into the Bombers in this version of the game.

Aonuma: My perspective about these kids completely changed. This time, I think, "Wow, you kids are quite useful!" (laughs)

As someone who is currently playing through Majora's Mask 3D, I've noticed how upfront the Bombers have become. They now run up to Link on sight, do a little dance, and reveal some hint as to the goings-on of Clock Town. This may seem annoying to Majora's Mask purists, but I'm sure new fans will appreciate The Bombers' wealth of information.

Have you noticed the changes made to the Bombers? Have they shared anything helpful to you? Share you thoughts below!

Source: Nintendo

Daily Debate: Does Majora's Mask 3D Hold up to the Original?

TheGaspNinja — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 22:52:00 +0000

After its release last Friday, players finally have the chance to experience one of the most anticipated and requested games since the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, namely The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D. Fans went wild with excitement last November when Nintendo announced they had been working on the remake for almost three years—three times as long as the development of the original.

Over the next four months, fans and we as a Zelda-focused website couldn't shut up about the game. It had a constant presence in the community; everyone was always asking questions. Some of these certainly needed to be addressed, though, such as: what kind of changes will they implement, why has it been in development longer than the original, and, of course, the mother of all questions regarding remakes – will it be as good as the original?

Now that the game has been released and players have eagerly been experiencing Termina with updated visuals, we can finally ask the aforementioned question of all questions. Do you, after playing or witnessing the game, think that Majora's Mask 3D holds up compared to the original released back in 2000? Sadly, this stays a very hard question to answer.

Most importantly though, we'd like to hear your say on anything the game offers. Cover as much or as little as you like and tell us what you think of the game compared to its ancestor. Hereby, I kindly ask you to join us in the comments below and to share your standing on on what might be the most important debate related to Nintendo's latest addition to the Zelda series!

Also, be sure to check out our in-depth walkthrough of Majora's Mask 3D if you get stuck anywhere!

Re-Watching Zelda U Footage: Timeline Placement

Link 2 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 20:56:00 +0000

All of us who have watched the Zelda U footage have wondered at least once where this open world game will fall in the official timeline. Many believe that Zelda U will be a direct prequel/sequel to Skyward Sword based on a few elements explained in this editorial. I have dug deep and found a few new supporting details for this theory.

I would like to start by reiterating that Skyward Sword makes reference to times that go so far before its era that they are classified as ancient. Using the time crystals in the Lanayru Desert, we see "ancient' robots that operate on a very advanced type of technology. The visible energy produced by this technology is the color blue, as seen by the arms of the Ancient Robots in Skyward Sword. We can also look at the eyes and body of the Beamos statues and see the same blue hue. Both pieces of technology are also white and red.

If we look up close at the arrow we see Link firing in the Zelda U trailer revealed at E3, the technological part of the arrow has the very same color of blue. The normal part of the arrow is also white with little bits of red, and red sparkles floating around the arrow. This could simply be coincidence, but with all the other supporting evidence I highly doubt it.

Majora's Mask 3D Tops UK Charts This Week

Cathron — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 02:16:00 +0000

Friday the 13th certainly wasn't an unlucky day for the Hero of Time. Majora's Mask 3D topped the United Kingdom charts this week. How's that for bad luck?

The Zelda remake debuted at number one on the list in the UK, beating out other titles like Monster Hunter, Evolve, and Call of Duty. Other Nintendo titles on the top 40 list included Pokémon Omega Ruby and Mario Kart 8.

The chart numbers were provided by Chart-Track, and all of the data from the list can be viewed by clicking here.

Have you gotten your copy of Majora's Mask 3D yet?

Source: Chart-Track (via My Nintendo News)

Link Amiibo Is Most Popular in All Regions Besides Australia

Jyaxen88 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 03:37:00 +0000

In a financial meeting a couple months ago, Nintendo revealed that the Link amiibo was the most popular worldwide, followed by similarly popular mascots, Mario and Pikachu – a popularity that was attributed to the use of the Link amiibo in multiple Wii U games. Although over a dozen of the hit NFC figures have come out since, no one has been able to topple the hero in green's place at the top of the charts.

In the most recent financial briefing session, occurring just hours ago, president Satoru Iwata indicated that Link is still the most popular amiibo in nearly all territories. The one holdout is Australia, whose most popular figure is currently none other than Mario himself, although it's hard to say why. The only other piece of information somewhat related to this anomaly is a chart in which Nintendo indicated that the lowest percentage (3%) of all amiibo figures are sold in Australia.

With Link's popularity remaining at a high, it wouldn't be surprising to see the amiibo integration that Aonuma hinted at actual appear in a future Zelda game. I, for one, wouldn't be surprised to see a new Link amiibo arrive around the time of Zelda U. Why do you think Link has beaten out his Nintendo mascot brethren? Do you want to see more uses of his figurine in Wii U and 3DS games?

Source: Twitter (via NintendoEverything)

Hyrule Warriors Ganon Pack DLC Revealed; Arrives in Japan on February 26

Jyaxen88 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 04:48:00 +0000

Over a third of year after its initial release and Hyrule Warriors is still staying relevant with a steady stream of DLC packs. The most recent one was, rather appropriately, Majora's Mask themed, enabling players to battle as fan favorite Tingle and throwing in more content on top of that for good measure. This, however, is clearly not the end of the content to come for the surprisingly successful crossover title, as a new pack was announced today, along with a handful of screenshots showing the latest playable character.

Releasing alongside the 1.6.0 update for Hyrule Warriors, the Ganon pack will enable players to fight as the Gerudo King's true form. Presented in a truly intimidating redesign, this hulking, massive beast can only be played as in a special "Ganon Play" mode in which players will be challenged to earn high scores by destroying the battlefield. This comes alongside the fixes of the 1.6.0 patch, including an increase in the maximum level cap, the addition of challenge scenarios, new medals, and more.

Although we do not yet have a release date yet for this pack in regions outside Japan, it seems a safe bet that we'll be hearing one fairly soon. Additionally, it may be a free download to those who purchased the Hero of Hyrule pack. Check out the screenshots in the gallery below and share your impressions with us. Will any of you be devastating your foes as this monstrous swine in the near future?

Source: Famitsu (via Nintendo Everything)

The Coolest On Stage Performance of Majora's Mask You'll Ever See

Nathan — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 06:06:00 +0000

To say some Zelda fans are really into Majora's Mask might be a little bit of an understatement, especially after I just witnessed what I feel is the most creative and interesting on-stage performance of Majora's Mask to date. Everything had to go just right for the set and the characters to play out. When something on stage did go wrong, they just kept the performance going. A live, on-stage performance at that, with no actual conversation. Yet, they somehow conveyed a large part of the story rather easily in a short period of time.

Of course, it all only truly makes sense to those that have completed Majora's Mask, but that doesn't take away from the showmanship and the performance along with the superb design of the set. Excuse me for a bit, as I need to put this on repeat for the world to see.

Initial Sales of Majora's Mask 3D have Outpaced Initial Sales of A Link Between Worlds

RODTheMaster — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 20:24:00 +0000

Today, Nintendo released their Third Quarter Financial Results for the current fiscal year. The briefing reports both strong sales of the New Nintendo 3DS and overwhelmingly positive critical reception of recent software titles. One such title emphasized was Majora's Mask 3D, which Nintendo notes for its high Metacritic score and strong initial sales. In fact, Majora's Mask 3D's initial sales in the US and Europe outpaced that of its predecessor A Link Between Worlds by over 200,000 units.

The graph above notes the preliminary sales data for the release week of Majora's Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate compared to that of their predecessors (A Link Between Worlds and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, respectively). It is interesting to note that the "release week" for these two titles is comprised of only three days in the US and two days in Europe. Nintendo cites "strong pre-orders" and "highly-acclaimed gameplay" for these games' early success.

From the graph, we can see that combined US and European initial sales of Majora's Mask 3D (MM3D) outsold A Link Between Worlds (LBW) by over 200,000 units. In Europe alone, MM3D sold approximately 50,000 more units than ALBW, whereas in the US, MM3D sold over 150,000 more units than ALBW. While A Link Between Worlds is a fantastic game, it's understandable that Majora's Mask 3D would prove to be the more popular game. Considering the nostalgia of Majora's Mask fans and the high demand for pre-order bonuses, Majora's Mask 3D's success was fairly easy to anticipate.

Did you pick up Majora's Mask 3D last week? How do you think it compares to A Link Between Worlds? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Nintendo

Daily Debate: Should Animal Companions Make a Return?

Tpaul Homdrom — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 22:04:00 +0000

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons were unique entries in the Zelda series for many reasons. The feature that sticks out to me the most about the two games, however, is the use of the three special animal companions.

You have Moosh, a flying bear who can ground-pound enemies; Ricky, a hopping and boxing Kangaroo; and Dimitri, a surprisingly friendly Dodongo who can swim. In a single playthrough, you’ll end up meeting all three animal companions, but depending on how you play the game you’ll get one of them at your beck and call through use of a flute.

The flute aspect adds replayability, and the different animal buddies make traversing the overworld unique and exciting. It’s one thing to ride Epona across the field – it’s another thing to fly over pits and ground-pound enemies on the back of a giant blue bear with comically tiny angel wings.

My question for you today is as follows: would you like to see this idea make a reappearance in a future Zelda game? I don’t mean the specific animal companions, but this idea of unique animal buddies to ride around with special abilities. Personally, I would love to see it return, but with completely new types of creatures to befriend. Maybe take the friendly Dodongo idea and have a friendly Big Octo to ride and swim on, who can also shoot giant projectiles at enemies. Perhaps we'll have some traveling options like this to help us traverse the massive world of Zelda U. Is that a feature that could work in that or another future title? What kind of animal partners would you like to see? Should animal companions make a return? Join the Daily Debate!

Aonuma Discusses Zelda Dungeon Design

Paul Grzelak — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 20:51:00 +0000

In an interview with Kotaku, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma discussed how Zelda dungeons are designed, and revealed that he was initially responsible for Ocarina of Time's dungeons.

Though many of Aonuma's answers to Kotaku's questions (through a translator and conducted over Skype) were vague, he did provide some insight into what initial steps Zelda's developers take when the begin designing a dungeon.

"Well, the first thing that we ask ourselves when we're designing a new dungeon is what sort of gameplay do we want the player to engage with. And that will help us decide on a kind of theme for that dungeon. For example, are we trying to build a dungeon around puzzle type gameplay, or is action more of a focus? And once we've decided on a theme along those lines, we'll start to think about how a player might use a particular item in that dungeon to interact with the environment." — Eiji Aonuma

Aonuma also shed some light on how involved he was in designing the dungeons in Ocarina of Time.

"In the case of Ocarina of Time I did the original layout for each of the dungeons, but that's really rough to try to do that all on one person. You can approach the schedule in a slightly different way where you have a different person assigned to each dungeon in the planning role, but that's not something you can do when you have a really small team, of course." — Eiji Aonuma

For the full interview, you can check out the article on Kotaku's website here.

Source: Kotaku via Nintendo Everything

Aonuma Discusses Why Zelda Games Are Not Developed in One Year Anymore

RODTheMaster — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 21:35:00 +0000

It's no secret that Majora's Mask was originally developed in just one year, utilizing assets created for Ocarina of Time. One may ask why the Zelda team has not experimented with one-year development cycles again as they did with Majora's Mask. In an interview with IGN, Zelda director Eiji Aonuma explains that while he enjoys the challenge of such a short development period, a Zelda title would need to have a very compelling theme from the start in order to be developed in that way.

In the interview, Aonuma explained his views on one-year development cycles:

“It’s interesting, because there’s definitely this way that we talk about that sort of thing in development circles here in Japan. It’s often presented as a challenge to the developers themselves to accomplish something like that, because it can be very difficult to do. Since I’ve been in the role of producer, though, it’s not something that’s been presented to me as a challenge to take on very often. Sometimes I think about issuing it as a challenge to developers that I’m working with." — Eiji Aonuma

This is the type of challenge Aonuma faced with Majora's Mask. Development of the game began as a project called Ura Zelda for the Nintendo 64 Disk Drive, which would eventually become The Legend of Zelda: Master Quest. Aonuma expressed interest in developing a completely new Zelda game separate from Ura Zelda; Shigeru Miyamoto complied, but under the condition that Aonuma complete his game in one year. Development then began on what was called Zelda Gaiden (the game that would become Majora's Mask).

Aonuma explained why he has not experimented with this type of development method again:

"When I think about the kinds of games that you’re describing, where you took the engine and you took some of the original assets and made a new game from that, you know, the kind of creation flow that we had for Majora’s Mask wasn’t limited just to those ideas. We also had to think about how we wanted to change the world, to take something kind of familiar and then warp it. I definitely like that sort of a challenge. I think it’s really fun to think about how you would take that sort of a game in a different direction. For me, in order to properly consider doing that again in the future, I think you really need a compelling topic or a theme with which to start." — Eiji Aonuma

Majora's Mask's time-based gameplay provided the compelling theme Aonuma referred to. I would love to again see a Zelda game that experiments with different gameplay ideas in the same way Majora's Mask did. Perhaps one day the Zelda team would like to again challenge themselves and create another completely unique game.

Would you like to see Aonuma challenge himself in this way again? What types of gameplay experiences would you like to see explored in a Zelda game? Let us know.

Source: IGN via Nintendo Everything

YouTube User Bulby Creates Fantastic 8-Bit Clock Town Theme

Acohen95 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 23:06:00 +0000

Ah... 8-bit tunes... Who doesn't love that simplistic yet amazing sound? YouTube user Bulby has recreated the Clock Town theme from Majora's Mask in the 8-bit music style. This fantastic piece sounds like it was ripped straight from a port to the Game Boy (a port I wish existed)! If you’re curious, check out the video. I highly recommend it!

Want to download the song? Here’s the MP3 provided by the artist, free of charge. Bulby plans on doing a trilogy of Majora remixes, so stay tuned for more. He’s available for indie gaming projects as well as commission work, so if you’re interested, please message him on his Facebook page. His portfolio for work is also available on SoundCloud.

Artwork via Super Smash Land

Majora's Mask's Original Development Team Smaller Than Most

outsethero — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 01:06:00 +0000

Majora's Mask has not only been a cult classic for quite some time, but the story behind its development and creation has been one of the most interesting in the series. The fact that the game was made in just one year—reusing a lot of assets from Ocarina of Time—and many people still consider it their all-time favorite is an absolutely amazing feat, but was that the only thing out of the ordinary? Apparently not.

Longtime The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma recently told Kotaku that only about 40 people worked on the development of Majora's Mask. That's right; the team that brought about this insanely successful game couldn't even fill up the average college lecture hall. Aonuma didn't mention how that amount compared to the average team size from back in the day, but he did say that it's a much smaller number than the teams for more recent Zelda games.

This is an extremely interesting detail that continues to show just how different Majora's Mask is in almost every aspect in comparison to the rest of the series. What do you all think of this? Does it actually make you appreciate the game more, or do you not really care? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Twitter

R.O.B., GameCube, and Wii Remote Among Easter Eggs in Majora's Mask 3D

moothsda — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:48:00 +0000

The Zelda series has always been famous for its Easter Eggs, and the recently released Majora's Mask 3D is definitely no exception. The guys over at GameXplain have been posting a series of videos of all the Easter Eggs they've managed to find in the game so far, and the amount of stuff they've discovered is insane.

R.O.B. the Robot (most famous as a character in the Smash Bros. games), a Wii Remote, and a massive GameCube console have all been found hidden inside the game, along with smaller artifacts like a stuffed animal of Ganondorf's horse from Ocarina of Time, and the Ultra Hand and Love Tester, two old toys sold by Nintendo in the 50's and 60's.

In case you don't know, an "Easter Egg" is a small joke put in by a game's developers, meant to stay hidden inside the game until players notice its existence. They can be anything, such as throwbacks to other games, random occurrences triggered by a player's actions (like the attack of the Cuccos in a lot of Zelda games), or even small elements hidden in the background that wouldn't usually be there.

You can check out a ton of videos showing off the different Easter Eggs in Majora's Mask 3D above! More are sure to be discovered soon, so we'll be sure to keep you updated in the future.

What do you guys think? Do you like Easter Eggs in games? Had you noticed any of these in Majora's Mask 3D, or have you found anything that we didn't cover here? Let us know in the comments!

Aonuma Explains Why Majora's Mask 3D Took 3 Years

Nathan — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 02:49:00 +0000

Majora's Mask 3D had an extremely long development time compared to the original release, which seems somewhat surprising since the original release only took a year. Eiji Aonuma explains why the development took so long in a recent interview with IGN. Apparently, Majora's Mask 3D was really one of those side projects being done when they had time to squeeze it in.

The original Majora’s Mask took a year to develop for the Nintendo 64, and yet here we are with the remake on 3DS and it took three years. Can you talk about why that happened?
Aonuma: I think the reason for that is because, at the same time that Majora’s Mask 3DS version was ongoing, I was also working on A Link Between Worlds and other new Zelda projects. It’s very rare that I have the opportunity now to work on one single project at a time. If I had been able to work only on the remake of Majora’s Mask for 3DS, then it probably would’ve taken a lot less time. But if I have to juggle it with multiple other projects, and still take the time that I’d like to on fixing everything that I feel needs to be addressed, then that just means the whole project is going to take longer than the original did.

Source: IGN

Aonuma Believes Majora's Mask Appeals to Players because it is Timeless

RODTheMaster — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 03:41:00 +0000

A lot of information was discussed in last week's Iwata Asks regarding Majora's Mask. With all the insights gleamed, Satoru Iwata ended his interview by asking what makes Majora's Mask such an appealing game to players. Director Eiji Aonuma explained that he believes the game's appeal lies in its timeless nature, resonating with players because of its unique feel.

Iwata presented the question at the conclusion of the interview, to which Mikiharu Ooiwa of GREZZO (co-developer of Majora's Mask 3D) replied:

Ooiwa: ...The game, Majora's Mask 3D, runs on a three-day system, so you'll be repeating the same days over and over again. You might discover things you didn't notice on the first cycle during your second cycle, and you might keep finding more discoveries when you continue on your third and fourth cycles. It's one of those games that gives off more flavor the more you sink your teeth into it, so I hope you fully enjoy this experience that no other game can offer.

Aonuma then explained Majora's Mask's timelessness and ability to remain in players' memories for many years:

Aonuma: When I finished creating Majora's Mask for the Nintendo 64, I assumed that other companies would be releasing games similar to this one. But in reality, no one did.
Iwata: I certainly haven't seen anything like this anywhere else.
Aonuma: Even 15 years after the Nintendo 64 version of this game released, no one created a game like this. Because of this, the unique taste and feel of this game seems to exist for a long time...
Iwata: So, a game that's timeless?
Aonuma: I believe so. So even if people of this generation play this game, I think they can find something that will call out to their hearts, and have a fresh experience that they can gain something from. So I hope many people will play this game, to have an experience that can only be gained by playing Majora's Mask 3D.

Many fans identify Majora's Mask as among the greatest Zelda games. As Aonuma explained, its timelessness and unique spin on the Zelda formula has struck a number of fans and continues to do so with younger generations.

Why do you think Majora's Mask appeals to so many people? What about the game appealed to you? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Nintendo

Official Licensed Zelda Themed Yahtzee Game Arriving Late Spring

Nathan — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 22:40:00 +0000

First the Zelda series had it's very own board game. Next, Hyrule overtook Monopoly. Today, Zelda and company are taking over Yahtzee. Of course, there is really only so much one can do to Zeldafy Yahtzee, but what they do with it is still really interesting. The game includes a treasure chest dice box and multicolored dice. I would presume if it comes with any sort of score sheets (which Yahtzee typically does), they will have some Zelda themed symbols such as the triforce (though, this is 100% speculation). Either way, this is really cool. Unfortunately we don't have a list price for the item yet.

It is unclear at this time where you will be able to purchase this, but we'll inform you as soon as it gets announced.

Source: ICV2

Daily Debate: Should Zelda U Support amiibo?

Link 2 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Nintendo's recent business venture, amiibo, has made a smashing success in North America. It has been revealed that Link is the most popular amiibo, which bodes well for more Legend of Zelda related amiibo. My question is this: should amiibo be integrated into Zelda U somehow?

Some may feel that amiibo support would ruin the players' immersion in the game. Amiibo, while plastic figurines, are also classified as DLC. DLC for single-player constant-immersion games such as Zelda are commonly frowned upon, which may cause Zelda U to receive backlash from the community if amiibo were supported.

I personally like how amiibo are incorporated into Zelda's most recent original title, Hyrule Warriors. Amiibo are not mandatory for playing, but they do add a small yet enjoyable bonus to the game. Hyrule Warriors is the type of game where immersion is often broken due to character and level selection.

This may be why fans are not complaining as much about amiibo support in Hyrule Warriors. DLC packs are already available for Hyrule Warriors, and the gameplay isn't constant. There are a lot of options to configure in between different segments of actual play time.

On the other hand, some may welcome the support of amiibo in Zelda U. If anyone were to handle the seamless integration of amiibo support, it would be Nintendo. In my opinion, Nintendo has always handled DLC properly, unlike other companies.

What are your thoughts? Is your answer a strict no? Are you in love with the idea of amiibo support in Zelda U?

Fun fact for all you grammar nazis out there: 'amiibo', with a lowercase 'a', is the proper spelling. Yes, this is the case even in a title, much like 'iPhone'. However, at the beginning of a sentence, it is capitalized. Darn you, giant corporations and your brand names!

Fan Made Majora's Mask Merchandise on Etsy

Link 2 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 19:46:00 +0000

With all the buzz about the latest 3D remake of the Zelda series, we see lots of fan art and merchandise being created and sold. The latest we have discovered is a set of nine items available on Etsy. The set costs $195 USD before shipping, and will not be delivered to customers until April due to popular demand of the items. The exact items included are as follows:

Real Size Majora's Mask Replica (choose between Wearable or Display models / Both model dimension's are 20-16.5-4 in = 50-42-10 cm)
Three Transformations Posters (11" x 17")
Majora's Mask 3DS Promo Print (11" x 17")
Three Fake Flyers (Happy Masks, Carnival of Time and Moon Propaganda)
Two Zelda inspired postcards
Precautions Booklet

The jewel in the crown for this set of Majora's Mask swag in my opinion is the highly detailed wearable mask replica. It is made out of wood and has eye holes for you to see out of. This set can be ordered here from the creator, evolsets.

Source: Etsy

Majora's Mask's Themes of Sadness Meant to Motivate Players

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 04:32:00 +0000

Majora's Mask is nothing if not a rather depressing game, at least as far as Zelda titles go. In addition to the impending apocalypse, most of its characters have background stories and situations that might make a player wonder if there's any happiness to be found in Termina. While this could have been an aesthetic choice with little reasoning behind it, in his recent interview with Kotaku, Eiji Aonuma explained that there was a deeper reason for the themes of sadness permeating the game.

"When we talk about the feeling of sadness in a game like Majora's Mask, for us ultimately it's something that we think about in terms of how it motivates the player. In this particular case, that really strong feeling of sadness makes you want to save this world.
"And you had a similar situation in Ocarina of Time, where Ganon was threatening to destroy this world, a hero rises to oppose him. But it didn't have that same sort of tone. It was more a hero story there. In this particular case, we're looking at a slightly different way to tell that, which is that the sadness of this world can also raise a hero." — Eiji Aonuma

I'm inclined to believe that this strategy was successful, as players have been keen to experience the melancholic stories of Majora's Mask's NPCs on their journey to save the world. It could be argued, however, that the greatest motivating factor is for Link to save himself; no one said Link wasn't self-preservationist! Personal digressions aside, do you think this idea of motivating the players to rise as a hero through sadness was successfully implemented? Should it be used again in a future entry?

Source: Kotaku

Swimming Was Changed in Majora's Mask 3D to Make the Experience More Comfortable

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 04:48:00 +0000

Among the myriad changes made to Majora's Mask in its remake, the alterations to swimming as Zora Link have drawn the ire of veteran players. Most seem to have perceived it as not only an unnecessary change, but one that dilutes the fun originally found in the feature. In his interview with IGN, when Eiji Aonuma was asked about this difference in gameplay, he briefly touched upon the matter, providing an interesting reason for the new implementation.

You mentioned earlier the changes made to Zora Link and swimming. Why change how swimming works again? Technically, this would be the third time that swimming has changed. From the Japanese version to the American version, there were differences, and then once again we see them here. For a lot of people, the change in swimming has been sort of divisive, with some feeling really positive about it, and others not so much.
Aonuma: It’s funny you bring that up because I don’t even remember that swimming had changed from the original Japanese version to the US version. When we approached it this time, all we were really keeping in mind was that we wanted to make the experience a comfortable one for players. The real difference here is in how people have experienced the last 15 years since the original game came out. A lot of people who were big fans may have been playing that continuously for 15 years, returning to it, but I hadn’t really spent a lot of time playing the game over and over in that 15 year period. I just came back to it and suddenly I had this fresh experience which made me think, wow, I really want to work on how swimming is implemented here. So we thought about it and came up with a solution and threw that into the game. The only thing that stands out to me is that I really should’ve come up with the solution earlier.

It's nice to see the change made from the Japanese to the English version discussed, and Aonuma's response seems to lend more credence to the idea that he and his team wanted to make this version of Majora's Mask the most enjoyable experience yet for players – even if they might not agree on the benefit of such changes. Nonetheless, their intention is admirable. What changes in Majora's Mask 3D have you enjoyed the most? The least?

Source: IGN

Aonuma: "Making Something Easy to Understand is Not the Same as Making it Easy"

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 05:05:00 +0000

With additions such as more obvious weak spots on bosses, more ease in moving through the three-day cycle, and assisted organization through the Bomber's Notebook, Majora's Mask 3D spurred some hesitations among veteran players. Many were concerned that these changes would mitigate the signature difficulty of the title, and thereby lessen their enjoyment of it. Speaking on the matter of making aspects of the game more obvious to players, Eiji Aonuma expressed his rather positive perspective on the matter.

Do you ever worry that making things more obvious to the player can sort of diminish the sense of satisfaction when they do figure out some of the harder puzzles? In making things more obvious, do you fear that you’re taking away that moment of “a-ha! I’ve got it!”
Aonuma: I think one important distinction here is making something easy to understand is not necessarily the same thing as making it easy. There are all these different sidequests with different NPCs in the game and we didn’t want to put the whole process of what you need to do with a particular NPC into the Bombers’ Notebook, because that would certainly take the satisfaction of figuring it out away. We did, however, want to provide the player with more opportunities to get to that point where they could experiment with what they needed to do, where they could try different things. I feel like in previous iterations, those opportunities were just passing by, and now we have the chance with the revised Bombers’ Notebook to bring players into those moments a bit better. That’s really what I mean by “easy to understand.”

This ties in well to Aonuma's previous comments on making the failures of players the fault of the gamers themselves, rather than flawed game design: an extremely relevant matter in games with puzzles as tricky as Zelda does. Additionally, for those who have never played this entry before, this certainly could help make it more approachable. Have the attempts to make Majora's Mask more accessible made it less enjoyable for any of you veteran players? Has it drawn any of you Majora's Mask first-timers into your first adventure in Termina?

Source: IGN

Anju and Kafei Sidequest Meant to Make Majora's Mask Feel More Mature

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 05:25:00 +0000

Anyone who's played Majora's Mask will be able to tell you that, while it can be enjoyed by all ages, there are a number of themes that can be better viewed through the eyes of an adult. With death and despair creeping in on the player throughout their adventure through stories filled with both loneliness and hopelessness, it's not surprising to see darker and more mature themes tackled. One of the most touching sidequests brings these elements together, and Eiji Aonuma has revealed the intent and origin of that particular story arc.

"The inspiration for that particular sidequest actually came shortly after Ocarina of Time when I went to the wedding party for one of the members of our staff. At the time, we were thinking about what sort of events we could include in Majora's Mask. And I was talking with Mr. [Yoshiaki] Koizumi, who directed this game with me. He's now working on 3D Mario games. And we said to each other, 'I can't recall seeing wedding portrayed in a game like this before. It would be really interesting if you had three days leading up to the wedding but there was this horrible cataclysm happening alongside it.' That could be really impactful, we thought.
"Well, at the time, when we were thinking about what sort of events to include in Majora's Mask, we knew that we wanted to age up the themes of the events a little bit and get into a slightly more adult feeling drama moment here and there. And so I think as a natural outcome of that you end up with slightly more difficult to understand sequences. And slightly more mature themes coming out along the way. So, certainly the item trading in Ocarina was very easy to understand, but this ended up quite a bit more complicated.
"The way we thought about it at the time was, because our target is slightly older—we're thinking about adults—this is the sort of thing that adults would clue into and get it a little more easily. But, in the final product, I think it is a little difficult to understand in some cases, and that's why I'm really happy to have the opportunity in this new 3DS version to make it such that the Bomber's Notebook makes it so that you can understand the sequence a little better and make it easier to accomplish." — Eiji Aonuma

It's rather incredible to learn how real-life inspirations led to this memorable story, and I'm sure many would agree that the story of Anju and Kafei accomplished its intended goal quite well. For those of you who originally played this quest as a child find it more meaningful now that you are grown? Do any other sidequests stand out in this regard to you more?

Source: Kotaku

Art Source: Zalohero

Majora's Mask 3D Tops Japanese Sales Charts; Nearly Doubles New 3DS XL Sales

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:35:00 +0000

Coming hot off the news of the remake's achievements in the United Kingdom, and Europe and the United States, the Japanese sales numbers for the debut week of Majora's Mask 3D have just arrived – and they're good. Although the title only was released towards the end of the sales week, it still beat out all other games, including other new releases, by a mile. The numbers, courtesy of Media Create, are as follows:

1. [3DS] Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D – 230,065 / NEW
2. [PS3] Samurai Warriors 4-II – 44,574 / NEW
3. [3DS] The Seven Deadly Sins: Unjust Sins – 33,270 / NEW
4. [3DS] Yo-Kai Watch 2: Shinuchi – 23,844 / 2,479,724
5. [PSV] Samurai Warriors 4-II – 23,519 / NEW
6. [PS4] Samurai Warriors 4-II – 22,468 / NEW
7. [PS3] Dragon Ball Xenoverse – 16,406 / 60,627
8. [3DS] Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire – 12,922 / 2,513,921
9. [PS4] Dragon Ball Xenoverse – 12,513 / 47,203
10. [3DS] Super Smash Bros. for 3DS – 9,532 / 2,149,794
11. [3DS] Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – 9,234 / 2,470,154
12. [PSV] Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai: Library Party – 8,950 / NEW
13. [PS3] Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin – 6,883 / 14,652
14. [PSV] Ukiyo no Roushi – 6,699 / NEW
15. [PS4] Far Cry 4 – 6,551 / 52,580
16. [WIU] Kirby and the Rainbow Curse – 6,258 / 58,267
17. [PSV] Hyakka Yakou – 6,235 / NEW
18. [WIU] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U – 6,118 / 587,913
19. [PS3] Far Cry 4 – 5,280 / 32,159
20. [3DS] Yo-Kai Watch 2 – 5,226 / 3,103,815

Another impressive factoid that can likely be traced to the release of Majora's Mask 3D is that the sales of the New Nintendo 3DS XL nearly doubled compared to the week prior. Considering that the console has been out for months in Japan, this is probably not mere coincidence. If sales numbers for the title stay high in all regions, perhaps we will actually start seeing more remakes, as Nintendo has indicated they have interest in doing.

At this rate, it shouldn't be long before this entry passes the one million mark and establishes its place as one of the best-selling Zelda handheld titles yet. Have you gotten your copy of Majora's Mask 3D? Who's experiencing it on the New Nintendo 3DS? Do you have a preference for which remakes should come next?

Source: Media Create (via Nintendo Everything)

Hidden Things in Majora's Mask 3D "Not Necessarily" References to the Next Zelda Title

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 16:03:00 +0000

One of the most interesting easter eggs found in Ocarina of Time 3D was the references to Skyward Sword, the title to immediate follow it, through use of assets and pictures. With Zelda U following up on Majora's Mask 3D in a similar fashion, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to guess that some references to the Wii U game might be hidden throughout the game's world. It may or may not be worth getting your hopes up, depending on how you interpret the following conversation with IGN and Eiji Aonuma:

In Ocarina of Time 3D, there were pictures and assets from Skyward Sword hidden throughout the world. Are these references something you’ve done again with Majora’s Mask?
Aonuma: There are lots of interesting things hidden in the 3DS version of Majora’s Mask and I do want people to go look for them, but keep in mind, these are not necessarily references to the next Zelda game. They’re just some playful touches that we had the opportunity to place around the world.

Aonuma seems to purposely avoid the subject of Zelda U references appearing in Majora's Mask 3D. This, along with his wording, suggests that players might just encounter some sort of appearance of Zelda U material during their playthough of the remake, although none of the easter eggs discovered thus far have indicated such. Nevertheless, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for these as we play through the game ourselves and read about the findings of others' gameplay. Have any of you found any hints or the like in Majora's Mask 3D? Is there more to be gleaned from Aonuma's words?

Source: IGN

Some Majora's Mask References Were Not Directly Tied to the Remake

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 17:47:00 +0000

With the game finally out, it's easy to forget how long and arduous the road to Majora's Mask 3D was for the fans. From the release of Ocarina of Time 3D and the subsequent inception of Operation Moonfall, to the appearance of Majora's Mask in A Link Between Worlds, fans clamored to find any and all sorts of referencing that might provide a confirmation that the fan-favorite title would indeed be getting the treatment its predecessor (Ocarina of Time) got. Now that we know the game had been in development since the beginning of that fan endeavor, it's obvious that there were many hints towards the title, albeit kept under the radar at Nintendo, and which Eiji Aonuma struggled to not speak on for quite some time, as indicated in the following exchange with IGN:

How long have you wanted to talk about Zelda: Majora’ Mask 3D? I feel like, as press, we’ve been pestering you for a while about it.
Eiji Aonuma: It has been quite a while that I’ve really wanted to talk about this game, as it turns out. We had tons of questions at Comic-Con about the masks – the little bit of a teaser that was in A Link Between Worlds – and so I knew after that, we needed to get moving quickly.

Those were part of this clue hunt of sorts know that there were many more references than the once mentioned above Interestingly enough, some of these were simply borne out of associated between the titles, rather than direct hints about the existence of the remake:

Were all the teases intentional? The mask, the hand in the toilet bowl in Skyward Sword, the summer-themed wallpaper with Link in a yukata, holding a fan, and wearing Majora’s Mask over his head. Were those all done to that end?
Aonuma: The yukata Link wallpaper was actually something that a person in PR here wanted to put out. It was actually something that thematically fits in well, because people tend to wear yukata at the summer festival in Japan. At the summer festivals, it’s also really common to find people selling masks of various popular characters for kids. So we were actually linking those two together in that particular case, just because it worked thematically, not necessarily because there was a really strong intent to remake Majora’s Mask just yet, at that point. But I was really interested to see the reaction that people had to it, and that certainly helped me in how I was thinking about the matter.
As for the hand that comes out of the toilet in Skyward Sword, that was certainly something that you saw in Majora’s Mask as well, but again, there was no strong intent to link those two together specifically. We mostly viewed that scene as something that would be interesting to happen in the kind of school setting where it did.

Considering the fact that every title references other games in the Zelda series to some extent, it's not surprising to hear that some of the associations with Majora's Mask were just that: links to the original title. Still, I can't blame fans for being as diligent and attentive as they were to every Majora's Mask-related detail. Now remains the task of finding clues about Zelda U and/or the next possible remake, although Aonuma isn't going to speak only on those either. Are you ready to begin a new hunt for clues?

Source: IGN

Aonuma on Tingle's Origins: Weird Guy, Map Maker, Not Gay

Paul Grzelak — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 18:11:00 +0000

Tingle has always been one of the quirkier characters in the Zelda franchise since his introduction in 2000 as a map maker in Majora's Mask. Since then, the 35-year-old has made numerous appearances across the Zelda series, including as a new character in DLC for Hyrule Warriors.

Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma recently spoke about Tingle's origins in an interview with Kotaku and had a lot to say about where this green-clad character comes from and how he was designed.

Aonuma started off by discussing how Tingle's zany nature began with the decision to have players purchase their maps in Majora's Mask.

"So, we thought, what if you had to buy maps? Then suddenly we needed a character that you would be buying maps from. We ultimately ended up with a character here that had a little bit of humor to him that [came from] thinking of...'What sort of person would sell a map?' And, well, we decided it would be the kind of person who makes a map. And the way that he makes a map is by floating through the air so that he can see the contours of the land and draw them.
"But as soon as we got that far in the process, we realized anybody that would fly through the air making a map has got to be a really weird person. So at that point we decided, okay, we'll go with this and make him a really weird guy." — Eiji Aonuma

Aonuma also said the concept for Tingle's character was the inspiration for his visual design, rather than the other way around.

"So when we made the character, we had this notion that one of the ways he might be a little bit weird is that he had this notion that he never wanted to grow up. And so I think, to that extent the clothes do fit this image of him. And the whole thing comes together as a very Peter Pan kind of visual. You know, if you think about it, it's this guy in his 30s in a green suit and is flying and never wants to grow up, it all sort of comes together around that." — Eiji Aonuma

Finally, Aonuma was asked to address one aspect of Tingle's character that some fans have speculated about for years: whether or not Tingle is gay. Aonuma only had this to say:

"He's not gay. He's just an odd person." — Eiji Aonuma

For the full interview, be sure to check out Kotaku's article here.

What do you think about these revelations? How do you feel Tingle fits in with the broader Zelda universe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: Kotaku via Nintendo Everything

Prima Including Majora's Mask 3D Character Clings with Collector's Edition Guide

RODTheMaster — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 21:34:00 +0000

Prima's hardcover Collector's Edition Majora's Mask 3D Guide already looked to be a quality item for the Zelda enthusiast. To add to the awesomeness, Prima is including a set of exclusive character clings featuring artwork from Majora's Mask 3D with copies of the Collector's Edition Guide. Prima's announcements came with some images of the clings in the wild and a few scans from the guide.

Don't know what character clings are? Well, Prima describes them as reusable artwork adhesives "that you can stick to most smooth surfaces and add that extra The Legend of Zelda touch to your stuff." The cling sheet includes character art of Link, Skull Kid, Mikau, Fierce Deity Link, and more. As shown in the images provided, these things stick to notebooks, computer monitors, or even a 3DS.

Prima has also released a few scans of the guide's pages and covers. The Collector's Edition is still available at online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. If you're looking to buy one, I recommend you pick up a copy soon before they're sold out.

What do you think of the clings? Are you buying a copy of the Collector's Edition Guide? Let us know!

Source: Prima

Cosplay of the Week: Skull Kid by Toki-MMMC

Mases — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:31:00 +0000

With the release of Majora's Mask 3D last weekend, this week's Cosplay Feature is of the mischievous Skull Kid. The Cosplayer, Alana (aka Toki-MMMC of Deviant Art), pulls this costume off fantastically, and everything she is wearing was made by her!

Check out photos of this Cosplay in the gallery below: did you notice the details in the leggings? She actually made the legs and arms whilst wearing them! I think that's amazing...probably because I couldn't do that myself, though. To make the arms and legs, Alana wore dark stockings on her arms and legs, then pasted pieces of craftfoam to the stockings. She did a brilliant job at making it flow together and not look messy.

What do you think of this weeks Cosplay? Have you ever Cosplayed as a Zelda character?

Don't forget to tag cosplays on twitter with #ZIcostume, or post your own Cosplay pics in the comment area!

Source: Toki-MMMC of DeviantArt

Aonuma Explains the Benefits of Remaking Majora's Mask for Handhelds

RODTheMaster — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 01:26:00 +0000

Before Majora's Mask 3D's announcement, some fans expressed their desire for Majora's Mask to be remade on the Wii U. However, it turns out that director Eiji Aonuma had his reasons for bringing the game to handhelds rather than consoles. In an interview with IGN, he explained that having Majora's Mask on the 3DS is more convenient and better helps players to stay focused.

In the interview, Aonuma shared his intentions for remaking Majora's Mask on a handheld:

Aonuma: "The development of the 3DS version of Majora’s Mask started right after the 3DS version of Ocarina of Time finished. We had realized if it’s possible to create such an easy-to-play version of Ocarina of Time on a handheld like this, then couldn’t we do something like that for Majora’s Mask as well?
"We felt like this was a really good fit for a handheld in particular, because Majora’s Mask is the sort of game that requires you to stay focused. If you have to sit in front of your TV the whole time to have that experience, it’s kind of difficult and inconvenient. But if you can play it anywhere and take it with you, that’s much more compatible with the experience it offers. There were also a lot of UI elements and gameplay-type considerations that we wanted to address in the same sort of way that we did in Ocarina of Time, on a similar level to the kind of changes we were thinking about with the experience of players in the Water Temple."

While not having Majora's Mask on the Wii U means no HD graphics on a big screen, I still find Majora's Mask 3D to fit nicely on my 3DS. The time-based nature of the game works well within the handheld format, as cleaning up tasks in the Bomber's Notebook is very convenient, as Aonuma explained.

How do you feel about Aonuma's explanation? Would you have rather seen a Majora's Mask remake on the Wii U? Let us know!

Source: IGN

Update: Major West Coast Port Strike May be Why the MM N3DSXL and amiibo are Hard to Find

Nathan — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:53:00 +0000

Update: According to Satoru Iwata during and investors Q and A meeting, shipments of the New Nintendo 3DS XL and amiibo are indeed being affected by the strike happening on the West Coast, although software is not affected since it is light enough that it is flown in.

For those unaware, currently the west coast of the United States is enduring a major labor strike at its ports. What this means is that trade good supplies slow to a crawl, as a labor strike causes shipments to sit idle, waiting for something to happen. This has been going on for months, where the ports were operating at 30% capacity – meaning roughly 70% of the staff were on strike. This past weekend, 100% of the staff went on strike, as the folks who own and run the harbor ports and shipping refused to pay holiday wages for working through Presidents' Day. It's unclear if the strike is still at 100% capacity, but the strike itself is ongoing with no end foreseeable in sight.

We naturally do not know what harbors and/or ports Nintendo's shipments come from, but most products made in Asia (China specifically, but most Asian countries) come through the West Coast ports, as it is the shortest shipping route to the United states. Once it gets here, it is generally hauled to a warehouse and split up into air and ground shipments across the country. The problem here is that no one is unloading these shipments and bringing them to the warehouses. The ports are jam packed, and some shipping boats are just sitting in the ocean, waiting.

Assuming Nintendo's shipments come through the West Coast, this potentially explains the supply issues we've been seeing for the past few months. Were you upset at Nintendo for making the Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL hard to get? It might not have actually been their fault at all. They might have thousands of them just sitting on a ship in the ocean. Hate how long it takes for amiibo to get resupplied? Again, they might just be sitting around, waiting for the strike to end. On one hand, as a fellow consumer, you just want these employees to get back to work. On the other hand, we should also want to make sure they are being treated fairly.

I don't know enough behind the reasons for the strike to really give any useful insight, and it should be noted that the connection of the supply issues to the west coast strike is just educated guessing, initially suggested by Kotaku. We have no real evidence, because we don't work at Nintendo and know where their shipments go – but it makes logical sense that they use the same route the rest of the world does that makes products in Asia. Still, it's an interesting note. Just don't be shocked if those consoles or even Limited Edition Majora's Mask 3D units start popping up at stores this summer.

Source: Kotaku

French Zelda Fan Charts Game Sales In Japan Dating Back To Original Majora's Mask

Cathron — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 04:53:00 +0000

A French Zelda fan has charted sales data for every Zelda game released in Japan since Majora's Mask was released on the Nintendo 64, and the results could be surprising to some fans.

The fan's name is Oscar Lemaire, and he compiled his data from Enterbrain/Famitsu. The blue part of each column in the graph above represents first week sales, and the red column shows other weeks. Combining the blue and red shows the amount of total sales.

According to the data on the graph, the original Majora's Mask on Nintendo 64 outsold its Nintendo 3DS remake in the first week by approximately 100,000 copies. Keep in mind, this chart only shows Japanese sales data, not data from the United States or Europe.

Games that appear to have the highest first week sales include Majora's Mask and Spirit Tracks. The data also shows that Phantom Hourglass has the highest total sales of any Zelda game in Japan. Missing from the graph is Hyrule Warriors. No reason was given for it not being included, but it could possibly be due to the fact that it is a spinoff title. Were you surprised by the sales numbers for any particular Zelda title?

Source: Tweet (via NintendoEverything)

We're Giving Away a Copy of Majora's Mask 3D, Here's How to Enter to Win!

Nathan — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 08:20:00 +0000

I want to note right away that this giveaway is for United States and Canada only, as we are giving away a digital copy of the game that is already in our possession for that region. That being said, we are also going to rely a bit on the honor system as well. We want all entrants to be people who unfortunately, for one reason or another, do not already own a copy of Majora's Mask 3D but do happen to have a 3DS. The code for this giveaway was generously gifted to us by one of our fans for the purpose of this giveaway, but with the right frame of mind that they (and us) want it to go to someone who doesn't have the ability to already play the game.

We're giving away a digital copy of MM3D (US region). To enter, RT this tweet! Winner announced Sunday. #Zelda pic.twitter.com/9KatDMwr9V
— Zelda Informer (@ZeldaInformer) February 19, 2015

This time around we're going to make things really straight forward. All you need to do is Retweet our contest tweet from our twitter to enter! We'll announce the winner Sunday on Twitter.

Iwata Says Limited Edition Pre-Orders Were High in Europe and North America

Nathan — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:35:00 +0000

On one hand, Iwata is preaching to the choir. With sellouts at every outlet that offered pre-orders of limited edition New Nintendo 3DS XL hardware and games with folks also waiting outside of Target on launch day to pick up consoles that were on store shelves, it's clear that the limited editions performed really well. There is a chance they could have performed even better if there wasn't an ongoing strike on the west coast, which Iwata confirmed has affected shipments of the New Nintendo 3DS XL. This is exciting news, even if we don't have any sort of exact figures right now. We only hope they can get more units here to satisfy the rest of the demand.

GameStop is Offering an Interesting New Nintendo 3DS XL Bundle with Smash Bros. and Majora's Mask 3D

Nathan — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:22:00 +0000

GameStop is having a hard time maintaining stock of the New Nintendo 3DS XL, though it doesn't appear to be their fault (or Nintendo's). Still, they are setting aside some of the stock they have to offer a bundle which, arguably, doesn't really save you any money at all. For $285 you can get a black or red New Nintendo 3DS XL with physical copies of Majora's Mask 3D and Super Smash Bros. for 3DS along with a eGuide for Majora's Mask 3D. Technically, you can call this a deal, since the eGuide costs $9.99. That or you can just head to the store and buy this all individually and just use our absolutely free Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough. You're choice, really.

I would be more inclined to think this is a good deal for everyone if the guide was a physical copy instead. Either way, if you're desperate to get a New Nintendo 3DS XL because everywhere is sold out, this is one way to get your hands on one without resorting to scalpers.

You can buy them here and here.

Fishing in Majora's Mask 3D Reveals a Rather Interesting Catch (Spoilers)

Nathan — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:47:00 +0000

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Majora's Mask 3D.

There had to be something lurking in those fishing ponds to get excited about, right? As it turns out there is, in the form of an apparent homage offspring to Lord Jabu-Jabu. If you head to the Swamp Fishing Hole you can spot this bad boy inside a cave at the bottom of the lake. It's a bit tricky to make him appear, as you need to fish for a few hours and then keep leaving and re-entering the area a few times. The only way to catch him is to have already nabbed another fish on your lure. Then the fight can rage on as you dangle that fish right in front of him. As you can see in the video above, after a rather long reel in, you have caught Lord Chapu Chapu, a clear Ocarina of Time reference. Pretty neat, huh?

The Verge Announces New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition Giveaway

Link 2 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:16:00 +0000

Did you miss out on pre-ordering this magnificent console? Was your pre-order canceled? Then this giveaway is for you.

The Verge has announced a giveaway featuring a New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition. To enter, all you have to do is like their Facebook post, which is embedded above.

Unfortunately, the giveaway is only eligible to residents currently residing in the United States, and not Canada. The giveaway ends on February 20 at 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time, and the complete set of rules can be found here. Be aware that you may be required to pay additional fees such as shipping and taxes.

Source: The Verge (via Facebook)

Daily Debate: Who Should be the Main Villain of Zelda U?

Link 2 — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:30:00 +0000

As we bite our nails with anticipation for more news on the upcoming Zelda U title, we can speculate on what elements the latest installment in the Zelda series will contain. For instance, will we see a new Zelda villain?

If you give credit to the popular theory of Zelda U being a Skyward Sword sequel, this would be the very first appearance of Ganon in the official timeline. If you are a supporter of the theory that Zelda U is a Skyward Sword prequel, we could see Demise before he was temporarily vanquished. Either way, I think Zelda U is going to be a pretty awesome game.

We could see the return of The Minish Cap's Vaati, who would be welcomed back by the Zelda community with open arms. To see Vaati in glorious HD would overjoy some fans. I, for one, would love to see Vaati make an appearance in Zelda U.

We could consider that, much like Skyward Sword, Zelda U may have its own original, never-before-seen evil antagonist. The potential of this evil antagonist is endless. It could even be the third main female villain of the Zelda series, and the second main female villain that is considered canon.

Are there any concepts for new villains that you have? Share them with us in the comments below!

Nintendo Force Magazine Kickstarter Adds New Majora's Mask 3D Double Sided Poster Stretch Goal

Nathan — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 17:10:00 +0000

UPDATE: as of February 20, Nintendo Force announced on their Kickstarter page that their stretch goal has been achieved three days ahead of schedule.

To say we really enjoy Nintendo Force magazine is a bit of an understatement. For those unaware, Nintendo Force started up from the ashes of Nintendo Power by journalists from across the gaming sphere, ranging from folks at IGN all the way down to small bloggers and comic artists. While Brawl in the Family has come to a close, the creator of that webcomic series still creates comics exclusively for Nintendo Force Magazine, making it now the only place you can enjoy the adventures of those Nintendo characters from his original series. The magazine not only mimics a lot of what Nintendo Power did, I would argue that it does it better in many regards.

They just added a new stretch goal that is of particular interest to us as Zelda fans – a double-sided fold out poster for Majora's Mask 3D! If I wasn't already sold on the magazine just for being what it is, this would have gotten me to subscribe right now. You can test the waters for just $10 or spend $15 for the full digital subscription. If you want all those poster fold out goodies, it's good to pledge $27 for the full print version. They are a bimonthly magazine, so that's 6 issues. I hope they actually become successful enough one day to have an issue a month... but I'm just dreaming. I can't get enough of these guys and gals.

If your interested in subbing, be sure to check out their Kickstarter right here. You can see a preview of the designs used for the poster in the gallery below. Additionally, if you want to learn more about the magazine, the folks behind it, and what the future holds for Nintendo Force, check out this interview with its editor-in-chief, Lucas M. Thomas, courtesy of Gamnesia.

Daily Debate: What One Zelda Item Would You Want In Real Life and Why?

Tpaul Homdrom — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:57:00 +0000

The Zelda series is chock-full of interesting and exciting items. The Hookshot that began its existence in A Link to the Past has become a series staple, along with its occasional replacement, the Clawshot. Other items have been one-offs or rarely seen, like Minish Cap’s Mole Mitts, or the Switch Hook from Oracle of Ages.

These items have had varying levels of usefulness and a multitude of functions in Zelda titles. But what about in real life? I’m sure I’m not the first person to use an item in a Zelda game and think "man, I wish I had one of these for real!"

If you could have any one Zelda item in real life, what would you want, and why? I’m tempted to go for an obvious (and super cool) option like the Hookshot, but if I’m limited to one, I want the Cane of Pacci from Minish Cap. Having a staff that shoots a beam of energy which flips things upside down would be too much fun to resist (and great for pranks!). Plus, its energy can be reversed when captured in a hole, allowing for death-defying leaps onto high ledges. A combination prank item and platforming aid, I’d love to be able to fool around with it in the real world.

So what about you, dear readers? Let us know in the comments below what one Zelda item you would want in real life, and why!

Smooth McGroove Does A Capella Milk Bar Theme From Majora's Mask

Acohen95 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 23:26:00 +0000

Most gamers are familiar with Smooth McGroove’s excellent a capella renditions of classic gaming music. Zelda fans will fondly remember his Wind Waker Dragon Roost Island video, as well as his Ocarina of Time Kokiri Forest Theme video. Turns out he’s just as excited for the new Majora’s Mask 3DS release!

The GrooveMeister (official nickname as determined by me, myself, and the committee of I) puts his musical talents to use once again, in a rendition of the Majora’s Mask Milk Bar Theme. Eight hatted heads hum, chime, and whistle in harmony to create an incredibly lighthearted feel. For those of us who can’t afford the new Majora’s Mask, this will hopefully tide you over in the meantime. If you have the time, consider heading over to his Patreon page and helping him create more musical content.

P.S. Buy his albums on iTunes (They’re dope!).
P.S.S. They're also on Loudr

Eiji Aonuma and Koji Kondo Speak at Zelda Symphony Concert in Tokyo

RODTheMaster — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 23:53:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses - Master Quest is already in full swing as it continues its run through North America and Europe. On February 7th, the concert series visited Tokyo and a few special guests made appearances during the event. Zelda director Eiji Aonuma and Zelda composer Koji Kondo both spoke on stage, discussing the legacy of Zelda's music and Majora's Mask 3D.

Nintendo has released footage from the event in Tokyo, featuring movements from the original Legend of Zelda and Majora's Mask. The concert features a lot of Majora's Mask music in honor of the recently released Majora's Mask 3D, with music being accompanied by gameplay from the 3DS remake. In the video, Aonuma expressed his excitement of hearing the game's music being brought to life by the orchestra.

Aonuma also appeared onstage during the event to briefly discuss the gaming philosophy behind Majora's Mask and promote the new 3DS release. Kondo then joined Aonuma to share his thoughts on the orchestration of his classic music.

Aonuma has encouraged fans to visit a Symphony of the Goddesses concert as the series continues to tour in Europe and North America. Tickets are available for many of the events already, so visit the symphony's website for the full schedule. I just bought my tickets for the show in Los Angeles, and I couldn't be more excited.

Are you planning to attend Symphony of the Goddesses Master Quest? Have you already attended one of the shows? Let us know!

Know Your Developers: History of the Zelda Series

Link 2 — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:58:00 +0000

Nintendo World Report TV, a YouTube channel owned by Nintendo World Report, recently started a series called "Know Your Developers" starring John Rairdin. For the third installment of this online show, NWTV talks about the brilliant minds behind the Zelda series for the past 20 years.

This seven-minute video focuses mostly on Aonuma and Miyamoto, then goes on to employees under them. Rairdin then explains his speculation on who may be on the development team for Zelda U.

Rairdin talks about who may also be working on an unannounced Zelda title for the 3DS. Again, this is pure speculation based on his own research and thoughts.

Source: Nintendo World Report TV

Check Out This Really Cool History of Zelda's Gold Packaging

RODTheMaster — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 22:01:00 +0000

Many of us Zelda fans can remember the first time we saw a shining gold cartridge out of the corner of our eyes, beginning our lifelong obsessions with the iconic series. Well, have you ever wondered exactly how often Zelda games have utilized glistening gold in its packaging? Luckily, Zelda super-fan Brett Elston on Laser Time has written up a comprehensive record of golden game packaging Zelda has endowed us with.

You can read the article right here; it has a wealth of interesting information. For example, Elston notes the differences between the gold NES cartridge and the less exciting, yellow-ish Famicom cartridge in Japan. To think, Japanese fans were denied what I would consider the shiniest of all gold carts. Elston also exposes how little the Zelda series actually took advantage of gold packaging. The ones that did include some degree of gold may remain in our memories, but only about half of main-series Zelda games carried that noteworthy shimmer.

The article is well worth a read for the images alone. Elston is a well-known video game historian, and he provides several pictures of gold items from his own Zelda collection. He even makes the artistic choice to take his photos under the rays of sunlight, showing off the beautiful reflectivity of these golden treasures. Seeing the Ocarina of Time logo reflected in the sunlight really makes me want to visit a church with stained-glass Zelda windows.

Brett Elston runs a video game music podcast on the Laser Time network called VGMpire. He recently released a Zelda episode titled "Hyrule Hits Vol 2."

What did you think of this history lesson? Do you have a favorite piece of Zelda's glorious, gold packaging? Let us know!

Source: Laser Time

Melted Limited Edition Majora's Mask New 3DS Listed On eBay

Cathron — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 05:07:00 +0000

Most Zelda fans would be excited to get a limited edition Majora's Mask New 3DS, especially since it was such a rare and limited item. That's why most who read the following article are likely to be perturbed, to say the least.

The rarity of the handheld system may or may not have dawned on one eBay seller who killed his limited edition New 3DS with a microwave. Yes, you read that correctly: the seller actually melted his New 3DS inside of a microwave.

Anyone who wants the handheld system is free to buy it, though. It only costs $11,315. Of course, fans can also make the seller an offer for the burned system. The seller's name is perfectlymadebirds, and the item is listed as “seller refurbished.”

The description for the item is:

“Working GOLD Nintendo 3DS was microwaved to NON-WORKING Order for purposes to CREATE ARTWORK using the microwaving process inside a fully customized microwaving robot shielded enclosure. 1200 Watts of microwaving power was used to microwave the device inside a 2.2 CUFT VINTAGE 1970S era Whirlpool Microwave BEAST.”

Does it bother you that someone melted a perfectly good limited edition New 3DS, or are you amused by their antics?

Source: eBay

ZI Podcast Episode 24: Thoughts On The New 3DS, RPG Elements in the Zelda Franchise, Free Giveaway!

Acohen95 — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 19:51:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

On this week's ZI Podcast Adam (your usual host) is joined by Caleb (back again, hopefully for good), Gwen (one of our Copy Editors), and Special Guest Mei-Xing (You can call her Jessica). This week, we discuss the recently released New Nintendo 3DS XL, RPG elements in Zelda, and much more! Thanks to Husky By the Geek for your Intro and outro theme song, and thank you to Davis, Kyle, Logan, Owen, and Samuel for your fan topics this week! Also, Austin for your in-depth analysis of the lore and reasoning of Link’s appearance in the series. Appreciated the read and the topics you provided this week, they were awesome.

Want to have your own art, theme song, or question featured on the podcast? Send them over to us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com! Feel free to send us topics or questions on anything gaming! We'll gladly consider them and appreciate your support. This week's episode also features a giveaway contest, so be sure to tune in and then read the official rules below!

Social Media

Special Thanks

News Discussed

Nintendo Books 299 Seat Theatre (*Note: probably for their usual conference)
Eiji Aonuma Says Remakes Hurt
Rayman Leak (Video)
Google VR Device
Scary Oculus Rift Game (Mature)
Strafe Game Website (Mature)
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Ready at Dawn Haterade

Forest Temple Print Contest & Giveaway

<----(Win one of these!)

1. Comment on the podcast article with your response to Jessica’s Question (Gotta listen to the podcast to hear it!)

2. Share the podcast on Facebook (be sure to include a link to your post on FB in your comment as evidence!)

One winner will receive one signed Forest Temple Print made by Jessica (aka Mei-Xing)

The Winner will be announced on Saturday, February 28th at 8 pm Eastern time on Facebook, as well as on episode 25’s on-site post.

We look forward to seeing your responses. Jessica and Adam will respond to as many comments as they can and you may get a shoutout next episode for participating!

Comment Question of the Week: Jessica’s Contest Question from the episode. Listen in to find out what it is!

Fan Takes Rick Rolling to Level Awesome with some Ocarina Magic in Majora's Mask 3D

Nathan — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 15:21:00 +0000

If you've been on the internet long enough, chances are you've been rick rolled. There is a long history of rick rolling on the internet, something that gets really big around April Fools day. I won't fully explain what being Rick Rolled is, because chances are that if you're reading this post, you know exactly what it means. If you don't, here's video proof that Link is a Gerudo in Zelda U. I know that was random, but for those in-the-know, it all fits. There is a fan on YouTube called Bobacupcake (seriously, what a great screen name) that took it upon himself to take Rick Rolling to a whole new level, thanks in part to Majora's Mask 3D.

Through a lot of practice and several videos, he finally perfected Rick Rolling, or more accurately, recreating "Never Gonna Give You Up" on the Ocarina in the game. The best part being that he announced this video by claiming it was a new glitch. Too perfect. Either way, it's really impressive ocarina playing, and that's no joke.

Nintendo Ten Billion Toy Finds a Home in Majora's Mask 3D

Nathan — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 18:41:00 +0000

There are a lot of really interesting Easter Eggs in Majora's Mask 3D, many of which we've already talked about. That being said, new ones are being discovered all the time, including today, with GameXplain uncovering another classic Nintendo Toy - the Nintendo 10 Billion. This toy was a puzzle toy, more akin to a Rubik's Cube. The idea is to get all the balls lined up of the same color. The toy itself hasn't been in production for nearly 25 years, so having one is a nice addition to anyone's Nintendo collection. However, if you want to get a quick look at one you don't have to travel far, as Nintendo slipped one into Majora's Mask 3D.

I really enjoy these sorts of easter eggs, as they will go unnoticed by those who are unaware, yet bring an interesting smirk for those who instantly recognize them.

Happy Birthday The Legend of Zelda, Famicon Release Hits 29 Years Old Today

Nathan — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 19:28:00 +0000

Around here we're not always the greatest at keeping up on the various birthdays for all of the Zelda games, but one Zelda birthday we'll never forget is the original release. It was titled Hyrule Fantasy in Japan and landed on the Famicon Disk System on February 21st, 1986. Roughly a year later, the rest of the world got to enjoy Link's very first adventure in Hyrule. Today marks its 29th birthday, meaning next year is the big 30th. One reason why I will never personally forget how old the whole Zelda series has become is that my own age is fairly close to the series' age – I'll be turning 29 on July 5th. That's right, this series has only existed for 4 and half months longer than I have been alive. Crazy.

Still, you only turn 29 once, and since this doubles as both the birthday for the very first release in the Zelda series (so, literally The Legend of Zelda (Famicon) birthday) and the overall birthday for the entire series, I figured today was a good day to talk about our favorite moments from the past 29 years of Zelda. What does this series mean to you? What moments stick with you ever day of your life? Most importantly: happy birthday Zelda series, and may many more birthdays come in the future.

Bonza Pays Tribute to Zelda's 29th Birthday

Ghirahims-Left-Shoe — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 20:26:00 +0000

Bonza, a crossword puzzle game you can get on your phone, has done its part to commemorate this day in gaming history. Today is the 29th birthday of the Zelda franchise, and to celebrate, Bonza's daily free puzzle is a mystery clue that should look familiar.

The point of the game is to connect the sections of fragmented words until they all fit together like a crossword puzzle. It can sometimes be a bit of a pain, especially if you don't know the category very well, but this one is a walk in the park for Zelda fans. I'm not going to give away the answers in case you puzzle-solving Zelda maniacs want to give it a shot yourselves, but I will say the answers are things that are pretty iconic to the Zelda series. Interestingly, however, some of the answers are things or characters that did not exist in the original Legend of Zelda, which is what we're celebrating today. Even still, it was quite the exciting find.

Have you played Bonza? Do you like the words you see, or should the have included something else? Let us know!

Source: Bonza

Majora's Mask 3D Glitches Allow Fierce Deity Early & Anywhere, Early Access to Dungeons, and More

Nathan — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 21:18:00 +0000

One of the most interesting aspects of any game release is glitches, especially in a remake where folks wonder if prior glitches are possible and what new glitches are suddenly made available. This time around, a few glitches have already been discovered, with one of them being extremely useful. Did you know a glitch exists that allows you to not only play as Fierce Deity Link before you have all the masks, but be able to do so anywhere in Termina? It's all possible thanks to glitches. GameChap goes on to explain how to perform that glitch and a few others, which can make your journey through Termina just a bit more interesting.

Be sure to check out our Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough for all of the help you may need to do everything in the game.

Kickstarter for Majora's Mask Replica

Nathan — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 03:40:00 +0000

With the recent release of Majora's Mask 3D, artists everywhere have been creating a wide variety of Majora's Mask-related fan merchandise available for purchase. If you're in the market for a high-quality replica of Majora's Mask, look no further. A project has shown up on Kickstarter.com, by Joesph Tai, for a beautiful mask made of polyurethane resin with fiberglass reinforcement. If the picture on the Kickstarter is anything to go by, you can expect a mask with vibrant colors and a glossy finish. The project is already half funded, with 14 days remaining to reach a goal of $2,000. How much you pledge will determine how complete the replica you receive in the mail will be.

Assuming the Kickstarter reaches its goal, a pledge of $100 will get you an unfinished, unpainted mask for you to complete. This one will not be sanded or primed; it is only a raw cast of the mask. If you are looking for a mask that is a little closer to completion but you feel confident in your painting ability, then you might consider putting a little extra toward the $150 pledge reward. This one is sanded, primed, and ready to paint, with the added bonus of straps and a foam block, so you can make a completed mask you can wear.

For the rest of us who don't have the time or the artistic ability to recreate the stunning vibrancy of the above image, a pledge of $200 will get you the complete package, fully painted, clear coated, with foam comfort blocks and straps, all ready to go. If you are looking to get this mask for display only, then send a quick message to the artist and he can leave out the straps and foam.

These costs include shipping fees for anywhere in the contiguous United States, though he will ship elsewhere for an additional shipping charge. The mask is 14" high, 15.5" wide, and 2" deep. The artist estimates it will take about 8 weeks for the masks to ship, presumably from the date the Kickstarter ends. For more information and photos, check out the Kickstarter page.

Are you planning on getting one of these masks or wish you could? Have you ever purchased game replicas online before? Tell us in the comments!

Source: Kickstarter

Daily Debate: Does Majora's Mask 3D Handle Bosses Better Than the Original?

RODTheMaster — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 08:01:00 +0000

Spoiler Warning: This article discusses boss mechanics in Majora's Mask 3D, including major changes made from the Nintendo 64 version.

From some of the earliest trailers, we knew that Majora's Mask 3D would change the bosses from what was seen in the original. We learned that each of the four temple bosses would feature large eyes as weak points and the pace of the battles would change to better communicate strategies to players. With the game finally released, it is now time to decide if making these changes was really the right choice for players.

Let's get the obvious change out of the way first: all bosses do indeed have large eyes that Link must strike to inflict damage. Each boss handles the placement of these eyes differently, but they all essentially serve the same purpose. They are only vulnerable when a boss takes enough outside damage and serve as indicators of how much actual damage Link has done in the battle. If the eye is attacked enough times, the boss is defeated.

While the eyes are interesting stylistic choice (as they signify a common theme with Majora), some may find that the pacing of battles has changed too drastically. Personally, I disliked the new Odolwa boss fight because I found dropping Deku Nuts on the boss' head-eye too easy. However, others in the Zelda Informer staff thought this change made the boss more involved and more satisfying.

The placement of eye weak points is not the only difference however, as the mechanics for some bosses have changed as well. For example, Gyorg now has a completely new phase in which the center platform descends into the water and Zora Link must outsmart the boss with mines. Even more drastic were the changes made to Twinmold. Link must now subdue the blue worm with arrows to unlock the Giant's Mask during the battle. He can then don the mask and wrestle the red worm in hand-to-hand combat.

You can see all the new boss battles explained in our Majora's Mask 3D walkthrough. The changes do add a new, satisfying "a-ha" moment for when players find the correct strategy for victory. The new phases arguably make the bosses more fun to fight, but at the same time pad out the battles to last longer. Majora's Mask purists may find the changes unnecessary and too video game-y.

So, I leave you to decide whether these changes made the bosses more enjoyable or not. Are Majora's Mask 3D's boss fights better than those found on the N64? Join the Daily Debate!

Game Informer Gives Majora's Mask 3D Game of the Month Honors

Nathan — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 04:40:00 +0000

A Zelda game taking home Game of the Month honors isn't unheard of. A remastered remake of a Zelda game, however, is a different story. As noted by Game Informer itself, they actively try to avoid giving such games the Game of the Month honor, but they decided that the tweaks and improvements make Majora's Mask 3D the ideal Majora's Mask experience. You could also simply argue that February was a pretty barren month for major game software, though they could have easily tipped their cap to Monster Hunter 4. It just must not be their sort of game. Still, this is a pretty neat honor and it helps elevate the status of an already elite franchise.

Do you agree with their selection? Personally, while I am loving Majora's Mask 3D, I give my nod to Monster Hunter 4. Majora's Mask 3D is a great game, but it is a remake, while Monster Hunter 4 is an entirely new game, and a really good one at that. You can subscribe to Game Informer magazine at your local GameStop or online right here. You can also check out our ever growing and constantly updated Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough.

Source: Game Informer Magazine (Subscription Required)

Aonuma Explains That Bottles are Rare in Zelda Because They Are Too Powerful

FrozenHero — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 05:02:00 +0000

Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma was recently featured in a Game Informer interview, and a question came up about the scarcity of bottles in the new Majora's Mask 3D remake and Zelda in general. While there are plenty of vases around, and even a lot of cups, bottles themselves are rather rare in the series, and Link can only hold a limited supply of them. These rare items also serve many uses in the series, which prompted Aonuma to talk about how powerful a bottle really is:

Game Informer: Why are bottles so hard to find in the Zelda universe? Is there a shortage of glass?
Aonuma: As it turns out, in this remade version of Majora’s Mask, we added one extra bottle. If you happen to collect all of them, you’re going to see a slightly interesting event. It certainly is true that they were hard to find in the original games, and we wanted to address that by giving people more chances to find bottles by adding this extra one.
Regarding the bottles themselves being very valuable? I suppose it’s true since they can hold so many different things it makes it possible for you to do more in the game. They do have a very precious existence, from that perspective. As to why there are so few, I would simply say it has to be that way based on how powerful they are in the game.

So there you have it; Aonuma has admitted that bottles are overpowered. To be fair, he has a good point, and it helps his argument in terms of game balance. What do you guys think? Agree or disagree with this decision? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Game Informer

Aonuma Debunks Majora's Mask Dream Theory

Paul Grzelak — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 06:48:00 +0000

Bad news for fans of the theory that Majora's Mask is a game that all takes place in a dream Link had.

In an interview with Game Informer, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma was asked to directly address the theory. The interviewer, Kyle Hillard, pointed out that The Indigo-Go's in Majora's Mask play the Ballad of the Wind Fish, a song from Link's Awakening, which is a game that takes place entirely in a dream Link has.

However, Aonuma put this theory to rest, saying the inclusion of the Ballad of the Wind Fish was little more than an allusion to the 1993 Game Boy release.

"The reason that this song from Link’s Awakening was used in this game really came down to a decision by the sound team. They were looking for inspiration, something that would fit the theme, and since the previous game was about collecting instruments it made sense that you would want to use this for a band in this case. For us, really, it was just a playful choice that referenced a previous game and nothing more than that.
"However, I love that people think about stuff like this, and I think it shows how they feel about the franchise as a whole that they’re interested in these possibilities." — Eiji Aonuma

If Majora's Mask isn't a dream in Link's head, do you think it could still be someone else's dream? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Game Informer

Bongos Included in Majora's Mask Because They are Aonuma's Favorite Instrument to Play

Nathan — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:37:00 +0000

As it turns out, Eiji Aonuma has a pretty fun time working at Nintendo. Speaking in an interview with Game Informer, Eiji Aonuma talked about something he and many other employees do together at Nintendo for fun. Surprisingly enough, what they like to do is get together and play music in a band. The band itself has grown to around 70 members strong and they do three in-office performances a year. That being said, Eiji Aonuma himself prefers percussion...in particular, playing the bongos. This was his inspiration for having Goron Link play the Bongos in Majora's Mask:

GI: What are your non-video game hobbies?
Aonuma: I guess my hobby outside of video games would probably be playing music. It’s something I have always had an interest in and I had the opportunity at Nintendo to start up a band with people I work with. We began with just a few members, but now we are up to 70-something people. We hold these really large concerts inside the company about three times a year and we also have the occasional opportunity for outside performances, as well. I really enjoy this because it has a very different feeling from developing video games. It’s something you work up to – performing – and you only really get one chance at it, so you have to make sure you get that right. It has a slightly different feel from video game development in that sense, so I find it very stimulating to have that kind of pressure.
GI: What instrument do you play?
Aonuma: I really tend to focus on percussion. I enjoy the drums in particular. I like playing the bongos. You might notice the Goron in Majora’s Mask plays a sort of bongo-like instrument. I put that in there just because that is something I personally enjoy. It really feels good to pound out a rhythm, but I’m really not a musician at heart considering don’t read music. I’m not someone who is playing a long song or a particularly complicated instrument. Rather, I’m just sticking with what I consider to be the easy fun stuff like the rhythm section in this case.

This hits close to home for me, as a grew up playing percussion myself. Bongos weren't my favorite part, though they rank rather highly. Instead, I loved playing full set, especially in pep band in High School. Of course, as a percussionist you tend to have a wide range of talents, from playing the Piano to ringing the Triangle. Oh, and never forget: more cow bell!

Do you like developers including instruments into games based on their own preferences?

Source: Game Informer

Daily Debate: Should Link Have a Companion Other Than Epona in Zelda U?

Link 2 — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Link always has friends help him along his journey. In Ocarina of Time, Epona was Link's faithful steed, galloping from one end of Hyrule Field to another. Epona was not present in much of the game however, as Navi was Link's main companion.

It has been confirmed that Epona will appear in Zelda U. Due to the game's open world, it seems as if the player will be using Epona more than usual because of increased travel time. Should Link have a second companion as well?

Obviously, Epona can't talk. Unless Nintendo pulls a Disney and lets Epona converse with Link, exploring Zelda U's open world could be a lonely journey. Some fans, such as myself, would enjoy this. Adventuring alone (with only a horse) could be the feeling that some players crave.

But other fans may feel out-of-place or odd without a speaking companion, as it has been a staple element of several recent Zelda games. Then again, NPCs offer a similar opportunity for interaction with characters beyond Link. Traversing the landmass of Zelda U without encountering any friendly NPC's could be a turn off, and it would be a highly unusual choice in game design. As such, I'm sure we'll at least be able to speak to these on our quest.

What do you think? Should a companion other than Epona be included in Zelda U? Would you enjoy the feeling of solitude in the mass forests of its open world? Join the Daily Debate!

Artwork by: Attyca

Daily Debate: Should Rescuing Princess Zelda be Your Mandate in Zelda U?

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Obviously, rescuing Princess Zelda is your mandate in most Zelda games, with the exception of a few titles. The Zelda series was founded on this rescue mission, ever since its humble beginnings on the NES. Should you be rescuing the princess in Zelda U?

True to the title The Legend of Zelda, Princess Zelda has to be present in the game at some point, even if she is not a princess, like in Skyward Sword. Even still, there are endless missions that Link could be on in the land of Hyrule.

The player could simply be on a quest to purge the world of evil and to defeat the main villain controlling it. Instead of Zelda being the damsel in distress, she could aid you in your quest. Zelda doesn't seem to be the type to stand by and watch evil consume the land. She seems very strong and outgoing, at least in games such as The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword.

Link could be on a mission to save someone completely different, perhaps the King of Hyrule or Navi!

He could be facing up against Majora in a quest to halt the moon's destruction once more, or he could be trying to establish the kingdom of Hyrule. We don't know for sure that the Hyrule Kingdom is established yet, as certain evidence points to Zelda U being a Skyward Sword prequel/sequel.

Would you like to once again rescue Princess Zelda, or would you like an entirely new mandate? It all depends on your tastes as an individual gamer. Whatever the case is, tell us in the comments below!

Hyrule Warriors Receives $11 Discount on Amazon

megbethanyread — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 22:10:00 +0000

Haven't got your hands on a copy of Hyrule Warriors yet? Not to fear: Amazon has got you covered as they are currently offering the Dynasty Warriors spinoff for $10-$11 cheaper than the usual price.

After being launched in September on Wii U, Hyrule Warriors has quickly become one of the console's best selling games. You'd be mad not to take advantage of this incredible offer, especially since the Boss DLC is being released on March 12.

Are you going to be making a cheeky purchase? Or do you already own the game? Let us know!

Source: Amazon (via Nintendo Everything)

Majora's Mask 3D Exceeded 200K Sales During Launch Week in Japan

Link 2 — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:34:00 +0000

Ever since the Nintendo Direct announcing Majora's Mask 3D and the Majora's Mask-themed New Nintendo 3DS XL, fans have been anticipating the arrival of the Zelda series' second 3D remake with excitement. The game seems to be especially popular in Japan, where Majora's Mask 3D sold over 230,000 copies during launch week.

Majora's Mask 3D has a reported 83.47% sell-through rate in Japan. With this kind of momentum, Majora's Mask 3D is on track to catch up in sales with A Link Between Worlds, which has sold roughly 430,000 units.

Majora's Mask 3D's success could be credited to the fact that it is a remake. The gaming community already knows that Majora's Mask is hailed as one of the best games in the Zelda series, and it is very enticing to those such as myself who never got to play the original on the Nintendo 64. Why do you think Majora's Mask 3D has been so successful?

Source: Media Create (via Nintendo Everything)

Caption Contest 006: "So you're the Hero? Please tell me how you plan to stop me."

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:00:00 +0000

It's Caption Contest Monday again on Zelda Informer! I hope everyone has had a great week and got some solid play time in for Majora's Mask 3D. Remember, if you find yourself stuck or need help getting that 100% completion, you can use our walkthrough to help get you there. Throughout the week, we've gotten some great responses from you all, but didn't see very many submissions. So this week we are bringing in a character who usually garners some fun and creative captions: Ghirahim. Take a look at this week's winners and don't forget to submit your own and like your favorites to see yours featured here.

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

by: Gabriel De Leon

by: Lozjam

by: Corey Pyper

by: Scott Peterson

by: Greenbeans

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Art1st4786 - "Link: I need an adult!
Ganondorf: I am an adult!"
Rodolink - "When Ganondorf finds out that Link was watching porn"
GoroGreebo - "Ganondorf: I said NO flash photography!! *pwns*"
Dylan - "Ganondorf!! - photo bombing Children since 1987"
Hannah Coombs - "Link: Ganon's NOT a boat? I thought all old people were boats!"

This week's photo:

Touching Fan-Made Majora's Mask 3D Trailer

Link 2 — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 19:41:00 +0000

YouTube channel ScottFalco recently uploaded a fan animation of Majora's Mask 3D, made to look like a game trailer. This touching two minute video of one of the most popular titles in the Zelda series must have taken hours to do, as the animation itself is very well done.

Scott tells us that he's always thought of creating an animation of Majora's Mask, because it is is his favorite game in the Zelda series. He also says this particular video is more serious than the other works on his channel.

The video itself has roughly 13,000 views and 900 likes, as well as a staggering amount of positive comments. Check it out above!

Source: ScottFalco (via YouTube)

Nintendo Minute Share Their Thoughts on Majora's Mask 3D

Link 2 — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 20:03:00 +0000

Nintendo Minute, Nintendo's YouTube show, recently uploaded its latest episode. This episode features the two hosts, Kit and Krysta, sharing their thoughts on the recently released Majora's Mask 3D.

The video opens with the cheerful Clock Town theme playing in the background, and Krysta holding a stuffed rupee pillow. This lucky duo received Majora's Mask 3D a whole two weeks before its release date, and they are now ready to give their own review.

Kit explains that he has an aversion to games that hold you to a strict timer, and that is why he did not play the original. I was relieved to hear that it wasn't much of a concern for him once he entered the game, because I dislike timed gameplay as well. Check out their full review in the video above!

Source: Nintendo (via YouTube)

Aonuma Talks about Majora's Mask's Bank and How it is Affected by Time

RODTheMaster — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 20:28:00 +0000

One of the most mysterious aspects of Majora's Mask's Clock Town is the bank, which seemingly continues to hold Link's rupees even when time has been reset. While this oddity can be explained with an invisible stamp on Link's hand, Game Informer used an interview with director Eiji Aonuma as an opportunity to ask about the bank's supposed temporal sorcery. Aonuma provided not only a simple explanation but some insight on the development team's decisions.

In the interview, Aonuma is asked why rupees remain untouched in the bank every three-day cycle:

GI: "Why is the bank vault in Clocktown not affected by time? Why is your money always the same when everything else resets?"
Aonuma: "Part of this is just the most practical answer. The bank needs to maintain your rupees, otherwise you would lose them at the end of every three day cycle, despite the fact that it’s really important to build up enough money to buy things in the game. We needed to find some reason for stuff to stay in the game, and we considered the idea that there would be some kind of markings on Link’s hand that maybe you could only see if you shone a black light on them. This was talked about, the identification of his account and the current balance in it.
"This would sort of make sense in that world because every time he goes back to the beginning of that three day cycle, he goes back in time but he stays who he is, he retains everything that is part of his person. We thought that would kind of make sense, because you could just look at your hand and say, “Oh, yes, you were this person, with this account, and this is your balance.” But that still would represent a situation where the amount of money in the vault was changing over time."

The explanation may seem obvious, but it's interesting to gain some insight on how the Majora's Mask team made the decisions that defined the game. Aonuma's response shows that sometimes the most practical answer is the best one. I still like to think that the rupees Link withdraws from the bank after traveling back in time are not really his; the stamp on his hand just gives him access to a certain amount of money that was available before he even showed up.

What do you think of Aonuma's response? Do you have a theory about the bank that you like? Share your thoughts with us!

Source: Game Informer

Majora's Mask Kickstarter Campaign to Create Link's Entire Inventory of Masks

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 20:42:00 +0000

Professional props maker Ashley Montgomery has announced a new Kickstarter project for the creation of various masks from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. These masks will be completely wearable as well as displayable for all collectors around the globe.

Montgomery has so far created 14 of the masks, and she hopes to complete the rest of them soon. She has been very successful with her mask replicas on Etsy, particularly the Deku Mask, but Montgomery says her progress making the masks has been slowed by lack of funds. She pays for the materials to create the masks out of her own pocket, but mask making is costly!

Her final goal is to successfully create Link's full inventory of masks and have them available for purchase. She also wishes to improve her old masks using new techniques she has learned.

There are various backing options that range from $1 to $1,000 dollars, and all of them, excluding one, have neat tokens of appreciation such as Majora's Mask magnets. The Kickstarter project currently has over $200 toward her massive $10,000 goal. With only 15 days left to back to reach that goal, can the Zelda community help her out?

Below you can see a few of her current masks, such as the Stone Mask, Mask of Truth, Keaton Mask, and of course Majora's Mask. A complete list of masks with pictures can be found on the Kickstarter project here.

Source: Kickstarter

Zelda Unknown: Theory that States Zelda U's Map is Made up of 3 Prior Zelda Game Worlds

Nathan — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 22:45:00 +0000

"Zelda Unknown" is a video series by Commonwealth realm that analyzes and theorizes about various aspects of upcoming Zelda games. This time around he has teamed up with M. Productions to put together a lengthy episode that offers up a really interesting theory on the locations we see on the map for Zelda U, and how they line up rather nicely with the worlds from three distinct Zelda experiences – Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and The Legend of Zelda (NES). I find their research to be rather compelling, though obviously it's all speculation at this point, which is one of the best things this fanbase does (it's really a nice showing of our passion).

Watch the video above, and let us know what you think about their findings below.

Link's Awakening Orchestration Project: Interview with Jeremiah Sun

Mases — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 23:43:00 +0000

Fans of Zelda Informer, The Legend of Zelda games, and of video-game music may have heard the name Jeremiah Sun. Or they may have heard of his self-titled internet soubriquet “The Second Narrator.” He composes and arranges pre-existing video-game music, and he also develops his own games. In addition, Sun’s interests have spurred him to try his hand at digital-music production, which resulted in original soundtracks to the demo game Borealis and his own game, The Gentle Sword.

Yet what has garnered most attention, certainly among Zelda fans, is his most ambitious project to date, the one where he learned how to work with digital music: the Link’s Awakening (LA) orchestration, which he just completed on 21 February 2015. Sun orchestrated every single one of the 70 original tracks and virtually transformed the 8-bit soundtrack into something on par with an epic film score, replete with full orchestra and vocals. Talk about a monumental undertaking for someone who’s just learning to digitally orchestrate!

And it’s expansive in both development and product. Sun began this project on 21 February 2014 and will have dedicated 1000 work hours to it by its completion exactly one year later—his birthday, in fact! As for size, the 70 tracks of the game total 3hrs, 7min. For those of you who might wish to count bytes, Sun’s project weighs in at 30GB, no small feat...or file. That would take a substantial chunk out of anyone’s iPod! By 1 April 2015, Sun will release the complete LA orchestration for download—he has at least one buyer, that’s for sure!

But why The Legend of Zelda? Well, I have had the good fortune to ask the up-and-coming composer this question. It is my pleasure to share with you an interview with Jeremiah Sun, exclusively from Zelda Informer.

ZI: First of all, tell us a bit about yourself—who you are, where you’re based, and what your musical interests are.

Jeremiah Sun: I currently live in the Bay Area of California and have a piano background. I have been playing since I was 5 years old. I’ve been playing video games all my life, as well, and The Legend of Zelda is one of the first games I’ve ever played on the NES. I try to devote my time now to developing my own game [The Gentle Sword], but LA takes up a lot of my time!

I used to have a job doing computer programming for many years, but the whole IT department was laid off. I took it as an opportunity to transition into something I really wanted to do, which is game development and music.

Having a keyboard background, I like to pluck out melodies on the piano and make up my own accompaniment or riffs. I have to give credit to this process by playing piano in church as a teenager. When I’d play hymns, I’d only have the melody, so I’d have to make up everything else on my own—figures, harmonies, rhythms. That’s what started me on being able to arrange music and compose my own music.

**ZI: Why did you choose a Zelda game? What’s your relationship to the franchise?**

JS: When it comes to Zelda, I’ve always enjoyed it a lot, but I’ve always wanted to hear more cinematic, high-quality sampled instruments for the games. That’s one of the reasons I’ve gone into this particular game.

The lore of the series is very lush and inspiring to me, as well, since Nintendo focuses a lot on gameplay and story. In terms of character development, Zelda is restricted, especially because Link is a silent protagonist. I think their [Nintendo’s] hope is that whatever the players feel as they play the game and how their emotions change is the character development projected onto Link. You can hint at this through the music.

ZI: So the music can hint at the player’s emotional reaction or of the characters in the game?

JS: It could be both or at least a suggestion of both. In terms of characters in the game, there are a few moments in LA where Link speaks. Those are little clues as to what he might be feeling, and I just let the music take it from there.

**ZI: What is your relationship to The Legend of Zelda series in general?**

JS: I’ve recently had the desire to finish all the games of the series. With the exceptions of Majora’s Mask and Spirit Tracks, I’ve played through all Zelda games. I really like the 2D ones because they have a great sense of exploration/freedom in gameplay.

At the same time, I was blown away when Ocarina of Time came out, and I played it through multiple times. As far as the more recent ones, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword take an awfully long time for me to beat, so I’ve played through them only once.

I really like Link Between Worlds on 3DS. It was really well done. I also enjoyed Adventure of Link (I know a lot of people don’t like it!). I just enjoy its dark tone and sword combat.

ZI: What then attracted you to orchestrate LA, specifically? Why did you decide to tackle all 70 tracks?

JS: First of all, there are just so many catchy tracks to the game! But LA is the first Zelda game I’ve beaten. I owned the NES/SNES when I was a teenager, and my brother owned GB. One day, he accidentally left the GB on a taxi, so it took me until years later to finish LA!

The setting of LA is totally different because, at that time, it the only Zelda game that didn’t take place in Hyrule. Over the years, every time I talked about Zelda to friends, I would always mention LA. Not many of them have ever played it, so I found myself talking about it more often and trying to convince my friends that they should play it, too.

LA has a powerful, emotional core as compared to other games of its day. There wasn’t any other game like it on GB at the time. I thought it was incredible how much was packed into that game. I just kept coming back to it, and I’d end up playing through it every few years, more so than other Zelda games.

ZI: Can you talk about the origins of the project? What made you start it, and what kept you going through this year-long endeavor?

JS: When I worked on my own game, I thought I should compose my own music because I’m a big fan of soundtracks. It’s a lot of effort to compose good music, and I had very high personal standards of what I wanted for my game.

My friends suggested that I use 8-bit music for my game [The Gentle Sword], but I thought it needed to be bigger than that. I had tried to do sampling on and off, so I only had a taste of virtual-instrument libraries. I then started buying more instrument libraries, so I could experiment and hear more tracks/instruments to combine.

I had a conceptual idea of what I wanted to do, but I had a lot to learn as to how to combine instruments and master tracks. I bought a lot of computer/digital tools and just learned by trial and error, so progress was slow. I contemplated taking digital production classes, but I didn’t have the time, so I taught myself. I still have a lot to learn!

In February 2014 my friend and I played music for our church. He led worship, and I played keyboard. I suggested doing some digital backing tracks for popular Christian songs (while he sang and I played, there’d be digital percussion and bass line supplied for us). I was pleased with what we did, and practicing that helped me improve what I was doing.

I’ve always wanted to hear LA orchestrated, and it was around this time in February 2014 that thought I could start doing to LA soundtrack what my friend and I did for church music, especially since I had the music software programs to do it.

Also, LA music doesn’t get as much attention as other Zelda games. I started with the opening scene music to test the waters. I uploaded it to YouTube and then did the next few tracks. By the time I arranged the Overworld track, I started getting more exposure from Zelda fans and sites, so views and visits started increasing. People started asking me when I would do more. I continued, and the practice also helped improve my technique with digital orchestration.

I ultimately wanted to listen to the LA soundtrack redone, but people were enjoying what I was producing and asked for more. So, I committed myself to just keep doing it without a deadline.

ZI: In your website, you mention that the LA project served a number of ends. First it became the means for you to learn the craft of digital orchestration. Second, it enabled you to imagine what the soundtrack might have sounded like if the composers of the GB game had present-day technology. Now that you’re nearing the end of the project, has it taught you anything new, or would you have done anything differently?

JS: I would say that reorchestrating LA was like practice scoring a new soundtrack, but I had existing melodies. It was like training wheels. I focused on orchestration rather than having to compose new melodies. Although in some later tracks of LA, I brought in my own ideas and melodies.

For example, track 4, The Owl, has two arpeggios (broken chords played melodically) that repeat endlessly. I thought that it sounded like an introduction and asked myself what the rest would sound like. So I added more to it.

The Mini-Boss track originally has two phrases of arpeggios, which, again, sounded like an intro. I used it as a point of departure and came up with two melodies to fill it in. But I used material from other melodies of LA (The original Zelda theme, and the Ballad of Wind Fish).

I found the Ballad of the Wind Fish melody to be the most applicable and flexible throughout the tracks. I was able to use it in combination with other melodies in the game, which was amazing to me because it made new musical additions still sound like LA. It was my way of showing appreciation to the composers and their original music.

ZI: Well, thank you for sharing your appreciation! Do you have a favorite track or melody from LA? Why?

JS: Boy, that’s hard! I don’t have a single favorite track. The ones I like are because of a sense of accomplishment and my own musical perspectives. I like the Mini-Boss and Boss tracks, the Violin Solo, and Kanalet Castle because of the amount of original creativity. Tal-Tal Heights took me the most time because it’s nine minutes long. It’s the most popular track aside from Ballad of the Wind Fish, and it’s the one that people have asked for the most. I held off on completing that track because I didn’t feel I was good enough to take it on earlier. I like the fifth dungeon Catfish’s Maw because it sounds most like a real orchestral piece.

ZI: That’s quite a smattering. With your answers in mind—and because you also develop video games—do you have any words of wisdom or advice for Zelda Informer fans who find themselves sharing your interests? I imagine that your story can inspire a number of fans to pursue their interests.

JS: This is a tough one to answer. To me the most important asset I have is a good ear. My advice is to constantly train your ear by listening to music you admire and break it down into how the individual elements working together result in something pleasing to your ear. Try to recreate it yourself if you can. Another thing you can do is to be fearless and be hyper critical of even the music you consider perfect. Everyone comes from a unique background, and it is possible you can introduce something to your own music that is fresh and interesting.

**ZI: Are there further Zelda plans in your future?**

JS: For now I will do single-track arrangements of other Zelda games—tracks I like and can envision with orchestral versions. I’d like to branch out and do tracks from other games altogether, as well.

ZI: Oh, I hope you take requests!!

JS: [laughs]

ZI: We at Zelda Informer really appreciate your time, and we’re looking forward to the release of the album in April. Good luck with the album release in April!

The entire orchestration is available to listen for free at The Second Narrator's YouTube Channel. Jeremiah Sun gives more related information about his musical projects and biography on his website. He also has an impressive website dedicated exclusively to the Link’s Awakening project, its release information and access to completed tracks. Apropos to this interview, Sun gives brief explanations to how he approached each track in the “Track List and Insights” section of the Album Overview.

Congratulations to Jeremiah Sun on completing this project!

Cheers!

Debunked: Why the Link is Dead Theory is Wrong

Nathan — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 03:14:00 +0000

One of the most popular and prevailing theories in the Zelda kingdom today is the Link is Dead theory, which stems from Link dealing with purgatory and the acceptance of his death during the events in Majora’s Mask. In other words, Majora’s Mask never happened, as it was a twisted part of Link’s own mind in purgatory as he went through the five stages of grief, eventually accepting his own death.

This theory, as far as we’re aware, has been mentioned in passing several times over the last handful of years, but its earliest roots stem from an editorial here at Zelda Informer – the 5 Stages of Grief in Majora’s Mask. The editorial itself doesn’t say Link is dead – rather it talks about the people of Termina and how they are dealing with the constant and obvious impending death around them, and how Link is there to save everyone (or as many as he can) from it. Still, with a few logical conclusions and a stretching of these themes, it is easily and quickly turned into a theory about purgatory.

This theory was made extremely popular by MatPat from Game Theory. He did an entire video feature on it and it does make a really compelling argument. Here it is, for those who may be rusty or really curious what exactly the Link is Dead theory actually is:

Now that we’ve established what this theory is and where the roots if it started, I’m here to tell you why the Link is Dead theory specifically is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo – an over-analyzing of a singular game that ignores both in-game factual evidence and all canon material as released and presented by the people who not only make the entire The Legend of Zelda game series, but Majora’s Mask in particular.

Termina is a Confirmed Parallel World

Oftentimes, when I converse with fans about this theory and I explain that Majora’s Mask takes place in a parallel world, I am told there is no evidence to suggest this. Outside of the fact that it can easily be argued Link stepped through a warp portal in that tree as he fell, and warping is indeed something that exists in the series (we can even teleport through time), the people who actually created the game have given us several confirmations of this being a parallel world.

Here are a handful of examples:

Source: Hyrule Historia. Maybe you think this is a fact that was changed over time, meaning that originally the concept for the game could have been Link’s death. Just to clarify that this game always took place in a parallel universe, here is an excerpt from the original N64 Manual:

So, why does this distinction matter? Parallel worlds exist in the Zelda kingdom (the entire timeline split is proof of this), and in order to be a parallel world, one has to accept that it’s real. The idea of Link struggling in his mind to accept death would infer that the world of Termina doesn’t actually exist – sort of making it a dreamlike state. Of course, Eiji Aonuma recently explained that Link is not dreaming during Majora’s Mask. Thus, Termina does exist.

Link's Bloodline Lives on Past Majora's Mask, Hero's Shade isn't a Stalfos

For this I am combining two points into one, because they are partially related, since they both deal with Twilight Princess. For starters, according to Hyrule Historia, Link in Twilight Princess is a blood relative of Link from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. Here is the quote:

This is important to note because unless Nintendo is comfortable with Link procreating while he was a mere child before the events in Majora’s Mask (presumably doing so with yet another child), he has to have lived on past the events in Majora’s Mask so he could become an adult.

In addition, if Link died in the Lost Woods as a child, he would have been turned into a Skull Kid, not a Stalfos, as the Stalfos designation is for adults. Even then, the Hero's Shade isn’t a Stalfos to begin with – he actually more closely resembles other spirits that are in Twilight Princess, but only seen while in the Twilight Realm. Basically, The Hero's Shade is the spirit of The Hero of Time clad in armor, and in order for Link to exist in Twilight Princess there had to have been procreation, meaning Link became an adult.

All of this ignores the fact that Link has navigated the Lost Woods many times in the past, so it’s already hard pressed to assume he can’t find his way out of it, even without a fairy.

Link Could Survive the Fall

The Link is Dead theory has Link dying when he falls through the tree, with the logic that Link couldn’t possibly survive the fall. However, based on how long he is actually falling, Link survives falls in Ocarina of Time that are of much greater distance. This is without counting the fact he lands on a Deku Flower. In Majora’s Mask, you take zero fall damage when you land on a Deku Flower, no matter the height you fall from.

The end of Majora's Mask Shows Link Alive, Back in the Lost Woods

There are two specific events at the end of Majora’s Mask that already prove Link is alive after he is done in Termina. One is when the Happy Mask Salesman tells Link that he should be returning home. This doesn’t sound like an omen of acceptance of death; were that the case, wouldn’t "home" refer to the place he came from, rather than the place he is going?

Then, right at the end of the credits, Link is shown back in the Lost Woods where he began his journey at the start of the game, this time not stopped by Skull Kid and able to ride on.

Conclusion:

The evidence seems rather clear, and there is likely a lot more evidence one could come up with if they want to dive deeper. I didn’t touch upon the 5 Stages of Grief, because that in that if itself is just a fan theory to begin with. Instead, I tried my best to stick to facts that have come both from the developers and within the games themselves.

Reality is that Link isn’t dead during Majora’s Mask. While it’s a fun thought and certainly makes the entire experience darker, reality is stacked against it. You can obviously choose to still believe it, just know that it goes entirely against the developer’s intent and the actual in-game evidence. All "proof" is based off over analyzing and guesswork while conveniently ignoring very pointed facts that don't fit the theory.

Straight Off The NES And Onto The Piano, Fan Plays Original Legend Of Zelda Theme

Cathron — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 04:16:00 +0000

It isn't easy learning to play the piano, but one fan who did learn has taken the original Legend of Zelda theme straight off the NES and put it onto his instrument of choice.

Video Game Pianist is a YouTube musician who performs video game tunes on the piano. He's played music from Super Mario 64, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, and more. Video Game Pianist has more than 50,000 subscribers, and in the past he even played in Carnegie Hall.

The pianist's performance of the original Legend of Zelda theme is one minute and 17 seconds long. It's played on a grand Steinway piano because Video Game Pianist believes that it produces better sound than any electric piano could. For more information on the pianist, click here.

What do you think of his rendition of the original Legend of Zelda theme?

Source: YouTube

24-Hour Sale on Majora's Mask 3D and A Link Between Worlds

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 20:45:00 +0000

United Kingdom retailer Frugal Gaming is holding a 24-hour sale on certain 3DS titles, and two of those happen to be Zelda titles. If you don't have either Majora's Mask 3D and A Link Between Worlds yet, now is the perfect time to buy! A Link Between Worlds game comes as a physical cartridge, while Majora's Mask 3D will be available as an instant digital download via an eShop code.

Be aware that these games are region-locked, and will only work on 3DS systems bought in the United Kingdom. If you live in the UK or import from there, then you have nothing to worry about.

Majora's Mask 3D can be bought here at a 24% discount for £30.39, or 46.99 USD before shipping.
A Link Between Worlds can be bought here at a 43% for £19.95, or $30.80 USD before shipping.

Hurry, because these deals are only available for a limited time. Will you be buying one? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Frugal Gaming

Nintendo UK is Happy With Majora's Mask 3D Sales

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:15:00 +0000

Today is a good day for Legend of Zelda fans in the United Kingdom. Nintendo UK’s marketing director, Shelly Pearce, revealed that Nintendo UK is pleased with the amount of sales Majora's Mask 3D has produced.

Pearce said she also feels confident about the strong sales of the New Nintendo 3DS, which are most likely related to the success of Majora's Mask 3D. She also said Majora's Mask 3D debuted at the top of the gaming charts.

Here is the statement from marketing director Pearce:

“We’re really pleased with how Majora’s Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate have performed. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has significantly outperformed its predecessor and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D has debuted at the top spot in the individual format chart. We’ve also seen a strong start for the New 3DS and we’re looking forward to building this momentum.” — Shelly Pearce

Source: MCV

Hasbro Announces Yahtzee: The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:51:00 +0000

Hasbro, the company that owns the popular chance game Yahtzee, has announced a special Yahtzee: The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition that will be licensed by USAopoly.

This special edition will include and multicolored dice, and a treasure chest dice cup. Fans of this family-loved game will want to get their hands on it quickly, as this item is sure to be a target for scalpers.

Yahtzee: The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition is the second recently-announced Zelda spin on a popular game, as last fall we also saw the release of Legend of Zelda Monopoly.

Would you like to see more Zelda-themed tabletop games? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: ICv2

Zelda Theories: Separating Fiction from Speculation

Nathan — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:52:00 +0000

I’ve been part of the Zelda theorizing community for a long time. While I have only on rare occasion come up with my own theories, I have always enjoyed discussing others'. Most of my own personal theories surrounded the Timeline and the order of the games. Of course, my point to theorize about the timeline ended when Hyrule Historia came out. The fun of timeline speculation was that the goal was to try and create the most accurate timeline that Nintendo themselves is actually using. It was a way of truth seeking.

Of course, theorizing in the Zelda kingdom has gone well beyond the timeline, which arguably started the theorizing movement. We have Messages in Majora’s Mask and Philosophy in The Wind Waker, all the way to the debunked Link is Dead theory. There are tetraforce theories and really…far too many to count.

Theorizing is fun and interesting, and gives fans something to enjoy while we wait for the next Zelda game. Still, I feel it is important to understand the two bases on which Zelda theorizing is built. That way we stay as informed as possible as fans and don’t start accepting fiction as reality.

Fiction

For the longest time, theorizing was about nothing but truth seeking – truth seeking with clear and concise goals of understanding developer intent. By nature, theories are born from factual information, but are still theories because they can’t be proven to be true. Too often theories enter the realm of fiction: they are taking facts, combining them with fan interpretation of events, and creating their own unique story or explanation, sometimes adding far more story to something than is actually contained in the entire game or games it covers.

These type of theories are extremely fun to read and often offer a lot more depth to a story or a far better explanation of events than the games themselves offer. They are also 100% fan fiction. In fact, it could be argued these theories are just another form fan fiction writing, except they use loose interpretation and connections to fit within what is happening in a game without contradicting it.

In other words, they are attempting to create something that more than likely isn’t there, because it fits a narrative they tend to prefer: one which isn’t factual, but is better than the official explanations. An example of this sort of theory would be the Message of Majora’s Mask. It’s talking about hidden messages and meanings and all this jazz, which are really nothing more than the author’s own interpretation of events rather than factually present in the game. As stated above, these make for excellent reading, but also lead to the most misinformation, since fans who enjoy these theories often, over time, begin to accept them as having actually happened.

Speculation

All theories are technically speculation, but I separate these out into their own category because the main goal of these theories isn’t to make you believe them, but to discover the truth in things before the truth is revealed. These would be the sort of theories that try to read between the lines of what Eiji Aonuma is saying to interpret timeline placement for Zelda U, or even trying to sort out what the areas of the map in that yet-to-be-released game really are.

These theories are often very loosely supported at best, and that’s because they exist due to a lack of information. They are filling in blanks that will likely get filled in on their own over time. They are fun and get you talking about the possibilities, but also run the risk of over-hyping a specific idea, one which Nintendo didn’t present, thus creating let down when that theory ends up not being true.

Still, these theories really have one goal – uncovering the truth before the truth is revealed. Before Hyrule Historia, Timeline Theories fell into this category – truth seeking of the order until Nintendo finally confirms it. Timeline theories today, especially ones that go against the official listing, fall into the fiction category above – disagreeing and creating your own narrative simply because you think it’s better than the official explanations.

So, Why Theorize at All if, at the Core, it’s Pointless?

It’s true, theorizing doesn’t serve any particular purpose for the crafting of Zelda games; it’s ultimately pointless and should never serve as a barometer of our opinion towards a game. That being said, theorizing is also a lot of fun, and Eiji Aonuma himself certainly acts excited when fans come up with these theories, even though they don’t typically match up to the intent of the developers.

Theorizing should always be taken for what it is and nothing more, no matter which category the theory falls into. They are not factual, they are not real, and they are simply one person’s idea based on whatever information is available. It’s not inherently worth defending any one theory down to the core, because ultimately you’re just defending someone’s idea – which you are free to like and enjoy as much as you want, even if someone else disagrees. Likewise, unless a theory can be factually torn apart – like our new Debunked series will do time to time – it’s also not necessarily worth most people’s time to argue against someone else’s idea. After all, it’s their idea, their concept, and they are free to think and feel however they want.

In many ways, that is what makes the Zelda series so special. We are all free to like and enjoy the series for any number of reasons, the same way theories can exist for any number of reasons. As long as we all understand these theories are not law, they are not truth, and they exist simply to have fun conversations, I think we’ll all be better off.

Majora's Mask 3D Tops UK Sales Charts for Last Week, Outsells Monster Hunter

moothsda — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 23:22:00 +0000

It's no secret that Majora's Mask 3D has sold amazingly well since its release, after the news that the game sold over 200,000 sales in Japan on launch week and Nintendo of UK spoke out saying that they were very happy with how the game was doing in the country.

Majora's Mask 3D topped the United Kingdom sales charts last week for the 3DS, outselling Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, as well as Smash Bros. 3DS and the new Pokémon remakes.

Last week's sales chart in the UK for Nintendo are as follows:

Wii U

1. Super Smash Bros. – Nintendo
2. Mario Kart 8 – Nintendo
3. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – Nintendo
4. Super Mario 3D World – Nintendo
5. New Super Mario Bros. U – Nintendo
6. FIFA 13 – EA Sports
7. Hyrule Warriors – Nintendo
8. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham – Warner Bros. Interactive
9. Disney Infinity 2.0 – Disney Interactive
10. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Warner Bros. Interactive

3DS

1. Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D – Nintendo
2. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – Nintendo
3. Pokemon Omega Ruby – Nintendo
4. Tomodachi Life – Nintendo
5. Super Smash Bros. – Nintendo
6. Super Mario 3D Land – Nintendo
7. Pokémon Alpha Sapphire – Nintendo
8. Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask – Nintendo
9. Mario Kart 7 – Nintendo
10. Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay – GSP/Avanquest

What do you guys think? Have you bought Majora's Mask 3D yet? Did you expect the game to outsell Monster Hunter, given the series' huge popularity?

Source: Nintendo Everything

Compilation of All Final Boss Blows in the Zelda Series

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:48:00 +0000

Warning: Minor Spoilers for Every Zelda Game Ever

Nothing is more satisfying then scoring than last blow to the final boss in a Zelda game. The sound that signifies you did it, that it's over, is music to my ears. During the immediate cutscene of the villain reeling back in rage, the biggest sighs of relief are finally given.

Starting from The Legend of Zelda for the NES and going all the way up to A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS, YouTube user Master0fHyrule has compiled footage of every single death blow in the Zelda series and uploaded it into one single video. This must have taken a lot of time.

Note that Zelda titles such as the CD-i games, remakes, and Hyrule Warriors are excluded. Check out the video above, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Source: YouTube (via Hero0fHyrule)

Smooth McGroove is Back Again with an A Cappella Deku Palace Theme

RODTheMaster — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 01:03:00 +0000

For the last three weeks, YouTube superstar Smooth McGroove has been churning out Majora's Mask arrangements in honor of the new 3DS remake. Joining his Milk Bar and Oath of Order videos, today McGroove released an a cappella version of the Deku Palace theme. Give the song a listen and see what happens when one of Zelda's catchiest tunes is redone in Smooth McGroove's signature style.

Proving the wealth of musical genius present in the game, this Deku Palace cover marks McGroove's third Majora's Mask video in a row. In the comments, McGroove notes that he hasn't spent this much time in a game's soundtrack "in like two years." He then hinted that he may spend more time focusing on a single game in the future.

If this proves to be the last video from Majora's Mask for a while, I'm glad he chose this particular song. Of all the music in Majora's Mask, the Deku Palace theme is the tune that sticks in my head the longest. But who knows, maybe we'll get some Skyward Sword music soon. Smooth McGroose, anyone?

Check out Smooth McGroove on Patreon, iTunes, and Bandcamp.

What did you think? Do you want more Zelda music from Smooth McGroove? What tunes do you want to hear? Share with us in he comments!

Daily Debate: Should Zelda U Take Place in the Land of Hyrule?

Link 2 — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Zelda U, slated for a definite 2015 release according to Eiji Aonuma, is going to rock the socks off of many Zelda fans. This open-world adventure taking place in the land of Hyrul–er, wait a minute. Do we really know that Zelda U will be in Hyrule? Could it be in a separate kingdom, or even a separate continent?

Before the flood's creation of the Great Sea in The Wind Waker, we don't really know much about the land masses of the Zelda universe. The entire planet could be one land mass, surrounded by ocean or no ocean at all.

We as Zelda fans seldom think about what exists outside of Hyrule, which could lead to many players being surprised when Zelda U arrives. I believe this game could exist in a never-before-seen land.

It's also a very good possibility that there are no established kingdoms in the landmass in which Zelda U takes place, as all the environments we have seen so far consist of large forests and mountains. Perhaps this will be a new, largely uninhabited land that Link traverses.

What would you like most? Would you like to explore the familiar Kingdom of Hyrule, or an entirely new land? Join the Daily Debate!

Villains of the Zelda Series: Yuga the Flamboyant

Link 2 — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:28:00 +0000

SPOILER WARNING FOR A LINK BETWEEN WORLDS

Introduction

Ah, Yuga. How the internet exploded when we got our first glimpse of you. Your flamboyant wardrobe and catchy theme music compliment you greatly. How I long to see you in a home console Zelda title; you would be perfect for the big screen. This being said... let's explore you a bit more in depth.

Yuga's Character

When Link first sees Yuga, the villain mercilessly captures his friend Seres for the purpose of reviving Ganon. Yuga proceeds to knock Link out cold. It's obvious this boss has no remorse: he is brave and outgoing, ready to stomp on anything in his way.

Yuga is dedicated and on a mission. He lusts for power, perhaps a little too much. His evil deeds, destroying the land of Lorule and lying to Hilda, proves he is nothing but a trickster, a thief, and a scoundrel. With his black heart, he has no trouble kidnapping all of the sages.

His lust for power consumes him, only striving towards the revival of Ganon, which is possibly the only way he will gain all the power he wishes. He is content with taking second best, as he plans to serve as Ganon's right-hand man.

Yuga's Physical Appearance

It's safe to say Yuga is quite vain, accessorizing himself to the max with colorful clothing and a cape to match. His golden scepter compliments his gold elf-like shoes, and the mass amount of eye shadow and lipstick he uses adds to his stage presence. One mustn't forget the tiara he wears with a ruby in the middle.

Yuga also sports the Lorule Triforce on his shirt and wears baggy, striped pants. We also see diamond-shaped earrings, much like the ones Ghirahim wears. It's an understatement to say Yuga's appearance is unbridled, as Yuga is definitely flamboyant in personality and clothing.

Yuga's Foolishness/Closing

Whilst reviving a supreme Demon King, problems may arise. It's common knowledge that the Demon King is the most evil being in the universe, an incarnation of Demise's hate. Ganon will easily betray anyone and kill anything if the thought so much as crosses his mind.

Overwhelmed by a being more evil than he is, Yuga is consumed by Ganon and ultimately killed. You would think Yuga would consider this possibility beforehand and try rising to a position of power using his own devices. Reviving a big scary demon is risky, if not foolhardy. Maybe the next villain of the Zelda series will be a tad smarter.

Other articles in this series:

Villains of the Zelda Series: Demise the Demon King
Villains of the Zelda Series: Lord Ghirahim the Perfect

Artwork done by: Geroj, Legend-tony980

New Rewards in Club Nintendo Japan

Nathan — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 08:11:00 +0000

Although Club Nintendo has announced that they will soon be gone for good, that doesn't seem to be stopping them from throwing in some new rewards for fans to cash in their coins just a few months away from closing date... at least in Japan.

Club Nintendo of Japan has announced a whole new batch of rewards, including a few Zelda-themed goodies. For those of you in North America who have been keeping your eye on Club Nintendo rewards, the Fierce Deity Link Jigsaw Puzzle and the 2015 Game Card Case will look a little familiar, as they have been available here for a while now. However the Wind Waker themed T-shirt now available for 550 coins in Japan may make you "green" with envy.

While some of these rewards may be old news, it does bring hope that some of the rewards exclusive to Japan might show up in the rewards list for North American or European Club Nintendo (personally, I'd love to get my hands on the A Link Between Worlds soundtrack from the Club Nintendo Japan rewards).

Have you been able to get the rewards you want in your region? Do you think we might see new rewards popping up in areas outside of Japan? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Club Nintendo Japan (via Nintendo Everything)

Check Out this Epic, Cinematic Oath to Order Cover

RODTheMaster — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:40:00 +0000

Covers of Majora's Mask music are not hard to come by lately, but few go as far as to effectively place you into the world of Termina. In a new cinematic arrangement of the game's chilling Oath to Order, composer Rozen plants listeners into Majora's Mask's final hours. This cover, titled "Termina's Demise," is both emotional and beautiful, as one can imagine the feelings of Clock Town's citizens as the Clock Tower ticks down to zero.

Daniel "Rozen" Jimenez (currently assistant director for the Harmony of Heroes fan album) shares that this arrangement is meant to place you "in the center of the action as a citizen of Clock Town," reliving the game's climax through the music. He does an amazing job combining several sounds and melodies at the beginning of the song to create this effect. Rozen encourages listeners to wear headphones and close their eyes when listening to the piece. I of course did this, and the outstanding mix in the arrangement made for an emotional and visceral experience.

You can listen to Rozen's music on YouTube and SoundCloud. You can also take a look at his website to hear more video game arrangements.

Step by Step Process of Making a Majora's Mask Replica

Link 2 — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:36:00 +0000

Ever wanted to create a Zelda themed prop? If you have the materials, now you can. Imgur user CuteMonster walks us through the process of making a Majora's Mask replica, with pictures as well as text.

First things first, CuteMonster sizes up the mask to his face using an image editing program and a simple printer. He traced a blueprint of the mask using Inkscape, then made a basic mask mold shaped like a heart out of monster clay.

The horns of the mask were printed using a 3D printer at his local library using silicon. After more mold creating and details, CuteMonster then paints the mask to his liking and attaches the horns.

This project took roughly 50 hours for him to do, and was described as an ambitious process. Here is what CuteMonster had to say when he finished:

". . .this is the most ambitious prop I have ever made but I hope it shows. Hopefully I will be able to make more in the future. I definitely learned alot about patience and while there are things I wish to improve on for the next prop, I am very happy with the results."

Step by step instructions are located here.

Are you going to attempt to make this prop, or leave it to pros like CuteMonster? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Imgur (via CuteMonster)

Step by Step Process of Making a Majora's Mask Replica

Link 2 — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 23:43:00 +0000

Edit: CuteMonster's Facebook page is located here if you would like more details on this mask. To skip the process of making this mask yourself, it can be bought on his Etsy page here. The digital blueprints you can use to create the mask are also located on his Etsy shop, as well as a mask making kit.

Ever wanted to create a Zelda-themed prop? If you have the materials, now you can. Imgur user CuteMonster walks us through the process of making a Majora's Mask replica, with pictures as well as text.

First things first, CuteMonster sized up the mask to his face using an image editing program and a simple printer. He traced a blueprint of the mask using Inkscape, then made a basic mask mold shaped like a heart with monster clay. The horns of the mask were printed using a 3D printer at his local library using PLA plastic. After more mold creating and details, CuteMonster then painted the mask to his liking and attached the horns.

This project took roughly 50 hours for him to complete, and was described as an ambitious process. Here is what CuteMonster had to say when he finished:

"...this is the most ambitious prop I have ever made but I hope it shows. Hopefully I will be able to make more in the future. I definitely learned a lot about patience and while there are things I wish to improve on for the next prop, I am very happy with the results."

Step by step instructions are located here.

Are you going to attempt to make this prop, or leave it to pros like CuteMonster? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Imgur (via CuteMonster)

Majora's Mask Limited Edition Decal Turns a Regular New 3DS XL into a Majora's Mask Edition

Link 2 — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 00:35:00 +0000

Missed out on the New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition? Fear not, for now you can mask the regularity of your standard New Nintendo 3DS XL by purchasing these wonderful decals.

These decals are jokingly titled "The Real Majora's Mask LE", and will only work on the New Nintendo 3DS XL. Older models such as the standard 3DS XL will not be compatible, as there is a slight size difference between the new version and the old version.

Two finishes are available: one a high gloss, the other matte/satin. The high gloss finish is the most accurate to the actual console this product is imitating.

The decals are also guaranteed by the seller not to bubble, as well as an easy installation and "goo-free" removal. They can be bought here for $21.99 before shipping.

Are you going to settle for second best, or are you holding out in hopes of more Majora's Mask edition systems to be sold? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: DecalGirl

Cosplay of the Week: Zant by Melanie Colley

Mases — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 00:40:00 +0000

Usurper, usurper! This week's wonderful Cosplay feature is by the lovely Melanie Colley (A.K.A. shinigami714 on deviantArt). The detail and personality put into this costume is superb! You can see the crazy side of Zant, and the costume is very true to form.

If you don't know who Zant is: he is the Usurper King of the Twilight Realm featured in Twilight Princess and is an absolute mental case. But we love him all the same!

I was originally looking for a male Cosplayer for this specific character, but when I came across Melanie's design I just had to show everyone how amazing it is. You can check out some images in the gallery below, and also view her other Cosplays via her deviantArt page.

What do you think of this Zant Cosplay? Also, don't forget to tag your Cosplays with #zicosplay on Twitter!

Source: shinigami714 on deviantArt

Legend of Zelda Timeline Explained: A Quick History of Hyrule

Link 2 — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 00:55:00 +0000

Spoiler warning for Skyward Sword.

YouTube user GamesBrained, the brilliant mind behind Zelda 101, has decided to explain the complicated Zelda timeline in a three-part video series. The first one, recently released, covers The Creation Era when the three goddesses created the Zelda universe as well as the Triforce.

GamesBrained sums up the events of Skyward Sword, as well as explaining the other goddesses besides Din, Farore, and Nayru. GamesBrained also explains the creation of the Temple of Time, as well as the games after Skyward Sword leading up to the timeline split.

This video also dives into the topic of the timeline split, and explains it clearly within a few sentences. With this, GamesBrained sums up the Creation Era of Hyrule.

Be sure to check out the video above, and share your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: YouTube (via GamesBrained)

PS Vita Title Knocks Majora's Mask 3D Out Of Number One Sales Spot In Japan

Cathron — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 05:18:00 +0000

Majora's Mask 3D was knocked into the number two spot following the second week after its release in Japan, according to recent sales data. The Zelda remake was beaten out of first place by Playstation Vita title God Eater 2: Rage Burst.

The new Vita game had a total of 234,180 units sold while Nintendo sold 71,181 Majora's Mask 3D units. The sales data also showed that the Playstation 4 version of God Eater 2: Rage Burst came in third place, with 37,824 units sold.

The Playstation Vita also topped the charts last week in hardware sales in Japan with a total of 35,203 systems sold. Nintendo sold a total of 23,466 New 3DS XL units last week, and 8,657 of the smaller New 3DS handhelds.

Do you think Majora's Mask 3D will top the sales charts in week three, or will it continue to slide down the list?

Source: Gematsu (via My Nintendo News)

Hyrule Warriors Boss DLC Launch Trailer Ends With an Epic Trident Finisher

Nathan — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 07:03:00 +0000

Hyrule Warriors' final piece of announced DLC, titled the Boss Pack, has released in both Europe and Japan. It will arrive here in the United States on March 12th. In celebration of the release, there is a brand new launch trailer, which shows off the new Boss mode and Ganon as a playable character. Arguably the best part of the trailer comes right at the end where Ganon uses a finisher on King Dodongo with an epic trident strike. Plus there is some cute post-trailer 8-bit action, but I'll let you watch first hand to enjoy that.

Are you still playing Hyrule Warriors? How do you feel they have done with their approach on DLC to this point? Be sure to check out our Hyrule Warriors Walkthrough, as we'll be expanding our guides there to help you get everything you need in the game.

Majora's Mask Replica Created With Masterful Chainsaw Artistry

Nathan — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 07:36:00 +0000

Majora's Mask replicas have been trending around Zelda Informer lately. We've had not just one, but two Kickstarter campaigns surrounding them. We've also had someone show us step by step how they made a highly detailed replica themselves. This time, however, someone created a replica in a rather unique fashion – chainsaws. Of course the fine detailing was done with several other tools, but a large bulk of the work was done through some sawing mastery. It's actually really impressive watching this mask come to life right before our eyes.

Oh, we have a Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough laying around if your interested. Check it out!

Here's How to Trigger the Max Rupee Glitch in Hyrule Warriors

Nathan — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 08:20:00 +0000

For those unaware, there exists a glitch in Hyrule Warriors that will instantly reward you with the maximum amount of rupees that can be held at any one time. This is a very interesting glitch that many players want to take advantage of, because, as you may or may not be aware, you can level up all your characters to the max level of your highest level character simply by paying rupees. This can get extremely expensive, especially as they have been consistently releasing new characters along the way. With a level cap of 250, being able to max out your rupees would be a huge help in maxing out all of your characters.

However, the glitch itself has been a bit of mystery for some time, seemingly happening at random without any explanation. Thanks to some fine research by folks over at GameFAQs, which was compiled by a user on reddit, we now have a handful of confirmed methods under which you can trigger this glitch – though none of them are 100% full proof. This means they won't work every single time, and one of the methods actually works through sheer dumb luck. Still, if you have grown tired of grinding out levels or rupees, this is certainly a glitch that might interest you. Here is the current research results. First, we'll start with some general rules heading in:

We initially thought that the glitch only worked by defeating Gohma, but as it turns out, it applies to other Giant Bosses. There's been a few reported cases of the glitch working against King Dodongo and Argorok.

For all recorded cases so far, Gohma / King Dodongo / Argorok were not defeated with a Weak Point Smash. The Weak Point Gauge may be active, but the final killing blow should not activate the Weak Point Smash animation. However, one user mentioned that the glitch activated for them after a Weak Point Smash.

You should use a weapon with Rupees+ on it.

Weapon's rank or stars do not matter.

The playable character does not matter. The character's level does not matter. It's not necessary, but it's helpful to have full Stamina Fruit Badges, so you can reduce the Weak Point Gauge efficiently.

This glitch works for both American and European versions of the game. This glitch works for both hard copies and digital copies.

The glitch can activate on the first attempt of the mission. But if it doesn't, the glitch can still activate on subsequent runthroughs if you use the "Restart Mission" feature.

Lana's Summoning Gate is the easiest way to siege a Giant Boss, a.k.a. defeating a Giant Boss while the halo of light is surrounding it.

These are the basic instructions for sieging a Giant Boss with Lana's Summoning Gate as shown in the 1st and 2nd videos. You do not need to do it in such a specific manner, the most important aspect is defeating the Giant Boss without using a Weak Point Gauge Smash. However, this method is very effective for sieging Giant Bosses.

The Giant Boss will use a move that allows you to reveal its Weak Point.

Use the appropriate secondary weapon (Arrows / Bombs / Hookshot).

Use C3.

C3 is the Manhandla attack. When the Manhandla starts dropping seeds, dash-cancel out of the animation.

Use C1.

Immediately dash-cancel away from the Giant Boss. There should be a very obvious light ring, or halo, surrounding the Giant Boss.

Do not enter the halo as this will activate a Weak Point Smash.

Spam C1 several times.

If you summon Argorok, activate C5.

Defeat the Giant Boss.

Here's instructions for the alternate method as shown in the 3rd video, 4th video, and the gif. It's a bit more luck-based but much quicker if you perform it successfully.

Spam C1 until you get Argorok.

The Giant Boss will use a move that allows you to reveal its Weak Point.

Use the appropriate secondary weapon (Arrows / Bombs / Hookshot).

Activate C5.

Defeat the Giant Boss.

Interesting stuff.

Source: Reddit

Daily Debate: What Genre of the Zelda Series do You Most Enjoy?

Link 2 — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:48:00 +0000

Over the years, the Zelda franchise has gained many fans and followers of all ages. Whilst reflecting upon this, a question came into mind: Why do people love the Zelda series? The Zelda franchise is so successful because it is a combination of different genres. The molding together of action, adventure, puzzle solving, and drama is what gathers the interest of so many fans. Let's take a look at each of these genres, and you can decide which one you like the most.

ACTION

The part that draws in a lot of the fans is, of course, the action. Things like the rush of adrenaline during a boss battle and the energy you feel when you cut down waves of enemies are what make up this side of Zelda. Action gives you a feeling that I can only describe as invigorating. It hypes you up and inspires a ready-for-anything type of sensation. Needless to say, the action aspect is very appealing.

ADVENTURE

No matter what type of person you are, everyone likes a little adventure sometime in their lives. The adventure part of the Zelda series is experienced mostly through exploration. When you're battling your way through enemies to reach the next area in search of the princess, you can't help but feel a sense of adventure.

PUZZLE SOLVING

I'm not much for the puzzle solving genre, but there are some puzzles in The Legend of Zelda that I really love. Passing through dungeons in search of the next item always requires wracking your brain to complete the puzzles they contain. Even though puzzle solving can be stressful for some, there is always that triumphant feeling once you are victorious that makes you feel good about yourself.

DRAMA

What is always your main objective in Zelda? Rescuing the princess of course. The dramatic scenes when she is kidnapped are always heartbreaking. It gives you motivation to complete the game, even though you're saving a fictional character. All of your interactions with people along the way add elements of real life to the game. Some encounters can be positive, but some may be negative. It's all part of the drama in the Legend of Zelda series.

What part of the Zelda games are you most fond of? Join the debate in the comments below.

Makings of a Mask: Interview With the Creator of Majora's Mask Replicas

Link 2 — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 00:14:00 +0000

Majora's Mask replicas have been floating around the site lately, but one in particular has caught the eye of not just the Zelda fan base, but the Zelda Informer staff as well. James Sharp is the owner of the popular Etsy shop, Masenko Props. Masenko Props has sold a slew of merchandise, with the latest of which is a detailed Majora's Mask replica.

The mask itself is a beautiful work of art, and much time and care is spent on the production. This astounding prop is easily hung on a wall using a single nail or hook, ready to be proudly displayed by any Zelda fan. The dimensions of this mask are 38cm x 35cm x 8.5cm, which is a perfect size for display purposes.

The following is an interview with Mr. Sharp, explaining details behind the process of creating his masks as well as details about his future masks.

ZI: Hello and thanks for talking with us! Could you introduce yourself and your work?

James Sharp: It's my pleasure, I'm always happy to discuss my work. My name is James Sharp and I run a small operation called Masenko Props in London UK. I work mostly on Nintendo related props as Nintendo fans tend to be just as passionate about the games as I am.

ZI: What inspired you to craft a Majora’s Mask replica?

JS: Last year in October and November I had set myself the challenge of cycling from one end of Japan to the other. Around half way through my trip the announcement was made that Majora's Mask 3D was going to be made. Pretty much from that point on I was planning how to make the mask. When I got back to the UK in December I began making it immediately.

ZI: Was there much trial and error in your first attempts at creating this replica?

JS: Due to the long planning period the build actually went incredibly well. When I set out to make a prop I always look to real work influences. In this instance I decided to give it a bit of a tribal or witch doctor look. The main thing I wanted was to make the horns look like they were made from real horn.

ZI: Do you plan on making any other mask replicas, such as the Fierce Deity mask?

JS: I'm currently designing more masks from Majora's mask which i plan to do as a Kickstarter campaign. These masks will be the Deku Mask, Goron Mask, Zora Mask and Fierce Deity Mask. These masks will be more of a re-imagined approach. [Images of these masks are viewable in the gallery below.]

ZI: If Zelda U were to use the mask mechanic, would you make replicas of those masks? Do you want to see the use of masks return in that title?

JS: If Zelda U had masks I would defiantly consider making some replicas. Judging from what we've seen so far of the art style I think there could be some great designs.

ZI: Have you played Majora’s Mask 3D? If you haven’t, do you plan to? To which changes are you most looking forward?

JS: A friend sent me a link to the Nintendo store as soon as the MM Limited Edition 3DS became available so I was lucky enough to snag one of them. I've been playing it through with my flat mate who's never played it before and I'm jealous that he gets to experience such a great game for the first time. Naturally I've been enjoying the updated graphics as reference material for my props.

ZI: What were your thoughts when Majora’s Mask 3D was finally confirmed?

JS: I was so happy when Majora's Mask 3D was confirmed. For so long I had been thinking of blowing the dust of my N64 to play it again, but I held off because I was sure they would finally re-release it.

ZI: Can you give us any hints about your next projects?

JS: Aside from these Kickstarter masks I'm not sure what's next. I'd like to do more masks and helmets but I'm not sure what from yet. I'm always open to suggestions.

ZI: Any final words?

JS: I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who's ordered one of the masks so far and supported Masenko Props.

Be sure to visit Masenko Props and support James! The Majora's Mask replica is only $156.82 USD, which is cheaper than most Majora's Mask props.

His works of art can truly be considered masterpieces, and any Zelda fan should be proud to own one. Be on the lookout for future interviews!

New Unlockable Character Hidden in Hyrule Warriors Boss Pack DLC

Link 2 — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 21:17:00 +0000

It's been known for a while that Ganon will be playable in the newest DLC for Hyrule Warriors, the Boss Pack. Little did we know there would be a second new character! Luckily, YouTube user moccos-tan Isedelica has uploaded footage of this new playable character in action.

Any guesses on who it is? No, unfortunately it is not Skull Kid. It is, in fact, a giant Cucco. That's right, you can now trample through enemies like no tomorrow with a monstrous Cucco.

This Cucco is roughly five times the size of a normal Cucco. Its Weak Point Smash is a simple headbutt, but that's all that is needed for this giant to bust baddies' behinds. In the Focus Spirit finishing move, the Cucco will let out a mighty crow, in which a shock wave will annihilate all the enemies in the immediate area. The most impressive of all is possibly the Special Move, in which the giant Cucco will flap his wings, sending a barrage of normal-sized Cuccos flying at his enemies.

You unlock the giant Cucco by getting an A rank in a certain mission. The particular mission is unknown to us yet, but we will update the post when we find out.

The Boss Pack DLC is now available in Japan and Europe, and will be available in North America on March 12th. Be sure to check out the video above to see the giant Cucco in action, as well as share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: YouTube (via moccos-tan Isedelica)

Majora's Mask 3D Update is in Progress

Link 2 — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 22:29:00 +0000

EDIT: Update confirmed, go here for more details.

We've heard rumblings of a new update for Majora's Mask 3D on Twitter, as 3DS owners in Europe are receiving notifications for a new update. However, when they go to this new update, they are unable to complete the process. A message will say that the update is not available yet and users will find that there will be no image for the update itself. You can find a full sized image in the gallery below.

This is most likely due to an error which caused the update to be released too soon. I feel sorry for the poor Nintendo employee that made this mistake! Hopefully Nintendo will fix this soon so more European 3DS owners don't receive this false notification.

What do you think this update could be? Bug fixes? Nintendo has handled DLC well in the past, so could they be pressing their luck releasing DLC for a remake? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Twitter

Here's Some Beast Ganon Gameplay Footage from Hyrule Warriors' Boss Pack

RODTheMaster — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 22:21:00 +0000

Hyrule Warriors' next DLC pack, the Boss Pack, is set for release on March 12th here in the United States. The DLC has already been released in Europe and Japan, so some fans are demolishing foes as Beast Ganon in the new "Ganon's Fury" game mode as we speak. Japanese Entertainment has recently released some gameplay footage of this new mode on YouTube, and it would seem Koei Tecmo wasn't lying when they said players can "rain chaos and destruction upon the battlefield" as Ganon.

The footage features Beast Ganon wreaking absolute havoc on the Hyrule Field stage, taking down Bokoblins and King Dodongo with little difficulty. Ganon's Fury looks to be the perfect mode for players who want decimate the battlefield as an unstoppable force of destruction. In fact, the player in the video didn't take more than a few hearts of damage throughout the entire stage. I'd imagine that more stages will be made available for Beast Mode, so hopefully those stages provide more of a challenge.

Beast Ganon's size may also be a problem in some areas of the map, as his body covers a majority of the screen. Other than that, Ganon's Fury looks to be a great deal of fun for players looking to be an all-powerful destroyer. Beast Ganon will make an excellent addition to other colorful characters in Hyrule Warriors.

Miiverse Highlights: Mask Stealing Imp

outsethero — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 01:20:00 +0000

Welcome to yet another Miiverse Highlights: Zelda Informer's Thursday Weekly Feature! Two weeks ago we held a #WeeklyPoll in which we continued to celebrate Majora's Mask 3D's release by asking everyone what their favorite character was from the game. Now that it's Thursday once more, it's my duty to take the most-voted character and find the absolute best art and screenshots I can find of them in all of Miiverse!

Now, you may be wondering: "Why has it been two weeks since the last update?". Well, that's because last week I lost all Internet connection for almost two full days. It just so happens that those two days included Thursday, and I couldn't find a way to get on and work on this, so I apologize for my absence last week.

But in any case, if you're new to this feature, here's how things go down. Miiverse Highlights consists of two things, a #WeeklyChallenge and a #WeeklyPoll. When a #WeeklyChallenge is issued, Zelda fans will be asked to draw something based on the Miiverse Community the challenge is posted in for a chance to have their drawing featured on our site. A #WeeklyPoll, on the other hand, will ask a question based on the series or a specific game where, after the week is done, I will take the most-voted answer and choose the best drawings and screenshots on Miiverse that I can find based on that answer.

If you couldn't tell by now with this post's image and title, the most-voted #1 favorite character from Majora's Mask was none other than Skull Kid! This comes as no surprise, though I think it's important to note that it won by a single vote, being almost tied with Tingle. Now that one is a bit more shocking. Anyways, here are the best pieces of art and screenshots I could find in Miiverse!

Surprisingly enough, I actually had a bit of trouble finding enough posts involving Skull Kid. With how much love the character gets, that actually took me aback for a bit. Regardless of that, these fantastic choices are in no particular order whatsoever. If you're interested in showing some love to the wonderful people behind these posts, make sure to click on the images to be redirected to them!

Now, onto this week's event! Since our previous event was a #WeeklyPoll, it's time for another #WeeklyChallenge! We didn't receive any suggestions for a new #Weekly, so we'll be going with this once more. In this new challenge we ask you all to draw your #1 favorite character from The Minish Cap! For a higher chance to get your post featured on our site, draw that character using your favorite item from the game! You can find the challenge posted on the Minish Cap Community. For easier access, make sure to follow our official NNID! If you'd like to submit a drawing, all you have to do is log into Miiverse through your 3DS or Wii U, find our latest event and leave a reply! To make sure you respond to the correct post, we'll have it embedded at the end of this feature. Happy posting!

Majora's Mask 3D Update is Now Live, Just Bug Fixes

Link 2 — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 02:02:00 +0000

As suspected earlier, the Majora's Mask 3D update rumors are true. Nintendo of Japan has now announced the update on their website, which entails minor bug fixes. Note that this update is not available in the West as of yet.

The update list, as translated by Google Translate and cleaned up by us, is as follows:

Ver. 1.1 [2015.2.27 Delivery

A message was fixed, "ERROR! Error!" A problem that is displayed during the game.
After playing in the shop of "Honey & Darling", a problem that will cause you to be unable to swing a sword was modified to not occur.
In addition, as who can play game comftorably, some of the problems were fixed. [Performance and stability fixes.]

Apparently, the first bug, "ERROR! Error!", is not a reference to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, where an NPC in the village will tell you "I AM ERROR," as was suspected.

What are your thoughts on these bug fixes, will you be undergoing the update when it goes live? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo of Japan

UPDATE — Hey, Look, Listen: Analyzing Handholding in Skyward Sword

Paul Grzelak — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 23:35:00 +0000

UPDATE: The data gathered and analyzed for this particular playthrough of Skyward Sword will not be included in my final evaluation of Handholding in 3D Zelda Games on Home Consoles because it was not held to the same standard as my audits of Twilight Princess, Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker. As a result, my verdict in the Hey, Look, Listen series has been delayed and a new article that reanalyzes handholding in Skyward Sword will be released once I can complete another playthrough of the game and write an analysis.

This decision has less to do with the fact that my first analysis of Skyward Sword excluded certain elements from consideration (listed in the Other Handholding Factors part of this article) and more to do with the fact that I did not judge Skyward Sword by the same criteria as I judged later games in this series. As a result, I am strongly considering a second playthrough of Majora’s Mask for the same reasons.

I apologize to the readers who have enjoyed reading this series and who are disappointed to hear my conclusions have been delayed, but I did not make this decision lightly. I want this audit to be the best that it can be, and I hope readers will understand my decision. And on that note, I feel I should give a more thorough explanation for why I am re-evaluating Skyward Sword.

Why I Am Re-evaluating Skyward Sword

At the start of this audit, keeping track of time was something I considered to be optional. I had never conducted an audit that juggled this many factors before, and one of the things I left by the wayside at the start of this audit was keeping track of time. I didn’t see much of a point in keeping track of time, but since Skyward Sword makes checking session length and total play time so easy, I decided to keep track of those numbers anyway.

Keeping track of time turned out to be a great decision, because it allowed me to measure data based on hourly rate rather than just total numbers.

However, my initial tracking of time for Skyward Sword was very irregular, and this is the reason why my spreadsheet at the bottom of this article includes question marks in some of the cells for Total Time and Segment Length.

The fact that I didn’t know how long I spent in Skyward Sword’s first dungeon really threw off my plans to analyze data in some more detailed ways, like a breakdown of how many Chimes took place in dungeons versus how many took place outside of dungeons. Missing this one little piece of the data prevented me from accurately providing information like that, and this troubled me for much of my audit.

By the time I started playing Twilight Princess and reached the game’s second dungeon, I realized something even more troubling: I had to change the way I was evaluating one of my most important counters, Camera Movements. For your convenience, I’ve put together a video explaining this change in the methodology for tallying Camera Movements, which you can view at the top of this article.

Furthermore, a second playthrough of Skyward Sword will give me a chance to at least keep track of some of the most frequently requested handholding elements in Skyward Sword: Fi’s warnings for low health, warnings for low battery life, messages for bugs and treasures, and more. In fact, while my initial playthrough of Skyward Sword kept track of 10 categories of information, (my eight counters plus time and location/event) this second playthrough is keeping track of 19. Some of that information is specific to Skyward Sword, others will be more familiar to readers of this series.

Nonetheless, my goal is for my second analysis of Skyward Sword to be much more comprehensive than my first, and to provide much more accurate numbers to work with as a result.

Thank you.

Original Article Below

Skyward Sword is a great game.

While watching the ending credits, I was reminded of all the fun I'd had in Skyward Sword's tremendous environments and colorful characters for 39 hours and 16 minutes. Many of the most satisfying moments of my Skyward Sword playthrough were found deep in its dungeons, or the instant I dealt a final blow to the end boss with only a lone heart and no health potions or fairies remaining. A smile was also brought to my face many times by Groose's antics, Peatrice's outrageous infatuation with Link, and the simple of joy rotating a boss key into position with the Wii Remote.

I finished my playthrough of Skyward Sword in 10 days, but this was not the first time I played the game. I bought Skyward Sword back in early 2013 and played it all the way to the final boss battle when I either chickened out or became too interested in my new PlayStation 3 to finish the game, I forget which. At any rate, my memories of Skyward Sword from my first time playing it many months ago were mixed. I remembered having a lot of fun with the game's unique loot and crafting system, being drawn in by its story, and feeling annoyed to no end by Fi's constant yammering and handholding.

If I've learned anything from my playthrough of Skyward Sword, it is that negative memories really do stand out in our minds more prominently than positive memories. The statistics from my 39 hours and 16 minutes with Skyward Sword tell a very different story from the one I remembered.

For those interested in how I measured everything or confused by the terminology I'm about to use, you can read about my methodology and coding here. Remember that Skyward Sword is only the first game in this audit I have completed, so I don't have any data from the other four games (Twilight Princess, Wind Waker, Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time) to directly compare them with just yet. Comparisons will arrive as I complete each game, and updates will keep coming every Sunday until the completion of this audit.

Today, I will analyze the data on handholding I gathered from Skyward Sword — with infographics, raw data, and commentary. But before we get into some detailed analysis of the data for each category, here's a visual overview of the final tallies for each of my counters:

NOTICE: If you are confused about the terminology I use below, you can find a list of definitions for what constitutes things like GPIs, Camera Movements, Frustration and more in this article if you scroll down below "Methodology."

Gameplay Interruptions (GPIs) and Companion GPIs

In all honesty, I was surprised by how few GPIs Skyward Sword had. My undoubtedly biased memories told fiendish tails of an armless woman who would yank away my control of Link with the consistency of wild Pokémon encounters. To her credit, Fi was the direct cause of a GPI 38 times during my playthrough, which is almost once every hour when averaged out, but Fi's GPIs also happened very inconsistently. While Fi popped out of Link's sword unexpectedly quite a lot during the first few hours of gameplay, she later interrupted only once during a marathon of nine and a half hours later in the game.

While I did not measure the source of every gameplay interruption that could not be attributed to Fi, I know that almost 70 percent of the 126 GPIs in my playthrough were not attributed to her, so she can't be blamed for everything. Going by memories alone, I would say Mogmas popping out of the ground were the second most frequent source of GPIs after Fi. Altogether, Gameplay Interruptions from any source occurred an average of roughly 3.2 times every hour.

Chimes

While the 43 Chimes in my playthrough of Skyward Sword were slightly more plentiful than the number of GPIs caused by Fi, the majority of them were clustered near the start of the game, with more than half taking place within the first six hours of gameplay. Prompts to talk to Fi or start dowsing were the most common sources of Chimes, but Groose's prompts to use the Groosenator during some of the battles with The Imprisoned were also included in this tally because they meet the criteria.

Camera Movements

The camera in Skyward Sword was pulled away from my control to focus on a change in the environment or a switch I had just activated a total of 274 times. More than 50 percent of the Camera Movements in my playthrough happened in Skyward Sword's proper dungeons, where I only spent roughly 28 percent of my play time. Altogether, this amounted to an average of almost 7 (technically 6.98) Camera Movements per hour, giving it the highest frequency of any of my counters for Skyward Sword.

Some GPIs included Camera Movements, and when they did, a tally was added to both counters, but not every GPI included a radical shift in camera focus to constitute a Camera Movement, and not every Camera Movement was unexpected like a GPI is supposed to be. I wish to emphasize that while some overlap between these two counters exists, they were tallied independently of one another.

Redundant Information

Over the course of my playthrough, Skyward Sword presented me with 46 instances of Redundant Information with an average of roughly 1.1 instances of Redundant Information per hour. I did not include the moments when Link picks up a piece of Treasure and a message appears explaining what it is, because as redundant as these moments were, they were directly tied to the number of times I turned my console on or off. Because the number of times any player will turn their console off or on during an average playthrough of Skyward Sword (or any game) is impossible to calculate, I opted to not count messages for treasure the first time one discovers them in a given gameplay session.

I'll also admit that after a while I started adding a tally to this counter every time I felt a knee-jerk "well, duh!" response to something that happened on screen, so human error and subjective opinions might influence this counter a little more than some others outside of Frustration and Joy. Speaking of which...

Frustration and Joy

Frustration and Joy are the most subjective counters in this audit and will be given the least weight when coming to any conclusions at the end of it. Nonetheless, I was amazed by the results of these tallies more than any other.

Skyward Sword provided me with 22 instances of Frustration and 70 instances of Joy. Bear in mind that these numbers are quantitative, not qualitative. The delight from chopping individual threads of a spider's web carried as much weight on the Joy counter as my enjoyment of watching Link and Zelda reunite 30 hours into the game. Nonetheless, Skyward Sword provided me with more than three times as many instances of intense happiness, satisfaction or "wow" moments as it provided me with moments of anger, frustration or disappointment.

I also should note that I only started adding tallies to the Joy counter when I was halfway through the game and realized having a counter for the number of times the game disappointed me but not one for the number of times the game made me feel happy instilled a bias in me to only focus on the bad things in Skyward Sword. Not wanting to restart my playthrough just to start coding for one more category of subjective data, I added in the Joy category prior to the Ancient Cistern based on my memories, which might explain why roughly 65 percent of the Joy tallies occurred after the Ancient Cistern. As a result, the total number of instances of Joy might be higher than the data indicates, but this only adds to my earlier point that all data gathered is subject to human error.

Cutscenes

Over the course of my Skyward Sword playthrough, I encountered 55 cutscenes, and like many video games, most of those cutscenes were clumped together near the beginning and end of the game. In fact, 45 percent of all cutscenes occurred either in the initial 2.5 hours of my playthrough or the final 2.5 hours.

Beyond that, I cannot put the number of cutscenes in into any greater context without additional data from the other games in this audit.

Other Handholding Factors — Important Things I Couldn't Count

Here's a list of things I disqualified from all counters in this audit:

Fi warning Link about low Wii Remote batteries
Fi's redundant warning about low health
The message explaining each treasure or bug that resets every time you turn the game

Having just finished Skyward Sword, I know how annoying these elements can be and that they provide a sense that Skyward Sword holds your hand and won't let go. However, all of my counters were designed to measure the number of times something happens during an average playthrough, and the number of times each of these events happens will vary so much between each playthrough that figuring them into each counter would throw off the results.

My average play session during my time with Skyward Sword was roughly an hour and a half before I'd turn the game off and take a break. Someone who played Skyward Sword in half-hour sessions or three-hour sessions could experience many more or many fewer messages about bugs and treasure than I did, so I didn't count them. In the same way, a more aware or skilled player might encounter fewer alerts about low health or low batteries than I did, and those events were excluded because player skill or awareness was not the focus of this audit.

That said, getting a message from Fi that my hearts were low was annoying and did feel like too much handholding. When Fi made a fuss about my low health or a message explained Blessed Butterflies for the tenth time, I was genuinely tempted to place a tally next to the Frustration and Redundant Information counters, but I resisted because I knew doing so would unfairly inflate those numbers. As a result, things like this will not be tallied, but will be significant factors when determining which game out of Skyward Sword, Twilight Princess, Wind Waker, Majora's Mask, and Ocarina of Time has the most handholding.

Another thing I did not measure but that was a constant annoyance for my playthrough of Skyward Sword was the way this particular game handles dialogue. In many of the Zelda games in this audit, dialogue can be skipped through with a few taps of the A or B buttons, but in Skyward Sword, my only option for getting through dialogue faster was by holding down the A button to speed up the rate at which text appeared on the screen (other games would often just skip to the end of the current dialogue box when A was tapped), which made all dialogue in the game more tedious to move through than perhaps any of the other games in this audit. While I am not measuring this particular element of Skyward Sword in any meaningful way, the fact that these dialogue boxes are not as easy to skip as in other Zelda games could emphasize how annoying some of these other issues are.

What's Next?

In keeping with my decision to audit each of these games completely out of order, the next Zelda game I will analyze for handholding is Majora's Mask, which I am already seven hours into my playthrough of. Next Sunday's article will likely be an update on how my playthrough of Majora's Mask is going and my impressions of the game, since I do not expect to be finished with the game by then.

Full Spreadsheet of Skyward Sword Playthrough Data

Photoshop Contest: Zelda TV Show

Paul Grzelak — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 17:48:00 +0000

The time has come for yet another test of wit, creativity, and the use of expensive software for trivial purposes: a Photoshop Contest is upon us!

We're asking readers to submit the funniest, most creative, or most awe-inspiring pictures they can produce within the guidelines we suggest. This week, we’re capitalizing on the story that rocked out website and brought the gaming industry to its knees: the news that Netflix and Nintendo are making a Zelda television series!

But first, let’s take a look at the winners from last week's contest: Majora’s Mask 3D Hype Train.

Last Week’s Contest

Pictures were selected based on their creativity, quality, and how effectively they demonstrated the image-manipulation abilities of the artists.

Best Submissions

Artist: Matt_Dempsey

Artist: Zeldaddicted

Artist: Danny Boy

Challenge Mode Winner

This swordsman HYPE EXPRESS by Ine Nai evokes precisely the kind of Photoshopped chaos and creativity we demand from Challenge Mode. Congratulations!

Fan Favorite

What a train race! Skyler Magers's entry takes the prize for Fan Favorite this week with 44 upvotes, although it had healthy competition against Matt_Dempsey’s entry, which gathered 41 upvotes. Always pleasing to see healthy competition. And thank you to everyone who entered!

This Week: Zelda TV Show

Once again, Adobe Photoshop isn’t required to enter this contest, and we’ll accept images made with any image-manipulation software, so long as it looks great! Now with that disclaimer out of the way . . .

Contest: Zelda TV Show

Last Friday, the world as we knew it was shattered when The Wall Street Journal reported that Netflix and Nintendo are working together to produce a Zelda television series. Okay, it wasn’t quite that intense, but it was still exciting news.

And even if the news turns out to be untrue, we can still have fun with the idea of it! So, for this week’s Photoshop Contest, we want to see your idea of what a Zelda TV show would look like. Kevin Spacey cast as Link . . . Princess Zelda, Midna, Malon, Princess Ruto, and Medli surviving in a female prison . . . Tingle as a Teletubbie . . . these are but a few of the zany ideas we want to see you Photoshop together for this week’s contest! And using image manipulation to adjust the title of a show to make it Zelda-themed is encouraged as well.

The image below (from an unknown artist) is an example of the kind of entries we want to see.

This week we're also not restricting what images you may use in any way, so go crazy on your selection of pictures.

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on March 4. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those of you wishing to tackle a much more difficult Photoshop challenge, make sure your submission includes the phrase Challenge Accepted in the comment you submit your photo in, and be sure to follow the Challenge Rule below. Remember, Challenge Mode submissions follow the same rules and guidelines of the base Photoshop Contest in addition to the Challenge Rule.

Challenge Rule: Based on what little information we know about the collaboration between Netflix and Nintendo to make a Zelda television series, the show is supposed to be like a family-friendly Game of Thrones . . . whatever that means. But what if the Zelda television show were instead intended to be a sitcom? Fi as Dwight? Anybody up for an episode of The Legend of Seinfeld: Ocarina of Nothing? At any rate, run with that idea, and show us your most creative images. Also, you must include Link with the face of Orlando Bloom in there somewhere.

Good luck!

Oracle Of Seasons And Oracle Of Ages Both Turn 14

Cathron — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 06:09:00 +0000

Happy birthday to the Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons games! They turned 14 today, having been originally released in Japan on February 27, 2001 for the Game Boy Color. They were developed by Capcom and later released onto the Virtual Console in 2013.

The story of each game features Link from A Link to the Past going on another adventure after the defeat of Ganon. At the start of each title, Link is summoned by the Triforce and teleported to one of two lands. According to Hyrule Historia, the twin witches known as Twinrova hatched a scheme to resurrect Ganon, and they sent subordinates to the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna to capture two oracles.

In Oracle of Seasons, Link arrives in the land of Holodrum and meets Din, the Oracle of Seasons. Shortly after, she is taken away by the dark general Onox. Link eventually rescues her by using the Rod of Seasons, changing the seasons in different areas to complete his quest. Afterwards, in Oracle of Ages, Link arrives in Labrynna where he meets Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. Not long after the hero meets Nayru, she is possessed by a sorceress named Veran, and Link has to save her. He does so by using the Harp of Ages to travel through time, eventually defeating Veran and saving the oracle.

Both games used a password system to let players continue the adventure if they combined the right codes. In the combined story, Twinrova kidnaps Princess Zelda and attempts to sacrifice her in order to resurrect Ganon. Link ruins the plan, and the witches sacrifice themselves instead. The failed ceremony resurrects a mindless demonic Ganon, and Link defeats him. With another adventure complete, Link gets on a ship and sails away, leading to the events of Link's Awakening.

Daily Debate: Oracle of Ages or Seasons, Which One's Better?

RODTheMaster — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:39:00 +0000

Today marks the 14th birthday of Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons! These games were Nintendo's first and only attempt in releasing two separate but interconnected games on the same day, each with their own distinct gameplay experience. So in honor of these games' birthday and continued legacy, we're going to decide which of these two is the better game.

Oracle of Ages places Link in the land of Labrynna, which is threatened by an evil sorceress named Veran. Using the Harp of Ages, our hero must travel back and forth through time and bring an end to Veran's reign. OoA focuses much more on puzzle solving, even during some boss fights. This aspect made the dungeons stand out as satisfyingly challenging, but at times frustratingly confusing. The story, however, stands out as one of OoA's biggest strengths, with memorable characters and a setting that evolves through time travel.

Oracle of Seasons follows Link as he explores the land of Holodrum, aiming to take down the dark general Onox. With the Rod of Seasons, our hero can cycle through different seasons to complete his quest. This game was more focused on combat and action, with memorable and challenging mini-boss and boss fights. In fact, OoS updates bosses from the original Legend of Zelda, proving that this game wins in terms of fan service. However, while intimidating, some may argue that Onox is a less endearing villain than Veran.

I'll leave you to decide which of these two fantastic games is the best. Is it the puzzle-heavy Oracle of Ages? Or is it the action-packed Oracle of Seasons? Join the daily debate!

Here's a Video Look at Majora's Mask 3D Badge Center Unlockables

Nathan — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 21:13:00 +0000

Badge Center is an interesting mini-game collection in Japan that we've talked about only one other time at the site. It doesn't look like Badge Center is ever going to come out of Japan, so the best we can do for you is to show you some video of it, this time showing off the Majora's Mask 3D collectibles you can get in it. Of course, these are all virtual items with no real value, but it's still neat and something some fans might be interested in. The video we have today shows off a ton of Zelda related badges, mostly around the aforementioned game. Since I don't read Japanese, all I can say is it looks fun, at least to kill a few minutes while sitting on the toilet. Just make sure no hands are popping out before you take a seat!

Be sure to check out our Majora's Mask 3D Walkthrough along with our Zelda Wiki for all your Majora's Mask needs.

Akira Himekawa Unveils Scrapped Romani Ranch Manuscript from the Majora's Mask Manga

Nathan — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 21:28:00 +0000

With Majora's Mask 3D out, it has been a topic trending all across the gaming sphere. In celebration of the remake's release, Akira Himekawa, the main force behind Nintendo's official Zelda manga, has released two never before seen pages that were scrapped from the Majora's Mask manga. They chose to release these pieces through Hammer Space. The pieces depict Romani Ranch with Link, Epona, and the rest of the gang. I can't seem to make out the Japanese well enough to translate, but maybe the rest of you can. Either way, it's a nice look at some never released Manga pages related to Majora's Mask!

Source: Hammer Space

GameStop Italy Lists Majora's Mask New 3DS XL for Restock on March 27th

RODTheMaster — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 00:07:00 +0000

Fans around the world were left disappointed when the Limited Edition Majora's Mask New 3DS XL sold out at all major retailers. Many had completely given up hope that Nintendo would ever release more of this handheld, even with demand as high as it is. Well don't give up hope just yet. Today, GameStop Italy has made the Majora's Mask New 3DS XL available again, giving customers a release date of March 27th. No other GameStop retailers have announced this restock (including US and UK stores), but this news may indicate future restocks of the item in other regions.

The product page on GameStop Italy's website has made the MM New 3DS XL available for pre-order, citing "new availability." According to the website, the units are due for release on March 27th. At the time of writing, the item is still listed as "not available" at GameStop in the US and the UK. There is a possibility that the item's listing on GameStop Italy is an error on their part, but we won't know for sure until more information is announced.

Source: GameStop Italy (via Nintendo Life)

Two Zelda-Themed Cover Plates Sold Out From Nintendo UK

Link 2 — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 00:33:00 +0000

For those of you that go fanatic for cover plates, Nintendo's latest way of letting you customize your New Nintendo 3DS, pre-orders of two Zelda-themed cover plates release on March 6th. Unfortunately, these cover plates seem as scarce as the Limited Edition Skull Kid Figurine and the New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition, as pre-orders have already sold out! Stay tuned, as they will most likely be restocked before or after launch day.

The first, a cover plate designed to show off your allegiance to the entire Zelda series, is plastered with Triforces. It costs £12.99, or 20.06 USD before shipping.

The second, a cover plate with official Skull Kid art on the front, is for Zelda fans that wish to show off their love of Majora's Mask. This plate costs the same as the previous.

Full-sized images of these cover plates are viewable in the gallery below. Note that these cover plates will not work the North American New Nintendo 3DS XL.

If they are to be restocked, the Triforce plates can be bought here, and the Majora's Mask plates can be bought here.

Source: Nintendo UK

Majora's Mask 3D Update is Live in Europe, 40 Blocks Used to Download

Nathan — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 00:58:00 +0000

Yesterday we reported that the Majora's Mask 3D update was live in Japan and Europe – I regretfully admit we were only partially correct at the time. Japan received the update yesterday, whereas Europe has received it as of today. If you're wondering what is included in the update, we already have that information available for you right here. We already presumed the update would be small in file size, but we can now confirm it only takes up 40 blocks – something that may be important to note if your SD or Mini SD card happens to be close to full. Of course this update is optional, and Nintendo isn't making anyone download it. I feel it might be worth while, though, as it eliminates some game breaking bugs that I doubt anyone wants to encounter.

Source: Twitter

Second Wave of Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XLs Inbound

Paul Grzelak — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 03:24:00 +0000

Nintendo could be preparing a second wave of Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL game consoles according to information uncovered by Zelda Dungeon. Zelda Dungeon based this claim on the premise that one of their staff members heard Nintendo Support alert them to the presence of a second wave of the game console when they complained about faulty buttons in the model they ordered.

Zelda Dungeon also cited the presence of the console available for pre-order on Amazon UK and GameStop Italy.

Does this news make your excitement intensify? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Zelda Dungeon

These Zelda x Pokémon Watercolor Crossovers are Stunning

Nathan — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 06:20:00 +0000

To say Zelda and Pokémon belong together might be a crazy notion, but when it comes to art they mix together quite well. In this case, artist David Pilatowsky has crafted masterful crossover artwork, all in a watercolor art style. We've featured some of this work over our social media outlets in the past, but he recently informed us of a second batch of art he just released. Given the sheer quality of this art, I felt inclined to share it in a more uniformed manner – why should only select people on social media get to enjoy this work? Instead, I have gathered all of his creations in this style – both the old and the new – into the gallery below, for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Thanks David for letting us share your fantastic work with the world. You can follow him and the rest of his work on his website.

Here's the Custom Zelda Themed GameCube of Our Dreams

Nathan — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 06:57:00 +0000

Pimp My Retro are known for their custom consoles, but they've gone above and beyond in their latest work on a Zelda-themed Nintendo GameCube. The design is inspired by traditional Zelda temples combined with The Wind Waker, as can be seen on the very top of the console. The controller also was customized with a paint job and the classic Hylian Shield, though the shield does appear to be missing some detailing. Regardless, it's an extremely impressive modification. You can check out the rest of Pimp My Retro's work over on their website.

ZI Podcast 25: Smooth McGroove Joins us to Talk Zelda Villains, Game Music, and Retro Versus Modern

Acohen95 — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

This week's episode of the ZI Podcast is a long one, but probably the best episode of the podcast yet (It's all downhill from here...)! This week we're joined by none other than Mr. Smooth McGroove himself as we talk about Zelda Villains, Modern Gaming versus Retro Games, as well as hear plenty of stories from Smooth's life. This week on the podcast your host is... (still, sadly) Adam, and he's joined by Jake (He has this embarassing thing to tell you), Chris (Lovable as always), Max (Aka Mr. McGroove, maker of dorky puns), and Charl (He's a cat and was asleep most of this episode, but I felt it was worth mentioning).

Thanks to Cody, Jack, Sam, Austin, Alfred, and Brendan for your Topics, Cover Art, and Theme Song submissions. Want to have your own awesome topics (they can be about anything gaming), art, and music featured on the show? Send it over to us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com. Special thanks to The Consouls for their giveaway for this week. To know more about the rules and how to participate, tune in!

*UPDATE* Gold Mario Amiibo Officially announced by Nintendo

Social Media

Special Thanks

News and Related Topics

The Consouls Album Giveaway

Contest rules: Tweet @ABCMilkman and @TheConsouls with your answer to this week’s question and the hashtag #ZIpodcast25

Example tweet: "@ABCMilkman @TheConsouls (Answer to question) #ZIpodcast25"

Comment Topic of the Week: Listen to the episode to find out!

Daily Debate: What Colors Do You See in the Hero's New Clothes?

RODTheMaster — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 10:57:00 +0000

When you look at this image of Link, what colors make up his clothing? Think you know the answer? Well, what if I told you that the internet just can't decide on the colors of this mysterious garment? These are the Hero's New Clothes, and no one can agree on their actual color. Some say the outfit is simply blue and white, but others swear they see a different set of colors. Through countless hours of heated arguments and fruitless analyses, we still can't figure it out. No matter how sick we are of these types of arguments, we still want a good reason why each person perceives the Hero's New Clothes differently...

Here's what we know: the Hero's New Clothes are worn by young men when they come of age as a tribute to the great Hero of Time. Other than that, the specifics about this legendary apparel are the subject of great debate among fans. Some believe the discrepancy in the attire's visuals are caused by how an individual compensates for lighting or focus when looking at our blonde-haired hero. However, others attribute the mysterious qualities of the ensemble to magical threads that only an honest person can see.

Either way, we leave you to decide what exactly to make of Link's mind-blowing duds. What colors do you see the Hero's New Clothes being? How much does this nonsense really even matter? If you're inclined to discuss more, could you see the Hero's New Clothes playing a role in a future Zelda game? Join the Daily Debate!

Zelda-Themed Cover Plate up for Pre-Order on GAME

Link 2 — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 19:13:00 +0000

GAME, a website that sells video game related merchandise in the UK, has the Zelda-themed cover plate that will go on your New Nintendo 3DS. It was up for pre-order yesterday on Nintendo of UK's website, and sold out, along with a Majora's Mask cover plate. Full sized images can be viewed in the gallery below.

The Zelda-themed cover plate, which is covered in Triforces, is currently the only one available of the two right now. Hopefully the Majora's Mask style cover plate will become back in stock soon!

If you'd like to pre-order this fabulous Zelda-themed cover plate, it can be located here. It costs £14.99 / 23.14 USD, which is a £2 / $3.08 increase in price from the plates that were available Nintendo of UK's website.

Note that these cover plates will not work on a New Nintendo 3DS XL in the US. Are you annoyed with Nintendo of America for not bringing cover plates to the US? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: GAME (via LIGER-X)

A Look at Hyrule Warrior's Playable Cucco in Action

Link 2 — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 21:06:00 +0000

It was revealed a few days ago that a playable giant Cucco could be unlocked in Hyrule Warriors via the Boss Pack. True to previous patterns, various fans are uploading footage of this monstrous beast in action, trampling over 5,000 enemies and crushing bosses like they were nothing.

The videos above were recorded on a Japanese copy of the game. Japan always seems to tease us with upcoming content that we in the West don't have yet! While Japan and Europe can already obtain this fancy DLC pack, the wait is not long for fans in the West as it will be released in the North America region on March 12th.

Will you be getting this DLC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Majora's Mask 3D Update is Live in the West

Link 2 — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 19:59:00 +0000

Majora's Mask 3D owners in the North American region are now able to download an update that fixes major game-breaking glitches. This update was previously available only in Europe and Japan, but now Nintendo of America has sent out the update for those in the US.

I have heard many who claim they refuse to update, for fear of having the "Fierce Deity Anywhere" glitch fixed, as well the "Ocarina Extra Mask" glitch. This is their preference, as Nintendo is not forcing you to accept this update. However, we have had no confirmation that these bugs will be fixed with this update. All bug fixes contained in the update can be found here.

Images pertaining to the update can be viewed at full size in the gallery below.

Will you be undergoing this update, or will you risk losing in-game progress due to these bugs? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Zelda Informer Staff

IGN Updates Their Top 25 3DS Games List for 2015 - All Three Zelda Titles Make The List

outsethero — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 21:13:00 +0000

IGN has recently updated their "Top 25 Nintendo 3DS Games" list for Spring 2015. This new update comes with a couple of the more recent releases for Nintendo's handheld, including Majora's Mask 3D. In fact, all three Legend of Zelda titles released for the 3DS managed to make the list, with one of them actually landing the #1 spot!

Hitting #11 was none other than the recently released Majora's Mask 3D! Praising the game for it's "interesting game design" and "strong world building", it comes as no surprise that this fantastic entry in the series made this list after only being out for 2 weeks. Moving 4 spots forward we have Ocarina of Time 3D hitting #7 on the list! It's been almost 3 years since this game was released on the 3DS and it still manages to make it to the Top 10 in lists like these. This truly shows just how brilliant the game is.

Landing the #1 spot on this Top 25 list is the critically acclaimed "sequel" to the SNES classic: A Link Between Worlds. Bringing with it the return of 2D-style Zelda gameplay, along with an updated version of A Link to the Past's Hyrule, this game has become a fan favorite for both new and old players alike. I'd say the #1 spot is very well deserved for this fun and nostalgic Zelda game.

If you're interested in reading exactly what IGN had to say about each of these titles, here are the exact quotes regarding each of them:

About Majora's Mask 3D:

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D proves that interesting game design and strong world building never get old. 15 years later, it still delivers charming characters, tense moments, and a world rife with personality.

About Ocarina of Time 3D:

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D molded the 1998 Nintendo 64 original to fit a more modern standard. Sporting an updated visual style and a handful of gameplay tweaks split across two screens, Nintendo and co-developer Grezzo added a fresh layer of dimension to a game many already considered a masterpiece.

About A Link Between Worlds:

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds takes us back in time to one of the most influential games from the Super Nintendo era. It’s a nostalgic trip, but one that finds new ways to captivate players with fresh ideas and inventions.

What do you all think about this list? Do you think agree with their placements or would you have listed differently? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: IGN

Report: GameStop Italy is Listing Zelda U for a Spring 2015 Release

Nathan — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 20:37:00 +0000

I want to start this by saying to not get your hopes too high, the chances of Zelda U releasing this Spring is roughly .000001% chance of occurring. By Fi standards, you're screwed. According to MyNintendNews, who provided visual evidence, GameStop Italy is advertising Zelda U as a Spring 2015 release. While retailers often are privy to some release information long before the public is, GameStop in North America is still listing it as a December 31st release (aka, this year... at some point to be determined).

Eiji Aonuma has often hinted heavily that a Demo would be at E3 this year, and Miyamoto claimed that Star Fox is coming out before Zelda U. What I mean to say is, don't put any stock in getting the game in the next few months. GameStop Italy is simply wrong.

Source: MyNintendoNews

Born Unlucky? A Look At Some Less Than “Happy” Endings For Link

Cathron — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 04:40:00 +0000

Many fans of the Zelda series have probably had more than one daydream about being the hero Link. Questing through dungeons, saving Zelda, battling Ganon, it's easy to see why some would fantasize. Of course, one thing some fans may not realize is that Link doesn't always have a pleasant ending to his adventures.

Some of the heroes get wonderful conclusions to their tales, but others? Their endings were not as cheerful. Were these Links just born unlucky? Perhaps the goddesses did not favor them as much.

Wind Waker Link had a great ending, in my opinion. He set off to rescue his sister and ended up saving not only her but the remnants of Hyrule on various scattered islands.

After that, he traveled off with Tetra (arguably his love interest) and eventually found a new land to settle as Hyrule. Spirit Tracks shows fans the two were successful in doing that. Presumably, Link lived out his days peacefully with Tetra in the new Hyrule, working to develop the fledgling nation. That sounds like a pretty good ending to me.

Compared to the Hero of the Winds, some other Links weren't as fortunate in their concluded adventures.

Hero of Time

If any Link has gotten the shaft after their adventure, it's the Hero of Time. This guy starts his adventure in Ocarina of Time as a child. He travels through time itself to defeat Ganondorf, save Zelda, and restore peace to Hyrule.

His reward? Well, one of two things.

A. He's sent back in time to his childhood, a man now living in a child's body, and the only person who remembers his travels and deeds is Navi. She leaves him, likely never to be found again. Eventually, the resentment and bitterness in his soul is so powerful, it curses him upon death, and he becomes the Hero's Shade.

B. Link dies in the final fight with Ganon, creating the “defeated” timeline.

Once back in the child timeline, Link goes to the royal family to have Ganondorf stopped before he can attack Hyrule. The result is Ganondorf being banished to the Twilight Realm. After that, Link leaves for Termina where he has to save yet another land from destruction. The only thing he wanted was to be reunited with his partner Navi.

She was the one link he had to his old adventures, the only soul that shared his memories, and she simply vanished. Maybe Link found her again, but I'm guessing not since he ended up becoming cursed upon death anyway.

Maybe he came back to Hyrule, settled down with Malon, started Ordon Village, and died of old age. Still, that wasn't the end of his tale. If he'd found Navi, perhaps he wouldn't have been so restless throughout the rest of his life. Maybe he would have found peace all the way to his last breath instead of becoming the Hero's Shade. Sadly, that just wasn't the case.

I'd make the argument that Link would have been happier living in the adult timeline with Princess Zelda, but that's another article entirely.

Does he find peace eventually? Yes. When he meets Twilight Princess Link and passes on all his teachings to the blood descendant, he is finally able to rest.

That said, with the unspecified amount of time between Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, he was cursed for quite some time, doomed to wallow in bitterness alone. Was the Hero of Time just born unlucky? Or is it simply his fault he was unable to let go of the past?

Four Adventures And No Discernible Future

The other hero I wanted to look at was the Link from A Link to the Past. This hero completes not one...not two...not three...but four quests.

He saves Hyrule, he saves Holodrum, he saves Labrynna, he... well he destroys Koholint Island, but that's neither here nor there.

After going through three quests, the poor soul winds up shipwrecked in a coma. It takes another full adventure for him to wake up, and when he finally does, he's still adrift at sea with no land in sight.

Now, I know there are amazing tales throughout history of people being stranded at sea, only to be rescued later. They're fascinating stories, but the truth is, for every person miraculously rescued after being shipwrecked, there are two more that drowned, starved, etc.

Fans don't know what becomes of the hero after Link's Awakening, but it's the lack of a definite positive ending that makes me question if this Link truly was born unlucky.

Think about it. He completes more quests than any other Link in any of the timelines to date, and the poor guy just can't catch a break.

I hope for Link's sake I'm wrong. Maybe by some miracle he floats back to Hyrule or winds up in another land. Hell, maybe he makes his way to Termina for all I know. That place had an ocean.

Unlike the Hero of Time, this Link's resentment wasn't his undoing. Nothing that happened to this Link could be construed as his fault, and yet, he still winds up adrift at sea and quite possibly dies a horrible death as a result. Exposure, drowning, starvation, none of those are what he deserves after saving three lands. Or... is it possible his fate was his fault? If he hadn't obliterated Koholint Island and its residents by waking the Wind Fish could he have lived the rest of his days in peace on the island? Who knows.

What do you think about the fates of these two Links? Did they deserve better?

Sold Out Majora's Mask Cover Plates Are Selling for Astronomical Amounts on Ebay

Link 2 — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 20:37:00 +0000

Remember those Zelda-themed cover plates that sold out on Nintendo UK's website the other day? While the Triforce style plate is still available on GAME, the Majora's Mask edition cover plates are a little more scarce. The only place you can obtain the Majora's Mask plates from is eBay, sold by the lucky people and scalpers who snagged these coveted cover plates before the rest.

If you really want the Majora's Mask-themed cover plates as soon as possible, be prepared to have a chunk taken from your wallet! The plates are priced from a low of $40 to a high of over $100. This is quite a jump in price from the original $23.14.

Be aware that these plates will not work on a New Nintendo 3DS XL. The cover plates are only compatible with a regular New Nintendo 3DS, which are not being sold in the North American region.

The Majora's Mask-themed cover plates can be viewed at full size in the gallery below.

Source: eBay

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate to Add Legend of Zelda DLC

Link 2 — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 21:33:00 +0000

As confirmed in an IGN Nintendo Voice Chat, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, one of the best-selling 3DS titles of 2015, will be adding a Zelda-themed DLC on March 6th.

This DLC will contain a new set of armor, a bow and arrow, and a sword and shield, all based on our favorite green-clad hero.

If you're worried about paying for this extra DLC, don't fret. It will come free of charge! That's right, Nintendo will not charge you a penny. Maybe other companies should take note of how Capcom is handling DLC packs.

Do you play Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and will you be downloading this DLC? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo Everything

Limited Edition Majora's Mask 3D Giveaway Announced by Nintendo Everything

Link 2 — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 21:25:00 +0000

Nintendo Everything, a Nintendo news website, is holding a new giveaway on their Twitter page. The prize is a Limited Edition box set of Majora's Mask 3D.

The Limited Edition includes:

Majora's Mask 3D
Skull Kid Figurine

The giveaway is only for residents of US and Canada. To enter, simply follow Nintendo Everything on Twitter, and retweet the tweet embedded above.

The deadline is it is Saturday on 3/7/2015, one week from now. Good luck!

Source: Nintendo Everything

Highly Detailed Cross-Stitch Pattern for A Link to the Past

Link 2 — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 21:22:00 +0000

Fans of A Link to the Past may take interest in this highly detailed cross-stitch pattern on Etsy. This pattern will allow you to recreate the over world map of Hyrule.

The downloadable file is a .PDF, and can be used with any cross stitch fabric. It has 109 reviews, and a five star rating.

The dimensions are 256 x 256 stitches, and it uses 40 colors of standard DMC floss. You also have the option of using just black and white colors instead of a full-colored pattern.

The pattern itself is very inexpensive, costing only $5.00 USD. It can be ordered as an instant digital download here.

Source: Etsy

This Custom Deku Link Amiibo is Jaw-Droppingly Gorgeous

Error — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 21:45:00 +0000

Hi guys. It's me, Jackson. Sorry. I left for a while. I'm still on staff though (thanks Nate), so let's get back on it.

Nintendo fans have gone absolutely cucco (heh) for amiibo, with figurines becoming increasingly rare and fanatics attempting to collect every single addition to the brand. It's a jungle out there, but some have been able to master the wild world of amiibo. What's more, artists have created some beautiful custom creations from existing figures.

Etsy user MagicBeanBuyer has taken a Toon Link amiibo and customized it to create a beautiful Deku Link creation. It's the perfect match for Majora's Mask 3D.

Behold. I don't mean to burst your bubble (zing!), but I don't think this one is for sale. But something as creative as this is worth more Rupees than a field of grass can contain.

Source: Tumblr

The Boss Man: 3 Things that are Frustrating About Nintendo in Early 2015

Nathan — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 22:14:00 +0000

Nintendo has done a lot of great things for me as a fan of their games and hardware. The New Nintendo 3DS XL is everything I wanted it to be, improving my experience with the system and conversely with the games. Majora's Mask 3D has been a joy to play up to this point, and Splatoon is quickly approaching arrival, a game I am looking forward to playing with and against all of you on our live stream nights. However, not everything is perfect in Nintendo world, so today I am presenting you with 3 major reasons I am frustrated with Nintendo right now.

I hope this year, with Zelda U and everything in-between, ends on a higher note, but right now, at the start of the 3rd month of the year, Nintendo has me spinning in my chair, throwing my arms up, and yelling obscenities.

Daily Debate: Which Zelda Character Do You Hate the Most?

RODTheMaster — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 08:01:00 +0000

The Zelda series has quite a selection of likable characters; players don't have to search for very long to find a character or two that they will love and love forever. But for one extreme there must be another. I think it's safe to assume there is at least one character in the lands of Zelda that you hate unconditionally. Today we will explore these characters, whether they are annoying, unpleasant, or otherwise unlikable. It's time to dig deep inside ourselves and explain why we absolutely hate the Zelda characters we hate.

There are few candidates that I already anticipate to occupy some of your hate categories. One such candidate is Navi, whose eagerness to "help" the player is infamous among our fanbase. I can't think of many Zelda fans that haven't wanted to mercilessly crush Navi in a clenched fist when that fairy says "Hey!" or "Listen!" Another popular target for hate I expect to see is the ever-so-prevalent Tingle. Tingle's trademark weirdness and disturbing nature are often polarizing among Zelda fans, even though he seems to be growing in popularity lately. Even with his uncompromising quirkiness, I'm sure there are still a few fans out there that remain adverse to Tingle's refusal to just go away.

So what character in the Zelda series do you irrationally hate? What about this character evokes such strong feelings in your heart? Let the hate flow in the Daily Debate!

Caption Contest 007: Link, That Guy Who Always Ruins the Photo

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! It's Monday again. You know what that means, right? We are going to play Caption Contest because it's a really great game. Wow, I'm sorry. My daughter has become obsessed with "Blue's Clues" and I can't get it out of my head, so let's just forget that ever happened. Anyway, last week, Ghirahim graced us with his unmatched "beauty" and you all came up with some really great responses. After you've gotten a good laugh, find some inspiration for the image at the bottom of the page that is funny without caption. I stumbled across this gem on fanpop, but unfortunately couldn't find a name for the creator of the image. Now go forth and do what you do best, friends, and make us laugh!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

by: Coffee Cup Gamer

by: Gwen Jeronimo

by: m.g.

by: Sanic11

by: TickleMeTingle

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Darrin W. Harr II- "You like my eye shadow? It's called 'Blood of the Hero.'"
Orto- "Introducing Diamonds the new perfume/cologne for demons; 'Diamonds are a Demon Lords best friend'"
Al Capwn- "So you're the chosen hero? Tell me again where Zelda is."
Art1st4786- "Maybe he's born with it. Maybe it's Mabelline."
Hannah Coombs- "So... You come to the surface often?"

Actually, just for fun, let's add a little something to the contest this week. We are still going to do our standard contest, so make sure you leave those below in either photo or text format. However, let's also take a vote based on the image. In the comments below, you can vote on who you think Link from Twilight Princess should end up with. Ilia or Zelda? Leave your vote in the comments below!

This week's photo:

Image Source: fanpop

One of Happy Mask Salesman's Masks Influenced Majora's Mask's Mirror Shield Design

RODTheMaster — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 18:50:00 +0000

Most of us already know about the uncanny similarities between Majora's Mask's unique Mirror Shield design and a specific mask found on the back of the Happy Mask Salesman. It's safe to assume that one of these designs influenced the other, but the game was unclear as to which came first. In an interview with Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Eiji Aonuma explains how the Mirror Shield was actually based on the HMS' distressed mask and how the development team felt about this choice.

Nintendo Dream asks Aonuma about the shield and mask's similar designs:

"ND: The Happy Mask Salesman has a mask which shares its design with the Mirror Shield.
Aonuma: That’s right. The mask came first.
ND: Is that so?
Aonuma: When the Mirror Shield was being designed, we wanted to have some kind of pattern for the reflection. Having said that, it was hard to come up with a pattern for the shield. We clearly couldn’t make it like the shield from Ocarina of Time as the shape is too detailed and it wouldn’t fit the image of this game. But the Happy Mask Salesman is carrying a mask which has a face of distress, so wouldn’t it be interesting to use that one? Therefore, the Mirror Shield was born from what was previously a mask of Happy Mask Salesman.
ND: So you adapted the design which was originally for a mask.
Aonuma: Back then I was surprised like: 'Are we putting a face on the shield!?' But it fit the look of the world. (laughs)
ND: Come to think of it, the face of an Elegy of Emptiness statue is also great.
Aonuma: Ah, seeing that for the first time made a strong impression, too. Like: 'What’s this? This really looks like an empty shell.' "

The answer provides some interesting insight on how the Majora's Mask team designed the Mirror Shield. To think, the team could have experimented with other HMS masks to create the shield. How great a Mario mask Mirror Shield would have been. Aonuma's explanation also points out how the shield's strange design (and the Elegy of Emptiness statue) fits in with the overall tone of the game. I doubt the game would have been the same without these strange, unsettling images.

What are your thoughts on the Majora's Mask's Mirror Shield? Would you have liked to see a different design in the game? Let us know!

Source: Nintendo Dream (via Nintendo Everything)

Eiji Aonuma Interview Reveals Origin Names for both Majora and Termina

outsethero — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 02:02:00 +0000

The latest issue of Nintendo Dream, a Japanese video game magazine, featured a brand new interview with Eiji Aonuma mainly focused around Majora's Mask. One very interesting topic covered in the interview was actually the origins of both the Majora and Termina names.

According to Aonuma, Takaya Imamura—the art director for the Nintendo 64 release of Majora's Mask—not only designed the mask itself, he was also the one who created the name. He invented the word Majora by combining the names of characters from the 1995 film Jumanji along with his own name. Aonuma actually said he thought the name was good from the very beginning, the only concern came from using Majora's Mask as the subtitle for the game.

When asked about the name Termina, his answer was actually a lot more simplistic than the one for Majora, "Termina is a terminal, right?" Aonuma states that terminal means "a place where people come and go," so they used that definition as a basis for using the word as their inspiration for the land.

Both of these origins are extremely interesting to me, especially the simple reasoning behind Termina. I always thought it had something to do with the word "terminated" instead, since it also seemed to fit the world and its atmosphere. What do you all think about these name origins? Did you find them intriguing or do you honestly not care? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Nintendo Dream (via Nintendo Everything)

Daily Debate: What Dungeon do You Hate Most in the Zelda Series?

Link 2 — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 05:44:00 +0000

A common topic for many Zelda fans across the globe is what dungeons they dislike the most. There is always that one dungeon, that one temple, that had you so frustrated and filled with rage that you despise the very mention of its name. There might have been a dungeon that even made you rage quit, furiously hitting the power button without even saving. Or, you could have pulled a Markiplier, and threw your controller so hard that it broke. Whatever the case is, we want to know your pick for the most hated dungeon in the Zelda series.

Zelda fans who have played Ocarina of Time, the first installment of the Zelda series that made the jump from 2D to 3D, will most certainly remember the infamous Water Temple. The Water Temple is one of Zelda director Eiji Aonuma's most remembered creations. It is the epitome of tediousness and frustration, dubbed as the hardest dungeon of all time by many (and also brilliant in level design!)

Another Zelda dungeon that has earned a nasty reputation among the Zelda community is the rage-inducing Lanayru Mining Facility from Skyward Sword. Its mind-boggling puzzles combined with Link's infuriating auto-jump made this temple absolutely unbearable for me. It's a wonder I kept playing, let alone beat the dang thing.

The question remains: what dungeon ranks number one in your list of hated dungeons? Are you simply too pro, and no Zelda dungeon has ever made you upset? Join the hate-fest in the comments below!

The Deep Symbolism Behind the Silence of Link

Link 2 — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 22:56:00 +0000

I often wonder why Link does not talk in the Zelda series. Regardless, Nintendo has had no problems generating success from our favorite franchise, even though the main protagonist does not speak. Whilst pondering the topic of our hero's unwillingness to talk, an idea came to mind. What if Link not speaking is symbolism?

First of all, let's properly examine the meaning of symbolism. [Symbolism- (noun) the practice of investing things with symbolic meaning.] In other words, symbolism is an aspect, physical item, or attribute, that represents, defines, or means the same as a separate aspect, physical item, or attribute. Still confused? Words that could be used in the place of 'symbolism' are representative, indicative, or suggestive.

Keep in mind that this is an opinionated editorial, and that others may not have the same views and/or thoughts on the matter. That being said, let's explore the possible symbolism behind Link's voluntary muteness.

A conclusion I have drawn is that in modern-day society, those with strong mental will and composure are more apt to be silent, and do not speak as much as others might. These individuals that have obtained or are naturally born with mental sturdiness are able to control their emotions towards others and themselves by letting all negative thoughts drift away instead of voicing their concerns, comments, and questions. They do not ponder thoughts that may evoke feelings of sadness, depression, anger, and rage. All 'heavy' topics are avoided by simply not speaking, and making a semi-conscious effort not to think about such elements of negativity.

Note that I am in no way stating that to be able to be mentally strong you must silence all emotions and feelings, this is just one example I have come across. This example is what I believe is in correlation to Link's iron-clad habit of staying silent, besides the occasional, “Hyaah! Hyet! Hraaaaaaah!”

Facing Destiny

Let me take you on a trip back to an emotional, thought-provoking event that happened in one of the Zelda franchise's most successful titles, Ocarina of Time. The Hero of Time has accepted the fact that he must vanquish the evil that looms over Hyrule. Faced with destiny, he is out on a mission to which he knows he may not return. Risking his life and all he has known, Link starts out on a journey that will change his life, as well as the entire course of Hyrule.

Who should stop him on his way out of his home town, but his childhood friend: arguably a love interest. Saria slowly approaches Link and bestows upon him a gift. A precious, meaningful gift: her ocarina. I believe some of us at this point would break down. The wave of emotions would hit us like a giant wave crashing upon the shore. We would feel that at this point, there is no turning back. You have accepted your destiny, your life has taken a dramatic turn.

I would not criticize Link, or think any less of him, if he broke down crying. If he shed a multitude of tears, embracing his childhood friend in a sorrowful good-bye. Alas, this was not the case, for we know what happens. Instead of letting emotions harm him, with a look of bold determination on his face, Link accepts the gift, turns around, and simply walks off into the vast fields of Hyrule. No words, no tears, no complications.

This is the mark of someone who is strong-willed. Mentally sturdy, his mind is now a fortress that blocks out anything that stands in his way of saving Hyrule, but more importantly, his friends.

Facing Loss

Let us now look further back in the complex timeline of the Zelda series, all the way to the Creation Era of Hyrule. The Hero of the Goddess, Link, is once again faced with what seems like an impossible situation. His childhood friend, Zelda, has been snatched from his arms by an evil force, right in front of his eyes. This is someone he has cared for all of his short life, again, arguably a love interest.

This is yet another instance when a normal individual with only so much mental strength would break down. Your inseparable counterpart has been brutally taken from you, intentionally, by some unknown force. I don't know about you, but I would be extremely and emotionally tormented, exhausted, and put to my limit. Waterfalls of tears would fall from my eyes. My friend is presumably dead, and no one else knew me better than she did.

Yet again, we see an instance of Link's iron will. He does not cry, he does not pout, and he does not make things worse by trying to unload his sorrow on someone else by talking to them. He discovers that there is some possibility that Zelda is alive. Grasping at straws, he does what no Hylian has done before, and voluntarily violates the surface of the clouds. Link does not care if what he is doing may be foolish. If there is one chance of his best friend, possibly his childhood sweetheart, can be rescued, he is going to take that chance.

What am I trying to get at? If you don't know by now, I'll flat out tell you. Link is the strongest-willed character in gaming. Faced with death, doom, gloom, and depressing loss, our hero does not falter: he gets the job done, doing whatever he can to fix the situation. He does not waste time talking, or conveying his feelings. He gets the job done, without uttering a word.

In conclusion, Link does not need to talk. Link does not need sympathy, nor discussion. This is why he does not speak. He is a strong-willed individual, and this is the symbolism behind him being mute! Link is voluntarily mute. Here, in this instance, Link's silence = emotional composure.

I'd like to thank you all for reading to the end, and if my editorial engaged you in thought, be sure to let me know in the comments below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Just remember, next time someone makes fun of the Zelda series because of the fact that Link doesn't speak, correct them.

Fan art done by yumedust

"Grumble, Grumble:" The Zelda Series' Most Hateful Grumps

RODTheMaster — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 23:25:00 +0000

In Zelda, it's not hard to find many joyous and friendly people who would gladly help a hero in need. Sure there are a few bad eggs and monsters scattered about, but most of the series' inhabitants are anything but grumpy. Well today we're going to take a look at the few individuals that are grumpy, those that are filled with some degree of hate when meeting our green-clad hero. These noteworthy NPC's aren't villains, as they may not be malevolent, evil, or power-hungry, but they all express some degree of unjustified hatefulness and stick out in the generally welcoming Zelda world.

**The Hungry Goriya (The Legend of Zelda)**

The first grump on our list comes straight from the NES Legend of Zelda. Unlike his more active brethren who attack Link on the frontlines of battle, this particular Goriya broods angrily while hiding away in the game's seventh dungeon. When players encounter this grouchy monster, they are greeted by a vague "grumble, grumble..." and learn that they cannot proceed with him blocking their path. Why is this guy grumbling so much? Is he complaining about disagreements with other Goriyas under his breath? That would explain his innate grumpiness, right? It's hard to say exactly why he's so upset and removed from his Goriya family, but one thing's for sure: he's not letting anyone by him while he's in this heated state of mind.

It turns out the grumbles have a bit of a double meaning. While they can signify a subtle hatred of certain life circumstances, they also alert the player to the Goriya's namesake hunger. If the player has enough foresight as to provide this guy with some food, the Goriya will leave and let Link pass. Because the Hungry Goriya can be so easily pacified with a slab of meat, his hatefulness is ultimately minimal. But as the first of many hateful characters to come in the Zelda series, the Hungry Goriya is worth a mention.

Hate rating: 1 out of 5

**Every Single Dark World Tree (A Link to the Past)**

One would think that A Link to the Past's Dark World would hold a multitude of grumps to look at. When in actuality, other than a few monsters and thieves, not many Dark World residents are all that hateful when conversing with Link. That is, unless those residents are made of wood and branches. The second one of these barked baddies catches the slightest glimpse of our hooded hero, it will huff and puff and twitch its face in frustration.

Link, being a stand-up guy, is obviously attempting to alleviate the tree's distress with healthy discourse. But rather than give the boy an in, the tree will shout, "Quit bothering me! And watch where you're going when you dash around!" This in itself is not totally hateful; the grumpy tree is understandably worried about Link's tendency to lunge sword-first into innocent trees. Sure the "go away" is a bit harsh, but nothing in the wooden character's words are inherently hateful. However, the actions that follow cement these Dark World trees as things truly full of hate. They push Link away with a gust from their mouths and then spit an active bomb at him. So, undeserved violence and attempted murder make a forest of these haters something significantly frightening. We'll need a lot of meat to feed all these grumps.

Hate rating: 5 out of 5

**Ingo (Ocarina of Time)**

Many of you may remember this unhappy camper as the envy-driven worker at Lon Lon Ranch. When Link encounters this guy as a child, Ingo is already pretty vocal about how he, "should be in charge, not that lazy bum, Talon!" When Ganondorf rises to power in Link's seven year absence, Ingo is given the keys to the ranch, kicking the previous owner Talon out in the cold. Oh wait, sorry; he has this to say:

"There are some people in Kakariko spreading rumors that I cheated Talon out of the ranch, but... Don't be ridiculous! That guy Talon was weak! I, the hard-working Ingo, poured so much energy into this place! Listen, the great Ganondorf recognized my obvious talents and gave the ranch to me!"

Here we have a classic case of rampant jealousy and bitterness. Insulting his former boss aside, Ingo feels entitled to Lon Lon Ranch because of his hard work next to Talon's apparent laziness. This is completely understandable, but does he have to be such a jerk about it? With Ingo's pride out of hand, he frequently acts like sleazy car salesman and brusquely tells Link to "scram, ya little punk!"

Poor Malon is left to suffer Ingo's unrestrained grumpiness, as "he will treat the horses so badly" if she disobeys him. We can add animal cruelty to Ingo's hate list. Only if Link can manage to win Epona in a race and singlehandedly save the ranch will Ingo repent of his pride and hatred. Sweet, sweet, innocent Malon will rejoice at Ingo's transformation, as "he went back to being a normal, nice person!" But he was never a nice person, Malon. Never.

Hate rating: 4 out of 5

**Greba (Skyward Sword)**

This old Skyloftian woman is primarily seen partaking in two activities in Skyward Sword: doing laundry and complaining. The former somewhat contributes to the latter, as Greba is quick to exclaim that she is "drowning in dirty laundry here!" Excessive linen is something to worry about, but what more influences the woman's complaints is her son, Gondo. As some may know, Gondo runs Skyloft's Scrap Shop and, by the mere nature of his job, is understandably dirty when he returns home. Greba doesn't like that. She explains to Link that "all that lug does is make one filthy mess after another" and swears that "he leaves a grease spot wherever he sits."

Gondo is also constantly tinkering with his inherited Robot. Greba, for all intents and purposes, does not approve of her son's hobby, not knowing "what he intends to do with that scrap-heap reject." Hating on her son's cleanliness is one thing, but this bitter old lady hates her son's passions as well. She then mocks and insults her son behind his back! Greba calls Gondo names like "my greasy-fingered son," simply because the man is dedicated to something. She may say, "That greasy lug nut is fraying my wires!" but we know her overt grumpiness is repressing the dreams of a passionate young man. I'll give her concern as a parent the benefit of the doubt, but this family may be in need of some therapy down the road.

Hate rating: 2 out of 5

**Sharp (Majora's Mask)**

There are many layers to this troubled soul's hate. When Link first encounters the ghost composer Sharp in Majora's Mask, the Poe appears to be the most hateful of grumps. In fact, he is the closest character on this list to be a malevolent villain, with the most evil of intents. He threatens Link by saying, "join the ranks of the dead," and attempts a torturous murder of the young boy. The meeting almost feels like a boss fight, but Link just can't get a good hit in.

Instead, the player must travel to the Ikana Graveyard and rescue Sharp's brother Flat. The other composer brother explains that Sharp "sold his soul to the devil and was the one who locked" his brother in a grave. These actions all seem to fit in with Sharp's unbridled hate. However, when the Song of Storms is played for the angry spirit, he realizes his error and begs for forgiveness. Huh? Sharp then explains that he was cursed by "the masked one" and lost himself to anger. At this point, it's hard to separate Sharp's own hate with that impressed upon by the Skull Kid, and for that, I will be a little generous.

Hate Rating: 3 out of 5

**The Doorman at Chudley's Emporium (Twilight Princess)**

When Link explores the sprawling Hyrule Castle Town of Twilight Princess, he may find himself at the storefront of Chudley's Fine Goods and Fancy Trinkets Emporium. Beside this agreeably fancy retailer is a shoe-shiner that gives Link some pointers on presentable footwear. The friendly cobbler explains that "if someone's checking you out, they'll look at your shoes too... and secretly LAUGH at you." I like to think that the "someone" he's referring to is standing about ten feet away at the door of Chudley's Emporium. The doorman at Chudley's is vocal against "having a customer in the store with shoes as filthy as" Link's. He explains that such dirty shoes will make the store's "other clients uncomfortable," but we all know he is actually hating on Link's low-economic status. A true classist.

This is the kind of man -- whose lack of courtesy causes him to insult Link's attire to his face -- is most certainly a person who will laugh at a poor hero from afar. Perhaps we're judging this man too harshly though. Maybe he's merely respecting the wishes of his employer. Well when Chudley's Emporium is eventually rebranded as a Malo Mart, Chudley transforms himself into a cheerful dancing fool of a proprietor. The doorman however refuses to do a delightful jig, most likely because he is embarrassed to partake in such pedestrian practices. The man that refuses to conform to the lower classes is just not a good fit for a progressive owner like Malo, I suppose.

Hate Rating: 1 out of 5

**Bomb-Master Cannon (Wind Waker)**

Where does a young man go when he wants to buy bombs on the Great Sea? Well considering the unfortunate supply limitations, the infamous Bomb-Master Cannon holds the bomb monopoly. What does a good salesman do when he has a monopoly? He jacks those prices up! This is common practice for a business owner, but Cannon takes his prices to a whole new level. Where other bomb shops will sell explosives for fewer than 30 rupees, Cannon's stock is priced in the thousands. This situation is exploitive, unfair, and seedy; Cannon then makes a huge stink out of Link's inability to meet these unrealistic costs. He tells the honest hero, "Do you expect me to sell my fine bombs to some boy who has no money?! HAH! I'm done with you! Beat it! Scram!"

While the snooty owners in Chudley's Emporium will subtly mock Link's small wallet sarcastically, Bomb-Master Cannon will outright deride Link's supposed-poverty in Wind Waker. He will say, "Look! Can't you read! Do these look like something you can afford?! Huh?!" or, "Listen to me, boy! You're out of your mind! You CAN'T pay for these! So scram!" These are not kind words; in fact, they're downright hateful. Cannon is lucky the pirates set him straight half way through the game, or else his awful behavior would not be forgiven. A more gracious rating will be given to the reluctantly reformed bomb man.

Hate Rating: 3 out of 5

**Gorman Brothers (Majora's Mask)**

Like their Ocarina of Time counterpart Ingo, the Gorman Brothers are terrible, terrible people. They don't even have the luxury to be reformed through Link's kindness like Ingo was. Let's take a look at their crimes. These grumpy brothers apparently run some kind of horse track and training center, but they are never seen to be doing anything other than skulk around like a couple of creepers. Unless they're attempting to con Link in a horse race, they are pushing him to leave with such words as "now beat it! Scram!" Then if the boy beats these two jokers in a race, they'll gift him a shady hooded mask, but only if he agrees to not "tell anyone where [he] got this!" They're obviously hiding something.

As many of you already know, the Gorman Brothers' main business is robbin g poor souls (like Cremia) on the road in the middle of the night. Now that explains the weird masks! These criminals will then sell their spoils in whatever way best benefits them, such as selling watered-down Chateau Romani. These may be the scummiest examples of a hateful grump; they do deplorable things with no remorse. I considered their Troupe-leading brother for this list, but at least he was empathetic if the player spent enough time with him. These two are never sympathetic and they never repent. Enjoy your meat, you heathens!

Hate Rating: 5 out of 5

**The Blacksmith's Wife in Lorule (A Link Between Worlds)**

When Link first enters Lorule, he quickly learns how harsh and unforgiving this strange kingdom can be. Nothing makes this fact more apparent than the words of the first Lorulian he meets: the Blacksmith's wife. Even before our hero comes to full consciousness in the new land, he hears a voice question his competence. It says, "How does this kid expect to survive two seconds in Lorule if he's-." He's what? Weak? Unfocused? Stupid? There are so many possibilities, but none of them are complimentary. Once awake, Link -- who just survived a life-threatening experience -- is quickly kicked out of the Blacksmith's house. The woman bluntly says, "You can see yourself to the door. Go on now. Scoot!" Thanks for the help, I guess.

One would think the Blacksmith's wife of A Link Between Worlds is at least somewhat redeemable considering she did save Link's life. Well, she seems to regret doing so almost immediately. She questions her motives, saying she "shoulda just left [Link] there passed out in the middle of the road..." She did a good deed and she absolutely hates it. I understand why she wants Link out of the house so bad; she wants to forget the genuinely virtuous act she committed. If Link returns -- and reminds the woman of her morality -- she snaps, "Whaddya want this time?! Here I am. Taking all this time just to help folks out... Since when did I get so... nice?!" When indeed, Lady? If this kind of behavior is nice to you, I hope to never see your idea of mean. I suppose a single good deed every once in a while, especially when it matters, is enough to lower your hate rating though.

Hate Rating: 3 out of 5

**Mido (Ocarina of Time)**

Here we have the standard childhood bully, the grump that hates you for no justifiable reason. Mido calls Link names like "Mr. No Fairy!" and teases him incessantly. The self-proclaimed Kokiri boss constantly huffs around the forest, saying things like, "get lost! ...Harumph!" Well... maybe I will! Even when Link proves himself by acquiring a sword and shield, Mido lashes back saying, "...even with all that stuff, a wimp is still a wimp, huh?" A quick conversation with other Kokiri will show that "mean old Mido" is not appreciated by very many people. He even gives out a "Grumble... Grumble..." which echoes the Hungry Goriya, Zelda's first hateful grump. Every player of Ocarina of Time couldn't stand this guy's sass.

A little investigating will reveal why Mido is such a grumpy boy. He frequently questions Link's privilege, asking, "Shoot! How did you get to be the favorite of Saria and the Great Deku Tree? Huh?!" or "Why would he summon you and not the great Mido? ...Sheesh!" These are the statements of a person who is very insecure about what he doesn't have. He is envious of Link, who has the acceptance of the Great Deku Tree and the friendship of Saria. Because he is so insecure about himself and is constantly looking for attention, Mido tries to compensate by pointing out what Link doesn't have. This explains insults like, "Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!" He is a misguided kid who has a lot of growing up to do, and he eventually does. Seven years later, he will regret his bad attitude and say he's "sorry for being mean," especially to Link.

Hate Rating: 2 out of 5

**The Mad Batter (A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening)**

The Mad Batter is a somewhat obscure character from A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening. In both games, Link wakes this bat demon from a deep slumber with a sprinkle of Magic Powder. In retribution, the Mad Batter will say, "Now I will get my revenge on you. Get ready for it! ...Err, is that okay with you, sir?" What? That last sentence didn't quite fit there. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the Mad Batter's gimmick; he constantly goes back and forth from a hateful grump to a polite supporter.

His "revenge" involves upgrading Link's inventory, such as magic, arrows, and bombs. When he commits the dastardly assistance he says, "Heh heh heh! I laugh at your misfortune!" Yes, Mr. Batter. Having tons more stuff really is an unfortunate circumstance. He will then say, "Congratulations! Now, do your best, even though I'm sure it won't be enough!" The self-contradictory speech may prove the Mad Batter to be insulting sometimes, but he's just so dang likable. He's a hateful grump, but only half of the time.

Hate Rating: 2.5 out of 5

**The Man in Impa's House (Ocarina of Time)**

This man is a monster. From the first moment Link enters Impa's home, this guy is firing on all hate cylinders. He'll say things like, "Is visiting other people's houses at this late hour your idea of fun? You must not have had a good upbringing." That's a very pleasant thing to say to a child. Please, continue. Even after seven years, this awful, awful man is still standing around in Impa's house with the same grimace on his face. It's as if his entire existence for all of time is to scold the actions of others and say things like, "Hey! Young man! A grown boy entering a person's house without permission?! I want to talk to your parents!" Well, sir... My parents are dead and I am an orphan, but thanks for bringing that up.

This punk also likes to say the word "idiot." He has four unique responses to Child Link's masks, each starting with "You idiot!" My absolute favorite response is, "You idiot! I don't know why I'm calling you that, but... you are one!" This guy doesn't even know why he's so terribly mean to people; he's just acting on a deep, inherent urge to continually hurt those around him. The only marginally nice thing uttered by this grump is in regards to Kakariko's chicken lady, who he tells Link to listen to. The entire idea for this article was inspired by this mysterious man. Who is he? Why is squatting in Impa's house? What happened to him years ago that made him so hateful? We may never know.

Hate Rating: 5 out of 5

And there you have it: Zelda's most hateful grumps. If you feel I neglected any other hateful grumps, please share your thoughts in the comments. If you wish to keep the character hate train rolling, please go contribute to today's Daily Debate on our most hated Zelda characters.

Aonuma Discusses His Favorite Scene in Majora's Mask

Error — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 05:13:00 +0000

Eiji Aonuma is somewhat of a godfather to The Legend of Zelda. He wasn't there at the beginning, but he has become the key to the franchise's modern success. One of his first major brushes with the series was when he directed Majora's Mask. With the game's 3DS remake hitting the market, it is now a better time than ever for the developer to discuss what some consider to be his best work.

Above all, Majora's Mask is revered for its rich characters and unique way of storytelling. How do people act when the apocalypse is nigh? How nightmarish is it to see their torture again and again? Aonuma discussed his favorite scene from the haunting world of Termina in an interview with Nintendo Dream.

Aonuma: I think [my favorite scene is] the event of battling the king of Ikana. I think it’s interesting even now. That is also because I wrote the script mostly myself.
Nintendo Dream: You mean that comical dialogue?
Aonuma: That… is different, is it? But you thought my answer would be more righteous, didn’t you? (grinning)
Nintendo Dream: Y-yes.
Aonuma: This won’t do. (laughs) The scene with Kafei and Anju may be emotional but I don’t say a thing like that. (laughs)

That's a solid choice for a favorite scene. Props to you, Aonuma-san. I guess I should pick up Majora's Mask 3D soon...

Source: Nintendo Dream

Akira Himekawa Unveils More Scrapped Pages from Majora's Mask Manga

RODTheMaster — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 20:06:00 +0000

Last week Akira Himekawa, the geniuses behind the official Legend of Zelda manga series, released two never-before-seen manuscript pages that were cut from the Majora's Mask manga. The pages depicted a scene on Romani Ranch, with Link interacting with Romani and Cremia. For those hankering to see more of this cut storyline, Himekawa has released three additional pages of the rare manuscript, along with some insight on where it took place in the manga's story.

The scenes on Romani Ranch were meant to act as an introduction to the events at the Great Bay Temple. Link would have encountered Romani and Cremia on their way to an Indigo-Go's concert. Unfortunately, this manuscript was never published and remained unseen until now. Himekawa has been steadily releasing these rare manuscripts in honor of Majora's Mask 3D, and has announced more pages are on the way. I very much look forward to seeing more art from these awesome concept pages.

What do you think of the new pages? Do you want to see more? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Akira Himekawa (via Hammer Space)

Moral Bankruptcy in Skyloft

Paul Grzelak — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 22:04:00 +0000

Skyloft is probably one of the best hub towns I’ve ever visited in any game. It’s a happy yet bustling community nestled atop a handful of boulders floating over the clouds, where players are free to mingle with the locals and explore the island’s countless secrets.

In many ways Skyloft is a beautifully crafted environment, but it is also home to abusive relationships, mishandled portrayals of human interactions, and some negative messages for players. There’s a lot of ground to cover here, but let’s get the most obvious bad signal Skyward Sword sends players out of the way first.

Morality is Poorly Measured

Skyward Sword is far from the first game to measure moral choices, but this game’s take on the “good morality points for good actions, evil morality points for evil actions” system is a decidedly Nintendo one: players can only earn good morality points in the form of Gratitude Crystals. The only ways to obtain these crystalized embodiments of positive vibes are by helping the citizens of Skyloft with their problems.

The moral failing of this system is it treats everyone’s problems with equal weight even when some characters have much larger problems than others. Let me provide two examples of problems people face in Skyloft.

Shortly after completing Skyview Temple, Wryna tells Link that her daughter, Kukiel has gone missing. This is a surprisingly dark turn for Zelda games; Kukiel’s disappearance carries the suggestion of child abduction, which is a very adult theme to find amid Skyloft’s otherwise cheerful atmosphere. Kukiel is alright, of course, and discovering her with Batreaux introduces the Gratitude Crystal system itself. Once we head back to Wryna and inform her that her daughter is safe and sound, we are rewarded with five Gratitude Crystals.

In another instance, Link overhears an argument between Pipit and his mother, Mallara, whom Pipit accuses of wasting the extra money he’s been earning at the Knight Academy. Once again, this is a rather adult scenario one wouldn’t usually expect to find in a Nintendo game, were the financial strain between family members is brought to our attention.

But hearing this conversation does not open a side quest to solve the tension between a mother and her adult son. Instead, Link can use his Gale Bellows to clean Mallara’s home, which is only filthy because she is too lazy to clean it herself. For this deed, Mallara rewards Link with 20 rupees and five Gratitude Crystals. The side quest does not continue beyond this, though we can come back to clean the home again for more money if we wish.

So, in one instance, we saved a mother from the horror of believing her darling child was trapped, killed, or abducted, and in the other we worsened the financial instability and emotional tension in a family, but both actions provided us with the same reward! What sort of message is Nintendo trying to send players here?

This is just one example of an unsettling trend that runs throughout Skyward Sword: anything the player does is determined to be morally right, and all morally right choices are equal in value.

This message really comes to a head at the climax of the Peatrice side quest.

Breaking a Heart is Okay

I don’t mean to rustle the jimmies of any Pink Rice fans here, but let’s look at the relationship between Link and Item Check attendant (Manager? Clerk?) Peatrice in terms of what it provides the players with: an opportunity to break someone’s heart and be rewarded for it.

Over the course of Skyward Sword’s narrative, Peatrice—up to this point, a relatively minor tertiary character—becomes infatuated with Link. Peatrice’s reasons for this infatuation, if she has any at all, are open to interpretation, but the point is her attitude toward Link changes from borderline passive-aggressive to excited and giddy. This change in attitude progresses as players continue playing through the game, and finally reaches the point where Peatrice is convinced she is in love with Link.

Eventually, players are given the opportunity to choose whether they want to accept Peatrice’s affection or reject it. Returning Peatrice’s feeling make her overjoyed, while rejecting them sends her into a state of despair. As the player, we are unable to have Link try and be more sensitive in talking her down from her emotional high; this is strictly a binary decision.

But no matter the player’s decision, the reward is the same. Returning Peartrice’s feelings rewards players with five Gratitude Crystals from Peatrice, while rejecting them rewards players with five Gratitude Crystals from Peatrice’s protective father, Peater.

Consider for a moment what sort of message this sends players. If we break a young woman’s heart, we are given the same reward as we would have received if we returned her affection. I do not wish to imply that Peatrice is entitled to Link’s affection, but why does this game present this scenario in such a way that both choices Link can make are morally right choices? It suggests that our actions do not matter so long as one person ends up happy.

Are we to believe this was simply a game design oversight, or should we run with wild conspiracy theories about Nintendo trying to indoctrinate players with some form of nihilism at best or moral bankruptcy at worst? Rarely in life are we presented with the godlike ability to directly control someone else’s emotions; to instantly decide whether another will collapse into a state of despair or have their hearts flutter with ecstasy is a great power indeed, but Skyward Sword gives the player this power without any notion of responsibility.

And we haven’t even touched on the subject of how this side quest opens the dark door of objectifying a very vulnerable and passive female character. Unfortunately, Skyloft provides another example of that much earlier in the game, made all the more disappointing given how this female character is not passive but remarkably strong.

Zelda is Objectified

Zelda starts Skyward Sword as the most capable character in Skyloft.

In the first hour of the game, she pushes Link over the edge of the island and then, without hesitation, risks her own life and the life of her Loftwing to save him. She demonstrates a better understanding of the Knight Academy‘s administration than her father, who is the school’s headmaster. She also protects Link from Groose, and directly confronts, chews out, and intimidates the bully twice.

Basically, Zelda starts the game carrying herself with more competency and agency than any of the bumbling students or pun-spewing teachers in the Knight Academy.

But then, once Link finishes his Loftwing flying tutorial (which is also provided by Zelda), this strong and capable protagonist turns into little more than a prize to be won in a competition between young male students. She is even introduced by one of the academy’s instructors (!) as, “the lovely Zelda!”

Not, “the wonderful Zelda!”

Not, “the magnificent Zelda!”

The adjective that instructor Owlan uses to describe one of his female students to his male students is lovely: an adjective that draws attention to Zelda’s physical appearance rather than her reputation or the fact that up to this point she has been portrayed as the smartest person on the island.

The game went from portraying Zelda as a great friend and a first-rate student into nothing more than a booth babe. A booth babe who will present a gift to whichever male student is victorious in a competition, and who was selected for this task because of her physical beauty.

Disregaurd all notions of objectifying women in video games for a moment; this change in Zelda’s portrayal is completely at odds with everything she has been established to be so far in the game. The game is suddenly telling the player that not only is it alright to judge capable people only by their physical appearance, but women like Zelda will do so with a laugh and a smile. More importantly, we as the player are told to stop thinking of Zelda as someone to look up to and learn from, and more as a goal to achieve.

Of course, all of this precedes later events in the game, where Zelda’s portrayal is at least much more dynamic than this one sequence would have us believe. Nonetheless, it makes one wonder about how both female students at the Knight Academy are treated. After all, the only other lady taking classes at the Knight Academy is Karane.

Speaking of whom, Karane is involved in another little story about the questionable messages about morality players learn in Skyloft. But this article has already gotten pretty long, so for the sake of keeping the discussion in the comments section focused, I’ll shelve that story and more for the next article of this mini-series: More Moral Bankruptcy in Skyloft, out later this week.

Until then, I’m eager to read your thoughts in the comments below!

Amiibo Production Underway in Japan

Link 2 — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 21:54:00 +0000

It's no secret that amiibo are scarce, as well as most new Nintendo products. It has been confirmed that this is due to massive work strikes on the West Coast, where packaged amiibo and New Nintendo 3DS XL may very well be sitting in crates collecting dust. (You would know this if you watched the latest The Boss Man episode!)

Regardless of what rare items could be being held from consumers due to port strikes, more amiibo are being produced in Japan, particularly Villager, Captain Falcon, and Little Mac. What does this mean for North America and Europe? More amiibo could be shipped to those regions, possibly including more scarce Zelda-themed amiibo such as Toon Link and Shiek. It could be that this is just wishful thinking, but I believe it is a real possibility.

Nintendo also apologized for the scarcity of amiibo, and thanked all their customers for their continued patronage. Are you annoyed with Nintendo? Are you lucky enough to own a Toon Link or Sheik amiibo? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo Japan

Check Out this Fan's Amazingly Detailed Laser-Cutting Project

RODTheMaster — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 04:04:00 +0000

There have been a lot of really cool and unique Zelda art projects lately. In just the past week, we've seen such masterpieces as a Majora's Mask made with a chainsaw and a Zelda-inspired customized Gamecube. To add to all the awesome art floating around, Reddit user gmhafker has recently shown off his stunning Zelda laser cutting project. The piece is both beautiful and highly-detailed, well worth a look by any fan.

Gmhafker's piece was created using a laser cutter on chip-board. The piece features tons of detailed Zelda iconography such as the Triforce, the Master Sword, and the Hylian Shield. The more I studied the images the more I discovered in this impressive project, such as the rupees that line the top. I really wish I could get close to this piece to see all amazing details. Gmhafker has even provided an Illustrator file for the piece for those with a laser cutter who are interested in constructing their own artwork.

What are your thoughts on the piece? Will you attempt to make your own? Let us know!

Source: Reddit (via Hammer Space)

Guitar Duo Takes On Saria's Song

Cathron — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 04:29:00 +0000

The Zelda games inspire some amazing creations from fans of the series, from drawings, to paintings, to music, and more. In the case of these two guitarists, the Zelda games inspired them to arrange and perform their own version of Saria's Song.

The two call themselves 72HoursRemaining, and they regularly upload new videos of themselves playing songs from the Zelda series.

As most fans know, Saria's Song debuted in Ocarina of Time as a piece of music played by the Forest Sage named Saria. She teaches it to Link, and it allows him to contact her no matter where she is. The song also made a return in Majora's Mask.

The duo's rendition of Saria's Song clocks in at three minutes and twenty seconds. 72HoursRemaining has also done other popular Zelda tunes like the theme from Deku Palace and Linebeck's Theme. For more information about the duo, click here.

Eiji Aonuma Comments on the 5 Stages of Grief Theory, Wanted to Hook Players into the Emotional Tone

Nathan — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:53:00 +0000

One of the many popular theories surrounding Majora's Mask is the 5 Stages of Grief. This theory was something we ourselves put together many years ago, but since those days others have come up with more and more evidence to support them. It's also a key piece behind the Link is Dead theory - though it's not the only one. Many fans have been speculating about this game for 15 years, and now thanks to the remake Eiji Aonuma is more open than ever to talk about the original ideas for the game. In an interview with Game Informer magazine, Eiji Aonuma is asked point blank about the 5 Stages of Grief, of which he gives a rather interesting response:

"Game Informer: Some fans speculate that Majora's Mask is a metaphor for the stages of grief. The towns-folk are in denial of the moon falling; the Deku King is punishing the monkey out of anger; the ghost in the snow temple is bargaining for a return to the world of the living; Lulu in the Zora Temple is battling with depression; and the final temple could be considered acceptance as it wraps up Link's journey. Was this considered during development, or is this just a fan interpretation?
Eiji Aonuma: It's certainly true that each one of these different episodes you talked about has a different emotional cast to it. One feels like it's tinged with sadness, and another with anger - that certainly was intentional. But, I also want to point out that it's not that each one of these episodes only has the one emotion that they are conveying. There are certainly other notes that we're trying to hit as well, and the reason we did this is always to allow the player to experience that emotion - to give them a chance to hook into the emotional tone of this scene and react to it and feel like they want to accomplish something in the game as a result."

These are some really interesting words that can be interpreted any number of ways depending on what you believe. If like me, you think the Link is the Dead theory is wrong, and one of the main reasons of that is that the 5 stages of grief theory itself is wrong, than you likely see this as some sort of confirmation of that end. How? Because while he says the mentioned emotions are intentionally conveyed, he also goes on to mention that at the same time, those aren't the only emotions being conveyed in those scenes. He also says that all of this exists to draw us in emotionally into what is going on. Then, there is also the fact he doesn't mention grief at any point in his response, making it seem like that's fan coincidence, and that we see the stages because we're ignoring the other emotions to fit our own imagination.

Then, on the other side, Eiji Aonuma did say these emotions were intentional, and thus you might take that to mean that they intended for there to be a "5 Stages of Grief" ideal throughout the story. Reality is, neither side is wrong, at least based on what Eiji Aonuma just said. Many of you know which side of the fence I lay on, but what about you?

Source: Game Informer Magazine (Exclusive to Subscribers)

Weekly Music Spotlight: Inspired Zelda Orchestrations

Jyaxen88 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 13:36:00 +0000

Hello fellow lovers of Zelda music and welcome back to our (slightly belated) Wednesday feature: The Weekly Music Spotlight! We've been MIA for a couple weeks since our collaboration with some of our featured artists, but we're back to expose you to yet another artist who's work catapults them above the rest. This time around, we're dealing with one who delves into the realm of music orchestration in order to create his masterpieces. His past credits include the incredible Harmony of Heroes album of Super Smash Bros. music, for which he was assistant director, as well as the composer of several of its tracks, as well as "Waiting for the Dawn": An multi-part arrangement representing the Final Day in Majora's Mask.

Daniel "Rozen" Jimenez graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in the U.S. and has since worked as a composer for television, video game, and film, as well as video producer in live and behind-the-scenes music videos. Most recently, to celebrate the release of Majora's Mask 3D, he composed a piece called "Termina's Demise (Oath to Order)". This piece, like "Waiting for the Dawn" before it, colors the final moments of Majora's Mask, but stands on its own as an outstanding, tense, and evocative piece of music. We had the following to say about it the track when we first heard it:

Covers of Majora's Mask music are not hard to come by lately, but few go as far as to effectively place you into the world of Termina. In a new cinematic arrangement of the game's chilling Oath to Order, composer Rozen plants listeners into Majora's Mask's final hours. This cover, titled "Termina's Demise," is both emotional and beautiful, as one can imagine the feelings of Clock Town's citizens as the Clock Tower ticks down to zero.

While I can't guarantee that Rozen's expansive and intense approach to the arrangement will appeal to all, those who love Majora's Mask for its dark, chilling, and often-overwhelming atmosphere will be drawn to listen to this piece again and again. You can hear the piece in full in the video above, or purchase it via iTunes to experience the end of Termina, wherever you might be. Do yourself a favor, however, and do as he suggests in wearing headphones and closing your eyes as you listen; that is the true way to experience this kind of music. Additionally, if you haven't already, make sure to check out the full Harmony of Heroes album for an incredible variety of music from Zelda and other great Nintendo franchises.

To learn more about Rozen and his work, please check out the links below! And as always, let us know what you think in the comments, as well as any suggestions you might have of artists to feature in the future!

Rozen's Music and More

Interview: Katie Wilson Discusses Zelda and Her Fantasy Fascination

AboardTheBebop — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 18:00:00 +0000

About a month ago, rumor spread of a Netflix original in the works based on The Legend of Zelda series. The Internet exploded with fan remarks on how this would either ruin the series or bring it to a new form of media in a fun way. The reaction was so strong that a petition to kill the show was created, even before it was officially announced. It is important to note that at this time, it is still just a rumor. However, one person who remained positive about it was popular YouTube Zelda fan, Katie Wilson. I recently had the privilege to speak with Katie about her response video which she released on the day that the news was made.

Jei: Could you tell us a little about yourself and what made you want to become a YouTube vlogger?

Katie: I like to consider myself the "Girl next door with a geeky edge." I grew up loving all things medieval, fantasy, geek, gamer related and really wanted an outlet where I could share my passions with an audience who likes the same things. My goal has always been to work my way up to creating shorts, sketches, and parodies on a regular basis.

What is it about Medieval Fantasy that draws you to genre favorites like The Legend of Zelda and “Game of Thrones”?

I think growing up watching Xena Warrior Princess as well as classic Disney movies, I always had a love and interest in castles, mythology, sword fighting, etc... The Legend of Zelda was the first console game I ever played and it remains my very favorite! The Legend of Zelda series & Game of Thrones did an incredible job of creating these fantastical worlds with magic, fairies, and dragons and I think that is the reason I am so drawn to them.

You've stated multiple times that Ocarina of Time is your favorite Zelda game. Other than that, what other games in the series really stuck out to you and why are they special?

Nothing will ever beat OoT!!! BUT, I did really enjoy Twilight Princess. I loved seeing the franchise in a darker, grittier setting.

Just over a year ago, you posted a video stating that you really wanted to see a Zelda movie, and now Netflix may be going a step further via this TV Show, causing a lot of negative uproar in the Zelda community. Some people, like you, have a positive attitude towards the project since Netflix promises a “Game of Thrones for the family” feel. What potential do you see in the show that could prove better than many others believe?

I have to see something for myself before I can even judge it, so there really is no point in being negative! Plus I'm such an optimistic person, I would love to see a Legend of Zelda TV series do well! I understand other people's point of views and why they could be upset, but personally I think it could be an awesome opportunity to watch my favorite game franchise unfold on a TV show. Unfortunately nothing official has been confirmed by Nintendo or Netflix, but if this indeed comes to fruition, I think it's going to be stellar! Netflix has a great reputation of creating quality content and when they say "Game of Thrones for the family" I think they are simply referring to style. I think a Legend of Zelda series should be more for a mature audience, but at the same time, that 12 year old kid sitting playing Majora's Mask on his 3DS XL should still be able to enjoy it. Also cast is a HUGE deal. It could totally make or break a series.

What are your thoughts on what we've seen so far about Zelda U?

IT LOOKS AMAZING!!!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Love the graphics and the more "open world" feel. I'm really looking forward to seeing more from the game!

What does the future hold for “The Legend of Katie” in 2015?

Hopefully some larger scale shorts, skits, & parodies! I definitely want to create some fun Legend of Zelda content, so hopefully that can happen!

Katie's channel, The Legend of Katie, has always focused on the medieval types of content, from "Game of Thrones" to The Legend of Zelda and is a personal favorite of mine. She uploaded her first video on July 12, 2012, but that was far from her first appearance in media. Before that, she had also appeared on Scream Team, Black Nerd Comedy, and the the web series, "Walking In Circles". Since then, she has nearly reached 60,000 subscribers and continues to grow with her content encompassing video games, cons, Disney, "Game of Thrones", and regular Q&As, proving that she enjoys connecting with her fans. If you love fantasy worlds, video games, or just nerdy media in general, I highly suggest following Katie on her YouTube channel.

So, now it's time for you to speak. Since the dust has settled from the rumor, how do you feel about the idea of a Zelda inspired TV show now? Are you still completely against it, or are you with Katie in that you are excited at the possibility that it could actually be something amazing? Do you follow The Legend of Katie? Let us know in the comments below.

Find Katie on:

YouTube - The Legend of Katie
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
IMDB
Spreadshirt
Website

Daily Debate: What is Your Most Hated Boss in the Zelda Universe?

Link 2 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:22:00 +0000

Ever since the original Zelda title for the NES, beating the boss at the end of a dungeon has been one of the most challenging tasks in a video game ever. There is always one boss that sticks out, one boss that infuriates you almost to your breaking point. You tried again and again, but over and over you get brutally bashed and beaten. The question is simple: what is your most hated boss in the Zelda series to-date?

Me and a fellow Zelda fan have always remarked about how tough the first boss of Skyward Sword is, Ghirahim. His rage-inducing habit of blocking your attacks had my blood pressure rising. His ability to teleport also had me sweating (but I can not deny that Ghirahim is still fabulous.) Thus being stated, Ghirahim was an OP first boss.

Another baddie I have heard complaints about is Hyrule Warriors' Zant, from Twilight Princess. He had so much health, and his attacks did so much damage. His high-pitched shrieks of war did not help my concentration at all while attempting to vanquish this foe. Needless to say, Zant is a true (but tough) boss.

Were either of the two evil antagonists mentioned above tough for you to bring down, or did you have an entirely different boss in mind? Let us know and join the hate-fest in the comments below!

Aonuma Answers More Majora's Mask Questions, Explains Whose Soul is Inside the Fierce Deity Mask

RODTheMaster — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:07:00 +0000

If I'm only allowed to be thankful of Majora's Mask 3D's release for one reason, it would be for the numerous interviews Eiji Aonuma has been giving to promote the game. In several of these interviews, the Zelda producer has shed light on everything from fan theories to design decisions. In a recent interview with Game Informer, Aonuma answered a series of questions about Majora's Mask, speaking on the mysterious nature of the Fierce Deity Mask and so much more.

The interviewer begins this question segment with a few silly inquiries:

"Does the Lon Lon Ranch milk of Ocarina of Time taste different from Romani Ranch milk of Majora's Mask?
Aonuma: I wonder if they would be different. Well, since these two worlds are different, I would have to expect that the flavor of the milk in each world would also be a little bit different.
What would happen if you ate a Deku nut?
Aonuma: This is a sort of thing that is capable of emitting a really big flash when it hits the ground. So this probably not something anyone should try to eat. I wouldn't recommend it."

Aonuma then elaborates on the physical effects of transformation masks, such as Deku or Goron masks:

"Why does it hurt so much for Link to wear the transformation masks?
Aonuma: We're talking about masks that were created to contain the memories of people who have died. Often there are things they really wanted to do before they left this world, so becoming them is actually really painful because it's like hosting a really powerful spirit that's coming into you."

With the idea of taking on a powerful spirit's memories in mind, the interviewer asks about the spirit within the Fierce Deity Mask:

"Whose soul is inside the Fierce Deity Mask?
Aonuma: The best I can give you is just a suggestion. The best way to think about it is that the memories of all the people of Termina are inside of the Fierce Deity Mask."

That is such a fascinating explanation. With the memories of all of Termina, all those affected and hurt by Majora over the course of the game, within that mask, it's no wonder Link can do some amazing things while wearing it. Using the mask to defeat Majora at the end of the game will now feel even more powerful and satisfying, as the player is actually channeling an entire land's collective retribution.

How do you feel about this explanation? Are there some burning questions you'd love to ask Eiji Aonuma? Share your thoughts with us!

Source: Game Informer (Exclusive to Subscribers)

The Impact of A Link to the Past On Aonuma's Career

AboardTheBebop — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:35:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is without a doubt my favorite game in the series. The vast amount of collectibles, exciting puzzles and bosses, and dual-world dynamics made for the perfect adventure. This title was one of the greatest factors in why I wanted to have a life in gaming, in some form or fashion. According to the recent interview between Game Informer and Eiji Aonuma, A Link to the Past also had a major impact on the current director and producer of the Zelda series.

Game Informer: What was your path into video game design?
Aonuma: ...After joining Nintendo, I originally worked as an artist, doing the design of characters like Mario in pixel art. I went on to character design for lots of different games. I eventually reached the point where I wanted to make my own game. This was around the time A Link to the Past had come out. Playing that game really made me realize there were lots of different sorts of feelings you could convey in a game; it opened up some new horizons.
Game Informer: How did you come to be in charge of Zelda?
Aonuma: I directed a few different titles [like the Japan-only Marvelous: Mōhitotsu no Takarajima--Ed.] before I worked on my first Zelda game, but what's interesting is that a lot of those games had a very Zelda-like feel to them. Perhaps it was because I had been so influenced by my recent playthrough of A Link to the Past, but it was something Mr. Miyamoto noticed in the work I had been doing. He said, "You know - if you want to make a Zelda game maybe you should just come over to that team and make a Zelda game." That is when I joined the Zelda team that produced Ocarina of Time.

Personally, I really enjoy hearing what inspired the people that I look up to and knowing that they enjoy the games they create just as much as I do. His passion for A Link to the Past has actually become his craft, and could be why he revisited that world in A Link Between Worlds, thought by many to be one of the best titles in the series in years. If there is one thing that keeps me hopeful about the future of the Zelda series, it's knowing that the man behind it cares more about the series and trying to create something that inspires newcomers the way A Link to the Past inspired him than trying to make just another new game for the sake of putting another Zelda game on shelves.

What game in the Zelda series was your most inspirational? What do you want to see return from previous titles? Do you feel better about Zelda U thinking that Aonuma has started to fall back to what made the series so special to him instead of focusing so much on reinventing the series? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Game Informer Magazine (Exclusive to Subscribers)

Aonuma Discusses Three-Day Cycle of Majora's Mask

AboardTheBebop — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:24:00 +0000

When I think about The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, one of the first things that comes to my mind is the three-day cycle. One of the things that the Zelda series has always lacked is a sense of urgency. The threat of a great evil almost seems to idly stand by on their plans for domination so you have time to stop by and catch the Hylian Loach. However, Majora's Mask gives you a countdown clock and the visual representation of a falling moon that will ultimately destroy an entire town with you inside it.

The three-day cycle was a way to not only cut down on production time, but also captivate new feelings that had never really been experienced in a Zelda title before it. In the recent interview with Game Informer, Eiji Aonuma discusses how he and his team considered the new mechanic and his feelings on it's impact on the game.

Game Informer: Even 15 years later, the three-day cycle in Majora's Mask continues to be controversial among Zelda fans. Was there internal opposition to the mechanic when the game was being developed?
Aonuma: It certainly was a big move to go to this three-day cycle as opposed to a more traditional Zelda, but we felt it was going to be different and very stimulating for people who had played Ocarina. However, we were also concerned about possibly confusing players who were new to the Zelda series. That was always on my mind. We knew we were facing a very short development cycle for this game - it was really only one year from start to end. We wanted to make sure that we were bringing out a new vision - something that was very different, rather than working on a short development cycle to just rehash older game-play concepts. That was something very important to me and why I felt we needed to make a big move.

Majora's Mask has recently become a fan favorite, ever since speculation arose of the 3D remake. Now that it is out, it has become a testament to the care that Aonuma is putting into his re-releases as he strives to take what made them so special and simply make them better. Fifteen years later, the three-day cycle continues to create a sense of urgency as I try to complete dungeons and side-quests and hits all of the emotional points of what it's like to believe you only have three days to live.

How do you feel about the three-day cycle? Do you think it's just a cheap way to cut production costs or do you feel that it helped to craft one of the most unique experiences in the series to this day? Let us know in the comments below. Also, don't forget to check out our walkthrough for Majora's Mask 3D.

Source: Game Informer Magazine (Exclusive to Subscribers)

The Man, the Legend: How Aonuma Rose to Power in Nintendo

Link 2 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:42:00 +0000

Most fans of the Zelda series are used to hearing the name Eiji Aonuma. Aonuma is a Zelda franchise producer, having a hand in it since the vastly popular Ocarina of Time. Since then, Aonuma has directed most Zelda games for Nintendo, earning him a spot in the higher-ups of the company. Aonuma has molded the Zelda series into what we know today, and is continuing to do so.

In the latest issue of Game Informer, we have learned more on topics such as the Majora's Mask "Five Stages of Grief" theory, as well as more information about the soul inside the Fierce Deity Mask. The latest bit of news we have seen is how Aonuma became the director of the entire Zelda series. Rather than hear my words, read Aonuma's account of it:

Game Informer: How did you come to be in charge of Zelda?
Eiji Aonuma: I directed a few different titles [like the Japan-only Marvelous: Mohitotsu no Takarajima-Ed.] before I worked on my first Zelda game, but what's interesting is that a lot of those games had a very Zelda-like feel to them. Perhaps it was because I had been so influenced by my recent playthrough of A Link to the Past, but it was something Mr. Miyamoto noticed in the work I had been doing. He said, "You know - if you want to make a Zelda game maybe you should come over to that team and make a Zelda game." That is when I joined the Zelda team that produced Ocarina of Time.

What do you think? Would you like Aonuma to stick around for more Zelda titles, or have someone new direct them? Let us know your take on it in the comments below!

Source: Game Informer Magazine (Exclusive to Subscribers)

Player Piano and The Zelda Project Team Up to Produce a Live Action Zelda Movie

Link 2 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 22:14:00 +0000

The Zelda Project, a group based in Los Angeles dedicated to bring the world of Ocarina of Time to life via film, and Player Piano, an ensemble that creates videos and uses a combination of musical compositions and costumes to pay tribute to great TV series, games, and movies, has teamed up to create one of the most impressive fan project teasers I have ever seen.

This two-minute teaser epic gives you a tantalizing taste of the sheer awesomeness that will emerge from this collaboration. The fan film is planned to depict a final battle between Link and Ganondorf. The purpose? Save Princess Zelda, of course.

The teaser shows Link riding on Epona across a vast desert-like climate. He then dismounts his horse with a look of pain in his eyes, when a familiar friend appears to convince Link to continue: Navi.

Ending with a visually appealing scene of what I surmise is Ganondorf's castle, the teaser closes with Zelda-esque text reading, "The Final Battle is coming."

Be sure to check out the video above, and share your thoughts in the comments below. You can learn more about this fan project here.

Daily Debate: What is Your Most Hated Out-of-Game Aspect in the Zelda Franchise?

Link 2 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 21:26:00 +0000

We at Zelda Informer commonly focus on out-of-game topics, including interviews with Eiji Aonuma and Miyamoto, announcements on upcoming Zelda titles, and various other things. In this Daily Debate, we want to know something that you hate about the Zelda franchise with one little twist. It has to be out-of-game.

For an out-of-game example, we could look at how Nintendo has handled the limited edition Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL system, and frown. Some people, myself included, believe Nintendo is being slightly anti-consumer by producing so few consoles. It is a limited edition, but why does it have to be this limited?

Another out-of-game example would be the high cost of Zelda games. All newer Zelda titles are priced at around $40 to $60. When pre-ordering Hyrule Warriors, after taxes and shipping, my total was over $70. To me, that seems a little too much for one video game, however awesome.

Enough of my ranting, we want to know if you dislike any out-of-game aspect about the Zelda franchise itself. Is it one of the two examples I mentioned above, or something entirely different? Think of your answer and join the hate-fest in the comments below!

A Link Between Worlds Soundtrack Returns to Club Nintendo Europe

Error — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 07:33:00 +0000

After a disappearance from the online shop, the A Link Between Worlds is returning to Club Nintendo Europe. Or has returned. It's here. Go nuts.

The soundtrack comes at the measly cost of 300 stars (us Americans are left with pathetic coins). Supply is more than likely limited. Since Club Nintendo is ceasing services within the next few months, now is a better time than any to pick up this soundtrack. It's the only time, after all. You may never get this chance again. Cue the intense music.

Source: Nintendo

Aonuma Talks More About the Approach to Changes in Majora's Mask 3D

RODTheMaster — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 21:34:00 +0000

As the release of Majora's Mask 3D drew closer, we heard a lot about how the development team approached changes from the original N64 game. Aspects like pacing and difficulty were tweaked in certain ways to help players understand and push toward objectives. With the game finally out for a few weeks, Eiji Aonuma recently spoke to Game Informer about how his team approached these changes, discussing pacing, boss fights, and more.

Aonuma was asked about changes in Majora's Mask 3D:

"How did you approach making changes to the 3DS version of Majora's Mask?
Aonuma: Looking at the original version now, you can really see the places where the player would have slowed down. When they approach a new area, if they can't quite figure [it] out, they're going to wander around outside and have a lot of downtime rather than getting to the content that you want them to play.
The same thing happens anytime the difficulty of the game peaks. That's something we decided to pay very close attention to. For example, even in boss fights, if you don't make the weak point of the boss clear enough, people are going to go through the boss fight several times. They might just stop and look up how to beat the boss. Any time that happens, you're losing tempo in the game."

That's interesting. How do you feel about Aonuma's philosophy? Do you agree with the changes? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Game Informer (Exclusive to Subscribers)

Miiverse Highlights: The Love for Vaati is in the Air

outsethero — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 23:21:00 +0000

Welcome to yet another Miiverse Highlights: Zelda Informer's Thursday Weekly Feature! Last week we held a #WeeklyChallenge in which we asked you all to draw us your #1 favorite character from The Minish Cap. Those of you with the most passionate and unique drawings would get a chance to have your drawing featured during this week's Miiverse Highlights!

If you're new to this feature, here's how things go down. Miiverse Highlights consists of two things, a #WeeklyChallenge and a #WeeklyPoll. When a #WeeklyChallenge is issued, Zelda fans will be asked to draw something based on the Miiverse Community the challenge is posted in for a chance to have their drawing featured on our site. A #WeeklyPoll, on the other hand, will ask a question based on the series or a specific game where, after the week is done, I will take the most-voted answer and choose the best drawings and screenshots on Miiverse that I can find based on that answer.

Much like our previous #WeeklyChallenges, we didn't receive all that many submissions. Because of this, all of them will be featured yet again! Hopefully this feature, along with those of you that contribute to it, will continue to grow and we can receive more entries on our future #WeeklyChallenges. But in any case, let's get down to business, shall we?

First we have a lovely drawing of Link and Ezlo made by FluffyClouds. It's a rather simple drawing, but the addition of Link's name along with the Triforce definitely help give it a nice touch.

Here we have an entry featuring this #WeeklyChallenge's most popular character: Vaati. If you're wondering why there's a Zelda Informer logo on this drawing, that's because the artist, Walterinator, is actually one of our very own staff! Nice shameless self-promotion there, Darrin!

Last, but definitely not least, we have Nummonkee's fantastic entry! I love both the style and pose for this drawing! These last two entries, along with a separate, written response, shows us just how much Zelda fans truly love Vaati. Definitely one of the more interesting and unique villains from the series.

Now, onto this week's event! Since last week we had our #WeeklyChallenge, it's time for another #WeeklyPoll! This time around, we ask everyone at The Wind Waker Community to tell us what their two favorite characters are from the game! If you'd like to leave a response, log in to your Miiverse account using your Nintendo Network ID through your 3DS, Wii U, or Computer, find our post on either The Wind Waker Community or Zelda Informer's official Miiverse account, and leave your answer as a reply! To make sure you respond to the correct post, we'll have it embed at the end of this feature. Happy posting!

Video Game Music DJ Includes Link's Awakening Song On Latest Album

Cathron — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 03:54:00 +0000

The video game music DJ known as DJ Cutman just released a new album titled "DJ Cutman Volume III," and included in the music is a Link's Awakening track. The album contains a total of 33 songs.

Tunes on the album come from a wide variety of games including Pokemon, Earthbound, Sonic the Hedgehog, Kirby, Animal Crossing, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and many more. DJ Cutman is a "pioneer performer of Chiptune and Video Game Music" and remixes songs in different styles like hip-hop, funk and soul.

Link's Awakening was released on the Gameboy on June 6, 1993, and it was the first portable Zelda title created. The game featured Link attempting to gather a handful of instruments to play a song and awaken a deity known as the Wind Fish.

The Link's Awakening tune included on the album is the theme from the Color Dungeon, a special temple only included in the Gameboy Color remake of Link's Awakening called Link's Awakening DX.

For more information about DJ Cutman and the newest album available, click here.

Daily Debate: What Common Trend from Zelda Games Do You Hate?

RODTheMaster — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 10:46:00 +0000

As some may have noticed, a few of us writers have been celebrating Zelda Informer's unofficial Week of Hate. For the last few days, we have been constructively and tastefully criticizing the characters, dungeons, and out-of-game aspects of the Zelda series that fuel our pure, unbridled hate. Today, we want to discuss the game series as a whole and express how much seething hatred we have for certain trends that make up the Zelda formula. We want to know which aspects, gameplay traits, or Zelda traditions are the ones that (no matter how hard we bemoan their existence) will just not go away.

We all agree that there are certain institutions in the Zelda formula that we would rather not be there. For example, many fans have expressed their displeasure with over-simplified gameplay mechanics seen in recent Zelda games. Eiji Aonuma has been a vocal supporter of clear, straightforward gameplay experiences, but some see this as a huge problem. Whether they are seen in obvious boss weakpoints, Shiekah Stones, or hint-giving companions, these practices lead some fans to see recent Zelda games as non-challenging or overly focused on new players.

Another aspect that has been frequently implemented into Zelda games is the inclusion of drawn-out introductory areas, such as Ordon Ranch or Skyloft. Spending time in these areas before the main quest is great, as it helps players to identify with the story and characters. However, I've found these areas give way to tedious tasks and lengthy dialogue far too quickly, and I am kept away from the main adventure for far too long. I am becoming more and more annoyed with these early areas, and hope that future games will buck the trend completely.

Which Zelda trend have you grown to hate the more you see it? What changes to the Zelda formula do you hope to see in the future? Help us put a proper end to the Week of Hate, and join the Daily Debate!

Nintendo UK is Sending Out the Wrong Cover Plates

Link 2 — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:49:00 +0000

Ordered some fancy Legend of Zelda cover plates for your New Nintendo 3DS from Nintendo UK? Be prepared to send them back, unless you're happy with not getting the design you chose.

Nintendo UK is apparently shipping out the wrong cover plates to customers, according to this new Reddit thread. Customers that ordered the Triforce design are receiving the Majora's Mask design, and vice versa.

Reddit user Joekw recited his experience when calling Nintendo UK support:

Yup same with me. Just called up support and they said they've had quite a lot of calls about this already. He actually wanted to refund me and for me to wait until it was back in stock on the website and buy it again. I said that was a ridiculous request and he went to his supervisor. Now he's taking my return and sending me the right item.
From the other comments this might actually be a country wide mess up. If they've actually not sent anyone the right plates this could be very interesting.

Another Reddit user, Cobros, claims that Nintendo UK is now sending out this email to customers who ordered one of the two cover plate designs:

The Nintendo Official UK Store is aware that there has been an issue with the delivery of a small number of the New Nintendo 3DS Cover Plates Numbers 023 and 024. We are looking into this as a matter of urgency and will be in touch with you directly should you have been affected. In the meantime, if you have received the incorrect cover plate, we'd ask that you hold onto it until you receive further communication from us. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Kind Regards, Nintendo Customer Support

It would seem as if Nintendo UK has a big mess on their hands. Did you order one of these cover plates? If so, will you be contacting Nintendo UK regarding the mess up? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Reddit

Photoshop Contest: Stressed Aonuma

Paul Grzelak — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 08:20:00 +0000

The time has come once again to use expensive software for trivial purposes: a Photoshop Contest is upon us!

We're asking readers to submit the funniest, most creative, or most awe-inspiring pictures they can produce within the guidelines we suggest. This week, we’re using Photoshop to send Zelda series producer, Eiji Aonuma, to a place he doesn’t want to revisit. But first, let’s take a look at the winners from last week's contest: Zelda TV Show.

Last Week’s Contest

Pictures were selected based on their creativity, quality, and how effectively they demonstrated the image-manipulation abilities of the artists.

Best Submissions

Artist: Gameghoul

Artist: Janus 3003

Artist: John Duffy

Fan Favorite

Matt_Dempsey's entry takes the prize for Fan Favorite this week 19 upvotes.

We didn’t have submissions for last week’s Challenge Mode, so we’re guessing it was just too hard.

This Week’s Contest: Stressed Aonuma

Recently, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma was asked what he would do if he traveled back to three days before the completion of Majora’s Mask. Aonuma laughed at the question, insisting he didn’t want to go back at all. “Three days before completion is like hell,” Aonuma said.

While Aonuma may not want to revisit the sleepless nights and unending stress that undoubtedly haunts the lives of game developers on the cusp of publishing the latest installment of a one of the most valuable IPs in the gaming industry... the magic of Photoshop lets us send him directly back to that high-pressure environment! Or another environment

While Aonuma may not want to revisit the sleepless nights and unending stress that undoubtedly haunts the lives of game developers on the cusp of publishing a triple-A title... the magic of Photoshop lets us send him directly back to that high-pressure environment! Or Aonuma could be sent to other high-stress environments, including Termina itself, the depths of the Water Temple, or the 38th floor of the Cave of Ordeals with only three heart containers.

Feel free to use any of the images posted in the gallery of this article, or anything else you need to make this concept a reality.

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on March 11. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

Challenge Rule: Make Aonuma look stressed but also victorious! An exhausted conqueror! A not-quite-collapsed champion! Bunny Hood also strongly encouraged for inclusion.

Good luck!

Best Buy Holding New 3DS Event on March 7th, Visitors May Receive a Special Eiji Aonuma Mii

RODTheMaster — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 03:56:00 +0000

Select Best Buy locations around the US are holding a special event tomorrow (March 7th) at which visitors can demo certain New 3DS XL games, such as Majora's Mask 3D, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and Super Smash Bros. While this all sounds great and fun, visitors who bring their own 3DS systems will also have a chance to receive a special Eiji Aonuma Mii character. Head to one of the select Best Buy locations tomorrow and the Zelda producer may have a home on your 3DS forever.

Best Buy is holding the event from 1 PM to 4 PM (local time). Visitors will have a chance to play the New 3DS XL system along with amiibo figures. It also promises to be a great way to try out games like Majora's Mask 3D, Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS, and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. In addition to the Eiji Aonuma Mii giveaway -- which I'm assuredly excited for -- visitors can also collect StreetPass puzzle pieces and receive the Ogre's Wig for Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Nintendo also promises more fun giveaways and special offers.

Visit Nintendo's website for more information and a full list of participating Best Buy locations.

Are you going to stop at Best Buy tomorrow? How excited are you to receive an Eiji Aonuma Mii? Let us know!

Source: Nintendo

ZI Podcast 26: Philosophy in Majora’s Mask, Why We Hate Skyrim, and Boss Battles, ft. Triple-Q

Acohen95 — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 19:51:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

This week on the ZI Podcast, Adam (Your usual host) is joined by Jake (Just some guy), Caleb (From inside of a coffin), and special guest Triple-Q (He's an artist/remixer on Youtube). Our discussion led us down many paths, from the depth and underlying meanings in Majora's Mask (Adam even defends it at one point! Maybe he's sick?) to what defines a gaming genre and, for that matter, what defines games? With outtakes and a rich conversation, we invite you to join us as we banter and more on Episode 26 of Zelda Informer's best (and only) podcast series!

Special thanks to those of you who submitted fan topics this week, as well as those who participated in last week's Consouls giveaway! We still have download codes left for albums so feel free to go back and listen in for your chance to win. Thanks also to HuskyByTheGeek for the intro theme this week. If you have any of your own fan topics, theme song submissions, questions, art, or anything, feel free to submit it to us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com.

Social Media

Special Thanks

Topics & News

Quieter Snake in MGSV:The Phantom Pain
Smooth McGroove's Gourmet Race Cover
Master Hand
Meme Run Taken Down
Lethal League
Player: Piano
Zelda Project
Eiji Aonuma 5 Stages of Grief
New Hidden Character in Hyrule Warriors
Zelda Fan Game Demo
Majora's Mask Scrapped Manga Manuscripts
Eiji Aonuma on Mask Souls
Amiibo News
Train Jam
BoxBoy Gameplay Video
Source 2
Super Smash Convention
BattleToads make their way to Shovel Knight
Expensive DLC for Dying Light
Kickstarter for Toejam and Earl Sequel
Harmonic Crusade Kickstarter
Adventure Time Movie

Comment Topic Of The Week: What Defines A Game For You?

An Interview With the Zelda Developers is Happening on March 13th via Miiverse

Nathan — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 06:25:00 +0000

Nintendo has announced the very first Miiverse interview of the Zelda team. While this initially may sound exciting, we first have to temper our expectations. This will not be fan questions getting answered, but will likely be a prescript-ed question and answer sessions, likely featuring Eiji Aonuma and maybe one other person. Given that the image used to promote it features Majora's Mask 3D, it's also highly probable this will be about Majora's Mask only. Of course, much of this is assumptions - they might use this to talk about Zelda U as well, and I now that is the primary reason I will be checking in on Miiverse on the 13th.

Outside of seeing some Q and A posts on Miiverse, I don't fully know how this will be conducted. Just be sure to check out The Legend of Zelda Developer's Room on Miiverse on the 13th! Below is the full Miiverse post on the announcement for those curious.

Aonuma Talks About the Process of Creating Puzzles for Zelda Games

Nathan — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 06:53:00 +0000

A new addition to Nintendo Extra, a UK exclusive online magazine of sorts by Nintendo themselves, includes a rather interesting interview with Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma. While the first part, as claimed, is for beginners and offers no new information, the second part, marked for advanced players, brings up some rather interesting information about how the Zelda team comes together to create puzzles for a new game. It appears that this is a massive collaborative effort, although there are times Eiji Aonuma all but commands that a certain puzzle idea is implemented. Here's what he had to say:

"Do you come up with the puzzles as well, Mr. Aonuma?
Eiji Aonuma: Generally, the development team all get together and share ideas, but there’s probably about one puzzle in each title where I’ve said, “Make that happen!”
I usually have lots of ideas that I’ve been wanting to try for a while, but have been unable to implement. Sometimes I think an idea is completely unsuitable for a game, but when we give it a try, the game’s whole atmosphere changes, and things seem to hang together somehow.
I suppose that’s a kind of puzzle in itself: the process of thinking through a single idea, trying to make it into a surprising and enjoyable puzzle."

He goes on to talk about his favorite kinds of Zelda puzzles:

"Eiji Aonuma: I like puzzles that change your perspective.
For example, in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for Nintendo 3DS, you usually proceed through a 3D map, watching the action from a top-down perspective. However, when you push against a wall and use a special technique, you can become a living, walking painting! When you do this, the game switches to a side-on view, allowing you to see things you couldn’t see before. Pretty nifty stuff!"

Source: Nintendo Extra

Players Can Pass Over Mountains and Valleys as they Explore Zelda U, Fans Expect a Huge World

Nathan — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 07:06:00 +0000

If there is one thing for Zelda U we know with absolute certainty, it's that the development team intends for the game to be in a massive world - certainly the biggest world we have seen to date in a 3D Zelda game. While we don't know any exact dimensions yet, we now know that not only can you travel to those mountains in the distance... you can actually pass over them to the other side. In a new interview via Nintendo Extra out of the UK, Eiji Aonuma explains how players will be traversing mountains and valleys, just to see what is on the other side. It really leaves you to wonder just how large this world really is.

"So... what will Zelda be like on the Wii U?
Eiji Aonuma: I can’t talk about it too much just yet, but our theme for this title has been to look again at what people take for granted in a Zelda game. One of the things we believe people expect from the Wii U version is a huge world to explore. For example, we imagine players thinking things like, “What will happen if I cross to the other side of this mountain?” or, “This place looks like this from here, but how will it look if I go around to the other side?”
In previous Zelda games, players didn’t always have the freedom to answer these kinds of questions. In this Wii U version, however, if players feel like walking, they can keep walking to some really faraway places, passing over mountains and through valleys along the way. I hope people are looking forward to seeing how the new Zelda gameplay fits into this huge world!
Adventuring through a massive world will be exciting!
Eiji Aonuma: Think about when you get on a bicycle: you’re suddenly able to go to places you couldn’t go before, which makes you want to keep exploring more and more. The joy of adventuring in a large game world is very similar to that, I think.
At first, you might worry about what might happen if you’re not able to return home, but as the area you’re able to explore gets bigger, you gain courage, which makes you more curious about the world around you. If feels like you’re growing, somehow. I want people to enjoy this sensation when they play the game."

Source: Nintendo Extra

Pop Facts: The Wind Waker - Cut Content and Ideas

Nathan — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 05:32:00 +0000

In this final episode of Pop Facts for The Wind Waker, Game Trailers goes over a slew of cut ideas and content from the actual game. Many of this we have covered here over the years, but they have gathered much of the cut content into one easy to understand video. To this day, my favorite missing content idea is the concept of Link growing up throughout the course of the game - a concept no previous game has attempted. What idea or cut content do you wish they had implemented into the game?

Caption Contest 008: "So you're sure that I'm not going to slam into a wall, right?"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 16:58:00 +0000

Maybe it's just my work schedule, but how is it already Monday again? Alright then, I guess that means that we should go ahead and get this week's Caption Contest underway. Last week, Link ruined a perfectly good picture and some of you found funny ways to capture the moment in words. I should have figured some lines would get crossed, but it at least made for some good entertainment. This week, we are using a snap from one of my favorite scenes in the entire series: the barrel catapult scene from The Wind Waker. Remember to leave your captions in the comments below and upvote the ones you want to see win next week.

Oh! I almost forgot something. Last week, we also took a vote on who we thought Link should end up with: Ilia or Zelda? While we had one vote for Midna and another for a Zelda/Ilia hybrid, the vote was between those two specifically. Well, the truth is...they tied. So, I guess the only way to make this fair is:

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

by: Canterberry bell

by: Cherryb6mb

by: Lplance

by: monkee-goro

by: Richa

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Darrin W. Harr II - "When your side chick meets your main girl and they become best friends."
Thalia Chen - "Link: I'm going to ruin this photo."
George Platko - "Let's take a picture guys!...Guys?"
Infernova - "We all had that one friend."

This week's photo:

Temple of Time Recreated in WildStar

TheGaspNinja — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:04:00 +0000

Whenever a game includes the possibility to create houses, plots, or anything of the sort, you can expect that some dedicated fans will use any of the often restrictive tools to either create anything their mind can come up with, or recreate something from popular culture. WildStar is a fairly new MMORPG which, alongside the quests and dungeons we can expect from games of the sort, allows players to own, and build on plots. This has led to many interesting and beautiful creations. As such, the Zelda-community has also left its mark on the wide array of creations WildStar players have erected, and has completely recreated the Temple of Time from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, as can be seen in the video above.

The amount of detail this creation holds is immense, from the stained glass on the walls, to the Triforce with beams shooting out from it, to the pedestal in the center of the back room. As stated before, the WildStar housing process has certain limitations though, and therefore everything has a charming blue tint, although it doesn't necessarily take away from the building itself. Some of the processes involved in creating this monument are quite elaborate. For example, the ceiling, which has an almmost chapel-like aesthetic, is made by spamming a certain decorative item called the 'charming bar' when at max size. This leads to the effect visible in some shots of the video above.

Obviously this creation is very high quality, and shows once more that Zelda fans are, and always will be, very prominently present in any gaming community around the world. Be sure to check out the full video above, and if you play WildStar you can check out the plot on the Exile part of Jabbit, with the name 'Nas Jenda!' Also, be sure to let us know what you think, and sound off in the comments below!

Akira Himekawa Releases a Few More Manuscripts of Majora's Mask Manga

RODTheMaster — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:15:00 +0000

Over the last few weeks, Akira Himekawa (female duo behind the Zelda manga series) has been releasing rare manuscript pages of the Majora's Mask manga in honor of Majora's Mask 3D. The first two sets of manuscripts showed off pages from a cut storyline involving Romani Ranch. Last week, Himekawa released another set of manuscript pages which depict some rough, early drawings of Zora Link interacting with the Indigo-Go's. These are really cool behind-the-scenes images for fans of the manga to check out.

The manuscript pages feature Zora Link interacting with Indigo-Go's members, most notably Japas. According to Himekawa, the panels of Zora Link are alternative versions of the smaller ones that ended up in the final manga; they also admitted this is their favorite scene in the manga. The rough manuscript pages are extremely cool to look at, and they show off what some of the scenes looked like before they were finalized. If Himekawa ever decides to release prints of these manuscripts, I will be first in line to buy them.

What do you think of these manuscript pages? Do you hope to see more, even from other Zelda mangas? Let us know!

Source: Akira Himekawa

Daily Debate: Would a Call of Duty Crossover Work?

Link 2 — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:52:00 +0000

The Zelda series' most successful crossover game, Hyrule Warriors, has gained over one million sales worldwide. The crossover was met with hostility from many Zelda fans at first, but Hyrule Warriors still managed to become Koei Tecmo's most successful game.

We know Nintendo plans to start the development of more Wii U crossover games this year, so why not use the same formula that worked last year? The Zelda series + other successful franchise = big bucks! If Nintendo does choose to use The Legend of Zelda for more crossovers, what should it cross over with?

One of the most popular games today, Call of Duty, might be a good choice. Some fans want a Zelda game set in a future era, or even in the present. Wouldn't it be awesome to see Link wielding a sniper rifle, 360 no-scoping bokoblins and tossing grenades at Ganon? One thing is for sure: it would bring a lot of attention to Nintendo.

On the other hand, many fans may not want a first-person shooter Zelda title. They stay away from games like Call of Duty and Battlefield for a reason. The game may not sell as much, and Nintendo would lose money.

Would you like a Zelda and Call of Duty crossover? Would you enjoy playing Zelda as a first-person shooter? Share your thoughts by joining the Daily Debate below!

Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra Performs Zelda Tunes for Gaming Marathon

RODTheMaster — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:33:00 +0000

Charity organizer SpecialEffect recently held gaming marathon GameBlast 2015 to help raise money for gamers with disabilities. As part of the marathon, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performed a series of amazing Zelda pieces. The ensemble showed off some classical renditions and medleys of our favorite Zelda songs and they are all absolutely beautiful.

The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra has released five different pieces onto YouTube. In addition to the Minish Cap Medley heard above, one can find a Shop Theme Medley, Outset Island Theme, Gerudo Valley Theme, and the Ballad of the Wind Fish. If you like the sounds heard in these videos, the Orchestra's organizer Massimo Gallotta encourages fans to visit a future Symphony of the Goddesses event. The schedule of available shows is found right here.

The pieces were written for GameBlast 2015, a gaming marathon organized by SpecialEffect. SpecialEffect raises money for gamers with disabilities and helps to improve their lives. For information and a chance to show your support, you can visit their website right here.

What do you think of these Zelda tunes? Do you hope to hear more? Share your thoughts with us.

Majora's Mask and Smash Bros. Arrangements: Interview with Composer, Daniel "Rozen" Jimenez

Jyaxen88 — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:38:00 +0000

There are a great number of musicians out there who happen to be fervent fans of The Legend of Zelda series. From acoustic covers, to jazzy arrangements, to grand orchestrations, it's difficult to find an interpretation that mesh with one's own. This week, we had the pleasure of chatting with one such individual about his work, his relation to Zelda and video game music in general, and his future plans. You may know him from either of his Majora's Mask arrangements - "Waiting for the Dawn" or "Termina's Demise (Oath to Order)" - or from his varied compositions on the Harmony of Heroes album of Super Smash Bros. music, or he might be a brand new name to you. Whatever the case, learn more about Daniel "Rozen" Jimenez in our full interview, below:

Thanks for coming to talk with us! Would you mind introducing yourself to our readers?

Hello everyone! As many of you know, I’m Rozen and I do arrangements of video game music.

Could you give us a little overview of your work?

By day, I write music for films and other media. By night, I become Rozen, harbinger of terrible fates, which means making everyone listen to my music now and then. I enjoy working on anything related to video game music, be it arranging for big ensembles such as orchestras or choirs or producing projects that involve more than just writing music.

Did you always know you were going to do video game music?

Honestly, not at all! When I was a kid, writing game music seemed like such a godlike thing to do, I didn’t think a mere mortal like me could do it. But it is something I’ve always been fascinated by and wanted to do. And it wasn’t until I was in high school that I realized you could actually get a degree in that! As you can see, it changed my whole life plan.

Is The Legend of Zelda particularly important to you? Or is it just Majora’s Mask?

Zelda is the one who wears green tunics, right?... Haha. Ok, seriously though, The Legend of Zelda is probably the most influential game series in my life. It introduced me to video games back when I was 3. Having played all of the games in the series so far, its music, art, story and adventure-packed gameplay continue to define my standards of gaming.

Will you be pursuing more Majora’s Mask or Zelda music arrangements?

I’m definitely going to do more Zelda music in the future. Majora’s Mask may or may not be next on the list. It all depends on how people keep reacting to my work and if they would like to hear more from that particular game. I also have to keep in mind that there are already a lot of great MM tracks out in the world. I’d like to show other games some love as well

Have you been to the Symphony of the Goddesses event or heard the arrangements? What are your thoughts?

I’m a huge fan of the incredibly well-done arrangements that are put together for the show. As an orchestrator, it would be my dream to work in such a magical production.I especially liked the way they could fit so many songs in the two-hour concert, hitting extra special places in my nostalgic heart. Thirty years of great gaming experiences flashed before my eyes! My favorite section of the concert was definitely the Ocarina of Time Medley, with a very dark version of Ganon’s Battle.

How did you get involved with Harmony of Heroes? Is there any reason you didn’t create a Majora’s Mask arrangement for that?

At the time, I was in my senior year at Berklee College of Music and I had been arranging video game music for choir. I had participated in one of the tracks for Harmony of a Hunter, so Darren, the producer of the album, contacted me to do another track, this time on my own. It was perfect timing because I had access to a live orchestra and very talented people to help me record and produce that track, which went on to become Final Destination. And I had so much fun with that experience that I couldn’t just say no to making more tracks for him. As for Majora’s Mask, the production team didn’t see fit for us to cover every single track from the Zelda franchise since it’s the one with the most existing covers and remixes. Plus, all the Zelda tracks for the album were already taken when I joined.

How would you compare working on an enormous group collaboration like Harmony of Heroes to working on your individual projects? Do you prefer one over the other?

With Harmony of Heroes, I learned a great deal working with all of the talented artists involved. But it was also tough and time consuming because I had to not only arrange tracks that matched the quality standards of the album as a whole, but I also had to supervise over 60 other musicians to make sure their tracks held up as well. As fun and enriching as being an Assistant Director was, I still prefer taking the reins of my own productions, where I get to work more closely on the music concepts I have in mind.

Your music tends to set an atmosphere of sorts for listeners, usually in grand arrangements. Do you see yourself continuing to create large-scale arrangements, or do you have smaller covers in mind as well?

My goal is always to experiment with new things within my stylistic realm and make the next arrangement different from the last. That said, I do plan on releasing some “simpler” covers soon. Actually, I’m hoping to release little pieces periodically in preparation for my next Zelda album: “Era of Light and Dark,” another collaboration with Reven.

Any final words for the listeners and readers here at Zelda Informer?

I’m very honored and grateful for all the support that I’ve constantly found in this community. Don’t be shy and let me know what you would like me to cover next! And, in the immortal words of Link: “Hyah, hyah hyah.”

Daily Debate: Is Music in the Zelda Series Important?

Link 2 — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:18:00 +0000

Some people overlook background music in the Zelda series. Often times we don't realize it's there, but the second it stops, we realize it's gone. Without music, games and movies can get pretty dull for some people.

The background music we hear often conveys the mood of the area we are currently exploring. If it's a very hard temple, very intense music is going to be playing. An epic symphony may be playing in the background during a boss battle.

Needless to say, music is everywhere in the Zelda series, including the original title for the NES. There's music during the title screen, there's music during the beginning sequence, and there's music when you start the actual gameplay. Nintendo has always payed special attention to the music in their games.

Do you consider music to be an important element in the Zelda series? Could we do without it? Join the Daily Debate in the comments below.

Daily Debate: Do Dungeons Need to be Challenging to be Good?

Jyaxen88 — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 02:16:00 +0000

We all have that level, puzzle, or dungeon that stands out in our memory. Perhaps it was a dungeon that took the combined forces of you and a friend to beat, or a puzzle that forced you to consult a walkthrough. Maybe the level that you remember most dearly wasn't ever a challenge, but was such a pleasant experiences that you'd go back through it without hesitation. In a general discussion of the myriad temples and dungeons of the Zelda series, however, the level of challenge of said trial and its puzzles seem to reign supreme, but just how important is this aspect?

While I'm as up for a proper Zelda challenge as much as the next player, it's most certainly not the only feature I find myself wanting in a dungeon. What of its visual and auditory aesthetic? At a mere thought, I can bring up memories of playing through Ocarina of Time's Forest Temple because of how vividly I recall its theme. When I consider the dungeons I loved most in Twilight Princess, I can't help but remember the joy of traversing the City in the Sky with the double hookshot, and the tension of creeping through the Palace of Twilight, just hoping a wallmaster wouldn't catch me unawares. If I am considering dungeons insofar as their unique mechanics are concerned, the Lanayru Mining Facility of Skyward Sword and its time stone shenanigans stand out.

Among other traits that have made or broken a dungeon, narrative important, boss design, utilization of items, and overall level design come to mind, but there are bound to be other that you consider. Even so, in terms of importance, challenge could rightfully be the number one feature. It is hard to beat the satisfaction of that final "a-ha!" moment when one finally sees the solution to a puzzle and can progress, or the sigh of relief when the boss drops that heart container and one can finally venture outside again. Where do you stand on the matter? Is there a single factor that makes a dungeon appeal to you? Or is a multiple of composite factors? Do dungeons need to be challenging to be good? Join the Daily Debate!

Hyrule Warriors Gave Dynasty Warriors Some "Freshness"

Jyaxen88 — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 02:56:00 +0000

One of the explicit goals of Hyrule Warriors was to expose those from both sides of the Zelda x Dynasty Warriors fanbase to a game series they may have not experienced. Judging by the number of Zelda fans who experienced and enjoyed the title, it seems safe to say that this did successfully get them to try out the Dynasty Warriors franchise. While we don't have specific numbers, the benefits Koei Tecmo enjoyed seem to be rather pronounced, and they may help revitalize their franchise. In an interview with UK publication MCV, Koei Tecmo producer, Akihiro Suzuki had the following to say about the impact of Hyrule Warriors on the Dynasty Warriors franchise.

"Over the years we’ve seen a sales decline. The Dynasty Warriors series is targeted towards the core fans. But we’ve had a few collaborations recently that have given the franchise a second wind because they’ve brought in new fans that hadn’t given Dynasty Warriors a chance. So Hyrule Warriors gave the series some freshness. Now our task is to keep the new players happy now that they’ve had a chance to play. But overall with the franchise, we need to keep it fresh, both the Dynasty Warriors and the Samurai Warriors brands.”

While a sales boost isn't surprising, unless crossovers as exciting as this one keep pulling in new fans, it may be tough to ride that momentum. Nonetheless, it should be interesting to see what Dynasty Warriors comes up with next - that is, assuming it isn't just Hyrule Warriors 2. Will any of you who were brought into the Warriors fold by its Zelda crossover be exploring other future titles in the franchise? Or is it Hyrule Warriors or bust?

Source: MCV

Whale Deities Of Sky And Sea: Links Across The Legend

Cathron — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 03:20:00 +0000

It's fascinating to find similarities between Zelda titles that some fans may not think of or realize, and one of those similarities that a few Zelda games have in common is as big as a whale.

Five Zelda titles feature giant whales, and I often wonder if they're connected. The Hyrule Historia doesn't say that they all are, so everything below is mostly observation, but that doesn't mean it's impossible for a connection to exist between these five whales.

Levias

Chronologically, Levias is the first of five giant marine mammals to appear in the Zelda universe. He's an old whale that flies through the air near Skyloft.

He's already ancient when Link meets him, and he is also the appointed guardian of the skies, made so by the goddess Hylia.

Link eventually saves him from a parasite, and the flying whale helps lead the hero to the Triforce by teaching him the final piece of a vital song he needs.

How exactly a gigantic deity flies through the sky is unknown, but nonetheless, Levias manages to move through the clouds as a real whale does through the ocean. A whale is a interesting creature to make the guardian of the skies because as we all know, they're supposed to be water-dwelling creatures only. Then again, islands aren't supposed to float in the sky, either, and Hylia still managed to put an entire village up in the air.

We don't know if Levias was created by Hylia or if he already existed, and she just appointed him to become the guardian of the skies. Perhaps he was a normal whale, and she gave him the ability to fly and live outside of the water. I am personally convinced that Levias already existed when Hylia decided to create Skyloft, and he was a normal water-dwelling mammal. After all, there is an ocean in Skyward Sword... or at least there used to be.

The Lanayru Sand Sea used to be an ocean, but it eventually changed and became a desert. It's entirely conceivable to me that Levias could have been a normal whale inside that ocean. Perhaps when it started to dry up and become a desert, Hylia took pity on Levias and gave him the ability to fly, making him the guardian of the skies above.

Either way, his flying ability makes him similar to another marine mammal presented in a much later game.

The Wind Fish

Appearing in the timeline where the Hero of Time dies during the final fight with Ganon is the Wind Fish. He comes along in Link's Awakening.

Though he is called the Wind Fish, he actually has the appearance of a whale (his tail fin is horizontal instead of vertical).

In Link's Awakening, the hero, who had just set sail from Labrynna after saving Nayru, gets caught in a storm, and his ship is destroyed.

Link awakens on an island called Koholint and comes to learn that he is trapped inside the dream of a deity called the Wind Fish. In order to escape back to reality, he has to collect instruments and wake the Wind Fish from his nightmare.

The Wind Fish, like Levias, has the ability to fly. This is shown in the end after Link returns to the real world and sees the Wind Fish flying above him in the sky.

Because of the deity's ability to fly, the Wind Fish and Levias could be one and same. If Levias and the Wind Fish are the same, it's poetic that a future incarnation of Link saves him, just like his predecessor.

I could definitely be persuaded to believe that Levias and the Wind Fish are one and the same. If they are, it would paint a truly sad reality for Levias. Hypothetically, Hylia makes him an ageless deity when she gives him the ability to fly and makes him guardian of the skies. So, he flies around for a few centuries, protecting the area around Skyloft fulfilling his purpose, glad he was saved from the horrible fate of dying in an evaporated ocean that had become a desert.

Eventually, though, Link and Zelda come along, and they inadvertently start the migration of Hylians back to the ground. Skyloft, within a few decades, becomes an abandoned town floating above the land that will turn into Hyrule. Where does this leave Levias? Alone and without a purpose.

He flies around with nothing to do and no people to watch over until he can't take it anymore. He leaves the skies above Hyrule and through the ages finds himself over an ocean somewhere between Hyrule and Labrynna. Perhaps adding to his depression is the fact that he can't swim anymore. He longs for nothing more than to return to the sea and rest in peace, but because of Hylia's changes to his body, he can do neither. He is stuck living on in the sky over the ocean with no hope for a serene ending.

What happens to him from there? Well, he flies over the ocean and eventually settles into a deep slumber. In his slumber, an island is created. He once again has people to protect. The paradise quickly changes into a nightmare, though, and it's one he cannot escape from on his own.

Taking pity on the marine mammal that Hylia promoted to a deity, the goddesses send a future incarnation of Link to rescue the wayward whale. They trap Link in a storm, destroy his ship, and ensure he ends up in the same dream world as the Wind Fish to remind him that his job is not over. What his future job is, I don't know. Maybe he'll return some day. Or, perhaps the goddesses finally allowed him to somehow rest in peace.

Lord Jabu-Jabu

Lord Jabu-Jabu is the host of the third dungeon in Ocarina of Time, and he is a deity, of sorts, to the Zora people. The Zora worship him, and in turn, he agrees to swallow their annoying princess that they could no longer stand (joke).

In Ocarina of Time, Lord Jabu-Jabu isn't shown to have the ability to fly. Instead, he floats in the water outside of Zora's Domain.

The interesting thing about Lord Jabu-Jabu is that he disappears in the adult timeline. After Link becomes an adult, Ganondorf freezes Zora's Domain, effectively killing all but three inhabitants (King Zora, Princess Ruto, and the Zora shopkeeper).

If Link goes outside to where Lord Jabu-Jabu was located in the child timeline, the whale is gone. Did Ganondorf kill him? Perhaps. A chunk of ice exists where the whale used to be. It's entirely possible that the evil king did kill Lord Jabu-Jabu.

And in my opinion, out of all the whales, Lord Jabu-Jabu seemed to be the most useless. The Zoras worship h im, but what does he really do? Does he keep the water clean that flows out of Zora's Domain? I can't see any evidence that shows the whale serves some purpose. The Zoras feed him fish, and he was stupid enough to eat Princess Ruto (yeah yeah, he was sick and had jellyfish inside of him).

The more I think about it, the less Lord Jabu-Jabu makes sense. He doesn't speak. He doesn't move. He just sits in one spot and eats. How did he get where he is? There's no other connecting body of water for him to get in and out of. Was the area north of Zora's Domain once part of a larger water system that grew smaller and trapped him? I guess that's always possible. I doubt the goddesses created him to protect the Zora like Hylia did with Levias (and if they did, Lord Jabu-Jabu did a pretty shitty job since all but three zoras died).

I guess we'll never know for sure, but I think Ganondorf killed Lord Jabu-Jabu. I'll talk about his connection to Jabun later, but for now consider the following: Ganondorf freezes Zora's Domain and kills all but three Zora. Why wouldn't he finish off Lord Jabu-Jabu?

The only other explanation I could think of that explains his disappearance in the adult timeline is maybe the Great Fairy saved him. There is a fountain north of Zora's Domain (Link obtains Farore's Wind there). Maybe the fairy inside somehow teleported Lord Jabu-Jabu to safety.

Jabun

Perhaps it isn't fair to call Jabun a whale, as his appearance is more like that of an angler fish. He appears in the adult timeline during Wind Waker.

Jabun, like Lord Jabu-Jabu, also displays no flying abilities.

Unlike the possible connection between the Wind Fish and Levias, the connection between Lord Jabu-Jabu and Jabun appears to be a little more solid.

The Hyrule Hystoria states that Jabun is thought to be a descendant of Lord Jabu-Jabu. Unlike his alleged ancestor, though, Jabun speaks (ancient Hylian), and his appearance is quite different. The Wind Fish and Levias (aside from a pair of tiny wings) appear somewhat similar, in my opinion.

That said, Lord Jabu-Jabu and Jabun look almost nothing alike, aside from being large.

One of the issues I take with Jabun being a descendant of Lord Jabu-Jabu is that the former closely resembles a whale, and the latter resembles an Angler Fish. Why doesn't Jabun look more similar to his alleged ancestor?

Another issue is the perceived intelligence and usefulness compared between the two. Jabun actually talks and keeps one of the three pearls needed in the game that holds the key to accessing the Tower of the Gods. He's essential to the quest, and he seems to display a wise caution.

Furthermore, he had enough power to sense when Ganon was coming to kill him, and he left the area.

Still, the two do share a very similar name. What's more, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule (king of Hyrule when the land flooded) knew Jabun. This may indicate the king knew the water deity before the land flooded... perhaps when the ocean-dweller was a Lake Hylia dweller or a Zora's Domain dweller.

The puzzling thing about figuring out Jabun's connection to Lord Jabu-Jabu comes from his knowledge of the Hero of Time. As fans know, when Zelda sent Link back in time to his childhood at the end of Ocarina of Time, it created a world without Link that allowed for Ganon to eventually reappear.

How does the whale have knowledge of the Hero of Time? Did the king tell him? Did he hear the legends from villagers on his island? Was he alive at some point when the Hero of Time was questing to defeat Ganondorf?

I don't know if I believe Jabun is a descendant of Lord Jabu-Jabu. Aside from the problems I listed above, there is the issue of biology. Lord Jabu-Jabu would have needed a mate to knock up in order for Jabun to be created as a descendant. Where in Hyrule would the giant whale have found someone to mate with? (And if someone in the comments says Ruto, I'm going to hunt them down and punch them in the face.)

The bottom line is: Nintendo says Jabun is THOUGHT to be a descendant of Lord Jabu-Jabu, but for all we know, that could be misguided information spread by the Hylian descendants. Perhaps they heard the legends of a giant whale worshipped by the Zora people. Then, when Jabun appeared, they just assumed the two were connected. It is possible that Hyrule flooded and then Jabun swam over from a completely different body of water now connected to Hyrule via a newly flooded area.

Ocean King

The Ocean King appears in Phantom Hourglass, the immediate sequel to Wind Waker. Like the Wind Fish, he exists in a separate world from Link's reality, and the Hero of the Winds must save him from an evil dream god named Bellum.

Link, being the hero, rescues the Ocean King, and he reveals his true form, a giant white whale.

While the Ocean King may not bear any obvious references to a past giant marine mammal in Hyrule, he does have one thing in common with the Wind Fish. They both appear to be able to create their own worlds.

This has led some fans to believe that they are one and the same, just in two different timelines. I can see where some people could get that theory. Both the Wind Fish and Ocean King do suffer a similar fate within dream worlds, both are found out in the ocean, and both are rescued by incarnations of Link riding on a boat. Considering all three of those factors, I'd at least be willing to entertain that they could be the same deity, just paralleled in different timelines.

Are all the marine mammals connected? Are none of them connected? Until Nintendo says one way or another, it's all just interesting speculation, but that's one of the things I love to do most in the Zelda series is speculate.

According to the Hyrule Historia, only two of the whales appear to have a solid connection, and that is Lord Jabu-Jabu and Jabun. They even share a similar name. The other three... well any fan's guess is as good as mine.

Daily Debate: Which Zelda Game Would You First Recommend to Newcomers?

RODTheMaster — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 19:10:00 +0000

Every Zelda fan has to have his or her first Zelda game. Every fan has to experience the game that initially grabs attention and captures imagination, thus leading to a lifetime of Zelda love. Every fan has to start somewhere. I'm sure most of us have tried to introduce that first game to many of our loved ones, ending in some degree of success or failure. If we choose the wrong game, we may alienate and lose a potential fan. If we choose the right game, we have successfully created a lifelong fan. We all want the latter situation, so let's discuss which game is best fit to appeal to Zelda newcomers.

Eiji Aonuma has shared his own thoughts on this topic; the Zelda producer believes that Ocarina of Time serves as the best base for the traditional Zelda experience. I see the value in this decision, as I have used Ocarina of Time to introduce my younger sister to the Zelda series. Arguably, this game set the stage for the much defined Zelda formula we all recognize today. Even the story does a good job of introducing the series' most longstanding characters. Given Aonuma's belief, other Zelda games add features to the foundation that Ocarina of Time set in place.

Other possible games for new Zelda players to jump into first are the ones that focus more on story. Ocarina of Time's plot and pacing may seem a bit outdated to new players, so Twilight Princess or The Wind Waker could provide the narrative appeal that new fans will appreciate. These two specific games feature a strong depiction of Link that new players can identify with, as well as a supporting cast that sticks with the player throughout his or her entire quest. To me, these two stories are extremely timeless, and can act as great introductions to the series for many years to come.

Which game would you first recommend to new Zelda players? Which games have worked the best for you in the past? Share your thoughts and experiences with us, and join the Daily Debate!

GamesBrained Blows Our Minds With Two Little Known Zelda Titles

Link 2 — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 00:33:00 +0000

Once again, GamesBrained has uploaded another Zelda masterpiece. Kicking off his new series, Lost Gaming Treasures, GamesBrained introduces us to two spin-off games largely forgotten by the community, titled "BS The Legend of Zelda" and "BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets." If you're wondering what BS stands for, it's Broadcast Satellite.

In the 90s, St. Giga, one of the first companies to host digital broadcasts, devised an add-on for the Japanese Famicom. The add-on allowed games to be broadcast to the home, and those games would be playable until the broadcast period was over. BS The Legend of Zelda was one of these games, and could be played in four segments of one hour. This game was much like the original Zelda game for the NES, but with a smaller overworld and better graphics.

Another Zelda game that was broadcast was a very different version of A Link to the Past, which featured a new storyline which took place a whole six years after the original ALttP. This game was titled "BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets", and was split up into four weeks of broadcast. The hero is an entirely new Link, not the Hero of Legend in the original ALttP. There are new dungeon/landscape structures, and in the Master Quest version of the game, Malon is a playable character.

Have you heard of these games before? Would you consider these games to be canon? Do you think they could fit into the official Zelda timeline? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Make sure to check out GamesBrained and watch his other Zelda videos!

Source: YouTube (via GamesBrained)

Fan Creates Super Cool, Custom Bottled Fairies, and So Can You

RODTheMaster — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 22:46:00 +0000

There are a lot of creative Zelda fans out there looking to help others start on some interesting, artsy projects. A few days ago, Imgur user darrellacoustic posted some images of two awesome, custom-made bottled fairies that light up in the dark. If that wasn't exciting enough, the user also uploaded step-by-step image instructions for other fans that feel the desire to create their own fairy in a bottle.

These cool decorative pieces are awesome enough on their own, but the fact that darrellacoustic provided instructions for others to follow raises the excitement to new levels. According to the user's instructions, the bottles require some craft supplies such as Styrofoam and corkboard, as well as some electrical supplies such as a lithium battery and switch. With the supplies at hand, fans can follow the instructions and soon have their own personal fairy to love and look at. The project sounds incredibly fun and I'll be giving it a try soon.

A gallery showcasing the bottled fairies can be found here, and the full instructions can be found here.

What do you think of these bottled fairies? Are you going to try to make your own? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Imgur

Saria's Song/Lost Woods Theme Minecraft Note Block Tutorial

Link 2 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 02:20:00 +0000

Ever wanted to create music in Minecraft using note blocks, but didn't because you had no idea where to start? Never fear, for Fed X Gaming has got your back with a tutorial on how to create Saria's Song/Lost Woods Theme.

This video shows you very clearly and precisely how to create the song using only redstone, redstone repeaters, note blocks, and a button. First, you need to start by building a base platform 21 blocks wide, and 47 blocks long. Fed X Gaming uses a color-coded example, so it's best to use the same materials he uses to avoid messing up.

He then shows you how many times to hit each note block, as well as how many ticks you should set the redstone repeaters at.

The video takes up a little over 21 minutes, and it is worth the wait. The end result is glorious. Once you are done, you will own a functioning Saria's Song player made entirely out of Minecraft blocks and items! Your friends will be jealous.

Source: YouTube (via Fed X Gaming)

Majora's Mask 3D Gets Positive Review From Zero Punctuation

Paul Grzelak — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:51:00 +0000

The latest episode of Zero Punctuation, a weekly video series of fast-paced and profanity-laced game reviews from The Escapist, gave a surprisingly positive review of Majora's Mask 3D today.

Zero Punctuation's creator, Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, has been very critical of Zelda games in the past. His reviews of Ocarina of Time 3D and Skyward Sword were overwhelmingly condescending, and his review of A Link Between Worlds was little more than a Trojan horse that turned into a criticism of Nintendo's recent decisions and policies. But, Majora's Mask 3D seems to have left a positive impression on the British-Australian gaming journalist.

Without giving too many details of his review away, Yahtzee praised Majora's Mask 3D for the way its narrative set it apart from other games in the Zelda series, and admired the philosophical underpinnings of the game's central time-travel mechanic.

You can watch his review in the video above, or on The Escapist's website.

What do you think of Zero Punctuation? Do you agree with Yahtzee's review? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: The Escapist

Two Fans Set Out to Recreate NES Legend of Zelda in Minecraft, Programming and All

RODTheMaster — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 21:24:00 +0000

In September of last year, two Zelda fans from New Jersey set out on one of the most ambitious Minecraft projects we've ever seen. Working for two nights a week over the last half year, the duo has been diligently rebuilding the original NES Legend of Zelda within Minecraft. One would think this means they merely recreated the massive Hyrule map with Minecraft's blocks, but the team is going a step further by programming Minecraft to work exactly as the NES Zelda did. Polygon recently took a tour of the world to see the team's progress.

Polygon's Charlie Hall met up with designer Evan Stanhope and programmer Jonathon Faulch to tour their amazing NES Zelda world in Minecraft. By just glancing at the overworld, one can see the entirety of NES' Hyrule rebuilt and detailed, which in itself is impressive. Stanhope went to great lengths to not only make the world appear as it did on the NES, but have it appear beautifully detailed when viewed from Minecraft's first-person perspective. For example, aspects of the map such as the waterfall, desert, and graveyard look exactly like the original Zelda when viewed from above, but a ground-level view yields imaginative detail to make the work look more realistic. There are pretty grottos, menacing statues, and a Temple of Time-like structure all tucked away on this map.

When I first watched the video, I was merely expecting the details found in the above paragraph, but the team went beyond my pedestrian expectations. In addition to making the game look like the NES Zelda, this Minecraft world acts like the NES Zelda. Thanks to Faulch's masterful programming, the world monitors and reacts to the player's actions so that the experience is comparable to the NES. For example, when the player, say, enters a specific cave, an old man will spawn, say a familiar phrase, and drop a wooden sword. Something similar happens when a player enters a dungeon; he or she will be teleported to a separate dungeon map that can be explored and completed like in the original Zelda. When these guys said they were recreating the game, they really are recreating the game.

The tour is moved to the team's "lab," where all the programming takes place. I won't try to explain all the complex machinery seen in this place, but I will say that the team has a really firm grasp on how the game will work when the project is finished. In the last few minutes of the tour, the team also shows off the programming for their custom enemies that will appear in the game world. That's right, custom enemies. The duo is using Minecraft programming to create Zelda enemies like snakes and Zelda items like the boomerang. I am speechless.

The team expects the project to take three years to complete. At their current pace, I'd say they're doing way more than I could even imagine. You can check out their website for more information and updates. I very much look forward to playing through the final project.

Are you impressed? Will you give the game a try when the project is finished? Share your thoughts with us!

Source: Polygon

Rumor: Nintendo Direct Coming Soon

Nathan — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 08:38:00 +0000

The hype over the release of Majora's Mask 3D a few weeks ago is just beginning to die down. However, for those who are looking forward to upcoming Legend of Zelda games, Nintendo has only offered up a pinch of information about the much-awaited Zelda U title. That being said, if Twitter user NaughtyDog4Life is to be believed, anonymous sources from PAX have hinted at an upcoming Nintendo Direct, which we will hopefully be seeing soon.

We haven't had a Nintendo Direct since January, so we are definitely due for a news update from Nintendo. Is it possible that we will get more information about the upcoming Zelda title for the Wii U? Or do you think Nintendo will keep quiet about Zelda until E3 arrives in mid-June? Let us know what you would like to see in the next Nintendo Direct!

Source: Twitter

Dorkly Shows us How Obtaining a New Mask Works

Link 2 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 05:32:00 +0000

Majora's Mask 3D came out almost a month ago. The buzz about it is dying down, but it's not gone yet! Gamers are still traversing the land of Termina, and commercials as well as ads are still being run to boost the sales of this 3D adventure.

Ever wondered how the masks are made? Dorkly has uploaded a comic centered on Majora's Mask, specifically on how new masks are obtained. They have done extensive research on how this process happens, sparing no expense to get only the right answers.

Now that you know the makings of these masks, will you join the campaign to stop the cruel de-facing of the residents of Termina? Share your thoughts and convictions in the comments below, and make sure to use #StopDefacing2015!

Source: Dorkly

New Hyrule Warriors "Boss Pack" DLC Is Coming on March 12

moothsda — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 22:14:00 +0000

Update: Now Live!

Koei Tecmo has announced on the official Hyrule Warriors website that a new DLC pack, the Boss Pack, will be coming to the game on March 12th, a little over three weeks from now. This new DLC pack will include two brand-new games modes, known as "Boss Challenge" and "Ganon's Fury", and will unlock new costumes for various characters. The Boss Pack is set at a price point of $2.99, much lower than the other Hyrule Warriors DLC packs, which have been sold at $7.99 a piece.

This is the fourth DLC pack to come to the game since its release last year, after the Master Quest Pack, Twilight Princess Pack, and Majora's Mask Pack.

Here are the specifications given on the Hyrule Warriors website:

Boss Challenge - Challenge yourself in relentless battles against giant bosses to unlock new costumes for Link, Zelda, and Lana.

Ganon's Fury - Play as Ganon, rain chaos and destruction upon the battlefield, and unlock new costumes for Ganondorf and Cia.

What do you think? Will you be buying this new DLC pack when it comes out? Have you enjoyed the other DLC packs to come to the game? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Hyrule Warriors Official Website via Nintendo Everything

Speed Run Any% World Record is Broken for Ocarina of Time

Link 2 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:37:00 +0000

Ever since the birth of Ocarina of Time, speedrunners have been blasting their way through it using any tactics they can: back flips, sliding, glitches, wall running, etc. Yesterday, the record for fastest completion of the game was broken by a man named Joel Westerberg, who already held the record but decided to break it again.

Westerberg managed to reach the end of the game in 18 minutes and 5 seconds, breaking the previous record of 18 minutes and 7 seconds. Joel shaved a whole two seconds off of his previous time by using a new glitch discovered in February. The glitch allows you to obtain a bottle in the Great Deku Tree, as well as the Light Arrows. The Light Arrows are not useful for the speed run however, so only the bottle is obtained.

Joel manages to make short work of Ganondorf and says, "We got it, it's the world record!"

Have you done any speed running yourself, or are you going to leave it up to the pros? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: YouTube (via Joel Westerberg)

Classy Gamer Wallet Influenced by The Legend of Zelda Hits Kickstarter

megbethanyread — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 19:23:00 +0000

Searching for a new way to store all of those Rupees? Look no further: this Kickstarter project has got you covered! British video game memorabilia company Gametee has created a beautiful The Legend of Zelda-style wallet and it can be yours for $37.32 (£25).

Made from the finest, butter-soft Italian leather, the slim wallet has a black exterior and is adorned with a die-cast gold metal Triforce in its bottom right corner. The forest green interior features space for credit cards and a coin pouch with "GAMETEE ENGLAND" embossed in gold lettering on it. The wallet is also lined throughout with emerald green satin throughout, making sure that this gorgeous creation is unique.

Gametee are also offering several different reward tiers, and they are as follows:

• 8.96 (£6): A selection of four Zelda-themed badges and an RFID sleeve for your credit cards.

• $14.93 (£10): A single A3 art print of your choice from three different Kickstarter-exclusive designs, along with a signed certificate and handwritten thank you note.

• $26.87 (£18): One of two Triforce-themed t-shirts.

• $29.85 (£20): All three A3 Kickstarter-exclusive art prints, with a handwritten thank you note and signed certificates.

• 37.32 (£25): The wallet itself.

• $44.78 (£30): Both Triforce-themed t-shirts.

• $55.22 (£37): The wallet, Triforce t-shirt of your choice and RFID sleeve.

• $59.70 (£40): The wallet, all three A3 Kickstarter-exclusive art prints and RFID sleeve.

• $79.11 (£53): The wallet, both Triforce-themed t-shirts and RFID sleeve.

• $107.51 (£72): RFID sleeve, badges, all three A3 Kickstarter-exclusive art prints, both t-shirts, wallet, and a mystery Gametee gift.

• $126.92 (£85): All previous rewards, plus a mystery Gametee gift and a campaign-exclusive gold Zelda t-shirt.

At the time of this writing, the project has reached its campaign goal four times over: a sure sign of fans' excitement. It currently has 24 days left so you've got plenty of time left to make your pledge and secure your very own beauty.

Will you be getting one? Let us know.

Source: Kickstarter

Daily Debate: Should Zelda II Spells Return in a Future Game?

RODTheMaster — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 10:01:00 +0000

I was recently playing through Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (as I am known to do sometimes), and was quickly reminded of how useful the Fairy Spell is to gameplay. With the power to increase mobility and skip passed doors, the Fairy Spell is one of many awesome spells present in Zelda II. With some unlocking combat abilities and others changing how Link moves throughout dungeons, these spells were great gameplay additions that have never again been revisited. The results were satisfying back then, but do such spells have a place in modern Zelda games?

In Zelda II, Link learned eight different spells over the course of his journey. Each spell offered something unique when cast; the shield spell increased Link's defenses, the fire spell threw fire balls from his sword, and the spell spell (yes, that's its name) transformed enemies into weak, little blobs. With powers such as these, the player was allowed to feel like a strong magic-caster in addition to a skilled swordsman. Also, the magic system that Zelda II implemented to limit spell usage was extremely interesting. It was obviously influential toward the magic meters seen in later Zelda games, but it allowed for a degree of strategy and forethought that I argue is not present with magic use in more recent games.

Remnants of Zelda II's spells can be seen in later games. Items like Nayru's Love are obviously reminiscent of spells from the past and Majora's Mask's transformations fall in line with the Fairy Spell, but other more recent Zelda games have not really carried over the ideas seen in Zelda II. As well, with jars of magic available almost everywhere in newer titles, the strategic magic system that encourages careful planning has been completely abandoned. Perhaps such a spell system would be too complicated for today's Zelda players; perhaps the types of gameplay these spells provide no longer fit with today's Zelda formula.

I leave you to decide: should the Zelda series revisit the spell system from Zelda II? Are there any specific Zelda II spells you'd like to see return? Does anybody other than me want to see the Fairy Spell again? Join the Daily Debate!

Daily Debate: Was Buying Majora's Mask 3D Worth It?

Link 2 — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:58:00 +0000

Exactly one month has passed since the release of the Zelda series' second 3D remake. Majora's Mask 3D has been selling like crazy, thanks to much hype from the community. Nintendo has spared no expense with ad campaigns and marketing, pushing out multiple commercials and YouTube ads pertaining to the game. Now it's time to hear the fan's voice. Was buying Majora's Mask 3D worth it?

For those who played the original game on the Nintendo 64 and GameCube, Majora's Mask 3D felt nostalgic. It was a trip down memory lane, taking many on a trip back through their childhood. The enhanced graphics only made it better, as players returned to the land of Termina to face Majora's Mask once again.

A portion of Zelda fans never played the original Majora's Mask, and were playing it for the first time. They were curious to experience this treasured classic for themselves, and this was their perfect chance to do just that. Some absolutely loved it, while others gave up playing it because it wasn't the traditional Zelda game they were looking for. Majora's Mask 3D is a game all on it's own, loved by many but despised by others.

We want to know what you think. Was buying Majora's Mask 3D worth it? Did you play the original? Join the Daily Debate in the comments below!

Link Kicks Ass in Stop Motion Fan Video

Paul Grzelak — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 17:41:00 +0000

If you ever wanted to see Link battle giant monsters with every weapon in his arsenal, you'll want to check out this action-packed stop motion video by animator Johnny McHone. If you're a diehard Zelda fan like we are, this just might be the best three minutes of your day.

This isn't the only work done by McHone, an animator from Seattle, Washington. His website is filled with other stop motion animation work, many of them in the form of Vines. He also has some other videos on his YouTube channel, but this looks like his only Zelda project. Let's hope it's not his last.

What did you think of this video? Let us know in the comments below!

Game Information For Your Brain: Interview With the Mind Behind A Quick History of Hyrule

Link 2 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 17:59:00 +0000

Those of you who view site frequently might have seen us cover A Quick History of Hyrule, done by the very talented YouTube channel GamesBrained. Just recently we talked about another video from the same channel, centered on two little known Zelda-titles.

Today we are bringing you an interview with the owner, writer, producer, director, and narrator of GamesBrained, Shane Haehlen. That's right, he operates the channel by himself, pumping out quality content that gathers thousands of views. Without further adieu, here are the questions we asked him for you:

Could you introduce yourself and GamesBrained to our readers?

Shane Haehlen: Absolutely. My name is Shane and I am an American living abroad in Asia, where I am an English teacher. I have played video games since I got my first Super Nintendo packaged with Super Mario World in the early 1990’s. GamesBrained is a project of mine to create thoughtful, informative, and entertaining gaming videos. I have reviewed some games old and new, and more recently I have covered the Zelda Timeline in my ‘Zelda Timeline Explained’ series, which is part of my objective to move into more varied and informative-type videos. I won’t share everything I have planned, but I have much more content covering many different series in the works currently.

What made you decide to start GamesBrained?

SH: That would be a combination of my frustration with the overly-divisive nature of gaming criticism, as well as the need for a creative output in my life. I didn’t just jump right into YouTube, however. GamesBrained originally began as a blog that I started in 2011 during a particularly frozen-over winter in my hometown. That original blog has since been lost to time, but it was my second attempt at a blog under the same name, that upon reviving this project early last year, made me realize that I wanted to move on to video content to better convey my ideas.

When you started the channel, did you think it would be as successful as it is now?

SH: That is a hard question to answer, mainly because I try to keep my expectations as measured as possible. I believe most potentially great YouTube channels fail in their infancy due to the soul-crushing reality that is getting a channel started. As a result I am very cautious over letting my dreams get carried away with where I really am in this process. That being said, did I have any idea that this one series would more than quintuple my views in a month? Not at all.

Do you think the success of your channel could be contributed to your Zelda-themed videos?

SH: Ha ha! You know, it is tempting to just continue to make nothing but Zelda-themed videos! The Legend of Zelda series is incredibly popular, but so are Sonic, Pokémon, and the other series I have covered on my show. At the end of the day I am just one guy in front of a computer, and my reach is limited. I can go online and say, “Hey I made this cool video, won’t you watch it?” but it will almost always sound like self-promotion, which is are naughty words in most corners of the internet. The reason these videos are successful is because of those who watched it and then shared it with others. Sometimes you just need someone to vouch for you.

What inspired you to create your Zelda-themed videos?

SH: I’m a late-night wiki reader. I often find myself falling into the wiki trap, working my way through countless articles on my favorite series’ pages, and naturally found myself at zeldawiki.org. As I was reading through its pages, a thought occurred to me; Have I beaten every Zelda game there is? I wrote them all down in order, and came to the conclusion - almost! So, over a playthrough of Spirit Tracks which finished off the series for me, several potential topics sprang to my mind. The first one became Zelda 101, as I wanted to explain the lengthy release history of the series. The second became Zelda Timeline Explained, which came from my personal desire to know the timeline inside and out.

How much research did you go through for your A Quick History of Hyrule series?

SH: I began research about a month in advance. My primary source was the Hyrule Historia, as I wanted my series to be a brief retelling of the official information according to Nintendo. I wanted this to be as non-speculative as possible, so I did not look at any popular fan-theories, and when placing the only game which had come out post-Historia, A Link Between Worlds, I looked at Nintendo press releases on the subject to get the most official placement possible. The research was actually the easiest part, that was just a bunch of reading, but the script itself was a nightmare. I have about 30 pages of unused material that I scrapped for being too long-winded or overly-detailed. Another trouble spot was finding visual material for use in the episode when there was nothing in game or the Hyrule Historia to represent it: this is why for a moment there in part two, Zelda and company suddenly look like certain inhabitants of Westeros...

We recently covered your video that talked about two little know Zelda titles. How did you stumble across these?

SH: When doing my research for Zelda 101, I left no stone un-turned. I found lots that I had never known about before, like the Game & Watch Zeldas and the Tingle games, but the most interesting of these finds were the Satellaview Zelda games. As I read more about them I began to wonder if they were playable in any form. That led me to the BS Zelda fan page where I found the rest of the story. When actually playing the games in their surviving forms, I found them so fascinating that I developed the idea for the Lost Gaming Treasures episode while in production of Zelda Timeline Explained part three. I’m really happy with how the video came out, and it has already brought to mind many other games I feel I should spotlight in this manner.

Are there any more Zelda-themed videos in store for your viewers?

SH: Y ep! I am currently finishing up the script on my next episode, which is Zelda-themed! This one will wrap up my coverage of Zelda for a while, but as is always the case, doing these latest Zelda episodes has unveiled for me numerous new topics that I want to cover in the franchise.

Any final words you would like to say?

SH: Sure thing! If anyone would like to contact me, feel free to do so at facebook.com/gamesbrained or twitter.com/gamesbrained. Thank you so much for reading about me and watching my videos, I promise to continue bringing you great content in the future! Also, I’d like to say thank you to Zelda Informer for this little interview, it has truly been my pleasure.

There you have it! Make sure to check out the videos mentioned in the interview: A Quick History of Hyrule, and Lost Gaming Treasures: BS The Legend of Zelda. While you're there, don't be afraid to hit that subscribe button so you don't miss out on GamesBrained upcoming videos!

For More GamesBrained:

Here's an Awesome Zelda Chest with Rupee Engagement Ring Box Inside

RODTheMaster — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 20:20:00 +0000

Are you looking for an appropriately cool and nerdy way to propose to that special someone? Well, IndyFurniture on Etsy has you covered. The shop has listed an awesome Zelda chest with a rupee-shaped engagement ring box floating inside. If you feel it's that time to spend the rest of your life with your favorite Zelda fan, this might be the sweetest way to go about it.

When it comes time to pop the question, this handmade chest looks like the best possible choice. When the lid is opened (dramatically, of course), the iconic Item Catch theme plays and a series of lights begin to shine. The rupee-shaped ring box inside has the appearance of weightlessness, as it is suspended in the back by a removable mounting. That means that after the successful proposal, you could still use the chest in other creative ways. The chest is available at IndyFurniture for $200 USD. Customers can also purchase just the rupee ring box for $60 USD.

How does this chest look to you? Will you be using it on your engagement day? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Source: Etsy

Miiverse Highlights: A Tie Between Three

outsethero — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 00:09:00 +0000

Welcome to yet another Miiverse Highlights: Zelda Informer's Thursday Weekly Feature! Last week we held a #WeeklyPoll in which we asked you all what your two favorite characters were from The Wind Waker. Now that the week has passed, it's my duty to take the most-voted character and find the absolute best art and screenshots I can find of them in all of Miiverse!

For the first time in Miiverse Highlights history, the #WeeklyPoll's most-voted answer is a tie between three. That's right, we actually get a little bit more variety this time around with our top posts! Who were those three, you ask? They're none other than Link, the King of Red Lions, and Makar! So, without further ado, here are the best pieces of art and screenshots I could find on Miiverse!

I apologize for the small amount of Makar in this post. I had an incredibly difficult time trying to find any posts regarding the little guy, so this was honestly the best I could do. I do think that drawing of him was cute enough to make up for it, wouldn't you say? No? Ok.

Now, onto this week's event! Since our previous event was a #WeeklyPoll, it's time for another #WeeklyChallenge. In this new challenge we ask you all to draw your most memorable and/or favorite moment from The Wind Waker! Since this is a little more complex than our previous events, we won't be giving an additional challenge this time around. You can find the #WeeklyChallenge posted on the Wind Waker HD Community. For easier access, make sure to follow our official NNID! If you'd like to submit a drawing, all you have to do is log into Miiverse through your 3DS or Wii U, find our latest event and leave a reply! To make sure you respond to the correct post, we'll have it embedded at the end of this feature. Happy posting!

Weekly Music Spotlight: Zelda A Cappella, No Ocarinas Necessary

Jyaxen88 — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 23:51:00 +0000

Hello fellow music lovers and welcome back to another entry of our (slightly belated) Wednesday Weekly Feature: The Weekly Music Spotlight! Every week, we showcase a YouTube artist or two or takes tunes from The Legend of Zelda and makes them their own, whether it be through arrangements, covers, or any other kind of altered take on the source material. Last week, we took a listen to a composer who favors powerful, moving orchestrations, so this week, we'll take a look at some lighter fare.

We here at ZI enjoy our fair share of a cappella music, and were even so lucky as to talk with one of the best a cappella artists in video game music a couple weeks back. This week, we'd like to introduce you to another artist who shows us just how much they can accomplish with voice alone, both in Zelda (of course), and the wider spectrum of video game music and beyond.

Meet Jaron Davis. A YouTube artist since July of 2012, Davis has made many a Zelda a cappella video since then, including renditions of Zora's Domain, the Zelda II Boss Theme, the Zelda II House Theme, the Death Mountain Theme, the Dungeon Theme, the Palace Theme (from Zelda II), and the Fairy Fountain Theme. Featured above is his most recent arrangement, showing off his skills on the fan-favorite Midna's Lament, and a cover of the Bombchu Bowling Alley theme, showing off his collaborative talents.

In the case that you'd like a little more variation than that which his Zelda arrangements provide, Davis also has many a cappella arrangements from other games (such as Final Fantasy, Pokemon, and Metroid), and even pop/rock artists (such as The Beatles, Taylor Swift, and Radiohead). While a solid number of these are done with just Davis, he frequently partners with other a cappella artists and singers, including Annie Pattison, Alicia Renee,and Carly Cartunes.

What do you think of the arrangements in the videos above? Has Davis made you an aca-believer? If you'd like to check out more of Davis' work, or support his music, make sure to check out the links below! And make sure to share your thoughts on his music, a capella music, or Zelda music in general in the comments below.

For More Jaron Davis:

Majora's Mask 3D Was the Best-Selling Video Game in the U.S. in February, Over 500k Units Sold

moothsda — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 01:06:00 +0000

NPD Group, a company that focuses on market research, has released a list of the top ten best-selling video games in the United States in the month of February, and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D was at #1, with about 515,000 units sold. It's sold more than Evolve, Dying Light, and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

It's no secret that Majora's Mask 3D has been selling amazingly well, after the news that the game sold more than 200,000 units in Japan just during launch week, and the fact that the game has sold twice as much as A Link Between Worlds did in the same time frame.

Here is the full list for the top-selling games in the U.S. last month:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (3DS) (515,000 copies sold digitally and physically)
2. Evolve (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
3. Dying Light (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
4. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3, PC)
5. Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3)
6. NBA 2K15 (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360)
7. Dragon Ball: Xenoverse (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360)
8. Minecraft (360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4)
9. The Order: 1886 (PS4)
10. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (3DS)

What do you guys think? Are you surprised, or did you expect Majora to outsell all the competition? Do you think Majora's Mask is #1 in all regions, or is it just the U.S.? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Nintendo Everything

Miiting Interview Contains Lengthy Chat with the Happy Mask Salesman

Nathan — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:12:00 +0000

This was definitely unexpected, In two prior Miiting interviews, Nintendo unveiled developer insight into the process behind making specific games - this time however they took a twist, interviewing the Happy Mask Salesman. He tackles questions about himself, Majora's Mask 3D, and even how he obtained the infamous Majora's Mask. Of course the interview is mostly in jest and to have fun, but it's likely that a developer is behind the voice of HMS. Since this interview was conducted in the comment section on Miiverse, we have the entire interview for you in image form below.

Source: Miiverse

Speedrunner Skater82297 Sets New OoT World Record, Currently Streaming for Even Faster Time

RODTheMaster — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:46:00 +0000

A few days ago, speedrunner Jodenstone continued his Ocarina of Time supremacy by setting a new Any% record of 18 minutes and 5 seconds using a newly-discovered glitch. Today, speedrunner skater82297 (known for discovering many glitches used in the current Any% route) set a new record by shaving 2 seconds off Jodenstone's time. Even after setting his impressive time of 18 minutes and 3 seconds, skater82297 still has his sights on a time under 18 minutes and is currently streaming his attempts on his Twitch channel.

Skater82297's world record run makes use of the new Deku Nut glitch, which was used by Jodenstone in his run. The glitch allows the runner to obtain a bottle early and quickly set up the wrong warp glitch, sending the runner to Ganon's Tower. Skater82297's new record has not yet been officially verified, but will be once today's broadcast is archived.

He is currently streaming right now on Twitch with the goal of finishing the game in under 18 minutes, a goal he is on pace for. According to skater82297, there is a lot of time to be saved in this new route. If you wish to watch another possible world record be set live, this is a great opportunity. Runner Jodenstone is also attempting the same feat.

Happy Mask Salesman Being in a new Zelda Game "Wouldn't be a stretch", Has New Masks

Nathan — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 23:06:00 +0000

Earlier today we posted a rather lengthy, mostly comedic, interview with the Happy Mask Salesman, who was most likely represented by a developer at Nintendo. No matter how you slice it, it was an official Nintendo interview, meaning what was said holds some value depending on what was being responded to. In this case, Happy Mask Salesman stated that he may be returning in a future Zelda title, all but suggesting that this is going to occur. Of course, this could mean nothing - just that Happy Mask Saleman's journey through Hyrule and other various lands might not be complete.

It could also mean that he's about to make an appearance in Zelda U, with some brand new masks coming with him - something he himself confirmed to have found. Here is what he had to say:

"My, my... I've certainly been appearing all over these past few days! If this keeps going, maybe it wouldn't be a stretch to expect me to pop up in a new Zelda game too...? Ho, ho, ho... I've got some new masks too, if you'd like to try them on... if I do make an appearance, I'm sure everyone will experience such happiness! Believe in your strengths... Believe... Ho, ho, ho... "

Of course fans love to speculate, so you could say that since he was talking about his journey through Termina that if he is in the next game, this would have to take place after Majora's Mask. Then again, that doesn't necessarily hold weight, since he isn't referencing a timeline throughout any of his interview, meaning he very well could be talking about a future title in the past tense. It's crazy times we live in, as we continue to read between the lines and dig up any potential information on the next game that we can.

This could also be a tease for Happy Mask Salesman to appear in Hyrule Warriors as future DLC, featuring old masks and maybe some new ones. Honestly, we have no idea. Your guess is as good as ours!

Report: Zelda U June Release Date Supposedly Leaked on Amazon

Link 2 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 02:03:00 +0000

That's right, folks. The title says it all! Attack of the Fanboy, a gaming news website, has reported that, according to Amazon, Zelda U will have a release date of June 26th. The release date on Amazon has been removed and replaced with the placeholder of December 31st, which is common for websites like Amazon to do before a release date is announced.

Fakery? Error? We won't know for sure until Nintendo announces the release date for themselves.

Anything is possible, as June 26th is after E3. Nintendo could announce Zelda U's release date at E3, to drive up hype for the game and boost the sales of the Wii U. However, many suspect this to be an employee or system mistake. Whatever the case, take it with a grain of salt and hope (if you dare) that we will be getting this open world adventure as soon as June.

Did you know we have an entire page dedicated to recent news coverage about Zelda U? You can check it out here.

Source: Attackofthefanboy.com

Daily Debate: Giant Boss Eyes, Yea or Nay?

Ghirahims-Left-Shoe — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 14:00:00 +0000

It’s been a month since the much-hyped Majora’s Mask 3D was released for the 3DS. One of the major changes that Nintendo made to this re-released classic was the addition of a bright, giant eye to highlight the weak spots of each boss monster. Now that many of us have had the opportunity to play, if not finish, Majora’s Mask 3D, I thought it was about time to ask: what do you think of the giant eye?

Does it make boss battles way too easy? Some Zelda fans may prefer to figure the bosses’ weaknesses out for themselves. The boss is part of the dungeon, after all. It’s another puzzle. It’s true that your companions always have hints to give, and your fairy tends to hover around weak points, but because they’re so small, those are the kinds of things you can ignore if you choose to try and come up with your own battle strategy. You can’t exactly overlook a gigantic eye.

Is it a welcome change? Maybe you’re a player that dreads the boss battles at the end of each dungeon or temple. We’ve all had difficulty at one point or another where a boss was too challenging. The eye gives you something to aim for, where you know you won’t be wasting arrows, bombs, and hearts on trial and error. It might even prevent you from getting stuck, allowing a smooth gameplay, virtually free of frustrated “breaks” for weeks or months on end.

Either way, there are bound to be people that love it, and people that hate it because it’s a major change to something that so many fans already know and love. What do you think? Yea or nay? Should they include this feature in future Zelda titles? Let us know!

Here Are Some High Resolution Images of the New Majora's Mask Pin

Nathan — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 04:01:00 +0000

For those unaware, a Majora's Mask Pin was available to those who preordered Code Name S.T.E.A.M. That means this past Friday (today for some of you still), or in the coming days if it's being shipped to you from an online order, several people were able to get their hands on an exclusive Majora's Mask pin. Some may be wondering if that pin is worth the hassle. While we can't put it in your hands literally, we are able to provide you some extremely high resolution images, so you can judge the quality to the best of your ability.

These images are courtesy a user on imgur. You can check out the images in the gallery below, or see them in their native resolutions here: Image 1, 2, 3 , 4, 5.

New Live Action Zelda Fan Film Short Impresses, Aims to Show Nintendo What is Possible

Nathan — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 04:37:00 +0000

There have been many attempts at live action fan films for The Legend of Zelda over the years. The most successful of them have been parodies, such as The Legend of Neil series. While the more serious ones have been done with good intention, often the camera work, acting, or general editing and sound weren't up to snuff. If anything, they often showed why Zelda doesn't work very well in a live action setting. This time however, a group of people aimed to dispell all prior notions of Zelda fan film work and create something truly special - and just give us enough to show Nintendo how this series could possibly work as a TV series or even a movie, should they desire to go that route.

It's a short film, but it contains one scene - a touching scene between Sheik (Zelda), Link, and Navi- and it maintains the Link is silent motif - something I disagree with, but they do a great job of making it work. The actual camera work, sound, and even the cgi touches are really impressive - but more than that... the acting is really good, despite most of the conversation coming from one character. This is a pretty serious take on the series, using both in-game quotes combined with customized story telling and a mixture of their own plot ideas.

As a tease, something to pitch to Nintendo, it works. I can only hope Nintendo takes this seriously and makes it work in a series down the line - be it on Netflix or through another provider.

Musical Duo Take On Clock Town Theme

Cathron — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 05:31:00 +0000

A musical duo on YouTube has taken on the task of making their own arrangement of the Clock Town theme from Majora's Mask. Though there are just two of them, they make use of multiple instruments in their music.

The song is two minutes and 35 seconds long, and it features flute, violin, ocarina, and oboe.

The duo are Patti Rudisill and Kristin Naigus, and they've arranged their own versions of several video game medleys in the past. Rudisill and Naigus have performed songs from Chrono Trigger, Super Mario Bros., Xenoblade Chronicles, and more.

In their rendition of the Clock Town theme, Rudisill plays the violin while Naigus plays the remaining instruments.

For more information on the musical duo, click here.

PeanutButterGamer Plays Hacked Ocarina of Time

Tpaul Homdrom — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 16:22:00 +0000

PeanutButterGamer is a popular presence on YouTube. You might know him from his annual Zelda Month videos, where every November he does a string of videos on Zelda-related content (most recently he did a collaboration with YouTuber Yungtown called "Why We Love Skyward Sword"). PBG also has a gameplay channel where he does Let's Plays, and lately he's been playing through a hacked version of Mario 64.

PBG's hacked Mario 64 video series has been appropriately called "Mario Chaos Edition." The game has random glitches come up during gameplay that make beating the game much more difficult (and, for some, incredibly entertaining to watch and/or play). These glitches range from Mario turning into a sign post, Mario's health constantly draining, turning into a gigantic Mario (but still playing as if you are regular-sized), the background glitching out, colors turning negative, and many, many more (there really are too many to list). Somehow, PBG's Mario Chaos series has lasted for fifteen episodes (watch the latest one here).

This hack was created by Kaze Emanuar (check out his YouTube channel here), but Kaze didn't stop with Mario 64. He also created a hacked version of Ocarina of Time, and PBG tried it out. Even Kaze commented on the video, saying he didn't expect PBG to play it, thinking it was "too unplayable to even try." And, well, you can see for yourself in the video above whether Kaze was right about that or not. The glitches may be even more chaotic and detrimental to the gameplay experience than Mario 64 hacked. It didn't stop PBG from trying it out, though, and the results are quite chaotic. At one point an Arwing from Star Fox 64 shows up and fires lasers at Young Link!

Be warned, though; there are some rather erratic camera movements and shaking of the camera, so if you're sensitive to such things, it may be better not to watch.

ZI Podcast Episode 27: Why 3D Will Beat 2D, Kingdom Hearts Insanity, And The Woes Of 3D Animation

Acohen95 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

This week on the ZI Podcast, we discuss how motion capture can ruin a game, Adam talks about why he thinks 3D Zelda games are better than 2D, and the problems with Frozen. Casters for this week are Adam (Normal and Post), Chris (He brings the dank memes), Caleb (He's very sleepy), and EsquireBob (We just call him Porter).

Thanks to those of you who submitted your fan topics this week. If you have any fan topics, theme song submissions, or cover art for the podcast, be sure to send those to ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com. Thanks to those of you who sent Adam (Me) birthday wishes via email/twitter! And please, share the podcast with your friends! It helps us out a lot. Enjoy Episode 27!

Social Media

Special Thanks

Fan Recreates A Wind Waker Screenshot SNES Style

Link 2 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 18:11:00 +0000

Ever wondered what The Wind Waker would look like as an SNES game? Deviant Art user gilamasan shows us how he envisions it with this stunning image.

Complete with a rupee counter, compass, hearts, day/night clock, and magic meter, this brilliant 16-bit recreation is truly a sight to behold. I especially like how the back of Link's cap can be seen flying in the breeze, and the waves that the King of Red Lions is making.

Gilamasan says he based the image on a Wind Waker screenshot, which can be viewed in the gallery below.

Do you think he did a good job and accurately represented what The Wind Waker would look like on the SNES? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Deviant Art

Daily Debate: Should Nintendo Create a Sheik Spin-Off Game?

Link 2 — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 17:43:00 +0000

Here at Zelda Informer, we are always talking about Zelda's spin-off titles, such as Tingle's Rosy Rupee Land and Hyrule Warriors. Just a few days ago, we talked about two little-know spin-off games in the 90s that were playable with a Famicom add-on.

Nintendo says that more spin-off games will be in development this year, so why not another Legend of Zelda game? A common spin-off title I see fans frequently saying they want is a Shiek game. Many fans would like a game starring Sheik, specifically during the years Link was asleep during Ganondorf's takeover in Ocarina of Time.

A Sheik spin-off game has many possibilities. I don't know about you, but I would want the game to be 100% canon in the Zelda universe, as well as earning a spot in the official timeline. Link doesn't even have to be in the game. After all, it is the Legend of Zelda.

Would you buy a Sheik spin-off game? Should it be in the style of Hyrule Warriors, or in the style of a traditional 3D Zelda title? Share your thoughts by joining the Daily Debate in the comments below.

Photoshop Contest: Zelda Wins February

Paul Grzelak — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:21:00 +0000

The time has come once again to use expensive software for trivial purposes: a Photoshop Contest is upon us!

We're asking readers to submit the funniest, most creative, or most awe-inspiring pictures they can produce within the guidelines we suggest. This week, we’re using Photoshop to send Zelda series producer, Eiji Aonuma, to a place he doesn’t want to revisit. But first, let’s take a look at the winners from last week's contest: Stressed Aonuma.

Last Week’s Contest

Pictures were selected based on their creativity, quality, and how effectively they demonstrated the image-manipulation abilities of the artists.

Best Submissions

Artist: Joseph Carlough

Artist: Miguel Gerrerio

Artist: Monkee-goro

Challenge Mode

Kyle Ian Thomas's entry wins last week's Challenge Mode for showing our stressed Aonuma ultimately victorious at the end of his many struggles.

In last week’s contest, all entries received 4 upvotes each, so we’re declaring everyone a winner for Fan Favorite!

This Week’s Contest: Zelda Wins February

While not exactly the holiday season, February was still host to a fair share of major game releases, including several with quite a bit of hype behind them.

February saw the release of asymmetrical multiplayer shooter/space hunting simulator Evolve, the parkour take on the zombie genre with Dying Light, and PlayStation 4 exclusive The Order 1886 to name a few.

But all these major releases and more were soundly crushed in sales under the weight of the Majora’s Mask remake on the 3DS with half a million copies sold in February.

Gloating may be shallow, but it can still be fun. So, for this week’s contest, let’s celebrate Zelda’s dominance over these other game titles and more in our Photoshop Contest.

Feel free to use any of the images posted in the gallery of this article, or anything else you need to make this concept a reality.

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on March 18. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

Challenge Rule: Make sure your submission includes Princess Zelda in some way.

Good luck!

GameXplain Discusses the Possibility of the Happy Mask Salesman in a Future Zelda Game

Link 2 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 01:21:00 +0000

The other day we covered a "Miiting" between Nintendo and the Happy Mask Salesman on Miiverse. Included in this meeting was the Happy Mask Salesman seemingly dropping hints, such as:

"If this keeps going, maybe it wouldn't be a stretch to expect me to pop up in a new Zelda game too...?"

Some have claimed that this basically confirms the existence of the Happy Mask Salesman in a future Zelda title, otherwise Nintendo wouldn't have had him say so on Miiverse. Others say Nintendo is just trying to create a buzz about the upcoming release Zelda U later in 2015. (Maybe earlier than we think!)

It seems as though we are not the only ones that noticed this gleeful character teasing a future appearance, as GameXplain has dedicated an entire video to discussing the subject, as well as Majora's Mask 3D in general. A lot of theorization goes on, and some eye-pleasing footage of Zelda U, A Link Between Worlds, and Majora's Mask 3D is included to watch while you listen!

Amazing Zelda U Time-lapse Drawing

Link 2 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 15:57:00 +0000

With all the Zelda U rumors and theories going around, such as a possible leaked release date, and the possibility of the Happy Mask Salesman making an appearance, I think it's appropriate that today we feature some great Zelda U artistry.

Artist Liron Yanconsky has uploaded video footage for his speed-drawing/painting of Link from the Zelda U trailer. While most of his work revolves around "how-to-draw" books and videos, this is a special treat for Zelda fans and time-lapse drawing fans alike that showcases the skills of this artist at work.

For those who are unfamiliar, the process of speed drawing is pretty straightforward. The artist videotapes him or herself making the creation, a process which can take hours on end, and speeds up to footage once the piece is complete. This allows viewers see the process behind the drawing, without having to watch hours of video. Yanconsky says his masterpiece took about 2.5 hours, but he managed to squeeze it into only 1.5 minutes of video.

I must say, it is pretty interesting to watch. Seeing Liron sketch Link and paint him is a mesmerizing sight. Speed-drawing takes much talent and patience, but pays off at the end when you can step back and view the finished product!

Liron goes by the motto "anyone can learn to draw", hence his focus on "how-to-draw" books and videos. With that in mind, perhaps we'll get a video explaining how to draw Link sometime soon. Then again, for those like me, this may not do much to help! What do you think of this sketch? Let us know in the comments below!

The Boss Man: Zelda Fan "Requirements" and Internet Bullying

Nathan — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +0000

This week's Boss Man episode deals with some things happening in our community that hit close to home. Internet bullying and telling someone they aren't really a fan. I go on and on about these topics in the episode, so I'll spare you my rant here. Next week I hope to return to some more fun topics, like a special theory presented to me by a fan, or what my plans would be for Nintendo's future hardware should I have any say. I hope you enjoy this week's episode!

Daily Debate: Which Game Had the Best Version of Zelda?

RODTheMaster — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 17:19:00 +0000

Last year, we facilitated a very active debate about the best version of Link. With all the colorful responses we saw for that debate, we wish to examine another certain Triforce wielder, the one who acts as the namesake for the entire Zelda series. Princess Zelda no doubt serves an active role throughout the games, but some versions of this heroine are more defined than others. With the many different renditions of the Zelda's character we've seen, it's now time to decide which one was the absolute best.

I can see this debate going in several different directions. The Princess Zelda of Ocarina of Time was a strong, independent character (even though her actions were deferred to the secret identity of Sheik), the Zelda of Skyward Sword was a well-developed and likable love interest (maybe), and the Princess of Minish Cap was a relatable childhood friend. Some titles even establish Zelda as a very helpful ally in Link's adventure, such as in Spirit Tracks where Zelda's ghostly form is used to guide and aid our hero.

I can see a popular choice for this debate being Tetra from Wind Waker. While not completely Princess Zelda (at least not initially), Tetra is still very much a version of the Princess seen in other games. What separates Tetra from other Zeldas is that she has so much personality and growth in her game; she's sassy, sarcastic, and altogether lovable. With all these great character traits, it's a shame her character steps back a bit from the game's action when she eventually embraces her role as Princess Zelda. To me, Tetra became a bit bland in the final few hours of Wind Waker.

But it is your turn to decide. Which version of Zelda do you see as the best? Which traits make that version such a strong character? Join the Daily Debate!

Aonuma Announces Majora's Mask-Themed Art Academy Winners

Link 2 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:15:00 +0000

Last month, Eiji Aonuma announced a Majora's Mask-themed Art Academy contest on Miiverse. Now, four weeks later, the talented winners of the contest are being featured on Nintendo Japan's website.

I'm so glad Nintendo chooses to interact with their fans and give them a chance to be featured on their website. This contest was a good marketing decision on Nintendo's part, because it attracted more attention to Majora's Mask 3D during its release.

You can check the winners out below. My favorite entry was the one pictured to the left. It's a cute portrait of Link watching Aonuma, and Aonuma is holding the New Nintendo 3DS he used to play Majora's Mask 3D. Yes, it even has the red mushroom cover plates on it!

Source: Nintendo Japan

New World Record Speedrun Set for Any% Majora's Mask (N64/VC Edition)

Nathan — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 22:34:00 +0000

It appears the past week or so has been Speedrun heaven, as we've seen our 3rd record breaking Speedrun of a Zelda game, but this time for a game other than Ocarina of Time. It's counterpart, Majora's Mask, had a new record set just today. This was a new world record for an Any% run, which meant that yes, glitches are allowed. I know the use of glitches is a point of contention for many, but it's also something a large contingency of fans enjoy. Just remember, this is one speedrun category, and there are others that don't allow for glitches. However, those records are not broken often, which is why they tend to get less coverage.

That being said, this is a really impressive run that EnNop112 pulls off in 1:27:09. You can naturally watch the entire run above.

Cosplayer Makes Life-Size Razor Sword Available For Purchase

Cathron — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 03:21:00 +0000

A cosplayer by the name of Siegfried has made a life-size Razor Sword from Majora's Mask available for sale. If any fan has ever wanted a replica of the blade, now they can have one.

The Razor Sword replica is a custom-order handmade item. It's made of 1075 high carbon steel, and the base price is $500. For an extra $100, fans can request an engraving or a wall mount. The blade itself weighs five pounds. Fans wanting to purchase their own sword can order one by clicking here.

As most Zelda fans know, the Razor Sword is an optional upgrade for the Kokiri Sword that the Hero of Time obtained in Ocarina of Time. In Majora's Mask, the Razor Sword does more damage than the Kokiri Sword, but the upgrade is imperfect. After 100 strikes, it returns to its original form. The Razor Sword can be upgraded once more to the Gilded Sword, which does not lose its sharpness. In this way, the Razor Sword is like the Giant's Knife compared to the Biggoron Sword in Ocarina of Time.

Siegfried is 18 and comes from northern Virginia. For more information about his cosplays, click here.

Source: Siegfried Costumes

Happy Birthday Eiji Aonuma - Thanks for all of Your Work on the Zelda Series!

Nathan — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:28:00 +0000

Eiji Aonuma is the current producer of the Zelda series - essentially the main person behind the entirety of the series - a role he took over from Shigeru Miyamoto a little over a decade ago. He joined the team during development of Ocarina of Time and hasn't looked back, playing major roles in every Zelda game developed by Nintendo since, and approving of many others - such as the Capcom games and Hyrule Warriors. Today he turns 52, which is a great age, but also showing how he won't be able to do this forever. Still, while he has a decade or so left of Zelda game development in him, today we're here to celebrate everything he's brought us so far.

The art above is by RYO on Miiverse and it was created in celebration of his birthday. It perfectly encapsulates Eiji Aonuma today with his most recent release. Have you enjoyed the Eiji Aonuma era of Zelda games? What is your favorite memory from his work on the series?

Caption Contest 009: "My finger points"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 17:30:00 +0000

It's that time of the week again where we present your comedic creativity and put it to work in the form of one-liners, the Caption Contest! The Star Fox was strong with you last week as different iterations of the "Do a barrel role" quote were prominent. I especially liked Viking Link's "The Hobbit" reference, but alas it did not garner enough votes. Honestly, I really enjoy looking through everything you all post throughout the week, not just the "winners". So keep at it, because you are still making people laugh. This week, the Groose is loose and he is giving Link the finger. No, not that finger, he's just pointing at him with...authority? Regardless, I wholly expect some witty captions from many of you this week, so go forth and do what you do best! Also, bonus points if you can name the reference I made in the title. Who knows, maybe I'll present everyone who got that right next week as well!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

by: Boaz2000

by: Guest

by: Cherryb6mb

by: Mountain Smithy

by: Ticklemetingle

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

HyIian Ticipated - "Princess Ruto...Wants more babies."
Infernova - "That moment you realize that you're not alone in the barrel."
malon and link - "No! NO! NOT GYORG!!"
Hannah Combs - "And the moral of the story is: don't let Tetra arrange transportation. Barrels aren't comfortable and her aim is way off!."
Bluewildfire - "Are you sure this is what the hero of legend wore...?"

This week's photo:

Aonuma Talks Sleepless Nights During Majora's Mask Development and Working With Yoshiaki Koizumi

RODTheMaster — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 18:38:00 +0000

In a recent interview with Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma took the time to speak more on the one year development cycle of the original Majora's Mask. While we may have already seen several interviews regarding the subject, this particular one gives some insight on how the team was affected by the heavy workload. He also explains how he and Yoshiaki Koizumi (current Mario series producer) divided their efforts to successfully finish the game.

The interview begins with a question about Majora's Mask's short development period:

"ND: Wasn’t it harsh [to complete the game] in a year?
Aonuma: That’s right. For example, it has been a long time since I started working on Zelda, but I have almost never pulled an all-nighter. However, I did that once for the N64 version of Majora’s Mask. I did that together with Koizumi and (Takumi) Kawagoe. We were responsible for a movie which Miyamoto had rejected the day before. We had to do it again until the next day and there was barely enough time. It left a lasting impression as I worked quietly in a room with no one around."

Aonuma is then asked about how he and Yoshiaki Koizumi worked together on the game:

"ND: From a fan side of view, it generates strong feelings how Mr. Aonuma and Mr. Koizumi made a game together and later got deeply involved with Zelda and Mario series, respectively.
Aonuma: Even though that is how it turned out, I nor Koizumi didn’t think about it at the time (laughs). Speaking of our roles back then, Koizumi was responsible for planning events inside Clock Town and I planned surrounding areas, including dungeons.
ND: So the responsibilities were divided between inside and outside.
Aonuma: That is because Koizumi wanted to do a time management system and it was a good fit for Clock Town.
ND: I see. Mr. Koizumi came up with the time management system and was responsible for things related to it.
Aonuma: But I wanted to make [things for the time management system], too. I said I wanted time management outside [of Clock Town], but the gameplay becomes strict if the passage of time can be seen in dungeons and on the field. That is why I was told to include time management only in Clock Town."

Aonuma then goes on to explain a few exceptions to this arrangement, such as with the location of the Goron Elder changing with each in-game day. It is interesting to know that Koizumi was responsible for the events and side-quests seen in Clock Town. While I enjoy the areas and dungeons planned by Aonuma, much of what I loved about Majora's Mask is present in Clock Town's schedule-based gameplay. I really wonder what would happen if Aonuma and Koizumi were to work together on Zelda again. We can only hope, right?

What did you think of Aonuma's responses? Would you want to see Aonuma and Koizumi work closely together again? Let us know!

Source: Nintendo Dream (via Nintendo Everything)

Jodenstone Sets New OoT Speedrun Record, Completes Game in Under 18 Minutes

RODTheMaster — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:23:00 +0000

We know that the front page has seen many speedrun posts in the last few weeks, but with the discovery of a new trick, Ocarina of Time speedrunners have been diligently refining the current Any% route. After skater82297's impressive world record of 18 minutes and 3 seconds, the goal among OoT speedrunners has been to be the first person ever to complete the game in less than 18 minutes. Well history has been made, as speedrunner Jodenstone has reached this goal and completed the game in 17 minutes and 55 seconds.

Speedrunners like Jodenstone and skater82297 have been grinding all weekend for a chance at a sub 18 minute run. The route involves a series of difficult glitches and time-saving techniques in and around the Deku Tree. With a bit of good luck, Jodenstone was able to perform the new Deku Nut glitch very quickly as well as skip down Ganon's Tower on his first attempt. With these tricks executed, Jodenstone defeated Ganon as the clock reached 17 minutes and 55 seconds.

As the credits rolled, the runner celebrated his achievement and explained he may take a break from Ocarina of Time speedruns for a while. Jodenstone's time has yet to be verified, but is expected to be soon.

Have a bit of patience and consideration in the comments with this one. For many, this is an outstanding and historical achievement. But anyway, share your thoughts and praises in the comments.

A Link Between Worlds-Themed Adventure Map for Terraria

Link 2 — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 20:29:00 +0000

Spoiler Warning for A Link Between Worlds

Any Terraria players in the house? If the answer is yes, then this adventure map is for you guys! Titled "The Legend of Zelda, Two Worlds," players can fight monsters and complete various parkour courses in this A Link Between Worlds-themed world.

YouTube user itskieda uploaded a stunning trailer of this map a few days ago, with The Dark World from The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD playing in background.

This map spares no details. It contains fairies, a Link costume, and even fissures in the ground that are used to travel between Hyrule and Lorule.

As with most adventure maps, this one has a set of rules:

Use a softcore character
Trash your starting items when you enter the map
No building, crafting, or mining (you can destroy things without a pickaxe though, such as cobweb)
There is a boss in every dungeon. You cannot spawn the boss outside its room, and cannot go forward without beating the boss first.
There are no levers that kill you; all levers have a purpose.

You can get the map here from Curse, which already has over 300 downloads. Will you be playing it? I know I will!

Source: Curse

Nintendo IPs to Come to Smart Devices Through New Business Partnership

Jyaxen88 — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 10:25:00 +0000

President of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, has continuously indicated that he would not move the company to smart devices, despite the number of consumers in that market. Gradually, he indicated that Nintendo was looking into the best ways to get involved in the mobile gaming sphere, but with a focus on making their home and handheld console presence stronger. Today, he has revealed exactly what this entails: a new business and capital partner for Nintendo, a new, multi-peripheral membership program and, most importantly, the presence of Nintendo IPs on smart devices through original games and applications.

The new business partner in question is called DeNA, and it is a video game publisher already well-versed in the sphere of mobile gaming. As the owner of one of the most popular mobile gaming platforms in Japan (called "Mobage), DeNA has been picked out as a partnership for this new business endeavor of Nintendo's for its "world-class Internet service and operating know-how", according to Iwata. This partnership is set to bring about both a brand new membership program -one which integrates Wii U, 3DS, PC, smart devices, and more - and original games for smart devices, utilizing existing Nintendo IPs and their respective characters.

As opposed to the idea of simply porting games for Wii U, 3DS, a choice which Iwata believes wouldn't provide consumers with the best play experience and "ruin the value of Nintendo's IP", Nintendo will be developing completely new games - with the aid of DeNA - for mobile devices that are best fit to the devices themselves. As for which IPs will be brought to mobile gaming sphere, Iwata had the following to say:

As for which Nintendo IP will be used, we do not intend to make any exceptions. Potentially, any Nintendo IP could be used in our smart device software.

He was quick to note, however, that Nintendo will still aim to develop the best games they can on their gaming hardware. The specific IPs, characters, and games to come mobile devices, however, have not yet been disclosed, but are set to be revealed in future announcements.

Source: Nintendo

Nintendo Announces Next Gen Hardware, Code-named "NX"

Nathan — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 14:56:00 +0000

Nintendo announced earlier today that their IP's will be making their way to Smart Devices - likely including The Legend of Zelda. While these are planned to be brand new games, Nintendo didn't want people left with the impression they are giving up on their dedicated hardware platforms. As such, Iwata has announced a new next generation platform code-named "NX". We don't know for sure, but it's rather safe to assume this will be their new handheld platform. No details were announced for it, however Iwata did note that they will be talking about it (and likely unveiling it) next year:

"Nintendo has decided to deploy its video game business on smart devices but it is not because we have lost passion or vision for the business of dedicated video game systems. On the contrary, now that we have decided how we will make use of smart devices, we have come to hold an even stronger passion and vision for the dedicated video game system business than ever before. Nintendo has made this decision because we have concluded that the approach of making use of smart devices is a rational way for us to encourage even more people around the world to recognize the great value of the wonderful game software available on our dedicated game systems.
As proof that Nintendo maintains strong enthusiasm for the dedicated game system business, let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename “NX.” It is too early to elaborate on the details of this project, but we hope to share more information with you next year." — Satoru Iwata

Let the speculation begin as we can truly start to talk about our desires for Nintendo's next platform.

Source: Gamnesia

Nintendo Teases New Membership Program That Connects Smart Devices and PCs with Nintendo Hardware

Nathan — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 15:15:00 +0000

Nintendo has been talking for awhile about rethinking it's user program to encompass future devices. It appears that today, through a new partnership with DeNA in Japan, Nintendo is making it's first huge step towards this realization. They are going to work together on creating a new membership program that encompasses smart devices, pcs, and Nintendo hardware. It is probably safe to assume this would replace or at least enhance Nintendo's current Nintendo Network ID system. Could this be the first step towards a true universal account system? We can only hope.

More importantly and directly mentioned, this program will be replacing Club Nintendo:

"Nintendo, together with DeNA, will jointly develop a new membership service which encompasses the existing Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems, the new hardware system with a brand-new concept, NX, and smart devices and PCs, and Nintendo will be the primary party to operate this new membership service. Unlike the Club Nintendo membership service that Nintendo has been operating, the new membership service will include multiple devices and create a connection between Nintendo and each individual consumer regardless of the device the consumer uses. This membership will form one of the core elements of the new Nintendo platform that I just mentioned." - Satoru Iwata

Source: Nintendo of Japan

Daily Debate: What Sort of Zelda Mobile Games Would You Like to See?

Nathan — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 17:46:00 +0000

Earlier today Nintendo dropped a few bombshells. The biggest of which involved statements that Nintendo is in fact going to be creating video games for smart devices with all of their IP open for consideration - the first of which will be launched later this year. Of course this incited rage and excitement in many, so to try and ease some of the complainers worries, Iwata did mention they are currently making a new next generation system, code named "NX". Still, reality is that mobile games are happening and an even more important reality for us is that Zelda will likely be among the IPs used. Zelda today stands as one of Nintendo's largest franchises - so while we might not get a mobile game built around it this year, we certainly will in the future.

The question now is - how would you like to see this game or multiple games take shape? We know it won't be a port of any existing games - but that doesn't mean some of those ideas can't be reused. Link's Crossbow Training style? How about Navi's Trackers fully realized? There could even be a Zelda rhythm game or some sort of Angry Birds knock off with Loftwings. Nintendo also likely wants to make money, so micro-transactions and/or ads are likely going to be a thing. How would you ideally see this all work out?

Keep in mind we want real responses here that are practical - not someone saying "I don't want them doing this". It's fine and dandy to be against this, but this debate is for discussing what we would like to see happen assuming it is going to occur, rather than discussing if we want it to happen.

Aonuma Explains Origins of Majora's Mask Characters, Anju and Kafei Inspired by Missile Crisis

RODTheMaster — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:15:00 +0000

Many would agree that Majora's Mask has some of the strongest characters in the entire Zelda series. Eiji Aonuma has admitted before that the game was meant to appeal to a more adult audience, and this fact is proven in the well-developed, more serious characters. In a recent interview with Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Aonuma explained how many of the characters and scenarios present in Majora's Mask are inspired by the developers' personal experiences, some of which being extremely serious.

After a discussion about how work on Majora's Mask was divided amongst developers, Aonuma is asked about personal experiences that influenced the game:

"ND: ...I heard Mr. Aonuma and Mr. Koizumi also used other personal experiences from during the development.
Aonuma: It’s almost always like that (laughs). There are really many cases when we had personal themes as a starting point for production.
ND: The wedding of Anju and Kafei was like that, right?
Aonuma: That’s right. It was born from the Taepodong uproar of the time.
ND: There was news that North Korea was preparing to launch Taepodong missiles.
Aonuma: We were attending a wedding of a staff member and were talking with Koizumi and the others: “Come to think of it, it’s somewhat strange to come to a wedding in a situation when missiles may fall down today.” The discussion progressed into noting how it would also fit the setting of a falling moon and whether to do a wedding in the game. Now that I think of it, no matter where we go, we always talk about work (laughs). However, I didn’t mind it at the time!"

This is certainly a surprising origin to such a beloved couple. After sharing this information, Aonuma goes on to explain the creation of Pamela and the Indigo-Go's:

"(ND: About Ikana Kingdom)
Aonuma: However, I had thought the material I wanted to put in the area, like Music Box House and reversing top and bottom of the Stone Tower, from the beginning. Particularly Pamela was named after a part of a Bossa Nova song. “Pamela, Pamela ♪” was stuck in my head at the time (laughs).
ND: Did you decide [to add] a character based on a name?!
Aonuma: Although it was based on wanting to have material involving a little girl. Nevertheless, I imagined Pamela as a foreigner girl when creating her just from the name, but when I looked at the finished [design], I decided she was Japanese.
Everyone: (laughs)
Aonuma: I remember well the day when I was informed Pamela was in the game. When I checked it, the camera showed all of Ikana in a distant view, but I had no idea where Pamela was. “Where is she?” I asked. The only reply I got was: “Isn’t she there?” I looked hard and saw something that moved and looked like a little spot. I said: “Did I get it!?” (laughs)
ND: The camera was pulled too far away, right? (laughs)
Aonuma: But when I saw that figure moving around, I got the feeling this child was brave. That’s why I created a little troubled setting for her father.
ND: Did the father exist in the beginning?
Aonuma: It was decided to only have Pamela and there wasn’t a Gibdo father.
ND: What did you think when you created the event for Indigo-Go?
Aonuma: While the Goron one is like a hero story, I thought to make stories for masks relatively sad. That is how I thought the story of Mikau and his love for children. When considering relations for those characters, I ended up thinking a band could be good. I joined a band as a student and I’m still playing wind instruments so I thought a band would give a youth-like feeling. When I discussed this with Koizumi, we thought “let’s make them have a concert in Clock Town”, and so the setting was quickly decided. We wanted to connect Clock Town and the surrounding areas so that’s why this plan got great support."

These responses are super cool when considering how emotionally relatable the characters are. Not only do the characters confront difficult and serious subjects, they are equally inspired by serious or emotional experiences. With answers like these, I wouldn't mind if interviews asked Aonuma about character inspirations more often.

How do you feel about these responses? Are you surprised? What character origins would you want Aonuma to elaborate on? Let us know!

Source: Nintendo Dream (via Nintendo Everything)

What Nintendo Should and Shouldn't do Regarding Mobile Gaming for the Zelda Series

Link 2 — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 23:18:00 +0000

Nintendo has dumped three large chunks of news on us today. We've heard the announcement of a brand new console design, code name NX. Nintendo has also teased their new membership program, which includes the 3DS, Wii U, the NX, as well as PCs and mobile devices.

The third announcement, which I have chosen to talk about, is Nintendo's brand new venture into the world of mobile gaming. I will be explaining how I think Nintendo should approach their new endeavor with the Zelda series, and why. Keep in mind this is an opinionated editorial, and other opinions, I am sure, will be in the comments below.

What Nintendo Should Do

Let's start out with what I think Nintendo should do. Years ago, Rockstar Games released a game in their popular series, Grand Theft Auto, on mobile devices. The controls weren't that bad and it was received well by consumers and critics alike. I believe Nintendo should emulate Rockstar Games.

Before Nintendo starts releasing original mobile exclusive content regarding the Zelda series, they should re-release older Zelda games first. I believe games such as the Legend of Zelda for the NES, Phantom Hourglass, and Link's Awakening, would control fairly well and sell hundreds of thousands of downloads on mobile.

A remake of the 1986 original, The Legend of Zelda would draw people in for its nostalgia. Phantom Hourglass would draw people in for its diversity among all other mobile games, and its cartoon-like art style would be received well by younger gamers. Link's Awakening would also draw people in for it's nostalgia, and any mobile game with pixelated 2D graphics instantly gathers interest. Look at games like 8bit Doves and Tiny Tower. They have had immense popularity and success in sales/in-app purchases, and they are both pixelated 2D games.

What Nintendo Shouldn't Do

I'm afraid Nintendo is going to start making little mobile rip-offs such as Temple Run, but with Link as the runner. Something along the lines of Hylian Dash, Link's Run, or Hyrule Mania. Nintendo should not start making little Zelda mini games in the style of mobile games, and here's why.

Games such as those would only be bought by those who have never really played more than one Zelda game, and don't know the franchise/lore too well. I'm not saying that it's wrong for those fans to have only played one Zelda game, but it's a little unfair to those who have a more vested interest in the series.

Those who are hardcore Zelda fans would laugh at these little mini games, and scoff at Nintendo. They would say "You're ruining the franchise! Zelda is becoming a little kid's game!"

What I'm trying to get at is, these little Zelda apps would be ridiculed by fans. They would go down in history as the new CD-i games, horrible in every way. While traditional mobile games for the Mario series may be acceptable, it certainly wouldn't be for the Zelda series.

Do you agree with me? Should Nintendo start out by porting older Zelda titles to mobile devices, and work their way from there? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Acoustic Guitarist Plays Battle Theme From Adventure Of Link

Cathron — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 04:17:00 +0000

Even if fans can't bring themselves to play Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, they have to admit it had some great music. One of the most memorable 8-bit tunes from the game was the battle theme, and one acoustic guitarist has decided to perform his own version of the popular song.

The guitarist's name is Isac Saleh, and his rendition of the battle theme clocks in at one minute and 26 seconds.

Saleh lives in Sweden and has plenty of other video game medleys played on acoustic guitar on his YouTube channel, here. He also covers music from anime and film. In addition to performing his favorite video game tunes on guitar, Salah also produces arrangements of his music that can be downloaded from a link in the description in each of his videos.

For more information about Saleh, fans can view his Twitter profile here.

Four Swords Adventures Turns 11

Cathron — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 04:26:00 +0000

Happy birthday to Four Swords Adventures! It was 11 years ago to this day that the co-op Zelda title was released for the GameCube. Four Swords Adventures was the second Zelda title released for the GameCube, coming out almost two years after Wind Waker.

Unlike the majority of Zelda titles, Four Swords Adventures could be played with anywhere from one to four people simultaneously. If multiple people were going to play the title, each would have to plug a Game Boy Advance into the GameCube that would be used as the controller. There were even times in the game where each Link would have to leave the TV screen and venture onto the Game Boy Advance screen.

Four Swords Adventures takes place on the Child Timeline after Twilight Princess. Like Four Swords before it, the game features the wind mage Vaati and the Four Sword, which splits Link into four separate bodies. It also features a new Ganondorf, because Link killed the old Ganondorf in Twilight Princess.

The game ends with Link defeating Vaati and sealing Ganondorf in the Four Sword. After that, he places the blade back into its pedestal, becoming one person again.

Four Swords Adventures is the last entry in the Child Timeline as of the writing of this article, but the Hyrule Historia does say, "There may come a time when the land will have need of the Four Sword once again." Although most seem to think that Zelda U will be a prequel or direct sequel to Skyward Sword, perhaps Nintendo will surprise everyone by making it an entry at the end of the Child Timeline.

What did you think of Four Swords Adventures? Is it one of your favorite Zelda titles?

Turning Thousands of Images into Three Minutes of Incredible: Link and the Vine

Jyaxen88 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 18:48:00 +0000

Last week, we featured an amazing stop motion video featuring none other than our hero in green, Link, using nearly everything in his arsenal to take down monsters. At the time of this writing, that video has reached over 73,000 views on YouTube, unsurprisingly. We were so captivated with this animation that we contacted the man behind it to learn a bit more about how it came to be. Not only did he answer our questions, but he gave us exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of the process, and provided hints about what stop motion animation adventures could be next for Link.

The full interview is below:

Jeff Edelstein (JE): Could you introduce yourself and your work?

Johnny McHone (JH): My name is Johnny McHone, and I am an independent animator and storyteller.

JE: Why do you use stop motion? Do you have experience in other fields of animation?

JH: I love toys and I love seeing them come to life. Being able to play with action figures for a living has always been my dream. Before stop motion, I started drawing comic strips as a kid and quickly moved to traditional hand drawn animation. My first experience with stop motion was when I received LEGO Studios, which was like imovie but for stop motion. Once the program became outdated I went back to hand drawn work. I wasn't doing much publicly until Vine came around. That was the first place someone told me my animations were good.

JE: What got you into creating videos with Vine? How does this affect the stop motion animation process?

JH: When Vine first came out, it was all about creating within its limitations. You couldn't edit, upload, or use the ghost feature (to see the previous frame). You had to create something right then and there and hoped that it came out right. Tap, move your object, tap, repeat 144 times, then post. I would then get immediate feedback and people wanting more. Most of the creators on Vine are more real than any other social network icon. I am friends with many artists and this app has made it possible for us to create things together, across the globe. Within two years Vine has become an enormous force, but we still remain true to the craft.

JE: What's your connection to The Legend of Zelda? Has it played much of a role in your animating before this video?

JH: I love The Legend of Zelda because I was always a little Link on the inside. My favorite system to play on was the Game Boy, because I could transport myself to another world instantly. Then Ocarina of Time came out and blew my mind. I have never been so captivated by another world and I was permanently drawn to its story. I had to play it again, recently, in order to get the right feel for Link in the animation. It still holds up and nothing will ever compare! My animations have always been adventurous so that part of Zelda has always been hidden in my work.

JE: Many of the sound effects for “Link and the Vine” seem to come from Ocarina of Time, and the creature kind of is reminiscent of Gohma. Did any other games influence this animation?

JH: This animation was mostly based on Ocarina of Time in terms of the weapons, sounds, style of creature, and setting. It started out as a single vine with Link playing a clay ocarina I made, and I didn't plan to take it any further. Once people started wanting more I knew I couldn't hold back. The creature was a monster I previously used for a claymation music video called "Inevitable." It was a crab that was doused in toxic waste which turned it into a monster, thousands of years later in the distant future. I figured it was the perfect monster to duke it out with Link and it looked like something out of the game. But yeah, there was a lot of Gohma influence, haha.

JE: Many fans have been very impressed by this project - and with good reason! How much time and work went into creating this?

JH: I started working on this as a side project in January and it's been an off and on project until now. I would make a vine and post it, wait a day or two and post another. Each vine is six seconds, and it takes 24 pictures to make one second. So, it takes 144 pictures just to make one vine, and that takes a while. So for a lot of people watching it unfold on vine, it was a whole different feel. I'd say it took a month and a half since I can never just work on one thing. I usually have multiple projects going on at the same time to keep myself busy.

JE: Our readers had a couple of questions about this animation: Which Link figure did you use? Did you recreate his arsenal of weapons yourself?

JH: I used the Skyward Sword version of Link made by Figma. He is a super articulated figure that came with a shield, sword, sheath, multiple hands, and two different faces. I had to make the ocarina, bomb, bow, arrow, and hookshot out of clay and wires. I also have a bottle, fishing rod, and a key for future episodes.

JE: Rumors have gone around lately regarding a Zelda TV series, and we’ve covered a couple of fan projects that try to bring The Legend of Zelda to life. How would you like to see a Zelda TV series (or movie, for that matter), be created?

JH: I personally am not too excited for a live action Zelda series. Most spin off shows like that only focus on the graphics instead of the heart. I also think its going to be hard to find the right actor for Link, who's totally fine not talking the entire time. (That is if the show stays true to his character.) If they did it animated, I would only watch it if it was made by Studio Ghibli, haha! I will keep an open mind though.

JE: What future projects do you have coming up? Can we expect more stop motion adventures for Link?

JH: I'll just say that the mutant crab was a mini boss and the next series lined up will definitely include him and many other action heroes. It's going to be a big multi-universe mashup. (You can check out the teaser for it on my vine of instagram.)

JE: Any final words?

JH: Make cool stuff and never give up.

Daily Debate: Which Zelda Games Have You Not Finished, and Why?

RODTheMaster — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 19:28:00 +0000

With over 15 epic titles and a handful of spinoffs, it's quite an undertaking to play and complete every game in the Zelda series. Not every fan was introduced to the same set of games, not every title is readily available, and not every game can hold enough appeal to meet completion. With all these factors in place, we want to know exactly which Zelda games you didn't finish for whatever reason. Use this opportunity to explain the reasons for this gap in Zelda completion and discuss the importance of playing / finishing games in the overall fanbase.

I commonly notice of younger fans choosing not to play or finish older games in the series because of archaic design or out-of-date graphics. I'll be the first to agree that the NES Legend of Zelda is outdated and difficult. Even though I've finished the game a few times, I would only recommend it as a historical exercise. Zelda II is even more unpopular (as evidenced by last week's relatively unpopular Daily Debate), for it is extremely difficult and different from other games in the series. I suspect that these older titles -- despite being available on many platforms -- occupy many fans' unfinished lists.

Of the main series Zelda games, the only one I have not finished is Oracle of Seasons. The reason for such a fan-sin is that the two Oracle games were released on the Game Boy Color and stayed exclusive to that system for many years. I missed them when they were initially released, and finding used copies even a few years later was nearly impossible. It was only after these games were released onto the 3DS Virtual Console that I was able to finally pick up and play Oracle of Ages. But I'm still a real fan, right? I suspect similar circumstances led other fans to miss out on certain titles. Perhaps some fans skipped a generation of Zelda games for some reason, only to find difficulty securing certain used copies of these older games.

So what Zelda games have you not finished? Did you just not get a chance to play it when it came out? Was it too difficult or hard-to-find? Did it just not hold your attention for some reason?

As a fan, how important is finishing games in the series? Jump into the discussion, and join the Daily Debate!

Jakks Pacific to Release 20-Inch Link Figure

RODTheMaster — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 01:37:00 +0000

Jakks Pacific is a well-known powerhouse for quality toys, play sets, and figures. With a collection of Zelda merchandise already available, Jakks Pacific is set to release a new 20-inch Skyward Sword Link as part of their Big Figures Line. Last month, website Toyland was given an exclusive look at this upcoming figure, providing information and a few awesome images.

The figure is designed with seven points of articulation and comes equipped with sword, sheath, and shield. The level of detail on this figure is amazing, as Link's tunic texture appears like actual fabric. The release date and price are still unknown, but more information is due to be released soon. Other figures in Jakks Pacific's Big Figure Line (such as the 20-inch Mario figure) are priced around $29 USD, so the price for this sweet Link figure will most likely be around there. This 20-inch Link figure will join other Zelda figures from Jakks Pacific like a 4-inch Skyward Sword Link and Wind Waker micro playsets.

What do you think of this Link figure? Will you be picking it up when it finally releases? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Toyland

Miiverse Highlights: Spoilers Everywhere

outsethero — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:51:00 +0000

Welcome to yet another Miiverse Highlights: Zelda Informer's Thursday Weekly Feature! Last week we held a #WeeklyChallenge in which we asked you all to draw your most memorable and/or favorite scene from The Wind Waker. Those of you with the most passionate and unique drawings would get a chance to have your drawing featured during this week's Miiverse Highlights!

Much like our last #WeeklyChallenge, we didn't receive that many entries. In fact, we only got two this time around. I figure it has to do with the slight increase in "difficulty" for the challenge, but seeing as how this is a regular thing, I'm not really sure. Hopefully this feature, along with the community that contributes to it, will continue to grow and we'll start receiving more entries on our future #WeeklyChallenges. In the meantime, here are the two entries we received!

First up we have Minetore's drawing involving the rise of the Tower of the Gods! There's not really much to say, really. The drawing's pretty self-explanatory, no?

For our second and last entry we have ImReelyFeelinIt's comic take on Ganondorf's untimely demise at the hand's of Link. I definitely did not expect liberties being taken with these drawings, but I am definitely glad it wasn't against any rules. Love this one.

Now, onto this week's event! Since last week we had our #WeeklyChallenge, it's time for another #WeeklyPoll! This time around, we ask everyone at The Legend of Zelda Series Community to tell us what their favorite Zelda game is from the entire series! If you'd like to leave a response, log in to your Miiverse account using your Nintendo Network ID through your 3DS, Wii U, or Computer, find our post on either The Legend of Zelda Series Community or Zelda Informer's official Miiverse account, and leave your answer as a reply! To make sure you respond to the correct post, we'll have it embed at the end of this feature. Happy posting!

Weekly Music Spotlight: Zelda Takes to the Keyboard

Jyaxen88 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 17:31:00 +0000

Hello fellow music lovers and welcome back to another entry of our (forever belated) Wednesday Weekly Feature: The Weekly Music Spotlight! Every week, we showcase a YouTube artist or two who takes tunes from The Legend of Zelda and makes them their own, whether it be through arrangements, covers, or any other kind of altered take on the source material.

Last week, we took a listen to an artist who goes the extra mile to create fun covers without the use of a single instrument. This week, we turn in the opposite direction, and instead focus on Zelda covers for an instrument near and dear to my heart: the piano. We'll be showcasing two artists who make their love of the Zelda series known through a wide variety of covers and arrangements, all with the use of the single, expansive instrument.

First up is Josiah, better known by his YouTube handle, boozinwalsh. A avid gamer and musician, Josiah creates covers of games ranging from The Legend of Zelda, to Kirby, to Metroid, to Shovel Knight, to Chrono Trigger, to Earthbound, showcasing his many instrumental talents through everything from the piano to the drums.

While a sizable number of his covers involve his playing multiple instruments, his piano abilities are on full display in several of his covers of Zelda music, including favorites such The Lost Woods Theme (from A Link to the Past) and The Fairy Fountain Theme, and lesser known tunes such Tatl and Tael Meet Again (from Majora's Mask), Richard's Villa (from Link's Awakening), and The Triforce Chamber (from A Link to the Past). Definitely check these our if you're fervent fan of the piano, and be sure to check out his more extensive arrangements of other Zelda tunes, such as Astral Observatory and a Wind Waker Medley (and a second Wind Waker arrangement of the Great Sea theme! It's especially superb.) If you'd like a taste of his music, check out his Lost Woods Cover, featured above!

Next up for today's feature is Brian Stauffer. Relatively new to the YouTube scene, Brian already used his skills at the keyboard to create some fantastic covers of Zelda tunes, including the Song of Healing (from Majora's Mask), the Kakariko Village theme (from A Link to the Past), and Koji Kondo's "Grandma" arrangement, as heard in the Symphony of the Goddesses event (from the Wind Waker). These are especially great for those who play the piano (and can read music), as Brian also has provided sheet music for his covers, found on his sheethost.com account.

For those who want a little more variety, he has also uploaded videos of his covers of various tv and anime themes(such as those from "Dexter", "The Walking Dead", "Battlestar Galactica", and Cowboy Bebop), and other video games (such as Super Mario 64 and Skyrim). For a taste of his music, check out his Song of Healing arrangement above!

If you'd like to learn more about either or both of these great artists, or you'd like to support their work, please check out the links below! As a pianist and player of Zelda music myself, I'm more than a little partial for these covers. What about you? Share your thoughts about them with us in the comments below, along with your opinions about Zelda music for piano.

For More Booziwalsh (Josiah)

For More Brian Stauffer

Daily Debate: Should Link and Zelda Be Married in a Future Zelda Game?

Link 2 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 18:56:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but all throughout Skyward Sword I was yelling, “just kiss already!” at my TV screen. A relationship between Link and Zelda has always been implied in the Zelda series, but should they ever be an official couple in a Zelda game, or even married?

Saving Zelda would have more importance if they were married. Link would not just be trying to save Princess Zelda for the good of Hyrule, but he would also be trying to save his wife. The player would feel more meaning in the process of rescuing Zelda, instead of saying, “wait, why do I care about her again?”

Link would also be royalty. There would be no need to go rupee-hunting to get that next wallet expansion, Link would be a prince or a king. He would already have as many rupees as he could ever desire. He could command armies, and lead troops into battle. He could take out a rescue party of Hyrule's finest soldiers to find his beloved spouse and save her from a terrible fate.

Needless to say, Link's status of royalty would change a lot of things. Do you think Link and Zelda should be married in a future Zelda game? Join the Daily Debate in the comments below.

Fan art by: Link-of-the-twilight

Zelda II-Inspired Elliot's Quest Released on Wii U eShop Today

RODTheMaster — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 19:22:00 +0000

It's certainly no secret that many, many of you have not played or finished Zelda II, but to the few that have, it's one of the most unique and satisfying gameplay experiences out there. Not many other games have tried to emulate the Zelda II formula, so it's a treat when a game is released that does. Last year, Ansimuz Games' Elliot's Quest, an indie 8-bit homage to Zelda II, was released onto Steam. Today, those with a Wii U will have a chance to pick up this charming game as it has been finally released onto the Nintendo eShop.

Elliot's Quest is an 8-bit adventure RPG inspired by NES classics like Zelda II and Mega Man. Players control Elliot, a cursed hero that must explore a mysterious land to cure his curse before it's too late. The game features five dungeons, 16 bosses, hidden areas, and towns to explore. Elliot's Quest is now available on the Nintendo eShop for Wii U for $12.99 USD. If you've been looking for a way to scratch that Zelda II itch, this game looks like the best way to do so.

Source: Ansimuz Games (via My Nintendo News)

Fan Uses Majora's Mask 3D's In-Game Guitar to Play Clock Town and Gerudo Valley Themes

Link 2 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 19:36:00 +0000

Zora Link blew the crowd away last week with his stunning solo performance of the Clock Town Theme, only to engage in a rocking encore performance of the Gerudo Valley Theme.

No, really. A committed Zelda fan, dekuNukem, used Zora Link's guitar to play these two songs in-game! You can see the masterful performance in the video above.

I'm no expert on in-game performances, but this guy must have taken hours to practice, finally getting to the point where he didn't mess up. I'm sure there was retake after retake, and much frustration must have been had that day. Imagine what rejoicing occurred when he successfully played through both songs without messing up.

Have you ever attempted to play Zelda music in-game? Let us know in the comments below.

Comical Legend of Zelda Parody Done Minecraft Style

Link 2 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 21:27:00 +0000

Minecraft seems to be getting the Zelda treatment these days! Recently we've seen the entire world and programming of The Legend of Zelda recreated in Minecraft, and also a tutorial on how to play the Lost Woods Theme using note blocks. Today, we would like to show you a brand new Minecraft parody brought to you by MinuteMinecraftParodies, who does, well... minute Minecraft parodies!

Done in a comical style, MinuteMinecraftParodies has created an animated short video of Link's adventures in the realm of Minecraft. It takes us through the events of the original Legend of Zelda for the NES, A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword, all in a single minute. How you ask? You'll just have to watch the video above and find out.

Did the ending make you laugh? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Video Game Music Vocalist Creates Beautiful Zelda's Lullaby, Ballad of the Goddess Vocal Arrangement

Jyaxen88 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 23:07:00 +0000

There are many connections between the various songs within the games of the Zelda franchise, but two in particular have a unique connection. Although many fans are well-acquainted with the iconic Zelda's Lullaby and the more recent Ballad of the Goddess, fewer are fully aware that the latter song uses the exact same notes as the former just played in reverse. Admittedly, there is a good deal of added instrumentation and rhythmic/temporal variation in the Ballad of the Goddess, but the main melodies use the same notes. One extremely skilled musician took this connection to the next level, bringing the two mellifluous tunes together to make a stunning arrangement.

Jillian Aversa is a vocalist, songwriter, and soloist - and a committed Zelda fan, no less! She tours with the phenomenal Video Games Live concert event, contributing to their albums through franchises as varied as God of War, Halo, Civilization, and, of course, Zelda. This video features Aversa herself, dressed in full Zelda garb, in accordance with the games from which the songs she sings come, as well a notably silent Link (played by Jeremy Waters).

Aversa's part alone is an arrangement of the main melodies Zelda's Lullaby and Ballad of the Goddess (created by her and her husband, Andrew), and is set to "lyrics" in a fabricated Hylian dialect, based on existing Zelda lore. The orchestration itself (i.e. the instruments accompanying Aversa), was created by Wilbert Roget II, and performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic.

This arrangement can be heard live in Video Games Live's upcoming tour in venues all around the world, and you can check here to see when and if the show is coming to a town near you. If you're not so lucky as to live near these venues, or unwilling to travel to see the concert live, you can also listen to this song on the recently released Video Games Live Album, Level 4, on iTunes.

Alongside this theme, other fantastic pieces of video game music can be heard on the album, including themes from Donkey Kong Country (partially arranged by series composer, David Wise no less!), the Opera Aria from Final Fantasy VI, themes from Cave Story, and many more. Or, if you're simply looking for more Aversa's work, check her out on bandcamp, iTunes, or Amazon, where you can both the above piece, as well as her other albums. She's even got a music video that sets lyrics to Ocarina of Time's Forest Temple's theme.

The quality of this arrangement is astounding on all accounts, capturing the atmosphere suggested by both of its composite songs quite well, aided in no small part by the inspired directing Landon Donoho and the superb costumes of The Zelda Project. Are you captivated by this performance? Who among you will be seeing this live? Would you like to see Aversa and Video Games Live tackle other Zelda themes?

Nintendo is in for Big Changes… But What Does This Mean for Zelda Fans?

Nathan — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:14:00 +0000

Nintendo is doing something many thought they never would, at least under Iwata. It’s been clear for many years the culture of video games is changing. Nintendo’s Wii and DS crowd of newer gamers have moved on to more convenient and easier to access platforms (Smart devices), and their latest efforts succeed and failed at the same time at capturing a more niche gamer crowd. The 3DS, on one hand, succeeded at holding on to the more serious Nintendo fans, while the Wii U has failed to take hold among a niche crowd – something the PlayStation 4 and yes, even the Xbox One are doing a much better job of.

This of course has nothing to do with games, let alone exclusive games. Nintendo is still right there with the very best developers and publishers in the industry in terms of producing quality content – some would argue they are ahead of them all in this regard – but slowly it has been proven that software alone no longer sells hardware – this is even more true if we watch the trend in sales with the PlayStation 4. The system has yet to have one major blockbuster exclusive hit, but it’s breaking sales records all across the globe. Gamers are buying in because of perceived value and future potential. They are buying into the console not for its games, but for what it might provide them at a price they feel is cheaper than expected. They did this while charging $50 more than the Wii U and having, arguably, just as bare of a first year for exclusive games.

Nintendo is making a lot of bold moves today that seemed unlikely years ago. Iwata is admitting the market has shifted and that Nintendo can’t continue to do what they do and stick around – even if profit margins have rebounded from the years of loss. Reality is that long haul, their old model was not likely going to be able to sustain. Sure, they were venturing into Quality of Life and when it is all said and done, it very well may become Nintendo’s most financially viable branch, especially if governments and hospitals start to buy in. But it is a brand new industry and there is a very real reality that Nintendo could end up failing in that venture. It’s a risk you take anytime you try something new – and this is largely why their stock didn’t budge a whole lot because of it.

The risk to go mobile is somewhat minimized by the reality that the consumer base is already there buying up and spending a lot of money on mobile games already. Nintendo would become an instantly recognized brand in the various app stores and end up likely moving several million in downloads right away. To go from that to being the most popular games on the app store involves releasing a quality game – but Iwata has stated over and over again they are not going to jeopardize the integrity of their IP – so don’t expect a Dungeon Keeper situation with their games.

Still, they aren’t abandoning hardware – that’s what the Nintendo “NX” is for, and I’ll go into more details on that in an episode of the Boss Man. Rather, today I wanted to talk about what this all means for us as Zelda fans. What it means for you, for me… for everyone.

Impact for Zelda Fans

For starters, it means our fan base is going to be absolutely blowing up in the next few years. Yes, there are going to be Zelda mobile games and yes, we are going to cover them. We’ll be welcoming in a brand new audience that might have their first experience with The Legend of Zelda through their own Smart Device, rather than Nintendo hardware. The sooner we accept this reality, the better all of us will be. We need to show them how inviting of a community and a fan base we can be, and encourage them to expand their horizons and yes, maybe try out a non-mobile Zelda experience. To me, it doesn’t matter how someone became a fan, it matters how we embrace them.

Beyond that, it doesn’t mean the end of Zelda as we know it. We’re going to still get our console and handheld gaming device games. Zelda U is still happening. Another console Zelda game after it as well and probably remakes too. The every 2 year cycle still doesn’t show any end in sight – if anything, Iwata confirming new hardware is in the works merely maintains the future of the Zelda software business.

It’s a brave new world we’re stepping into, with Nintendo creating a unified OS and Membership program, and yes, we have to begin to welcome in Smart Device gamers who play something related to Zelda with open arms. Zelda’s future isn’t in doubt, not now or in the next 5 to 10 years. If anything we have a new opportunity to expand as a fan base and get even more people into the franchise. Let’s embrace it – because frankly, Nintendo is doing the same. This doesn’t mean you need to like what is going on or like any of the games, but we shouldn’t shun the ones who do. Welcome to a new age.

Fan Creates Beautiful Watercolor Legend of Zelda Art

megbethanyread — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:15:00 +0000

We've seen some great fan art in our time, but these watercolor creations by Swedish artist Lisa-Marie Melin (who goes under the name littlegeekyfanart on Instagram) really are amazing.

With pieces from games such as Wind Waker and Majora's Mask, Melin captures the spirit of The Legend of Zelda perfectly in her art, while adding a stunning watercolor twist.

Aside from Zelda, Melin has designed pieces from a multitude of games and TV shows such as Super Mario, Pokémon, and Adventure Time. She uses watercolor paint and ink to create her masterpieces and with almost 50,000 followers on Instagram alone, her efforts definitely haven't gone unnoticed.

Prints of her gorgeous creations are available to purchase on her Etsy page and with free worldwide shipping, what are you waiting for?

Check out her work in the gallery below. Love it as much as we do? Let us know.

Source: MoviePilot

Amazing Zelda-Themed Sculpture Constructed for Spanish Festival

RODTheMaster — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:55:00 +0000

Every year the Spanish city of Valencia holds Las Fallas, a festival at which people construct extravagant themed sculptures and art pieces to be put on display in city streets. This year's Las Fallas took place this week, and a certain beloved Nintendo franchise was the subject of one of these sculptures. Inspired by The Legend of Zelda, this sculpture (called a "falla," or torch) was spotted among the others, showcasing some amazing artistry and creativity.

The Zelda falla was designed by Spanish artist Jorge Navarro Doñate, who also designed another falla inspired by Pokemon. These two pieces together have been colloquially called "Nintenfallas." The Zelda piece features characters from Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Wind Waker, my favorite of which being the Happy Mask Salesmen. The style and craftsmanship on these characters is outstanding, and it makes me wish I could see this sculpture in person.

Unfortunately on the final night of Las Fallas, celebrators set fire to their artworks using fireworks and other such flammables. Therefore, it's safe to assume that Doñate's Zelda falla was completely burned last night in celebration. This may seem heartbreaking to those outside of Valencia, but this is a traditional custom during the festival. At least we Zelda fans can forever admire the pictures of this great work of art.

What did you think of this sculpture? Would you have wanted to be there to see it go up in flames? Share your thoughts with us!

Source: Imgur, Hobby Consolas

Photoshop Contest: Zelda: The Mobile Game

RODTheMaster — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 21:47:00 +0000

It is time, friends, to once again fire up your image-manipulation software in the weekly ZI Photoshop contest!

With Nintendo's big news this week about venturing into the mobile gaming market, we want you creative fans to whip up some possible pitches for a Zelda mobile game. But before we get to this week's fun, we'll take a look at last week's contest: Zelda Wins February.

Last Week's Contest

Fans were asked to help celebrate Majora's Mask 3D's best-selling victory over other releases in the month of February.

Best Submissions

Artist: Syeo

Artist: Peter Scholey

Challenge Mode

Kyle Ian Thomas wins his second challenge mode in a row, as he shows Link and Zelda using February's other major releases for a bit of target practice. Will he go for three? Or will another step up to accept the challenge?

This Week's Contest: Zelda: The Mobile Game

Satoru Iwata announced earlier this week that Nintendo has plans to include their IP's on smart devices in the future. Certain specifics were not revealed, but there is a possibility that Nintendo will one day announce some kind of Zelda software on mobile platforms.

Before Nintendo gets the chance to announce such a thing, we want you to turn on the creativity and pitch to us some possibilities for a Zelda mobile game. Entries can feature the tried and true addicting gameplay of Angry Birds or Candy Crush Saga, or perhaps showcase an idea for a truly epic Zelda experience on a smart device.

Whatever the 'shop, we know you guys and gals have what it takes to create a Zelda mobile game worthy of several thousand micro-transaction dollars.

We've included some images in our gallery to get the juices flowing; feel free to use them or anything else in the internet to create your pitch.

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on March 25. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have a few Challenge Rules for you to follow:

1. Your entry must only use images provided in our gallery.

2. You must include a Loftwing, and it must be appropriately angry.

If you think you're up to the challenge, include the phrase Challenge Accepted with your submission. Remember, Challenge Mode submissions follow the same rules and guidelines of the base Photoshop Contest in addition to the Challenge Rules.

Good luck!

ZI Podcast Episode 28 Featuring PaperBoxHouse - Mario Party 10 and Nicknaming Link's Reincarnations

Acohen95 — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:11:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

Our weekly podcast keeps chugging along, with special guest PaperBoxHouse. We sit down to talk about the recently released Mario Party 10, the new trailer for the movie Pixels, and the recent string of interviews with top Nintendo executives.

Your host as always for this week is Adam (who can’t pronounce anything properly), and your cast of lovable adventurers includes: Jake (wants a Gold Mario Amiibo), Caleb (triggered as usual), and special guest for this week Alfred/PaperBoxHouse (he’s still holding out for Super Mario Galaxy 3). Tune in to hear our weekly news roundup, as well as Adam’s secret Kingdom Hearts/Metal Gear Solid fan fiction. Thanks to everyone who emailed in to the podcast. Want to have your question, topic, or work of art featured on the show? Email us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com and we’ll give you a shoutout! Thanks again to HuskyByTheGeek for our wonderful intro and outro theme!

Social Media

News Topics

Special Thanks

Comment Topic This Week: What are some of your nicknames for each reincarnation of Link?

PBS Game/Show Asks "Why Can't Link be a Girl?" - Provides Reasons he Can be Canonically

Nathan — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 16:19:00 +0000

PBS Game Show is a fairly popular show hosted on YouTube that poses a lot of interesting topics for their fans to talk about, providing several reasons for or against a particular subject. Then then ask the fans to weigh in, featuring some of these fan's remarks the following week on the next episode, proving that yes, they do read through the comments, even if some of them... aren't so nice at times. This time they talk about the Zelda series, particularly tackling the topic of Link potentially being female, explaining that it can actually fit into the lore of the series, using some interesting evidence to support it.

While there is obviously evidence that goes the other way, the host also focuses on gamer desires, using recent research studies that show male gamers are okay playing strong female leads, while female gamers are more apt to wanting to play their own gender, suggesting gender choice in video games does matter for females, while men are more indifferent either way. That doesn't necessarily mean the Zelda fan base is indifferent - the stats used to prove this point don't necessarily come from a Zelda based community study, but could they hold weight on a broader spectrum. Would gender options or an actual female Link lead to more players?

As a fun little note, at the 44 second mark in the video you can actually see our website in the background - it's a post we made back during E3 of last year. While this could have been simple background fodder, the post directly dealt with Eiji Aonuma paying attention to our reaction to a female Link concept. Thoughts?

Hey, Look, Listen: Reanalyzing Handholding in Skyward Sword

Paul Grzelak — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 20:51:00 +0000

If you ever wanted to know exactly how much The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword holds your hand, you’ve come to the right place. You will find no exaggerated opinions based on hazy recollections here. This is an objective analysis of handholding in Skyward Sword, and I now have full faith in the data collected from this game after auditing the game once more with a second playthrough.

For those new to Hey, Look, Listen, this is a series of articles that seeks to objectively analyze how much a collection of Zelda games—namely Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword—hold the player's hand during gameplay. Think of this is a look at backseat driving in video games, focusing on titles in the Zelda franchise.

You can read more about the intentions behind this audit, my methodology, how I define each of the criteria used to measure handholding, and more in the first article of the Hey, Look, Listen series, here. You can also read my completed audits of Twilight Princess here, Ocarina of Time here, and The Wind Waker here.

This article is meant to rectify the mistakes I made in my initial audit of Skyward Sword, and you can find that article and a video explaining why this reanalysis had to be conducted here. I also completed an audit of Majora’s Mask, which can be found here, but since I made many of the same mistakes in my audit of that game as I did with my first audit of Skyward Sword, I expect to reanalyze that game later on.

Today, I will analyze the data on handholding gathered from my second playthrough of Skyward Sword—with infographics, raw numbers, and commentary.

Making the decision to audit Skyward Sword a second time was not easy, but I knew that issuing a verdict with the faulty numbers I had from my first playthrough would defeat the purpose of this audit. The data collected from my second playthrough undoubtedly carries its share of flaws, as will any audit in this series. However, I am now confident that Skyward Sword has at last been held to the same standard of scrutiny that other games were held to in this audit, and that is what is most important.

New Data, New Analysis

I’ll go over each of my handholding Counters in a moment, but here’s a quick look at how everything I’ve kept track of has changed since my first playthrough back in December:

How did I end up with such radically different numbers on my second playthrough? How did I miss 438 Camera Movements during my first playthrough? How did the instances of Redundant Information jump by 85%? I will answer all of these questions and more with an analysis of each Counter, starting with one of the most obvious indicators of handholding in video games: a thing I call Gameplay Interruptions, or GPIs.

Gameplay Interruptions (GPIs)

A Gameplay Interruption (GPI) is a moment when player control is suspended unexpectedly. In Zelda games, GPIs are instances when players are moving Link around the game world when they suddenly loose control so another character can tell them something or the camera can show them a point of interest.

Of course, movements of the game’s camera are prevalent in Zelda games, as are conversations with other characters, so GPIs only measure those times when the player doesn’t initiate these actions themselves, or would not otherwise expect them to happen. Consider GPIs to be a measure of an extreme form of handholding: moments when the game abruptly takes away player control without their consent in order to instruct them in some way.

Over the course of my second playthrough of Skyward Sword, I counted 162 GPIs, which is a fair amount more than the 126 GPIs I counted on my first playthrough. I attribute the 29% increase here to a heightened level of awareness. My methodology for counting GPIs has not changed since the beginning of this audit, but the experience of auditing multiple Zelda games has honed my ability to spot examples of handholding.

Many of the 36 tallies for this Counter that I failed to count in my first playthrough were found at three key points during my second playthrough. I discovered an extra 14 GPIs between the moment Zelda is lost in the tornado and the moment I entered Skyview Temple (a segment that stretched on for more than two hours), 7 extra GPIs were found in the Earth Temple, and my first playthrough failed to tally 6 GPIs during the final chase and battle with Ghirahim.

Skyward Sword remains the longest game in this audit, and my second playthrough lasted only a few minutes shorter than my first, at 39 hours and 9 minutes. This gave my second playthrough of Skyward Sword an average of 4.14 GPIs per hour, and distribution was moderately consistent over the course of the game. However, 26% of all GPIs occurred before entering Skyview Temple, which was less than three and a half hours into the game. I also did not encounter any GPIs for more than two hours between the middle of the Ancient Cistern dungeon and my first entry of the Lanayru Caves.

Companion GPIs

Companion GPIs are the same as ordinary GPIs except for one extra qualifi er: Link’s Companion must be the source of the GPI. Link’s Companion in Skyward Sword is Fi, so this is a measure of the number of times my gameplay was unexpectedly interrupted and I was immediately presented with a message from Fi. This does not include moments when Fi spoke to me after something else interrupted my gameplay, nor does it include her usual messages that appear when entering a new region.

My second playthrough of Skyward Sword netted 28 Companion GPIs total, which is actually less than the 38 Companion GPIs I encountered during my first playthrough. In fact, Companion GPIs are one of only two of my Counters in my second playthrough where final tallies showed a net decrease over my first playthrough.

Some deviation in my Counters should be expected with every playthrough, but I am confident the 10 extra GPIs from my first playthrough were counted because I didn’t follow through with my methodology as well as I should have the first time around. Basically, I was counting moments when Fi spoke to me, but she was not really the source of a Gameplay Interruption during my first playthrough. But in my second playthrough, I excluded these inaccurate tallies.

Chimes

One of the reasons I started this audit was because I wanted to measure how many times Navi would call for the player’s attention to press C-up in Ocarina of Time, and this gave birth to the concept of Chimes. Chimes are moments in Zelda games where a part of the Heads Up Display (HUD) changes or illuminates along with an audio cue in order to draw the player’s attention to the fact that they must press a button to receive optional or additional information, usually from their Companion.

Over the course of my second playthrough of Skyward Sword, I found that Fi called for my attention to press Down on the D-pad just 15 times. Four of those 15 instances were clustered around my first entry into Faron Province. Aside from that, Skyward Sword’s optional messages from Fi were thinly sprinkled throughout my playthrough, so measuring the hourly rate doesn’t really apply here.

Usually, this would place Skyward Sword well behind the other games in this audit as far as Chimes are concerned, but we haven’t yet considered one of the more comprehensive aspects of this reanalysis of handholding in Skyward Sword: Variable Data Counters.

Variable Data Counters: Sailcloth, User Interface, Batteries, Hearts, Shield

Think of Variable Data Counters (VDCs) as a series of sub-counters meant to keep track of what gameplay elements contribute to the main eight Counters. What this means for Chimes is, in addition to the ordinary Chimes where Fi shouts for attention during gameplay, I kept track of other things that could qualify as Chimes, including alerts to start Dowsing, and reminders about low battery life.

Here is a list of VDCs for Chimes, including their name, the number of them encountered over the course of my playthrough, and a description of what each constitutes:

Sailcloth (118): Tracks every alert to press B to deploy the Sailcloth during a fall, both when descending to the surface, and when falling from great heights.
User Interface (40): Tracks every time part of the on-screen controls lit up and sounded an alert to press a button that was not Down on the D-pad to hear Fi. This includes Chimes for Dowsing, early tutorials asking players to open their inventory and map for the first time, shouts from Groose during later fights with The Imprisoned, and some early-game alerts to press Down on the D-pad to call for Link’s Loftwing.
Batteries (7): Tracks the number of times Fi Chimed to warn me about low battery life in my Wii Remote.
Hearts (8): Tracks the number of times Fi Chimed to warn me I was low on hearts. Only happens when Link has only 3 hearts remaining or less.
Shield (1): Tracks the number of times Fi Chimed to warn me about low shield integrity.

Together, these five VDCs add another 174 Counters to the 15 Chimes from Fi calling for attention during my playthrough. However, the great thing about VDCs is not all of them need to be included in this audit.

The purpose of VDCs is to gather information about extra parameters I’m not sure if I should include in my data or not. The first time I audited Skyward Sword, I made a decision early on that Fi’s warnings about low hearts shouldn’t be measured in my Counters, and didn’t keep track of those Chimes at all. This ended up tying my hands later in the audit; even if I later decided I wanted to go back and include such a parameter in my Counters, I was unable to because I had no data to work with.

VDCs untie my hands and allow me to make more informed decisions about what data to include or exclude, and provides readers with more stats to chew on.

Of my second playthrough’s 174 VDCs for Chimes, we see a whopping 118 attributed just to the rings and on-screen prompts to pull out the Sailcloth. After quite a bit of thought, I decided to exclude Chimes related to the Sailcloth altogether from this audit. This mostly has to do with my belief that Sailcloth Chimes are just Quick Time Events rather than indicators of handholding, but you can read more about my reasoning on this matter in the Other Handholding Factors section near the bottom of this article.

As for the 40 VDCs from User Interface, I will definitely be including every one of these data points in my Chimes Counter. Shouts from Groose to use the Groosenator, alerts to press C to begin dowsing, and prompts to press the + button to view the map for the first time are indicators of handholding the same as Fi asking for our attention to give us hints about a boss battle or letting us know our batteries are low. Speaking of which…

I attributed 7 VDCs to warnings about low batteries from Fi, 8 VDCs to warnings about low hearts from Fi, and 1 VDC to a warning from Fi about low shield integrity. As small as each of these numbers may be, I have concluded that I cannot count any of them in my Chimes Counter because all of them belong to one notorious category of data: Session-Dependent Tutorial Messages, or SDTMs for short.

I’ve dedicated a large portion of the Other Handholding Factors section at the bottom of this article to the subject of SDTMs, but for now, suffice to say that I will not be counting any of Fi’s warnings about low health, low shield strength, or low batteries in my Chimes Counter.

As you can see by this chart, my tallies for the Chime Counter during both playthroughs were relatively consistent until the sudden acceleration in Chimes near the end of my second playthrough. This sudden acceleration was caused by the fact that I fought The Imprisoned four times in just 72 minutes near the end of my game.

The first two of these four fights against The Imprisoned were a part of an optional side q uest to obtain the Hylian Shield. Once I completed that, I preceded right to the next part of the game, which just so happened to be the final fight with The Imprisoned, and this one was mandatory. I almost defeated The Imprisoned this third time, but fell a little short, lost, and had to start all over again, beating the final fight with The Imprisoned on my second try.

Across all four of these battles, I accumulated a total of 10 Chimes from Groose to use the Groosenator, and one Chime from Fi to give me extra advice on how to defeat The Imprisoned after loosing to it.

With all that said and done, the final verdict on Chimes in my second playthrough of Skyward Sword is this: I encountered 55 of them during my playthrough, with a very uneven distribution throughout the game. Yes, I had an unusual series of events with The Imprisoned near the end of my second playthrough, but this only contributed 4 extra tallies to my Chimes Counter versus someone who beat every one of these fights on their first try… and how many people struggled against this boss when they first faced it? Let’s move on.

Camera Movements

Any time the camera moved while I did not have control over the events on the screen, I added a tally to a Counter for Camera Movements. One of the most frequent examples of Camera Movements in Zelda games involve Link activating a switch, pulling a lever, or stepping on a button, which causes a loss of player control while the camera moves to show a door opening or some other part of the environment change. There’s a lot more to Camera Movements than that, so here’s an infographic explaining some examples of Camera Movements:

Before taking VDCs for Camera Movements into consideration, I discovered 642 Camera Movements in my second playthrough of Skyward Sword. This total, as I predicted in my update a few weeks ago, was significantly more than the 247 Camera Movements I discovered in my first playthrough. This also comes out to 16.4 Camera Movements per hour over the course of my playthrough, with a remarkably consistent distribution, to boot.

Regardless of whether we look at absolute numbers or hourly rate, the Camera Movements Counter represents the single greatest disparity in data between my playthroughs of Skyward Sword. However, that disparity widens once we take Variable Data Counters into consideration…

Variable Data Counters: Map, Timeshift Stones, Loftwing, Goddess Cubes

Map (49): Tracks every time the map was brought up without player input.
Timeshift Stones (43): Tracks the number of times Camera Movements were caused directly because a Timeshift Stone was struck.
Loftwing (109): Tracks the number of times Link whistled for and started riding his Loftwing.
Goddess Cubes (27): Tracks the number of times the camera moved specifically to show Goddess Cubes rising into the sky.

Together, these four VDCs could add another 229 tallies to the 642 Camera Movements already present in the game. However, at the conclusion of my second playthrough, I decided to exclude some of these VDCs from the Camera Movements Counter, namely the Loftwing and Map VDCs. You can read more about my reasoning for excluding the Loftwing and Map VDCs in the Other Handholding Factors section at the end of this article.

The Camera Movements that activate when toggling Timeshift Stones were something I included in my first playthrough’s Camera Movements Counter, but this time around, I decided to included them as a VDC to give us a more comprehensive look at their contributions to this Counter. Although the number of Timeshift Stone Camera Movements will vary somewhat between players based on how much they explore, I’m still including all 43 instances of this VDC in my audit.

The Camera Movements that activate when Link hits a Goddess Cube with a Skyward Strike were not counted as Camera Movements in my first playthrough, but I decided to count them here originally as part of the Loftwing VDC. The initial idea was to keep track of all the Camera Movements associated with transitions between the surface and the sky.

However, as time went on, I decided to exclude the Loftwing data from this audit, and keep only the data for Goddess Cubes. This resulted in 27 Camera Movements for Goddess Cubes, which just happens to be the exact number of Goddess Cubes in the game, so this number can’t get any higher in any playthrough.

As a result of all this, the total number of Camera Movements in my second playthrough of Skyward Sword will be tallied at 712, with an average of 18.2 Camera Movements per hour. As you can see by the graphic above, distribution of Camera Movements over time was relatively consistent in my second playthrough, with a noticeable increase almost every step of the way versus the data from my first playthrough. On a personal note, this chart alone validates my reasoning for conducting this second playthrough.

Redundant Information

The Redundant Information Counter keeps track of how often information is said by one source and then quickly stated again by another source using different wording, as well as the number of times information that is painfully obvious is stated.

I must admit that the primary reason why I keep track of Redundant Information for any of the games in this audit is because of my own personal reaction to the character Fi in Skyward Sword.

When I first played Skyward Sword years ago, I felt Fi was annoying; I did not like the way Fi spoke, and I had many unpleasant memories of her spouting out information that I already knew. This fact alone brings the unsettling shadow of confirmation bias into this audit. Nonetheless, I did my best to evaluate Skyward Sword by the same tough standard for measuring Redundant Information as I did for all other games in this audit.

I uncovered a total of 42 instances of Redundant Information in my second playthrough of Skyward Sword, and 9 of those occurred in an 88-minute segment between the moment I obtained the Goddess Sword, and the moment I entered the Deep Woods for the first time. The remaining 33 instances of Redundant Information were spread somewhat unevenly throughout the rest of the playthrough, but averaged out at roughly 1.1 instances per hour.

Things get much more interesting once we take VDCs for Redundant Information into consideration.

Variable Data Counters: Collectables, Batteries, Hearts, Shield, Fi Speech

Collectables (177): Tracks every time gameplay pauses to give me a description of a bug, Gratitude Crystal laying on the ground, or piece of treasure that I had already picked up in a previous play session. This does not include the messages encountered the first time I picked up one of these 29 unique Collectables. It also does not include the messages encountered when picking up a Collectable from a treasure chest, because such an action always triggers the message, as was also the case with Collectables in The Wind Waker.
Batteries (7): Tracks the number of times Fi warned me to replace my batteries even while an omnipresent low battery icon was displayed on the screen.
Hearts (8): Tracks the number of times Fi let me know I was low on health.
Shield (1): Tracks every time Fi warned me about low shield integrity.
Fi Speech (43): Tracks the number of times Fi specifically was the source of Redundant Information, which does not overlap with the Redundant Information Counter or VDCs for Batteries, Hearts, and Shield.

Before we get into the details of these numbers, let me discuss the Fi Speech VDC.

Fi Speech

Around the time I helped the robots escape from the Sandship, I began to question Fi’s contributions to my Redundant Information Counter. After all, one thing the Counter for Redundant Information is not supposed to keep track of is character commentary. I believe a fine line exists between information for the player that truly is redundant, and characters commenting on the events in the game world.

Early in Ocarina of Time, we witness the Great Deku Tree turn from healthy brown to decaying gray, after which Mido tells us the Great Deku Tree is dead. However, I don’t consider Mido’s words to be Redundant Information, because even though he is providing me with information I already knew, it’s not really the game holding my hand—this is just part of the storytelling experience.

If I included Mido’s words as examples of Redundant Information, I could quickly fall down a slippery slope where every little tidbit of information provided to players that was not completely new information could be counted as Redundant Information. This could give every one of these games hundreds, if not thousands of tallies for Redundant Information, and the Counter would become pointless.

As a result, I excluded from the Redundant Information Counter instances where I figured a character was saying something not primarily to inform me of something, but primarily to express their commentary on the matter.

What I’m getting at here is… what if all the obvious things that Fi says are actually nothing more than her character commentary? I think few of us would disagree that Fi is very analytical when she talks. Her manner of speech is precise and academic, which makes her messages padded and cumbersome. I began to wonder if Fi speaks this way because that is the way her character is written, or perhaps Fi speaks that way primarily because the game’s designers wanted her to guide players through their gameplay experience?

Furthermore, I worried that some of my own biases were seeping into this audit. To put it bluntly, Fi pisses me off. Within the first twenty minutes of being introduced to Fi, I developed a strong knee-jerk negative reaction to her, and every sound and sight of her made me groan with distain.

As a result, I worry that this personal opinion of Fi caused me to attribute more tallies of Redundant Information to her than she deserved. But as I said before, I feel the very nature of Fi’s manner of speech is prone to a high degree of redundancy, so maybe my anti-Fi bias was not contributing to the Redundant Information Counter at all.

Either way, I realized late in my audit that Fi was likely a major contributor to my Redundant Information Counter, and decided I should start counting her contributions to it as VDCs. In the final 15 hours and 30 minutes of my playthrough, I recorded 22 instances where Fi was the primary source of Redundant Information, and I added another 21 tallies from specific points earlier in my playthrough that I clearly remembered or had made a note of in my tallies. This gave me a total of at least 43 instances in my second playthrough of Skyward Sword where Fi was the source of Redundant Information, though I suspect the actual number may be higher than that.

Collectables

Almost anybody who’s played Skyward Sword has had to sit through more than one explanation of an Amber Relic, and then watch as it was added to the several dozen they had already collected. The same goes for Blessed Butterflies, Jelly Blobs, Deku Hornets and a laundry list of other bugs and treasures, 28 in total. We also get a similar message if we’re picking up a Gratitude Crystal from the ground for the first time in a play session.

Unfortunately for this audit, Collectables are Session-Dependent Tutorial Messages (SDTMs) just like Fi’s warnings about low hearts, low shield strength, and low battery life. As a result, I cannot include the messages about Collectables in my Counter for Redundant Information without compromising the rest of the audit’s integrity. You can read more about why I excluded Collectables and other SDTMs the Redundant Information Counter in the Session-Dependent Tutorial Messages part of the Other Handholding Factors section near the end of this article.

On the above chart, I’ve highlighted the section of both playthroughs that took me through the Sandship dungeon, because this is where we see a significant acceleration in instances of Redundant Information in the second playthrough. After the Sandship, the rate of growth stabilizes to levels before the Sandship.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the main reason for this acceleration is the fact that the Sandship is home to many more instances of Redundant Information than any other point in the game. The Sandship is where Fi spends too long explaining what a Bow is and how it functions, Fi lets us know that striking a Timeshift Stone caused a change in our environment, and we also listen to the robot prisoners spout a few redundancies in addition to many other things.

It’s also worth noting that the Fi Speech VDC was created around this point as well, and the Fi Speech VDC contributes much more to the total instances of Redunant Information after it was created (22 of 35) than before it was created (21 of 50). However, the distribution of Fi Speech VDC tallies is otherwise relatively consistent throughout this playthrough, so I don’t believe it is the major contributor to this particular acceleration.

Ultimately the total instances of Redundant Information in my second playthrough of Skyward Sword will be tallied at 85, which average out to 2.2 instances of Redundant Information per hour.

Frustration and Joy

These Counters don’t really matter anymore… or at least Joy doesn’t. A 420% (insert childish joke here) growth i n instances of Joy from my first playthrough to my second is not indicative of a thoughtful adjustment to my methodology; it is merely a reflection of my lack of faith in keeping track of this data.

If anything at all, the only reason why I continue to keep track of instances of Joy is because it keeps my mind in the right place during this audit. Keeping track of moments where I feel happy or believe someone would be amazed by something on the screen are just one of the many reasons for me to pick up my pencil and mark another tally in my notebook.

In some ways I suppose it’s interesting to note that I tallied 21 instances of Frustration in my second playthrough and 22 in my first. This represents the smallest disparity in data between my first and second playthroughs out of all my Counters. But even then, Frustration itself is such a subjective Counter that I feel little need to elaborate on it any further.

Cutscenes

The main difference between a Camera Movement and a Cutscene is a Cutscene involves much more lengthy exchanges of dialogue, unique character animations, and/or usually more cinematic camera angles and movements with prolonged pans, sways and zooms. There’s a major difference between the Camera Movement that happens when Link sends a Goddess Cube into the sky, and the Cutscene where The Imprisoned is squished at the end of the game.

Furthermore, while some camera movements can be repeated, each Cutscene happens only once over the course of Skyward Sword’s linear narrative. Which raises the question… how did I count 55 Cutscenes in my first playthrough, and 69 in my second? The answer is simple: I counted wrong the first time.

Basically, I failed to count those scenes where Link puts on his tough guy face as he enters a dungeon for the first time as Cutscenes, which adds one Cutscene per dungeon to this Counter. I also broke some Cutscenes into more than one because of the way some include a lengthy fade-to-black that indicates the transition from one Cutscene directly to another. A good example of this is when Zelda is stolen away in the tornado during a Cutscene, and then we watch Link waking up the next day at the start of a new Cutscene.

All told, 69 Cutscenes isn’t a major change in data from last time. We’re still looking at fewer than two Cutscenes per hour in this game. We also still see a significant number of Cutscenes clustered within the first and final 2.5 hours of the game, but these 5 hours now comprise 36% of all Cutscenes instead of 45%.

If you’re interested in a better understanding of why I’m keeping track of Cutscenes in this audit on handholding, I discussed this issue in much greater detail in my article analyzing handholding in The Wind Waker.

Other Handholding Factors

This audit can’t keep track of everything. I’ve kept track of the number of unique play sessions I broke my playthrough into, the amount of time each section of gameplay took me to complete, and much more than I care to list here. However, some things can’t be included in this audit or its Counters, or need a more thorough explanation on why they’ve been excluded.

Session-Dependent Tutorial Messages

Session-Dependent Tutorial Messages are a variation of Tutorial Messages, and every every Zelda game in this audit has Tutorial Messages. Tutorial Messages are moments in Zelda games when players are provided with messages explaining new mechanics or new items, usually the first time those items are encountered. For example, gameplay will pause to give players a description of Deku Nuts the first time they pick one up in Ocarina of Time, and the same thing happens for Magic Jars in The Wind Waker, Stamina Fruit in Skyward Sword, and much more. Tutorial Messages are only encountered once per playthrough, and few of them are included in this audit.

What sets Skyward Sword apart from other Zelda games is the way that some Tutorial Messages are dependent on play session. These Session-Dependent Tutorial Messages (SDTMs) are like regular Tutorial Messages in that they provide contextualized information about an item or mechanic once a player encounters them and they are only seen or heard once. However SDTMs are reset every time the player loads up their game at the start of each play session, and their unique Tutorial Message will to pop up every time the player first encounters the item or mechanic in question in each play session.

More specifically, here’s a list of all SDTMs in Skyward Sword:

When Link has only three hearts remaining, Fi will Chime and advise Link about the state of his hearts.
When Link’s shield’s integrity is very low, Fi will Chime and advise Link about the state of his shield.
When the batteries in the player’s Wii Remote are low, Fi will Chime and advise players to change their batteries.
All 12 bugs and 16 treasures as well as Gratitude Crystals laying on the ground have SDTMs attached to them, that will set off Tutorial Messages when each one is picked up.

Remember, all 32 of these unique SDTMs (3 for Chimes from Fi and 29 for Collectables) each has the potential to activate only once per play session; players will never hear more than one warning about their low hearts from Fi in a single session.

I have little doubt that, subjectively speaking, the high number of SDTMs in Skyward Sword can lead to a prolonged sense over the course of a playthrough that the game is holding the player’s hand, and going out of its way to explain to them things that they already know.

This makes SDTMs ripe for inclusion in the Hey, Look, Listen series, especially since I encountered a total of 193 of them over the course of my playthrough. However, I cannot include any of these SDTMs in my Counters for Chimes or Redundant Information because they conflict with the foundation upon which all of my Counters are built: measuring indicators of handholding that occur over the course of an average playthrough.

Very early in the process of conducting this audit, I defined an average playthrough as playing each game’s main story, as well as completing a moderate amount of side quests. Along the way, I would keep a tally of how many times certain indicators of handholding occurred and when they occurred, all based on the premise that a certain number of them should occur in each playthrough with relatively minimal variation.

In other words, I was trying to figure out how many times Zelda games hold our hand regardless of our skill level, play style, or experience. This would not only make my findings more objective, it would make the audit itself testable.

SDTMs, however, throw the premise of testability off, because they are directly tied to play style, namely the number of times players turn off and on their game console. If I included SDTMs in the Chimes and Redundant Information Counters, here are some examples of h ow this audit’s testability could be ruined:

Someone who replaces their batteries at the end of every play session and only plays the game in half-hour sessions will likely never encounter any Chimes from Fi about battery life. However, this player will probably encounter many more messages about Collectables than I did in my playthrough because of so many resets of the SDTMs for Collectables.
Someone who plays through the whole game in a single 40-hour sitting, or simply never turns their game off between breaks, will encounter no SDTMs.
I don’t like using shields in Skyward Sword, and ran through most of the game without one until obtaining the Sacred Shield and Hylian Shield very late in the game. As a result, I heard Fi Chime about low shield integrity many fewer times than someone who decided to use shields a lot. If I never used a shield at all, I would have never heard Fi Chimes about low shield integrity at all.

Players should not have to adopt specific play styles or adopt certain play habits in order to reproduce the same results I did in these audits.

The integrity of the whole audit could be ruined if someone could credibly say, “The only reason you weren’t annoyed by the messages about Blessed Butterflies is because you never bought the Bug Net to catch them!” Or, “The only reason you’re upset with Fi’s reminders about low hearts is because you’re a noob who sucks at combat and never figured out how to get the Heart Medal!”

After all, this audit is supposed to avoid unique player experiences and look as objectively as possible at the things that will usually happen in every player’s experience of each of these games.

On top of all of that, I didn’t keep track of the number of times SDTMs were triggered for rupees during my audit of Twilight Princess, so using the data collected from SDTMs in Skyward Sword without that data is a very unfair comparison.

The bottom line on the 193 SDTMs collected in this audit (177 for Collectables, 7 for Batteries, 8 for Hearts, and 1 for Shield) is they will not be applied to the Counters for Redundant Information or Chimes.

Instead, I will say that Skyward Sword has 32 SDTMs. That is to say, it features 32 unique things that can trigger Tutorial Messages in any play session, regardless of previous player experience. SDTMs will be counted in my final verdict and, if possible, will be measured for each game. However, since SDTMs are very different from my other Counters, they may not require a full playthrough of each game in order to measure them.

Sailcloth Chimes

Sailcloth Chimes are not indicators of handholding; they are just Quick Time Events!

Yes, yes. Cue the “press X to pay respects/not die” jokes. But in all seriousness, that is what I see the alerts to deploy Link’s Sailcloth as: segments of gameplay where success or failure of a specific sequence all depend on whether the player provides a context-sensitive input according to an on-screen prompt. And given that several of these Sailcloth deployments occur regardless of player input, some of them qualify as Slow Time Events.

On-screen prompts to press certain buttons are nothing new to the Zelda series. During gameplay in Ocarina of Time, the A button on the player’s HUD frequently changes to indicate what context-sensitive action a player may perform by pressing the button. While playing Skyward Sword, a prompt frequently appears in the bottom center of the screen, which instructs the player on how they should move the Wii Remote in a wide variety of situations.

Unlike the other Counters in this audit that measure instances where player agency is limited or suspended, the alerts to deploy the Sailcloth in Skyward Sword is just a warning of imminent danger. In many ways, I see Sailcloth Chimes as very similar to another gameplay element I did not count during my audits of The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess: alerts during combat to press the A button to perform a counter-attack.

Essentially, Sailcloth Chimes are just like the alert about low health that happens in every Zelda game, or the warning that happens in Skyward Sword when the player is low on stamina after sprinting, or low on breath when under water. I have not included such warnings in any part of this audit, and I will not place such a handicap on my audit of Skyward Sword.

Loftwing Camera Movements

During my audit of The Wind Waker, I included those moments when the camera showed the wind changing direction as Camera Movements. On my second playthrough of Skyward Sword, I decided to apply the same thinking and keep track of every time Link whistled for his Loftwing, making every tally of the Loftwing Variable Data Counters (VDCs) a Camera Movement.

Then I realized… that’s a pretty stupid thing to consider a Camera Movement.

First of all, the camera doesn’t actually move all that much. In fact, Link remains the center of the camera’s focus throughout the process of whistling to his bird and falling onto its back. Most Camera Movements in my audit involve dramatic shifts of the camera’s focus, usually away from Link to show us something we’re not directly controlling. But more importantly, I don’t consider these scenes to be moments where the game is holding the player’s hand.

Are the short scenes we see in Majora’s Mask, Ocarina of Time, and Twilight Princess where Link mounts Epona Camera Movements? I didn’t think so, and I didn’t include them as such in my Counters for those games. When Link whistles for his Loftwing, it’s the same as mounting Epona in the other games; Link is just getting onto his mode of transportation.

This raises the question: what about all the Camera Movements in my audit of The Wind Waker attributed to changes in the wind’s direction? Well, in the interest of applying the same methodology to every game in this audit, I’ve decided to retroactively remove those tallies from the Camera Movements Counter in my audit of that game. I don’t need to play through The Wind Waker a second time, I will just subtract the 83 tallies caused by changes in the wind’s direction from the 539 Camera Movements gathered in that audit and say that The Wind Waker had a total of 456 Camera Movements.

Map Camera Movements

Early in my playthrough of Skyward Sword, I realized the game quite frequently pulls out Link’s map to show the player something on it. I decided that this action was a sort of Camera Movement on its own, so I started keeping track of every time Fi, a robot, the acquisition of a dungeon map, or some other action or character caused my map to pop up without my input.

By the end of my playthrough, I counted 49 times that this Map VDC was added to, and had strong intentions to include them in my final tallies for Camera Movements. Then I realized I hadn’t kept track of similar instances when the map is pulled up for the player in my audits of Twilight Princess and The Wind Waker.

I know for a fact that the map is pulled out for the player several times in Twilight Princess, and I know The Wind Waker frequently shows the player The Great Sea for new charts and other things. It wouldn’t be fair to hold Skyward Sword accountable for the number of times it shows me my map but not these other games. So, I’m excluding these 49 tallies from my audit of this game.

What’s Next?

Believe it or not but, I have to do a second playthrough of Majora’s Mask now, mainly for the same reasons I conducted this second audit of Skyward Sword. I need go back and uncover all the uncounted repeat Camera Movements I failed to count in my initial playthrough of Majora’s Mask. I’ll also keep track of some other VDCs to give us a more accurate picture of the data.

No, I won’t be playing the 3DS remake, since I do not own that version of the game or a 3DS. Instead, I will play the same version of the game I played when I audited the game back in December: the Virtual Console version for the Wii. You can expect to read the next article in the Hey, Look, Listen series, Reanalyzing Handholding in Majora’s Mask, when it comes out some time in April.

Until then, thanks for reading, and feel free to leave any comments below on what you think of these findings or the audit itself!

Condensed Spreadsheet of Skyward Sword Second Playthrough Data

Because my second audit of Skyward Sword was much more comprehensive than my first, the full unfiltered thing is too big for this webpage. However, I’ve provided a condensed version here, and an expanded version in the Image Gallery.

For both of these spreadsheets, bolder borders between rows indicate the end of individual play sessions, and individual cells surrounded by a thick black border indicate moments when I divided Loftwing and Goddess Cubes into separate VDCs, and when I created the Fi Speech VDC.

YouTuber Remixes Theme From Hyrule Castle Titled "Link To The Future"

Cathron — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 23:18:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda musical scores can really inspire some fan musicians to create some amazing works of art, whether they're playing guitar or making electronic remixes of their favorite Zelda tunes. One YouTube artist in particular has brought the funk with their remix of the Hyrule Castle theme.

The remixer's name is James Landino, and he lives in Boston. His tune "Link to the Future" clocks in at three minutes and 21 seconds. It features several Zelda sounds mixed into the overall main Hyrule Castle theme.

The video above is actually part of a record label called GameChops, founded by Dj CUTMAN, another artist who remixes video game music.

For more information about Landino, check out his Twitter account here. To find more of his music, click here.

The Wind Waker's Great Sea and Majora's Mask's Astral Observatory With Lyrics Impresses

Nathan — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:45:00 +0000

No folks, this isn't Brentalfloss who is known for doing video game music with lyrics. This is Boozinwalsh, a relatively unknown YouTube music talent who has some really impressive "games with lyrics" pieces. While Brentalfloss uses the original music overlayed with his own lyrics set often to a skit or some gameplay - Boozinwalsh sets his own lyrics at the same time he is playing his own cover of the song in question, creating his own unique style. Since we have only recently discovered his talents we are choosing to show off two of his pieces, so you can get a greater appreciation for his work.

The first piece above is the Great Sea theme from The Wind Waker, while the one below is a more recent video containing the Astral Observatory theme from Majora's Mask. Enjoy!

The Wind Waker LEGO Set Gaining Popularity on LEGO Ideas

Link 2 — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 02:30:00 +0000

LEGO Ideas is the LEGO company's website for fan-submitted LEGO sets and/or series. Anyone may submit their idea, and it must gain a set number of supporters to be considered by the LEGO company for production.

Recently, a new The Wind Waker style LEGO set has been gathering thousands of views and supporters. The set now has over 7.5K supporters, and is only 2.5K away from its goal of 10,000. More images of the set can be found in the gallery below.

Once the idea reaches 10K supporters, the LEGO company will review the set and consider it for mass-production. If the LEGO company's experts deem the product acceptable and think it will sell, they will have to contact Nintendo and try to work out a deal. I surmise that if LEGO and Nintendo do reach an agreement, it could possibly open up a whole new series of Nintendo-based LEGO sets for all of Nintendo's flagship characters, and could even result in more Zelda-based sets.

Are you going to go and support it here? What other Zelda games would you like to see LEGO sets to be based on? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: LEGO Ideas

The Boss Man: Nintendo is DOOMED!

Nathan — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 19:10:00 +0000

Nintendo had a pretty eventful week last week, talking about mobile games and some new-fangled console. All of this is exciting on its own, but the Internet did that thing again. They said Nintendo was doomed. Fans came out of the woodwork ringing the cowbell for the end of Nintendo as we know it. That's it — they are getting out of hardware. Nor more AAA Nintendo games! Heck, they might as well cancel Zelda U and give up now. They are about to get so rich on mobile that they will forget who they are and become the next Zynga. It's happening!

I address concerns over Nintendo's latest announcements, admit that I actually enjoy mobile games (yes, the kind you play on your phone), and lay down some truth for what Nintendo is going to be doing with their next hardware.

We’re Looking to Add You to Our Team!

Nathan — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 07:57:00 +0000

We’re ready to do our first major hiring spree in 2015. If you have ever dreamed of working at one of the largest Zelda websites in the world, this is your chance to get your foot in the door. We have several positions that we are looking to add to in order expand the quality and wealth of content at our site. Did you know we do more than just covering news stories and sharing our opinions? Crazy, right?

Before I get into the positions we are looking to add some fresh recruits to, I do want to note that all positions are volunteer. However that doesn’t mean we leave you hanging out to dry, beating you with a stick to produce amazing work and get absolutely nothing in return. There are a handful of excellent benefits you get for working here. So before I get into what we are looking to hire, here is what you can look forward to should you be welcomed into our family:

Experience. This can’t really be understated. If you’re someone looking for a resume stuffer in the writing, video editing, copy editing, or art field – this is a great opportunity for you. Many places require years of experience in the field and unfortunately it’s hard to get that experience without doing work for “free”. Lucky for you, we don’t just feel experience is good enough – we want to give you more.
Rewards System. We have a constantly expanding rewards program for all of our volunteer staff. This rewards system gives you virtual coins for your work here which can be redeemed for various products, both digital and physical. As an example – our most popular redeemed item is free video games.
Being respected for what you do. I won’t sugarcoat it – fans can be ruthless at times. Make a grammar mistake? They’ll be quick to jump all over it. Have an opinion someone doesn’t agree with? They will eat you alive. However, you gain the respect of your peers for believing in your work and putting your best effort into it. As we are evolving our community to be more inclusive, you’ll also find that despite the few who may try to tear you down, there will be hundreds more building you right back up. Nothing feels better than producing something here and watching fans appreciate you because of it.

Alright, that’s enough about the benefits. I could go on and on about how awesome our staff environment is and all that jazz, but that’s something we want you to find out for yourself. Instead, let’s hop into the positions we’re hiring for. To find out how to apply, you can skip to the last section in this post once you see a position you’re interested in.

Wiki Editors and Patrollers

Some of you may not be aware, but we do have a growing Zelda Wiki. One thing we are going to be doing over the course of the next handful of months is building a true team for this wiki that will have the full backing and support of the current members of the staff currently in place across the whole site. We will all work together to truly make Zelda Informer a one stop site for any Zelda fan’s needs. The best part is that you do get rewarded for your work on the wiki. This is my way of saying thanks to all Zelda Informer staff members.

Requirements:

A lot of knowledge of the Zelda series
Experience using mediawiki is a big bonus
Decent writing skills

Walkthrough Writers/Editors

One of our biggest goals at Zelda Informer in 2015 is to become a top notch source of Zelda Walkthroughs. While we have a handful of them, we aren’t proud of where they are and we feel we can do a lot better job. This position is twofold however – we won’t only be looking for you to write the walkthrough, but edit and format it to get it live on the site as well. As such, this is a pretty demanding position, but it’s also the position we reward the most because of the work load.

Requirements:

Extreme proficiency in writing ability

Editorial and News Writers

We are always looking to add to our writing staff. We have recently moved this entire staff into a time slot schedule and as such, we are going to hiring people who have very specific availabilities. We run on a 24 hour clock, so you can literally apply with any sort of availability – but I will note that if you’re available between Midnight and Noon CT to contribute on a daily or semi daily basis, you’re probably going to be moved to the top of the hiring pile. Our Writers are allowed to produce Editorial work, but must also be fully willing to commit to posting news as well. That’s why we just have a general writing position as every writer covers both sides of the coin.

Requirements:

Passion and Dedication. Really, this above all else can trump any lack of writing ability you may have.
A willingness to take kindly to suggestions to improve your work (constructive criticism)
The ability to convey your thought process into written word with hopefully proper grammar – through as noted earlier, this is something we are willing to help you with if you are dedicated enough to want to get better.

Comic Artists

One thing we use to do many moons ago was run an onsite comic series that released a new strip every single week. We really want to bring this back and possibly even run multiple strips at the same time. A comic artist must be able to craft a unique and exclusive ongoing series for the site. It can be a weekly or biweekly series, depending on your ability. We aren’t looking for these strips to necessarily be comedic, though they certainly can be. We aren’t looking for any particular art style – so when you apply feel free to apply with something – a style and an idea – that you think would work really well here. You’re the artist, so you show us what you think is a viable comic for the everyday Zelda fan.

How to Apply:

You will need to send an email to Nathan@ZeldaInformer.com with the subject line being the positions you are apply for. The details you will provide will be based mostly on the position you are apply for, but beyond that we want a basic rundown of why you want the position, what about the Zelda series truly inspires you, and any examples of related work you may have that can further your case to join our team. There are no age restrictions for any of our positions. Good luck!

Oh, and Skype is a requirement to work here - but it's also free!

If you have any questions about the application process, pointed questions about the site, our benefits, or the positions themselves, feel free to post them in the comment section below so I can reply to you in a timely fashion and potentially answer several people’s questions at once.

Video Shows Off All Costumes From Hyrule Warriors Boss Pack DLC

Tpaul Homdrom — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 15:28:00 +0000

Hyrule Warriors has been steadily churning out DLC packs since the game released. These packs include a number of different features, such as new Adventure Mode maps, new game modes, and new costumes. In fact, every single DLC pack has had some form of new costumes added to the game. Some of these costumes are simple color swaps, while others are more elaborate (such as Lana's Skull Kid costume).

The newly launched Boss Pack DLC includes new costumes for Link, Lana, Zelda, and Cia. All of these costumes are simple color swaps, so depending on your tastes, these may be interesting or disappointing. Either way, check out the video above to get a closer look at each of the new costumes. After that, let us know in the comments below: what is your favorite costume in Hyrule Warriors?

Caption Contest 010: "I signed up to fight a great evil but not for this!"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 17:00:00 +0000

We have reached week ten of the caption contest! Last week, we featured an image of Groose giving Link the "what's what". I honestly thought there would be a bigger response, but those of you who did left some great content. However nobody caught the reference I made. Either I'm getting old or "Kung Pow" truly is a diamond in the rough. Seriously, if you like over the top silly movies, I highly suggest it. This week, we're featuring Lana from Hyrule Warriors getting chased by the greatest foe the series have ever seen, the dreaded Cucco. You know how this goes. Leave your captions, photo or not, in the comments section below and upvote other responses that you like. Check out the winners below and I'll see you next week!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

by: Anon

by: Anonymous

by: GoroGreebo

by: Sanic11

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Gonondalf - "Did you take my sandwich? DID YOU!?"
Darin W. Harr II - "You tell Nintendo to add me as DLC in Hyrule Warriors, OR ELSE!"
DonTheMask! - "Isn't this glove with finger holes a good accessory?"
POWER - "I have the best hair of anyone and don't you forget it."
HyperiorV - "Objection!"

This week's photo:

Iwata: Netflix Zelda TV Show Article "Not Based on Correct Information"

Nathan — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Satoru Iwata has finally commented on the Netflix Zelda TV Series rumors. While he has nothing to announce at this time, suggesting they are indeed planning some sort of TV Show for something at Nintendo, he did want to point out that the initial news about the Zelda Netflix TV Show was based on incorrect information. However, the way it is stated suggests that the TV Show may very much be a reality, just not in the way described. It is possible that what was reported was one of merely several different ideas pitched to Nintendo. We have no way of knowing and honestly, only Nintendo (and possibly Netflix) actually knows the real aswers.

If there is a TV Series happening for any of Nintendo's IP, they are not ready to talk about just yet:

“As of now, I have nothing new to share with you in regard to the use of our IPs for any TV shows or films, but I can at least confirm that the article in question is not based on correct information.” - Satoru Iwata, President and CEO of Nintendo

What do you think is really going on?

Source: Time Magazine

Iconic Worlds VR Demo to Let Players Explore World of Majora's Mask

RODTheMaster — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 19:00:00 +0000

Many fans may remember the 2012 fan-animated HD Majora's Mask trailer, showing off how a Majora's Mask remake could look on the Wii U. This trailer was the work of Spanish artists Pablo Belmonte and Paco Martínez Odewill, who have worked on many similar fan projects in the past. While not the official Majora's Mask remake, the team announced the project was still working toward something beyond the trailer. Today, the team announced their Iconic Worlds project, a virtual reality experience that allows players to explore the team's past projects, including the Majora's Mask trailer.

Shortly before the announcement of the Wii in 2005, Belmonte and Odewill released the "Nintendo ON Hoax," a video claiming that Nintendo's next console would be an advanced Virtual Reality headset. While the Wii ultimately debunked such an idea, the Nintendo ON turned out to be pretty representative of VR headsets seen in recent years, such as the Oculus Rift.

Ten years after the release of this hoax, Belmonte and Odewill have announced their newest project, Iconic Worlds. Their development team hiPolygon are utilizing the Oculus Rift to create explorable VR environments based on their past projects. From the teaser, the project appears to let players traverse and explore the 3D worlds. The teaser did not reveal any further details on how players will interact within the worlds, but more information was promised with future updates. The duo has confirmed two environments to be included in the project: a world based on their Matrix parody and (more excitingly) a world based on their Majora's Mask trailer. In addition, the team promised other original environments for the project.

The teaser designates these worlds as "Volume 1," so more may be announced with future volumes. While the Oculus Rift is currently available to developers, the hardware is not yet widely available commercially. Information on when exactly Iconic Worlds will become available is currently unknown. Interested fans can look out for more information on hiPolygon's Twitter and Facebook.

What do you think of the Iconic Worlds? Will you be stepping into the world of Majora's Mask when the project becomes available? Let us know!

Report: The New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition is Supposedly Not Being Restocked

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 13:18:00 +0000

Remember that shiny New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition we all went nuts over a couple months ago? A handful of us were lucky enough to secure a pre-order, while others, like myself, had our pre-orders cancelled. Luckily, some die-hard fans were able to snag one on eBay (again, just like myself.)

Of course you remember it. It was all over this website for about a month, and the Internet absolutely exploded with mixed emotions towards Nintendo. I'm here today to tell you that if you had your hopes up for them to become restocked, maybe you should bite the bullet and buy one from eBay before the prices spike once again.

If user "D" from NeoGAF and the Nintendo Representative he spoke to are to be believed and have legitimate information, the Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL is completely gone. Nintendo does not have any more sitting on the docks due to a West Coast port strike, and they do not have any in their warehouses waiting to be shipped out to more retailers. He also claims the Nintendo Representative also told him Nintendo does not have any more plans for the restocking of the Limited Edition units, and it was truly a Limited Edition.

That's not all D supposedly "revealed." More information, such as the possible restocking of amiibo, the latest word on the upcoming Mario Kart 8 and Smash Bros. DLC can be found in the NeoGAF forum post here. Remember, this is just a rumor report. D has no proof of his conversation with the Nintendo Rep. He is just a random NeoGAF user. Anything that was just said in this post is definitely not 100% fact, and is not the cold hard truth. I will admit that was D is saying makes sense.

It's also worth noting that the NeoGAF community does not take kindly to beng toyed with, so if he is just making this up and it is discovered, he will likely get tossed out of the community. This doesn't mean he is being honest, but it does give you the idea of the culture, where the spread of lies just isn't something they allow. Add this together with the real plausibility of what he is saying and it's certainly worth at least considering it could be true.

Do you think D is correct? Are you saddened with this information, or did you give up hope a long time ago? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: NeoGAF

Symphony of the Goddesses Announces 17 More Tour Locations and Dates

Mases — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 03:10:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses has just announced seventeen new concerts. If you have never had a chance to experience the Symphony live this could be it. Approved by Eiji Aonuma and Nintendo composer and sound director Koji Kondo, this event is a four movement symphony set to a backdrop of in-game footage from titles across the series. With compositions from Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, A Link to the Past, and many more, it is both captivating and nostalgic in just the right ways.

While they will be stopping at some of the locations from the previous year the following dates/place have been added:

Durham, Durham Performing Arts Centre; September 10th
St. Louis, Powell Hall; September 11th, September 12th, September 13th
Philadelphia, Mann Centre; September 18th
Providence, Providence Performing Arts Centre; September 25th
Chicago, Auditorium Theatre; October 1st
Indianapolis, Old National Centre; October 2nd
Milwaukee, Milwaukee Theatre; October 3rd
New York, Barclays Centre; October 13th
Salt Lake City, Abravenel Hall; October 15th
Hamburg, O2 World; November 8th
Amsterdam, Heineken Music Hall; November 11th
Brussels, Palais 12; November 12th
Madrid, Palacio Vista Alegre; November 13th
Barcelona, Auditori Forum; November 14th
Rome, Auditorium Concilliazone; November 15th
Zurich, Hallenstadion; November 21st
Dublin, Convention Centre; November 22nd

Is your city not on the list? It might already be on the schedule. Head here to find out! Be sure to grab your ticket soon as they sell out fast and this is not a show you want to miss!

Source: Official Website

Majora's Mask NN3DS XL Getting One Time, Limited Restock In-Store Tomorrow at GameStop & EB Games

Nathan — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 14:18:00 +0000

Earlier today we reported a rumo r that the Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL wouldn't be getting restocked. It appears said rumor is at least incorrect on the most important front for us - there will indeed be a restock, but it's a one time ordeal and won't be happening again, and it's only at one retail chain across the United States and Canada. GameStop in the United States and EB Games in Canada will be getting a very limited restock of the system both online and in-store. EB Games has already put up and sold out of their restock for online orders, but tomorrow they will have stock in the stores as well.

GameStop hasn't put their online orders up yet, but they will be doing so tomorrow. More importantly for some who have a local store, each store is supposed to get 4 units in the store itself - marking the first time any units have actually been in the stores. However, not every store will neccesarily have them ready when the store opens - some of them will have gotten the shipment at the end of the day today (so ready for sale at opening tomorrow), while others may not get the shipment until some point tomorrow. Be sure to call your local store to find out if and when they will be available. I have personally confirmed all of this with two separate GameStops in my area.

In addition, I was told, and it has been reported, that this is all the stock that will be available for this system. There will be no more restocks. It appears from my viewpoint that these systems were simply those that got stuck at the harbor during the port strike. It is possible these were part of the shipment of systems Best Buy was supposed to receive before they canceled a bunch of orders. As for why release them through GameStop - this is likely due to a working relationship Nintendo has with the retailer and the success that relationship has translated for them in terms of sales. Good luck if you try to get one!

Source: attackofthefanboy, NeoGAF

Man at Arms: Reforged Forge Hylian Shield and Classic Master Sword

Ghirahims-Left-Shoe — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 16:57:00 +0000

The folks at Man at Arms: Reforged, a group that makes replicas of weapons both from games and their own designs, have taken it upon themselves (due to numerous requests) to recreate the Hylian shield, as well as the classic Master Sword. The video takes us through the step-by-step process of the shield’s creation, outlining the tools and methods that bring it to life. It’s just over 10 minutes long, and includes a test-run of the shield, pitting it in battle against some melons, glass bottles, and arrows.

The shield features some embossing, a some real amber to make up the Triforce, and a hand-painted Hylian Crest on the front. The Master Sword takes after the classic design, showing off its red and yellow handle forged out of a block of solid steel. The pieces are both beautiful and ready for battle. They do the in-game models justice, and it’s great to see them come to life so perfectly right in front of your eyes.

What do you think? Do you like how it came out? Would you make it differently? Let us know in the comments below!

Awesome Custom-Painted Majora's Mask Game Boy

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Yes, the Game Boy came out many years ago in 1989. Yes, it's outdated and the hardware is laughable compared to today's standards. No, that does not mean Game Boys can't be awesome by today's standards!

This awesome custom painted Game Boy has a familiar face on it. That's right, this particular fan-created Game Boy re-skin is modeled after Skull Kid, taking on the persona of Majora's Mask.

The D-pad and the B button are both cleverly morphed with Skull Kid's eyes, and the speaker holes are morphed with the dimples in the mask that are seen on the real thing in-game. On the back is a very angry-looking Moon, the Triforce, and some spooky green text saying, "Majora's Mask."

Full-sized pictures of this custom Game Boy can be viewed in the gallery below.

Do you think the artist, Oskunk, did a good job? What other custom Zelda Game Boys would you like to see? Let us know by sharing your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Oskunk

Month-Long Game Jam Challenges Fans to Create Game Starring Female Link

RODTheMaster — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 19:27:00 +0000

Since the release of the Zelda U trailer last year, many have speculated and debated the idea of a Zelda game starring a female Link. Despite the strong opinions on both sides of the argument, there is no doubt a large group of fans who would be excited to see a female Link star in a Zelda adventure. Fans now have the opportunity to make this happen. Starting April 1st, a month-long game jam (appropriately titled Female Link Jam) will challenge fans to create their very own Zelda-style game starring a female protagonist named Link.

Female Link Jam runs the entire month of April, starting April 1, 2015 12:00AM EST and ending May 1st 2015 12:00AM EST. Jam organizer Don Boody explained that participants will be tasked with creating a "Zelda-style game starring a female Link." While this task leaves a lot of room for creativity, the two rules participants must follow are that "the player is a female named Link" and "the game takes place in the Zelda universe." Participants can go crazy with ideas from there.

Participants can then submit their games for a chance to win an original piece of art. Entries will be judged on how sweet the art, music, story, and game are. The art prize, which will depict a Female Link, will then be awarded to the winner. This prize may seem underwhelming, but the idea of many creative fans coming together to create Zelda games sounds like enough of a prize already. Boody's Twitter is available for any questions regarding entries and submissions. A timer is currently counting down to the start of Female Link Jam, so get ready.

Are you planning to participate? What kind of game do you plan to make? Share your ideas with us!

Source: Female Link Jam

Target Amiibo Sale Leaked, 25% Off on All Figures

Mases — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:59:00 +0000

Amiibo, Nintendo's line of toys-to-life figures for titles such as Super Smash Bros., will be on sale at Target next week. From March 29th to April 4th, all toy-to-life items at Target will be 25 percent off, including but not limited to your favorite Zelda characters.

This news comes from web forum, Cheap Ass Gamer, which caters to gamers looking for discounts and sales on gaming items such as amiibo.

A user by the name of Konfusion posted a thread stating to have internal knowledge of an unreleased ad from Target. Other items included in this sale will be figures from Disney Infinity and Skylanders, also at 25 percent off standard pricing. Unfortunately, the region of the sales are unspecified.

A few characters available to see on Target's website here include Toon Link, Sheik, Zelda, and Link for Super Smash Bros.

Do you own all the Zelda amiibo? Leave an answer in the comments below.

Source: Cheap Ass Gamer (via Nintendo Everything)

Analyzing the Protagonist: A Link to the Player

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 21:06:00 +0000

Link is known as a quiet and courageous hero. He is the picture of health; fit, athletic, and a solid mind. We know quite a bit about our favorite tunic-clad hero. This series' intent is to break down the major elements and explore them with an in-depth look. Ready? Let's jump in.

Creation of a Legend

For the first editorial in a series of many, I have chosen to talk about how Link connects with the player. Coincidentally, we're going to be talking about the first game in the series. Here's a question for you to chew on: How does Link connect to the player?

When Shigeru Miyamoto was much younger, he created Hyrule Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda, or as we know it, The Legend of Zelda. The main protagonist was Link, but why Link? Many of us would answer, “because Mr. Miyamoto wanted to establish a connection between the player and the main protagonist!” Many of us would be correct with that statement.

Oh, Shigeru! You're so clever. The name Link has symbolic meaning behind it. It's a non-physical link, an emotional link. I'm not going to spend too much time on this, because it's sort of a given to invested Zelda fans, so let's move on.

Oh, and I'll be using an unnofficial point system, too. Shiegru Miyamoto gets one point for cleverness!

The Deep Symbolism Behind the Silence of Link: Part 2

Looking at the header, you may be confused. Those of you that read a previous flawed editorial of mine, The Deep Symbolism Behind the Silence of Link, know it is a reference to that article. Why do I say flawed? Because I was wrong.

You helpful commenters were more than delighted to correct me, and bring to my attention that Link does in fact speak. Quite a lot, actually. For this segment of my editorial, I decided to correct myself with a little “mini-sequel” to my flawed article.

Aside from Link uttering two words in The Wind Waker, I can't find or recall any more examples of audible sounds coming out of Link's mouth; besides battle crys and, “Hyaaahh!” Link does speak. You can see his lips moving, you can choose his responses in Skyward Sword, et cetera.

Zelda producers and directors up to this current point in time have chosen not to give Link a speaking voice, only hiring voice actors for his grunts and yells. Why, you ask? It is because Link is once again meant to be a connection between the player and him, as well as the game itself.

If Link spoke, it would hinder the established connection, or link, between the player and Link. One of the elements that give the Zelda series its charms and appeal is that very connection, to feel that you are the main protagonist. Score two for Mr. Miyamoto!

Personality is Like a Banana, it's Appealing

We all know what Link's personality is, right? It is an established fact. It's not disputable, and if you try and argue, you will be laughed out of the community. Oh, wait, we don't really know the personality of Link, because Nintendo hasn't given him one. Score three for Shigeru!

Remember what I said two paragraphs ago? Whether you know it or not, you are the main protagonist. You are connected with Link. The third way this connection is established is through Link's lack of personality.

Something must be substituted for the absence of a personality. Something must fill the void, and it is your personality. If you are one and the same with the protagonist, Link, isn't is logical that Link share your personality?

If you're fighting an enemy, and you become mad, you're going to strike at that enemy with rage. Subconsciously, you're willing Link to fight with rage as well. You're sharing your personalities.

Another way to describe it would be giving Link your personality. You make Link what you want him to be. This is another major element that connects the player to the Zelda series.

Closing

There you have three major reasons why Link connects to the player. That's why this editorial is named "A Link to the Player," after all. Oh, you are the clever one, Shigeru, creating an in-game link to to the player. Touchdown for Miyamoto!

Fan art by: Gabbi, finni

Fan Creates Eye-Pleasing Custom-Painted Fierce Deity amiibo

Link 2 — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 22:18:00 +0000

It's simply amazing what dedicated fans can do with amiibo. We've shown off some awesome-looking custom amiibo on the site already, such as this Link and Skull Kid infused amiibo. My personal favorite is this jaw-droppingly gorgeous Deku Link amiibo!

Today I'd like to show you guys this highly detailed custom-painted Fierce Deity amiibo, masterfully created by Kiimao on Imgur. Aside from the image above, you can see a full gallery of high-quality images at the bottom of the page.

I count at least 19 colors for this custom job, but I'm no expert when it comes to the color palette. Regardless, the artist used a lot more colors than your traditional amiibo. That may be why it is so pleasing to the eye, because it is very different from the regular line of amiibos.

Do you think the artist did a good job representing the Fierce Deity? Have you ever considered making your own custom amiibo, or are you afraid of messing up? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Imgur

Cosplay of the Week: Hyrule Warriors Link by Laovaan

Mases — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 22:55:00 +0000

Welcome Cosplay followers to the next installment of our Cosplay of the Week series! You may have noticed that it disappeared for a few weeks there, this was due to an overload of work and personal commitments on my end but now I'm back! And with an awesome comeback Cosplay design: this week we'll be looking at Laovaan of Deviant Art's Link (Hyrule Warriors) Cosplay.

If you have been reading all the weekly Cosplay features you may have noticed that all the Cosplayers have been female, well this week I'm finally featuring a fella and he pulls off this Link Cosplay perfectly. His natural features match up to Link's almost one hundred percent and it's quite surreal. Maybe he could play Link in a future movie project? I think so, anyway.

The details in his costume are just magical, and it really brings the character to life. Check out the mini gallery below to see what I mean, and comment what you think of this Cosplay!

Laovaan has created quite a few costumes. . . Two being Link from Hyrule Warriors and Twilight Princess. You can have a look at his Cosplay gallery here. Go on, click that link.

That's our Cosplay of the Week for this week, short and sweet, as always. Don't forget to tag us in any Cosplay tweets on Twitter and hashtag #ZIcostume!

Source: Laovaan of Deviant Art

One Brother's Heinous Bargain: A Kingdom In The Devil's Grasp

Cathron — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 02:18:00 +0000

The composer brothers are perhaps the most famous siblings in the Zelda series. And though they appear in two games, it is within Majora's Mask that their relationship is truly at its darkest.

For those that aren't aware, the Composer Brothers are found in Ikana Canyon, the land of the dead to the east of Clock Town. The valley is full of ghosts: spirits that are filled to the brim with loathing, regret, and misery over their memories of the past.

Two of the canyon residents grew up together and have a dark and twisted tale of their own. Majora's Mask had plenty of dark themes in it, but when analyzed, the relationship between the Composer Brothers shows just how sick the game can really be.

Not too much is known about their past, but the narrative below could be considered one possibility shedding more light on their lives.

A Tale Of Two Brothers

Flat and Sharp are two spirits that call Ikana Canyon their home. In life, they made music for the Ikana Royal Family and were very good at what they did. They were likely made wealthy by their musical talent. It's possible they even resided somewhere in Ikana Castle.

It's probable the brothers were close in life and played off one another in their music. One of them would become inspired by a melody, and the other would come in behind, setting the harmony, rhythm, and volume of whatever tune they were writing together.

The two shared the same blood, same affinity for music, and same fortune that they worked for the royal family.

The Brotherly Bond

There's just something unique about the relationship between brothers. They can be constantly competing, fighting, and driving each other nuts, but if something bad happens to one, the other is usually their first ally.

An older brother may tease their younger sibling to no end, but the moment a bully starts doing the same thing, that older brother is going to do anything to protect his “little bro.”

Sharp is the older of the two. Maybe he grew up wanting to be a musician, and when he got really good at performing his craft, Flat saw that, desiring to become an artist himself.

Flat grows up trying to be like his “big bro,” but he doesn't have as much luck. So, he begins to lose steam and sight of his goals. Finally, a bully mocking his musical attempts shatters Flat's last remaining piece of hope and confidence. Depressed out of his own mind, Flat decides to give up on music... until Sharp steps in and builds his little brother back up.

With training from Sharp, Flat grows into himself, and the pair combine their talents. Their success is slow at first, but soon, people are catching on to the fact that they're rich with talent. Finally, the royal family notices them, and they're hired to play exclusively in Ikana Castle.

It's a great thought that their relationship was so tight growing up, and it makes their story all the more ripe for the downfall that would later befall the brothers.

Somewhere along the way, the kingdom fell, and the army, citizens, and royal family all became spirits. Those spirits were forced to roam the land in search of non-existing hope that one day their kingdom would rise once again into splendor.

The Composer Brothers yearned for just one last chance at the spotlight... one more song... one more moment. And when they didn't get it, it drove them all the more mad.

The Devil Himself

Eventually, Sharp couldn't handle it. So, he made a deal with the Devil, and that's where the greatest mysteries within their tale come from. Sharps sells his soul to the Devil, but two unanswered questions burn in the minds of Zelda fans.

Who is the Devil, and what did Sharp get in return for his soul?

In Christian tradition, the Devil, also known as Satan or Lucifer, is thought to be the antithesis of good. He is pure evil and the king of Hell. In Majora's Mask? It's much more unclear who the Devil could be.

To answer that, fans would have to be privy to the religion and culture of Termina. Is the Devil an exclusive belief to Ikana Canyon? Citizens of Clock Town don't appear to be overly religious. If they were religious, when they saw the moon falling, they'd probably have reacted differently. There'd be praying of some sort taking place, and yet, most seem content to simply carry on with their lives.

Is it possible that the Devil is Majora? The mask was used in hexing rituals, and many think of the mask as its own entity, but what if the mask is merely used to channel the power of the Devil?

If Majora was the Devil of Termina, perhaps Majora's Mask is merely an item that the evil deity can channel evil magic through, even if the people that once used it didn't know that. In their minds, they could have simply had an item that they realized was dark and all-powerful.

Who else but the Devil would be bent on the complete and utter destruction of Termina? Once Skull Kid had the mask in his grasp, the Devil granted him some power and then started giving him ideas... like using a moon to destroy the entire land.

The Tragic Irony Of The Bargain

Sharp sells his soul to the Devil, but fans don't know what he got in return. In fact, it's possible he was scammed and received nothing.

Flat tells Link that Sharp sold his soul and then sealed his brother into an underground tomb guarded by an iron knuckle.

Was sealing his brother part of the deal? Maybe the Devil wanted to keep the miserable souls of Ikana Canyon ensnared within his grasp forever, and he knew that there were only a few obstacles in his way. There was a pesky scientist with his daughter and one Composer Brother that wasn't as depraved as the other.

What if the Devil knew that Flat could save his brother one day, maybe even save the entire kingdom from itself with some sort of song?

Knowing that, the Devil played upon the evil desires already in Sharp's heart and got him to seal his brother away. Then, he persuaded Sharp to dry up the river, which trapped Pamela and her father in a house surrounded by members of the living dead.

With those two obstacles removed, the Devil was satisfied.

What a true betrayal of trust by Sharp. Flat thinks, “Hey, we're dead, and the kingdom we love is in ruins, but I still have my brother by my side.” And then Sharp takes that blind trust and love, and shatters it with a single heinous act.

And what did Sharp get in return? Probably nothing. The Devil promised to restore the Ikana kingdom and then after gaining Sharp's soul chose not to fulfill his end of the deal. The tragic irony here is that not only did one brother bury the other in an underground chamber for God knows how long, but Sharp may not have received a single reward for it. This makes the betrayal utterly worthless.

Not only is the canyon ruined on a political and financial level, but the relationships in Ikana Canyon are themselves tainted; brother betrays brother, father fails to protect daughter, etc.

A Ray Of Hope

Eventually though, something the Devil doesn't anticipate happens. A living outsider enters the canyon and frees Flat. From there, things go awry for the Devi l. After being freed, the younger brother requests that Link save Sharp.

Flat arms Link with a cleansing song that can release Sharp's soul from the Devil's grasp and break the curse placed on the Composer Brothers. Link plays the song, heals Sharp, and the spirit vanishes without a trace.

It's unknown if the two brothers reunite afterwards. Fans know Link saves the canyon and its people, but the fate of the brothers remains shrouded in mystery. Do they make up? Did they fade away at peace?

The Brothers' Future

There is but one hint as to the brothers' fate. A small clip is shown in the credits of the ghost king of Ikana Castle and his two swordsmen. If they remained after Link saved the canyon, it's possible Sharp and Flat did as well.

In the end, it all comes down to speculation and what fans want to believe happened to the brothers. Was Sharp forgiven, or was the rift provided by his dark bargain simply too much to recover from?

After all, Flat was sealed in a tomb underground by the one person he loved most in the world... his brother.

“The thousand years of raindrops summoned by my song are my tears. The thunder that strikes the earth is my anger!"

Art Source: Tumblr

Daily Debate: Where in the World Does Phantom Hourglass Take Place?

HyruleHero3D — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 14:45:00 +0000

I don't know about any of you but I've always viewed the World of the Ocean King as an alternate dimension that exists within the material world of Wind Waker. Some think it's simply a dream world, but there are enough features within Phantom Hourglass to suggest that this world is more real than it seems.

While voyaging on their mighty pirate ship, Link and Tetra come across a mysterious vessel enveloped in a thick fog: the Ghost Ship.

According to legend, the Ghost Ship drains the life force out of all who go near it. Tetra, who seeks to debunk the legend, jumps aboard the cursed vessel and vanishes, thus spurring Link to climb aboard after her.

Link fails, and ultimately ends up washing ashore on Mercay Island, where he meets a fairy, Ciela, who introduces us to an old man, named Oshus. After sailing through this new ocean and fighting the evil plaguing it, we come to learn Oshus' true identity: The Ocean King.

Now that we've gotten a brief synopsis of the game out of the way, we can now focus our attention to in-game details. It is noted by players and third-party sources that the crests of the three Golden Goddesses are scattered around key locations within the game, Phantom Hourglass.

We know this information is true as it's stated in the Holy Bible of the Zelda franchise, the Hyrule Historia. If you'd like to see evidence on this, then without delay, click away!

It might be hard to believe that Phantom Hourglass can take place in the same location as Wind Waker but it's possible. We can look at the Ghost Ship,for example. Perhaps this dark vessel had caused both Link and Tetra to have the same dream, or dreams that share many of the same events.

While this is speculation, the evidence found within the Hyrule Historia as well as the game itself is more than enough to make me believe that the Goddesses created the World of the Ocean King and that it simply exists in the same reality as Wind Waker.

However, there are still many possibilities as to where this world can be found. For example, this world could simply exist wherever the Ghost Ship travels, inducing seafarers across the Great Sea into a vicious dream. Remember that all this is simply speculation so the sky's the limit!

Where do you think Phantom Hourglass takes place? Let us know in the comments!

Pat the NES Punk Explains What The Legend of Zelda Meant To Gaming

Mases — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 05:43:00 +0000

Not all of us were around for the release of The Legend of Zelda on the NES back in 1987. I know that I wasn’t introduced to the series until the release of the Oracle games, while many others started off with Ocarina of Time. And while Zelda means different things to each individual fan, it goes without saying that the franchise has (and will continue) to make an impact on gaming as a whole. But what about back when the first Zelda game launched as a standalone title, with no history or fanbase to back it? What kind of an impact did it make on gamers when they were first introduced to our green-clad, pointy-eared hero?

Enter Pat the NES Punk. As part of a series called The Video Game Years on Retroware, Pat released a highlight video from the most recent episode, looking back on the days when Zelda was still young. With commentary provided by a host of different YouTube characters, including Pro Jared, Pixel Dan, and the Angry Video Game Nerd, the video covers many of the ways The Legend of Zelda pushed the boundaries of gaming at the time. And if that's enough to whet your appetite for more retro gaming goodness, you can check out the full video, as well as Pat’s YouTube channel which includes more The Video Game Years highlights for Battlezone, Monaco GP, and even Pacman!

What was your first Zelda game? What about it struck you and hooked you to the series? Let us know below!

Daily Debate: Was Demise a Good Villain?

RODTheMaster — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:41:00 +0000

There are many opinions surrounding Demise, the Demon King. Since his introduction in Skyward Sword, this antagonist has been the topic of many discussions, speculations, and fan theories. Many fans appreciate his mysterious and malevolent nature, whereas others have a difficult time connecting to his character. Some argue that he is the most intriguing villain in the Zelda series, while others don't believe he compares to the villains of other games. Demise no doubt left an impact after Skyward Sword, so it's now time to come to a conclusion on his role as a villain.

As it stands, Skyward Sword serves as the first game in the official Zelda timeline. As a way to set the chronological stage for other games, Skyward Sword introduced the conflict between the Goddess Hylia and the Demon King Demise, a conflict that contextualized the fates of Zelda, Link, and Ganon. Demise definitely created interesting layers in the Zelda lore, and made way for many fan interpretations and theories. The fact that he rules a mysterious and underutilized race in the Zelda universe is in itself significant, and his presence in Skyward Sword makes me want to see Demons return in a future game.

Let's not forget his sweet design too; Demise is one of the most visually striking and intimidating character designs I've seen in the entire Zelda series. And that boss fight. So epic.

However, some may argue that Demise played a very minor role in the actual game. Sure, his menacing presence was alluded to throughout the plot, but the player was never allowed to interact with him until the game's final moments. Compared to other villains like Ganondorf or Skull Kid, the threat of Demise was not developed enough for some players to care. For this reason, Demise can be seen as a boring and under-developed character, devoid of enough interesting traits or motives. I've heard some fans complain that Demise is simply a flat character, a villain that is evil for the sake of being evil. If this is the case, Demise's overall motives are hard to relate to for the player and the antagonist is not as memorable as he could have been.

I leave you to decide. Was Demise presented as a strong villain? Does he stand up to other villains from the Zelda series? Join the Daily Debate!

Zelda Themed 3DS Adventure Pouch up for Pre-Order on Gamestop

TheGaspNinja — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 17:53:00 +0000

Most people who own a Nintendo 3DS hold it close to their hearts, especially if it's a rare special edition, well worth keeping out of harm's way. As such, fans will often long for a protective item that can be linked to a game or character they love. Pouches or travel cases are perfect for this, as they provide excellent protection, but are perfectly mobile as well, and as Zelda fans, it shouldn't seem all too strange that we long for a Hyrule themed case.

Gamestop recently added a Zelda themed 'adventure pouch,' produced by game accessories company BD & A , to their long list of 3DS items up for pre-order. The name of the pouch doesn't lie either; it is in fact modeled to look like a pouch that any incarnation of Link would use. The product details state:

True Zelda fans will love this universal DS carrying case. It comes complete with a detailed Hyrule Map peel & stick cleaning cloth, a legendary 3D molded Master Sword stylus and an iconic 3D molded Hylian Shield stylus. The faux leather exterior features the Hylian Royal Family Crest and a shining Triforce symbol as well as a snap-on belt loop. The interior has slots for 2 game card and 2 styluses and can hold the following Nintendo DS systems: 3DS XL, 3DS, DS XL, & DS. Carry your rupees in style and show the world you are a true fan.

A lot of thought seems to have been put in to this newest addition to the Zelda themed 3DS carrying case clan, and quite a few items are included. The product is currently scheduled to release on the 28th April, and costs $19.99. Will you be picking up this case? What do you think of its design? Let us know down below!

Source: Gamestop

Ganondorf Discovered on Tinder, Wants Princess that Makes Him Tingle

Mases — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 22:45:00 +0000

Spring is officially here and love couldn't be more in the air for everyone, including the maleficent one himself Ganondorf

This golden-eyed, Gerudo Valley native is looking for the real deal, and now, anyone can take their chances with him on Tinder thanks to one creative role-playing fan. A fan who's identity has yet to be disclosed. In his about section on the popular dating app, we read a few obvious likes and some not-so-obvious boundaries.

"Looking for a princess that makes me Tingle. Horses Minions Fear mongering Killing sages Toppling kingdoms Transforming into horrible monsters. I don't do dick pics... But I do sword pics."

Sword pics... Who would have known that the Evil King would be so modest?

The Ganondorf impersonator has recently reached out to @siegvat on Tinder stating that his day of diplomatic talks is "dry" and how he is "Tindering under the table." We have both images in our gallery, ready and waiting your viewing pleasure, showing off both his profile and a conversation with said user. Needless to say, this is some serious stuff.

Still I have to wonder... Where does this leave his infatuation with Princess Zelda? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. The art used above is by Adrian-Drott.

Source: Gamnesia

Majora's Mask New 3DS XL Gaming Bundle Available at Gamestop

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 18:12:00 +0000

Update: Looks like they're gone! Make sure to try your local stores just in case, or Fry's Electronics.

Notoriously hard to find, the Majora's Mask special edition New 3DS XL hasn't shown many signs of being available since its initial release. We recently reported on a potential restock and it looks like this extend to Gamestop's website, here. While it's safe to say that this won't last long, hopefully some of those of you out there still looking for the elusive handheld can get your hands on it through this bundle - that is, if you're willing to fork over the $329.95 for the whole thing, including the console, physical copies of Majora's Mask 3D, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., A Link Between Worlds, and the official Majora's Mask 3D strategy guide.

At the time of this writing, the bundle is still live. Good luck to those of you who would like to grab one of these, and let us know if you have any luck!

Source: Gamestop

Zelda-Themed Clip Armor Up for Pre-Order on Best Buy

Link 2 — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 20:21:00 +0000

Remember that sweet Zelda-themed 3DS XL pouch from GameStop we showed off today? If you thought that was nice, chances are you'll like this too: some Zelda-themed clip armor made for the New Nintendo 3DS XL.

What is clip armor you ask? Clip armor, simply put, is armor you clip on to your NN3DS XL. No joke, it easily clips on to prevent your new console from getting scratched, scraped, or scuffed.

This particular clip armor, as I mentioned before, is in a Zelda style. It has a shiny yellow Skyward Sword Triforce on it. In the corners it has ocarinas and harps drawn in a wispy style, and the background is an eye-pleasing shade of dark green.

The clip armor can be pre-ordered here from Best Buy for $12.99 USD before shipping and handling.

In the gallery below, you can see full-sized high-quality images of the clip armor in various positions. Note that this clip armor will only work on the New Nintendo 3DS XL, and not the New Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS, or Nintendo 3DS XL.

Will you purchase the pouch, the clip armor, or both? Perhaps you're content with your handheld console being naked? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Source: Best Buy

New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition Has Been Restocked at Fry's

Link 2 — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 19:04:00 +0000

If you want the New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask edition, get in your car and drive as fast as you can (without breaking the speed limit, of course) to Fry's Electronics! A fan on Twitter has alerted us that they have restocked their supply of Majora's Mask edition consoles, and provided the photo above as proof.

This is possibly the only time you will ever again have a chance to obtain one of these rare coveted Majora's Mask-style consoles, so do not hesitate. I'm sure scalpers will be buying these up like no tomorrow and selling them on eBay for insane prices.

Is there a Fry's store in your area? Will you be checking it out to see if they have one of these consoles? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: Twitter

Play The Original Legend of Zelda on Your Desktop, Android, or iOS Device, No Download Required

Link 2 — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 22:37:00 +0000

Ah, the wonders of modern technology. No one would dream that you could play a mind-blowingly complex game such as The Legend of Zelda for the NES on a simple handheld device when it released in the 80s.

Those of us who still have an NES and a copy of The Legend of Zelda are the object of envy among many. Regardless of whether you have the original, or play it via Virtual Console on your 3DS, anyone can play it on their mobile device or computer using this link. Traversing the 2D land of Hyrule has never been easier with this simple and free trick. Any browser that can run HTML 5 is capable of operating the game.

On mobile, the buttons are on-screen in the style of an old NES controller. On your computer, you can use the buttons on your keyboard to control it. The standard arrow keys are used to control Link, and the A and B buttons used to attack and such are simply the A and B buttons on your keyboard.

Playing an old-time favorite is not all you can do here. There are cheats that can be enabled by clicking or tapping on, "Toggle Game Genie." You can turn on invincibility, edit collision properties so that you can walk "on top" of walls, edit your speed, change the number of bombs you can carry, and give Link unlimited rupees!

The game isn't a perfect copy, however. The game doesn't have enemies, so the primary fun will have to be found with simply exploring the world, rather than taking down monsters. Then again, if you ever wanted to explore the overworld of The Legend of Zelda without having to worry about enemies, this is the perfect time to do so.

Will you be trying it out? Do you own an original copy of The Legend of Zelda? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Anonymous Function

New Universal Zelda-Themed 3DS/DS Hylian Shield Pouch up For Pre-Order on GameStop

Link 2 — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 23:08:00 +0000

It seems today is the day for announcements about Zelda-themed 3DS accessories! We've seen a sweet 3DS XL Triforce pouch, some awesome-looking New Nintendo 3DS XL clip armor, and now a Hylian Shield pouch capable of holding any DS unit.

I would describe it to you in my own words, but I don't think I can do much better than the official GameStop description:

"Protect your Nintendo DS system from bumps, drops and Ganon's evil forces with the Hylian Shield Universal DS carrying case. True Zelda fans will immediately recognize the iconic Hylian Shield embossed onto a field of Kokiri green. The shield design features the Hylian Royal Family crest with the Loftwing bird and the Triforce symbol. A sturdy zipper seals the soft padded interior that holds 6 game cards, 2 styluses and any of the following Nintendo DS systems: 3DS XL, 3DS, DS XL, & DS. When other Zelda fans see how you shield your gear, they will know your true alliance."

This particular pouch can be pre-ordered from GameStop's website here for $19.99 USD before shipping and handling. Keep in mind the release date is about two months away on 5/26/2015. Unfortunately, there are no better pictures of this item yet, other than the one you see above.

Will you be buying one of the three 3DS/DS accessories mentioned above? Maybe you're the kind of gamer that likes the look of a non-accessorized console. Share your thoughts on the matter in the comments below!

Source: GameStop

Daily Debate: Are Rupees Important Anymore?

RODTheMaster — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 09:34:00 +0000

Since the very first game, rupees have served as Link's currency of choice. Our hero makes a living out of cutting through shrubbery, the spoils of which he uses to purchase potions or other such items from shops. Scattered across Hyrule are treasure chests full of rupees, and a larger wallet seems to always be waiting for Link to find. It goes without saying that rupees are an iconic part of the Zelda series, but iconic does not always necessarily mean important or useful.

Is the series has progressed, I've noticed more and more how little I rely on rupees. Sure, I may need to buy a couple bombchus now and again, but in a standard Zelda quest, I actually end up spending very little rupees. Despite me never making any significant uses of this shiny currency, the games never fail to provide me with thousands upon thousands of rupees. I'm sure every Zelda fan has found rupees in a chest that he or she will never need or go back for. Even if I need to raise up my funds to purchase something, rupees are never hard to come by in a field or cave. Any player can easily chop a few bushes and get a handful of rupees to spend. So I ask: do we really need a rupee system in Zelda games anymore?

A Link Between Worlds did offer an interesting layer to rupee system, as players would need to re-buy items from Ravio if they fell in battle. If Zelda games were to retain rupees as a viable currency, perhaps this is the direction they should move towards. A solution I could see for the diminishing importance of rupees would be to make these stones harder to come by. If there were less rupees in the world -- if they were at a steep premium -- then maybe players would have more incentive to save and value the rupees they find.

Then after limiting the amount of rupees, the items Link can buy should be found only in shops. In my mind, a problem arises with rupees because anything worth buying (bombs, fairies, etc) can be easily found in the overworld. How many people actually bought a bottled fairy from a shop in Ocarina of Time? If these types of items were available only in shops, rupees would once again have meaningful use.

Let your voice be heard. Do you think rupees are still important? If not, what changes would you make to the system to make rupees more useful? Join the Daily Debate!

Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL Bundle Back in Stock at GameStop... For Now

Nathan — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 16:02:00 +0000

Update: Sold out.

Most GameStop in-store locations are complete sold out of the Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL restock from yesterday and the same is true of Fry's electronic retail chain. Obviously online orders sold out even faster, but GameStop apparently had more stock for online orders than they realized, as they re-opened orders for a bundle package we talked about yesterday. The bundle includes a Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL, Majora's Mask 3D, the Prima Strategy guide, A Link Between Worlds, and Code Name S.T.E.A.M.

The bundle retails for $329.95. For those curious, this bundle is cheaper than buying all of those products individually, as you will save roughly $15 to $20. If you're still desperate to get your hands on this console, this may be one of the last opportunities to do so without going through a scalper. Good luck! You can nab this bundle right here.

ArcadeCloud Gives Us 7 Strange Facts About the Zelda Series

Link 2 — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 19:56:00 +0000

From anthropomorphic goats to Muslim and Buddhist influences, ArcadeCloud has decided to bring us a total of 7 facts he considers strange about the Zelda series.

The video is titled, "7 Things You Didn't Know About Zelda," although I knew most of the facts he included. Others who are not so invested in the Zelda series will most likely not know about these oddities that surround our favorite franchise.

One fact I found most interesting, was that in the Japanese version of Link's Awakening, Link must find a mermaid's missing bikini top by fishing in the river for it. In the American version, the bikini top was changed to a necklace because this quest was considered too racy.

Did you know some of the strange things mentioned in the video? Was it interesting to watch? Share your thoughts on it in the comments below.

The Rod of the Heavens: Zelda's Top 5 Most Magical Rods

RODTheMaster — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 20:47:00 +0000

With all the magical items within Link's inventory, one would not necessarily consider rods to be a stand-out choice for the green-clad hero. Who needs a rod when you have Master Sword and some magic boots, right? Well as it turns out, rods have actually remained frequently utilized tools in the hero's quest and have proven to be some of the most important items in the series. While there may be a wand or two, rods have actually popped up more often than many other magical implements in the Zelda series, always providing our hero with unique and amazing powers. With rods proving to be such an integral and significant class of item, we've decided to examine the most powerful, fanciful, and overall magical rods in the Zelda series.

5. Tornado Rod

The Tornado Rod is the newest entry to the Zelda rod family, available for Link to rent from Ravio's shop in A Link Between Worlds. Not only can it "lift [its user] up into the air," but it can "blow things around, including monsters!" How exciting! This item has a ton of awesome uses, making it invaluable in many of Lorule's dungeons. The House of Gales itself seems to be completely designed with the Tornado Rod in mind, as its windmill doors can only open with the vigorous gusts of this rod. The builders of this dungeon clearly understood the weapon's power, and designed their labyrinth to only yield to the hero that masters such a treasure.

It goes without saying that an item capable of lifting an adolescent boy six feet into the air clearly holds immeasurable power. And by upgrading this item to the aptly-named "Nice Tornado Rod," Link will have an even greater implement in his possession. The natural force the Nice Tornado Rod can produce could level a small city. It's no wonder the Tornado Rod is called the "Tornadostab" in German; no enemies can escape the stabbing cyclones let loose by Link. If any hero were to journey forward into the great unknown, the Tornado Rod would be his or her greatest asset.

The only reason this rod occupies the fifth spot on this list is because the item's description labels it as a "staff," despite its already intimidating name. A magic rod worthy of the number one spot can not be confused with a staff.

4. Sand Rod

Here is another rod from A Link Between Worlds, one that hides away until Link completes the Thieves' Hideout in A Link Between Worlds. It may be a bit less serviceable than the Tornado Rod, as it is only effective on limited patches of sand, but the Sand Rod has a great magical significance. Believing himself to be the "hero of our day," the Sage Osfala rented this mystical rod from Ravio to save Princess Zelda. After Osfala is awakened as a sage, he hands the Sand Rod off to Link, the true hero. I can only assume that Osfala sees the Sand Rod as a heroic weapon, only to be wielded by a destined hero. He might be confusing this thing with the Master Sword, but his words speak to this rod's power. Just look at the little bunny ears on that thing. This rod is a priceless magical weapon.

The powers of the Sand Rod itself are fairly self explanatory; the rod has the power to manipulate sand. Link can use the untapped power of this item to raise pillars of sand, much like the mighty pillars of the Parthenon. These pillars help Link traverse the landscape, solve puzzles, and dig up buried treasure. Who needs a shovel when you have this bad boy at your side? The Sand Rod is also the key to exploring Hyrule's Desert Palace. Perhaps the Sand Rod once belonged to a strong desert titan, who used the rod and his magic mitts to vanquish foes. A guy can speculate, right?

The Sand Rod works very much like Spirit Track's Sand Wand, but we don't want any filthy wands clogging up this list so let's move on.

3. Fire Rod

Zelda's Fire Rod can be found in more games than any other of its class. The weapon is used by our hero in A Link to the Past, Four Swords Adventures, and A Link Between Worlds; the NES Legend of Zelda and Link's Awakening even have a generically-named Magic Rod that serves as a proto-Fire Rod. Given the frequency at which the Fire Rod appears in the series, I feel no reluctance placing this item this high on the list. I could have easily included the Ice Rod, which is present in most games that contain the Fire Rod, but who thinks ice powers are cooler than fire powers? Not Link, I say!

In most incarnations, the Fire Rod -- as one would expect -- dispels fire from its tip. In A Link to the Past, the fireballs shot from this rod are rather small, but pack quite a punch when shot at enemies. If an Octorok or Buzz Blob are caught in the line of fire (literally), they are consumed and left a cloud of dust in no time at all. A Link Between Worlds raises the bar with its Fire Rod; instead of a measly, little fireball, the rod produces a beautifully massive fire cyclone that skirts across the floor.

This whirlwind of fire-death would be enough to secure the Fire Rod's awesome power, but just wait and see how it works in Four Swords Adventures. In that game, the Fire Rod shoots a slightly larger fireball than in ALttP, but couple that with the fact that all four Links shoot a fireball at once, you've got destruction that rivals the fire cyclone. FSA's Fire Rod is a pyromaniac's dream, as it causes unrestrained forest fires that consume the countryside. Just look at the gorgeous fire let loose by this rod. That alone is well-worth the number three spot.

2. Rod of Seasons

So far, the rods on this list have merely channeled elemental aspects of nature. Don't get me wrong, nature is a powerful thing (just look at that forest fire!), but the remaining rods are much more magical because they carry divine significance. The Rod of Seasons in Oracle of Seasons carries "the powers of the Season Spirits," four divine beings that dictate seasonal change in Holodrum, and perhaps beyond. The item serves as safeguard in case misfortune befalls the Oracle of Seasons. If wielded, the Rod of Seasons allows its user to maintain a degree of power and balance over the seasons in the Oracle's absence. With every Season Spirit Link meets, and with each new bit of power bestowed into it, the Rod of Seasons becomes more and more powerful. That's quite a lot of responsibility for a small tike from Hyrule.

Rather than control nature, Link essentially is nature with the Rod of Seasons. "The waters freeze and the snows pile up" with the power of winter, "vines grow tall and creeks dry up" with the power of summer, "pits are filled with fallen leaves and mushrooms are ripe for picking" with the power of autumn, and "rock-hard buds bloom" with the power of spring. Spring really is the "season of discovery!" Possible climate damage aside, the Rod of Seasons is absolutely filled with exciting magic. With a rod that serves as the focal point for an entire game, I'm excited to see which rod came in at number one.

Honorable Mention: Fishing Rod

This rod may not be totally magical, but the Fishing Rod will always hold a special place in our collective hearts. While it's available as a minigame item in Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time, and Majora's Mask 3D, the fishing rod has some narrative significance in Twilight Princess. Link's young friend Colin gifts the rod to our hero as a sign of camaraderie, respect, and friendship. If that isn't its own kind of magic, I don't know what is. I'm sure many fans have spent hours of their free time enjoying a relaxing trip to the fishing hole, proving the importance of the Fishing Rod in the Zelda series.

1. Dominion Rod

And the number one rod is the Dominion Rod! Every single description of this legendary item in Twilight Princess speaks to its unfathomable eminence. The Dominion Rod, the so-called "rod of the heavens," is a mystical treasure of legend that everyone seems to want to get their hands on. Most don't even realize this rod's true potential; researchers like Shad just understand it as a clue to the legendary race of Oocca, a connection between the heavens and Hyrule. Impaz explains late in the game that the Sheikah spoke stories of the Dominion Rod; they said that the "mysterious rod was handed down from the people of the sky" and it "was only carried by the messenger of the heavens." All these descriptions paint a wondrous picture of the Dominion Rod, and provide Link with an ultra-significant role as "messenger of the heavens." And how does all that translate to gameplay?

You can move some statues. Wait... what? That's it? There has to be more heavenly magic powers for this thing right? Something fitting for the epic statements said above? Well, nope. Twilight Princess has this to say about the Dominion Rod: "this amazing rod can infuse ancient statues with life." That's... underwhelming. Well, I guess having "a statue brought to life [that] will move like its master" is pretty cool. I suppose making Link the "master" of 12-foot-tall stone golems is magical enough. But is it really magical enough for the number one spot? Here, let me press the non-canon button really quick...

Bam! In Hyrule Warriors, Princess Zelda is awarded her very own Dominion Rod as a DLC weapon. Honestly, Zelda must be a much more impressive messenger of the heavens than Link because her Dominion Rod kicks so much more butt. She can not only call forth those massive statues to decimate enemy forces, but even the Dominion Rod's little ball can be used an effective weapon. With Zelda using her rod to perform such amazing spellbinding feats, I feel content leaving the Dominion Rod at number one.

So there you have it; these are the Zelda series' most magical and wondrous items that also happen to be rods. Do you have a favorite Zelda rod? Let us know in the comments!

PS: Today is my birthday. Forgive my slight self-indulgence.

Concerns of the Fans: Is the Zelda Series Becoming Like the Mario Series?

Link 2 — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:45:00 +0000

Recently, I've been hearing rumblings in the Zelda community. The fans, the staff, and anyone who is fond of the Zelda series are starting to mount an uprising; a rebellion.

Okay, maybe it's not as bad as that, but hear me out. I would like to address, explain, and remedy a concern that I have been hearing amongst certain members of the Zelda community.

Where is the Zelda Series Headed?

Some fans have been asking, “is the Zelda series becoming like Mario?” Simply put, the Mario series is a franchise that has branched out into many different spin-off titles and genres. Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Mario Party, et cetera. The community has begun to accuse the Zelda franchise of following that trend as well

Last year we saw the announcement and release of the button-mashing success, Hyrule Warriors. There have been rumblings of a Hyrule Warriors 2 in the making, as other Dynasty Warriors spin-offs have received sequels as well.

Again last year, we saw the appearance of Link as a playable character in Mario Kart 8. He received his own bike, and even his own course! It's as if there's a mini Zelda game inside of Mario Kart. Also, let's not forget the Zelda-themed DLC for Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate as well.

I notice fans feeling threatened; the Zelda series they all know and love is being changed, imported, and mixed into other games and franchises. Some have gone on to say “What's next, Super Zelda World? Zelda Kart? Zelda Party?” While some may like these ideas, others do not, and they aren't afraid of voicing their opinion.

Are they right? Is Nintendo going to mold the Zelda series into what Mario has become? The only conclusion I can arrive at is no. Here is the reason why.

Spin-Offs are Nothing New

Some fans may know this, though others may not: Zelda spin-offs are nothing new. We've seen four games in the Tingle series, Navi Trackers, Tetra Trackers, the three CD-i games, the Game and Watch: Zelda, the two Broadcast Satellite Zelda titles, the bardcode LCD title Barcode Battler II based of off A Link to the Past, and of course, Hyrule Warriors.

Let me explain what this means: Nintendo hasn't done any major branching out with the Zelda series much at all since it's creation. The biggest thing they've done is Hyrule Warriors, and let's be honest; if they do release a Hyrule Warriors 2, a third one would be stretching it thin. I think Hyrule Warriors and possibly Hyrule Warriors 2 are the extent of the branching out Nintendo will do with the Zelda series.

Spin-offs for the series have been here since the 90s. They're nothing to worry about. They never get much attention, (save Hyrule Warriors) and I believe Nintendo isn't going to take any more major steps with Zelda spin-offs.

Nintendo knows they have a good thing going with traditional Zelda games, and they won't mess with it too much. I wouldn't worry, because the Zelda series is not becoming like Mario.

Do you agree? Were you worried in the first place? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Fan Series 'Royal Guards' Hits Indiegogo

Mases — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 22:24:00 +0000

“In the land of Hyrule, there are many legends. However, none of them... are about these guys.” So says J. Derek Howard who is the writer and the director of an all new Zelda web series that is avidly looking for funding.

The series, unlike most, does not focus on our hero clad in green but instead on the guards and the everyday people you don’t see much of in the series. The Comedy/Adventure is based on Ocarina of Time to start with and each season will explore a new game and different versions of our main cast.

The main plot focuses on the lives of two guards, Phil and Gary, who are your everyday gate guards until our hero in green slips past them unnoticed. Now their jobs may be at risk, and a rookie, Rina, might be the one to replace them. This and more comedy antics promise to deliver many laughs and some familiar tropes and fluff to stories we all know and love.

Writer and Director J. Derek Howard is the founder of Noble Knight Media, which is a small production company that has been producing high quality media-based stories since 2013. He has teamed up with open world artist Jessica Smith to draw up a concept for a series (available in the gallery below), that is sure to “wow” us in terms of graphics, acting, and set design.

The Indiegogo Campaign is offering amazing perks for funding, everything from a “Thank You” on their Facebook Page, to a digital copy of Season 1, to a custom made treasure chest packed with goodies! Funding the project is the only way to get your hands on a print of the incredible poster done by Jessica (seen in the gallery below). Check it out for yourself here and help spread the word to get this series skyward.

Source: Indiegogo

Fan Sets Castle Town Theme to a Rap Beat

Mases — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 02:35:00 +0000

Warning: Video contains strong language.

Among Zelda fans, Ocarina of Time's music has an iconic feel. One of the more memorable songs in the game is the Castle Town theme (the song that plays in the market before reaching Hyrule Castle). As with everything iconic, however, fans will work their magic. Whether it is a drawing of a certain epic scene, a cosplay of a fan favorite character, or a remix of a catchy song, fans are always making creative pieces of art. That is the case in this particular instance: a rap remix of the Castle Town theme from Ocarina of Time.

Kamex, otherwise known as Erick, uploaded this remix to YouTube this week, and it not only sounds incredibly cool, despite being from a game where rap music shouldn't fit at all, it's also rather humorous. Kamex had this to say about the remix in the description:

I have no idea what inspired me to make this, honestly. It was just one of those things that just randomly happen.

Nevertheless, this rap beat version of Castle Town is quite cool. Are there any other Zelda songs you feel should get the rap treatment? Let us know in the comments below!

New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora's Mask Edition Skull Kid Figurine Pack Available on Nintendo UK's Website

Link 2 — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:32:00 +0000

Yet again there is another limited restock of the rare Majora's Mask edition console, except this time in the UK. If you happen to have £209.99 to burn, you can order the console here. It also includes the rare limited edition Skull Kid figurine, which is a huge bonus.

There is a limit of 1 per person, so if you were hoping to order one for a friend and have him or her pay you later, you're out of luck. Also be aware that this console is region locked for the UK region, so if you order it you will have to import all of your games from the UK region as well.

Hurry, as this coveted special edition console will sell out very quickly. I'm sure scalpers will be all over this, and more of these units will be showing up on eBay for overwhelming prices.

Will you be ordering this console? What are your presumptions as to why these consoles are suddenly being restocked? Share your thoughts on the matter in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo UK

Photoshop Contest: Reggie's Birthday Adventure

RODTheMaster — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 19:11:00 +0000

It is time, once again, for Zelda Informer's weekly Photoshop contest!

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé celebrated his 54th birthday this week, so he no doubt went on some amazing adventures in celebration. We may never know exactly what he did for his big day, but we can guess using the magic of Photoshop. And while we get our bodies ready for this week's challenge, we'll look at last week's contest: Zelda: The Mobile Game.

Last Week's Contest

In lieu of Nintendo's smart device news, fans were asked to pitch ideas for a Zelda mobile game.

Best Submissions

Artist: Pedro Vasconcelos

Artist: coffee

Artist: RyGuy

Artist: Peter Scholey

Artist: SyncZ

Challenge Mode

After much deliberation in our staff room, we've decided to award Kyle Ian Thomas as this week's winner. Using only the images in our gallery he made a beautiful Zelda-Candy Crush game. This marks Kyle's third Challenge Mode win in a row, making him a true champion.

While Kyle's entry was ultimately the winner, artist SyncZ deserves some recognition for his entry, which came about an hour before Kyle's and features a noticeably angrier Loftwing. We look forward to these two amazing 'shoppers going head-to-head in this week's contest.

This Week's Contest: Reggie's Birthday Adventure

Speaking of which: did you know it was Reggie Fils-Aimé's birthday this Wednesday? It's true! And in honor of the big man's big day, we're going to imagine up his magical birthday adventure. Where did he go? What did he do? It's all up to you!

Take a look at the images in our gallery to find inspiration, and then give Reggie the best birthday he could have ever hoped to have. Maybe he spent a nice, relaxing day with friends? Or maybe he did something amazingly epic, as is his custom? Whatever the case, we know you fans have what it takes to give Reggie the best Nintendo COO birthday.

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Monday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on March 30. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have a Challenge Rule for you to follow:

1. Your entry must include Link as Reggie's adventure companion.

Good luck!

Cello Rendition of the Lost Ancient Ruins Melody Will Leave You Breathless

Mases — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 22:37:00 +0000

The music within the Lost Ancient Ruins dungeon is very haunting and quite intense. A memorable melody that ensures anyone who plays A Link to the Past will walk away with at least a few good goose bumps.

One musically inclined fan by the name of CelloBasset paired this awe-worthy tune with one of the world's most exquisite instruments, the cello, and created a completely breathtaking masterpiece. He recently released the video titled "Zelda Cello - Lost Ancient Ruins - A Link to the Past" showing his immense musical talent.

The video consist of CelloBasset playing all parts of the piece by himself, compiling several takes simultaneously to create an unified, and beautiful effect. This, paired with the lack of backup of background music speaks volumes about the skill of this cellist. And if you don't believe us, have a listen for yourself; you won't regret it.

CelloBasset does have more "Zelda Cello- A Link to the Past" videos on his channel, including , Seal of the Seven Maidens, and Hyrule Castle, and is planning to make more arrangements of tunes from the soundtrack soon.

What tune from A Link to the Past would you like to hear covered next? Make sure to let CelloBassist know on his channel, and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Art Source: Kayla Gunn

The Milk Bar: Pilot and Grandma's Cookies!

HyruleHero3D — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 19:31:00 +0000

Hey everyone, this is the beginning of a new Editorial series called 'The Milk Bar'.

The Milk Bar as we know it in our games is a small social space most commonly for the residents of Kakariko Village in Hyrule, and the Village of Outcasts in Lorule. This series is somewhat going to capture that essence in a way. How you say? We're going to spotlight a random character from a random game each Monday! This is a perfect way for you to get to know some really popular characters, and some lesser-known ones too! Let's get started!

This week, our main focus is on the gentle, warm-hearted and sweet person we all know and love, Link's Grandma!

Link's Grandma lives with Link and his younger sister, Aryll on Outset Island in Wind Waker. She's very short in height but has a very dynamic personality as she tends to occasionally pull a prank on Link and his sister from time to time. In the absence of their parents, Grandma is the primary guardian of Link and Aryll. She loves them dearly and will do anything and everything to keep them safe. In Wind Waker she is a very happy person who, in a series of unfortunate events ends up becoming very depressed due to Aryll and Link's absense from the island. Upon a later part in Link's quest, which involves returning to the island he manages to cure Grandma's depression with Fairy Dust. Upon healing, she is immediately back in the happy, cheery mood we all love to see her in. What can possibly top this off? Grandma's Elixir Soup happens to be THE best soup anywhere around the Great Sea.

Zelda U Has Been Delayed, 2015 Release No Longer a Priority

RODTheMaster — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 22:12:00 +0000

Fans that were expecting Zelda U to be released in 2015 may have to wait a little bit longer. Eiji Aonuma announced today that the Zelda team is no longer treating 2015 as priority, as there are too many creative ideas they would like to include and perfect in the final release. Aonuma's team will instead focus on making Zelda U the "ultimate Zelda game" by not sacrificing quality for the sake of an early release.

Aonuma explained that the team has "experienced first-hand the freedom of exploration that hasn't existed in any Zelda game to date" and has "discovered several new possibilities" for the game. These are indeed fine reasons to delay the game, as they signal grand new possibilities that we'll see in the final release. If the game has as much potential as Aonuma says it does, we have a lot to be excited for.

How do you feel about this announcement? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Nintendo

Fan Recreates "Legendary Hero" Theme on Majora's Mask 3D's Ocarina

Tpaul Homdrom — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 22:19:00 +0000

Zelda fans can do some cool things with the in-game instruments in games like Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Case in point: this fan taking rick rolling to a new level. Simple or complex, it's pretty impressive what some fans can do with the freedom afforded by the music controls in the two N64 Zelda titles. Taking songs from other Zelda titles and making them playable on the in-game ocarina is one such pursuit, and the video above shows off a song from Wind Waker being played in Majora's Mask 3D.

The song "Legendary Hero" is from the intro scene in Wind Waker, and it fits the ocarina very nicely. The original song used synthesized flutes for the melody. YouTuber "Blubberhirn1999" (check out his channel here) says it took him "like an hour" to figure out the song. What do you think of the results? What other iconic Zelda themes do you think would sound great on the ocarina?

Zelda U Will Not be Shown at E3 2015

Link 2 — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 23:24:00 +0000

Earlier today, we received an update about the development of Zelda U. It appears the game may not have a 2015 release date, due to Eiji Aonuma and the development team wanting to improve the game more and make it the best Zelda title to-date.

That's not all Aonuma has revealed, though. In a comment on Miiverse that is located below, he says Zelda U will not be at E3. For those of us that were hoping for some new footage or facts about it, this is a big kick in the gut. At least we can take comfort in the fact that they are taking their time and not rushing Zelda U.

Aonuma said multiple times in the development update mentioned above that the team is working hard to make this one heck of a Zelda game. Does this little bit of news sadden you? I know it makes me a little depressed. Join the cry-fest in the comments below.

Source: Miiverse

GameOver Jesse Discusses Zelda U Timeline Placement

Tpaul Homdrom — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 23:21:00 +0000

Speculation about the upcoming Zelda game for the Wii U has been rampant, since even before its reveal at E3 2014. With the recent announcement that the game will be delayed, the speculation, theorizing, and predictions are bound to continue even longer than we originally expected. One of the most common topics of debate is where exactly Zelda U will fit in the Zelda timeline. Some have speculated it's a prequel or sequel to 2011's Skyward Sword (that seems to be the most popular theory). Connections have been made to link Zelda U to Wind Waker and its DS sequels, mostly due to Link's clothing in the new game. Others have speculated that Zelda U will take place in a brand new timeline, freeing itself from previous games.

GameOver Jesse (check out his YouTube channel here) has put together a video discussing three of the most popular theories as to where Zelda U will take place in the Zelda timeline. He uses compelling evidence to support each theory, and also speculates on gameplay possibilities that make each spot in the timeline a good fit for the game. Check out the video for his thoughts, and then let us know in the comments below: where do you think Zelda U will be placed in the timeline, and why?

A Look at the Female Link Costume in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate's Zelda-Themed DLC

Link 2 — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 00:25:00 +0000

It's been a few weeks since Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate's Zelda-themed DLC was released. That was a day of rejoicing for Zelda fans, as a Link costume is included in the DLC pack.

If your character in Monster Hunter 4 Unlimited is female, putting on the Link armor will make you look almost exactly like our favorite protagonist, but female. For some fans, actually being able to almost play as female Link is a dream come true.

That's not all YouTuber NiNTENDOMiNATi0N shows off in this video. We also get a look at the coveted Master Sword weapon. I mean seriously, what Zelda-themed DLC is complete without a Master Sword?

Have you downloaded this DLC pack? What are your thoughts on it? Join the discussion in the comments below.

Fan art by: Edli

Zelda Merchandise and More Featured in February "Nerd Block" Mystery Box

Mases — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 04:49:00 +0000

Nerd Block, a "nerdy mystery-box" providing company, sent out an Arcade Box back in February which contained some items appealing to those who are fans of the Legend of Zelda, and a few more goodies relating to other gaming series.

YouTuber Dat Saintsfan recently uploaded a video of him unboxing the Arcade Block and going over what's inside. I'll go over the contents here: A Pacman key-chain which produces sound effects; a Toon Link official Legend of Zelda plush; a Starbucks parody Star Fox mug; a blind ball Sonic the Hedgehog series buildable figure; a mouse pad which has the entire map of Hyrule from A Link to the Past and a t-shirt with a decal of Skull Kid inside a Majora's Mask cut-out. You can view all of the items listed here in the video provided.

This Nerd Block was from the Arcade Block series, but there's also the Classic Nerd Block series and the Horror Block series, each available at the price of $19.99/month. The Arcade Block commonly contains items seen here, arising from gaming culture, the Classic Block has items from general pop culture, and the Horror Block contains items from horror genres. They all come with a t-shirt relative to the theme as well.

I thought that this Arcade Block was very cool, especially the mousepad and the Star Fox mug. What was your favorite item in the crate? Feel free to discuss below.

ZI Podcast 29: Our Favorite Zelda Accessories, Companions, and Gaming Violence, ft. Cole Miller

Acohen95 — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

This week's episode of the ZI Podcast welcomes UFC Featherweight champion Cole Miller to talk about his love for Zelda and all things Nintendo. We geek out about a recent rendition of the Hylian shield, present some of our own fan theories about Ocarina of Time, and debate whether or not Epona is really a companion.

Your cast for this week is: Adam (His blood is 99% coffee), Chris (Really wants to lift Gorons), Sarah (Our bawdy new member to the cast), Caleb (Wants a real Midna), and special guest Cole Miller (His job is to punch things).

Thanks again to HuskyByTheGeek for the theme music. Have your own topics, theme song ideas, or cover art? Want to ask us a question that'll be read right on the cast? Got a fan theory you want us to tackle? Be sure to email us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com and we'll happily cover it. Don't be shy, we're here to talk video games! Hope you enjoy the episode.

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Special Thanks

News and Related Topics

Cole's Zelda Workout

Tire Mace
Dead Lifts
Kettle Bell Raises
Swim A Mile Daily
Lat Pull Downs
Versa Climber Sprints
Rotator Cuff Exercises With Bands
Full Workout Coming Soon...

Comment Topic This Week: How Do You Train For Adventure?

Zelda Fan Takes a Hit from Nintendo's YouTube Policies

Tpaul Homdrom — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 13:45:00 +0000

Nintendo has been under fire lately for their policies regarding YouTube videos, and that all came to a head when they rolled out their "Nintendo Creators Program" last year. While some saw it as a great way to legitimately make money off of their YouTube videos involving Nintendo games, the backlash from YouTubers was much louder than the voices of those who supported the move. Add to that some odd choices in the Creators Program, such as the list of usable games missing major properties like Super Smash Bros. and Hyrule Warriors, and it was never going to please everyone.

YouTuber MasaeAnela has been a Zelda fan ever since she was a child. Homeschooled since the fourth grade, and by her own admission "pretty introverted and not up for talking to anyone," Zelda games were an outlet for her. A friend convinced her to start doing Let's Plays in 2009, and now she has a following of over fifty thousand subscribers on her YouTube channel. It wasn't until three years into making videos that Anela was hit with her first content ID claim by Nintendo, making all the ad revenue from that video go to Nintendo instead of her.

For the five years Anela has been making Let's Plays, only a few of her hundreds of videos have been claimed by Nintendo. Even just a few videos claimed still raises the question: does the money really belong to Nintendo? "Fair use" is a term that gets used a lot in these situations, and while it can be interpreted in such a way that everything from video game reviews to Let's Plays could legally be considered the property of the YouTuber, it's unlikely the controversy will ever actually go to court. Attorney Rich Stim from Berkeley, CA says:

"Many game developers may not want to have a precedent on the issue, because a precedent could go against them and they would not have this ambiguity in which they currently operate."

As it currently stands, whether your video gets claimed or not is very much up in the air. An entire Let's Play series of a game could have only one video flagged, and the rest untouched. "Ambiguity" certainly seems the right word to describe how game developers currently go about flagging videos. Whatever side you take on the YouTube copyright claim front, it will be interesting to see how this issue develops in the future.

On the flip side of things, if you're a fan of Let's Plays, Anela's channel is worth checking out. If you go back to her earliest Let's Play series of Ocarina of Time, you can hear her introverted nature and uncertainty in herself. Fast forward five years to the videos she does today, and it's a transformation. She's enthusiastic and full of life, bursting with energy as she plays the games she loves. Money and copyright law aside, it's a delight to see the kind of positive effect playing video games can have on a person.

You can find MasaeAnela's YouTube channel here.

Source: Wired

Possibilities: What Does Nintendo Have in Store for the Zelda Series at E3 2015?

Link 2 — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 16:18:00 +0000

By now, most Zelda fans who care know that Zelda U will most likely not be recieving a 2015 release date. Some fans were blown away and depressed, and some, like me, were still saddened but for the most part accepted this. Aonuma specifically explained the reason for the delay was because of new possibilities of improvement for Zelda U.

What saddens us all is the announcement on Miiverse that Zelda U will not be shown at E3; no demo, no trailer, nothing. This surprised me very much. Why would Nintendo temporarily derail Zelda U's hype train and abolish their header for Wii U? Zelda U footage or news was what everyone wanted from Nintendo during E3, and Nintendo knew this.

I ask you again: Why would Nintendo do this? They must have some other trick up their sleeve for the Zelda series. I don't think Nintendo would give us absolutely no Zelda news during E3. Something strange is going on.

What is this strange thing? I believe Nintendo has something else to announce for the Zelda series. There are several possibilities as to what this could be. Without further ado, I present to you those possibilities.

Twilight Princess Gets its Own HD Remake

Is it time to return to the Twilight Realm once again, but this time in glorious HD? Nintendo might think so. Remember a while back when we mentioned that GameStop employees think the next 3D remake for the Zelda series could be Twilight Princess? I think they are partially correct. We just received a new Zelda remake for the 3DS, Majora's Mask 3D. I believe we are due for another HD remake.

My reason for this assumption? Let me give you a list of recent Zelda remakes:

This, dear people, is the start of a pattern. I believe, for a while, the Zelda series is going to follow this pattern: handheld remake, home console remake, handheld remake, home console remake, and so on.

You know what Zelda game fans have been asking to be remade? Twilight Princess. In any post on this website that talks about Zelda remakes, I always see comments such as:

"I would love for Twilight Princess to be remade in HD! It would look so awesome in 1080p."

If there is one thing Nintendo does, it is listen to their fans. They heard the fans pleading for Majora's Mask 3D, and they delivered. They heard fans talking about the classic first Zelda title, and how the fans loved the open-worldedness of it, and Nintendo has promised to deliver. I seem to recall Nintendo saying future remakes may be based on fan demand, as well.

Enough about a Twilight Princess remake, it's time to move on to the next possibility.

Nintendo Announces a Second Major Spin-Off Title

What do I mean by second major spin-off title? The Zelda series has received more spin-offs than some realize. We've seen the Tingle series, the three CD-i games, the Game and Watch Zelda title, among a few others. These are minor spin-offs that did not receive much attention, and did not sell very well.

I think we can all agree that Hyrule Warriors is the first major spin-off title the Zelda series has received. The Zelda community absolutely blew up when Hyrule Warriors was announced, and Nintendo carried out a heavy marketing regime to bring more sales to the game. It appears as though they were successful, as the game shipped over one million units.

Since Hyrule Warriors was so successful, Nintendo may be considering another spin-off title for the Zelda series. What could it be?

I believe one possibility is a Princess Zelda/Sheik spin-off game. As I said before, Nintendo listens to what their fans want. I see fans discussing how they would play a Zelda/Sheik spin-off game a lot more than you would think.

Maybe this game could be set in the years when Link is asleep in Ocarina of Time. The game could take you through the events of Sheik's training, and when she is spying on Ganondorf and his soldiers.

A second spin-off title I believe Nintendo could be considering is Hyrule Warriors 2. Some would say a sequel to a spin-off is unlikely, but lets remember that Hyrule Warriors is a crossover between the Zelda series and Dynasty Warriors.

In the past, Dynasty Warriors spin-offs have received sequels. Look at Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage. It is a Dynasty Warriors spin-off, and it received a sequel: Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2. One Piece: Pirate Warriors is also a Dynasty Warriors spin-off, and it received not one, but two sequels. It is more than likely Koei Tecmo, the company that develops and releases Dynasty Warriors, has already contacted Nintendo about developing a sequel to Hyrule Warriors; a game that has brought a "freshness" to the Dynasty Warriors series according to Koei Tecmo.

I believe Nintendo could be seriously considering one of these games, maybe Hyrule Warriors 2 more than a Zelda/Sheik spin-off.

If Nintendo does not plan to announce one of these games at E3, what else could they have in store for us?

Zelda Maker

The Internet absolutely raved over Nintendo's announcement of Mario Maker last year. The idea of creating your own Mario levels and playing th em? Who wouldn't want a game like that? I think the same might be true for the Zelda series.

Zelda Maker would work gloriously for 2D Zelda titles. I know some fans who would love to create their own mini Zelda game using original Legend of Zelda NES graphics and sprites, and possibly graphics from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

Zelda Maker could possibly work for 3D Zelda titles as well. Maybe you could make your own Ocarina of Time dungeon, or create your own version of Hyrule using A Link Between Worlds graphics. The possibilities for Zelda Maker are endless.

Closing

There we go! Three possibilities of what Nintendo could be planning to announce at E3 2015 in place of Zelda U. What do you think of my predictions? Share your thoughts or theories in the comments below.

Daily Debate: Does Zelda's Combat System Need an Overhaul?

Tpaul Homdrom — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 16:05:00 +0000

Zelda's combat system has seen a number of changes throughout the series' history. From simplistic top-down combat in The Legend of Zelda, to side-scrolling action RPG fare in Adventure of Link, to Z-targeting in Ocarina of Time and the advancements made to that system in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. Heck, we've even had stylus controls for combat in the DS titles, and motion controlled combat in Skyward Sword with the use of the Wii Motion Plus.

That said, the combat system for Zelda games hasn't really changed in major ways. Every single 3D console iteration of the series has used some form of targeting, with one button for sword swings and occasionally response attacks or special combos. The top-down games have been even more simplistic (though, arguably, faster-paced). Zelda's tried-and-true combat systems have worked very well for decades, but could it be time for a complete overhaul of the system?

Hyrule Warriors, though a spin-off game, took the bones of the 3D Zelda combat system (L-targeting and all), and went nuts with it. Two different attack buttons to string together for a vast array of combo attacks make for a ton of different ways to attack enemies. Bosses have weakness meters that, when depleted, allow you to perform a massive finishing move. Using magic or the special meter allow for two other big special attacks to wreak havoc on your foes.

Could the Hyrule Warriors combat system translate well into a canon Zelda title? What other ways could the combat system be expanded, revamped, or updated? Let us know your thoughts about the Zelda combat system (and if it needs a major change) in the comments below!

GameXplain Discuses Zelda U's Delay and No-Show at E3

Mases — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 22:19:00 +0000

Yesterday, fans of the Zelda series were disappointed when out of nowhere, Eiji Aonuma himself released a statement on the progress of Zelda U. The game has now been delayed and the game will not be shown at E3.

The fanbase was not happy about this, clearly shown by the amount of news posts all around the Internet and the large discussions by commenters. Some people didn't mind the game getting delayed but were angered by the lack of E3 presentation or vice versa. GameXplain has chimed in with their opinions on the subject from several different perspectives with the video above.

The point is made that the Wii U no longer has a large title to head the offensive this winter that the players currently know of. Andre, the host of the conversation, brings up an interesting point that perhaps now that Zelda U is delayed, some extra work flow will be pushed into the development of Star Fox U to fill the gap. We also can't forget that E3 2015 has not happened yet and Nintendo likes to develop games way before they're announced, so anything could be announced then.

During the conversation, it is brought up how the lack of Zelda U at E3 leads people to believe that this game might seriously be in a spot where it cannot be shown off to audiences until it is worked on more. Perhaps Aonuma had a new vision for the game, and what we saw at the VGA's may not even be the slightest bit similar to the end product.

But, maybe that isn't the case and the dev team was met with a serious issue that they have to work on fixing and Aonuma was only sweet talking the player into believing there was nothing wrong. Either way, we can only hope for a better Zelda U due to these delays.

It is always good for the player to remember that this is not the first time Nintendo has delayed a Zelda game before. It's a sad thought that this might be a full year delay, but who knows? Perhaps this game will seriously improve with the time that Aonuma and his team are taking with full dedication to making this game. As Shigeru Miyamoto said, "A delayed game is eventually good; a bad game is bad forever." You can watch the full discussion on this subject in the video above.

How do you feel about the delay of Zelda U and the fact that it will not be coming to E3? I wouldn't mind waiting for Zelda U if we could get a new F-Zero title or maybe a new Metroid game, but that's just me. Feel free to discuss below.

Weekly Music Spotlight: Cellos and Guitars and Violins, Oh My!

Jyaxen88 — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 17:43:00 +0000

Hello fellow music lovers and welcome back to another entry of our (forever belated) Weekly Feature: The Weekly Music Spotlight! Every week, we showcase a YouTube artist or two who takes tunes from The Legend of Zelda and makes them their own, whether it be through arrangements, covers, or any other kind of altered take on the source material.

Last week, we took a look a couple of musicians who excel on the keyboard, so this week we'll turn to a different branch of instrumentalists whose focus is found in the haunting timbre of stringed instruments. These two artists excel in the use of one or more stringed instruments, and use them to turn the tunes that we know and love into even more moving pieces of music.

Our first featured artist goes by the YouTube handle CelloBassett, and (as his title implies) his specialty lies in the cello. Relatively new to the YouTube scene, CelloBassett has released a handful of videos on his channel, all showcasing video game tunes played solely with the cello, but only one of them in from a non-Zelda game (Metal Gear Solid, in case you were wondering). Just yesterday, we showed off his beautiful rendition of the Lost Ancient Ruins theme from A Link to the Past, but today we'd like to show off an equally fantastic (if not more so) arrangement of his, found above.

CelloBassett's above cover of the iconic Hyrule Castle theme from A Link to the Past does more than put the piece on a new instrument; it expertly encapsulates the mixture of fear, adventure, and excitement experienced in-game. We can likely expect more ALTTP greatness from this artist in the coming weeks as he moves further through the soundtrack of the game, so be sure to subscribe if you don't want to miss a beat!

Next up is an artist we've also featured in the past, and whose instrumental talents are demonstrated on everything from the violin to the guitar. String Player Gamer, headed by Diwa de Leon, produces everything from orchestrated video game music covers, to original musical compositions. Leon himself is a live musician and professional tv and film composer who plays specializes in string instruments, and plays violin, guitar, and the hegalong (a two-string guitar from the Philippines). Among the wide range of tunes that have been released on his channel in the past seven years are a wide number of video game covers, with everything from Zelda, to Mega Man, to Mario, to Final Fantasy, a acapella videos (sometimes aided by instruments), and so many more.

While many of the smaller arrangements and covers feature Leon, in the past couple years, a wide array of his orchestrated arrangements have been released in the form of his multi-man Mini Mario Orchestra, characterized by (what else?) many Marios playing any number of instruments side by side. If you've been with us for a while, you're probably familiar with one of our favorites of this format: The Ultimate Zelda Medley. An epic thirty-minute arrangement of Zelda tracks from across the years, it's well worth a listen for any and all fans of the series. Beyond that, chances are if you've got a favorite Nintendo tune, The String Player Gamer's got you covered.

As per Nintendo's recent policy changes regarding content that draws from their IPs, however, Leon won't be producing new Nintendo tunes in the immediate future, so the above arrangement of Dragon Roost Island, featuring fellow musician and harpist extraordinaire, Perovskite13, might be his last Zelda arrangement for some time. For the sake of more inspiring stringed arrangements and covers of our favorite Zelda tracks, let's show him our support and hope this issue gets resolved quickly and painlessly.

If you'd like to learn more about either or both of these artists, please check out the links below! And remember: the best way to keep up with a YouTube artist's works is to subscribe to their channel. Not only do you support the artists you love listening to, but you can receive notifications via gmail whenever they release a new track! Have you found any new favorites among these artists' tunes? What are you looking forward to (hopefully) hearing next from these two musicians? Share your thoughts with us below.

For More CelloBassist

For More String Player Gamer

Kotaku Calls for Calm Among the Midst of Zelda U Being Delayed

Link 2 — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 19:14:00 +0000

It sure has been a crazy two days. First, we heard Zelda U's release date might be later than 2015. Shortly after, Eiji Aonuma informed us that Zelda U will not be making an appearance at E3 2015.

Then, the wave of mixed emotions came crashing down on fans. YouTubers uploaded videos sharing their thoughts. The comments on this very website are riddled with fans stating whether they are okay with the recent news or not. With all this commotion going on, Kotaku has decided to put out a call for calm among Zelda fans.

Kotaku reminds us that previous Zelda games, namely The Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, and Twilight Princess, were all delayed, but eventually released. This recent development update about Zelda U is no cause for alarm, because eventually we will be traversing through the open world of this game. It may be later than expected, but we as a community must be patient.

Thanks Kotaku, for reminding us that Zelda games being delayed are nothing new. What do you guys think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Kotaku

Fan art: Imgur

Zeltik Analyzes Possible Zelda U Controls

Tpaul Homdrom — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 21:10:00 +0000

The recent news of Zelda U being not only delayed, but also not being shown at this year's E3, has resulted in many reactions. Most of the news, videos, and comments around the internet regarding Zelda U lately are about its delay, what that could mean for the Wii U, and why the game isn't being shown at E3. YouTuber Zeltik, however, has taken this delay as an opportunity to go back and re-examine the gameplay footage we've received of Zelda U so far.

In his video, Zeltik takes a look at the Video Game Awards gameplay footage from last December. While some found it odd that the footage made use of a camera on the TV, rather than a direct feed of the game's video, it did allow a closer look at how Aonuma holds and uses the Wii U Gamepad to play the game. Most of the controls are standard Zelda fare: A for context-sensitive actions, ZL for targeting, left stick to move, right stick for camera, and so on. However, there are some new gameplay functions that mean the controls are bound to be different in some ways. For instance: how do you activate the slow-motion vault mechanic shown off in past Zelda U footage?

Zeltik takes a close look at this footage and tries to puzzle out the new control scheme. Obviously, any of this could change in the final product, but it's still an interesting look at what possibly awaits us in the next Zelda game. What do you think of the analysis, and how do you expect Zelda U to control?

You can check out Zeltik's YouTube channel here.

Watch the Legend of Zelda's Final Battle Come to Life in Impressive Speed Art Video

blaqkbird — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 02:55:00 +0000

There are many ways that fans show their love of the Legend of Zelda series. Some fans will bring their favorite character to life through Cosplay, other fans will create music, statues, sewn objects, and other artwork to show their appreciation of the series. Artwork, whether it is digital or hand drawn, takes a strong amount of patience and hours at a time to complete. One fan recreated an iconic boss battle between Link and Ganon from the original Legend of Zelda.

The video above is a sped up version of the art process which was made in photoshop by TJ Townsend. According to the artist the video took approximately 24 hours over the course of 8 days to create.

TJ composed the idea for the piece after receiving a large amount of requests from his followers to create a Legend of Zelda related work of art. Regarding the final version of the image TJ had this to say: "I took a couple liberties in this pic. I'm not 100% sure it's possible to have two fireballs in the scene when Gannon (his spelling) reappears, and I left the bottom door open to lighten the room up a little."

This is really an amazing piece of work that brings a new age feel to a long time favorite. If you could request a Legend of Zelda piece of work from TJ what scene would you choose? Let us know in the comments below!

Art Source: Elemental79

Think Geek Offers New Ocarina Of Time Zelda Dress

Cathron — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 04:11:00 +0000

Getting kidnapped is such a drag, especially if you're not wearing a comfortable outfit. And when you're finally free to make your getaway, long gowns are far from convenient, and just a pain to deal with. Face it ladies: impractical dresses just aren't suited for the life of a princess. Fortunately Think Geek has a solution.

The outfit is called "Ocarina of Time Fit and Flare Dress." It costs $39.99, and fans of the item can purchase it here.

The official description for the dress on Think Geek can be read below.

"Zelda's gown is fit for a wedding or for overseeing Hyrule. Maybe a little overkill for going grocery shopping or hanging out on the couch playing video games. You see, that's where this dress comes in. It's a cute little fit-and-flare rendition of her Ocarina of Time costume, stretchy, comfortable, and 97% polyester/ 3% spandex. Turn inside out and machine wash cold with light colors. Non-chlorine bleach only if needed. Tumble dry low or lay flat to dry. Do not iron. Imported."

Are you a fan of the dress? Is it something you can see yourself ordering and wearing on a regular basis?

Source: Think Geek

Face-Melting Rock Rendition of Final Hours Theme from Majora's Mask

Mases — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 02:26:00 +0000

Majora's Mask is arguably the darkest Zelda game; the fact you only have three days to stop the destruction of Termina, the moon looming overhead, and the ominous atmosphere provided by the game attest to that. All of that dark energy is heard tenfold in the song Clock Town Final Hours, which throws all three of the details described in the first sentence into one creepy tune. It's the final day, and in just a few short hours, Termina will cease to exist. That is the context going into the song and even without it, it's such a depressing sounding piece.

If you have never heard the song before, you may feel that description actually describes a heavy metal song, as many would be described in such a way. However, as the original is quite far from being labeled as "Heavy Metal," it isn't an accurate comparison to draw...or is it?

YouTuber TheOnlyDeerAlive created this rock version of the Majora's Mask song last week, and it captures the atmosphere of the original song perfectly despite being of a different style. The minute and a half intro is slow and moving, and it's very good build up to the heavy electric guitar and drums entering the song. Once that happens, the song picks up, and the dark buildup from the intro transfers over to the main part of the song, which adds to mood while providing catharsis. It's definitely a fantastic rendition and is worth a listen.

Do you feel this cover of Final Hours carries the same weight as the original version, despite being of a different style? Let us know in the comments!

New Zeldathon Revealed for the Summer: Live Stream for Charity

Mases — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 07:18:00 +0000

The good people at Zeldathon have announced another marathon playthrough of the entire Zelda franchise, including a few of the CD-i games! Organized by Matthew Moffit, otherwise known as SuperMCGamer, these Zeldathons have proven quite successful at raising money for charity, and this one is looking to be their most daring yet.

Previous Zeldathons worked on the premise of unlocking games through donations. They start from the beginning of the series, and as more and more donations go through, the next game becomes unlocked. This method is called the Adventure System, but this time, they are taking that formula and changing it with their new Adventure System Deluxe. They described it as:

Using The Adventure System Deluxe, we will unlock games to be played on the marathon through donations. However, we will also be offering upgrades to unlocked games with more donations. This will allow 3D, HD and Hero Mode game options to be available with the amount of support.

So, not only are they going to play the regular versions of every game, they're also adding the possibility of remakes and harder versions into the mix!

With this new system, they hope to raise $150,000 for charity: water, a non-profit organization dedicated to cleaning drinking water. This goal is more than three times greater than their previous event, which raised $45,000. It'll take a lot of work, but with a community as awesome as the Zelda fandom, we're sure they can reach their goal.

Zeldathon Deluxe launches at 4 p.m. EST on June 19th, and you can view their subreddit here. Will you tune in and watch them play Zelda for a good cause? Let us know in the comments below!

Daily Debate: Who is the Better Princess, Zelda or Midna?

blaqkbird — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Throughout the Legend of Zelda series we meet many characters in the realm of Hyrule that touch our hearts, and others who set incite our rage. Although the main focus of the series itself is our protagonist Link, he meets many on his quest to save Hyrule who spark the fire of inspiration within our hearts.

Zelda as the princess of Hyrule and wielder of the Triforce of Wisdom, has made frequent cameos in the series, and has aided Link, both in her true form, and as her alter ego, Sheik. Incredibly caring for her kingdom and her people, she has proven her willingness to save others time and time again through her selflessness and sacrifices. Although she is of royal blood, Zelda has proven that she is no damsel in distress, as demonstrated by her magical and combative abilities, as well as her calm and controlled demeanor.

In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, a new princess graced our hearts filling a void we didn’t know was there. Midna in her imp form became the main follower companion, pulling at our heartstrings with her plight to regain her true form. Unlike the other princesses in the series, we have the chance to witness as Midna struggles to regain not only her throne, but her very being with the help of Link. As the player, we are able to experience Midna's physical, emotional, and mental transformation very closely, and form a uniquely intimate connection with her character.

I personally have a love for Zelda and her alter ego, due to her inspiration on me when I was growing up. Zelda was kind, selfless, and gentle to everyone she met, and I wanted to be a good person like her. Secretly being a ninja and having the use of magical abilities also played a bit of a role, I'll admit.

Although Zelda is my favorite, Midna quickly grew on me, and I would love to see more of her within the series. Midna gives us a different perspective on life, and that even if everything does not go our way, we have to fight for what we long for, or else risk losing it forever.

I also love that Zelda and other characters from the series make a cameo in the Super Smash Bros series. Let’s face it: nothing is more satisfying than beating on your friends and siblings in Smash with Zelda and/or Sheik. Now, give me the ability to lay the smackdown as Midna in both her forms and I’d be content.

Which princess do you think is better? Join the Daily Debate and tell us why in the comments!

Art Source: ChibiRed

Live Action Zelda Madness: Interview With Player Piano and The Zelda Project

Link 2 — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:34:00 +0000

Remember that awesome live-action Zelda fan film teaser we showed you a while back? If you liked that, we have a special treat for you! The following is an interview with the creators of that teaser, Player Piano and The Zelda Project, and features everything from inside info to future plans.

[Editor's Note: Several people will be answering our questions in this interview. One is Sarah Quillian, producer/wardrobe designer and overall Zelda Project Vision. She will be answering as The Zelda Project. Tom Grey, the director for this fan film, will also be answering the questions, as well as Sonya Belousova, who will be composing the music. They will both be answering for Player Piano.]

Zelda Informer: Could you introduce yourselves and your work for those who don’t know?

The Zelda Project: We are a group of fans dedicated to bringing to life Ocarina of Time through photography and film. What started as simply a group cosplay for a convention has expanded into a much larger scale project entailing high quality photoshoots and a live action short film in the early stages of production.

Player Piano: Player Piano is a collaboration between composer & pianist Sonya Belousova and Director Tom Grey where Sonya creates original arrangements of popular songs and soundtrack themes while Tom produces awesome music videos based around the themes. In addition to music videos, we also use our powers of directing and composing to make films...like the Zelda Project's: The Last Battle.

ZI: How did Player Piano and The Zelda Project come to join forces?

TZP: Due to the unpaid low-budget nature, these sorts of projects have a constantly revolving door in regards to who has time to step in and work on them. At the time of the film’s conception, Director and Youtube star Clinton Jones had fully planned on leading the piece through completion. However, he ended up taking a full-time gig with RocketJump after the success of VideoGame High School, and knew he could not commit the devotion required. The geek film and television scene in Los Angeles is rather closely connected, and Tom was recommended to us through our VFX Supervisor Alessandro Schiassi. I had known about Tom’s work through friends who worked with him, so I was absolutely stoked when we clicked during our first meeting!

PP (Tom): Alessandro Schiassi (who is an amazing VFX artist), had shown me an early cut of the teaser trailer while we were working on another project and I was blown away. I've been a fan of the Legend of Zelda since I got the first game of the NES the day it came out....yes I'm dating myself a bit here. It's an extremely tough world to try and translate in live action and I could see that the Zelda Project Team were putting a lot of love into it. A few months later when I heard that they were looking for a director to take on the actual film, I of course jumped at the opportunity. Sonya and I had just dabbled in some Nintendo Themes on our channel and we were planning on doing a large Legend of Zelda music video anyway. By pairing up with the Zelda Project, we have an awesome partner to help us realize the best Zelda Music Video possible, and at the same time we can all work together to make the film (The Last Battle) the best fan-made project to date.

ZI: How long does it take Player Piano to develop music for this project?

TZP: The music written for the teaser trailer was done by composer Wayne Strange, of ZREO fame. Wayne has taken a step back from composing music, so Sonya is taking the reigns.

PP (Tom): Sonya is first and foremost a composer. Watching her work is like watching sorcery sometimes. She and I will definitely chat about the musical elements as I'm developing and storyboarding The Last Battle, but most of her job will take place after I deliver a cut. For the separate zelda music video, we have already begun discussing which themes throughout all the zelda games will be included.

PP (Sonya): We already started discussing the music for The Last Battle with Tom and Sarah, however as Tom already mentioned, I will come in at the end of the process once I have the cut of the film. Composing for film is a different process than just composing music. In certain cases it's helpful to come up with themes beforehand after reading the script so the director could temp the film with my music, or, in case of Player Piano videos, that's a slightly different process that starts with me arranging or composing a musical piece. However, usually I want to see the cut before getting into the composing process, as there're so many elements of the film that will affect my writing - acting, lighting, production design, etc.

ZI: Can we expect any direct musical references to Ocarina of Time? Or will the compositions for this film simply be influenced by the music of the classic game?

TZP: I know I would want to hear musical references, but we haven’t really sat around a table and creatively jammed about yet.

PP (Tom): Without a doubt there will be musical references from Ocarina of Time. This is a Zelda Film. It will have Zelda Music. Don't get me wrong, Sonya will be arranging and composing all the music from start to finish...we're not going to be just throwing in any pre-recorded Zelda music...but her score will reference Zelda.

PP (Sonya): Yes, there will definitely be a reference to the original game music. However, my job as a composer will be to create a new original score that would still pay homage to the Ocarina of Time.

ZI: Do you find it hard to capture the essence of Ocarina of Time on film?

TZP: Zelda in GENERAL is a difficult franchise to bring to life. I feel that all things considered, you have to choose a “look” for your film. When determining how you want something to come across, you have to be willing to go all the way with the style you’ve chosen. You have to account for everything that sends your intended message to your viewer: costumes, sets, lighting, sound, your post production color grading, VFX, etc. Of course for us, we have very specific ideas for how we want to portray the game, and we hope to bring a bit of toughness to it, but still maintain it’s recognizability as Ocarina of Time. When we shot our teaser, we had absolutely no budget, and there were many things we would have loved to do with it that were simply not possible back then, so we are looking forward to what we can do going forward with The Final Battle.

PP (Tom): Let me take a second to directly address the Zelda Fan Boys and the Trolls. I love the trolls. I love trolling the trolls. I love constructive criticism. I also love general criticism. However, some people need to calm down a bit. Producing anything live action is difficult to make work. Even massive productions with some of the most talented people in the world have difficulty making films work. It's incredibly challenging to do that on a low/no budget, but we do it because we're filmmakers and we love Zelda...so combining our passions is incredibly fulfilling.

It was interesting reading comments from some folks who clearly confused the teaser with the rumored Netflix series....and others who just flat out refuse to enjoy anything that isn't 100% "their" Zelda. Most of those people will flat out say that no one should ever make a live-action zelda film...well I hate to break it to you but somebody, some day will make a live action zelda. Whether that is in the form of a Netflix TV show or movies, it will happen. Maybe it will be good, maybe it will suck, but prepare your butt to hurt, because it's going to happen...and it will be OK. It won't tarnish Zelda. It won't ruin your childhood (unless your childhood depended on no one ever making a live action Zelda).

Nobody stopped playing Mario because the movie sucked. Give it a chance, try to enjoy it. I certainly hope it's good, because as a fan I would totally love to see it. And, I should add that in that project (not our film but a potential movie or TV show) Link will talk. We're doing a short action piece so we have the advantage of having link stay silent while he and Ganondorf fight, but despite what you might think...you really don't want to watch a TV show or movie where the main character stays silent the whole time. Not to mention that Link totally talks in the games and characters react to Link talking, it's just Nintendo chooses to skip showing what he says for the most part.

I think it speaks to the incredible job the Zelda Project did on that teaser in order to stir up so much discussion and comparisons to a rumored Netflix project that is probably never going to happen. That being said, the total budget on our film will be what Netflix spends on lunch in a day...actually probably a lot less. So what we do is the effort of a lot of hard work and love that comes with incredible limitations. But, we're working hard to translate it in a way that fans of the series will enjoy. There will definitely be improvements made for the film.

The shield will be more realistic, we'll add some more armor elements to Link's wardrobe, etc. Whether or not Na'vi will be a person or a glowing ball of light with wings is something we're still discussing. Fairies in the Zelda universe are actually fairies and not balls of light with wings. In fact in the earlier games the fairies wore dresses and had magic wands. Na'vi in OoT looks like that because of the processing abilities of the N64 and it just looked better for what they were doing in that game, but it's still a female formed fairy within that ball of light. That was the thinking behind the one in the teaser...however we may modify it. Regarding her voice....well Na'vi is annoying in the game so I dunno what you want us to do about that. There are definitely elements still in discussion.

ZI: Will there be any more teasers and/or trailers coming soon?

TZP: Hopefully we will have some cool funny stuff come out first just to wet your whistle. We’ve already talked about some fun stuff we can throw together while working on the bigger picture. Naturally Player Piano will be having some fabulous music videos from all sorts of geek and pop culture genres, so you’ll want to subscribe to the player piano channel to make sure you don’t miss anything!

PP (Tom): We're working on a classic Nintendo Themes album that includes a Zelda piano piece. This will be separate from the larger Zelda Player Piano video we do. But it will still be awesome. I would definitely love to do a short teaser video of Link being chased by chickens. That would be fun!

ZI: Your photo sets, the Lost Woods and Lon Lon Ranch are stunning. What other photo sets might we see in the future, besides the planned Fire Temple set?

TZP: We have recently announced we plan on doing a set with Sheik and Impa, and there is a Gerudo Valley in the works as well. Those costumes were actually near completion several years ago before a bit of rude real life circumstances caused the shoot to be set back. We are also planning on shooting Link and Zelda together, but are still working on nailing down a good location! The Fire Temple was rolling along quite well, but one of the artists who had been working on it ended up taking a job that has kept him busy, so we have needed to locate new artists to continue/finish the work.

ZI: What has been the biggest hurdle thus far?

TZP: Budget has always been a factor, so the speed at which we have been able to release content has not been the quickest. When everyone is working for free, it is impossible to push your agenda and hurry them up. It is tough asking someone to meet deadlines, work quickly AND with high quality when they are providing something for you for free. It is/was a delicate business producing post production on both the ongoing photoshoots and teaser trailer. We absolutely want to release the highest production value visuals, so some stuff takes an enormous amount of time when a talented artist can only dedicate weekends on something that would normally take them 3 weeks of working straight. There will ALWAYS be things you would have liked to do better/faster but you just were not able to with the means that you had at the time.

ZI: How long do you think the finished product will be once completed?

TZP: There have been many talks about the length of the piece, but we haven’t nailed down a number yet.

ZI: Finally, the teaser you posted seems to be gathering quite the view count on YouTube. Are you happy with this outcome, or did you expect more?

TZP and PP: We are definitely happy! The goal was to obtain 1M views within the week, and we were able to hit that mark by day six.

Needless to say, much thinking and work goes behind producing a project as big as this one. Have you seen the riveting live-action teaser trailer yet? If not, check it out below!

As a final teaser, Player Piano had this to say: "Fans of classic video game music should keep their eye on the channel. We have something really special that we're working on that's one of the coolest things Player Piano has ever done by far."

IGN Explains What Features From Majora's Mask They Want To See In Zelda U

HyruleHero3D — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 02:11:00 +0000

Earlier this week, IGN released a Nintendo Voice Chat commentary highlighting a few of the features found in Majora's Mask that they'd like to see carried over to the upcoming Zelda U title, which was delayed until 2016.

As expected, they do mention the way players interact with characters, and the subsequent effects on the overworld and gameplay incorporated into Zelda U, since these elements added life and depth to Majora's Mask.

Beyond this, however, they bring up some particularly interesting suggestions that you can hear in the video above.

Would you want Aounuma and his team to bring any features from Majora's Mask to Zelda U? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.

Possibilities Part 2: What Else Could Nintendo Have in Store for the Zelda Series at E3 2015?

Link 2 — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 01:06:00 +0000

In the first editorial I had written on the subject, I talked about how Zelda U not being at E3 is a strange move on Nintendo's part. Something else Zelda must be replacing it. Why else would they go ahead and cancel their star header for E3?

The replacement possibilities we talked about previously were Twilight Princess HD, a Princess Zelda/Sheik spin-off, a Hyrule Warriors sequel, and Zelda Maker. In this second installment, I will be talking about four more possibilities that Nintendo might unveil at E3.

So, let's explore some more possibilities.

A Zelda-Themed Mobile Game

We all saw it coming. It was inevitably going to happen. Nintendo recently announced they would be releasing games on smart devices for their flagship characters such as Mario, Link, et cetera.

What would a mobile Zelda game be like? Direct ports? A traditional mobile-style game such as a Candy Crush or Temple Run rip-off? A completely new type of mobile game?

In my very humble opinion, I would like direct ports of older Zelda games like The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (as explained in a previous editorial of mine.) I could see those making big bucks for Nintendo, as hundreds of thousands of people would download out of pure nostalgia.

It could be that Nintendo will go the get rich quick route, and create some sort of mobile game rip-off from games such as Candy Crush, Temple Run, or... ech... Flappy Bird. I highly doubt Nintendo is going to go down that avenue, but time will tell.

I mentioned they might decide to make a new type of mobile game. What would such a game be like? I have no idea. I play games, I don't make them (outside of messing around in Game Maker Studio).

If mobile games aren't what Nintendo will be announcing in place of Zelda U, what else could it be?

A New Type of Rewards System Featuring Zelda Merchandise

There's not much to say about this one. Club Nintendo's lifespan is coming to an end this summer, so what better time to announce a new rewards system than E3? Nintendo would practically have the whole gaming world watching them, and they would shout, "HEY! We reward our customers! No, really! We're an awesome company! Here's a new rewards program to prove it!"

Nintendo may feel that a way to fill in the Zelda gap would be to feature a whole slew of Zelda-themed merchandise, from new Virtual Console titles to 3DS clip armor and accessories.

Speaking of Virtual Consoles...

A New Wave of Virtual Console Games From the Wii and DS Come to Wii U and 3DS

We are nearing the end of the second half of the 3DS and Wii U's life span. What better way to boost sales than by pulling out the nostalgia gun?

Depending on which age group you were born into, you may have started playing video games during the first year of the DS and Wii release. Releasing new Virtual Console titles such as Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and Twilight Princess for the Wii U and 3DS would make money, money, money!

Think of how many fans would be eager to download Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks on their current Wii U. Think of the success of Majora's Mask on the Wii Virtual Console. It all adds up.

Porting five to ten year old games to the current generation of consoles gives a chance for fans who missed out on them to play them for the first time. Fans who loved playing those games will jump at the chance to replay them. After all, they sold their Wii, DS, and all of their Wii/DS games on eBay to get that shiny new Wii U on release day.

Pipe dream or not, lets move on to the fourth and final possibility of what Nintendo could be showing off at E3 in place of Zelda U.

Nothing

As much as it pains me to say this, maybe nothing Zelda-related will be shown off at E3. Maybe they will be trying to hype up some other new titles like Star Fox Wii U, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Splatoon.

Nintendo could be saving Zelda U as a 30th anniversary title. After all, the big three-oh birthday of the Zelda series is next year: February 21, 2016. Whatever the case, don't get your hopes up too high for some Zelda news. It is possible we could not receive any Zelda tidbits during E3 2015.

Closing

Do you think that Nintendo will be replacing Zelda U news with something else Zelda-related? Do you think we won't have any Zelda news this at this year's E3? Share what you think in the comments below.

Fan art by: Coffee, Zelda Informer Photoshop Contest

You Need The New Nintendo 3DS FL: Reggie Informer Edition

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Hey all my faithful readers! Reggie here with the latest scoop on Nintendo of America's money making schemes. Today we have announced The New Nintendo 3DS FL: Reggie Informer Edition.

The size and shape of this New Nintendo 3DS FL will be about the same as the New Nintendo 3DS XL. What does FL stand for? Fils-Aime, of course!

Recently, I interviewed the president of Nintendo of America. Yes, I do interview myself. Mother always told me I was different than the other children.

Anywho, in this interview I revealed that the New Nintendo 3DS FL: Reggie Informer Edition was originally just going to be a Reggie Edition. I thought to myself, "Why not create a New Nintendo 3DS FL that is not just dedicated to me, but to my new news website as well?"

I gave the word to my slav- er, my employees, and they got to work on an art concept right away. I immediately fell in love with it, and you can view it in all its glory at the top of this post.

Do you like it? It's shiny and new, so why wouldn't you like it? Here's a heads up: I'm only producing a small number of these units. If you aren't lucky enough to get one on launch day, than I'm sure you can find one on eBay for only triple the price.

Daily Debate: What Zelda Character Should Receive Their Own Spin-Off Game?

Link 2 — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:28:00 +0000

Recently, we talked about the Zelda series' spin-off titles, and whether or not the fans wanted Shiek to have her own game. We received mixed responses, with some in favor and some against the idea. While reading the comments, I wondered if there were any other characters that you guys want to have their own game. Tingle is out of the running, because of Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, but any other character is available for recommendation!

I won't state every single character in the Zelda series, because that would take too long. Besides, we already have a Zelda wiki, containing information about a lot of them. Yes, I did just shamelessly plug our wiki.

A game that would interest me would be a spin-off of a spin-off. What do I mean? Lana and Cia, of course! As it stands right now, they are strictly non-canon characters from Hyrule Warriors, but that does not mean they can't become canon in their own game, right? A spin-off title for this duo would explore their origins a bit more, and possibly include Link as a side character. The possibilities of another collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo are endless.

An unlikely Zelda character that I would personally love to see receive a spin-off is Ravio from A Link Between Worlds. I would love to see more of his origins, and more back-story about the kingdom of Lorule. Not much is known about this purple bunny-suited man, and there is a portion of fans such as myself that would love to learn more about him.

Would you like to see any of the above spin-off games I mentioned? What other spin-off titles do you have in mind? Let your voice be heard by joining the Daily Debate in the comments below.

The Boss Man: Zelda is What You Make of It, Arcade Block Giveaway

Nathan — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 23:38:00 +0000

This weeks episode is probably my last episode in a line of topics dealing with the Zelda fan base, specifically you fine folks that are fans of both the Zelda series and our website. Previously I've talked about fan requirements and internet bullying, followed up by fan reactions about the constant tale of Nintendo doomsayers. One of my first handful of episodes even dealt with the Zelda Cycle, another fanbase realated topic. Needless to say I feel like I've addressed every major fan base related topic I have wanted to tackle, so now my attention shifts towards some more fun conversations.

Geek Girl Fi Makes Song of Storms Plushie

Tpaul Homdrom — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:38:00 +0000

The Zelda series is iconic for many reasons. Maybe it's the puzzles you love, or the expansive worlds you get to adventure in. Perhaps you love exploring dungeons, or the sense of reward you get from opening a treasure chest. And then there's the music. Many Zelda songs have become iconic in fans' memories. Whether it's that haunting opening theme of Ocarina of Time, or the Clock Town theme in Majora's Mask, there's something about the music in Zelda games that sticks with you long after you're finished playing.

The Song of Storms from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask (with a cameo appearance in Oracle of Seasons) is one such iconic song. The "Make it Rain" shirt is a popular one among fans. A memorable button combination is used to play the song in the N64 games, finding its way onto t-shirts... and now one fan-made plushie!

Geek Girl Fi is a crafty Zelda fan, creating plushies of the Triforce (a very huggable version) and a Piece of Heart, and now the Song of Storms. Fi explains her process in the video above and shows off the finished creation. On her website you can get a closer look at the step-by-step method (including pictures!) used to make the piece. She also includes a video for each of her fantastic creations, so check out her YouTube channel here for more!

What do you think of this detailed plushie of the Song of Storms? What other Zelda songs stick with you long after finishing the game?

You can see all of Geek Girl Fi's creations (such as a plushie of the Notes from Banjo-Kazooie!) at her website here.

How To Create Your Own Legend of Zelda Charms

blaqkbird — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 02:40:00 +0000

Have you ever pondered making your own creations to show your love of the Legend of Zelda series? Do you envy the work of your favorite artists and wished you could create similar works of art? With the help of this fan made tutorial, you can receive a guided start, and some practice making these three Legend of Zelda charms!

This tutorial on how to create your own Legend of Zelda charms out of polymer clay was created by youtuber ackatf, also known as Kat. In the video, Kat guides the viewers through the steps needed as she crafts the clay charms. The materials the viewer will need are polymer clay of your choice and color (shiny or non), a ball tool, an x-acto knife, and black paint for the ocarina holes.

Regarding the tutorial, Kat commented with: "The Triforce, Link's sword, and a ocarina are the charms I create, and I hope you recreate, and like them!"

The clay creations can be used for a charm bracelet, or as a pendant, and you can find the images of the finished products in the gallery below.

Using Kat's tutorial, are you going to recreate these charms, or your own charms to represent your favorite Legend of Zelda character? What other polymer clay creations would you like to see from Kat? Let us know in the comments!

Report: Small Majora's Mask 3D Limited Edition Restock Ongoing at Best Buy

blaqkbird — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:50:00 +0000

If you were one of the many Legend of Zelda fans that were devastated come preorder time for the Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Limited Edition bundles you may be in luck! There has been a discovery that a small amount of Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Limited Edition bundle has surfaced in Best Buy stores. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Limited Edition bundle retails at $49.99, and is not available through online purchase.

According to a reddit user by the name of Frankietre, their local Best Buy had received a small amount of the bundle in store.

"I went by Best Buy today to buy Majoras Mask and then I was approached by a sales associate who offered his help. I told him I wanted Majoras Mask and he asked if I wanted the limited edition one. I was pretty excited because I didn't get one when it first came out. He said they randomly got a few in yesterday, so they might have some at other Best Buy stores."

Another reddit user by the name of radoster95 responded to the post saying: "Can confirm, I work at best buy and we've been getting them on trucks the past two weeks. Usually just one per truck."

I would call your local Best Buy as soon as possible, and see if they have any in stock for your second chance at this Limited Edition Skull Kid figure!

Source: Reddit

Zelda Theme Played on Glasses of Water

Tpaul Homdrom — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 17:05:00 +0000

Video game music is no stranger to fan recreations. Whether it's Smooth McGroove and his many acapella renditions of video game music, or something like "Wind Waker Unplugged," video game music sees its share of creative re imaginings. Donal Hinely has put his own spin on the classic Zelda theme, playing with his hands on glasses of water.

He admits it's a "difficult song," but he pulls it off with skill and grace. Played outdoors to a modest audience, the sound carries nicely, the unique tone something hard to recreate with conventional instruments. Improvised instruments are always interesting to see and listen to. The afore-mentioned "Wind Waker Unplugged," for instance, makes use of spoons to tap on glasses of water (for a noticeably different tone than Hinely's glass-tapping) and a cooking sheet for some interesting sounds that add depth to the song.

Check out the video above and let us know what you think! Also, what are your favorite fan-made versions of video game songs?

Gamestop Restocks Majora's Mask New 3DS XL Gaming Bundle

RODTheMaster — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Update: This bundle has sold out. We will update if it is again made available.

For fans still hoping to get their hands on the Majora's Mask New 3DS XL, Gamestop has restocked their hefty New 3DS XL gaming bundle. The bundle, which is available for order on the Gamestop website, contains the Majora's Mask New 3DS XL, Majora's Mask 3D, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., a digital copy of A Link Between Worlds, and a Majora's Mask eGuide. If you act quickly, you can nab this bundle for $329.95 USD.

As of the time of writing, the bundle only appears to be available in Gamestop's US website. It is currently unknown if the bundle will be available in other regions or if Gamestop will again restock the bundle once it is sold out. The bundle was made available last week, but sold out quickly. I recommend you order it now if you want to get your hands on the MM New 3DS XL and this great collection of games.

Source: Gamestop US

Caption Contest 011: "King of Red Lions is not responsible for any items lost at sea."

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Well, I should have seen that one coming. While I would love to showcase some of last week's entries, lines were crossed that I just can't publish. However, this contest isn't about winning. It's about showcasing your wit and making other members of the Zelda Informer community come together and laugh. With that in mind, if you want to see some of last week's less "family-friendly" entries, click here to check them out. Now it's time to move on. It's week 11 of the caption contest, and the King of Red Lions is making his first appearance in the contest. You know how it goes, leave your comments below!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

by: Coffee

by: John Louis Smith

by: TickleMeTingle

by: WiiDude83

by: Rasgar

by: Codster9 (Honorable mention as a response to Rasgar's image)

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

A Non-Neemus - "She shouldn't have crossed that road."
Darin W. Harr II - "All I said was 'I like McDonalds'"
Art1st4786 - "Isn't this glove with finger holes a good accessory?"
POWER - "Help me! My magic can't kill those things."
Creative Alias - "All I did was insult MLP!"

This week's photo:

Fan Creates Zelda-Themed NES, Includes Step-By-Step Images

RODTheMaster — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:25:00 +0000

We've seen numerous custom game consoles based on The Legend of Zelda, and each one shows off a great deal of artistic skill. Deviant Art user devastator006 has created an extremely cool Zelda-themed NES, complete with a Hylian Crest cut into the top that lights up when the console is switched on. For fans that want to see exactly how the NES was completed and perhaps try the project for themselves, devastator006 has included step-by-step images as well.

Starting with a disassembled NES, devastator006 sketched and carved the Hylian Crest into the top of the NES, and then painted the console's exterior. While reassembling the insides of the NES, devastator006 also included some interior lights and colored filters that illuminate the crest when switched on. The images of the console in the dark look absolutely amazing; I know I'd love to have that NES shining on my shelf. You can view all of the step-by-step images in devastator006's gallery. You can also see some of devastator006's other projects, such as glow-in-the-dark Zelda art and other paper craft projects.

What do you think of the project? Are you willing to try the process yourself? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Deviant Art (devastator006)

Toon Link and Zelda amiibo on Sale on Amazon

Nathan — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 02:58:00 +0000

For those of you that don't yet have the full array of Super Smash Bros. amiibo, several have gone on sale on Amazon. Six different amiibo, including Toon Link and Zelda, have dropped in price from $12.99 to just $9.74. Unfortunately, once you tack on the cost of shipping, the price comes out to about the same as if you were to buy them in store.

However, if you spend $35 or more buying directly from Amazon (not the seller marketplace) or if you are able to buy them through an Amazon Prime account, then your shipping will be free of charge. If you are interested in getting one for yourself, you can see the list of amiibo that are on sale here.

Will you be taking advantage of this amiibo sale? Were you hoping to see Link or Sheik amiibo in this sale instead? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Amazon

Daily Debate: Should Link Be Older in a Future Zelda Game?

Link 2 — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 04:56:00 +0000

Link has always been described as a youth in the Zelda franchise. After all, Miyamoto modeled Link after his younger adventurous self. After many Zelda titles of Link's age ranging from a young boy to an older teenager, is it time for a change?

Maybe a nice age for Link would be middle aged. In his 40s, Link could be an experienced fight or a hunter with lots of worldly knowledge. He would know the area quite well, as well as all the local legends and lore that seems to surround the kingdom of Hyrule.

Nintendo could pull an unsuspecting move and choose to place Link in his 50s or 60s. An older but strong and mature Link could barge through Ganon's little underlings, swinging the Master Sword around like a pro on his way to save Zelda.

What do you think? Should Link stay a youthful boy, or should his age be changed in a future Zelda game? Share your thoughts by joining the Daily Debate below.

Fan art: kevinbolk

Legendary Hero Wind Waker Print Available on Etsy

Tpaul Homdrom — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 22:27:00 +0000

The intro scene from Wind Waker is a memorable one that does a great job of setting the scene for the game. The theme during that intro scene, "Legendary Hero," combined with a unique visual style, helps entrench the scene in Zelda lore. If you've ever wanted to own a stylish print showing off every scene from that intro sequence, now you can!

Currently on Etsy and priced at $22, a linen print of the intro scenes is available for purchase. The scenes are presented with Hylian text, and are in stylish black-and-white (black-and-beige?). They are nicely done, as well, standing out on a fabric that looks like it came right of Hyrule Castle's library! The print is a good size, measuring 30" by 20". Unfortunately, as the posting makes sure to note, the cat in the pictures is, unfortunately, not included.

You can check out all of the pictures of the print in the gallery below. What do you think? Is this a scene you've always wanted as part of your collection?

Source: Etsy

Daily Debate: Reggie Asks the Fans a Question

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 06:00:00 +0000

What is the Best Bait to Use in the Zelda Series?

Being the president of a massive gaming empire can be tiring, which is why I love fishing in the Zelda series. It gives me a chance to have some relaxed fun and to distract myself from the worries of the Wii U, just like Link distracts himself from the main quest. I spend hours upon hours sinking my hook in the water for the chance at a bite. With a minigame as noble as fishing, we at Nintendo always place the fans' needs first. That's why I make it a point to include a variety of different baits and lures to help my fishermen reel in that Hylian Loach. I've noticed that my fans are very opinionated about the prospects of bait; even Iwata will give me a hard time when I spout off about such a topic. So, I think it's time to explore baits used for the series and pick a favorite.

To matter the game, bait always has one key function: to appeal to cliques of fish. Not every type of bait is going to appeal to every fish, so different types must be included to grab the attention of specific cliques. For example in Twilight Princess, a generalized, standard lure -- even if it has all the essential material -- simply can't reel in as many fish as we would like. So, we at Nintendo need to include some bait on that hook (whether it be larvae or a worm) to stir up interest. There's nothing misleading or malicious about this focus on cliques; it's simply a proven and effective way for every fisherman to catch a group of interested fish. Reggie cares not about monetary prospects, as I never sell the fish I catch. Baiting and fishing is just a way for me to share the news and fun of my fishing career.

Do you share the opinions of Wind Waker's Fishman, a well-known lover of all-purpose bait? This character may not represent the entire Great Sea, but his stalwart enthusiasm for the bait Reggie throws out proves how fun the fishing method can. He is a perfect example of how a clique-baiting system should work; he recognizes something that appeals to his specific interests, and he offers knowledge and information with the fisherman. It's not possible for every fish to know everything, but the Fishman never feels misled when Reggie offers him some bait. It's a friendly exchange, and both parties are left happy.

Or do you share the opinions of Ocarina of Time's Fisherman (or even Iwata), who absolutely rejects the idea of excessive baits. If he catches wind that Reggie has used something like the illegal Sinking Lure, he will outright discredit my fishing progress and deny me a prize. That's not something I will stand for; if I was the president of his company, he'd be so fired. While I recognize this Fisherman's adversity to baiting -- as many tasteless Fishermen buzz around, feeding every stupid fish they see swimming around -- the people that live for Reggie Fils-Aimé's proven system would never stoop that low. Baiting is always a way to reach out to interested fish, present cool stuff for them look at, and share amazing experiences.

But don't let me sway your opinion; Reggie Fils-Aimé wants to hear everything you fans have to say. What are your thoughts on bait? Do you have a favorite? Are you a reader that enjoys a specific topic that others may not? Join the Daily De-bait!

Nintendo Announces an April 1st Nintendo Direct

Mases — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 15:33:00 +0000

Nintendo has announced a Nintendo Direct for tomorrow, April 1st, over Twitter. The tweet makes clear that this direct is not a joke, despite the fact that tomorrow is April Fools Day. Hopefully, we get some information about the Zelda Wii U delay, and maybe a few more details on possible changes. As for other possible Zelda news, Darrin has written a two part editorial series on possible Zelda U replacements, which you can view here and here.

There are also rumors of what could be contained in this direct. A leak states, among other things, a Paper Mario Wii U title as a replacement for Zelda U, as well as Ganondorf being in the next round of Amiibo. As the leak correctly predicted the Direct date, it has a little validity; however, the leaker could have gotten lucky with the date and this leak might be completely false otherwise. Nevertheless, this is an intriguing leak.

You will be able to watch this direct at 6 P.M EST tomorrow, April 1st. You can find Nintendo's twitter feed here, and their YouTube channel here. Do you have any hopes for this direct? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Twitter (Via Gamnesia)

New Nintendo Direct Confirmed: Possibly a New Zelda Game?

Link 2 — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 14:37:00 +0000

There have been rumors floating around about a new Nintendo Direct. Those rumors proved to be true, as Nintendo announced a new Nintendo Direct, scheduled for tomorrow, at 3PM PT. That's right, Nintendo is going to be bringing us some news about their upcoming games for 2015. I don't know how credible it's going to be, seeing as it's on April Fools Day.

What could the contents of this Nintendo Direct be? Nintendo UK sent out an email to fans saying there will indeed me new announcements. We can only be hopeful that this is some new Zelda news after the letdown of Zelda U being pushed back and withheld from E3.

Just what could be replacing Zelda U this year? You can find out by reading Part 1 and Part 2 of my editorial series, "Possibilities: What Does Nintendo Have in Store for the Zelda Series at E3 2015?"

Are you hoping for some Zelda news? Do you think we will receive news on other games like Xenoblade Chronicles X and Splatoon? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo Everything

Yearning for Noline - Nintendo's Answer to Online Lag

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:00:00 +0000

When I said at 2004’s E3 that the Nintendo DS was, “beyond online, it’s Noline,” I never thought that more than ten years later, the Noline feature would still be unreleased. Somebody should work on that soon!

Some have even suggested that Noline is a fake word made up by someone in our public relations department who is severely out of touch with the world around them. This could not be further from the truth!

Noline is not a fake, contrived combination of the words “no” and “line” which is supposed to emphasize the wireless capabilities of the Nintendo DS at a buzzword-heavy event like E3 2004.

Noline is a real thing that developers at Nintendo promised me would be included with the Nintendo DS at launch. Look, here is a real and official document showing the concept of the Noline connection in action:

As you can see by this document, the concept of Noline is very simple: instant data transfer is achieved with no lag, and no lag is achieved with no connection… a Noline connection!

I would like to take this moment to publicly encourage all of our developers in their design and implementation of the Noline design. And hopefully, include it in all of our products, including the Nintendo DS.

Announcing the Official Nintendo Executive Amiibo Product Line

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 07:00:00 +0000

Since the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Western world has launched itself upon the plastic figurines we have dubbed amiibo. Amiibo are extremely popular and high in demand, and we are therefore constantly looking to feed scalpers your hard-earned cash. This has led to a commited process of applying certain ideas or themes upon the medium to see which ones would fit. After vigorous testing, we are happy to announce our newest amiibo product line: the executives!

Come in contact with famous Nintendo spokespeople such as Shigeru Miyamoto, Satoru Iwata, and of course yours truly. Reggie Fils-Aime will also be part of this series, but will be released much sooner because he was announced a few months back already.

This newest wave, aside from the Reggie amiibo, will release somewhere around the time The Legend of Zelda for Wii U would have released. We have made this decision to cheer up fans who were heartbroken after hearing Zelda U was postponed to 2016. From now on, you'll be able to use your favorite executive in games such as New Wii Fit U, where they'll be cheering you on from the sidelines and telling you to take a break from time to time.

A special Limited Edition White Gold/Black Blue Reggie amiibo will also be included in our main executive wave later this year. This amiibo will be limited to three items per store, and will only be available in Australia.

We hope you will enjoy our latest amiibo product line, and hope to see you at 3 a.m. waiting in front of a retailer near you. Keep in mind though, that this wave will only be released in Europe, because North American fans already received the Gold Mario amiibo.

Check out the gallery below for images of this new wave of amiibo.

Interview: Reggie Asks – Life, Video Games, and Dating

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Hey folks, this is Reggie Fils-Aime from Nintendo of America.

Since Mr. Iwata started up Iwata Asks some years ago I’ve been brainstorming on how we could better present a similar version of that which is more catered to the United States audience. This was honesty a tough task and it is the primary reason we didn’t have anything like this occur last year – not from us or Mr. Iwata.

While we did have one Iwata Asks this year for Majora’s Mask 3D, I felt like we haven’t been highlighting our North American team enough. Names like Eiji Aonuma, Koji Kondo, and Shigeru Miyamoto are household names – but we feel others here in North America deserve some recognition for their efforts. Today we start our first foray into this with Reggie Asks – where I, Mr. Fils-Aime, will be interviewing various executives and North American developers that create Nintendo content.

Today I will be talking to myself, asking all the burning questions I’ve had about myself, things that are are rolling around in my head on a near daily basis. I hope I do a good job talking to myself as you get some insight into what makes me tick.

Because this is a non-traditional Asks, we will be conducting this more in an interview fashion, but no worries, there will be plenty of laughter.

Reggie: Why Nintendo?

Reggie: I ask myself this question a lot. At first I wanted the attention – being a big wig at Pizza Hut didn’t serve me as only my peers knew who I was. I would go to my local Pizza Hut and not even the server or the store manager had any idea who I was. I was charged for my food. That can’t be happening

At Nintendo, I am recognized the world over and do a lot of public speaking. This means that nearly every person who sells our products knows who I am. Long story short, why Nintendo? So I can walk into my local Best Buy and not get charged for my 9th Wii U.

Reggie: We understand at Nintendo that your work can be rather taxing – dealing with fan demands for every product under the sun. How do you personally deal with these expectations?

Reggie: Honestly, it’s not that bad because I am privy to everything. Fans want to know if there is a Metroid game in the works? I know already if there is. They want to know about Zelda U? I already do. If anything, I love when fans ask me because I get to snicker to myself – it's fun knowing all this information everyone wants to know but can’t have.

Reggie: Because you’re a corporate head at Nintendo, we always see you wearing a suit. Do you ever wear anything else?

Reggie: Actually, I hate wearing suits. I spend most of my day rocking experimental clothing lines. We’re working on some T-Shirts since fans tend to really eat those up – one centered around the only person who matters at Nintendo and one… which I can’t talk about, but it’s really popular around the office.

Of course, both of these designs will likely make it to print and the second actually contains an encoded message that allows you to see a special trailer through the eShop… but I’ve already said too much.

Reggie: What is it like living your life?

Reggie: Greatest job in the world. Fun fact: did you know I was the person who cut Iwata’s wages? Magic how that happens.

Reggie: But what about your life?

Reggie: (laughs)

Reggie: So are you single?

Reggie: I keep my glasses on at all times.

Reggie: What?

Reggie: Yes.

Bigfoot Pizza Photoshop Contest

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Good day, Reggie fans. I am extremely proud to be the first to introduce to you the newest phase of the Nintendo experience: The Bigfoot Pizza Initiative. In my many years of executive experience, nothing rivals the success I found at Pizza Hut with the Bigfoot Pizza. I now intend to replicate that success at Nintendo, bringing the magic of the legendary 6-topping pie to your favorite games. You will have a chance to create and share your ideas with me, and I will make it a point to implement them into future games.

Last Week's Birthday Adventure

Before we get to business, I have a treat for you raging fans. As most of you know, I've just returned from one of the best birthday adventures I've ever had (and I've certainly seen quite a fair share of great adventures). I figured it would be a great idea -- as all my ideas are -- to share with you some pictures of my many interesting adventures, with some even artistically depicted by some of you.

Before I even stepped foot into the wild unknown, I had to suit up. Thanks to Youngotakubwoy I was dressed to impress and ready for action.

I then met up with my best pal Link, who took me on a wild train ride through the cosmos. KCM64 caught me making a very unflattering face, but I can't stay mad at him.

After Link and I reached our destination, my many friends showered me with gifts. Pedro Vasconcelos' gift was the most divine, a lovely set of Hero's Clothes. Maybe you'll see me wearing these in a future Nintendo Direct.

From there, we went a little crazy and things got a little out of hand. I don't exactly remember what happened, but Ben Schwartz was there to capture the magic. From what I can tell, I reached some kind of existential enlightenment, transcending from my mortal body to look down from the heavens.

Upon my heavenly throne, I watched my forces of good march upon the unbelievers. Danielle Davis was there to document my conquest.

If you'd like to know what else my big day had in store, you'll just have to stalk my Facebook page. Kyle Ian Thomas accepted that challenge, digging up some of my birthday's best moments.

Bigfoot Pizza Photoshop Contest

As many of you know, I once served as Pizza Hut's senior director of national marketing. It was in that time that I realized my lifetime's greatest achievement, the Bigfoot Pizza. This very special pizza was everything that I try to be: big, meaty, and intimidating. Consumers ate up the Bigfoot Pizza for years, and I have never again achieved that degree of success. That is why today I am debuting Nintendo's next step: The Bigfoot Pizza Initiative.

It is our goal at Nintendo to provide the consumers with what they want, and they definitely want the Bigfoot Pizza. This is why, starting next week, we'll be rolling out Bigfoot Pizza content for all your favorite Nintendo games. But we can only think of so many ideas, which is why we're turning to you fans for help.

You now have the chance to Photoshop the Bigfoot Pizza into some of your favorite Nintendo games. We'll provide you with images to help you get started, but feel free to use anything on the internet to make your pizza dream a reality.

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on April 8. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Body Ready Mode

For those that want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have a Body Ready Rule for you to follow:

1. Your entry must feature characters from six different Nintendo franchises.

If you think you're up to the challenge, include the phrase My Body Is Ready with your submission. Remember, Body Ready Mode submissions follow the same rules and guidelines of the base Photoshop Contest in addition to the Body Ready Rules.

Good luck!

Everybody Feels Moderate About Reggie: My Original Show Idea

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 08:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered, "Why isn't Reggie Fils-Aime, my favorite person in the whole wide world, the star of his own sitcom?". Well folks, don't worry! Reggie's here with an idea I've been cooking up for the boys over on Netflix. I can't say more than the script already does, so I'll just let you guys read my rough draft and let yourselves decide if this is your favorite show of all time (here's a hint: IT IS!).

It stars myself as just a Regg-ular guy who lives with some of his best friends. A sitcom about best friends who live together? I know what you're thinking, "It's never been done before. It'll never work. Why not just make it starring just you?". I tried that, but Netflix said flat out no. They didn't want my show to be too popular that it made everything else in their library look bad (darn House Of Cards.) so they said add more characters. Be sure to check out the script below!

You'll Love the New Clothing Line from Nintendo

Mases — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone. Bill Trinen here. Today is a very exciting day for us here at Reggie Informer, as this morning we finally teased some details on a project that we know you all have been eagerly anticipating for a long time. Everyone at Nintendo has been working hard to ensure that it will be up to the standards set by our fans, and I have no doubt that you won't be disappointed.

It is my pleasure to announce the start of Nintendo's official clothing line: New Nintendo Clothes.

New Nintendo Clothes marks the next step in Nintendo's efforts to cater to fans even outside of their normal gaming passions. Millions of gamers the world over have grown up with Nintendo games and media, but not many can say that they own officially-endorsed Nintendo fashion. Even I couldn't say that until five years after I started working here, when I received the highly coveted official "Nintendo Logo" shirt. It was a memorable day for me, and the fabric has held out to this day – I'm actually wearing it even as I write this out, a real testament to the quality and expertise that the company strives to achieve. And now we're bringing that same quality and expertise to all of our fans.

For now, Nintendo is only allowing us to show off the two shirts you see above, but even this limited look has been enough to excite many of our Reggie Informer staff. Thanks to Reggie's support and his outstanding devotion to you, our fans, we're able to exclusively reveal the "Reggie Fils-A-Meme" shirt you see at the top. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, the key part is how buyers will be able to customize their quotes at the time of purchase. Maybe you want to remind others of Reggie's status as "The Regginator"? Select that quote for the front, and perhaps pair it up with a reminder on the back that "Wii Fit is it". In the weeks leading up to launch, fans will even be able to submit their own favorite Reggie quotes to a webpage that we'll be setting up for that task, and a committee of Nintendo's most fashionable staff members will be on hand 24-7 to check and make sure that each submission is appropriate. We wouldn't want someone to submit a non-Reggie quote and get it placed on a shirt, after all.

The "Two Lovers" shirt will also be available at the same time.

New Nintendo Clothes will appear in all major retailers starting on July 5th (we pushed for the 4th, but unfortunately Reggie was unable to convince corporate management to go with the holiday, as "it is not a Friday, and Nintendo cannot launch products if it's not a Friday"). You can expect more details in the coming weeks, such as available colors, prices, and, of course, more designs and customization options.

We invite you all to share your thoughts on this new fashion line below in the comments section. There is a lot of time left before the official launch, and your thoughts and feedback could very well help us in deciding a few key items that are still being discussed in the boardroom. Which series' shirts will be shown next, whether or not we should go ahead and reveal designs for other seasons (such as a very classy Ice Climbers sweatshirt that I personally had a hand in creating), the amount of customization available on certain products... This is a very exciting time for us, and we're thrilled to finally share it with our fans.

And with that, I'll turn it back over to you guys.

Artist Makes Custom Skyward Sword Zelda Amiibo

Cathron — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 16:05:00 +0000

Nintendo has released some pretty cool amiibo so far, but there will always be fans that want a figurine that doesn't exist. This is why some artists choose to customize amiibo, making their own creations in the process. One artist has done just that by altering the already-existing Zelda amiibo and giving her a Skyward Sword makeover.

For those unfamiliar with amiibo, they're figurines of popular Nintendo characters that can be used with specific games like Hyrule Warriors, Super Smash Bros Wii U/3DS, Mario Kart 8, and more. The figurines can be paired with the Wii U and the New Nintendo 3DS. For more information about amiibo, click here.

DeviantArt user SoulDreamX created the Skyward Sword amiibo and said this was the second amiibo she'd altered. She made it by filing down parts she didn't need, adding new pieces with Sculpey, and repainting the figure. The new amiibo is wearing Zelda's school outfit from Skyward Sword, complete with belt and sailcloth.

"It took quite some time to finish, but I think I really learned a lot working on it," she said.

SoulDreamX said she plans to continue making custom amiibo in the future as her schedule allows her to. What do you think of her creation? Do you like her custom amiibo more than the original Princess Zelda that Nintendo released?

Savory Dishes from the Mind of Reggie

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Fans may not be aware, but I am an excellent cook. Perhaps even the best cook! In addition to bringing home the bacon to my family and single-handedly saving Nintendo, I fry up that bacon into delicious culinary courses.

After many years of honing my craft, I now feel it is time to share the Fils-Aimé family secrets and give you ideas for a truly successful Nintendo-endorsed meal. Get your bodies ready to consume the best dishes from my COO mind.

I always start my seven-course meals with a bit of pasta. Here are some of my favorites:

Fils-A-Macaroni and Cheese: Elbow noodles, feda cheese, parmesan cheese, white cheddar cheese, salt, Italian sausage, and Pizza Hut pepperoni.

Reggoo Pasta: Fettuccine noodles, Chunky Sautéed Onion and Garlic Ragù Pasta Sauce®, Pion Noir Wine (1/2 cup added to sauce), and kobe beef.

If the virility of your body is just not as impressive as mine, you may want something a little less filling:

Bein' A Meme Bean Soup: Pinto beans, kidney beans, magic beans, lima beans, cilantro, fresh spring water, and kosher salt.

If you're looking for something that'll surely make your boss realize that you should be in charge of an entire company based on your success running one of their top regions, you'll want to try:

Triforce of Tacos: Corn tortillas, corned beef (for courage), ground beef with taco powder (for power), tilapia (for wisdom), shredded Mexican cheese, and diced tomatoes and onions.

If you're not full yet (which I never am), try these for dessert:

Reggie Fils-A-Bake Cookies to Impress Your Japanese Superiors: Flour, white sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar, more sugar, butter, taro extract, connectivity, and oven hot enough to burn away your self-doubt.

"I'll Never Run Nintendo of Japan Even Though I'm More Qualified" Homemade Custard Pie: Aluminum pie tin, milk, 2 eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, Satoru Iwata's tears, and mochiko.

And my personal favorite:

Reggie's Signature Pancakes: All the maple syrup and just enough pancake.

Reggie Responds: How Do I Prepare for Making E3 Magic?

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 09:00:00 +0000

For the longest time, I've wanted to have a personal way to reach out and discuss various details and ideas with the Nintendo fanbase. After a lot of thought and debate over the matter, I've decided to launch a new weekly feature here on Reggie Informer: "Reggie Responds". No doubt you all have seen various websites that do videos or posts referred to as "mailbags", where they gather up a few questions over a week's time and then answer them in one go. Unfortunately, I don't have time to answer more than one question a week, but I think it's better than nothing, and there's always a chance that we can expand it as time goes on.

As this is the first week of Reggie Responds, I only had a small selection of questions to draw from, but fortunately we found a real winner among them. I have no idea how half of these people got my personal email address, but one guy in particular has been sending me messages for some time. This "Alpha" character has had some harsh things to say in the past, such as bashing Twilight Princess's storyline and, more recently, making himself out to be an utter fool with some absurd Majora's Mask 3D speculation, but it looks like he's actually managed to ask something of note this time.

Hey Reggie, it's Alpha again. With Aonuma's recent announcement about Zelda U skipping E3, it's gotten a lot of people wondering what you guys will actually be showing off at E3. I'm kind of curious too about the whole thing too, and it's gotten me wondering: how do you, the great Reggie Fils-Aime, prepare for E3? What sort of things help you get ready for the big show and know what to say?
If you ask me, you should totally discuss bringing Twilight Princess to Wii U and/or New 3DS. It makes so much sense. You'd finally have a chance to fix the incredibly flawed storyli

Haha, whoops, I copied a bit too much of his email. Don't worry about the rest of his comments; the real meat of the conversation is here at the beginning, and it's a topic I've wanted to address for a while now.

People are always asking me how I got so successful at "making E3 magic" – creating memes, iconic catchphrases, and lasting impressions on our fans. Let me assure you, it is not so simple a process as some might think. There is no guaranteed way to make yourself into a monumental icon in the world of gaming. But, seeing as I do appear to have been more successful than most, I believe it only right that I share some of the secrets behind my own methods.

For us at Nintendo, preparing for E3 begins months in advance. Of course, there's the constant rush to create trailers and demos, to test the experiences that will be on the showroom floor, and to set up the standard round of interviews with various media outlets. But the real meat of the E3-prep begins in March of every year, when every employee in Nintendo is contractually obligated to email me at least one phrase or sentence that they believe will help me to steal the show. Many opt for a humorous line, others go for something insightful, and a few come straight out of left field. By the end of April, I often have three or four quote suggestions for each employee – and yes, I absolutely do read each and every one of them.

Once the ideas have all been received, I take a week off from work and head into the Rocky Mountains. Nintendo owns a few cottages there that we use for company trips or retreats from time to time – but for me, the visit is far more serious. For the next seven days, I spend my mornings and early afternoons focusing exclusively on sorting through each suggestion. During the evenings, I take several hours to meditate on each of the ideas that I liked in the morning hours. My past experiences at E3 prove invaluable at this time, as I have more or less developed a sixth sense that lets me know if a suggestion is truly *promising*, or if it was simply something that struck my fancy but will strike out with the fans.

Upon returning from my trip, I set up several meetings with various parts of the Nintendo of America staff - developers, managers, the janitorial staff, voice actors, our private chefs, etc. – in which to present the chosen few that made it past my selection process. This allows me to gauge the reaction of an actual audience to each quote. We tend to have five or six of these meetings before I notice that everything is getting the same degree of gut-busting laughter, at which point I remember that all of the participants in this study works directly under me. So I throw out those results and have to move on without a satisfactory focus test.

I often spend at least a day or two after that realization bemoaning the fact, wondering if I should try focus testing with Nintendo's upper management, and having long talks with one of my friends in the marketing division about how that would be a horrible idea and would never work in a million years. Something about them not understanding how America works.. Honestly, I'm not sure. We've had the same conversation for at least three years now, and I still don't get what point he's trying to make with that.

We could keep discussing each step of this process, but I'll skip to the end as we're taking up a good bit more space than I'd originally intended for Reggie Responds (not that that's a bad thing! I'd love if all future questions inspire this kind of discussion). The night before E3 is perhaps the most important of all. By that time, I've managed to whittle away at the millions of ideas that were originally sent to me, narrowing the selection pool to the five or six absolute best candidates. They are the most inventive, witty, or impressive things that one can imagine. They are the cream of the crop, and they would no doubt turn heads and make fans laugh for days to come.

And as I turn in for bed the night before E3, I make a solemn vow that I shall not use any of them. Because "days" isn't long enough.

For E3 memes, one's goal must be to last for years or they will surely fail to have any impact at all. Fans will laugh or remember the quote for a brief time, and then they will move on to the next one soon after... While that may be enough for some, that bar is a bit too low for those of us at Nintendo.

What I've learned over the years is that the only way to make a real, lasting impression on the internet is with a genuine dose of spontaneity mixed in. It cannot be expected; it cannot be planned. By refusing to use the millions of amazing ideas that people could come up with when asked to, I force myself to stay on my toes and create something from scratch every time. Sure, it may not always work out as I hope; there will be plenty of duds along the way to that perfect quote. But for pushing oneself to think on the fly and coming up with random ideas at a moment's notice, you'd be surprised at how often you can strike that gold you're longing for. It's certainly worked that way for me, and I hope it will continue to in the future.

And let's be honest – if I can milk it for an extra week of vacation, so much the better.

Be sure to send your own questions to Reggie at reggie_at_reggieinformer_dot_com, and he'll be back next week to answer yet another one of your questions!

Delayed For A Good Cause: Reggie Speaks on the Zelda U News

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 13:00:00 +0000

It's safe to say that any shred of hope fans had for the success of the Wii U was torn to bits with the news we had to deliver last week regarding the delay of the highly-anticipated Legend of Zelda title for the system. And while we understand your concerns, we now ask you to take a moment and please understand why we need the extra time for what will the absolutely ultimate Zelda experience. I'm sure once it's all out in the open, all your fears will be calmed.

I cannot over exaggerate how great this definite entry in the Zelda franchise is: it's simply that good. Everything, from the gameplay, to the story, to the secrets of its enormous world meets everything I ever dreamed of since Skyward Sword let me down. In my extensive play-testing of the upcoming title, I've found joy I've never known, and I'm not prepared to give that up. For that reason, when Mr. Aonuma approached me and suggested that it was time to show off all the progress we had made, I just had to tell him no: this must be a secret to everyone.

You've all probably been looking forward to watching or perhaps even playing a demo of this glorious game at E3, but I'm not ready to share that with anyone yet. Not until I've discovered every secret to be found, and played this masterpiece of software will I let anyone other than me play it. And that is was I wished for on my birthday this year. After all, you only turn 54 once!

Source: Who else?

Ode to Reggie

Mases — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Major Nelson and Kevin Butler,
Video game fans idolize these men with such crescendo,
But these guys can't compare to the very best,
The one and only, Reggie of Nintendo.

Reggie started off working at Pizza Hut,
Then switched to Nintendo to make games,
Fans immediately started to love Reggie,
When at E3 2004, he said he was about taking names.

Reggie announced Wii Fit to mixed reception,
But one thing happened which made the crowd go steady,
He stepped onto the Wii Balance Board and proclaimed,
His body was ready.

When the 3DS was released, sales were quite slow,
At the time, there was very little we could do,
Except have Reggie ask his fans,
"What's wrong with you?"

The 3DS's sales started booming after that,
But soon the Wii U would arrive,
Reggie said it wasn't his problem, however,
Maybe that's why our sales took a nose dive.

Nevertheless, I still love Reggie,
He's the one we need to destroy the vermin,
The ones who work at Sony and Microsoft,
Besides, he still feels like a Purple Pikmin.

Meet the RI Staff: Reginald "Reggie" Fils-Aimé

ReggieNOA — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Greetings, Internet and Miiverse! I’m Reggie Fils-Aimé, president and COO of Nintendo of America and starting today, your number one source for all things Reggie!

For many years, countless fans have requested to be informed about me, and now that I have acquired a web address from a jolly fellow in Wisconsin, I have decided the Internet is ready for that request to be fulfilled.

As Editor-in-Chief of Reggie Informer, my first priority is to keep you all informed of all things Reggie. But life was not always so simple.

Since the glorious day my furry body was brought into this world, I knew I would be destined for greatness. But in order to achieve that greatness, I needed to have many things.

I needed an education. I needed a sense of style. I needed power, wisdom, and courage. I needed my face to float in the minds of admirers so they could see me and be inspired, not distracted by the great things I would bring them.

I obtained all of those things and more on my rise to greatness. And I completed billions of hours of Nintendo games along the way, keeping my mind sharp, my resolve clean, and the asses of my enemies kicked.

Except in Smash. I’m terrible at Smash.

I hope you all enjoy the splendor of today’s informer of information. I hope to become not only a great source of news for events in my life, but the world of Nintendo games, including the Zelda franchise.

Now grab some pancakes and pizza, savor a spirited debate, hype yourself for a special white and gold (or is it blue and black?) amiibo, unravel the mystery of a website-wide Easter Egg, brace yourself for a moderate television show, and savor the sweet scents of sautéed sustenance… because all that and more will be found in today’s first issue of Reggie Informer.

My name is Reggie Fils-Aimé.

And my body is ready!

Daily Debate: Should Nintendo Create Another 2D Zelda Game?

Link 2 — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 16:18:00 +0000

In today's gaming market, one can find a surplus of 3D console and handheld games with stunning visuals. On the flip-side, many developers are starting to create pixelated 2D games using new hardware that allows for more colors and faster movement. While the last few Zelda titles in the franchise have been 3D games, should Nintendo go ahead and revisit the good old 2D formula once again? Keep in mind I am not referring to A Link Between Worlds as a true 2D top down game, even if it used that gameplay style. This is mostly because first and foremost, it is literally in 3D. Beyond that, there is a mechanic in the game that brings you down to the worlds level, displaying a full 3D world. There is nothing wrong with this, but it's not the same concept as the classics.

The last true 2D Zelda game Nintendo bestowed upon the community was the The Minish Cap. The Minish Cap made its way off of the shelf and into the gaming communities' hearts, becoming a smashing success for the Gameboy Advance. Some fans are absolutely in love with 2D video games. Just look at the immense success of Shovel Knight, and all the buzz about its upcoming DLC expansion. If handled correctly, a 2D Zelda title could sell a few million copies rather quickly. Maybe it's time to explore Hyrule in the second dimension once again!

Another note for 2D Zelda games is that it offers more tantalizing puzzle designs - even puzzles in many 3D titles are far more suited for 2D.

On the other hand, some fans would like Nintendo to concentrate all their developing power on the newest 3D Zelda games. With Nintendo's recent announcement of the new NX hardware, the Zelda development team will be tossing around how it can be utilized for our favorite hero in green as soon as possible. Some of the community want eye-pleasing HD visuals, and not pixelated 2D graphics. Beyond that, some feel like they are more immersed in the world when it's something they can actually imagine themselves being in by just looking at it. 3D Zelda games also often have deeper stories.

There is no right answer here, but still... what is your preference? Should Link return to being a 2D sprite once more? Share your thoughts below!

New Zelda-Themed Mii Costumes for Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS

Link 2 — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 22:02:00 +0000

First up on the latest Nintendo Direct is some new DLC for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.

It appears as if we are getting new costumes for our Miis. In this new costume pack, we will be able to play in a Link costume as well as a Majora's Mask costume.

Each individual costume will cost $0.75, but if you buy it for both versions (Wii U and 3DS) it will only be $1.15. The entire bundle can be purchased for $6.00, or $9.20 if you buy it for both versions.

Additional information about each costume can be found here.

Are you as excited as I am for this? Will you be getting this DLC? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo Direct

Demos for Classic Zelda Titles Will Be Made Available Through Amiibo Tap

RODTheMaster — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 22:24:00 +0000

During today's Nintendo Direct, Satoru Iwata announced the new amiibo Tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits system, which will allow players to sample game demos by tapping amiibo figures to their Wii U gamepad. As part of a large number of classic Nintendo games, the system will include demos of the NES Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, and A Link to the Past.

The amiibo Tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits system allows players to play three-minute gameplay highlights for the game they unlock through their amiibo figures. A variety of scenes will be available for each title, so players can view multiple sections of each game. Demo titles are randomly unclocked when an amiibo is first used with amiibo Tap, so fans will need a bit of luck if they want to unlock Zelda or any other game specifically. This means that specific Zelda amiibo will not necessarily unlock a Zelda game. Amiibo Tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits will be realeased as a free download on the Nintendo eShop sometime this spring.

Source: Nintendo Direct

Ganondorf Amiibo Confirmed for September NA Release

TheGaspNinja — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 22:23:00 +0000

In today's NIntendo Direct, Iwata announced that they would be releasing the long awaited Ganondorf amiibo, therefore rounding off the long line of Zelda characters Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS offers.

The Ganondorf amiibo will have two seperate release dates depending on your region. In Northern America the figure will release in September, while the character will release in May in Europe. The full waves also hold different characters. In Northern America Ganondorf will release alongside Olimar, Dr. Mario, Bowser Jr., and Zero Suit Samus. In Europe Ganondorf will release alongside Zero Suit Samus, Palutena, and Dark Pit. The reason behind this decision is unsure.

Will you be picking up the Ganondorf? What do you think of the different release dates? Let us know in the comments below. Images of the amiibo can be found in the gallery below, and be sure to stay with us here at Zeldainformer for further News surrounding today's Nintendo Direct.

Source: Nintendo Direct

N64 and Nintendo DS Games Coming to Wii U Virtual Console

Link 2 — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 22:15:00 +0000

A new Virtual Console wave will include Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS titles. Why are we reporting on this, you ask? Because there are two Zelda games that were released on the DS.

Some fans don't like Spirit Tracks or Phantom Hourglass, but those happen to be my favorites. I would love to play them on the Wii U Virtual Console without the stylus.

The Nintendo Direct showed us that the Nintendo 64 Virtual Console titles will be roughly $10-12 USD a piece, while the Nintendo DS Virtual Console games will range from $7-10 USD. Customers can also pay $2 each to transfer Wii Virtual Console titles to their Wii U.

Are you hopeful for Zelda games on the Wii U virtual console? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo Direct

Nintendo Opens Super Smash Bros Fighter Ballot, Fans Can Submit Suggestions for New Characters

RODTheMaster — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 22:40:00 +0000

During today's Nintendo Direct, Satoru Iwata announced that a fighter ballot will be opened for fans to suggest new characters for Super Smash Bros. Available on the Smash Bros website, the ballot will allow fans to directly share their suggestions with the Smash Bros team. The ballot is open to all Nintendo characters from any Nintendo game, so Zelda characters are obviously open for suggestion.

Iwata explained that not every character suggestion will implemented in Smash Bros, but the Smash Bros team would consider all suggestions for future games in the series. Are there any Zelda characters you'd want to see in Smash Bros? Here's your chance! The ballot is available right here.

Source: Nintendo Direct

Reggie Informer: A Day to Remember

Nathan — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 03:00:00 +0000

Well April Fool’s day has come and gone and with it, Reggie Fils-Aime has departed from us, hoping to refocus his efforts on future Nintendo marketing plans. Reggie Informer day was something myself and a couple former staff members cooked up many years ago but we just never had the ability to pull it off in a way that felt just right.

For years we’ve gone the easy route – creating fake, somewhat believable, stories. Fans ate them up, thousands believed them, and it’s hilarious watching those stories go viral. Still, we always felt that you deserved better. That we could do better. As we approach ZI’s 8^th birthday (seriously, we’ve been at this 8 years!) we wanted to finally take an old idea and make it a reality.

What got us on this train of thought all those years ago was the Reggie Head rating system – something you guys have seen on practically anything we’ve reviewed the last 5 years. People loved this rating system so much we thought – what more could we do? Reggie Fils-Aime, whether you think he’s actually good at his job or not, is someone at Nintendo that constantly provides meme fodder – scripted or not. He’s provided a no non-sense edge, from talking about his Body being ready to asking “What’s Wrong with You” for not buying a 3DS or Wii U. We’ve highly enjoyed these many antics over the years that arguably culminated in the Reggie Fils-A-Mech at E3 last year.

We wanted to do right by Reggie, and I think you can all agree we did… something. Here’s a fond look back at a day you never want to forget:

The Site:

We changed our entire layout. It affected every page on the site. We then injected some floating Reggie heads just to make sure he’s always looking into your soul no matter your browser size. You can see an image of these changes above!

We also had an Easter egg hidden on our site index – and it was the reason our index got expanded from the usual 10 posts shown to 13. I could just tell you what that Easter egg was, but now that the day is behind us… I’ll just show you.

Can't read it (you can right click, open all of our images in a new tab, and then delete the __large, etc from the url to get an even bigger picture) - the first letter in every post made as part of Reggie Informer day - from the latest post to the last, spells out M Y B OD Y I S R E A D Y. It would appear absolutely no one caught this Easter egg... for shame!

Other things you may have missed

So, we had our 13 posts, which you can always find over in our Reggie Informer archive. Still, there were other alterations you might have missed if you weren’t looking. As an example - in the header of the site as you can see in the images above, names for all the links were changed to something related to Reggie. Beyond that...

No one seemed to mention it, but both Reggie Fils-Aime and Bill Trinen had rather extensive bio's in their profiles - something you can easily view by clicking on any author's name at the top of the page.

Social Media:

While we didn’t entirely invade all aspects of Social Media (Google Plus, YouTube, and Tumblr remained untouched for various reasons), we did take flight to our two most popular networks. We took twitter by storm:

We then proceeded to bombard our fans with Reggie love for nearly 17 straight hours on Facebook – which at first seems excessive, but is actually par for the course in terms how often we update our Facebook page. Some people couldn't handle the Reggie, others couldn't get enough:

Your reactions:

As with anything like this, not everyone is going to enjoy it. The same is pretty much true of anything we post – but one mantra we’ve always kept at Zelda Informer is that we want to do what we want to do, and we’re going to have as much fun doing it as possible. Still, there were a number of people who loved us 100 times over again, never wanting this day to end:

As we stated, we can’t please everyone, so of course we had our fair share of complainers too.

Oddly enough, despite us nailing Twitter with Reggie all day long, our fans only loved us even more there. The one true avenue where it truly seems we did please everyone.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, it was a really fun collaborative effort at Zelda Informer that we as a staff were able to pull together rather quickly. There was one idea for this day that, unfortunately, didn’t make it, but that just gives us a good starting point for next year! I wanted to be sure the entirety of the contributing staff members got their proper dues, so thank you to all of the following staff members for making one of my dreams come true:

Dennis Wyman – Floating Reggie Heads
Darrin Walter – Article Contributor
Tyler Meheen – Article Contributor
Paul Grzelak – Article Contributor
Adam Cohen – Article Contributor, Logo Creator/Image Man
Rod Loyd – Article Contributor
Al Luijendijk – Article Contributor
Steve Novak – Article Contributor
Jeffrey Edelstein – Article Contributor

For those curious, I contributed articles, put together our new layout, and did all the updating and posting on our social media networks. I also created both Reggie and Bill’s accounts, and created their entire profiles.

I hope you enjoyed yourself and I look forward to the challenge of topping ourselves in a fun, new, unique way next year.

Fan Theory: Snowpeak Ruins Originally a Fortress, Related to Ashei's Ancestors, Hyrulean War

Nathan — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 17:43:00 +0000

YouTuber VortexxyGaming is a budding theorist, with over a dozen theories about various aspects of the Zelda Kingdom - from Temples and Characters all the way to specific locations - she theorizes about their origins and how they may connect between different games. My only regret is that we didn't find out about her sooner, but it's highly possible we'll be sharing many of her theories over the course of this year. Today, we're going to share with you her Snowpeak Ruins theory.

This theory is an attempt to explain the origins of the mansion we explore inhabited by the Yeti in Twilight Princess. She believes the Yeti were not the original inhabitants and that Ashei, who was raised in Snowpeak by her own admission, may have a direct connection through her ancestry to the original inhabitants of the ruins. She also theorizes how Snowpeak itself and the location of the fortress/mansion may have indeed been present in Ocarina of Time - just not snowed over yet and inaccessible at that time to the player. She feels this location played a key role in a war between the Zora and the Gerudo during a time when the Hyrulueans may have made peace with the Zoras after their own struggles during the Hyrulean war.

There is a lot of great information here and her theory has a decent amount of evidence and support. Though the connection is speculative on all accounts, it's interesting diving into the history of Hyrule and trying to find out just what exactly happened.

Giveaway: Win the Entire Naolito Zelda Collection of T-Shirts

Nathan — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 18:07:00 +0000

We bring you our first "big" giveaway of 2015 today, as we have teamed up with the fine folks at OnceUponaTee.com to giveaway the entire Naolito Zelda shirt collection. Of course, you can purchase this entire collection yourself for just $24.99, but why do that when you can get them for free? We'll be running this contest for two days, using Rafflecopter to complete the entries. Obviously entry is free and yes, we will ship the products all of the world if necessarily. What are you waiting for? This collection is slick! Here's a quick look at the designs:

Astrophysicist Argues that Majora's Mask's Moon Houses a Black Hole

RODTheMaster — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 18:46:00 +0000

In 2013, popular YouTube show Game Theory asked whether Link's quest in Majora's Mask is pointless or not. Using some good, old-fashioned math and science to calculate the physical properties of the game's falling moon, game theorist MatPat concluded that the moon's crash landing on Termina would do irreparable climate damage such that Link would be powerless to save the day. Yesterday the PBS Space Time channel took this theory one step further, arguing that Majora's moon could in fact be a tiny black hole hidden under a rocky shell.

Space Time host Gabe Perez-Giz, an astrophysicist with a PhD from Columbia University, examined how gravity and density factor into Majora's Mask's signature moon as it falls to the ground. According to his measurements, the moon's size and distance from Termina would not physically generate the catastrophic events seen in the game's climax, assuming the moon behaves like our moon. In order for the game's final moments to take place as the moon draws closer to Termina, the moon would have to be insanely dense. Perez-Giz states:

"It's the equivalent of cramming 20 million African elephants into a thimble."

According to the host, the only solid objects in nature that are that dense are neutron stars, which Majora's Mask's moon is far too small to be. He concludes that the only way for this moon to affect the world in the way it does is if it somehow housed a small black hole within its rocky exterior. In this way, the moon could survive its plummet to Termina and eventually rip the land into shreds. Sure, many of these physical anomalies could be easily explained away with magic, but that's no fun. The analysis and explanation of this theory is extremely interesting, especially considering it comes from an astrophysicist.

What do you think of the theory? Let us know in the comments!

Club Nintendo Elite Status Gifts Have Arrived, 3 Zelda Games Included

Link 2 — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 20:04:00 +0000

It has been known for a while now that Club Nintendo will be shutting down this summer. March 31st was the last day to register your Club Nintendo pins, but Nintendo has one last gift to give to their loyal customers.

If you reached the Platinum or Gold tier before April 1st, you are eligible to get one free game from Club Nintendo. Included in this list of games is Animal Crossing: New Leaf (my personal favorite 3DS game!), Mario Galaxy 2, and Mario Kart 7, among others. What I will be downloading however, is one of the three Zelda games that are up for grabs. That's right: three Zelda games made it to the Elite Status rewards!

The first is the Virtual Console version of The Legend of Zelda, available for the Wii U. If you get it for nostalgia or simply for a tough challenge, having this decades old classic will be something you won't regret.

The second and third Zelda games are Virtual Console Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, available on the 3DS.

Will you be downloading one of the three Zelda games here, or did you have your eye on a more modern game like Mario Party Island Tour? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Source: Club Nintendo

Daily Debate: Should Zant Have Been the Final Boss of Twilight Princess?

Mases — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 19:53:00 +0000

From his inception, Ganondorf has stood as the iconic villain of the Zelda franchise. Memorable as he may be, many fans appear to be in favor of new and diverse villains. Vaati, the Skull Kid, and even Ghirahim are loved by fans near and far. So why does Ganondorf still await us in the final dungeon of so many games?

Throughout the series Ganondorf has become synonymous with The Legend of Zelda, but his duty seemed to be only the final boss who awaited your arrival patiently while only really showing up in cutscenes prior. In a movie he would be a fine villain, but in the format of a video game a good villain is one who impacts your game. An enemy is not made more interesting by cutscenes telling you it is interesting. What makes it interesting is the way that you interact with it, as that is the nature of the format.

Twilight Princess, however, introduces us to Zant. I remember thinking that this was just a disguised Ganondorf, and in retrospect he almost is, but there's development here. Here we have a new villain with a new backstory who actually affects your gameplay, showing up at major triumphs to undo all your hard work. This villain isn't just going to sit in a castle waiting for you to arrive and destroy him; he is there to make your day exceptionally bleak.

He has strong motivation, provides a clear moral lesson, and is a legitimate threat and yet he gets thrown out, only to be replaced by the boss we've seen time and time again? Any way you look at it, that's bad writing. Or was it necessary to characterize Ganondorf as an all-consuming evil that no other force could resist succumbing to? Here we have the conflict: was it as simple as bad writing, or was Nintendo trying to appease fans by bringing back the classic antagonist?

Which character do you like better? Were you satisfied with the with the final boss of Twilight Princess? Tell us below, and join the Daily Debate!

Top 3 Zelda Characters That Should Be Added in Super Smash Bros.

Link 2 — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, Nintendo announced a brand new Super Smash Bros. ballot via a Nintendo Direct. The purpose of this ballot is to determine what new characters would be added into the game. Nintendo has given us, the fans, the power of changing Smash Bros. future!

What character should the fans want? What character does Smash Bros. need? Being a dedicated Zelda fan, I want more Zelda in my Smash, but what Zelda character should be added? Here are my top three choices for who it should be.

3. Darunia

Leader of the proud Goron tribe, hammer-wielding pro of Hyrule, and possibly the best dancer I have seen in a video game, Darunia is one of the roughest and toughest characters of the Zelda series.

Playing as Darunia in Hyrule Warriors makes you feel like a boss. Charging through enemies and smashing their faces in with his hammer is so fun, and his special attack kicks butt. When I unlocked Darunia, I instantly played as him as much as I could to level him up. Oncee he's at level 30 or higher he is unstoppable.

I could see Darunia's down B in Smash being just as powerful as Donkey Kong's. Smashing his hammer into the ground creating shock waves would be so satisfying, not to mention smacking other characters upside the head.

2. Skull Kid

Yeaaaah, Skull Kid! He's all mysterious and stuff. He recently starred in a remake. He wears Majora's Mask, which, needless to say, is the epitome of swag.

If Skull Kid were playable in Smash, I might forgive Nintendo for not adding him as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors. (Instead we got a Skull Kid costume for Lana?) Seriously, who here would not want to play as Skull Kid in Smash?

Using the powers of Majora's Mask to break the skulls of other fighters would be any Zelda fan's dream. Even gamers that haven't played Majora's Mask know that Skull Kid is a pretty well-loved character in the Zelda series.

It would be smart for Nintendo to add him as a playable character, just for the joyous outbreak that would spread across the Internet. Can you say free PR?

1. Toon Ganondorf

When The Wind Waker was announced for the GameCube more than a decade ago, fans raged and kicked and screamed at Nintendo. "This isn't a kids' cartoon game! It's the Zelda series!" they said. "RIP Zelda!" they said. Well, when the game came out, some fans actually saw that it was a decent game.

The majority of the fan base still hated it. The idea of a cartoon Zelda seemed disgusting to them. Well, The Wind Waker seemed to grow a larger fan base over time. The Wind Waker HD came out, and fans went crazy over it. They bought the crap out of it, and now The Wind Waker is a favorite among many. What I just described to you, by the way, was the Zelda cycle. You can check out what that is here.

Anyways, what I'm trying to get at is, Toon Ganondorf would totally wreck shop in Smash. Everyone loves Toon Link, so why not be able to play as Toon Ganondorf too? He would look so awesome facing off with Toon Link, and I bet he would create a lot of DLC sales.

Honorable Mention: Vaati

Vaati is my most favorite main villain in the Zelda series to-date. We haven't seen him since The Minish Cap in 2005, which saddens me. (#VaatiForZeldaU anyone?)

I just couldn't end this editorial without mentioning him. What is the reason why I'm not listing him as one of the top three that should be added to Smash? Unfortunately, not a lot of fans would be happy with that. He doesn't have much of a cult following like Ghirahim does.

If it were a personal choice, I would add him in Smash, but I don't think Nintendo would benefit much from adding him into the game. I would love to see him return in Zelda U, though.

Closing

There you go. The top three Zelda characters that should be added to Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS. Are you going to vote for one of them here, or vote for someone entirely different? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Check Out This Amazing Majora's Mask Speed Painting Video

RODTheMaster — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 22:45:00 +0000

As a fan, I can never get enough speed painting videos inspired by the Zelda series. A few days ago, artist Rootis Tabootus uploaded a speed painting video for a Majora's Mask piece onto YouTube. The painting itself has a striking expressionist feel to it, and the video reveals how the artist's original design transformed into the impressive final product.

According to Rootis Tabootus, the painting was completed in roughly 45 minutes real time. By watching the video, we can see how different the piece's original design was to its finalized version. The original seemed to feature Tatl and Tael floating near the mask, but they are completely absent in the final work. The visual style of this painting is amazing; I really enjoy how the brush strokes and paint splotches are incorporated. The painting's unsymmetrical nature compliments the creepy, mysterious nature of Majora's Mask.

You can check out more of Rootis Tabootus' speed painting videos on her YouTube channel. You can also find a high quality version of her Majora's Mask painting and more on her Deviant Art page.

Cosplay of the Week: Kafei by RikuAojama

Mases — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 01:14:00 +0000

Those of us who've played Majora's Mask (original or 3D) will most likely have fallen in love with the adorable story of Anju and Kafei. Their side quest has been one of the most memorable parts of any Zelda game, and it has quite an awe-inducing ending. This weeks Cosplay is, of course, a little one of the young Kafei.

RikuAojama, of Deviant Art, has made quite a sweet little Kafei, so I've chosen her Cosplay to feature this week. It's fairly simple, and with such little detail you can still see that her portrayal of Kafei is very innocent and thought out. She hasn't just chucked together a bunch of clothes and yelled "hey, look! I'm Kafei!".

This feature is only a short one, as RikuAojama only has 3 photo's of her Cosplay, but you can certainly check out more of this lady's Cosplays by clicking the link to her Deviant Art profile. So, check out her Cosplay of Kafei in the mini gallery below, and let us know what you think of this sweet Cosplay.

As always, if you have any particular Characters you'd like to see featured, comment below and also tag any of your own Cosplays on Twitter with #ZIcostume and @ZeldaInformer.

Source: RikuAomjama - Deviant Art

Fan Theory: The Temple of Time

HyruleHero3D — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 22:42:00 +0000

YouTuber VortexxyGaming has caught our attention yet again with another excellent theory. This theory is in regards to the Temple of Time and it's purpose throughout each entry in the timeline.

The Temple of Time is an iconic landmark throughout the Zelda franchise and frequently makes multiples appearances. VortexxyGaming, the driving force behind this theory states that it appears multiple times across the franchise, and takes on a different appearance and purpose in each iteration.

There is a plethora of speculation in this theory so you should, without a doubt, check it out! Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Beautiful Watercolor Portrays Dark Link Serving Detention

TheGaspNinja — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 15:08:00 +0000

The fan base behind The Legend of Zelda is very active, and as such fan art inspired by the video game franchise we know and love isn't rare at all. We often get to see beautiful renditions of Hyrule Castle on a beautiful summer's day or on the other end of the spectrum, the moon crashing down on Clock Town, in an all too familiar extravagant and bombastic style. It's not often, though, that we get to see Link, and especially Dark Link, in a different setting than the ones Nintendo has provided us with, although this is exactly what self taught artist Adam Scythe has done.

Not only is Scythe a superb artist, he is also a reasonably well-known youtuber and has recently created one of these unusual pieces in watercolor where he depicts Dark Link sitting in a Hylian classroom serving detention (according to Scythe's Facebook page). Scythe recorded the entire process and uploaded the video to youtube, visible above. Aside from an obviously bored Dark Link, the rest of the composition shows off several lovely little details, such as the cuccoo outside the window, and the Ocarina of Time on the desk behind Dark Link. The largest portion of the work is not all too colorful, aside from the window, but this is not all too strange as the setting is, of course, a school.

This work belongs to what the artist calls his 'Alternative' series, and he captures the essence of that title perfectly. Dark Link is very rarely portrayed outside of his normal environments, and especially not inside a classroom. The modern twist isn't necessarily bad though, as it provides us with a breath of fresh, original air alongside all the other less-alternative, but still incredibly wonderful pieces found all across the World Wide Web.

What do you think of the setting and style? Do you like this concept? Let us know in the comments! Also, be sure to check out the full video above.

ZI Livestream: Mario Kart 8 Tournament, T-Shirt Giveaways, and The Minish Cap

Nathan — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 02:11:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Welcome back to a night of video games with the Editor-in-Chief of Zelda Informer! Tonight we're hosting a Mario Kart 8 Tournament, giving away some free T-Shirts, and capping the night with The Minish Cap! The stream will run pretty much until I am about to pass out - so plan for a nice 3 to 4 hours of gaming ahead! The top 10 in our tournament at the very end of the stream will all win a free T-Shirt, so be sure to race all the way to the end! I know you can make it!

We'll then revisit a game I haven't played since a week after it released... The Minish Cap! If you'd like to join in the chat, check us out on Twitch!

Buy Zelda Games Away From Consoles: Nintendo eShop Can Now Be Accessed From Web Browsers

Mases — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 03:54:00 +0000

The Nintendo eShop, Nintendo's online store, is now accessible from web browsers, which means you can now buy Zelda games digitally, straight from a computer or phone! That's right, this is yet another way to get your games. Whether you're on the go and need to buy Zelda Wii U when it drops, or you've been forgetting to purchase Majora's Mask 3D, and your 3DS is dead, just buy it from your smart phone!

When purchasing from this service, there are two different ways of obtaining the game after buying it. One method of getting the game onto your system is sending the game to your system with your Nintendo Network ID. If you sign in with your information, you can directly send the game to your Wii U/3DS easily. The second method is using a download code that you are given directly after purchasing. Just go into the eShop on the system you purchased the game for and enter the download code into the "Download Code" section of the eShop, located in the settings of the shop.

You can find the web version of the eShop here and the section for Zelda games here. Are you going to be doing your Nintendo digital shopping from your phone or computer regularly? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Nintendo

ZI Podcast Episode 30: No Zelda U at E3, April’s Nintendo Direct Reaction, and Mario's 30th

Acohen95 — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 01:00:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

This week we sit down with the pixel artist Michafrar of Jontron fame to talk about the latest Nintendo Direct, Why Nintendo is so confident not having Zelda U at E3 this year, and Adam sings for you guys! Our opening theme is inspired by ReggieInformer this week, thanks to everyone who was with us for that hilarious day.

This week’s cast is your host as always, Adam, joined by Chris (Scared to admit he likes Pink), Nate (Busy being the boss), and special guest Michafrar (Sorry Al, there’s a new belgian in town). Thanks again to Brandon for your opening theme song and topics, and HuskyByTheGeek for your closing theme. If you have any topics, theme song submissions, or anything you’d like to send us, please email us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com we’ll gladly bring up your topics & theories on the podcast! Be sure to share the podcast with your friends and help spread the word!

We also talk about the Smash Ballot this week and decide who deserves to go on the roster. Don’t agree with our choices? Respond to the comment topic of the week below to be a part of this week’s discussion! I look forward to reading your responses!

Social Media

Special Thanks

Michafrar for this week's custom banner!
Brandon & the gang for our intro theme song
HuskyByTheGeek's Youtube (Outro Theme)
All of our listeners for sharing the podcast and being with us for 30 episodes!

Daily Debate: Should Rabbit Hunting Return In Future Titles?

HyruleHero3D — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Happy Easter, Zelda Informer readers! Today's usually all about egg hunts, but we'll be discussing the next closest thing: rabbit hunting!

Rabbit Hunting, in Spirit Tracks was an optional side-quest in which the player was tasked with the chore of hunting lost rabbits, who have fled across New Hyrule. There are four types of bunnies, each can be found in their respective realm.

Easier said than done, the rabbits can be easily found hiding behind objects, such as rocks or barrels, while traveling on your train, however, the hard part is actually catching them. Once exposed, the rabbit will attempt to flee, and you'll only be given ten seconds to successfully capture said rabbit.

When you think you've captured enough rabbits, you can travel back to the Rabbitland Rescue, a paradise exclusively for the rabbits and you'll be rewarded. In total, there are one-hundred rabbits, of course, scattered across the Overworld. You'll need to have some extra good patience if you want to complete this quest.

What are your thoughts on the rabbit hunting quest? Would you like to see it return in the future? Let us know in the comments below.

Art Sources: 1, 2

Fan Creates a Multi-Color Triforce Lamp

Link 2 — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 17:53:00 +0000

Mike Thomas, aka Reddit user RicolaTesla, set out to craft a fully-functional lamp that resembles the Triforce. It appears as if he has completed that goal, because he recently posted pictures of the lamp on Imgur. He also uploaded a video of the lamp on YouTube, to show off how it works. The Imgur gallery can be viewed above, and the YouTube video can be seen below.

Mr. Thomas has not just created a yellow Triforce lamp. Instead, he used RGB LEDs, which allows the three separate panels to become any color you want. Whether it is red, blue, purple, green, or Triforce yellow, this lamp is a brilliant work of art.

You would think that is all this lamp has to offer, but that's not all Mike added to his Zelda-style lamp. On the back stand, which is beautifully stained piece of wood, there is a very detailed engraved Hylian Crest. It's amazing the lengths Thomas has gone out to make his Zelda lamp stand apart from others.

Thomas says that he has a Kickstarter campaign pending to fund the creation of more lamps, and asks if anyone is interested in funding then to email him at mike@thomastesla.com. For more of Mike Thomas, you can visit his website here.

Source: Reddit

New NES Legend of Zelda Speedrun World Record, First Sub-30 Minute Run

RODTheMaster — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 19:30:00 +0000

There may be a lot of talk about Ocarina of Time speedruns, but The Legend of Zelda on NES still has its own active speedrunning community. An elusive goal of LoZ Any% speedrunners has been to ultimately finish the game in less than 30 minutes, a goal many prominent runners have been steadily inching toward over the last year. Earlier this week, speedrunner LackAttack24 made history by achieving this goal and setting a new world record for the classic title, finishing the game in 29 minutes and 56 seconds.

LackAttack24 set the record streaming on Twitch on March 31st. The Legend of Zelda Any% speedruns involve a great deal of movement optimization and item drop management, and a bit of luck as well. LackAttack24 experienced a few scares during his run, most of them dealing with a low bomb count in his inventory. Bombs are crucial when dealing with Dark Nuts and other high-level enemies, so a speedrunner relies on bomb drops to succeed. The runner of course pulled through and maintained a world record pace throughout the run.

LackAttack24 bobbed and weaved unbelievably fast through the game's last dungeon. After making quick work of Ganon in the final room, the runner could not believe his success. He remained speechless for a few moments in order to comprehend what had just taken place. This is an absolutely monumental achievement and I hope to see what LackAttack24 does next.

What did you think of the run? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Trailer Drake - 10 Popular The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Opinions

Nathan — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 05:12:00 +0000

Trailer Drake, a YouTuber known for creating unpopular opinion videos, did something rather drastic for April fools day - he created a legit popular opinion video about Ocarina of Time. As you can probably tell, this is the exact opposite of what he normally does. Still, he wanted to gauge his audience a bit as well to see if they would like these sort of features even if it is a big contrast to his other work. Either way, he brings up several opinions about the game I have heard first hand over the years. In my mind, he nails a lot of what I hear Ocarina of Time enthusiasts say over and over again - which is hardly a bad thing.

Do you agree with his break down? Art is by Txikimorin.

Here's a Nifty Zelda Theme for Your Xbox One

Nathan — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 06:40:00 +0000

One great thing the Xbox One allows that sadly the Wii U does not is the ability to customize your background. This essentially creates custom themes, where you can use any image you want. Still, just throwing an image on the background doesn't inherently complete a theme - you want some nice highlights for certain sections of the Xbox One UI as well to complete the look. UntamedDeviance added a new Zelda theme to Xaged, an Xbox One theme site that allows you to see these themes in action before you download them.

You can download this theme directly right here. What do you think? Do you wish you could have more customization options on the Wii U? How about creating our own themes for the 3DS?

Zelda U Gameplay Footage Was Added into the Game Awards Last-Minute

Link 2 — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 20:55:00 +0000

We all remember that fateful day when Aonuma and Miyamoto showed off the first gameplay footage of Zelda U. Given the quality of the video, we assumed much planning went into it, but it appears we were wrong. The entire five minute video was put together last-minute, as revealed a recent Game Trailers Live. The following quote is from Geoff Keighley, the host of the 2014 Game Awards.

And yeah Zelda… I mean I was always pushing obviously for Zelda because that would be an amazing moment, that’s the big game everybody wanted to see more of. Many years in the past I’ve asked for Zelda games and they don’t come through, but yeah it was really amazing how it came together. I heard only a couple of weeks before the show that Mr. Aonuma was considering doing something around Zelda, and initially it sounded to me more like he was gonna maybe sort of show a little bit more of the scene from E3 – that short little piece to show that that was real. So I was like, ‘oh, that could be kind of cool.’ But you don’t quite know what you’re going to get. And then yeah, it was like the week of the show they were like, ‘oh, well Mr. Aonuma’s taped a video, Mr. Miyamoto’s in it, it’s about 5 minutes long, and he does like a full demo of the game.’ And I was like, ‘wow’.
So it was sort of unexpected how much great content was in that, and we were pleasantly surprised. And even when I saw the video, I’m like ‘wow, they’re just like playing the game.’ And I think people really responded to kind of how raw and real that demonstration was… there was something charming I think about the Nintendo presentation because it was just Miyamoto and Aonuma having a conversation… and it was obviously very early in development what they showed, but it was just a slice of the game. And yeah that came together super last minute, but was an amazing moment inside of the show.

In light of the recent news about Zelda U, I'm relieved that Aonuma decided to show off some gameplay footage, as we really don't have any idea when we'll even get another glance at this title. For now, we'll just have to be content with this hastily-created, but fun footage. When do you think we'll get another look at Zelda U?

Source: GT Live (via Nintendo Everything)

YouTuber Creates Zelda Inspired Easter Eggs

Nathan — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 03:54:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda offers inspiration for thousands of people the world over, especially in the field of art. Giving that today was a holiday for many folks around the globe I felt sharing this particular art would be worthwhile. YouTuber Semmy s Art masterfully paints 4 eggs for Easter, all of them featuring something related to Zelda. One of them features our favorite hero, Link... while others feature the Royal Family Crest and Majora's Mask. It's just a nice tribute and a fitting way to cap our Easter here at Zelda Informer. I hope you enjoy watching her create this great art!

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Themes as Rock Covers

blaqkbird — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 06:28:00 +0000

One and Done: A Tribute to Items Only Appearing Once (3D Edition)

Mases — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 02:36:00 +0000

Items are among the biggest things that makes Zelda what it is. Everyone has a favorite: the hookshot, the bow, the boomerang, there are so many to choose from. However, what about the items that have only appeared once? Items that, for whatever reason, were never put into another Zelda game after their initial appearance. Whether the item wouldn't fit in a different style of Zelda, or the item wasn't exactly as useful as it was intended to be, these items only had one chance in the sunlight. Today, we're looking at some of our favorite one off items and theorizing why these items maybe weren't put into other games.

A few rules we're setting on this list. Firstly, as long as the item has appeared in only one main series Zelda, it is eligible for the list. This means that even if the item reappeared in Hyrule Warriors or Super Smash Bros, the item can still appear on the list as long as they were only in one main Zelda; although, this works the other way as well. As much as we would like to include the Crossbow from Link's Crossbow Training, it never appeared in a main Zelda, so it doesn't count. Another rule for this tribute is no story related items. This takes items such as The Wind Waker off the table. Also, no swords and shields will be on this list. The last restriction placed on this list is no masks. While technically items, there are so many masks that talking about them all would devalue the point of the article: to shed some light on the lesser used items of the Zelda franchise. I really would like to do an entire editorial on masks sometime, but that time isn't now.

Oh, and if you're disappointed in the fact that I am not including the Top Down Zelda games in this list, don't worry, I'll be making a follow up editorial at a later date with those. I'm not quite as familiar with them as I am with the 3D Zelda Games, so I want to do that list justice by playing those games first. However, with that said, one off items are only in one Zelda game, so despite not including the top downs in this list, if an item does appear in a 2D one as well as a 3D one, it's automatically disqualified for the list. With these housekeeping items out of the way, let's jump into the list!

The Gale Boomerang

The Gale Boomerang is really one of the most distinct examples of the one off item. It's only in one game: Twilight Princess, and it's one of the more remembered items in the game: after appearing in Twilight Princess, it even made an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and every Smash since as Link's boomerang!

The Gale Boomerang was your basic boomerang with a new spin (pun intended). When locked onto a target, the boomerang would go for it right away, but also created a small whirlwind around itself. This whirlwind could carry enemies back to Link, or even stun them for a short time. It also worked on faraway items as well; Link could throw it to get items he may not have. It was a nice twist (pun also intended) on the standard boomerang. One drawback to it, however, was that it caused very little to no damage when thrown, to account for the whirlwind. This was a major departure from the other boomerangs, which could normally defeat many enemies.

What about the Gale Boomerang made it only good for Twilight Princess? Honestly, at the end of the day, it's just a variation of the boomerang. In my opinion, it was a cool gimmick for one game, but it may get old after multiple games of it. Besides, the Clawshot and...the next item on our list have some similar functions to the Gale Boomerang. It's a cool item; just maybe not cool enough for multiple games to be built around it.

The Beetle

The Beetle was rather unique, while also providing some of the functions the Gale Boomerang provided. You obtained the Beetle in Skyward Sword, and it appeared in the newest Super Smash Bros. games as an item.

You controlled the Beetle by pointing the Wii Remote at the TV, then twisting and turning it to pick up items. Later in the game, you received upgrades to it to increase speed, fly further, and even add a grabbing mechanism that allowed you to drop bombs and other items on enemies! It's a very cool item, and I personally prefer it to the Gale Boomerang, as you feel you have more control over it.

Why did this item only appear in Skyward Sword? Actually...it may not be a one off item for long. Although it's only appeared in one main Zelda thus far, Skyward Sword is the latest console Zelda, and as we know very little about Zelda Wii U at the moment, there is a chance it could make a reappearance in that game as well. As someone who adored the Beetle, I'd certainly welcome its return.

Din's Fire, Farore's Wind, and Nayru's Love

These are the spells that made their appearance in Ocarina of Time, and then later got integrated into Zelda's Super Smash Bros. series moveset. They all act a bit differently in Ocarina of Time than they do in Smash, however.

Din's Fire was the offensive spell: it caused a huge orb of fire to surround Link, and it allowed for anything flammable to burn, and most enemies around him to be engulfed in the flame. It was very useful for when you were surrounded by enemies.

Farore's Wind was more of a convenience spell. While inside of a dungeon, it allowed you to place a warp point in that section of the dungeon, and then warp there by using the spell a second time. You even use it to warp between dungeons, should you so choose to.

Nayru's Love was the defensive spell of the game. When using it, it would manifest a huge blue diamond around Link, preventing damage from occurring onto him. He could even use the sword while under its spell!

These three spells were very useful in Ocarina of Time, so why were they left out in later installments? I'll go through each spell and my thoughts on why they were no longer in the games. Starting with Farore's Wind, each of the Zelda games following Ocarina of Time had a new, more convenient way of warping in dungeons, at least in comparison to Ocarina of Time. Majora's Mask, for example, had the Song of Soaring, which allowed you to warp to any Owl Statue you had marked with your sword. The Wind Waker, using another example, had Warp Jars to open up throughout the dungeon, which allowed for easy travel to main hubs found within the dungeon. These additions kind of made Farore's Wind obsolete.

Din's Fire, however, is definitely a cool looking spell, and I feel if it were added into a newer Zelda game, it would look beautiful. If any of the spells were to come back, I'd want it to be this one.

Finishing with Nayru's Love, they actually did bring this spell back in the form of Magic Armor, something that appears in The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. While not the same name, the functionality of it is very similar. I tried to avoid adding items like this in my list (it's the reason why you won't see Mole Mitts on the 2D list, or the Digging Mitts and Mogma Mitts on this list, despite Mole Mitts being one of the greatest things I've ever seen ever), but as I wrote entries for two spells, I thought I might as well include this as well.

There is also one more reason the other spells may not have appeared in later games: after the release of The Wind Waker, there has not been a magic meter! Right, when using these spells, a portion of your magic meter would go down. Granted, there was the Stamina meter in Skyward Sword, and the Energy meter in Link Between Worlds, but these behaved very differently than the magic meter did in other Zelda games. This may have been a reason why these spells never made a reappearance. As for Magic Armor, in Twilight Princess, it would drain rupees instead of magic due to the lack of the Magic meter.

The Swift Sail

Maybe I'm cheating with this one; I don't care, it's my list. The Swift Sail is a great addition to The Wind Waker HD and deserves to be mentioned among these other items.

When you obtain the Swift Sail, you're able to use it for easier sailing across the Great Sea. While using it, you move incredibly fast across the ocean, and you don't need to stop to change the direction of the wind using the Wind Waker! The wind automatically changes to the direction you're facing, making for fast and convenient sailing. This item was not in the original game, which led to complaints concerning the length of time it took to get everywhere. That's why, when Nintendo made this remake, they added this item in.

It should be obvious as to why the Swift Sail never made a second appearance. It was an enhancement made to a remake of a Zelda game to address a complaint. With that said, however, should sailing ever return to the Zelda world, the Swift Sail would be a very welcome return.

The Spinner

There are a lot of one off items in Twilight Princess: Water Bombs, the Ball and Chain, Hawkeye, and more. However, if I list EVERY one off item from EVERY game, there will just be too much writing. As such, I'm cutting off the Twilight Princess one offs with this item: the Spinner.

The Spinner is an item Link can use to ride different railings on walls in dungeons. This allows Link to go to new places he was not able to go before. He also has a spin attack with it, which you can use to attack enemies. However, you only are on it for a limited time before you are kicked off due to physics.

The Spinner is my favorite concept of an item from Twilight Princess. I think it was executed better in Hyrule Warriors, where Link can use it to wipe out multiple enemies at a time, all while riding on top of it. However, since Twilight Princess is the main series game, I shouldn't allow functionality from Hyrule Warriors influence this.

I personally don't know if the Spinner should return. On the one hand, as I said, it was a cool concept. However, I'm not too big of a fan of the functionality in Twilight Princess, so I say maybe it's a good thing this item was a one off.

The Tingle Tuner/The Tingle Bottle

Unfortunately for The Wind Waker (or fortunately for contexts outside this list), the majority of its items actually do appear in other games. There are some other items, like bait and the delivery bag, but those were very specific The Wind Waker items, and not entirely interesting to talk about.

Fortunately, there are two items that are very interesting to talk about that haven't appeared since The Wind Waker, despite also being very specific to that game. The Tingle Tuner and the Tingle Bottle were in The Wind Waker and The Wind Waker HD specifically. The Tingle Tuner made use of the Game Boy Advance-GameCube Link Cable that no one besides me and very few others had. Using it would display a map of the area as well as other features, such as healing Link, or have Tingle target a specific enemy to throw a bomb at. If you're in a dungeon, Tingle will help you out along the way by giving you advice.

As Nintendo had not been making Game Boy Advances for years, when it came time to remake The Wind Waker for Wii U, obviously they couldn't reuse the Tingle Tuner. Instead, they used the Tingle Bottle. This allowed you to send posts to Miiverse. You are also able to collect other players' bottles in the Great Sea as you sail. This was a nice little addition, as it incorporates Miiverse as well as replaces an outdated feature.

As with the Swift Sail, it's incredibly obvious as to why these two items haven't made reappearances. The Tingle Tuner hasn't made its glorious return because it was hinging on a failed accessory, and the Tingle Bottle, while I can see its functionality reappearing in Zelda Wii U, making an appearance as the Tingle Bottle is extremely unlikely. However, while I've made a few jokes at the Tingle Tuner's expense, it actually had some pretty cool ideas. I like the idea of Tingle helping out in dungeons, and they even did incorporate the map on the second screen feature in the Wii U version. However, as I said, its fate hinged on a failure of an accessory, so it never went anywhere.

Powder Keg

Majora's Mask's masks are the items that make it unique from the other Zelda games.By making masks not eligible, I removed every unique item Majora's Mask had. The one item I can still talk about is just a powered up bomb, and that'll have to be the representation Majora's Mask gets on this list.

As stated, the Powder Keg is just a stronger version of the bomb. Link can only use them while wearing the Goron mask, and because of how powerful they are, Link is only allowed to hold one in his inventory at all times.

The Powder Keg could appear again if they need an upgraded bomb, but as I mentioned, Link can only carry them as Goron Link, so unless you play as a Goron in a future Zelda, or they make a Majora's Mask sequel, I don't see this item coming back.

Hover Boots

As the final one off item, I chose a rather unique piece of equipment Link puts on: the Hover Boots. These boots are pretty cool, and I'm actually surprised they haven't made a reappearance since their debut in Ocarina of Time; I found out while creating this list they hadn't, but thinking about it, yeah, they actually haven't.

The Hover Boots grant Link the power to hover in the air for literally about a second, and then he falls. These boots also provide very little traction, so much like the Iron Boots, it's not advisable to wear them outside of where you need to use them. The 3DS version of Ocarina of Time makes switching from both these boots much less of a chore, and that game made me appreciate both sets of boots more.

I feel the Hover Boots should make their return. It's surprising that the Iron Boots have made several reappearances in different Zelda games, but not the Hover Boots. The next time the Iron Boots are included in a new game, Nintendo show throw a bone to the Hover Boots.

And there you have our tribute to the many one off Zelda series items. To be honest, I'm surprised there are as many non returning items in the entire series, and I'm sure I didn't mention quite a few. Do you have a favorite one off Zelda item? List it in the comments below!

Check Out This Amazing Quilt Inspired by The Legend of Zelda

blaqkbird — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 01:48:00 +0000

Although I have a strong love for the Legend of Zelda series, I find myself even more awestruck and in love with the amazing fanbase. The creations that fans will share with the community give us inspiration, if not a little bit of envy, of their talent to create amazing works. This fan makes me wish that they ran their own store because I would buy everything in it!

Imgurian slamberina, also known as Amber, wowed us with this amazing handmade Legend of Zelda quilt. The quilt was made in 2014 and took 6 months to create by using hand embroidery, machine piecing, and quilting. Amber added a back tag to the quilt in the iconic health hearts, that reads "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this".

In the gallery below, you can see a closer look at some of the different sections of the quilt.

What other quilts would you like to see from Amber? Let us know what you think of this amazing quilt in the comments!

Source: slamberina

Fan Creates Legend of Zelda Playing Cards

blaqkbird — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 23:17:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted some The Legend of Zelda inspired playing cards? After a suggestion from a fellow Reddit user, one fan made their own! Reddit user jamieoliver22 designed and created a Legend of Zelda themed deck of playing cards with their own original artwork. After Oliver shared an image of a poster they finished while practicing illustration, a fellow Zelda fan suggested turning them into playing cards.

There have been many questions about whether Oliver will be selling their Legend of Zelda inspired cards, titled "Cards of the Hero," since the artwork used to design the cards is 100% their own. Oliver only commented with:

"I'm going to be getting a single copy printed on actually [sic] cards, I've found company that isn't too expensive - on some nice 310gsm linen textured card. Just for my own use, to see how they look.
But regarding selling them, I'm not sure how best to do that, or what implications it would bring? Especially with it being based on a licensed IP, even though all of the artwork is my own - does anyone have an advice in this area?" — Jamie Oliver

If it turns out Oliver can sell the playing cards deck would you buy one? Check out the full image of the deck below and let us know in the comments what you think!

You can find other awesome work and collections on Oliver's Imgur!

Source: Reddit

NES Punk: Gray Zelda NES Cartridge Is More Rare Than Gold

Cathron — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 16:52:00 +0000

Most Zelda fans are probably familiar with the original game that started the series on the NES. It was released on February 21, 1986, and when the game came to NES, it was in a gold cartridge. What some fans may not be aware of is that it was rereleased as a gray cartridge. This caused some fans to question which is more rare, and YouTuber Pat the NES Punk, also known as Pat Contri, set out to answer that question in one of his latest videos.

In his video, Contri tells viewers that the gold cartridge of the original Legend of Zelda game is more common than the later-released gray one.

Contri goes on to say that he comes across far more gold cartridges than gray, but that doesn't necessarily make the gray cartridge worth more money. In fact, he warns viewers that if someone is ever selling the gray cartridge for more than a couple dollars above the gold cartridge's price to stay away from it. The gray cartridge isn't rare. It is simply less common than the gold Legend of Zelda cartridge, Contri said.

Contri offers reviews of original Nintendo games on his YouTube channel and also releases a podcast episode every other week. For more information about Pat the NES Punk, click here.

If you have the original NES Zelda game, what color is your cartridge?

Make Your Own Masks From The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

blaqkbird — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 15:51:00 +0000

"Masks are essential to your quest in Termina. They can give you one special ability or transform you into a completely different character with a host of super powers". Thanks to Play Nintendo you can print and wear your very own masks from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask! The masks you can choose from are Majora's mask, the Deku mask, the Goron mask, the Zora mask, and the Fierce Deity mask. They may be rather simple for cosplayers' needs, but they're certainly a fun alternative to full-blown replicas.

There are just five simple steps to complete before you can have your very own masks to appease your transforming/Termina-destroying needs:

Step 1: Download and print your mask.

Step 2: Cut out the shape of your mask.

Step 3: Fold along the dashed lines.

Step 4: Punch out the holes through both layers of paper.

Step 5: Attach a string or ribbon.

Now you have your very own mask from Majora's Mask, and we cannot stress this enough: please do not call down the moon.

Which mask will you be making? Are there other masks you would have liked to see included with the above five? Let us know in the comments below! (Seriously...don't call down the moon!)

Source: Play Nintendo

Groose and Wind Waker Pirate Ship Theme Mashup

blaqkbird — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 00:13:00 +0000

There are a lot of themes from the Legend of Zelda series that fans will mash together. One fan by the name of JeffIsTheCorn noticed that Groose's theme and the Wind Waker pirate ship had a certain something going on and decided to do something about it.

As far as why Jeff decided to mashup these two themes, he had this to say:

"I noticed that Groose's theme and the pirate ship theme were very similar, so I decide to combine them. I had to shift the pitches a bit, change the tempos, and edit them a bit, but in the end it was worth it".

What other themes from the Legend of Zelda series do you think deserve to have a mashup? Let us know in the comments below!

Top10Memes Makes Highly Anticipated Top 10 Facts of Zelda Video

Mases — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 00:24:00 +0000

After a serious amount of urging from the viewers, the brilliant mind behind "Top10Memes" presents the highly anticipated Top 10 Facts: The Legend of Zelda.

Lemmino, the creator of this million-subscriber channel, exclusively creates videos exploring the top ten facts of many different topics—especially the topics requested by his viewers.

Thankfully, some of these requests were from Zelda fans. He answered those requests with this video, indulging us with the top ten facts of one of our favorite Nintendo original series. Some of these facts pertain to music, others to quotes, but all are 100% Zelda fan gold.

Number one is the early adventure of a young Shigeru Miyamoto that inspired the Zelda series later in life. We learn that with a little courage (and a lantern, since it is dangerous to go alone) we can begin a quest to greatness (a.k.a game design for an incredibly memorable video game series).

But before I spoil any more of the video, go enjoy. Did fact #3 and #9 surprise you as it did me? Let us know in the comments below.

Art Source: Yaguete

Daily Debate: Which HD Remake Do You Want First, Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword?

RODTheMaster — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 16:23:00 +0000

Over the last few years, Nintendo has been steadily revamping and reworking Zelda games of the past. In 2013 we saw the release of Wind Waker HD, a full-fledged HD remake of the Gamecube classic with up-res'd graphics and beautiful new lighting effects. Seeing the quality work the Zelda team can do with an HD remake, it's no surprise fans want to see the same process done to other games in the series. Two of the most popular titles due for an upgrade are Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, so we're going to let you share about which one you think is more deserving of the HD treatment.

If we are to go by the current trend of HD remakes, Twilight Princess may very well be the next Zelda game to receive an HD remake. It followed the release of Wind Waker and preceded Skyward Sword by a few years. So chronologically, this game would logically come next in the remake schedule. And Twilight Princess is completely deserving of that HD upgrade. The game expressed an epic, cinematic experience that was in-part limited by the Gamecube and Wii's graphical capabilites. If Twilight Princess were to receive HD graphics, it may more closely resemble fantasy epics such as Lord of the Rings and the like. Additionally, if Twilight Princess touted the lighting and shading system of Wind Waker HD, Twilight Realm segments would look absolutely gorgeous in HD.

Skyward Sword is another deserving candidate for a Zelda HD remake. Twilight Princess may have been released before this game, but Nintendo is known to buck a trend before. Skyward Sword managed to pull off a beautiful expressionist art-style despite its graphical limitations, so imagine what the game would look like with unbridled graphical power. The bloom lighting seen in Wind Waker HD is more suited for Skyward Sword than Twilight Princess, as the settings are much brighter and vibrantly colorful. I would imagine flying around Skyloft in HD would be absolutely amazing. In my opinion, the settings seen in Skyward Sword would explode our eyes more than anything seen in Twilight Princess, so there's no reason to exclude the possibility that we'll see Skyward Sword HD before anything else. And who knows, maybe they'll ditch the motion controls. A guy can dream, right?

Anyway, I'll let you decide. Should Twilight Princess receive an HD remake first? Or is Skyward Sword more deserving of that HD upgrade? Let us know what you think, and join the Daily Debate!

Caption Contest 012: "Hyrule Warriors Survival Tip #72: Don't Stand Behind Tingle"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to week twelve of Caption Contest Monday! Last week was another huge success and we had some really great responses from everybody. It's a good feeling knowing that I can come back on Mondays and get a good laugh to start my week. Also, the number of responses has jumped dramatically as of recent, and that is such a great feeling. This week, we're going to feature a fan favorite in the world of "side characters", Tingle. I am fully aware of what I am doing here, and I encourage it...to an extent. Let the fart jokes commence!

You know how it goes, leave your caption in the comments below and like your favorites to see them on the winners' page next week. See you there!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

by: MiniMytch

by: Silver_Bean

by: The Zombie Mama

by: WiiDude83

by: Yero

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Sam Bradford - "I know you did not just call me Siri"
Darin W. Harr II - "Don't make me turn myself around!"
Art1st4786 - "I will turn this boat around, Young Man!"
Joshgetsitdone - "No we're not there yet!"
Cédric Theys- "Link, I am your father."

This week's photo:

snomaN Gaming Highlights Zelda's Sense of Character Progression

Tpaul Homdrom — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 17:42:00 +0000

Great video games give the player a sense of progression and growth throughout their experience. While this is something many gamers take for granted, that sense of progression comes from a very specific mindset during game design. YouTuber snomaN Gaming has put together a video talking about the Zelda series and its sense of player progression, calling it the "Growing Stronger" principle.

Progression can come in different ways. Sometimes it's the ability to defeat powerful enemies (like Zelda's boss fights), and sometimes it's tied more to exploration (like in the original Legend of Zelda). What's important to create that sense of progression is to have the player start off helpless (think the first time Link meets Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time), and then grow stronger through the course of the game. Often in the Zelda series, this comes down to items. Gaining new items can have multiple purposes, both for defeating powerful foes, and for exploring the environment.

Check out the video above for a more in-depth look at this concept and how it applies to Zelda. At the end of the video, snomaN Gaming asks "what's a game that helps the player grow stronger?" So let us know in the comments below, what is your favorite game that offers a sense of progression?

You can check out snomaN Gaming's YouTube channel here.

Symphony of the Goddesses Merchandise Now Available For Purchase

megbethanyread — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 21:08:00 +0000

Unable to attend the Symphony of the Goddesses tour? Not to worry: you can now purchase merchandise from the tour's official website.

The Symphony of the Goddesses store is currently offering three Zelda-themed t-shirts and three Zelda-themed posters, featuring different themes such as the Triforce and Majora's Mask. With everything priced at $20 apiece, what are you waiting for?

If you missed out on getting tickets for the elusive tour, seventeen new dates were recently announced, bringing the total to fourty tour dates.

Are you going to the tour? Already been? Let us know below.

Source: Symphony of the Goddesses Official Site

Zelda Series Places on Classic FM's 2015 Hall of Fame, Within Top 100 Greatest Classical Works

RODTheMaster — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 20:49:00 +0000

Over the last week or so, UK classical radio station Classic FM has been announcing the winners for this year's Classic FM Hall of Fame, an annual countdown of the greatest works in classical music. Listeners voted for their favorite entries and the top 300 were selected for placement in the Hall of Fame. Matching up against centuries of renowned classical compositions, the music of The Legend of Zelda series was entered into the Hall of Fame, placing at number 84.

2015 marked the first time Zelda music had entered the Classic FM Hall of Fame. At number 84 of the top 300, Zelda was the highest placing new entry in the hall. A specific composition from the games was not considered; rather, the entire series' collection of music was placed in the hall. Both Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu were recognized for their work in the series.

Classic FM had this to say about The Legend of Zelda's compositions:

"Aside from this more technical application, Kondo's music for the games takes on a gloriously pastoral character, taking no small influence from both John Williams and Ralph Vaughan Williams. That pastoral character is, for many, eternally bound up in nostalgia for the games themselves, but melodies this good work whether you've played them or not."

Classic FM organizes a Hall of Fame countdown every year, so stay tuned for next year's voting period. Perhaps we'll see the Zelda series somewhere in the top 10 next year.

Source: Classic FM

Majora's Mask 3D: Best-Selling Video Game of 2015 on Amazon

Link 2 — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 01:18:00 +0000

Among three different PlayStation Store gift cards and an Xbox Live Gold membership card, Majora's Mask 3D is still one of the top five 2015 best selling gaming products on Amazon. It currently holds the fifth spot, keeping yet another Xbox Live Gold Membership card in number six.

This isn't the first time Majora's Mask has landed a spot on the list. Majora's Mask was also the fifth best-selling gaming product on Amazon in 2000, the year it was released.

Most impressively, Majora's Mask 3D is the only video game among the top 10 Amazon gaming products. Other products include membership cards, store cards, controllers, and a PlayStation 4. The first game that surfaces in the list is at number 12, which is Grand Theft Auto V.

Are you surprised at the success of Majora's Mask 3D? Share your thoughts on the matter in the comments below.

Source: Amazon

The Bunny Hood Brought to Life by The Wolf of Bees Workshop

Ziondood — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 00:57:00 +0000

In the past few years we've seen remakes of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, both on the 3DS. Fans continue to amaze us with their wondrous works of art honoring those games. A few days ago, The Wolf of Bees Workshop unveiled the most amazing replica Bunny Hood I have seen to date. Whether it was warding off those scary Stalchildren or granting me the speed of a jackrabbit, this easily became one of my favorite masks in the series.

Handcrafted from Canadian Pine, this mask won't flop in the wind—but it sure can handle a few hits! Its rustic and weathered look gives it a real natural feel, as if it's seen the worlds of Hyrule and Termina with Link as its guide. You can tell from the beautiful photography that lots of time and care went into the making of this piece.

What do you think of their rendition of The Bunny Hood? Would you like to see them make more masks from The Legend of Zelda series? Let us know in the comments below!

You can also stay up to date on any future creations by The Wolf of Bees Workshop by liking their Facebook here!

Source: Imgur

Daily Debate: How Much Should We Value Speedruns?

RODTheMaster — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:39:00 +0000

Speedrunning Zelda games (that is, striving to finish a given game as fast as possible) has become a very popular pastime for fans. Over the last few months alone, we've seen new world records in Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda, and Majora's Mask. It's no argument that speedruns are extremely important to a number of fans, but the speedrunning community is not without its critics. There are many complicated opinions and thoughts on speedrunning, whether they relate to rules, glitches, or simple enjoyment. So, we're giving you all an outlet to share your thoughts on Zelda speedruns.

Let me get my thoughts out of the way: I love the speedrunning community. It is a group of competitive, yet supportive players that work together and spur each other on to experience games in creative ways. In terms of speedruns themselves, I see them as ways to add new levels of depth to games that we already enjoy. I can't count the many times I've played through Ocarina of Time completely and the way it was intended. After finishing and enjoying a game so many times, it's interesting to see other creative ways players have found to finish the game. If a player can find a frame-perfect, near-impossible way to skip straight to Ganon, that's interesting. It's exciting to watch, in fact. There was a speedrunning event that took place last January at which a speedrunner finished all of Ocarina of Time's child dungeons blindfolded. To me, speedrunning is full of these creative opportunities to play the games we love. That's my opinion; let's look at other fans' concerns.

Some fans don't value speedruns for it detracts from a game's enjoyment. Of course, for a game like Twilight Princess, a player should experience the story, characters, and setting to the fullest. As I said above, most speedrunners have already experienced these things, but I can understand that by watching a speedrunner completely break a given game, viewers may lose some of the magic in the parts of the game that were meant to enjoyed. Then there are the developers to consider. Obviously, finding ways to skip past intended challenges negates some effort by the developers. With this in mind, we can consider how speedruns takes away from a developers' intention. Does this mean by valuing speedruns, we're devaluing the work of developers? That's for you to decide.

Many fans have expressed their distaste for speedruns' tendency to use glitches and gameplay tricks to meet their ends. These fans see this practice as a form of cheating. Others have already defended glitch use by explaining that most games have more than one speedrunning category. An Any% category allows for such glitch use, whereas a glitchless run exists for those who don't want to use glitches and tricks. Whatever your viewpoint, this is an interesting topic of discussion. Which type of speedrun should be valued more? Some will say that using glitches is not as impressive as finishing the game quickly as intended by the developers. I would ague that some glitches require a lot of skill and precision to execute, but I also appreciate the player that can finish every puzzle in every dungeon super fast.

Whatever your stance, please take the time to share your thoughts in the comments. Don't forget that your opinion is just one of many, and everyone enjoys games differently. Should we value speedruns? Should some types of speedruns be valued more than others? Explain your point, and join the Daily Debate!

Amazon has Majora's Mask 3D Collector's Edition Strategy Guide Back in Stock

RODTheMaster — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 19:36:00 +0000

As with many special edition Majora's Mask 3D products lately, Prima's MM3D Collector's Edition Strategy Guide has been restocked on Amazon. The beautiful hard cover guide is available now for $27.50 USD. If you'd like to get your hands on the guide, we recommend you purchase it now for Collector's Edition items like this have a tendency to sell out in a matter of hours.

Prima's Majora's Mask 3D Collector's Edition is a hard cover, featuring exclusive artwork on the front. The item also comes with Majora's Mask reusable character clings. In addition to availability in the US, the Collector's Edition guide is also available on Amazon UK for £13.59. Until today, the only way to secure this item was through secondary retailers for upwards of $70 USD since it initially sold out. The guide will likely sell out quickly, so act fast if you intend to purchase.

Source: Amazon

Exploring Zelda's Future: The Era of Decline

Tpaul Homdrom — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 21:13:00 +0000

No matter how far away a new Zelda game is, or how little we know about the next entry in the series, thoughts and theories are always swirling in our minds. What will the next game be like? Will it be top-down or 3D? Will it be set in Hyrule or somewhere else? How in the world can we possibly know what will come next in the series?

Welcome to a new set of articles designed to do just that: extrapolate on past Zelda games to inform us about potential future entries. To do this, I’m taking a close look at the Zelda timeline; in particular, each of the three eras: the Era of Decline, the Child Era, and the Adult Era.

Author’s Note: This is not focused on the upcoming Zelda U. It’s looking primarily at the future of the franchise beyond Zelda U, in terms of what may come after it.

Why only look at those eras, and not the Unified Timeline from Skyward Sword to Ocarina of Time? That’s because the Zelda series hasn’t done much to move the timeline forward. The two most recent entries in the series – Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds – served as a prequel to the entire series and a sequel to an SNES game, respectively. While they expanded on the lore of the series in different ways, I think it’s time to move the timeline forward and explore the future of the three different eras brought about by the events of Ocarina of Time. Let’s start this off with a look at the Era of Decline.

Setting the Stage

The Era of Decline includes the first four games in the Zelda series: The Legend of Zelda, Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, and Link’s Awakening. It also includes the two Oracle games and A Link Between Worlds.

Like the era’s name suggests, this isn’t a happy time to live in. Ganon is resurrected three times in this era alone. Hyrule shrinks from a grand kingdom covering massive amounts of land, to almost nothing by the time of The Legend of Zelda, where there isn’t even a Hyrule Castle to speak of. Monsters ravage the land in between Ganon’s resurrections. Every time Link beats back the forces of evil, it seems to only last for a short time before they come back with a vengeance. Looking in Hyrule Historia, the era ends with this quote:

At the end of Adventure of Link, peace is once again restored. But can it last? If history is any indication… it won’t.

Ganon’s Persistence

While a new game in this era would likely involve another attempted resurrection of the series’ lead villain, that doesn’t doom it to be known as nothing more than a rehash of what’s come before. Ganon clearly has staying power, and both his roles in the different games and the battles against him have shown quite a bit of diversity.

Sometimes Link needs to defeat the Demon King with Silver Arrows or Light Arrows. Sometimes the Master Sword needs to be shoved through his skull or chest after an epic one-on-one duel. We’ve seen Ganon fused with another villain (Yuga of A Link Between Worlds), throwing his trident (A Link to the Past), dual-wielding blades in either human or beast form (Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time, respectively), and going full beast-mode and charging Link as a giant (Twilight Princess).

Those are just the fights. Depending on the game, Ganon is just a villain waiting to be resurrected (a common theme in the Era of Decline) or a villainous mastermind plotting from the start (Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker). He’s shown some sympathetic qualities in Wind Waker, and is a more intelligent, calculating villain each time he’s been faced in human form (Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess).

There’s still ground to cover with the Demon King. Even if he’s resurrected… again… in the Era of Decline, he could still show some new colors. Perhaps he comes back deranged, psychotic, his mind ruined beyond repair by the constant cycle of dying and being revived. Maybe, rather than being resurrected, he’s reincarnated, like we see with the new Ganondorf of Four Swords Adventures, offering a chance for a completely fresh take on the iconic villain. Just because it’s Ganon doesn’t mean it’s the same old road other Zelda games have tread before.

Hyrule’s Fate

The Era of Decline. It’s such an ominous name, isn’t it? Doesn’t exactly give you hope for the citizens of Hyrule, does it? The final quote for this era from Hyrule Historia offers a chance of hope, but also a chance for more danger and evil.

One part of that quote stands out in particular: “did the curtain rise on an age of darkness, when people quarreled in their search for power?” It’s an interesting idea, because it hearkens back to the I mprisoning War that takes place between Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past, where men fought each other over the power of the Triforce.

It could be that, rather than Ganon’s return, another civil war erupts. Men battle each other in their search for the Triforce and its incredible power, and in the midst of the war a powerful villain emerges. He could be a sorcerer or a warrior, but some kind of powerful leader rallies men to his cause to take the Triforce as his own, promising them riches and wealth in return.

I don’t necessarily see the game taking place in the midst of an all-out war with massive battles a la Hyrule Warriors, but rather the war is fought more from the shadows, or is at a bit of a standoff as both sides debate, with the good side seeking peace, while the villain’s army lets the debates drag on so that shadowy agents can seek out the Triforce in secret.

This is where Link comes in, fighting against the evil forces, keeping them from the Triforce while seeking out its location in order to keep it safe. The “shadow war” going on could also be a great opportunity to bring Dark Link back into the Zelda series.

Of course, when Link finally finds the Triforce, the big villain finds it as well, and thus we have our final battle. When victory is achieved, the Triforce could be used to finally revitalize the land of Hyrule and restore it to its former glory, washing away the evil and devastation that years of war and strife have caused.

Or perhaps the adventure is, from the very start, about revitalizing Hyrule. Link’s quest would then not necessarily be a challenge against a mortal villain, but against a creature created by the evil magic that has sunk its roots deep into the land over the long years of decline and hardship. This could also be an opportunity for a host of new enemy types, as the enemies Link has faced in the past games in this era have almost all been part of Ganon’s evil army. Now they could be horrible creatures wrought from dark, ancient magic, offering up brand new enemies from both a visual and gameplay standpoint.

To Heck with Hyrule, I’m Sailing Away

It’s important not to forget a trio of games in the Era of Decline that don’t take place in Hyrule at all! Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, and Link’s Awakening all have Link off on adventures in different lands. Perhaps a new game set in the future of the Era of Decline would have a new Link leaving Hyrule entirely, either to seek adventure, or to seek a new home for Hyrule’s citizens after discovering that their ancient home is battered and bruised beyond repair.

I’m always a fan of exploring brand new worlds in Zelda games. I don’t have an issue with Hyrule, as I’ve found it’s different enough in each iteration, and even when it isn’t, it’s still a fun world to revisit. Brand new lands, however, offer a massive flood of creative freedom. Holodrum and Labrynna are vastly different from any other Zelda title’s world, with talking animal companions, special seeds with mystical powers, and fresh, exotic environments with wonderfully original allies and enemies.

The same can easily be said of the not-so-real island of Koholint in Link’s Awakening. From swamps with man-eating flowers, to a village of talking animals, to a vast mountain range and the final battle taking place inside a giant egg, Link’s adventures in Koholint Island stick with you long after you’ve beaten the game.

The opportunity for brand new environments, brand new enemies, brand new allies, and brand new items and gameplay elements just excites me. Perhaps we could get a new spin on the sailing mechanic of Wind Waker, but instead applied to a smaller scope. Link could use a small boat to navigate rivers and lakes, with treasures hidden in deep canyons or small islands only accessible by boat. Combine that with a vibrant, expansive mainland (maybe even big and open enough to work Epona into the mix?), and I’m sold.

New types of enemies could completely deviate from the classic Zelda baddies we know and love. Maybe the new land is filled with magic, and enemies are shape-shifting beings and spellcasters. Or perhaps a continent where the forces of nature themselves are at war with each other, as beings comprised of rocks, trees, water, fire, and air make up different enemy types?

This new quest in a new land could also tie back into Link’s reason for leaving Hyrule. Perhaps Link is seeking out a power to restore Hyrule to peaceful prosperity, or seeking to destroy an evil that threatens the land from afar. Whatever the reason, a journey to a new land could perhaps carry the most hope with it, as it leaves behind the sad history of Hyrule for new lands and a new history.

Conclusion

There are many possibilities for a new Zelda game continuing the Era of Decline. Yet they all hinge on one question: does the war-torn history of Hyrule continue, or can there finally be peace?

Sadly, there may be no hope for a restoration of this era’s Hyrule. The entire Era of Decline exists solely because of the death of the Hero of Time in Ocarina of Time. It seems that, as sad as it sounds, that hero’s death has doomed every successive Link to a futile quest of restoring peace to Hyrule for only brief moments.

If there’s one thing Zelda games have shown us, however, it’s that there is always hope. There may yet be a hero who can change the fate of this declining era in the Zelda timeline.

I’ll be back soon with a look at the Child Era of the Zelda timeline, and what a new Zelda game continuing that era could look like. Until then, let me know in the comments below what type of game and scenario you envision for a Zelda game continuing the timeline past Adventure of Link.

Fan Art Links

Kakariko Village of Zelda U by Mei-Xing

Young Dark Link by NekoLoveLetter

Wind Waker art by Machiazu

Watch an Artist Create This Incredible Midna Illustration

Error — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 04:37:00 +0000

There's Quicksilver and the Flash. There are Pegasus Boots. There's even that one jerk who runs in Ocarina of Time. Yet, I've never seen someone as fast as this artist named Linvalin. In a mere two minutes, Linvalin is able to sketch and color a beautiful portrait of Midna, who is objectively the best sidekick in the history of The Legend of Zelda.

Seriously, the artists' hands are flashing on and off the screen. They appear for one frame and then leave. It's almost as if they are converting hours of work into a minuscule fraction of that time. But that kind of technology doesn't exist, so this has to be real. What's a time-lapse?

The superhuman speed of the artist's hands may be a fascinating feat never before seen by mankind, but the finished artwork can stand as a great piece of artwork as well. Midna has never looked better than on a piece of paper.

Check out the neat little video up above. The finished product is worth it.

Source: Linvalin

Game of Thrones Collides with A Link to the Past in a New Intro Teaser

Nathan — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 15:39:00 +0000

I am a fairly big Game of Thrones fan - yes the TV show, not just the first book in the entire book series. I am also a massive Zelda fan. So when two of my favorite entertainment choices collide like this, I am sure to feel a bit giddy inside. While I typically do not enjoy intros to most shows I enjoy, I always felt Game of Thrones' intro to each episode was extremely unique. The fine folks over at Megasteakman have decided to apply this introduction concept to A Link to the Past. It works surprisingly well considering they are re-imagining a 2D game into a 3D space - the mash up of the Game of Thrones theme with the Zelda theme works surprisingly well too boot.

I hope you enjoy the video as I eagerly look forward to the next season of Game of Thrones and the next Zelda game coming to Wii U.

IGN Gets Some Slick Zelda Gear from a Nintendo Employee Exclusive Store

Nathan — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 16:17:00 +0000

One thing I wasn't aware existed at the Nintendo Headquarters here in the United States was an employee exclusive store. According to IGN, the store has a similar feel to the Nintendo World Store in New York, however it has a slew of goodies that are likely available at discounted prices. Naturally the store has amiibo, thus staff don't need to run off and fight over finding many of them, but IGN walked away with a ton of Zelda items. These include Skyward Sword inspired socks, the collector's puzzle, the Skyward Sword Figma Link, and Zelda plushies... including Tingle and The Wind Waker Link.

Needless to say, it's time to install a Zelda Informer store inside the ZI offices.

Check Out This Awesome Milk Bar Acoustic Guitar Cover

RODTheMaster — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 19:23:00 +0000

The theme of Majora's Mask's Milk Bar is one of the game's most unique tunes. The song is fast, bouncy, and has a ton of character. I never considered the Milk Bar to lend itself to an acoustic guitar cover, but YouTube musicians TheTeamPlayers have proven me wrong. The duo composed a great guitar arrangement of the Milk Bar theme, masterfully preserving the fun of the original.

TheTeamPlayers' arrangement has such a great sound. I was surprised by how perfectly the Milk Bar music sounded with acoustic guitars; the skill of these two musicians of course had something to do with that. The video ends with a little humor, so you'll want to stay tuned for that. You can watch some of TheTeamPlayers' other video game covers on their YouTube channel as well as follow them on Twitter.

Daily Debate: How Do You Play Zelda Games? (Completionist vs. Everyone Else)

Nathan — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 02:28:00 +0000

At first this seems like a silly question - of course, we're all completionists! In other words, we all 100% every single Zelda game we play, right? Well... no. Today's debate centers on a core question - how do we play Zelda games? While many are completionists, some don't care a whole lot about 100%ing any of the Zelda games. Some just want to enjoy the story and work their way through that, while others simply find most of the side-quests to be tedious rather than fun. Oddly enough, there are many Zelda fans who will play a dozen or so titles but never beat any of them.

Personally, I'm a mix of all of the above. I have 100%ed my fair share of titles, but there are many of which I have only beaten the main story and one title I never actually beat. I find a key part to this to be the main reasons any of us even enjoy these games. If the side-questing and such isn't enjoyable, we are less likely to 100% the game. What side of the coin do you fall on?

Zelda U The Game Awards Footage Enhanced with New Audio

Nathan — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 14:37:00 +0000

It can be really astonishing what fans can pull off when they set their mind to it. While footage from The Game Awards last year was off screen and thus didn't contain a lot of in game audio (outside of a few sections where you can hear Link), a fan has gone through the trouble of perfecting some audio touches to the footage that logically make sense, allowing the viewer to get into the footage even more. While this is all fan made, it is based entirely on music and sound affects from prior Zelda games that have been enhanced already.

In earnest, I find this to be rather soothing in general. It really draws me into the on-screen experience and makes me want to play it first hand even more. Of course much can't be done to advance the video quality itself, it was too far back and angled slightly.

You've Met With a Terrible Narrative

Paul Grzelak — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 00:24:00 +0000

I lost more than four hours of progress in Majora’s Mask because I committed the cardinal sin of watching the Moon fall. This forced me to replay one of the worst dungeons in the Zelda series: the dreary and mazelike Great Bay Temple. This situation wouldn’t be so bad if the knee-jerk response from fans weren’t giddy excitement. Losing my progress, as they might claim, is what the Happy Mask Salesman was warning me about with all his talk of meeting a “terrible fate.”

It is a terrible fate. And Majora’s Mask is a terrible game, especially by Zelda standards.

The most peculiar thing about that statement is Majora’s Mask is a game that deliberately defies standards established by other Zelda games. The three-day cycle, change of tone, and change of location all successfully differentiate Majora’s Mask from other games in the Zelda franchise. But different does not equal good, and Majora’s Mask is proof of this.

Termina is a Terrible Place

I’ve long appreciated video games set in somber, dying worlds. I thoroughly enjoyed Dark Souls, Metro 2033, and The Last of Us because despite their desolate landscapes and savage horrors, they invited me with mystery, challenge, and story. But Termina is a foreboding place that forced rather than invited me to explore it.

Instead of a world full of problems for players to solve, Termina is presented as a sickly old cancer patient, three days away from its inevitable death and pleading to be put out of its misery. Termina’s coasts are haunted by pirates; the Goron population faces extinction; the swamps are lorded over by a brutal and incompetent king; and Ikana Canyon makes Ganon’s Castle look like a basket of sunshine and kittens. This place is cartoonishly bleak!

Almost nothing in Termina is worth saving or getting attached to. The whole place is collapsing upon itself after generations of feuding; Termina’s inhabitants are either at each other’s throats or wallowing in tragedy by the time Link arrives. The few good souls left alive are hours away from death or life-changing trauma.

In many ways, I feel Skull Kid’s decision to destroy Termina is the best way to end all its suffering. Unfortunately, the goal of players in Majora’s Mask is to prolong that suffering by preventing the Moon from falling and destroying this wretched land.

A Terribly Unrewarding Experience

Whenever we play the Song of Time, all the progress we’ve made solving the problems of others is erased. Following this logic, the problems of Termina’s inhabitants will persist after the Moon is hurdled back into orbit at the end of the game. Romani Ranch will remain under attack by extraterrestrials and the Gorman Brothers, Pamela will be forever locked up with her corrupted father, the Deku Princess will stay trapped beneath a poisoned swamp while her father expresses his rage by torturing his subjects… the list goes on.

The game’s ending credits show all these problems and more have been resolved, but the core gameplay establishes again and again that this cannot be true. The Song of Time resets everything in the three-day cycle, and Link must play the tune multiple times over the course of the game. Barring a monumental feat of gaming skill and knowledge, solving all of Termina’s problems in a single three-day cycle is as impossible as saving Hyrule in 18 minutes.

It all leads to an unrewarding gameplay experience. We get an occasional taste of what it feels like to solve the problems in Termina, but are denied the full satisfaction of completing our goals because the Song of Time constantly undoes all our good deeds. This not only raises the question of what players have ultimately accomplished by the game’s end, but why Link even bothers to save Termina at all.

Terrible Motivation

Majora’s Mask starts with a delightfully fresh and formula-breaking introduction, where the courageous Hero of Time is mugged, robbed, and disfigured by a trickster with godlike powers. This is great motivation for Link and the player to get back the Ocarina of Time and Epona, but it is not in any way motivation for Link to save Termina: a cheerless world he has no connection to or investment in. Link may as well be setting out to save Martians from religious persecution in Narnia!

Other Zelda games firmly establish Link’s connection or disconnection to the world each game takes place in, and his natural motivation to save it or escape it. But in Majora’s Mask, Link risks life and limb to save a world to which he is a stranger.

The narrative also tiptoes around the massive plot hole where Link could just use his time-manipulation powers to get the jump on the punk who mugged him at the start of the game. I’m sure some wonderfully wild fan theories or flimsy canonical reasoning (like how Cortana can physically alter Master Chief’s armor with a “firmware update” in Halo 4) exists for why Link doesn’t do this, but the fact that Majora’s Mask itself never addresses this issue always suspended my belief in the story.

Terrible... Gameplay?

As I made clear at the start of this article, Majora’s Mask also has some major problems with its core gameplay. The save system and dungeon design in particular are some of the worst offenders, but I needed to dedicate one article to the narrative. After all, the overarching atmosphere and tone of Majora's Mask contribute subtly but consistently to why I feel this is such a terrible game.

Until that article is ready for publication, what are your thoughts on Majora’s Mask? Do you have problems with its narrative? Do you feel it is undeserving of the praise it receives? Do you feel it is the single greatest video game, Zelda or otherwise, ever created? Let us know in the comments below!

50 Unanswered Questions About Ocarina of Time

Nathan — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 17:26:00 +0000

We all have questions about the Zelda games, don't we? Things that happen that just don't quite make sense, or key parts of the game that simply go unexplained. Even with the release of Hyrule Historia, an up to date as of 2011 Zelda "Bible" that helped explain some of the unknown events, there is still so much we don't know. Youtuber ABrandonToThePast created a new video highlighting Ocarina of Time and asking 50 questions that still to this day do not have any direct answer. Some of them you may go "oh, I know the answer to that!" - but do you? None of the questions have any official response, meaning much of what we may think is the answer comes from fan guesswork most have accepted as fact over the years.

Some of the questions are rather intriguing too, such as "why can't adult Link use the boomerang?" - a logical misstep. Enjoy the video! Do you have any additional questions about Ocarina of Time that still today remain a complete mystery?

Fan Theory: Twilight Princess' City in the Sky is Skyloft, Informs Hylia's Relationship with Hyrule

RODTheMaster — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 19:36:00 +0000

YouTuber VortexxyGaming has been blowing us away with Zelda theories lately, sharing her thoughts on Twilight Princess' Snowpeak Ruins, The Temple of Time, and much more. Her most recent video explores The City in the Sky as it relates to Skyward Sword's Skyloft. The theory asserts that the two locations are one and the same, thus leading to interesting insights on the relationships between those who live on Hyrule's surface and those among the clouds.

The premise of VortexxyGaming's theory has been discussed before: the City in the Sky exists as a more recent rendition of Skyloft. This means that the Oocca that occupy the City have actually evolved from the Loftwings that were left in Skyloft after the Hylians travelled to Hyrule. These assumptions make a lot of sense considering the many similarities these two locations share in terms of architecture, items, and historical significance.

The video moves on to some really interesting material from there, discussing how the Oocca, the Temple of Time, and the Dominion Rod play into the sky city's history. Given the Goddess Hylia's significance to both Skyloftian and Hyrulian legend, the Dominion Rod and its wielder carry a divine role as the mediator between Hyrule and the heavens. The person who holds the rod is more than just a messenger, but a way for Hylia to connect those on the surface to those in the sky. This description makes me happy we placed the Dominion Rod as number one in our Top 5 Most Magical Rods.

My favorite part of the theory explores Rauru's role as a sage, as he very well might be an ancient messenger entrusted with the Dominion Rod. The theorist examines Rauru's similarities to the Hylians of Skyloft and asserts that he is a protector of the Goddess, and thus a protector of Princess Zelda. This theory goes beyond Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, adding context and depth to Ocarina of Time as well.

What did you make of theory? What was your favorite part? Would you change or add anything to it? Let us know in the comments!

"Midna's Lament" Covered by Rozen

Cathron — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 16:24:00 +0000

Every Legend of Zelda game comes with its own unique sounds and music, and Twilight Princess is no exception. One of the most popular songs from the title is called "Midna's Lament," and while the original is amazing, the cover by composer Rozen is pretty good in its own right.

Rozen, also known as Daniel Jimenez, is a based film, tv, and video game composer from Los Angeles. Jimenez went to college in Boston and has composed music inspired by other Zelda titles as well.

His rendition of "Midna's Lament," is titled "Under Twilit Rain," and it features pieces of other Twilight Princess tunes like the Hyrule Field theme.

The entire piece retains the melancholy feel that the original does, but Jimenez adds more to it in the way of choral voices and additional instruments like woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion. He also makes the song sound more wholesome, almost as if it were being performed by an orchestra and choir on the same stage.

You can learn more about Jimenez on his website, rozen.audio.

Did you enjoy listening to his cover of "Midna's Lament"?

Six Zelda Mashups Released: Featured on New Mashup Album

Mases — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 17:40:00 +0000

What started as an April Fools' Day joke was actually followed through this week when Triple-Q, a mashup creator on YouTube, released Super Style Oppas. This album, which contains every song from the Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U soundtrack combined with songs from Psy and other artists, features over 70 different songs from multiple Nintendo franchises. As such, a few songs from the Zelda series appear on the album, and they all sound great.

You can find all of the songs here, but I'd like to focus on one specific mashup from the album: "Dirty Gangnarudo Valley," a combination of the Super Smash Bros. track "Gerudo Valley," and "Talk Dirty," by Jason Derulo. To be frank, I'm not a big fan of the original "Talk Dirty," so when I listened to the beginning of this mashup for the first time, I was worried the song wouldn't be as good as the others on the album (which at that point, was really impressing me).

However, as it continued to play, I was really enjoying it. The style of "Gerudo Valley" really blended well with the style of "Talk Dirty." While Psy was downplayed quite a bit in this song, he still was injected into it, and whenever he showed up, it was quite humorous.

You can download Super Style Oppas here. The entire album is worth a listen, but if you are only interested in the Zelda mashups, I included the playlist in the second paragraph. Are there any other Zelda songs you would want Triple-Q to mashup? Let us know in the comments!

Daily Debate: Should Link Take Flight Again in a New Zelda Game?

Nathan — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 03:22:00 +0000

I think most of us can agree that Link's use of of the Loftwing and flight in Skyward Sword was subpar at best. There has been a ton of potential for flight as a real world traveling mechanic for some time, but the first time we truly get to experience it felt like a let down. Does that mean that Nintendo shouldn't take another crack at it? Could flight work well and become a huge feature in a future title?

I would say it's worth a shot, especially if they don't make flight your only form of fast travel. Imagine in Zelda U being able to ride Epona but also taking flight on a loftwing of sorts? Imagine the boss fight possibilities! There is so much good that can be done with flight that I don't see any real reason to not return to it in a truer form. How about you? Art found here.

Daily Debate: Should Future Zelda Games Avoid Underwater Segments?

RODTheMaster — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:26:00 +0000

It's no secret that a great number of fans do not look back fondly on a certain Water Temple. Since the fateful day we all travelled to the bottom of Lake Hylia and felt the tedium of iron boots and water levels, we realized that Zelda could not always handle underwater segments appropriately. This fact doesn't mean that we haven't seen enjoyable underwater areas in Zelda since, but more than a few fans continually express their displeasure with underwater gameplay. With that said, we want to see your opinions on Zelda's underwater sections and to discuss the possibility of avoiding them altogether.

As dramatically described above, Ocarina of Time's Water Temple has been the subject of frustrated fans for years. No matter how many Water Temple apologists pop up to defend the dungeon, a large group of players will always be there to tell you how difficult, tedious, and terrible the Water Temple was. I've seen similar complaints aimed at Majora's Mask's Great Bay Temple, Twilight Princess' Lakebed Temple, and Skyward Sword's flooded Faron Woods section. It seems that no matter how benign a water segment may be in a Zelda game, something will ultimately get under fans' skin. With this in mind, what would happen if the Zelda franchise avoided underwater segments in the future? Removing them from future games would remove fan frustrations surrounding them and give developers more time to devote to above-water segments. No longer would they need to worry about controlling Link underwater; they could simply focus entirely on the surface gameplay. Heck, it kinda worked already in Wind Waker.

There are of course a few reasons why underwater segments should stay. Other than water-themed dungeons being a common tradition amongst Zelda games, underwater segments always allow creative design for gameplay and puzzle solving. For example, I personally enjoyed the flooded Faron Woods segment in Skyward Sword. It allowed players to explore an already-visited environment in a new and interesting way. Sure, the motion controls didn't always work well underwater, but I had a lot of fun swimming around completing those challenges. Removing underwater segments would also remove some creative gameplay choices in future games. For example, no underwater segments would mean no Zora Link transformations, which is arguably one of the most enjoyable parts of Majora's Mask.

We'll leave you to decide. Should future Zelda games avoid underwater segments completely? What would change? Would this be a bad idea for design and gameplay? Speak your mind and join the Daily Debate!

Photoshop Contest: Let's Make Zelda Fabulous

RODTheMaster — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 00:45:00 +0000

Zelda Informer's weekly Photoshop Contest is back, and we're about to get fabulous. This week, you fans will be given the chance to take elements of the Zelda series and construct the finest examples of fabulosity we've ever seen. I'm not even sure if fabulosity is a word, you can make it so! Before we set off this to-be-amazing Week of Fab, we'll also take a look at last week's contest: Bigfoot Pizza Initiative.

Last Week's Contest:

I had to take a small hiatus last week, so thanks to our intern for stepping in to handle last week's contest. I believe his name was... Reginald?

Whatever the case, fans were asked to recreate Pizza Hut's success with the Bigfoot Pizza within the world of Nintendo. Reginald's idea may have been a bit high-concept for many, but the few entries we did have were truly amazing. In fact, both accepted the Challenge Mode rules. (Note to Reginald: don't change the name of the Challenge Mode anymore)

Best Submissions

Artist: Kyle Ian Thomas

Monkee-goro has usurped Kyle Ian Thomas from his Challenge Mode throne with this week's winning entry. Both contestants included at least six Nintendo characters enjoying Pizza Hut eateries, but Monkee-goro's entry had the wild and crazy presentation we all appreciate. Plus there was more pizza. Reginald was adamant about the pizza.

This Week's Contest: Let's Make Zelda Fabulous

With characters like Ghirahim and Tingle hamming it up in recent Zelda titles, there hasn't really been a shortage of fabulousness lately. But it's my opinion that there can never be enough fabulous; I'm sure we can all agree on that. So this week, we're asking you fans to construct images that show off exactly how fabulous a Zelda title can be.

We want to see all the flashiness, flamboyance, panache, and excess that one would expect from the word "fabulous." Imagine it this way: what if Ghirahim himself was creating a Zelda game? We've included some suitably fabulous images in our gallery to help you get started, but feel free to use anything from the internet to make your fabulous dream a reality.

General Rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Photoshop is not required to enter the contest. Any image manipulation software can be used to create your entry.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on April 15. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that who want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have some Challenge Rules for you to follow:

1. Your entry must include a disco ball.

2. Your entry must include Purple Link driving a purple car of some kind.

Good luck!

Why Zelda Remakes are Overwhelmingly Positive and Should Continue to Exist

Nathan — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 01:01:00 +0000

Zelda Remakes are certainly something that has slowly become a mainstay for the franchise. While it technically started all the way back when Link’s Awakening DX was released, we’ve seen a more common trend for their existence in the last handful of years. We got Ocarina of Time 3D in 2011, The Wind Waker HD in 2013, and Majora’s Mask 3D in 2015. You could argue we’ll be getting our next remake in 2017 – just in time for the launch of new hardware.

It’s obvious we enjoy remakes and even more obvious that creating them is extremely profitable for Nintendo – Majora’s Mask 3D is currently the fastest selling handheld Zelda game ever released. We don’t know if those sales will crash anytime soon, but regardless it was a smashing success. The Wind Waker HD, despite releasing on hardware with a small install base, has sold north of a million units. Ocarina of Time 3D is around 3.5 million units sold.

Still, there seems to be this resounding response within the fandom anytime a remake is brought up – enough remakes, we want new Zelda games! Sometimes a small quip is thrown in about their dislike of the current remakes – and really everyone is entitled to their own experience with them.

Remakes Do Not Slow Down New Games

If anything, they help with development. Is Zelda U delayed to 2017 because of The Wind Waker HD releasing in 2013? Seems fairly unlikely – we’re almost 3 years past that point. Instead, they used The Wind Waker HD to experiment with new tools, such as a brand new lighting system. They also used it to explore uses for the GamePad. It gave them a playground to fool around in with in an already built game, allowing them to experiment even further without starting from scratch. That’s a great learning tool and clearly something they are using to Zelda U’s advantage.

In addition, they typically bring in outside help to create the games, freeing up the Zelda team to focus on new experiences. We had a brand new Zelda title launch in 2011. Our next new title launched in 2013. The one after that is launching in 2016. 2 to 3 years between a new Zelda game release is more than fair to the singular team that creates them. There is nothing wrong with annualizing a franchise if the quality can be maintained, but very few companies that do that can maintain the quality. Call of Duty is probably the closest annual franchise to maintaining quality, but even they have their down years – see Call of Duty: Ghosts. Assassin’s Creed: Unity released as a hot mess with oodles of bugs, severely hindering the ability to try to enjoy what the developers tried to create. Meanwhile, Zelda games come out every 2 to 3 years with relatively little issue at all. They also somehow maintain that high quality while never overspending – Zelda games are not 100+ million dollar games – even though it can be argued that sales could justify such a budget.

At the core, remakes aren’t slowing down the progress on new games and the evidence bears that out.

Remakes Let New Players In, Keep Zelda Relevant in Down Years

We’re not getting Zelda U this year. We did get Majora’s Mask 3D this year. The last year we had without any Zelda love was 2012, and it appears Nintendo is going to try and put those days behind us. We’ll get a remake, a new game, or a side game likely every year from this year forward – even if that side game turns out to be a mobile title. Reality is that Nintendo is keeping Zelda relevant every single year. That’s important for maintaining the brand.

Beyond that, remakes are really bringing in newer Zelda fans to experiences they may have never played. We even have staff at the site that never played Majora’s Mask… and are for their first time in Majora’s Mask 3D. You might argue the original is better, and they should experience that – but without such knowledge they are free to enjoy what they did get, without the unrealistic expectations a veteran may put on the title. More importantly, there was a high chance such players may have never bothered to play the game – but because of the remake they are. Anything that encourages more fans to experience more Zelda games is an overwhelmingly positive mark in my book.

All in all, you don’t need to like remakes. But there is nothing negative about their existence that should hinder more from existing. As long as there is a title worth remastering/remaking in the series, Nintendo should continue to provide as sales data and the lack of slow down for new titles is proving this to be a very profitable and ideal situation for both them and Zelda fans.

Cosplay of the Week: Midna's Human form by Yuki LeFay

Mases — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 08:49:00 +0000

This week I've finally gotten around to featuring my personal favourite Zelda character: Princess Midna of the Twilight Realm! The Cosplayer featured for bringing this gorgeous character to life is Brazilian Cosplayer and artist, Yuki LeFay.

Her portrayal of the Twilight Princess is amazing, in my eyes, and she brings out the elegance of Midna's human form. This costume has clearly been well thought through, and the detail is great! The detail in the crown, and even in the prop Fused Shadow, are a great sight for the eyes.

Yuki is a great Cosplayer, and has brought many different characters to life. You can see all of her Cosplays on her Facebook page: YukiCosplay.com. To see a few images of her Midna Cosplay you can check out the mini gallery below, although I haven't posted all the photo's from her Midna Cosplay these were just a selection of my favourites.

Once again, this is only a quick feature due to life getting the best of me but soon new writers will be joining this feature (and they'll probably be a whole lot better at it). Get excited!

Same as always: comment below to let us know what you thought of this weeks Cosplay, tag your own Cosplays on twitter with #ZIcostume and give Yuki a follow on Facebook.

Source: YukiCosplay.com

ZI Podcast 31: Zelda U’s Dev Cycle, An American Zelda Title, and Smash Bros Fan Fics Ft Vernon Shaw

Acohen95 — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 18:29:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

With Zelda U’s delay still sinking in, Adam leads this week’s spicier than usual cast down a road of fan fiction and debate. We discuss the possible reasons behind Zelda U’s extended dev cycle, possible ideas for Zelda’s 30th anniversary, angrily debate about Smash Bros Ballot characters, and consider the possibility of a Zelda game created by an American studio. Joining this week’s conversation is Jake (hitting on our guest as usual), Chris (never noticed by senpai), and our special guest, Vernon Shaw of Hot Pepper Gaming (Our resident Fan Fiction writer). Thanks to Brandon for this week’s theme song. If you have any of your own theme songs or topic ideas, feel free to email us at Zeldainformerpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks again to Jeesh for that awesome ending. Stick around after the show for more content!

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Special Thanks

Hot Pepper Gaming’s Youtube
Ending Theme by Jeesh
Camp Kesem
Scare To Care
Cover Banner (We'd Appreciate Help Locating The Original Artist!)

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Comment Topic This Week: What Do You Like To Do As A Fan?

Pokémon and Zelda Villains Go Hand in Hand in Latest Crossover Art

Nathan — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 19:00:00 +0000

David Pilatowsky as taken Pokémon and recreated them as classic Zelda villains - a continuation of his Pokémon and Zelda crossover art series we posted about earlier this year. He features Agahnim, Ghirahim, Ganondorf, Vaati, and Zant - all masterfully crafted. Just like his original crossover art, I find this stuff to be stunning. While I am no longer an avid Pokémon player, I still understand (and know) all of the Pokémon used in the art. Are you enjoying this crossover art as much as I am? Be sure to check out bigger versions of each of them in the galllery below!

Source: Behance

Eye of Truth: Analyzing Aghanim, the Wicked

HyruleHero3D — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:30:00 +0000

If you're a retro gamer, chances are you've probably encountered a wizard while playing A Link To The Past on your Super Nintendo console! But if you haven't, that's perfectly find as long as you wouldn't mind a few spoilers. In this volume of Eye of Truth, we'll be analyzing the wicked wizard, Aghanim and his many traits that make him so unique.

Aghanim, as we all know is what we originally thought was the main antagonist of A Link To The Past. We first see him during the game's prologue where he is shown to be "eliminating" young women who we know as the Maidens. Enough of the synopsis, let's get this analysis on the road!

Physical Traits

Aghanim, in the game appears to us as a simple wizard sporting a lime-colored robe and cloak. On his head, there is a golden band with what could possibly be a ruby attached to the front. His face is completely darkened and only his eyes are visible as two white lines. His in-game appearance is rather basic considering the game was released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) back in 1992. There is something slightly odd though, regarding his official artwork which we can now talk about.

Aghanim's physical appearance is way more defined in the official artwork which can be seen in the Hyrule Historia as well as other publications featuring content from the Zelda franchise. In the official artwork, he is portrayed as a wizard sporting a robe and a cloak that is not green but red. On his robes you can clearly see a blue eye emblazoned on his torso. His robe also seems to sport some gold trim with designs that could possibly represent flames.

His genetic traits show him to have a bluish-gray skin tone with wrinkly skin. His face is also more well defined and his features are more apparent. We can easily see that his facial expression is angry [left off here, will continue when possible]

Limited Edition Link's Awakening Poster Available on The Yetee

RODTheMaster — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 17:37:00 +0000

For fans of the Game Boy classic, artsy online retailer The Yetee has a Limited Edition Link's Awakening poster for sale. As is the nature of Limited Edition items, this edition of the poster will not see a reprint once the item has sold out. With only 50 posters initially made available, I recommend you grab it as soon as you can if it strikes your fancy.

The 18" by 24" poster is available for $35 USD, plus shipping. The artwork on the poster was designed by artist iwilding, who describes the design as "the island of dreams." The poster features a silhouette of Link's face sticking out of the water, obviously evoking the island from Link's Awakening. There's even some cool psychological imagery in the design that I really appreciate. As stated above, only 50 of these posters were made available, so act fast if you want to get yours hands on one.

You can also visit iwilding's website to see more of his artwork. A smaller print (10" X 7") of the Link's Awakening artwork is also available for purchase there.

Are you going to snag one of these posters? Let us know in the comments.

Source: The Yetee

Caption Contest 013: "There is a 97% chance that I will destroy you."

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 19:27:00 +0000

It's "baker's dozen" week for the caption contest! Last week, I asked you to caption an image of our favorite wannabe fairy in Hyrule Warriors. As always, we did get some great responses from those that participated, but our numbers have dropped yet again, sadly. Regardless, as long as some of you are having fun with this, I'm going to keep doing it. So, I couldn't find anything "baker" related to feature as this week's image. But that's okay, because I'm featuring a character that I dislike almost as much as my own sense of humor, Fi. I really do not like her, but there was just something about this screenshot that I thoroughly enjoyed. Maybe it's because she isn't saying anything? And I just realized that I am now, ironically, asking you to make her say something. Well, do your worst ladies and gents...while abiding to the rules of course. You're not getting away with it that easy. Mwahahaha! Okay, I'm done.

You know how it goes, leave your caption in the comments below and like your favorites to see them on the winners' page next week. See you there!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

by: Aether Skyline

by: Cherryb6mb

by: Ducky

by: Nerdy Ninja

by: Scootaluigi

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Lauren Currie - "TINGLE SMASH!!"
Darin W. Harr II - "NOTHING STOPS A FOREST FAIRY!"
Art1st4786 - "Pop my balloon again! I dare you!"
Gracie Tolle - "My face when there's a new Zelda coming."
DontheMask! - "these....tights....are....toooo.....TIGHT!"

This week's photo:

Here's a Zelda Collector's Puzzle Time-Lapse Video

RODTheMaster — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 19:57:00 +0000

Last year, Nintendo and USAopoly released The Legend of Zelda Collector's Puzzle, an epic 550-piece puzzle that depicts a map of Hyrule. Completing the puzzle may be too much of an undertaking for some fans, but not for YouTube user James. He and his partner sat down to complete the puzzle, completing it in about 6 hours, and lovingly uploaded a time-lapse video of the entire process. If you'd like to get an idea of what the finalized puzzle looks like, this video will surely help you out.

The completed The Legend of Zelda Collector's Puzzle is 18" X 24", comprised of 550 pieces. The puzzle features a massive map of Hyrule; the map does not depict a particular version of Hyrule, but rather shows an amalgamation of locations from Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and (the canonically-inappropriate) Majora's Mask. James and his partner completed the puzzle in 6 hours and 19 minutes. The three-minute time-lapse shows James' full process, with a bit of editing and camera work thrown in too. I actually received this puzzle for my birthday last month, so this video has inspired me to complete it myself.

The puzzle is available on Amazon for $9.99 USD, and can be found in-store at other major retailers as well.

What did you think of the time-lapse? Will you pick up this puzzle to try the feat yourself? Let us know!

Majora's Mask 3D Now $5 Off At Best Buy, Amazon

Cathron — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 01:50:00 +0000

Fans holding off on purchasing the 3D remake of Majora's Mask may now want to open their wallets. The popular Ocarina of Time sequel has just gone through a price drop on Amazon and Best Buy.

Majora's Mask 3D is normally $39.99, but Best Buy has knocked $5 off (13%), dropping the total to $34.99. Amazon price-matched Best Buy's deal, dropping their total as well. It should be noted, the price drop only applies to the standard edition of the game.

Customers can combine the new price on Amazon with the free shipping available to Prime subscribers for a pretty sweet deal, but Best Buy's online store also offers free shipping on orders above $35.

Neither retailer announced how long the price drop will last, so bargain hunters may want to purchase the title before the total shoots back up to $39.99.

Are you going to take advantage of the price drop?

Sources: Best Buy & Amazon

Let This Acoustic Fairy Fountain Arrangement Ease Your Weariness

Ziondood — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 16:36:00 +0000

There is no video game music I enjoy more than The Legend of Zelda's. It's great to see fans go above and beyond to put their own twists on these beloved songs. Tom Winter is no newbie when it comes to acoustically arranging Zelda tunes. He's previously recreated Zelda songs such as: Gerudo Valley, Clock Town, and Kokiri Forest, just to name a few! In his latest video he's taken the short but sweet Great Fairy Fountain theme and soothed my head with soft guitar sweeps and harmonies.

Each of Tom's delicately finger picked guitar parts come together to form a peaceful arrangement of sounds. The highs and lows really compliment each other to give this song more dimension than its original iteration. It's always exciting to have a song bring back such nostalgic moments from Zelda games, and this song that's reminiscent of discovering a new fountain within the vast world of Hyrule is no exception. My only complaint is that this song is over so quickly as I found myself continuously listening to it on repeat.

Tom has also recently released his debut EP titled, "VGM Acoustic Collections 1." If you enjoyed Tom's rendition, make sure to check out his Youtube Channel where you can watch his other videos and keep up to date on his future works!

Do you have a favorite tune you'd love for him to cover? Ballad of the Wind Fish? Saria's Song? Song of Healing? Let us know in the comments below!

Cosplay of the Week: Lana by smzeldarules

blaqkbird — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 01:39:00 +0000

This week we are featuring Lana, the White Sorceress, from Hyrule Warriors! The Cosplayer bringing this magnificent character to life is smzeldarules, also known as Sarah Mobarak, a native of Buffalo, New York! Sarah fell in love with Lana's design and battle sequence through teasers and trailers before the game debuted in August for Japan, and September for North America.

Sarah’s portrayal of Lana is absolutely stunning, and immediately caught my attention from the beauty and personality she brings to the character. Sarah is amazingly talented, not only is the detail of her Lana cosplay spot on complete with spellbook, she even did the editing for the image shown above!

Lana is Sarah’s most detailed costume yet, and one of her most proud costumes she has made. Below, I have picked 6 images of Sarah’s Lana Cosplay that I enjoyed. You can find more images of Lana in Sarah's Facebook album Lana - 2014. Since Cosplaying Lana, Sarah has made many new Cosplays that she has shared on her Facebook page and other social media outlets.

Comment below to let us know what you thought of this weeks Cosplay, tag your own Cosplays on twitter with #ZIcostume and give Sarah a follow on Facebook!

Source: smzeldarules

Photos by:Pial Visions Photography, Herbiecide

Edits by: SARAMO DESIGN

Twitter: smzeldarules

Instagram: smzeldarules

Cospix: smzeldarules

Worldcosplay: smzeldarules

Acparadise: smzeldarules

Sarah's Facebook Design page: SaramoDesign

Sarah's website: sarahmobarak

One Hand Illustrated Ocarina of Time's Dead Hand

Mases — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 03:12:00 +0000

Do you remember heading west through a corridor in the Shadow Temple, only to be shut inside the room at the other end, becoming trapped? Do you remember the dark, ominous composition that played in the background as you tried to navigate your way through the Shadow Temple’s sick and twisted halls? I’m sure you do, just as Tim Löchner remembers.

Löchner, a freelance artist based out of Berlin, Germany, created an absolutely terrifying and detailed piece of Ocarina of Time’s infamous Dead Hand mini-boss. In Löchner’s digital 2D piece “DeadHand,” the viewer can truly feel the gripping nature of the struggle and dread involved with this battle.

When Dead Hand finally emerges in the confining room of the Shadow Temple, the horror settles in as it careens toward you, with its head angled up toward the ceiling. As the disturbing entity shuffled toward me, I remember almost being frozen in fear, not knowing what the next step was… not sure of what I should do or what was going to happen. All of this terror was captured and recreated by Löchner. The fright and fight in Link’s face, the more naturalistic and elongated teeth and scythes of the Dead Hand, and even the ghastly Infinite Hands are present in this composition.

I don’t know about you, but I almost breathed a sigh of relief when I noticed there was no link or option for individuals to buy prints. This enemy and the battle that ensued were frightening enough—we don’t need to be reminded of it with this piece hanging on our walls in our own hallways.

What do you think of Löchner’s rendition of this Ocarina of Time mini-boss? If you could compose a piece in such a way, which enemy would you choose to recreate? Let us know in the comments below!

Morpha's Giant Tentacle from Ocarina of Time Exists, is Huge

Nathan — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:02:00 +0000

It's not unusual for bosses and other enemies in the Zelda series to take inspiration from real world creatures. It's also not unusual for Nintendo to completely make up their own ideas. As it turns out, Morpha's tentacle appears to be based on a real world creature known as a Pyrosome. Technically, it's many creatures combining to form one. It's formed by a large group of Tunicates which is in turn formed by a large group of Zooids. Sounds like something from another planet, right? There is just a lot of odd things we're still learning about in our oceans and seas.

Honestly, I don't fully grasp how such a creature comes to be, but that's what marine biologists are for. All I know is that looking at this beast, it definitely has a close resemblance to Morpha's infamous tentacle. While this could be a mere coinicidence, it is possible that Nintendo drew inspiration. What do you think?

Source: Zelda Unvierse

Fan Arranges a Rocking Ocarina of Time Guitar Medley

RODTheMaster — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:39:00 +0000

Something about the Zelda music makes it perfect for rock and metal covers. The tunes always retain their epic, orchestral nature, but the fast, layered melodies translate really well when played with heavy electric guitar. A few weeks ago, YouTube guitarist Deku Knight released a medley of Ocarina of Time tunes, collecting a few songs from the game and transforming them into a head-banging guitar track.

The medley starts slow with the Ocarina of Time title theme, easing his two guitars into the mix before exploding with the Kokiri Forest theme. I'm a fan of metal tracks that hit listeners hard about a minute into a song, so this transition was a welcome surprise. My favorite part of Deku Knight's medley is the Hyrule Field section; I'd love to hear a full version of theme performed by this awesome musician. The song moves through the Lost Woods and Market themes before ending with Zelda's Lullaby. After listening to the arrangement, I have to say I was very impressed with the quality.

You can check out other Zelda covers on Deku Knight's channel, such as a thrashing Dodongo / Volvagia Boss theme and NES Zelda dungeon theme.

What are your thoughts on the medley? Are there any Zelda tunes you'd like Deku Knight to cover in the future? Share with us in the comments.

Link Battles a Stalfos in Newest "Creatures of Hyrule" Episode

RODTheMaster — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 22:57:00 +0000

A few months ago, we saw the premiere episode of Creatures of Hyrule, a series of fan films meant to bring the iconic beasts of Zelda to life. Last week, filmmaker Jared Potter and (part one) media released the series' second entry, titled Forest Guardian. In this action-packed episode, Link is confronted with a Stalfos, resulting in a life-threatening battle with the sword-fighting skeleton.

As with the Poe in first episode of Creatures of Hyrule, the CGI seen in this video is extremely impressive. Watching Link's sword clang against the Stalfos' sword and shield adds a great deal of realism to the fight scene. Little details like leaves moving beneath the skeletons steps show just how much hard work went into this project. The fight ends with a few exciting surprises, so don't let me spoil it for you. As the credits roll, there's even a bit of behind-the-scenes footage and silly CGI antics, so definitely check that out as well.

Potter has stated that each episode of the series will explore a different Zelda creature, so stay tuned to his channel for future updates. I personally would love to see more creatures from different Zelda environments, such as a fire creature like Flare Dancers or a water creature like Morpha. Well... I guess nature already has the latter one covered.

You can also visit Potter's channel for behind-the-scenes content and watch his previous Zelda short film The Skull Kid on Machinima.

What are your thoughts on this new episode? Are there any creatures you'd like the team to bring to life next? Let us know in the comments!

Nintendo World Store Hosting A Link to the Past Graphic Novel Launch Event on May 1st

Nathan — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 15:35:00 +0000

Nintendo and Viz Media are launching the official A Link to the Past graphic novel as written by Shotaro Ishinomori. It was first released as a series of of "comics" in Nintendo Power Magazine, but later collected to create this graphic novel. The Nintendo World Store has decided to host a launch party for the novel, which releases on May 1st. The party will include light refreshments, a cake cutting ceremony, a Q and A session with someone from Viz Media (who compiled the graphic novel), and it will feature a gallery of color prints from the novel itself. This really seems like a can't miss event if you plan to pick up this book and you live in the New York area.

Did you catch this novel during it's original run as a series in Nintendo Power?

Source: Nintendo World Store

Two New Stunning Zelda Dresses for the Female Hero

Nathan — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 16:54:00 +0000

Koala Art & Design have released two brand new Zelda inspired dresses. Both feature several Zelda items in two unique styles. One of them features the Trifroce as the center piece, while the other is just a total item mashup. Both dresses look absolutely fantastic! While there are many options for various TShirts around the web, Zelda dresses are much more limited in variety and availability.

The dresses are made out of thick 86% polyester, 14% spandex fabric. This fabric supposedly allows just enough weight to hide underwear lines and prevents riding up, while allowing some flexibility and a comforting soft feel. The designs themselves are printed on, so if you do buy one they suggest hand washing with cold water, then hang drying, as this will help preserve the true colors. Pretty typical from my experience with similar clothes styled for men.

You can pick up the blue dress here and the black one here for $59.99. What do you think?

Hutts Gaming Explores a Dungeon in Chivalry's Zelda Mod

RODTheMaster — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 19:54:00 +0000

Last year, Tom Banner Studios' Medieval combat game Chivalry: Medieval Warfare was made a whole lot more interesting with the release of a fan-made Zelda mod called The Legend of Chivalry. The mod places players in a first-person, Zelda-esque dungeon complete with puzzles, secrets, and bosses. A few days ago, Hutts Gaming Channel on YouTube stepped into The Legend of Chivalry and explored the labyrinth for himself.

At the video's start, Hutts is dropped into a dungeon that is very reminiscent of Ocarina of Time's Forest Temple. Majora's Mask's Ikana Castle theme plays and Hutts is left to discover what other Zelda surprises the mod has to offer. The YouTuber is confronted with a collection of puzzles involving torches, switches, targets, and push-able blocks. As he explores the dungeon further, Hutts is challenged by a few different mini-bosses, all carrying over the sloppy, but fun combat system in Chivalry.

The Legend of Chivalry is clearly not as polished or sophisticated as other high-profile mods. In fact, it looks like it was never properly finished. Some textures are missing, enemy AI and spawns don't always work properly, and item pick-ups glitch occasionally. Regardless, the core Zelda mechanics were implemented into Chivalry well enough, and a single-player Zelda experience offers some variety to a multiplayer game like Chivalry. The programming, scripted events, and puzzles show how much effort went into the mod's construction; the mod should be a fun distraction for few hours.

The Legend of Chivalry was created by Kajoline on Steam Workshop. Based on his comments on the mod's page, more development was planned for the mod, but it is currently unknown if Kajoline plans to continue his progress. The mod is available for download, so you're welcome to try it out yourself.

What are your thoughts on the mod? Will you be downloading it? Let us know!

Lindsey Stirling Live "Zelda Medley" Performance

AboardTheBebop — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 14:45:00 +0000

Like her or not, Lindsey Stirling has been extremely influential in bringing the violin out of the concert hall and into the mainstream as an instrument of modern music. Her fame has not only escalated from original works, but a number of her hits are melodies crafted from some of entertainment's most memorable series'. That being said, it's known by many fans of the Zelda series that Stirling has a piece dedicated to it as well as a music video to go along with it. Many of you have probably already heard the song, but you can check out the video above to see it "live". If you have never seen her perform on stage before, I urge you to check this out to get a taste of the experience.

What do you think of Stirling's performance? Do you enjoy the energy that she brings to the stage? What's your favorite fan-made rendition of music from The Legend of Zelda? Let us know in the comments below.

If you like what you hear, don't forget to check out Lindsey's YouTube channel for more music videos of her work. No joke, her music gives me chills...every time.

New Video Features Zelda Inspired Cosplays Galore

AboardTheBebop — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 15:35:00 +0000

As a cosplayer, I know the amount of time and work that goes into the craft, and everyone in this video aims to impress. I'll let the video speak for itself because there really isn't much to say. People are dressed like Zelda characters. The popularity of cosplay has increased drastically over the years to the point that people are now making a living off of it. While few reach that level, many do it for the sake of either pretending to be one of their favorite anime or video game characters or experiencing the excitement brought to others by seeing those characters come to life. It has now become such a popular, entertaining, and awe-inspiring business that we have even started our own weekly segment where we feature a new Zelda themed cosplay every Tuesday.

If you are a fan of the craft, or just want to see some impressive works by fans, check out the video above. Are you a cosplayer? Have you ever wanted to try your hand at the craft? What cosplay do you want to do? Let us know in the comments below.

Fan Makes Awesome Custom Wind Waker Shields

RODTheMaster — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 20:02:00 +0000

The Wind Waker has some of the most aesthetically interesting items and weapons in the entire Zelda series. This fact did not go unnoticed by artist Soren Kalla, who lovingly crafted both the Hero's Shield and Mirror Shield as they appeared in the GameCube classic. The detail and craftsmanship on these shields are simply amazing, and Kalla was kind enough to include step-by-step images on her Imgur page.

Soren Kalla, who also designed the beautiful Hylian Court playing card set, set out to create Wind Waker's Hero Shield and Mirror Shield with the help of a laser cutter, some patience, and boundless artistry. The artist explained that the Hero's Shield was created first; she utilized a laser cutter to construct the shield designs and then set out to build the base. Because the Hero's Shield is curved, hinges and a lot of bondo were used to give the shield that trademark curve. After bordering, Kalla painted the shield and assembled the designs on its front. The artist explained that Rustoleum "Hammered" spray paint was used to give the shield's border the metal look.

Next came the Mirror Shield, which Kalla excitingly explained used a special material known as Mirrored acrylic. This material is "super light weight, hard to break, 100% reflective, AND IT WORKS WITH A LASER CUTTER GUYSSS^[sic]." The artist assembled and painted this shield like she did the Hero's Shield, and finally attached the mirrored design to the front. Lastly, specialized handles were made and the shields were complete. Looking at pictures of the Mirror Shield in action is absolutely amazing, as it reflects light just like in the game.

You can view all the steps taken to make these shield's on Soren Kalla's Imgur. Also, you can see all of her artwork on the artist's Tumblr and website. The Hylian Court playing cards are available for purchase there as well.

What do you think of the shields? Would you consider making your own someday? Let us know!

Source: Imgur (Soren Kalla)

Daily Debate: What is Your Most Unpopular Zelda Related Opinion and Why?

Nathan — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 03:27:00 +0000

We all have them. Opinions flow like a river with no end in sight, but what also happens along that flow is a hiccup. Two rivers cross paths and begin to clash, fighting to move on. This is like two opinions that cross paths but don't agree. Often times, the smaller river is overtaken by the larger. In this case, popular opinion is the larger river swallowing up the minority that view something differently. As an example, Skyward Sword and The Adventure of Link, to me, are the two best Zelda games ever crafted.

That's an unpopular opinion and considered extremely controversial every time I bring them up. Of course, I am not disputing anyone else's opinion - I just enjoy what I enjoy and am fully capable of letting others enjoy what they enjoy. Yet, by merely mentioning these two games, I am typically torn down. Told my opinion is wrong. I'm not creating controversy, controversy is being created by the popular opinion.

This gets into today's daily debate. We all have opinions and ideals about the Zelda series we like or dislike that go against the norm. Maybe you hate Majora's Mask... Maybe you're a huge fan of linearity in the series instead of open exploration... Maybe you prefer Loftwing flight or train riding over Epona. This is your time to get those opinions out in the open and say them with pride. May others still swoop in and argue against them? Of course, so I am asking in addition to telling us your opinion - explain why you feel that way.

In my case, I feel The Adventure of Link and Skyward Sword contain some of the best combat this series has ever seen. To me, combat is a constant in the series and thus, highly valued in my book. I also found Skyward Sword to contain, so far, the best Zelda story ever told, where as before the Timeline was convoluted, Zelda 2 was the definition for the creation of The Legend of Zelda series name. I enjoyed the linearity built into the sections concept in Skyward Sword greatly, but also the unique freedom offered in an RPG like fashion in Zelda 2. Two contrasting points, proving at least to myself that I highly enjoy exploration and linearity - two concepts at odds with eachother.

How about you? Art is by Madec-Brice.

Nerfs and Buffs: Analyzing Patch 1.0.6 In Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U

HyruleHero3D — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 03:12:00 +0000

Just this week, Nintendo released Patch 1.0.6 which featured some notable Buffs and Nerfs to our line up of favorite Nintendo characters. Such characters include Link, Zelda, and even Ganondorf, the great Gerudo King himself. Though, not all characters were touched, including Pac-Man, Toon Link, and Zero-Suit Samus. But most importantly, we cannot forget the addition to the exclusive legendary fighter, Mewtwo! Let's take a look!

New Additions

Newly introduced to the Smash roster, is the legendary Mewtwo and he's better then ever! Mewtwo is a DLC exclusive that came with the patch, but only unlocks for those with a special code obtained from Club Nintendo. In order to obtain this fighter, one must register the PIN codes for both the Wii U and 3DS editions of the game in order to recieve the download key. Alternatively, you can purchase this fighter for $5 USD on the Nintendo E-Shop, if you qualify with Club Nintendo.

If you haven't seen Mewtwo in action, but would like to, then click here!

Nerfs

There's nothing more annoying than having your favorite character end up being nerfed. But this can also be a blessing, for those really annoying fighters as well (*cough* Diddy Kong *cough*).

First off, let's talk about Sheik, who is a very popular character in the Smash franchise. Shiek is very useful if you're the type of player who likes to move fast, hit hard and do all kinds of cool acrobatic moves. Shiek is not very useful if you're playing her on the ground but she can be extremely lethal mid-air, which is exactly what Nintendo decided to crush. Her mid-air B attack was given a 1% nerf.

Ocarina of Time 2D Gears Up for Version .20, New Footage, Multiplayer

Nathan — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 05:01:00 +0000

Last year we introduced you to an Ocarina of Time 2D project which was met with a lot of excitement but also some understandable skepticism. After all, it wasn't the first attempt at recreating the game in 2D and all prior attempts have fallen apart. So far however, this project is bucking that trending and has shown continuing monthly updates ever since. They released a new version of the game since we last posted about it, but more importantly they have a 3rd version on it's way featuring multiplayer capabilities.

Of course, the Zelda fan in me would rather see them focus on more progress into the game itself rather than multiplayer, but one can't blame them for having some fun. That and they certainly have added more content to go along with it. Given the small size of the team behind this and their limited resources and time availability, this is a project that could be many more years in the making before it is done. What is promising however is the continued progress being made - of which you can watch above or watch below. You can also download the latest playable demo right here. What do you think? Excited about the project? Enjoying the new content soon to come?

Majora's Mask 3D Sells 184,000 during March in NA, 730,000 LTD

Nathan — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 15:05:00 +0000

Majora's Mask 3D is assuredly going to move more than a million units here in North America, as Nintendo is reporting 184,000 sales for the game last month with 730,000 sold all together. World Wide sales are likely around 2 million right now, though we can't confirm the international figures just yet. Either way, this game certainly has the long term potential of outselling Ocarina of Time 3D assuming it can find a consistent sales figure month to month down the line.

Of course, I was part of the launch sales numbers despite getting a review copy of the game because I wanted that Skull Kid figure. It should also be noted that the Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS XL has slowly become easily find-able at many retail outlets. It appears the system is going to be as easy to get long haul as the A Link Between Worlds system was. It is entirely possible that the port strike was the main cause of issues when the system launched.

The question now is, did you enjoy Majora's Mask 3D?

Source: Nintendo PR Email

Exclusive Poster Available at Nintendo World's A Link to the Past Graphic Novel Launch

RODTheMaster — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 19:07:00 +0000

The Nintendo World store in New York City recently announced a special launch event on May 1st for the reprint of the A Link to the Past graphic novel by Shotaro Ishinomori. As if there wasn't enough festivities for West Coast fans to be jealous of, Nintendo World revealed through Instagram that an exclusive poster will be available to those purchasing the reprinted graphic novel. That's right, in addition to a Q&A and a gallery of Ishinomori's amazing artwork, the first 1,000 purchasers of the reprint will receive this exclusive poster.

It is unknown at this time what the exclusive poster will look like, but I would assume that it will feature the iconic artwork of Shotaro Ishinomori as seen in his Zelda manga. Nintendo World has stated that this poster will only be available for the first 1,000 purchasers, so don't procrastinate too long if you'd like to get your hands on it. The launch event will take place on May 1st from 6 PM to 8 PM. It will hold a Q&A with a representative from Viz Media (the novel's publisher), a gallery of prints by Ishinomori, and light refreshments.

Distinct from the Zelda manga by Akira Himekawa, Shotaro Ishinomori's A Link to the Past comic, which loosely follows the story of the game, originally ran in Nintendo Power before being collected into a novel in 1993. This new edition will be the first time the novel has been reprinted since the early 90's.

Are you going to attend the launch event? How excited are you for the exclusive poster? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Instagram

You've Met With Some Terrible Gameplay

Paul Grzelak — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 16:08:00 +0000

Last week I discussed the terrible narrative of Majora’s Mask, and today we’re taking a look at its terrible gameplay. Majora’s Mask went to great lengths to differentiate itself from other games in the Zelda franchise when it was released in 2000, but there’s a wide gap between simply standing out and successfully innovating.

While some of Majora’s Mask’s gameplay delivered fresh and rewarding experiences, it also served up many stale slogs of repetition, unpolished game mechanics, and major features that were undercooked. Let’s start with a look at one of the worst game mechanics in Majora’s Mask: the way it handles saving game progress.

A Terrible Save System

The saving system in Majora’s Mask is among the most convoluted of any game I’ve ever played. Why are some saves “temporary” while others are “permanent” and how does this distinction benefit players? Designing a game so that an unexpected crash of the game or the Moon results in a major setback to player progress is a needless inconvenience. The whole game is already presented as a tension-filled race against the clock; why do I have to worry about losing my game progress as well?

Every Zelda game before Majora’s Mask allowed players to save anywhere at almost any time. Majora’s Mask requires players to choose between preserving their three-day progress by finding an Owl Statue for a “temporary” save, or losing their three-day progress by playing the Song of Time for a “permanent” save. If you’re confused by that last sentence, I think it proves my point of how contrived this save system is!

Furthermore, new players must play the first hour of the game as a Deku Scrub locked in a small town before they are even allowed to save any progress at all. Yes, talking to the scarecrow shortens the wait somewhat, but how is that process supposed to be intuitive for a new player? And why must players be forced to play an hour of a game before they are allowed to save for the first time?

But once that first hour is past, the fatter problems of Majora’s Mask’s save system drag themselves into the spotlight.

Those Owl Statues with their ability to temporarily save game progress are a nice alternative to playing the Song of Time. The fact that Owl Statues act as warp points for fast-travel is nice too, but these avian monuments are too few and far between in the land of Termina. No region has more than two Owl Statues, and no dungeon has any Owl Statues, so saving progress mid-dungeon requires players to navigate their way out of a dungeon before they can access a temporary save.

Playing the Song of Time also removes many of Link’s inventory items such as Magic Beans, Deku Nuts, and bottled items. I understand carrying some bottled items between cycles would make certain quests too easy, but how does Link hold onto his Bomb Bag between cycles, yet lose all his Bombs? Recollecting arrows at the start of every three-day cycle did not add immersion or challenge to Majora’s Mask, it was simply a tedious and unrewarding chore I had to cope with every Dawn of the First Day.

Admittedly, Majora’s Mask 3D addressed many of these glaring flaws by filling Termina with more locations to save progress and making all saves “permanent” saves. The remake for the Nintendo 3DS also gave us three save files instead of two, and took a leaf out of Skyward Sword’s book by placing save points inside dungeons as well as outside them. That said, only the most devoted fanboy or fangirl would pretend the original release of Majora’s Mask had a saving system that was anything other than clunky.

A Terrible Focus on Racing

Why does Majora’s Mask contain so many races? Is racing a cultural fascination among Termina’s inhabitants? I’m not talking about the metaphorical race against time that permeates the subtext of Majora’s Mask’s gameplay; I’m talking about the physical competitions of speed that keep showing up in this game.

Saving the Deku Princess from Woodfall Temple allows us to race the Deku Butler in order to earn the Mask of Scents. We race after a monkey to find Koume in the Woods of Mystery; we race the Groman Brothers to earn the Garo’s Mask; we race some psychedelic beavers for an empty bottle; we race some rolling Gorons in a competition for gold dust and a sword upgrade; we race Captain Keeta to get the Captain’s Hat; we even race the boss of Snowhead Temple!

While not all of these races are mandatory, they are similar enough that it warrants questioning why Majora’s Mask so frequently pushes players onto racetracks or tasks them with chasing after another character. This may delve too deeply into the realm of personal preference, but I find races to be too simple, mechanically, for a Zelda game.

Of course, I have no outright objection to the inclusion of any races in Zelda games. Races have appeared in many Zelda games, and examples of them include horse racing around Lon Lon Ranch in Ocarina of Time, a boating course in The Wind Waker, snowboarding in Twilight Princess, and many more. Races are fun, and they can provide Zelda games with delicious variety to spice up the gameplay for players. However, Majora’s Mask has so many races, they add bland repetition to the game rather than variety.

As nice as races may be in Zelda games, Majora’s Mask‘s game mechanics are ill-suited for such a large number of races. Traveling at top speed at the end of the Goron racetrack only to be overtaken by another Goron is not just frustrating; it is indicative of a game that was not optimized for racing gameplay. And that’s what Majora’s Mask is: a modification of the mechanics in Ocarina of Time, a game that had some racing sections, but was mostly designed to handle adventuring, combat, solving puzzles, and exploring a three-dimensional environment. This is Zelda, not Forza!

The only reason I can think of for why Majora’s Mask has so many races is that races were easier to make in the game’s single year of production. Why design a puzzle that upholds the Nintendo standard of being challenging, intuitive, and unique... when you could simply recycle the Dampé race from Ocarina of Time for multiple parts of this game?

If that were the case, I wouldn’t see it as proof that Majora’s Mask ’s designers were lazy, rather they had to understandably cut corners under such a tight deadline. Nonetheless, the result is an inferior gameplay experience, with races that feel shoehorned into the game rather than a natural part of them like the races in other Zelda games.

Terrible Masks

Speaking of shoehorning, that’s how I feel about far too many of the masks in Majora’s Mask. Outside of the three-day cycle, the biggest fresh idea Majora’s Mask brings to the gameplay table is 24 masks players are invited to collect and wear so Link can assume special powers and abilities, à la Kid Chameleon. It’s a great idea in concept, but in practice it falls flat, or at least stumbles over itself.

Granted, the game’s three transformation masks, which radically alter Link’s abilities by changing him into a Deku Scrub, Zora, or Goron, are wonderfully designed game items that provide Majora’s Mask with gratifying gameplay that feels at home in the game’s world.

The transformation masks are important items that provide rewarding gameplay because they are used so frequently in a wide variety of scenarios. The same can be said for the Bunny Hood, Stone Mask, and the Great Fairy’s Mask: these are all very useful masks for Link to carry through his adventure and feel as important as his Bow and Hookshot.

The rest of the game’s masks… not so much.

Eleven of the game’s 24 masks essentially serve a single purpose, which is usually little more than getting a single piece of heart. Beyond that, these masks are next to worthless in terms of gameplay. Consider Don Gero’s Mask, an item used to chat with a plethora of frogs spread throughout the game so they can sing a song and give Link a piece of heart. After this quest is completed, the Don Gero’s Mask is nothing but a silly hat. You see, Valve? Nintendo was doing the hat thing years before Team Fortress 2!

Worse than that, however, is the Giant’s Mask. Now, did my head explode with excitement the moment I saw Link turn into a towering badass when I donned this mask in the fight against Twinmold? You’re damn right I did! Was I stoked to find out I couldn’t even put the mask on outside of that single room? Absolutely not!

The same goes for the Fierce Deity’s Mask. Sure, it’s cool to have Link transform into a special body for the final battle of the game, but the Fierce Deity's Mask is just a way to make an already easy boss fight (Zora boomerang, for the win!) even easier. I don't think that's a particularly satisfying reward for collecting all 23 other masks in the game and completing four extra mini-dungeons.

For me, the entire masks mechanic in Majora’s Mask feels undercooked. The masks don’t feel like they have the impact they should on gameplay, which is especially disappointing considering this is a game that presents masks as a major gameplay feature. Too few masks provide meaningful utility to gameplay, and too many are one-trick ponies.

Terribly Repetitive

Why does the fight with Wizrobe appear five times in Majora’s Mask? Recycling a race from Ocarina of Time several times was bad enough; why does such an embarrassingly easy sub-boss get dragged out to supposedly challenge us so many times in Majora’s Mask? When I saw Wizrobe pop up again in the Secret Shrine, I just shook my head because I had to roll out the same simple arrow-slinging strategy on this sub-boss for the fifth time.

Couldn’t we have fought Wart or Gomess more than once instead of getting stuck with Wizrobe five times? At least those sub-bosses had some personality and posed something of a challenge. Wizrobe is just some malformed green dude who repeats the same attacks over and over as you repeat the same fight over and over from Snowhead Temple to the Secret Shrine. Interestingly, the Secret Shrine is also right next to one of the worst individual sections of the game: the Beneath the Well mini-dungeon.

Beneath the Well suffers from atrocious dungeon design. The whole underground labyrinth just leads players from one fetch quest to another. It’s just tedious. This Gibdo wants 10 Bombs for no reason; that Gibdo wants 5 Deku Sticks for no reason; another Gibdo wants a Bug for no reason. Who thought this would be fun? None of it makes any sense, and none of it is really solving puzzles unless you consider figuring out the simple riddles of the Gibdo to be a challenge.

But Beneath the Well also highlights one of the painfully repetitive actions players must do throughout Majora’s Mask: pause the game to access our inventory. I know that sounds like an extremely minor gripe, but it’s not such a small deal when you consider how much larger Majora’s Mask’s equippable inventory is in comparison to Ocarina of Time. Both of these games allowed players only three buttons to assign items, which was acceptable in Ocarina of Time but became a bottleneck in Majora’s Mask.

Freedom of choice isn’t so great if I have to dig into a pause screen for a specific tool with every new enemy or obstacle. In Ocarina of Time, no more than 19 items would ever compete for a place on my C buttons, and many sections required I choose between fewer than eight of them. But Majora’s Mask frequently had more than 30 unique items competing for a space on just three hotkeys. Adding in the restriction where masks can’t be put on or taken off from the pause menu, and Majora’s Mask left me pausing and unpausing my game far more frequently than I would have liked.

Majora’s Mask would have been better if it let us don masks from the pause screen. Even better: keep all the inventory items on the C buttons and put the masks on the D-pad! That way, I wouldn’t have all the arrow types and bottles and explosives and twenty-some masks fighting over three buttons. But that’s just wishful thinking on my part. The bottom line is, Beneath the Well is all about grabbing bottles from your inventory again and again. If I wanted to play a game about managing my inventory, I’d play ~~Skyrim~~ Daggerfall!

Terribly… Popular

Majora’s Mask has endured over the years not just with a cult following but lucrative mainstream success. What started out as a game relying heavily on the fame of Ocarina of Time to achieve relevance morphed into a major entry in the Zelda series that left a lasting mark on the franchise. Majora’s Mask proved that major components of the Zelda formula could be shaken up, flipped on their head, or eliminated while still providing a fulfilling gameplay experience for many fans.

Even if people like me can’t count oursel ves among Majora’s Mask’s fans, we can’t deny it’s hit a sweet spot with many others. Majora’s Mask may not be my cup of tea, but its success is deeply woven into the success of the rest of a franchise I adore, and I am deeply thankful for that.

But for the reasons listed in this series, I hope to wait a long time before having to once again meet with Majora’s Mask’s terrible fate.

Photoshop Contest: Loftwing Evolution

RODTheMaster — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:29:00 +0000

It may have seemed like a slow week for us all, but the Zelda Informer weekly Photoshop Contest is the party that never stops. This week, we'll put on our science hats and theorize about the evolutionary patterns of a certain winged race. But before that assignment begins, we'll look back at last week's contest: Let's Make Zelda Fabulous.

Last Week's Contest:

No one was disappointed with the downright fabulous submissions we received last week. The entries took the instructions to construct the most fabulous Zelda experience possible, and every single one went beyond my expectations. Ghirahim would be proud.

Best Submissions

Artist: monkee-goro

Artist: RyGuy

Challenge Mode

To accept the challenge last week, we required the artwork to feature both a disco ball and Purple Link driving a purple car. All the entries were winners, but Hylian Ticipated is this week's Challenge Mode winner with the most outrageous Zelda Block Party we've ever seen. There's so much going on in there that I feel overwhelmed by the levels of fabulous in that room. Tingle holding the disco ball, brilliant! Well done.

This Week's Contest: Loftwing Evolution

Last week, the site shared a fan theory from VortexxyGaming regarding Skyward Sword's Skyloft and Twilight Princess' City in the Sky. According to the theory, over several, several years of evolution, the Loftwings left alone in Skyloft eventually became the strange-looking Oocca. While you may not necessarily buy into the theory, you can still participate in this week's contest.

You're assignment, young theorists, is to reveal how the Loftwings became the Oocca. Through the magic of science (and imaging software) you can share your calculated findings with the rest of the world. Perhaps you found the cause of their mutation? Perhaps you found the missing link between these two races? Perhaps our hero Link is that link?! Whatever the case, you have access to the image gallery below and whatever else on the internet to accurately present your research.

Here's a reminder to not get bent out of shape about the evolution theory. This experiment is all in good fun. Remember, it's just a theory, A GAME THEO.... okay, I'll stop. Sorry about that.

General Rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Photoshop is not required to enter the contest. Any image manipulation software can be used to create your entry.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on April 22. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that who want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have some Challenge Rules for you to follow:

1. Your entry must include YouTube theorist MatPat.

2. Your entry must include ANY Zelda character looking displeased with MatPat.

Good luck!

Smosh Gives Us a "Leaked" Legend of Zelda Netflix Trailer

Nathan — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 03:02:00 +0000

While the Netflix Zelda TV series may not be a real thing (we honestly just don't know, Nintendo likes to talk circles around things), that doesn't mean a trailer couldn't possible exist right? Right. Okay, so this is a totally fake trailer, but it's pretty funny and comes from the fine folks over at Smosh. They are known for their parody videos and they have covered Zelda before in some other hilarious forms. This time they take on the Netflix rumor and run it with a trailer long joke of incest. I know, that sounds terrible, but it actually works surprisingly well in context with the whole trailer and the Zelda series.

Did you enjoy it?

Zelda U's Delay is a Blessing, Not a Curse

Link 2 — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 19:58:00 +0000

About a week ago, Aonuma announced that a 2015 release for Zelda U was no longer the top priority for development of the game. Instead, Nintendo is going to be exploring new possibilities for Zelda U, and make it a Zelda title that will stand out from all the others.

As with any announcement from Nintendo, it was met with mixed reactions. Some were okay with it, some admitted to feelings of doom and gloom. Honestly, I'm fine with it, and here's why you should be too.

Nintendo Needs to Get Their Stuff Together

It was revealed yesterday that the Zelda U gameplay footage shown off at the Game Awards was a last minute ordeal. Aonuma hadn't planned to show it off during that time, but then suddenly changed his mind. It would seem that Nintendo is ill-prepared when it comes to Zelda U, seeing as they don't really know what they want to reveal about the game and when they want to reveal it.

To further support this theory, I would like to ask a question: why the sudden announcement that Zelda U won't be appearing at E3 this year? I have no problem believing that Zelda U was Nintendo's most anticipated game of 2015.

Many were assuming there would be some sort of new trailer, maybe even a demo for the game that would be shown at this year's E3, but no. Why would Nintendo withhold new information or footage that would keep the hype train rolling? I don't think they know what they're doing just yet.

I can picture it now. The marketing team in charge of the Zelda franchise is having a meeting about what they will show at E3. Aonuma is there, as well as a portion of the development group. The development group says that developing Zelda U isn't going according to schedule, and that they have to push it back to 2016.

Some brand new kid, fresh out of college that just started working at Nintendo, opens his big mouth and says, "Well, if we aren't releasing the game this year, then why show footage of it at E3? Why not focus on other games like Xenoblade and Splatoon?" Everyone agrees, and the meeting is adjourned.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with a sad heart that I have to tell you that I don't think Nintendo knows what they are doing regarding Zelda U marketing. They don't know what to reveal and what to keep secret. Instead of figuring it out, they're just canning it until later on. Simply put, they need time. They need time to think, process, and come up with a game plan for marketing and releasing Zelda U.

This delay is the perfect chance for them to do just that. They are going to wait until the game is more developed, and then push out a trailer of some sort. This is one way the delay is a good thing, because Nintendo can get their heads on straight with the extra time they've given themselves.

Delaying Zelda U Means More Time to Make it Awesome

Can you imagine the sighs of relief the development team had when it was decided Zelda U was being delayed? Now that they have more time to develop the game, they can make it even better. Lets face it, the Game Awards footage a few months ago showed us how bad the graphics really are at this point.

Don't get me wrong, the grass, sky, and character models were beautifully rendered, but every other texture was basically GameCube level. If you take a look at the video below, you can see that the rocky ground and walls are far from eye-pleasing. The trees are all the same, and they don't look too well either.

At a distance, the game looks as if the graphics are completed. That's why they showed it on a TV screen about 8 feet away from the camera, to make Zelda U look like the most beautiful game ever.

The video above, courtesy of GameXplain, is not just a zoomed-in portion of the Game Awards footage. No, it is zoomed in and edited to make it look better. It has been prettied up and enhanced. I imagine that the raw footage does not look as impressive.

It's going to take a while for the development team to fully create, render, and place all the graphics. Zelda U's overworld is massive, and I bet a lot of the graphics have to be hand-made. It is more than likely that Aonuma realized this, and that is why he saw the need to delay the game. Nintendo needs more time to make Zelda U the game it can and will be visual-wise.

Now, I'm not saying if it wasn't delayed that it would be a glitchy and ugly mess. I'm sure it would look okay by then, but not the best it could be. When it eventually releases, I have a feeling that Zelda U will be one of the best games graphic-wise that the gaming world has seen yet.

Zelda U Can Now be a 30th Anniversary Title

Almost five years ago, Skyward Sword was released for the Zelda franchise's 25th anniversary. If Zelda U were released in 2015, what would Nintendo have for Zelda's anniversary in 2016?

From the time Zelda U would've been released to the time the Zelda franchise's 30th anniversary rolls around, there would not be enough time to create a decent new Zelda game to mark the occasion. Our favorite franchise's anniversary would just pass on, with nothing to remember it by.

Having 30 years of consistent new games is quite an accomplishment, and not many video game franchises today can boast that. At least, not ones by Microsoft or Sony (shameless fanboy moment). Besides, I'm okay with Zelda U being delayed because it's more than likely that Nintendo will include some sort of bonus with a physical copy of the game.

With Skyward Sword, we got a special CD of numerous symphonic Zelda tracks. I wouldn't mind another CD with more special tracks, even some from Zelda U itself. Who knows what Nintendo could have in mind for the 30th anniversary of Zelda?

Closing

I'm an incurable optimist, but I hope I spread some of my optimism to you. Are you not as let down by the delay now that you read this? Are you excited for the Zelda franchise's 30th anniversary? Why don't you share your thoughts with us in the comments below?

Five Reasons Why Zelda U Could Be a Sequel To Twilight Princess

Cathron — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 16:12:00 +0000

Zelda U has been pushed back to 2016, and this just gives fans more time to speculate about potential villains, gameplay mechanics, and even timeline placement. The majority of Zelda fans have placed Zelda U right after Skyward Sword, but it could just as easily slide into other areas on the timeline.

Most fans seem to tie Skyward Sword to Zelda U because in released footage, we've seen the Sail Cloth. Link receives the item in Skyward Sword and that game alone, so its mere appearance is enough to make many make the connection to Zelda U. Another reason why plenty of fans link these two games can be found in the expansive and seeminglyuntapped landscape of the Zelda U. They'll argue that the land's untamed appearance is evidence that it predates the establishment of Hyrule, and therefore must occur soon after the conclusion of Skyward Sword.

Still more gamers look at the technology presented in the game with Link's arrow seen in the 2014 E3 trailer. The advanced degree of the weaponry seemingly matches up with the technology found near the Sand Sea in Skyward Sword.

And while all that is some splendid evidence tying Zelda U to Skyward Sword, I'd like to point out how the game could be seen to intertwine with Twilight Princess.

Zelda U Could Take Place In A Brand New Land

Consider this: maybe the game doesn't take place in Hyrule. Link is seen leaving Ordon Village at the end of Twilight Princess. Maybe he's going to Castle Town to serve in the royal army under Zelda, but I think it's more likely that he leaves Hyrule altogether, distraught over the loss of Midna.

In their final moments together, Midna shatters the mirror connecting Hyrule and the Twilight Realm. The look on Link's face says it all, and after all their adventures together in Hyrule, I could believe that Link would want to split due to painful memories.

Leaving Hyrule opens up the setting to plenty of great opportunities as we've found out through other games. Termina, Labrynna, and Koholint Island are all perfect examples of fascinating lands for Link to adventure in while outside of Hyrule.

The bug thing Link encounters in the E3 2014 trailer while riding on horseback doesn't seem to resemble any sort of creature found in Hyrule. I personally believe it to be a foreign entity. In all honesty, it looks like a cross between a tektite and a beamos, but I'm sure it has its own unique name.

While fighting the enemy, Link uses a new type of arrow we haven't seen before. The mechanism looks complex, unlike any type of arrow seen before in the series. Fans have used bomb arrows, fire arrows, ice arrows, and light arrows, but never laser arrows. It's possible this technology could predate Hyrule like that which Link finds in Skyward Sword around the Sand Sea. Of course, the weapon may also have been designed in another land more advanced than Hyrule ever has been.

Twilight Princess' Link Is Set For Another Adventure

There's no denying that the ending to Twilight Princess sets up the Hero of Time's descendant for another quest. The last glimpse viewers get of Link is him riding out of Ordon Village on horseback.

We don't know where he goes, but I speculate that he leaves Hyrule altogether. Like his ancestor before him, Link lost a friend, and in my opinion, this results in his departure. It's fascinating to draw parallels between the Hero of Time and his descendant. They both saved Hyrule from Ganondorf and lost their closest friend in the process.

If the Link pictured in Zelda U really is Twilight Princess' Link, he appears to have been in the new land for some time when the game actually starts. He's let his hair grow out, equipped himself with new weapons, and even dressed in different clothing.

If fans look at which Links got to partake in multiple adventures, the line is split fairly evenly down the middle. The Hero of Time, Hero of Winds, and A Link to the Past's hero all participated in two or more quests.

The Links from Minish Cap, Four Swords Adventures, and Twilight Princess have only one quest under their belts so far. Zelda U could be a new adventure for the Hero of Time's descendant, and I believe he's set up perfectly for it.

I also think having the new adventure take place outside of Hyrule could create an interesting pattern for the child timeline. If Zelda U takes place after Twilight Princess and is also set in a new land, the child timeline would have a pattern of one game set outside of Hyrule for every game set in the Hylian homeland.

Ocarina of Time is set in Hyrule, but Majora's Mask takes place in Termina. The pattern could continue with Twilight Princess once again set in Hyrule and Zelda U taking place in a new land. Four Swords Adventures would once again return things to Hyrule.

Link Already Has Epona In The Game

I know I said earlier that items don't necessarily dictate when a game takes place, but I've always considered Epona a character in the series. I feel she's above an item's status. In the 2014 E3 trailer, we see Link riding a horse, and in a later video, Miyamoto calls that horse Epona, saying "Oh, Epona. Long time no see".

Link leaves with Epona at the end of Twilight Princess, so this piece of the puzzle fits together best to me. Link has traveled via train, boat, and bird, but fans seem to love riding on horseback the most. It makes sense that Nintendo would incorporate it into yet another Zelda title.

I'm sure Nintendo could easily come up with another way to give the Link in Zelda U access to Epona if the game isn't a direct sequel to Twilight Princess. It just seems too perfect to me that the Hero of Time's descendant leaves on horseback in one game and already has a horse in the next.

There Is Plenty Of Room For Zelda U On The Timeline After Twilight Princess

Twilight Princess comes before Four Swords Adventures on the official timeline in the Hyrule Historia, but there isn't much indication on how much time takes place between the two games.

In Four Swords Adventures, the monarchy seems to be stronger than it did in Twilight Princess. The presence of the knights of Hyrule seem to show a stronger militaristic strength present in the game.

Another factor to consider with the time between the two games is the Gerudo Tribe. They're conspicuously absent from Twilight Princess (insert conspiracy theory here), but they are fully established in Four Swords Adventures. The tribe would need some time to establish itself and repopulate after. . . whatever happens to them before Twilight Princess.

And speaking of Gerudo, there is the issue of Ganon. Link kills him in Twilight Prince ss, and a new Ganon is born just prior to Four Swords Adventures. I'd consider this a reincarnation since Demise swore than an incarnation of his hatred would always exist to curse those with the blood of the goddess Hylia and the spirit of the hero.

Since Ganon is dead in Twilight Princess, this could leave room for another villain (Vaati anyone? I'm kidding.) to rise in Zelda U. Or... the game could steal a line from Adventure of Link and have villains trying to resurrect the demon king that Link would have to stop.

Zelda U's Link Seems Quite Skilled In Combat

This last reason is just an observation of how well the Link in Zelda U handled the laser bug thing he was fighting. No Link starts off an absolute wimp, but their dungeons and boss fights toughen them up quite a bit by the time their adventure is done.

For Links that are on their second or even third quest, though? They're already warmed up from their first adventure, leaving them with a leg up on their next. The Hero of Time was well equipped for what he faced in Termina because he'd already saved Hyrule. When Link washed up on Koholint Island, he didn't need any training. He'd already saved Hyrule, Holodrum, and Labrynna. The island presented its own challenges, but Link was more than ready to face them.

The expert horseback riding while being chased, the accurate marksmanship of firing a bow near point-blank in the middle of a fight, and the midair shooting demonstration all show that the hero in Zelda U is combat ready. No Link has ever been that skilled on their first adventure. Remember the first battle with Ghirahim in Skyward Sword? That Link clearly had some growing to do if he hoped to kill his foe once and for all. The same goes for the Hero of Winds. He didn't start off a master of anything. Those Links all grew through their trials and tribulations.

This is what leads me to think Zelda U's Link is the Hero of Time's descendant. He's already bested several dungeon bosses, defeated Zant, and even killed Ganon. He's mastered mounted combat and several weapons, including the bow. He's more than skilled enough to be the Link pictured above.

Wrapping Up

I'm aware that my five reasons aren't without their counterarguments, and I'm definitely not saying that I'll hate the game if I'm wrong, but I wanted to present some new ideas on the game, all the while hoping some fans would be open-minded enough to give this piece some thought.

Getting back to the supposed item connection between Skyward Sword and Zelda U, I think that the sail cloth could easily just be found in a treasure chest. That'd be just as plausible of a way to give Link the item as him having it from Skyward Sword. Let's not forget, we've had gliding items before, like the deku leaf in Wind Waker.

Theorizing aside, I'm sure that I'll love the game no matter where it fits on the timeline, and if the Link from Skyward Sword gets a second adventure where he becomes the Hero of Men, I'll be perfectly fine with that too.

NES Zelda Pins Now Available in Japanese Badge Center for 3DS

Ziondood — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 19:55:00 +0000

Most of us may not have a Japanese Nintendo 3DS, but that doesn't mean we can't drool over the new Zelda pins available in the Badge Center app on the 3DS eShop! This latest set is packed full of characters, enemies, items, and terrain from the original Legend of Zelda on NES!

For anyone unfamiliar with the app, Badge Center is currently only available for Japanese 3DS systems. This app lets you trade eShop credits to play virtual crane games full of pins you can win and use to decorate your 3DS home screen! I'm not sure if I should be sad or thankful that the app hasn't been released on the US eShop quite yet. We've previously covered a few sets Nintendo released earlier this year featuring pins from Majora's Mask and A Link Between Worlds! Honestly, I'm quite afraid my wallet and and I would go off the deep end if this app were released in the states.

You can skip ahead to the 1:35 mark of the video to see all the new Zelda crane games and the glorious Zelda pins they contain, or check out our gallery of photos below!

If Nintendo would release Badge Center on your regions eShop would you give it a few tries, try to collect them all, or is this really not your cup of tea? Let us know in the comments below!

ZI Podcast 32: The Phantom Hourglass Debate, Proving Your Fan-dom, & Why You Should Go To Cons

Acohen95 — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Download this episode (right click and save) | iTunes

This week we talk about MicroTransactions, Translation issues in The Adventure of Link, and the merits of going to conventions (We need a ZeldaCon, darn it!). Later on we discuss some cool cosplays we’ve seen lately, and Al talks about his experience playing A Link To The Past for the first time! This week’s podcast include: Myself (Adam), as always; Chris (wants you to git gud or get rekt); Al (Cursin’ up a perfect storm); and Dan Jones (He’s secretly a normal person. Nobody knows).

Thanks again to Brandon for that opening theme song, and Jeesh for that ending theme! If you have any of your own topics, theme song submissions or original art, please feel free to submit them and your questions to us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com. Hope you enjoy this episode, and let us know what you think of Weekly Wikis in the comments section below!

Social Media

Things We Mentioned

Zelda News

Movie & TV News

Convention News

Gaming News

Comment Topic Of The Week: Thoughts on Weekly Wikis

Those With Arachnophobia Beware! Skulltula Comes Alive in Amazing Speed Painting

blaqkbird — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 00:38:00 +0000

If you are like me, there are enemies in the Legend of Zelda series that give you the willies—and for good reason too! One enemy in particular that I just cannot stand is the Skulltula, with those creepy-looking skulls that cover the entirety of the spider's abdomen, maybe even taking the place of the abdomen itself.

Artist Brendan Milos did an amazing job bringing the Skulltula to life, giving it a realistic feel in his painting. The more I look at this piece the more I feel the need to equip my boomerang and save the cursed family in the House of Skulltula. According to Milos, "The original duration of the painting session was 1 hour, 15 minutes, and the playback in the video is at 27x speed."

Be sure to check out the rest of Milos' artwork and videos, and let us know what you think of this video in the comments!

Source: Brendan Milos

For more of Brendan's art: bmilos

Amazing Wind Waker Stained Glass Window Done In Cross Stitching

blaqkbird — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 23:47:00 +0000

An amazing and talented crafter named Linda, also known as Eponases, recreated the the iconic stained glass window from the Wind Waker in cross stitching! This beautiful piece took 8 months to create. The above video is comprised 585 progress images that were taken during the crafting process. The stitching was done on 18 count aida, the final piece being 34cm x 22.5cm (13.5" x 8.7"), and required 37,446 stitches to complete!

When asked about whether she always counts how many stitches she uses for her projects, Linda said, "Only when I'm desperately trying to compose an interesting title for my Reddit post". Joking aside, Linda revealed that she used multiplication to figure out how many stitches she used for her project.

This video is a time lapse to show the progress from start to finish. It took Linda 3 days to edit through all the progress photographs.

Let us know in the comments what you think of Linda's work, and check out the images of the finished product in the gallery! If you want to follow Linda to see more of her amazing works of art, click the links below!

Source: Reddit

Linda's site: Eponases

Pattern made by: Servotron

Royal Guards Interview: A New Twist on the Zelda Parody Web Series

Nathan — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 05:12:00 +0000

There are many fan projects all over the internet, but one we fully believe in is Royal Guards, a comedy/adventure fan web series based on the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time. At least... for season one. We had a chance to sit down with the people behind this webseries to discuss how it came to be, and what the future holds. Of course, this series is still under crowd funding with just a week left, so if you're convinced by the end of this interview... why not support it?

Zelda Informer: Tell us a bit about yourself. What inspired you to get into filmmaking?

Derek Howard: I’m the guy who watches everything on the DVD/Blu-ray and again with all the commentaries. I grew up all over the US and spent a lot of my youth writing every chance I could. I was always coming up with crazy stories. I was obsessed with movies from an early age but I always wanted to star in them. I would write scripts for movies so I could act them out. Eventually I realized that what I really wanted wasn’t to act in movies but make them.

ZI: How does gaming tie in? Do you find games make good subjects for film?

DH: I grew up with gaming and it’s a big influence. There are so many great stories and characters in games that it’s very easy to be inspired by them. Games have amazing and rich stories, but it’s a very different medium. It’s a lot like making a book into a movie, you can get the spirit of it right, but it will never be quiet the same.

ZI: Most fans who attempt to bring The Legend of Zelda to life attempt a short film or movie. Why have you decided to attempt a web series instead?

DH: Lots of reasons but the biggest being that the story was too big for a short and a web series really fit the way we wanted to tell it. As well as the fact that we wanted to have the option do more in the future as well.

ZI: What was the inspiration behind this project? What made you go to indiegogo for support?

DH: My ridiculous devotion to Ocarina of Time for one, but mostly out of a conversation I had one day where I was joking with a friend about what happened to NPCs after the hero went through their town. I made a joke about the guards getting fired because a little boy made it past all of them and then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Before I knew it I had a first draft of season one and and outline for more seasons.

Filming is always expensive, even when people volunteer. Indiegogo was suggested as a great way to not only help fund it but to always get other fans interested and be a part of the project too.

ZI: What made the Royal Guards stand out as the best choice as the main characters for this series? Did you consider focusing on other NPCs or minor characters?

DH: I always knew that I wanted to focus on the guards, but I had a lot of fun exploring the idea of other NPCs for supporting roles. I focused on the guards partiality because we knew so little about them. So many NPCs in Zelda have really defined personalities (even with only a few lines of dialog) but we know next to nothing about them. It made it perfect for them to be the “average guys” of the world. That’s why we named them Phil and Gary while everyone else has a Zelda-like name. They’re just those average guys, working their day job in a fantastic world.

As for other NPCs, we talked about it quiet a bit. Early on we talked about focusing on the members of the Lon Lon Ranch instead but we just kept coming back to the guards.

ZI: Where do you hope to go with the series long term? Are there any obstacles you’re particularly worried about in the production itself?

DH: Hopefully a few seasons covering multiple games. Each season is written as one complete story with a defined beginning, middle and end with each taking place in a different game. This lets us always keep things fresh and not drawn out.

The biggest potential obstacle is Nintendo’s reaction to it. That’s a very legitimate concern and while we can’t say what they will do, we are taking every step possible to avoid any issues with them in multiple ways, the most noteworthy of which is not taking any profit from it. Every cent on Indiegogo is a donation that is going only to the production. We really hope that Nintendo will see this for the labor of love it is. Made by fans for other fans to enjoy.

ZI: If the project doesn’t reach its funding goal, will you still attempt to create something? Can we expect at least a pilot episode of sorts?

DH: We’re really excited about this project and we are going to do our best to make it a reality even if we don’t reach our goal. We aim to do all of season one but at the very least a pilot. We’ve already put a lot of our own money into to and if we have to fund almost all of it ourselves we will. Hopefully without cutting too much out.

ZI: What will make this a unique and enjoyable experience for fans, both of Zelda and video game web series?

DH: We don’t just want to make another Link/Zelda story, but explore the world they live in. We’re fans too and we really want to make something that we would love to see ourselves. Our biggest goal is to tell a good story. It will be filled with things that only Zelda fans will understand but still be something that any non fan would be able to enjoy. We’ve also thrown in some great things for the hardcore fans in particular.

ZI: Any final thoughts you would like to share with the fans?

DH: Keep an eye on our Youtube channel. We’re planning on adding a lot in the next few months. Thanks so much to everyone who supports us in any way!

We at Zelda Informer would like to thank Derek Howard for taking the time to sit down with us and talk about this very promising web series. It's certainly exciting knowing that whether or not they reach their funding goal, they are still going to push through for at least the pilot episode, if not the entire first season. Maybe that pilot will be all that is needed to gain additional funding? Who knows! I know I just pledged some money to the project right here.

The Boss Man: Top 3 Reasons to be Excited for Nintendo in 2015

Nathan — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 17:38:00 +0000

Earlier this year I talked about 3 huge reasons I am frustrated with Nintendo to start 2015 and all of these reasons still hold true today. While I do talk about Nintendo a lot, specifically when it comes to the The Legend of Zelda series since it is my all time favorite video game franchise, I do so because of how much I enjoy them overall. Obviously I wouldn't be Editor-in-Chief of Zelda Informer if I wasn't, at the core, a pretty big Nintendo fan. So even though I have what I feel are some very valid reasons to be frustrated with them (and I know many of you have others, such as amiibo shortages), not all is bad in Nintendo land.

Dare I say, Nintendo is actually making some strides on 3 key aspects that could help shape the future of their hardware and their treatment of Nintendo game consumers. While my frustrations still ring true, I'm also equally stoked for 2015 and what Nintendo has in store for us. How about you?

Attendees at Zelda Symphony Claim to Have Streetpassed Someone Playing Twilight Princess 3D

Nathan — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 19:20:00 +0000

Update: A photo discovered on the timeline of twitter user ChrisX930, a friend of the original poster, three days earlier shows that the arrival of Twilight Princess 3D was merely a hack.

Is Twilight Princess 3D happening? We've had it rumored in the past but haven't really heard anything since... until now. It appears folks at a recent Zelda Symphony performance streetpassed someone playing Twilight Princess 3D - presumably someone that works for Nintendo at the event. We have multiple pictures taken of the streetpass seemingly confirming it. Obviously this could be a big ruse, but we have reputable people mentioning it, such as the folks behind Nintendo Domination. So we can't be 100% certain, but this is the biggest suggestion we've had that this is happening. Since this wasn't announced in the previous Nintendo Direct, it could have been something they were saving for E3.

With the recent sales success of Majora's Mask 3D combined with remake sales of Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker, it really shouldn't come as a surprise. They recently released Xenoblade Chronicles on the New Nintendo 3DS, proving as well that Gamecub/Wii games could realistically be ported to the New 3DS hardware.

Source: Twitter 1, 2, 3, 4, Destructoid

Daily Debate: Will You Be at All Disappointed if Netflix Doesn't Release a Zelda Series?

RODTheMaster — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 07:30:00 +0000

It doesn't feel like all too long ago that The Wall Street Journal reported Nintendo partnering with Netflix to produce a live-action Zelda series. Amongst a whirlwind of reactions, speculations, and rumors, Satoru Iwata finally commented on the proposed series by stating that "the article in question is not based on correct information." While not a complete confirmation that the series isn't in production, the statement means that whatever comes of this supposed deal won't be what was initially expected. Whatever the outcome, we want to know how you will feel if the series never sees the light of day.

From the reaction we saw to the initial report, it was obvious many fans were not on board with a Game of Thrones-like Zelda series. Many considered the tone, style, and nature of the Zelda series and expressed doubt that the classic Nintendo series could not be properly translated into a television series. The trademark exploration and isolation of Zelda would be too odd for a plot-heavy show; the overly political or dramatic plots of Game of Thrones (and the like) would seem out of place in a Zelda story. For many, a Netflix series would turn out to be disastrous for the Zelda series and I'd imagine many will be relieved if the series is never released.

Then there are those that were genuinely curious or hopeful that a Zelda series on television could in fact work. If handled correctly, the show could capture the magic and adventure of the Zelda games and bring the land of Hyrule to life. Based on the successes of Arrested Development, House of Cards, and Marvel's Daredevil, Netflix has proven that it is capable of producing high-quality shows. The streaming service has even proven that it can properly handle a pre-existing property. I'm sure for those looking forward to a live-action Zelda series one day were excited to see what Netflix could do, and those same people may be disappointed if the series doesn't end up happening.

We'll leave you to share your thoughts on the series. Will you be disappointed if a Netflix Zelda series is never released? Or will you be relieved to know the show was never really under consideration? Let us know in the comments, and join the Daily Debate!

Caption Contest 014: "Well excuuuuuuuuse me, Princess."

RODTheMaster — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 22:21:00 +0000

Hello there, it's time again for the weekly ZI caption contest! Rod is here filling in for Jei this week, and that means I get the pleasure of presenting all the winners from last week. The provided image may have featured the absolute worst character in the Zelda series, but that didn't stop fans from putting some hilarious words in Fi's mouth. Jei has a set of very strict rules that entries should follow, but that doesn't mean I couldn't bend the rules a bit to choose the winners. After you check out last week's highlights, head on down to see this week's image. Princess Peach makes her first appearance in the caption contest, and I'm sure you all can make some great entries out of it.

You know how it goes, leave your caption in the comments below and like your favorites to see them on the winners' page next week. See you there!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

By: Ducky

By: Hylian Ticipated

By: Walker_D

By: Johtoboy

By: Hylianola

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Yero - "Oh, I see how it is. You find a bigger and better sword and suddenly you just don't need me anymore."
Ain't that so?;) - "Master, there is 99,9% probability that you're counterfeiting my Master"
Stephen Richard Watson - "Master, I calculate a 98.3 percent chance that I am a better kisser than Zelda would be. Would you care to test my hypothesis?"
Art1st4786 - "Fi: Master, there is a 97 percent chance that you are going to need my help.
Link: There's a 100 percent chance I'm never drinking again."
Guest - “Remember these four words: Batteries are nearly depleted”

This week's photo:

Daily Debate: Which Third-Party Developer Should Make a Zelda Game?

RODTheMaster — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 07:30:00 +0000

Nintendo does not often offer its classic franchises to third-party developers. Only with a precise combination of quality, consumer appeal, and creative control will Nintendo even consider handing off one of its big IP's to an outside company. The Legend of Zelda is no exception. Only a few rare third-party studios have had their hands on Zelda, each with a varying degree of success. However with the success of Koei Tecmo's Hyrule Warriors, we should discuss what other third-party developers deserve a chance to make their own Zelda game.

I've heard certain fans express interest in a Zelda game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, especially considering the success of that studio's medieval epic The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. That choice makes some sense, as the fantasy RPG formula of Skyrim invites Zelda-style adventure and exploration. While I think this could work, I personally would like to see another RPG developer make a Zelda game. Japanese developer From Software, known for games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, has proven that they can make a solid action-adventure RPG that takes cues from older Zelda titles. Sure these games are extremely difficult. But with the Zelda team making an effort to develop a more open, less straightforward experience, who's to say From Software couldn't handle the series?

There are many third-party developers that deserve a chance to produce a 2D Zelda as well. One example that I'd like to see is a Zelda game developed by WayForward Technologies. This studio developed great additions to classic 2D series like Contra 4 and Ducktales: Remastered; they even developed Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage, a loving homage to Zelda II. WayForward and other smaller studios could do great things in a 2D Zelda.

But what dream third-party developer is most deserving of the Zelda license? Which developer would and should make a new Zelda game? Just remember that not every high-profile developer can handle classic Nintendo franchises like Zelda, such as a certain team of ninjas and a certain guy named Phillip.

Share your suggestions in the comments, and join the Daily Debate!

Cosplay of the Week: Ghirahim Modeled by dtrreu

blaqkbird — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 01:57:00 +0000

It's that time again for the cosplay of the week and this time we are featuring the fabulous Ghirahim from Skyward Sword! This cosplay was made by KoryXIII and modeled by cosplayer dtrreu, who embraced his inner Ghirahim. KoryXIII and dtrreu are from Spain, and share the hobby of cosplay - KoryXIII even takes commissions!

KoryXIII did an amazing job crafting this costume, while dtrreu proved to be quite the model! He just seems to fit the persona that is Ghirahim very well - I can just feel the fabulous emanating through these photos! These two have brought many characters to life through cosplay, which you can check out all their work by heading to their individual DeviantArt accounts, and I cannot wait to see more from these artists!

Below I have picked 4 images of their Ghirahim cosplay, that were taken during a photoshoot with El niño Mutante, that I felt were absolutely fitting of the Demon Lord himself. You can find more photos of this cosplay by heading on over to dtrreu's DeviantArt. You can also find more of their work at cosplayespana.

Comment below to let us know what you thought of this week's cosplay, tag your own cosplays on Twitter with #ZIcostume and check out the links below to see more work from KoryXIII and dtrreu!

Source: dtrreu

Dorkly: Link Finds an Unusual Treasure

Nathan — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:17:00 +0000

Dorkly has done it again, releasing another hilarious Zelda based comic strip. This time around Link is looking to pad his wallet with some more classic pot smashing treasure hunting. However, he ends up not finding exactly what he is looking for, leading to a pseudo intellectual internet type to try and tell him how important what he found truly is. Of course, Link goes on to tell him to go buy new pots with it... which can't be done. What I am talking about? Check out the comic below to find out:

Source: Dorkly

M Productions Talks Zelda Wii U, E3 2015

Nathan — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 15:02:00 +0000

M. Productions is a YouTube channel that only covers Nintendo games. We know of them from their Zelda theory series, their last of which talked about Zelda potentially being evil. They have also had several talks with out YouTube channels theorizing about Zelda U, though we don't really have much to go on right now. This time they are sitting down with some other YouTubers to talk Nintendo at E3, starting off by talking about Zelda Wii U. While they all agree we won't be seeing any game footage - trailers or otherwise - they do somewhat feel like we could get something... even just a logo with the official title.

Doing so would certainly give us Zelda fans something to talk about, while not necessarily requirement Eiji Aonuma or any interview related questions. It certainly would fuel speculation and we love speculating here at Zelda Informer. They also talk about some other things at E3, including stuff they expect to see out of Nintendo. Give it a listen above!

Daily Debate: Should Zelda Expand with More Oracle Games?

RODTheMaster — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 07:30:00 +0000

The year of 2001 saw the release of two handheld Zelda titles: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. These two games were unique in many ways; the games featured settings and characters not seen anywhere else in the series, they connected to each other via a password system, and they were primarily developed by Capcom. While aspects of the Oracle games have survived in future titles, these games have not been revisited since they were released. Today, we ask if this pair of Zelda games should be expanded on, perhaps even as a full-fledged sub-series.

Some writers on the Zelda Informer staff have expressed interest in more Oracle games. Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages focused on characters named after Goddesses Din and Nayru, respectively; the Goddess Farore only played minimal role in both games. A third game was initially planned, but never saw the light of day. With that in mind, it has been suggested in our staff room that a third Oracle game be considered for some time in the future. The focus of Farore seems like given, but this third game could hold many different possibilities. Ages and Seasons offered interesting ways to change the lands that Link explored, so a third game would need an equally unique way to manipulate the environment. What would that aspect be? Oracle of Secrets?

The future of the Oracle games does not even need to be limited to one new title; sets of two inter-connected Zelda games could be released more often as additions to an Oracle sub-series. Given that the Pokémon series finds continued success with multi-version releases, who's to say Zelda could not also benefit from this release strategy. If Zelda were to revisit the Oracle games again, Capcom could be considered as developer again. Many of you commented on how great Capcom's handheld Zelda games were in yesterday's debate, so I think Capcom could recreate that magic in new Oracle games.

We'll let you decide. Should the Zelda series revisit the Oracle games? If so, in what ways? Would you like to see the Oracle games become a Zelda sub-series in the future? Let us know, and join the Daily Debate!

People Who Streetpassed Hacked Twilight Princess 3D Modder are Getting Banned

Nathan — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 05:29:00 +0000

This is an odd turn of events. Days ago news broke that people were streetpassing someone at the Zelda symphony in Germany that had recently played Twilight Princess 3D. There were multiple phone pics and even a video when someone streetpassed this person a second time around, proving that this was indeed happening. As it turned out however, the person who supposedly was playing that game merely modified his system to get it to display to other people that he was playing said game.

Alright, so someone played with fan's heart strings and that was that. At least, it should have been. Multiple reports are rolling in that anyone who streetpassed this person and then used Nintendo's inbuilt system to try and purchase the game from the eShop are being banned from online activity. See, it's illegal to actually modify your system in this fashion and Nintendo of Europe is reading people who access the eShop through this hacked title as people who are trying to hack the eShop. In reality, they are just innocent bystanders to the real modder. Nintendo has yet to issue a public statement on this, but this is the sort of thing that could take many weeks for Nintendo to finally sort out and restore services, if they restore them at all.

It just goes to show that while it's all fun and games to try and fake out the internet (aka the fake Rayman in Smash stuff), there is a method that takes it too far. This crossed the line, as now people are being negatively impacted not just emotionally, but literally.

Source: Facebook

Here's a Slideshow of a Slick A Link to the Past Themed Aquarium Made of Legos

Nathan — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 05:49:00 +0000

Sometimes fans create some of the absolute best things. Kelsey Kronmiller, fresh off creating an even bigger Mario themed aquarium, put together a 10 gallon tank Zelda themed aquarium based off A Link to the Past. This was to give a new home to a Halfmoon Dragonscale betta, named Link. While it's a pretty standard 10 gallon aquarium at the core, they used Adobe Illustrator to create the backdrop while using Legos to construct the Master Sword and pedestal, while using appropriately colored bedrock and a few garnishes that really complete the entire scene.

You can see how this project came together in the gallery below.

Source: Imgur

Link Awakens His Inner Magical Girl in Sailor Moon Styled Animation

Ziondood — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 22:43:00 +0000

Sailor Moon and Majora's Mask were born to have their own crossover. They both obsess over the moon, both have guys who wear masks, and are both dealing with an overwhelming evil set out to destroy the world, so why not put the two together? Laura Kerger, known as ArtistGamerGirl on YouTube, did just that in her latest animation by showing us Link's true Fierce Deity transformation process, in Sailor Moon fashion!

The parallels between Sailor Moon's and Fierce Deity Link's outfits make this crossover a perfect fit. From those red ribbons wrapping Link like a present, to his facial markings literally painting themselves on, to his magically appearing skirt, I was blown away by how true to the original animation this was. As an extra treat, at the end of the video she included her rough and clean-up animations to show a little of what went on behind the scenes. Who knew Fierce Deity Link would make such an adorable magical girl?

You can check out Laura's other Zelda animations on her YouTube channel and see her other artwork on her Facebook page.

Did you like what you saw? Do you have an idea for her next Zelda animation? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Here’s How Link is Quite the Talker and Always Has Been

Nathan — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 15:55:00 +0000

Link has been known as a silent protagonist since the very first game that came out. Sure, over the years he’s had his various grunts and even audibly says “come on” in The Wind Waker, however he’s been one of gaming’s poster children for a silent protagonist. But is Link actually mute? Does he truly not say anything at all?

Link actually does speak and he speaks fairly often, but how come there is a perception that Link “shouldn’t be speaking” every time a comic, fan made short, or really anything related to Zelda comes into existence? Why do fans actually think Link is a mute?

First off we have to understand a few things about Silent Protagonists. While the name implies they make no sound, reality is much different. Here is how Wikipedia defines Silent Protagonist:

In video games, a silent protagonist is a player character who lacks any dialogue for the entire duration of a game with the possible exception of occasional interjections or short phrases. A silent protagonist may be employed to lend a sense of mystery or uncertainty of identity to the gameplay, or to help the player identify better with them. Silent protagonists may also be anonymous.

As you can see, it doesn’t mean the character is a mute, which is a totally different thing. Being a mute implies you have the inability to speak. You’re silent not by choice, but because you lack the ability to speak. This is often what fans confuse the silent protagonist to mean, and thus, Link to be. Link isn’t a mute, but merely using a gameplay technique to create a connection to the player.

Don’t believe me? Let’s take a brief look at how characters react to Link when speaking to him:

Here is Link having a conversation with Saria at the very beginning of Ocarina of Time (in this case, the 3D version). In it, Saria says hi to Link, and then Link goes down to meet her. After commenting on Navi having come to him as that is what he was missing at the time to be a true Kokiri, she then says “is that right? The Great Deku Tree has summoned you?” – She wouldn’t have previously known this based on her remarks about Navi she just made.

As you can see, Link did tell her he was summoned, but we never actually saw him say it. We didn’t read him or audibly hear him say it, but the conversation tree heavily implies that he did. Here is where folks go “well, obviously Navi spoke for him!” Fine, feel free to think that way despite the fact she’s directly addressing the character of Link and not Navi. Here’s a look at a game without a companion to place the conversation on:

Here is Gulley from A Link Between Worlds talking to Link. At the start of the game he asks Link to check in (he’s referring to the bird statue save points). Link, unsure of what he is talking about asks “where”. He does this without us seeing him speak. Without a speech bubble or an audible sound. Gulley reacts to the question with “What do you mean, where?” Link literally just spoke, so clearly it’s not a companion convenience.

He holds conversations like this all over the land throughout every single game in the series. Anytime he is talking to an NPC… he’s doing just that, talking, even if we can’t see it. So, why is this the case? If he is talking anyways, why not at least give him his own speech bubbles (ignoring that Skyward Sword does in a way, allowing you to make decisions on how to react)?

Well, it’s called immersion. Nintendo decided a long time ago that Link was not going to show any visible signs of speaking so we can fill in the blanks. Take Gulley’s reaction – you can’t even see the full statue on screen. So when he says be sure to check in, your natural response in your head is “Where do I check in?” You are subconsciously filling in the speech gap based on the conversation tree without even recognizing it. That’s right; you are speaking for Link, which is why Link doesn’t need to show this speech on your screen.

Reality is that Link was talking this whole time, but since we are Link, we are actually speaking for him naturally in our minds. Imagine how funny these conversation trees would be if we just assumed, as many do, that Link is literally saying nothing. He would have to be using some sort of Jedi mind trick to force his responses into their heads, something that if true, would have been mentioned somewhere by now.

Instead, every mention of Link by the developers is as a silent protagonist – which oddly enough doesn’t mean the character is actually silent, but that they are creating a connection between the player and that character, allowing our natural thought process to fill in the blanks in the conversation pattern.

So truth be told, Link talks, and he talks quite a bit. Some of the longer conversations have Link saying an awful lot, but we aren’t even realizing it because the conversation feels natural to how we would be responding. It’s a very nifty video game trick that other games, such as Half Life, use as well. It also only works in video games as we have direct control of the character. Once we lose control of the character, we can no longer safely predict natural reactions, even in canned conversations.

This is why in the official Manga, Link has speech bubbles. It’s a different medium, so he has to speak. This is also why Link speaks in the Cartoon series and assuredly would speak in any official live action flick or show should it be made some day. Since we no longer have direct control over the character, we no longer are that character. As such, the speech needs to be audible or visible so we can follow along with what is happening.

At the end of the day, it’s undeniable that Link speaks an awful lot, maybe even more than any other character in the series. It’s time fans let go of this idea that Link is a mute. While it understandable that you don’t want Link to speak in a show because it may ruin how you imagine he speaks, we also have to remember that many times throughout the series Link is a new person, and thus could easily have a new voice. If you think of it in that way, it’s just fine if say, you don’t like Link’s voice in the cartoon series. It shouldn’t ruin the Link you’re playing wit h in the next game, as he is assuredly a different character from the one in the show.

Banner art by Vivphyd.

Amazingly Detailed Zelda-Style Wood Burned Chest Found on Etsy

Link 2 — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 22:45:00 +0000

Have you ever tried your hand at woodburning? It's a skill that few possess, but many covet. Woodburning involves using a heated instrument aptly named the woodburning pen. It is heated using electricity by simply plugging it into an outlet.The woodburning pen has interchangeable tips, which allows the artists to vary the thickness and wispiness of his or her strokes.

You didn't click on this post to undergo a tutorial on woodburning, so I'll start telling you about this amazingly detailed Zelda-themed wooden box, made by Natalie of RedcoatCreations.

Just what makes this chest so Zelda-esque? Looking at the picture provided above, we can see that engraved on the topside is a beautiful Hylian crest, complete with a Triforce. On the side of the box there is another Triforce, this time without the Hylian crest. Along the front of the box are two medieval-looking swords that are also very Zelda-like.

A few others details which make me appreciate this work of art more are the criss-crosses that line the top and bottom edges of the chest. The inside of the chest is lined with a very regal-looking red felt, and the wood is finished with teak oil to give it a nice shine.

The box itself can be bought here from Etsy for $44.68 (£30.00) before shipping. The item will ship to anywhere in the world from Birmingham, England.

Source: Etsy

Zelda U Will Probably Encourage Buying amiibo, But Don’t Worry

Paul Grzelak — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 21:04:00 +0000

Nintendo will probably integrate amiibo into some part of Zelda U’s gameplay. While I count myself among those opposed to amiibo integration in Zelda U, I won’t worry that it will ruin the game and neither should you.

Amiibo support in Zelda U won’t be a microtransaction scheme straight out of the Candy Crush Saga playbook, nor will we see major features like riding Epona or accessing dungeons restricted without player purchase of specific amiibo figures. In fact, amiibo integration in Zelda U will probably be much more familiar than many of us realize.

So, let’s all remain calm and take a look at how inevitable amiibo integration in Zelda U appears to be. And let’s also look at how extra hardware purchases have not only been a major part of the Zelda franchise for most of its history, but have rarely ruined Zelda games.

Nintendo Loves Amiibo

First, consider how widespread amiibo integration has been with recent first-party Nintendo titles. Mario Party 10, Splatoon, and the latest Super Smash Bros. games are just a few of the recent Nintendo titles that support amiibo integration natively, while older Nintendo titles like Mario Kart 8 have been patched to support amiibo integration.

Furthermore, the recently released New Nintendo 3DS brought native NFC support to Nintendo’s mobile platform. Now, amiibo integration is as accessible for players on the go as it is for Wii U owners. In fact, native amiibo support is now a standard feature across all of Nintendo’s gaming platforms.

My interpretation of these facts is that Nintendo isn’t just flirting with the toys-to-life market. Nintendo has gotten down on one knee and tied the knot with this incredibly prosperous new segment of the gaming industry. Nintendo wants a slice of the toys-to-life pie, and it wants to give consumers as many reasons as possible to pick up these collectable figures.

Nintendo has made amiibo attractive and accessible for consumers with a wide variety of figures to choose from and an increasing library of games that support them. While the idea of purchasing extra hardware like amiibo for added functionality in games may sound sketchy to some gamers, it’s a natural fit for the Zelda franchise, which has frequently suggested or required the purchase of extra hardware for the last 16 years.

Zelda's History With Extra Hardware

Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask suggested a Rumble Pak; Majora’s Mask required the Expansion Pak; connector cables were suggested for Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, and A Link to the Past/Four Swords; The Wind Waker suggested a connector cable and a Game Boy Advance; Twilight Princess was a GameCube game that suggested players buy the Wii port and a new Wii; and Skyward Sword required a Wii Motion Plus attachment.

That’s eight of the past 12 traditional Zelda games that have suggested or required extra hardware for a more fulfilling gameplay experience. And let’s not completely forget about how heavily Nintendo marketed Majora’s Mask 3D alongside the New Nintendo 3DS, or disregard spinoff Zelda titles such as Four Swords Adventures, Link’s Crossbow Training and Hyrule Warriors. In fact, Hyrule Warriors was sold with native support for amiibo.

Even though Link’s Crossbow Training was bundled with a Wii Zapper and the DLC in Hyrule Warriors was software instead of hardware, these games still support the trend of Nintendo using the Zelda franchise to sell consumers extra products besides the base game. And this has especially been the case for Zelda games released on home consoles.

So, eight of the last 12 traditional Zelda releases have either suggested or required players to purchase extra hardware. And home console releases make up the majority of those eight traditional Zelda games.

Stay Skeptical. Stay Optimistic. Remain Unrustled.

Does any of this guarantee that the Wii U-bound Zelda U will block some features to players without an amiibo? No.

Nobody but Nintendo knows the extent of Zelda U’s amiibo integration, if it has any at all. But if amiibo support is announced for Zelda U, don’t let it rustle your jimmies; it won’t be as unusual and frightening as you may fear.

Daily Debate: Has the Official Timeline Helped or Hurt Fan Theories?

RODTheMaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 07:30:00 +0000

It's been quite a few years since the Hyrule Historia's release in 2011, meaning it's been quite a few years since fans were given an official Zelda timeline. The timeline seemed like a godsend to the many fans that fervently theorized and debated the chronology of each Zelda game. But how did the release of an official timeline - a conclusive chronology - really affect Zelda fan theories and Zelda fan culture in general. We're here today to debate whether the official timeline ultimately helped or hurt fan theories.

Before the Hyrule Historia, much of the Zelda community was hungry for a conclusive timeline to the series' Hylian saga. The big names at Nintendo hinted at the existence of such a timeline, but they were in no hurry to share that treasured information with the fanbase. As a result, many fans spent a lot of time analyzing each game and meticulously placing them into supposed chronological orders. While several interesting theories arose from this lack of timeline, there was never enough official information to make one theory more plausible than another. That is why theories like the "Just a Legend" theory (which stated that there was no real Zelda timeline) were as equally considered as any other major theory.

The official timeline in Hyrule Historia gave context and focus to Zelda fan theories and connections between different games. In this way, they helped the community do away with fruitless debates about the chronology, and gave it more information to consider and discuss. Fans theories can now more accuractely discuss how a game like Twilight Princess connects to A Link to the Past, and more conclusively discuss the history of Hyrule overall.

However, this increase in focus also limits the kinds of theories we've seen in the community. I feel like sometimes fans are too limited in their topics of discussion when it comes to the timeline, especially with the ways Skyward Sword relates to the entire Zelda history. Furthermore, back when the timeline was left to subtle clues hidden away in each game, fans needed to find creative and interesting ways to construct a timeline. In fact, I believe that the official chronology would not have had a split timelines had creative fans not first theorized about Ocarina of Time's use of time travel.

Enough of my opinions though; I'll let you all share your thoughts on the topic. Has the official Zelda timeline been beneficial for fan theories and the community in general? Or has the official chronology caused more problems than it's fixed? Let us know, and join the Daily Debate!

New Mario Kart 8 DLC Arrives, Brings Two New Zelda Stamps, 200cc

Nathan — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:05:00 +0000

We try to make a habit around here to not talk too much about games that aren't related to the Zelda franchise, but we're making a special case here not only because the new update today provides two new Zelda stamps, but because we host tournament streams regularly for this game and will be hosting our very first 200cc tournament next week! That being said, the latest Mario Kart DLC pack has arrived today along with the free 200cc update. While new stamps were always a given, we certainly didn't expect two new Zelda related stamps, one being of Link and the other featuring the Hylian Crest.

A user at NeoGAF kindly summarized everything today and what is needed to achieve things:

update required to download the second DLC pack
9 new Mii suits added: Wario, Pac-Man, Olimar, Bowser, Sonic, Toad, Villager, Rosalina and Mega Man
200cc class added, may need to be unlocked (Grand Prix: 150cc completed with gold trophy at least)
added sparks effect when braking in 200cc class
added braking on the Wii Remote by pressing the B, 1 and 2 buttons at the same time
added ability to add CPU players for Online custom rules (only human players will be counted for scoring)
press Minus to display the map on the TV screen with the Pro Controller, Classic Controller, Wii Remote + Nunchuk
on the Animal Crossing circuit, seasons are not random when you play Time Attack (you only have Summer)
10 new stamps for Miiverse (Link, Isabelle, Animal Crossing tree, F-Zero logo, Bowser Clown jack-in-the-box, Hylian symbol, Animal Crossing house, Blue Falcon, Kung-Fu Lakitu, and the Neo Bowser City logo)
various bug fixes

It should be noted the stamps are unlocked right away. Also while I can't confirm 200cc is unlocked with 3 starring all tracks on 150cc, I can confirm because I haven't yet done so on my game (I know, for shame right?) I can't access 200cc, so I will be trying to unlock it later tonight! As for our next tournament and livestream event, expect this to occur next week on Thursday evening. I also plan to continue my The Minish Cap run this weekend, so stay tuned!

Majora's Mask 3D Gets Sales Award in Germany, Cracks 100k Units for March 2015

Nathan — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:30:00 +0000

It turns out that Majora's Mask 3D is a word wide sales success. While the game itself was released in the middle of February world wide, it is still continuing to sell extremely well in the weeks and now months since. While we all knew it was selling really well locally here in the United States, we now know that it's selling just as well in Europe, as Majora's Mask 3D has achieved the Gold BIU Sales Award in Germany for selling over 100,000 units. There are two award tiers higher than gold, with platinum meaning 200k while black translates to 500k. Still, for the month after release, that's really good sales and only from one singular country in Europe.

What do you think the total lifetime sales are going to be for this title in say, two years time?

Source: BIU

Why We Shouldn't Fear amiibo in Zelda U

Paul Grzelak — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 19:20:00 +0000

Nintendo will probably integrate amiibo into some part of Zelda U’s gameplay, but we shouldn't worry. While I count myself among those opposed to amiibo integration in Zelda U, a look at Zelda's history has convinced me we have nothing to fear.

So, let’s all remain calm and take a look at how inevitable amiibo integration in Zelda U appears to be. But, let’s also look at how extra hardware purchases have not only been a major part of the Zelda franchise for most of its history, but have rarely tarnished Zelda games.

Nintendo Loves Amiibo

Zelda's History With Extra Hardware

Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask suggested a Rumble Pak; Majora’s Mask required the Expansion Pak; a Game Boy link cable was suggested for Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons; The Wind Waker suggested a cable to connect and a Game Boy Advance to the GameCube; Twilight Princess was a GameCube game that had its release date pushed back by a month to suggest players buy the Wii port and a new Wii; and Skyward Sword required a Wii Motion Plus attachment.

That’s seven of the past 11 traditional Zelda games that have suggested or required extra hardware for a more fulfilling gameplay experience. And let’s not completely forget about how heavily Nintendo marketed the New Nintendo 3DS alongside promotions for Majora’s Mask 3D, or disregard spinoff Zelda titles such as Four Swords Adventures, Link’s Crossbow Training and Hyrule Warriors. In fact, Hyrule Warriors was sold with native support for amiibo.

So, seven of the last 11 traditional Zelda releases have either suggested or required players to purchase extra hardware. And home console releases make up the majority of those seven traditional Zelda games.

Remain Skeptical. Remain Optimistic. Remain Unrustled.

Does any of this guarantee that the Wii U-bound Zelda U will block some features to players without an amiibo? No.

Daily Debate: How Much Should We Value Fan Theories?

RODTheMaster — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 07:30:00 +0000

Fan theories, hypotheticals, and speculations have become a staple in the Zelda fan community. Whether they relate to the official timeline, character relationships, or an obscure part of Hyrulian lore, theories are popular points of discussion for fans. But even with all the discussions, how much do fan theories really matter in the grand scheme of things? How much should we value fan theories?

As evidenced by the slew of theory articles and theory videos that appear on the internet everyday, fan theories obviously hold a deal of value to some fans. And I can understand why. Fan theories are fun ways to discuss the settings, characters, and lore of the Zelda series. Because Zelda titles are games first, the specifics of story (like any form of media) are sometimes overlooked in the original source. Therefore, fans take it upon themselves to theorize about game elements not found in the games themselves. Many times, these theories contribute to significant conversations about themes and possibilities that others (and even developers) have not considered before. For example - as discussed in yesterday's debate - fan theories regarding the Zelda timeline have sparked many possibilities as to how the different Zelda games connect to each other.

On the other hand, some fans believe that Zelda games should be enjoyed as standalone stories. If a game is too bogged down by superfluous theorizing, the core of the game's experience can be devalued or ignored. For example, I have heard some fans express frustrations in the over-attention theorists give to the connections between Skyward Sword and future games in the Zelda timeline. Because SS is the topic of many recent fan theories, it may be considered too much when looking at the value of other games. If, say, Four Swords Adventure does not fit in with popular theories regarding SS, the game is left ignored or underappreciated by passionate theorists. Then there are those who are merely frustrated by fan theories as, to them, theories are ultimately pointless to official Zelda lore. Some fans become irritated when they continually see theories regarding Link's death or Groose's descendants.

What are your thoughts on Zelda theories overall? Should we place value in fan theories as a part of the Zelda community? Or should we limit their value and treat them as mere distractions to the games? You decide! Join the Daily Debate!

Banner Image by: Lucky Jero

The Zelda Bra Every Heroine Deserves

Cathron — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 05:21:00 +0000

Women have a right to be picky when it comes to their bras. After all, they're entrusting their breasts to a piece of fabric and wire, and it has to be as close to perfect as possible. Being stuck in an uncomfortable bra can make an otherwise fine day truly miserable. Choosing a bra isn't always an easy decision, but it's hard to go wrong with this cool Legend of Zelda design.

Buzzfeed published a list of 25 bras every geek girl needs, and the Zelda bra seen above was put at #23. The list also included bras with designs from "Game of Thrones," Harry Potter, and more.

The above-pictured bra was made by Etsy seller Brallery. For $69.99, she'll design a Zelda bra to any customer's specifications. If anyone wants a custom Zelda bra from her, she just needs to know their desired size, color (black or white), and design.

Brallery lives in New York City and has been an Etsy seller since December 2013.

Source: Etsy and Buzzfeed

Nintendo Japan Shows Off Unlocking A Link to the Past with a Mario amiibo via Tap

Nathan — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:02:00 +0000

Nintendo announced in their last major Nintendo Direct a new feature coming from amiibo called amiibo Tap, currently only used in a new app coming out called Greatest Bits. The idea is that you can tap an amiibo to your Wii U and play highlighted scenes featuring Nintendo classics, from Super Mario World to A Link to the Past. The caveat is a time limit restriction, but tapping different amiibo can lead to playing different scenes from the games. The interesting part about this is that it doesn't matter what amiibo you own, the game that gets selected is completely random. Thus, you can tap Mario and play a Zelda game, as seen above.

It's certainly something I am going to be trying out, just because I am really interested in how far I can get under a strict time constraint. I could see this leading to many YouTube videos showing off prowess over who can get the furthest. Naturally, this could also increase sales of classic titles from the eShop. What do you think about amiibo Tap?

Photoshop Contest: Serious Business

RODTheMaster — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 22:26:00 +0000

TGIF! It's time to celebrate the end of a long work week with Zelda Informer's Photoshop Contest. This week we're going to climb straight to the top of the corporate ladder and look at Zelda in the most business-like way possible. It may sound too serious, but it might be a good idea to restore our professionalism after the outrageousness that was last week's contest: Loftwing Evolution.

Last Week's Contest:

In light of a particular fan theory's conjecture that Skyward Sword Loftwings somehow became Twilight Princess Oocca, we asked fans to produce photoshops that demonstrated that evolution. The winning entries showed the scientific creativity we were looking for, offering very convincing evidence of how beautiful winged creatures became small, unsettling monsters.

Best Submissions:

Artist: Mountain Smithy

Artist: HaaYaaSkaa

Artist: Guest

Challenge Mode

As you can tell by the inexplicable appearances of Game Theory's MatPat, many entries accepted last week's Challenge Mode to include everyone's favorite theorist in their artwork. While they all included Mr. Pat and a Zelda character disapproving of his theories, Hylian Ticipated created a .gif masterpiece. With humor, suspense, and slightly inaccurate Pokémon references, Hylian Ticipated takes the Challenge Mode for the second week in a row. Who will challenge this champion's throne? Let's find out!

This Week's Contest: Serious Business

The Zelda community tends to swing back and forth between carefree silliness and uncompromising seriousness. Sure, we all like to have a bit of fun and make a few jokes with our favorite Zelda games, but there's no argument that we all discuss Zelda with a no-nonsense attitude sometimes. The Photoshop Contest has been quite silly the last few weeks, so this week we're going to channel our most serious.

Your assignment this time to treat Zelda as nothing but Serious Business. We want things like business suits, TPS reports, stock prices, and shady backdoor deals. Take any pieces of the Zelda series and professionally insert them into the corporate world. You may take advantage of our complimentary image gallery down below or utilize anything else on the internet for your entry.

General Rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Photoshop is not required to enter the contest. Any image manipulation software can be used to create your entry.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on April 29. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that who want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have some Challenge Rules for you to follow:

1. Your entry can only use images in the image gallery below.

2. Your entry must be artfully black and white.

Good luck!

Interview with Zelda Symphony Producer, More European Shows Set for 2016

RODTheMaster — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 00:10:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses - Master Quest has continued its 2015 tour throughout North America and Europe. With exciting new songs and movements, the concert series has let fans around the world hear their favorite tunes conducted live. In promotion of the new Zelda Symphony series, executive producer Jason Michael Paul recently sat down with Zelda Universe to discuss the current tour and Symphony of the Goddesses' future plans.

At the start of the interview, Paul announces that in addition to shows throughout 2015, the Symphony of the Goddesses will undergo a "more expansive tour" in Europe in 2016. The symphony will visit both Denmark and Norway as part of this tour.

Paul then explained some of the changes made to the symphony since its initial runs; Master Quest features more songs from A Link Between Worlds and Majora's Mask, a return of the Boss Battle Medley, and updated on-stage video. Shows even feature introductions from Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma, and Koji Kondo. The interview also goes into the production Symphony of the Goddesses, including a discussion of arrangements by Hollywood composer Chris Tilton. The interview has a lot of other cool information and is well worth a watch.

Symphony of the Goddesses will continue touring throughout 2015 and into 2016. You can visit the symphony's website for show dates and tickets.

ZI Podcast Episode 33: The Lost Hero’s Spirit Theory, Leaving Saria, & Accepting The Hero’s Tunic

Acohen95 — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 17:30:00 +0000

This week, Adam gives his own theories on the hero’s spirit, the gang discusses the idea of the tragedies in between games, and they also discuss the untapped relationships that Link and his female friends have. We start off with some spider talk, and other general nonsense but find out way to a serious conversation towards the end. We also discuss the cultural impacts that are noticeable in each of the installments in the franchise.

Adam (your weekly goof of a host) is joined by: Jake, Caleb, and Rozen (prefers going by Daniel) for one of our biggest conversational shifts in tone yet. If you like fan theories for the Zelda universe and are craving a new one then this is the episode for you! The theory on The Hero's Spirit starts at about the hour mark if you want to get right to it. Thanks again to Brandon for that opening theme song and Jeesh for that closing theme!

Don't forget to check out the links below to check out more of everything we discussed in this week's episode. And as always, if you have any of your own theme song submissions, topics, or fan art, please send that to us at ZeldaInformerpodcast@gmail.com!

Social Media

Special Thanks

News and Related Topics

Comment Topic Of The Week:

Would you prefer a short story/editorial about the Hero's Spirit by Adam, or another conversation about it between him and Jake?

Majora's Mask New 3DS Back in Stock at Best Buy

Jyaxen88 — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 15:23:00 +0000

Update: It looks to be in-store only at this point. Check your local store for availability.

Just when we think it's gone for good, the Majora's Mask New 3DS pops back up again! The elusive system is currently available at Best Buy's website, with multiple users on Reddit reporting that they have been able to snag one from in-store as well. At the time of this writing, the system still appears to be in stock on the website, but if it sells out there, giving your local store a visit is always worth a try.

While we've heard nothing a potential large scale restock of the system, this is certainly a positive change from what we've heard before. Best of luck to those of you who are still fervently looking for the console, and keep checking in here for updates about the status of its availability.

Source: Best Buy

Creator of Garfield A Fan of The Legend of Zelda Series

blaqkbird — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 02:35:00 +0000

The Garfield comics, along with the various television series that came later, were one of my childhood favorites alongside the Legend of Zelda. As odd of a combination as this might be, it's not all that strange to Garfield creator, Jim Davis, who spoke of his love for the Zelda series in a recent interview with Venturebeat.

When asked by Gamesbeat (the gaming subset of Venturebeat) about what games he played, Davis had the following to say:

Davis: I’ve played a lot of your Freecell kinds of games online, as far as — it’s been a long — well, I’ll tell you. RPG games like Zelda. I got into that. And then the demands of the strip and the TV and the movies and everything became so strong that I had to consciously step away from it, as much as I loved video games and things like that. Just to simply preserve my time for the projects we have going on here. When I get into a game, I always have somebody along to help steer.

What do you think of this fun fact about the creator of the classic comic character? Let us know in the comments below and click on the link for the full interview!

Source: VentureBeat

Comic source: KiwiHorizon

Son of a Glitch Tackles Link's Awakening, Shows Moon Walking, Early Items, and Much More

Nathan — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 15:23:00 +0000

One interesting yet entertaining subset of practices in the video game world is glitching. While fans have a take it or leave it approach with glitched world record speed runs, it's undeniable that glitching can be a lot of fun. While gamers have been discovering game glitches for over 30 years, it's been a long time since we had a nice look at Link's Awakening, which can be beat in under 10 minutes thanks to glitching. Son of a Glitch, a YouTube channel dedicated to showing off all the various glitches in different games, decided to take on Link's Awakening (both the DX and original version) to show off a copious amount of glitches. Better yet, he explains exactly how to do them for yourself!

Some of my favorites include taking the chain chomp with you the entire game, obtaining an invisible shield, wall walking, and yes... the moon walk. Have a watch and tell me what your favorite glitch from this game is!

Daily Debate: Are Handheld Zelda Games Lesser Experiences?

Paul Grzelak — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:40:00 +0000

Call me crazy, call me ignorant, call me foolish, but I’ve long thought of handheld Zelda games as pocket-sized versions of a more authentic experience that only home consoles can deliver.

Consider the titanic hype drummed up when the then-untitled Twilight Princess was announced at E3 2004 to roaring crowds. I’ve long believed that fans in 2004 weren’t just stoked to see an adult Link return with an art style more realistic than Wind Waker; fans were happy to see the Zelda franchise return to home consoles after what felt like a drought of Zelda games.

But how could the span of time between the release of Majora’s Mask in 2000 and Twilight Princess in 2006 feel like a drought? In addition to The Wind Waker, Nintendo released five other Zelda titles in these six years.

I think that time felt like a drought because Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, A Link to the Past/Four Swords, and The Minish Cap were all handheld games. Plus, Four Swords Adventures was a GameCube release, but it provided gameplay and graphics evocative of a handheld Zelda title. As great as those games may have been, none of it felt quite as fulfilling as the experiences Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask provided us with.

As a longtime fan of Link’s Awakening, I know that handheld Zelda games can be boatloads of fun. But the question remains: Are handheld Zelda games ultimately lesser experiences than home console Zelda games?

Ganon Visits Zelda Series' Most Memorable Locations in Epic Animated Short

RODTheMaster — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 22:31:00 +0000

It's always great to see artists capture the Zelda universe in visually creative ways. A few days ago, animator and director Alexis-Francois Morand released an animated short film titled Ganon. The short follows the Great King of Evil as he travels across various settings and encounters several characters from the Zelda series. With amazing visuals and presentation, this is an adventure you'll definitely want to check out.

Morand explains that the project acts as "a way of making an homage to [his] favourite games with a very loose narrative, while working on [his] digital painting, colour theory and composition with a little bit of animation thrown in." I would say that the artist did more than accomplish this goal in the final work. The stylized art and presentation of this short are not just gorgeous to look at, but emotionally moving as well. Using Ganon as the focus was an interesting choice that gives viewers a way to identify with the mysterious character.

As you may have noticed, the short explores scenes from many different Zelda games. Ganon is seen sailing within a storm near Koholint Island from Link's Awakening, lurking behind the Skull Kid in the Lost Woods, and investigating a set of ruins near Majora's Mask's Woodfall. The art style, animation, and music (composed by Morand and James O'Connor Moneley) all work together to re-visualize these familiar locations in fresh and unique ways.

You can check out more from Morand on his website, and look him up on Facebook and Twitter.

Caption Contest 015: "Link and Link don't see eye to eye."

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 22:45:00 +0000

It's time for another caption contest here at ZI! I want to give a big thanks to Rod for covering for me last week while I had some things going on. The presentation and responses were a welcome surprise as I came back today. I like the crossover idea is one I will probably use more in the future. As always, check out last week's winners below and leave your captions for this week in the comments at the bottom of the page. This week's image features Link and...well, Link. I have full faith that you will be able to make some creative and funny entries in the contest. Thanks again for being a part of the ZI community and we'll see you next week with ten new winners!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

By: Fuzzylittlebastart

By: Maso

By: Nefnoj

By: Pedro Vasconcelos

By: Yero

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

malon and link - Peach- "ahh ahh ahh! hold still!!!! i NEED to fix your hat... and add flowers!!"
Don The Mask! - 'so you thought you could just sneak out on me after last night, huh?" **Pulls Hair** "well think again mister"
Zelda_N64 - How do you get DIRT on the BACK of your head? Does Zelda EVER help you with this?!?
Nachoguythe3rd - "This is the worst hairdresser I've ever been to. She totally forgot to take off my hat before cutting."
Monica Wu - "Let me do your hair, you little cutie pie." "HAH HYA HEUH HYAAAA!"

This week's photo:

Majora's Mask Turns 15

Cathron — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 02:05:00 +0000

Happy birthday to Majora's Mask! The popular sequel to Ocarina of Time turned 15 today. The N64 title was first released on April 27, 2000, just two years after Ocarina of Time.

Shingeru Miyamoto produced the game, which is the sixth main Zelda title in the series. Majora's Mask follows the Hero of Time as he heads to the land of Termina. There, he must stop a giant moon from crashing into the planet.

Unlike Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask needed an extra piece of hardware to function. It required the use of an Expansion Pak, which provided expanded memory to allow better graphics and more characters to appear on-screen. Another difference between the two games was the number of save files available to players. While Ocarina of Time had three save slots, Majora's Mask only had two.

As most fans know, the game was recently remade for the 3DS. Majora's Mask 3D was released on February 13 this year and included new features like a rotating camera (if fans owned a New 3DS or Circle Pad Pro) and updated boss fights.

Is Majora's Mask one of your favorite Zelda titles?

Daily Debate: What Dungeon Theme Do Zelda Games Need to Explore?

RODTheMaster — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 07:30:00 +0000

Forest Temple, Fire Temple, Water Temple; each of these is an example of the themes Zelda dungeons have explored in the past. Every game features a collection of labyrinths that carry a specific motif, whether they are natural, spiritual, or otherwise. It may seem that the Zelda series has covered every imaginable dungeon theme, but I'm sure we can think of more that deserve to be centered around a dungeon.

When I first considered this debate, I thought about different aspects of nature that have not been properly utilized in a Zelda dungeon. For example, I concluded that fog, smoke, and haze have not fully been used in a dungeon. With something like a Smoke Temple, players would no doubt encounter interesting puzzles that made use of distorted or obscured objects; and with the Wii capable of much higher graphical qualities, smoke and fog effects would be well-implemented and cool to look at. When I presented this question to the ZI staff, some expanded on this idea to include dungeons based around storms or weather. Rain, tidal waves, hurricanes, and tornadoes are all possibilities for such a dungeon, or group of dungeons. Imagine a full Zelda game with every dungeon representing a different type of storm. Even a dungeon based around sun and dynamic light would be cool on the Wii U.

What are your ideas? What dungeon theme do you think future Zelda games should explore? Explain your suggestions, and join the Daily Debate!

Changes to Zelda Characters in the Latest Smash Bros. Patch

HyruleHero3D — Sun, 03 May 2015 01:25:00 +0000

Earlier this month, Nintendo released Patch 1.0.6 which featured some notable Buffs and Nerfs to our line up of favorite Nintendo characters.

Link

Significant increase to Spin Attack damage both uncharged and charged.
Frame Rate for the start of back and front attacks have been slightly decreased.
Hylian Shield can now block lasers fired from Fox and Falco.
Link's Jab animation has been increased by ten frames.
Down Tilt can no longer spike, knock back for this has also been reduced significantly.
Dash Attack's knockback has been reduced.

Ganondorf

Jab damage slightly increased to arms and sweet spots.
Up, down and foward throw has been modified for less hitlag.

Zelda

Phantom Slash's endlag has been greatly reduced, allowing you to launch it quicker.
Phantom Slash now takes four seconds longer to regenerate after being destroyed.
Phantom will now stand out for 0.25 seconds longer than before.
Forward Smash hit angles lowered.

Sheik

Forward aerial attack's damage output has been decreased by 2%.
Down Tilt's damage output has been decreased by 2%.

Toon Link

Down smash knockback greatly reduced on first and second hits.
Hero's Shield now blocks lasers fired from Fox and Falco.

New Challenger

Newly introduced to the Smash roster is the legendary Mewtwo and it is better than ever! All new downloadable content for Super Smash Bros., including upcoming DLC packs and Mewtwo can be found here.

What do you think of the new patch? Has your fighting style been altered in any way due to this? Let us know in the comments.

Source: SmashBoards

Fan Theory: Arbiter's Grounds' Connection To The Spirit Temple And The Gerudo Massacre

HyruleHero3D — Sat, 02 May 2015 18:42:00 +0000

VortexxyGaming is a YouTuber who has a passion for creating theories about popular video game franchises. One of those series we are obviously highly interested in is the Zelda franchise. In this theory, VortexxyGaming explains the possible relationships between the Arbiter's Grounds from Twilight Princess and the Spirit Temple from Ocarina of Time. Her theory also suggests a massacre where the Hylians would slaughter the Gerudo. Here is my summary on the theory.

The Arbiter's Grounds currently lies on the northern edge of the Gerudo Mesa, which is an awfully small version of what previously could've been the Gerudo Desert. In one of Vortexxy's previous theories, she believes that the overworld in Twilight Princess is an expanded version of the one from Ocarina of Time.

She goes on to explain how the Arbiter's Grounds is a predecessor to the Spirit Temple from Ocarina of Time, but was abandoned due to an unknown reason. The possible connection between the two makes much sense since they both share Gerudo hieroglyphics engraved on many walls throughout the dungeons as well as similar architecture.

Vortexxy adds to this by saying that the Arbiter's Grounds and the Spirit Temple could be built near each other, however since the backside of both structures is not visible to the player, we cannot see it.

Another interesting point that Vortexxy makes is how the Arbiter's Grounds, acoording to the English Version of Twilight Princess was a prison to hold the cruelest criminals until they are executed, and that the American version says that it was a prison to imprison terrible creatures. One thing we can definitely confirm is that the Arbiter's Grounds were a prison of some sort and was likely created to imprison both criminals and evil creatures.

As for the alleged massacre that the Hylians brought upon the Gerudo, it is also likely to have happened since the Gerudo are strangely absent from the Gerudo Mesa, however they could also be in another part of the Mesa that isn't visible to the player.

If you'd like to see the theory and go in depth, please watch the video at the top of this article!

What are your thoughts on this theory? Do you agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments.

Counterpoint: Why amiibo Could Have an Overwhelmingly Negative Impact on Zelda U, Future Titles

Nathan — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 18:27:00 +0000

Fellow Zelda Informer writer Paul Grzelak recently talked about why we shouldn’t fear amiibo in Zelda U. He brings up many points, but his main argument is based around the fact that prior games have sold with required and/or optional hardware in the past and those ended up not hurting the Zelda experience. He’s spot on.

However, there are plenty of reasons why we should be wary of amiibo support in the title. In fact, it can be argued that amiibo is Nintendo’s way of doing something the rest of the industry is doing but attempting to mask it behind a physical product. Will amiibo define Zelda U? Of course not. It likely won’t define anything in any future title, but it can still have a negative impact. To understand how, we have to look back at how amiibo is currently used in ways that aren’t necessarily all that great as a consumer.

How amiibo is Used Today

Amiibo have been around since the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, but they have had a function in most of the titles released by Nintendo since. Some of those functions are minor in impact – giving you random item stuff in Hyrule Warriors you can otherwise earn without owning amiibo. Other times, a large chunk of a game gets locked behind them, such as 1 of the grand total of 3 modes in Mario Party 10. Let’s look at exactly what amiibo has been doing to Nintendo games thus far.

Super Smash Bros for Wii U

This is probably the best use so far, but even then it is marred behind a feature of Smash Bros. being locked away. You are able to train your amiibo characters in game to fight like you, level up, etc. amiibo in that case serve no purpose other than allowing you to do something that is already in the game on day one, but locked behind a physical product. The next use of them in the game makes more sense however, as Nintendo has no other current way to do this. You can take these trained characters, save them directly to your amiibo, and take them to a friends house to use.

That use is acceptable and understandable. It adds something that wasn’t otherwise possible. Training up NPC characters on the other hand? Amiibo don’t do anything for that, they just allow you to do something that’s already there because you bought something else. Worst part is, if you want to train several, you have to buy even more amiibo. This means you could spend hundreds of dollars just to train 10 characters. That’s insane.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad is a neat puzzle game, but the challenge is built around collecting. At launch, this meant collecting stars and stamps. With the Toad amiibo, it adds mini toads to collect, which adds a whole new element of challenge to every level of the game. This is essentially paid DLC and was added after the fact, and there is nothing wrong with paid DLC as an idea. But, in order to enjoy this, you HAVE to buy an amiibo. An amiibo that may be hard to find. That means you could possibly not enjoy this DLC not through any fault of your own. You can’t go on the eShop and pay for it. You have to buy a product that has no guarantee of availability. What happens if Toad is out of production next year? It becomes even harder to get this content.

Hyrule Warriors

Amiibo do really 3 things in this game. The Link amiibo (toon or normal) give you an exclusive item for Link in the game. (this is essentially a microtransaction). Other Zelda related amiibo give you a decent weapon with a mid level rank, which is achievable in game (microtransactions in the way of skipping in game content), and the rest give you random awards, like 50 extra rupees.

Mario Party 10

There are 3 game modes in this title. One of them is completely locked out if you don’t own amiibo, and you have to own multiple amiibo to enjoy it. So in addition to paying 50 to $60 out the gate, you have to spend another $50 or so to get enough amiibo to enjoy this mode. The amiibo perform zero functions in the game. You tap and the characters can be used in the game mode, but after tapping the product is useless. This is one of the things most of us dislike in gaming – chopping up content at launch and charging more for it.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D

You tap amiibo in the game to earn coins that can be spent on raffles in the game, new gear, etc. It gives you a direct advantage in the natural game flow. This is probably the weakest use of amiibo so far and the least intrusive.

What Does this All Mean?

At the center, amiibo are either locking away content on day one, or being used as a form of a DLC pass that can’t be guaranteed as readily attainable. Keep in mind that there is some irony here – I own several amiibo and use them frequently, while Paul doesn’t and really isn’t into Toys to Life, yet I really dislike how amiibo are used while he think it’s not really that bad.

Amiibo is not equal to Optional Hardware

If there is one counter point I have directly related to Paul’s article, it’s the idea of amiibo being considered hardware. Outside of Smash Bros, amiibo serve no other purpose than a “internal unlock” of content already downloaded to your game or already there in your game. A type of paywall. Even in Mario Kart 8 with costumes – those constumes aren’t stored on the amiibo, they are already in the game and the tapping of the amiibo just allows you to use them, exactly like what a paywall does.

Meanwhile, the examples he uses tend to add something that isn’t there already. Rumble Pak? It added force feedback, a new gameplay element not otherwise present on current hardware. The link cable for Oracle of Seasons/Ages? It allowed you to connect two devices together with both games to get the joint ending – something not possible without it at that time. The Tingle Tuner in The Wind Waker? Allowed true second screen gameplay for an in game item that wasn’t really possible with just a second controller.

To me, hardware is something that adds something to the experience that isn’t possible without it. Amiibo don’t add anything, they just serve as a pay wall style unlock for something already there. You tap and forget. You don’t just plug the rumble pak in, take it out, and forget. You have to continue to use it the entire time to get the benefit.

How Could This be Bad for Zelda?

Imagine there are mini games locked behind amiibo. You must buy x Zelda amiibo to gain access to a game already present. Imagine an entire island with a bonus dungeon is locked behind a Link amiibo. These sort of practices are happening with each game release involving amiibo and could easily be something that happens in Zelda U, or any other future title.

That doesn’t mean it has to be that way. It could be like Xenoblade, you tap and get some extra rupees or even some crafting material for gear, and that’s not necessarily a bad ideal. But there is no guarantee right now that it can’t possibly be much worse, so there is definitely reason to fear how much worse it could get.

Why is this bad?

The idea of day one pay walls, microtransactions, and DLC is certainly not new in the industry, but I have yet to meet a consumer who actually applauds these practices. That’s much of what amiibo has been performing ever since they were released. I own amiibo because I like having collectible Zelda figures, but there in game uses don’t even feel like a bonus to me, but an excuse to lock away content with no other alternative method to get it without amiibo. Let’s say you really want that Link costume in Mario Kart 8, but have zero interest in the figure. Is $13 really justifiable for something that is worth, at most $1?

The other side is that hey, these amiibo can be used for multiple games, so it’s not $13 for each game, but say, $13 once, used over many games. I think this is a viable argument, but again, we’re still paying money to access content with a physical item that really offers no in game benefit. I just don’t even like thinking that I have to buy something extra for Zelda U that literally adds nothing to the game just to add content to the game. If this was a DLC package released down the line? Great! But something that I have to by a physical item that provides no in game benefit to access? I just can’t see the logic that this is a good thing.

As I stated before, this doesn’t mean amiibo will ruin Zelda. That’s a pretty bold statement and I doubt Nintendo would ruin a game because of them, but I am uncomfortable with the idea that when the game comes out, I have to go buy something else to experience everything already there on the disc. I’d be just as uncomfortable if it wasn’t tied to an item, but it even makes future DLC have potential amiibo ties, and that doesn’t sit well with me.

Ocarina of Time Hyrule Field Theme Performed A Capella Style

Link 2 — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 18:36:00 +0000

We all remember the first time we exited the Kokiri Forest and made our entrance into Hyrule Field. I was amazed at the massive open area I could explore. I quickly rushed over to the cool-looking structure in the distance, only to frantically run away as I soon discovered it was alive. To this day, I still have nightmares of Peahats.

In an epic collaboration between Triforcefilms and Jaron Davis, the widely known Hyrule Field Theme has been masterfully recreated in an a capella style.

The beautiful remake of this nostalgic song contains ear-pleasing audio consisting of overlapping vocals. Each of the 21 tracks features one of the two musicians in question, with tunics and items such as the Master Sword setting them apart.

Aside from Mr Dooves (Triforcefilms) and Jaron Davis belting their lungs out into the microphone, you can watch some Ocarina of Time Hyrule Field footage that is included in the video for your viewing pleasure.

Do you think these two talented artists measure up to other widely-known a capella musicians such as Smooth McGroove? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Fan art: Royalty-Doc

Check Out This Incredible Replica of the Mirror Shield from Ocarina of Time

moothsda — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 23:44:00 +0000

One of the most iconic shields in the history of gaming is the Mirror Shield from Ocarina of Time, and ever since the release of that game, it's been a fantasy of every Zelda fan to be able to hold the shield in our own hands.

Well, a life-size replica of the Mirror Shield from Ocarina of Time was uploaded to imgur and Reddit by user gazpacho143 a few weeks ago, and we must say that it looks really awesome. It follows the original design of the shield, with the controversial Islamic symbols on the front, so that might cause some controversy, but other than that, it's perfect: the design is exactly like in the game, the simplistic structure makes it look visually appealing and very professional, and you can tell a lot of care went into the drawing and the exact materials used, as it looks seamless.

What do you think? Do you like how this replica looks? Obviously, I personally think it looks great, and it would be awesome if we could buy it.

Source: imgur

These Custom Zelda Kicks Will Knock Your Socks Off

Ziondood — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:58:00 +0000

Bobsmade, a small company based in Germany, is all about creating custom handmade clothing. You may have seen us post a few months back about a slick pair of Majora's Mask themed shoes they customized. It doesn't stop there, as they've painted a whole slew of shoes spanning characters from Ocarina of Time and The Minish Cap, to Hyrule Warriors! You owe it to yourself to check these out.

Using High Top Chucks and Slip-On Vans gives them a clean canvas full of room for their art. To pack in as much detail as possible they use a mix acrylic paints and waterproof markers. When they are all done they throw on a coat of clear varnish, which keep the designs safe and intact while you walk. Their finished photos really do the shoes justice. This kind of makes me want my to buy own Oracle of Ages & Seasons pair!

All of their work is commission based, which makes all of their products one of a kind! They were even nice enough to make a tutorial of how they customize their shoes, in case you want to try your hand at it. They do recommend that you have some artistic skill, as this is no easy task.

You can check out our gallery or their DeviantArt page for more photos of their customized kicks! If you liked what you saw you can commission your own shoes through their website. Let us know what you think of their fancy footwork in the comments below!

Source: Bobsmade

Cosplay of the Week: Agitha by IckleCosplay

Mases — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 23:50:00 +0000

This week's Cosplay feature is of the adorable Agitha, Princess of the Insect Kingdom (seen in Twilight Princess and Hyrule Warriors)! This sweet Cosplay was made and work by IckleCosplay, and this portrayal is perfection.

Ickle is based in the UK, and majority of her Cosplays are based on sweet, cute and adorable character types, and this one is definitely under that category. Check out the photos in the mini gallery below and you'll see the detail put into this costume is so spot on. The pattern on the dress, the quality of the gloves, and the intricate detail of the wings on the butterflies.

I'm really enjoying seeing all the Cosplays from fans. Whether is be a professional Cosplay Artist, or just someone who dressed up because they love a character - they're all amazing and the effort you see go into the designs is very inspiring.

You can find more of Ickle's Cosplays on Facebook and on her CosplayIsland account, I know you'll all love her Cosplays!

Don't forget to tag us on Twitter with your own Zelda Cosplays (or other Fantastic Cosplays), and use the hashtag #ZIcostume. Let us know what you think of this Cosplay in the comment section below, and tell us what Cosplays you'd like to see featured here next week.

Source: IckleCosplay

Vote Now: The Legend of Zelda a Finalist for the World Video Game Hall of Fame

Nathan — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 18:22:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda series has a chance to enter the World Video Game Hall of Fame. It is currently a finalist among a total of 15 games. It is up against Angry Birds, DOOM, Fifa, Minecraft, The Oregon Trail, Pac-Man, Pokemon, Pong, The Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and World of Warcraft. That's a lot of great titles, including some instant classics that helped shape our industry. The list is as strong as it is because this is the very first year of inductees. The World Video Game Hall of Fame is part of the National Museum of Play. Getting inducted will put the game or game series on display in a huge section of The Strong museum in New York... seemingly forever (assuming they stay in business).

It's obviously a neat honor and while I hope The Legend of Zelda makes the cut, I feel a bit guilty voting it in over games that helped pave the way for Zelda to begin with, such as Pong or Space Invaders. Whether Zelda makes it in this year or not, it's undeniable that it will be joining whoever wins this year sooner or later.

You can go ahead and vote for who should be inducted here.

Symphony of the Goddesses Partners with Viz Media, Zelda Books Available at Symphony Events

RODTheMaster — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 22:55:00 +0000

If you were looking for another excuse to attend a Symphony of the Goddesses - Master Quest show, you're in luck. Manga and anime publisher Viz Media announced today that it is partnering with the Symphony of the Goddesses series to bring Zelda books to concert events. This means that the recently reprinted The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past graphic novel by Shotaro Ishinomori and The Legend of Zelda manga series by Akira Himekawa will both be available for purchase at upcoming Zelda Symphony shows.

Viz Media had this to say about the partnership:

"VIZ Media graphic novel and manga titles inspired by the classic Nintendo® game, THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, will be available for purchase at upcoming “The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses” concerts. The manga and graphic novel will join the concerts’ new “Master Quest” music and visuals to make Symphony of the Goddesses the ultimate Zelda experience for fans of music, art, games, and culture."

Viz Media also announced that these titles will be available at San Diego Comic Con in conjunction with Symphony of the Goddesses' show on July 11. The publisher will sponsor a special ticket giveaway for the event.

While The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past graphic novel and The Legend of Zelda manga are both available online and in-store at many retailers, this partnership helps to make Symphony of the Goddesses a one-stop shop for Zelda merch. Impulse buyers may have trouble ignoring these books after they have just experienced the thrill of seeing live Zelda music.

If you're excited to attend a Symphony of the Goddesses show with this news, you can check out the symphony's website for a schedule of upcoming shows.

Are you attending Symphony of the Goddesses? Will you buy a Zelda book while you're there? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Viz Media (via Go Nintendo)

8-Bit Link Plushie Releasing Alongside Mario and Luigi

Link 2 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 23:50:00 +0000

Are newfangled plastic amiibo just not your style? You're in luck, because three new plushies in the World of Nintendo toy line are sure to take you back to the days of 8-bit gaming. Not only does this new toy pack contain NES-style Mario and Luigi plushies, but an eye-pleasing plushie of our favorite hero in green is included as well.

Currently, you can pre-order the three plushies in a pack from Entertainment Earth for $54.99 USD here before taxes and shipping. Another retailer, Big Bad Toy Store, was previously selling these plushies, but recently sold out. If you're planning on buying these plushies I advise doing it as soon as possible, because Entertainment Earth will likely sell out as well.

Will you be obtaining these pillow-like blasts from the past, or do you already have some video game merchandise that you are content with? Maybe you're like me who never misses an opportunity to add to my gaming collection. Whatever the case, share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Entertainment Earth

Daily Debate: Should Zelda U be Ported to the PC?

Link 2 — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 01:50:00 +0000

Heresy! Blasphemy! A Nintendo game on a non-nintendo piece of technology? Some wouldn't mind that. In fact, it may be a good chance for Nintendo to get a hold in the PR field again. I'm not talking about releasing Zelda U for the PS4 or the XBox One, but rather on a platform most everyone has: the home computer.

Think about it! Those who don't own a Wii U and can't afford one won't have to worry about it anymore because they'll be able to log on to Steam and download the newest Zelda masterpiece right to their PC. Alternatively, they can go to any store that sells PC games and pick up a physical copy for their computer's disk drive.

On the other hand, do we really want those PC casuals skipping buying a Wii U? (I'm joking about "PC casuals," I'm a big PC gamer myself.) I'm 100% sure Nintendo will be relying on Zelda U to generate more Wii U sales. Let's face it, the Wii U is a struggling console with a hurtful lack of 3rd party support. (I'm sorry, Iwata!)

What is your opinion? Would you enjoy navigating the open world of Zelda U with mouse-and-keyboard controls? Would Zelda U being ported to the PC be a welcome option for players? Join the Daily Debate in the comments below.

Dorkly: The Truth About Link's Pieces of Heart

Nathan — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 16:33:00 +0000

How many ways can Dorky make us laugh thanks to Zelda reated jokes? The number appears to be infinite, as they continue to make all of us at ZI smile pretty frequently with their nifty jokes and comics. Today they tackle Link's everlasting obsession with heart pieces as we learn how he truly obtains them, and what cold heartless bastard he can be (not literally). Today, he's talking to Malon... and it doesn't quite go as expected... or does it?

Source: Dorkly

Cool Majora's Mask Light Now Available on Club Nintendo EU

AboardTheBebop — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 16:51:00 +0000

It's been a couple of months since the release of Majora's Mask 3D and its time in the lime-light is starting to dim. However, that hasn't stopped Nintendo from marketing it with the enthusiasm of Rupin himself. The latest addition to the entourage of nerdy essentials comes in the form of a night light taking the shape of Majora's Mask itself. But of course, there is a catch: it is only available on Club Nintendo EU, and there has been no word of a North American release. However, if you happen to be a member of this club, you can snag one for a mere 6,000 stars. The site describes the item as:

The time has come...
With glowing eyes, this spooky Majora's Mask emits a soft, orange glow when you flick the switch. Measures approximately 12cm tall x 12cm wide, made of ABS, transparent ABS and PVC.

This is just another one of the awesome items made available as Club Nintendo readies to close forever at the end of June. If you have still managed to save your coins/stars, it may be a good time to head on over and see what they have. Be cautious, however, as it seems bigger and better things are coming in over time. What do you think? Would you like to see more items like this made available to the general public or do you like the exclusivity of having something special when you manage to snag one? What would you like to see appear on Club Nintendo in it's final months? Let us know in the comments below. *cough*amiibo*cough*

Source: Club Nintendo EU (via NintendoEverything)

Yacht Club Games' Developer Would Like to Use Tingle in Shovel Knight

AboardTheBebop — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 18:25:00 +0000

Shovel Knight is, without a doubt, one of the most critically acclaimed games to release last year. The indie title has garnered a huge fan base and has since released some version exclusive content on both the PS4 and Xbox One, but the Wii U has been missing that special attention. Sony's Kratos got an exclusive level on the PlayStation consoles and the Battletoads got an Xbox boss level. However, Nintendo has nothing similar to speak of for either of their consoles. That hasn't stopped Yacht Club Games' David D'Angelo from discussing his interest in a Nintendo IP making its appearance in the game, though. He had this to say in his interview with GamingBoulevard:

Who knows?! It’d be amazing to work with a Nintendo IP. They have so many great ones to choose from. I usually go for the weirdos, so Tingle would be right up my alley. - David D'Angelo

While on the topic, he also went on to discuss his feelings towards the Smash Ballot requests for Shovel Knight to be a part of the Smash Bros. roster:

Absolutely, Shovel Knight in smash would be incredible! We play Smash Bros. pretty much every day, and to see our character as part of the roster would be an amazing honor! Lots of our fans have come up with really great descriptions for attacks and final smashes, I’d suggest checking them out!

What Nintendo IP would you like to see appear in Shovel Knight? If Tingle did show up in the game, how would you like to seem him portrayed? Sound off in the comments below!

Source: GameBoulevard (via NintendoEverything)

Daily Debate: What Was the Most Disappointing Plot Moment in a Zelda Game, and Why?

RODTheMaster — Fri, 01 May 2015 00:59:00 +0000

As with any story, not every moment is going to satisfy every person. The plot may go against expectations, a character may develop inappropriately, or a conflict may resolve in a disappointing way. There are no doubt a few story moments in the Zelda series that left us disappointed, so we feel it's time to discuss how and why these moments affected us in such a way.

Because of the personal nature of this debate, answers will certainly vary from person to person. With that said, I was personally disappointed with Link's quest to claim the Triforce in Skyward Sword. Late in the game, Link travels into Sky Keep, a dungeon hidden under Skyloft, to obtain the "ultimate power" within. This power is obviously the Triforce, which is unrelentingly talked up and alluded to in other Zelda games. Skyward Sword marks the first time that the player can actually obtain the Triforce in-game, so one would expect a degree of bombastic fanfare to accompany Link's legendary feat. Nope, rather Link collects the three Triforce pieces and the traditional "Item Get" theme plays.

As a seasoned Zelda fan, I was very much letdown when I actually obtained the Triforce and made my wish. This moment unfortunately did not live up to the numerous legends and deep lore surrounding the triangles as seen in other games. I suppose watching the Triforce shine over Skyloft was cool visually, but the event was simply not satisfying to the actual narrative. It definitely did not stand up to the dramatic climax of Wind Waker, when Hyrule's King got his hands on the Triforce.

But that's just my example. What was your most disappointing plot moment in a Zelda game? What about this moment was such a letdown for you? Let us know in the comments, and Join the Daily Debate!

Forest Temple Recreated in Minecraft

Link 2 — Fri, 01 May 2015 16:47:00 +0000

Ever heard of a game called Minecraft? Sure you have. It's the game that made its creator, Notch, a millionaire. Recently acquired by Microsoft, Minecraft is the best selling PC game to-date. With an incredible amount of 19 million sales, its no wonder this game is all over the Internet.

I myself have played quite a bit of Minecraft, ever since the game's release in 2009. However, I've never made something as impressive as Imgur user democallister. He has created a full-scale replica of my personal favorite dungeon: the Forest Temple.

There is a total 30 captured images democallister has uploaded to the web of his recreation, and these screenshots are viewable in the gallery below. Each one takes us deeper and deeper into the blocky interior of the temple. Complete with paintings scattered across the walls and chests containing various treasures, this Forest Temple incarnate is very close to the original.

Have you ever set out to create something Zelda-esque in Minecraft? I know I have. Share your experiences with us in the comments below.

Source: Imgur

Design & Trend Poll: Will amiibo Ruin Zelda U?

Link 2 — Fri, 01 May 2015 22:19:00 +0000

Recently, site copy editor and writer Paul Grzelak wrote an article about why he believes amiibo won't have a negative impact on Zelda U.

As a counterpoint, The Boss Man himself, Nathanial Rumphol-Janc wrote a separate article containing his opinions on why amiibo may be disastrous for Zelda U, as well as future titles. It seems this debate gained more attention than anticipated, as popular website Design & Trend has based their latest poll on the two articles in question. Will amiibo ruin Zelda U? The three options are "Yes," "No," and "Who Cares?"

Are you going to make your voice heard and vote in Design & Trend's Zelda-themed poll? Will amiibo spell doom for the future of the Zelda franchise, or will it have little to no effect on gameplay? Join Design & Trend's poll here, and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Design & Trend

Photoshop Contest: Zelda Superhero Team-Up

RODTheMaster — Fri, 01 May 2015 21:09:00 +0000

Good afternoon, ZI friends! I hope you'll step away from your very important Friday affairs to indulge in yet another Zelda Informer Photoshop Contest. With movie-goers around the world flying into theaters to see Avengers: Age of Ultron, we figured it's as good a time as any to assemble our very own Zelda superhero teams. Before we jump straight into crime-fighting though, we'll take a look at last week's contest: Serious Business.

Last Week's Contest

After a week of what one commenter called "fan theory existentialism," I steered fans away from the silly antics of recent contests and assigned them the task of creating serious, business-like images of Link and the gang. While the premise sounds a bit dry and boring, the results were anything but. There were some hilarious pictures of our favorite Zelda characters in office settings, no doubt conducting important international stock meetings or something.

Best Submissions

Artist: HaaYaaSkaa

Artist: Conner Vlahov

Artist: freakinthesheik

Challenge Mode

With no challengers in sight, Hylian Ticipated again wins the Photoshop contest's Challenge Mode. The artist presented to us an artfully monochrome comic strip, detailing the stock woes of Nintendo and the cut-throat tactics of the Business Scrub. The entry was so long, that I couldn't even include the whole thing in this post. I recommend you visit last week's contest page to see how the entire epic unfolds. This marks H.T.'s third Challenge Mode win in a row; will another challenger approach this week to end the streak?

This Week's Contest: Zelda Superhero Team-Up

Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron, the bombastic superhero sequel to 2012's The Avengers, makes its debut this weekend. In true Avengers fashion, the film brings together a collection of big name heroes as they save the world from a crazy robot baddie. While this is a momentous occasion, Captain America and Iron Man aren't the only heroes who have saved the day before; Link and his pals have certainly teamed up to dish out justice and fight against the forces of evil as well.

This week, the contest is to assemble the ultimate Zelda superhero team. You can show iconic Zelda characters saving the innocent, performing amazing feats of strengths, or stopping evil schemes in a spectacular way. Whatever sets your Zelda team above the Avengers will be permitted this week. You're free to use the images in our gallery below to get started, and use anything else on the internet from there.

General Rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Photoshop is not required to enter the contest. Any image manipulation software can be used to create your entry.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on May 6. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that who want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have a Challenge Rule for you to follow:

1. Your entry must feature Link in at least 4 different Avenger costumes.

Good luck!

ZI Podcast Episode 34: Magical Clothing, Let's Players, and Peculiar Experiences featuring Sparky

Acohen95 — Sat, 02 May 2015 17:30:00 +0000

Shaking things up this week is our good pal Sparky The Android, as he joins Adam and the gang for another exciting episode of the podcast. We talk about the variety of outfits in the series and their significance, as well as compare Let’s players to old 90’s advertisements, and Sparky tells us about life in Denver.

Your cast for this week’s episode is your host Adam (butchering the English language as always), Chris (Adam has no idea what he does), Katie (our wonderful Australian writer), and Sparky aka Brett (always a bridesmaid. Because he works it). Thanks to Brandon and Sean for your fan topics this week!

If you have any of your own topics, theme song submissions, artwork, or anything that you’d like to send us, email it over to us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com.

Keep adventuring, Hylians!

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Stuff We Do

Special Thanks To...

Exclusive New Webcomic: Ladies Man Link: Pick-Up Lines

Nathan — Sat, 02 May 2015 16:41:00 +0000

Some of you might remember during our last couple hiring sprees that we've been looking for Webcomic artists so we could start a slew of exclusive comics, rather than simply having to rely on some of our favorites to update seemingly at random. We felt this was important not only to expand the type of content we have here, but because many of the great comics out there aren't centralized around Zelda, but rather another theme that happens to bring Zelda into the fold. These comics will always center around something Zelda, be it characters, items, setting, or something else entirely. That doesn't mean we can't possibly see other characters and gaming series get intertwined, but that's up to the discretion of the creator.

Today we launch what will be hopefully our first of many new series, both serious and comedic in nature. The series is titled "Ladies Man Link" and is brought to you exclusively at Zelda Informer. The series is created by Ink Rose and will be published every single Saturday! We hope you enjoy the first episode and look forward to other comics we plan to launch in the coming months.

Stainless Steel Navi Necklace On Etsy

HyruleHero3D — Sun, 03 May 2015 01:44:00 +0000

Etsy artist Milkool has created something beautiful and absolutely appealing to the eye. On sale at Etsy is a magnificent Navi Necklace, which is crafted out of stainless steel and sells for $28.50 USD. You can purchase a maximum of nine per order.

Sizes range anywhere from sixteen inches (in women sizes) to an extra large size of twenty-four inches.

While the purchase is up to you, you shouldn't hesitate to at least look at it. You can find this little treasure, here.

What do you think of this necklace? Would you buy it or recommend it? Let us know in the comments!

Daily Debate: Should Nintendo Release Zelda U in Some Form for Both the 3DS and the Wii U?

Link 2 — Sun, 03 May 2015 02:49:00 +0000

In an earlier Daily Debate, we talked about the prospect of Zelda U possibly being ported to the PC. We received mixed reactions, and had a lot of thought-provoking discussion. That got me thinking. If Nintendo were to release Zelda U for something besides the Wii U, why not the 3DS?

Some gamers prefer buying games for their handheld console when they have the choice. They enjoy the freedom of gaming whenever they want, wherever they want (as long as they have enough battery, of course.) Also, some gamers only own a 3DS and not a Wii U. I owned my 3DS for about two years before I finally bought my Wii U.

However, could the massive open-world of Zelda U be able to run on the 3DS's hardware? Would it have to become a New Nintendo 3DS exclusive, such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D? Perhaps the graphics would have to be "dumbed down" just so the game would be able to run properly on a handheld console. Regardless, I'm sure it would be a hassle for the development team to port Zelda U to the 3DS/ New Nintendo 3DS. The question is: would it be worth it?

What are your thoughts on the matter? Should Zelda U be released in some form for the 3DS and the Wii U? Would it somehow be a lesser experience as a handheld game? Share your thoughts by joining the Daily Debate below.

Fan Art: Paul Scott Canavan

Daily Debate: Which of These Armored Foes Should Return in Zelda U?

HyruleHero3D — Wed, 06 May 2015 17:52:00 +0000

Encountering armored foes on your journey is quite the challenge. But nonetheless, it's always so much fun, and you just can't seem to get enough of them. Over the course of the Zelda franchise, we've encountered the Darknuts, Iron Knuckles and even the Phantoms. We already can speculate that there is likely to be an enemy that shares a common quality these three seem to have- heavy armor and hard-hitting attacks.

Firstly, we have the Darknuts. The very first armored foe encountered on the first Zelda game. Darknuts take on different forms, much like the Phantoms from Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks do. In The Legend of Zelda for the NES, we encounter a basic Blue and Red variation. In Twilight Princess for GameCube and Wii, we encounter two types as well, however the one pictured to the left is exclusively encountered in the Temple of Time and a more bulky variant in areas across the overworld.

In Wind Waker, for GameCube and Wii U, we encounter multiple variations which give us some insight into what could possibly be a ranking system.

The next armored foe we look at is the Iron Knuckle. This enemy first appeared in Oracle of Seasons as the main antagonist, Onox, but was not present as a standard enemy until Ocarina of Time where they appeared in the Spirit Temple as a mini-boss.

Though this was not the end of them, they made a minor appearance in Majora's Mask and can be found in the Ikana region of the overworld. Iron Knuckles are slow, as other heavily armored enemies are, but their lack of speed compensates for their insanely powerful attack. One swipe with their battle ax will knock three hearts off. And if you're unfortunate enough to get hammered by the vertical attack, then you lose a whopping six hearts. As for their defense, they can sponge most of Link's attacks for a while. Like Darknuts from Twilight Princess and onward, the more damage you land on an Iron Knuckle, means the less armor it will be left with and the faster it will become. Be wary of this.

Our final enemy we're looking at in this article is the infamous Phantom. These enigmatic foes first debuted in Phantom Hourglass on the Nintendo DS handheld. In Phantom Hourglass, Phantoms are portrayed as heavily armored beings who endlessly stalk the corridors of the Temple of the Ocean King, and will drain the Life Force of their victims, if caught. In Phantom Hourglass they come to us in three variations. A standard Phantom who walks at a decent rate and runs somewhat slowly, donning blue armor and a broadsword. A Phantom clad in red armor who can speed walk and run almost as fast as Link himself, who holds a Long-sword. And a phantom clad in golden armor who walks extremely slow, cannot run and wields a sickle. This variation is especially interesting since its ability to warp across the room compensates for it's slow movement.

In Spirit Tracks, also for the Nintendo DS, they make a brand new return and they are integrated into the story way more than their Phantom Hourglass counterparts. The variations of these phantoms come in four types, each holding a special skill. They are encountered in the Tower of Spirits. The first one you encounter is a very basic variation that wears gray armor. It can run and walk at a decent rate. The second variation only appears in darker rooms of the Tower. These phantoms wear red armor and wield a sword engulfed in fire, they are known as Torch Phantoms. The Third variant wears Blue armor and has a standard sized sword, they can warp across the map, like their precursor counterparts can.These are known as the Warp Phantoms.

The final Phantom variant we encounter is the Wrecker Phantom, which is clad in black armor and only attacks link by curling into a ball, and attempting to crush him. This variant sometimes will use it's sword to attack Link, should he come very close, but it is a very rare occurrence.

While each of the three types of armored foes showed above have the common goal for stopping Link, they do have their major differences and reasons for attacking. The Darknuts appear in many places and protect areas within dungeons that have high importance. The Iron Knuckles serve a similar purpose, though they only make very minor appearances in areas such as the Spirit Temple, Ganon's Tower, and a secret area within Ikana Castle. As for the Phantoms, they try to kill Link to protect the Temple of the Ocean King or because of evil corruption, as mentioned in Spirit Tracks.

Which of these foes do you believe would make it into Zelda U? Let us know in the comments!

Daily Debate: Should Nintendo Pursue a Legend of Zelda Netflix Series?

Link 2 — Thu, 07 May 2015 19:12:00 +0000

We were all blown away when The Wall Street Journal published a rumor that there was a Netflix series in development centered around the Zelda franchise. It wasn't long after when Iwata went on record as saying those rumors were not based on correct information.

While his statement has been interpreted different ways, there is no denying the untrue rumors gathered interest from TV fans all over the world. Should Nintendo pursue a Zelda Netflix series after all, even though they never planned to from the beginning?

Some would say yes. Other Netflix-exclusive shows such as Daredevil garnered much popularity and gained some pretty impressive revenue for the Marvel company. In fact, the show became so popular that it is now the second most pirated series on Netflix. We've seen the attention for Nintendo that was created by one small rumor, so how much attention would an actual bona fide announcement draw in?

However, there is always the danger of the series failing miserably. It could follow the path of the old Zelda animated series, which is only known today for its corny line, "well excuuuuse me, princess!" I trust Nintendo with my video games, but I'm not sure they're the greatest TV show producers.

I would rather they partner with corporations such as Marvel or Pixar. Knowning Nintendo, they would probably partner with... Sony. After all, Sony has wanted to make movies with Nintendo for a long time now.

Now it's time to hear your voice. Would you still like to see Nintendo release a Netflix-exclusive series in the kingdom of Hyrule, or are you against the idea? Maybe you would like Nintendo to release a Zelda-themed TV show instead that is accessible on regular TV than on Netflix. Whatever the case, share your thoughts by joining the Daily Debate below!

The Top 10 Zelda Games According to GamesBrained

Nathan — Sun, 03 May 2015 22:36:00 +0000

In the last few months we've covered a slew of videos by the YouTube channel GamesBrained. They have done a slew of interesting videos, including looking at the timeline and a look at rare Zelda games such as BS Zelda. The videos were so well made we even interviewed them, talking about channel itself and several other aspects of creating Zelda videos.

Today they presented there top 10 Zelda games, including some games you may have forgotten about. If you thought my top 10 was a bit unique, they take it to a whole new level. Check out the video above!

Listen: Dark World Theme Is Played On A Floppy Drive, 3D Printer, And Hard Drive

Cathron — Mon, 04 May 2015 03:54:00 +0000

Fan renditions of Zelda songs are nothing new. Zelda lovers have been making remixes and covers of their favorite songs for years, but one fan has released a cover of the Dark World theme that is a little different. What sets it apart are the instruments with which he chose to play the song.

YouTuber Laurens Weyn produced an entire version of the Dark World theme with a floppy disk drive, a 3D printer, and a hard drive. With a MIDI file, he gets the three pieces of hardware to come together and perform a piece of music.

In the Dark World theme cover, the hard drive seems to keep tempo while the floppy drive plays something akin to a base line, and the 3D printer performs the main melody. Together, the three instruments creature a very discernible tune. Any fan of A Link to the Past should recognize the song pretty quick.

Laurens Weyn has other videos on YouTube mostly relating to computer equipment and Minecraft. Weyn is from South Africa and has even created his own operating system called PIX-OS.

Koei Tecmo: Hyrule Warriors Sells Overs 1 Million Units, Game and DLC Still Selling More Today

Nathan — Mon, 04 May 2015 16:11:00 +0000

Hyrule Warriors has been a huge success for both Nintendo and Koei Tecmo. Not only has it joined the the short list for million sellers on the Wii U, it became arguably Koei Tecmo's best selling game over the last fiscal year. It's safe to say that the game was largely a huge success for both Dynasty Warrior fans and Zelda fans alike. What's even neater in all of this is that while we have the raw 1 million unit figure, in an interview with Famitsu Koei Tecmo admitted that the game is still selling today, both the game itself and the DLC. While this is nothing new for Nintendo games, it's unusual for many other developers and publishers.

I am just glad to see the longer trail of sales extend to Hyrule Warriors, as I have had hundreds of hours of fun with that game and still play it a couple times a week today. Are you glad this game has been a successful venture? Would you like to maybe see a Hyrule Warriors 2?

Source: NeoGAF, Famitsu

Daily Debate: What Was the Most Fulfilling Plot Moment in a Zelda Game, and Why?

RODTheMaster — Mon, 04 May 2015 20:04:00 +0000

Last week, we asked about your most disappointing plot moments in the Zelda series. Many of you expressed your disappointment with such things as Zant's character in Twilight Princess, missed romances in Skyward Sword, my knowledge of the Triforce, and much more. Today, however, we want to steer the conversation to more positive things and ask about your most fulfilling plot moments in the Zelda series.

Fulfillment in a game's plot can come from a variety of different things: a character's growth may conclude in an emotional way, a lingering question from games past may find resolution, or an event may call-back to a satisfying part of Zelda lore. For me, the most fulfilling moments in the series come when a game references the stories of previous titles. For example, I was very excited when Link travelled to Hyrule for the first time in Wind Waker. I was initially disappointed that the game abandoned the setting of Hyrule for the very different Great Sea, but eventually found myself overjoyed when Link was transported to the lost kingdom. The music and stain-glassed windows referencing the sages of Ocarina of Time were great touches too.

I was also fulfilled when Link explored the Temple of Time in Twilight Princess. Again, I found myself excited when the game referenced -- right down to the original music track -- the story and setting of Ocarina of Time. Allowing the player to revisit the temple in this way thus added significance and lore that were not seen originally.

What would you say is the most fulfilling plot moment in a Zelda game? What about this moment excited or satisfied you? Share your thoughts with us, and Join the Daily Debate!

Caption Contest 016: "A Vandalized Mailbox? This World Needs a Hero!"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 04 May 2015 21:05:00 +0000

Monday is here which means it's time for this week's Caption Contest. Last week, two Links collided and you all have won the internet again. As always, the five most popular captions in each category are being featured below. It's pretty much the same as every other week, but for those who may be new to the contest, post your captions in the comments below based on the image at the bottom of this post. This week, I made an exception for one entry who killed it in upvotes, so the rules are slightly bendable for something really great. Anyway, I feel like a challenge, so let's see what you can do with our hero dressed as the Postman. Give us your best and I will see you all next week!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

By: Cesar Rodriguez

By: Monkee-goro

By: Pokedude14

By: Pedro Vasconcelos

By: Yero

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Scootaluigi - Last night's Zelda VS in a nutshell.
Don The Mask! - both "You thinking what I'm thinking?....."
both "....Lets break some muthafukin pots"
Maso- "Hey! Hey! They told me you wouldn't be here!"
BCD - Toon Link: I know you have bugs...
Link: No, I know YOU have bugs!
Spongesonic - Link: "I don't like you!"
Toon: "I don't like you more!"
Link: "I never liked you!"
Toon: "I a thousand times never liked you!"

This week's photo:

Image Source: Miiverse

Hyrule Warriors: The Movie - "Act 1" by Zelda Universe

Nathan — Tue, 05 May 2015 00:22:00 +0000

Fellow Zelda fan site Zelda Universe has put together what they are calling a "movie" about Hyrule Warriors. What they have done is taken all of the cut-scenes and a few key moments in the gameplay and stringed them together for a cohesive viewing experience. Then then overlayed all the text from the various characters with voice acting. Some of the voice acting is done very well if I do say so myself, while personal preference tells me certain voices could be a better. Still, for a fan project of this scale of voice work, I'm pretty impressed overall.

This is merely act one, so we should expect at least one more video to be released this year. If this does nothing else, it really makes me want a real Zelda movie. What are your thoughts?

Cosplay of the Week: Princess Ruto by Lexi

Mases — Tue, 05 May 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Cosplay of the Week is back and this time 'round our chosen feature is a rather interesting Cosplay of our dearest Zora Princess: Ruto. Were you ever weirded out by how forward the young fishling was with our beloved hero? To be honest, I was slightly fearful of the costumes that might appear when searching for this weeks Cosplay of Ruto (I was worried we might all be scarred for life) but when I found Lexi's sweet Cosplay I was quite intrigued.

Lexi Gilbert is a Cosplayer based in the United Kingdom and all her costumes are extremely creative. I've fallen in love with her Ruto costume and I hope you all do too. You can see the effort put into this costume, I mean, not only she she go ahead and paint her body green, but she also spent her spare time making the costume herself. The material flows beautifully, and it's not "scaly" or flat coloured like I would expect from a Cosplay of the Zora Princess. You can check out her design process for this costume and what materials Lexi used by visiting her Facebook Page, along with many other Cosplays by this talented young lady. There are some images in the mini gallery below that show off the detail of this costume, and we'd love to hear what you guys think of it.

Lexi is not only on Facebook. You can find more of her work by visiting her Deviant Art profile and her website The Blue Girl.

Let us know what you think about this weeks Cosplay feature in the comments below, and don't forget to tag your own Cosplay's with #ZIcostume on Twitter so we can see them! Who would you like to see featured next?

Source: TheBlueGirl, Facebook and Deviant Art

Female Link Game Jam Had 20 Games Created, Vote for Winner Now!

Nathan — Tue, 05 May 2015 14:57:00 +0000

Back in March we informed you folks about the Female Link Game Jam that took place for an entire month (all of April). The goal of the Game Jam was simple - create a Zelda like game over the course of month that starred a female version of Link, or a female like Link character (it was alright to say, use Linkle in the form of Link's sister instead, as it carried the same general premise of a female character in the lead role of a Zelda styled game). The Game Jam came and went and it's only fair we inform you all that voting has now opened for the games created.

There are 20 games in all and yes, you can play every single one of them. Some of them are simple block 2D platformers styled after Zelda II, while others are full 3D adventures in places such as the Stock Pot Inn while others take a more classic approach and combine it with other franchises... such as the aptly named Hotline Hyrule. No matter what you think of the base premise of requiring a female character, the games themselves certainly seem extremely interesting and highly creative. Having played roughly 8 of the 20 games so far myself, I've been having a grand ol' time.

What are you waiting for? You can check out all the games and get cast your vote right here.

Majora's Mask Orchestral Arrangement Weaves Epic Tale

Mases — Tue, 05 May 2015 23:05:00 +0000

Albeit having a rather small following compared to many other artists featured on this site, Youtube user RebeccaETripp has a plethora of original music posted to her channel. Scattered throughout her repertoire are a few Zelda tributes including this Majora's Mask medley.

We've certainly seen our fair share of Zelda tributes, but this virtuoso stands out for her elegant subtleties interwoven into a cascade of memorable songs from the game including a few that often get overlooked. Taking a break from her usual bouts of Final Fantasy renditions seems to be paying off in her favor and we hope to see more from her in the future, so check out her beautiful relaxing soundscapes and be carried off to Termina once more.

Digital Foundry Gives In-Depth Performance Analysis of Wind Waker HD, Resolution and Frame-Rate Test

RODTheMaster — Tue, 05 May 2015 22:33:00 +0000

With HD remakes and remasters crowding the recent gaming market, Nintendo has continued to set their HD re-releases apart with significant enhancements to graphics and gameplay. One example of this fact was Wind Waker HD, which not only proved what Nintendo can do with an HD remake, but also what the Wii U was capable of technically. With this in mind, gaming group Digital Foundry recently put WWHD to the test, releasing an in-depth performance analysis of the game.

Digital Foundry offers in-depth technical analysis of various games and gaming hardware for Eurogamer. In their analysis of Wind Waker HD, the team first focuses on the enhancements the game made to the Gamecube original. Compared to the original, the 1080p Wind Waker HD makes improvements in "everything from lighting to textures" and makes use of "new lighting techniques and higher resolution texture work." Digital Foundry gives an in-depth explanation of the lighting methods the game utilizes, including real-time light sourcing, high dynamic range lighting, color depth, and global shadow maps. The analysis does a great job of explaining what these technical elements are and how they influence the game's graphical quality.

The team not only tests Wind Waker HD's graphics and resolution, but they also examine the remaster's frame rate. They explain that:

"...if this remaster has one problem, it's the frame-rate. While the majority of our time with the game produces a stable 30fps, as with the original, there are sequences where frame-rate drops are very noticeable. It's an issue that typically crops ups once a multitude of alpha effects are drawn, be it from your boat's cannon-fire, or when approaching certain islands. The impact of these dips is underscored by the fact Wind Waker HD's frame-rate is actually tied to its game speed, meaning 20fps lurches equate to slower, more sluggish gameplay. Such drops are, thankfully, momentary but do detract a bit from the game's polish - not a deal breaker by any means, but disappointing given the GameCube release runs free of any such problems."

While these moments of lower frame-rate are isolated to certain intensive game moments, they still show the Wii U's limitations in overall performance. Regardless of these limitations, Digital Foundry concludes that that "Wind Waker HD is still a success story and one of the better HD remasters on the market today" and proves what could be achieved with future Nintendo HD remakes.

What do you make of the analysis? What HD remakes should Nintendo develop in the future? Let us know!

Source: Digital Foundry (Eurogamer)

Enjoy Nintendo World’s A Link to the Past Graphic Novel Launch Event From Home With Fan Video

Ziondood — Thu, 07 May 2015 23:02:00 +0000

Fans anxiously waited outside the Nintendo World Store on May 1st to get their hands on the reissue of the A Link to the Past graphic novel before anyone else! For those of us that were unable to attend the event, we have YouTuber KirbyGCN17 to thank for a taste of the experience! He was kind enough to film a large part of the event so we can kick back and watch it all unfold from home.

Nintendo opened their doors with a slew of activities ranging from a Q & A with Viz Media’s Kevin Hamric, to playable Zelda game kiosks, to Red, Green, and Blue Potion inspired punch bowls! They were also handing out an exclusive poster to the first 1,000 attendees to purchase the book. Nerdache Cakes Bakery catered the event with hundreds of Triforce inspired cupcakes and even created a special 1:1 scale Master Sword cake for the event!

The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past graphic novel is now available for purchase through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at your local comic book store today!

Were you able to attend the event? Are you planning on picking up the graphic novel? Let us know in the comments below.

Explore the World of A Link to the Past From the Safety of Your Browser

TheGaspNinja — Thu, 07 May 2015 06:04:00 +0000

One of the most pleasing moments in any Zelda game is opening up a map you just received, and baring witness to the layout of the world you're about to dive into and explore. It gives us a sense of adventure, and prepares us for the long journey ahead. Once we've eventually finished the game, we can look back at the map with fond, or not so fond (I'm looking at you water temple), memories of areas we passed throughout our quest.

A certain installment in the The Legend of Zelda franchise literally dives us head-first into the game's map in the opening cutscene. Yes, I am indeed speaking of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Many a Zelda fan holds this game in such high regard, that they could even draw the game's map without having to look at a source image once. Some fans took it a step further though.

The great folks over at JADSDSEngine have created an HTML5 based live map of A Link to the Past's overworld, which can be viewed entirely in your browser. What makes the project so impressive though is that it's not only a complete map of the game's overworld, but that you can see enemies like chuchus or octorocks roaming around in their specific areas. The map was created using the aformentioned JADSDS Engine, which is "a friendly tag based JavaScript animator created [to] make easier web projects using the power of HTML5," and the project was made as an example of what someone could do with the engine.

The past week it's had a very large amount of traffic after a user named fonikz posted the website to Nintendo's subreddit. Following the large flock of people visiting the page, many had been unable to view the map in its entirety, but the website is now stable and the map can be viewed without any difficulties.

The full map can be viewed here. What do you think of the map? Would you like to see more of these creations? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: JADSDS

The Legend of Zelda Could be Coming to Universal Parks as Nintendo Partners for New Attractions

Nathan — Thu, 07 May 2015 14:42:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to go to a Nintendo theme park? That may now be a reality as Nintendo has partnered with Universal Parks and Resorts (yes, that same old Universal Studios folks). It is unclear if Universal would open a new Nintendo themed park or if they would simply expand upon the handful of parks they already have and add Nintendo sections to them. One thing is clear however - it's highly likely bits of Hyrule will be coming to life right before our eyes in the form of new merchandise at the parks, along with new themed rides and possibly even new eating areas (imagine eating in Hyrule Castle Market).

Of course, Mario is a shoe-in, but I would venture to guess that the Zelda series is right behind him, as it is their second most popular IP. Here is the official press release:

KYOTO, Japan and ORLANDO, Florida (May 7, 2015) – Nintendo and Universal Parks & Resorts today announced plans to bring the world of Nintendo to life at Universal theme parks – creating spectacular, dedicated experiences based on Nintendo’s wildly popular games, characters and worlds.
The agreement brings two icons of entertainment together and represents a significant partnership for Nintendo as it expands the reach and popularity of its characters and intellectual property.
Universal theme parks offer incredibly popular, innovative themed family entertainment experiences based on compelling stories and characters – using powerful storytelling and innovative technology. Nintendo has created remarkable and imaginative worlds filled with captivating stories and beloved characters. Now, for the first time, those stories and characters will be brought to life in entirely new ways – only at Universal theme parks.
The immersive experiences will include major attractions at Universal’s theme parks and will feature Nintendo’s most famous characters and games. More details will be announced in the future, as the Nintendo and Universal creative teams work to create specific concepts.

Source: PR Email

Majora's Mask 3D Has Sold More than 2 Million Copies, Nintendo Posts Profit Gain

Nathan — Thu, 07 May 2015 14:58:00 +0000

Nintendo released their yearly financial report and things are looking up for both Nintendo and Zelda fans. The only Zelda game reported with official figures being updated was Majora's Mask 3D. So we still don't have any officially updated figures for The Wind Waker HD or A Link Between Worlds, but chances are sales have slowed down on those titles dramatically. What we do know is that as of today, Majora's Mask 3D has sold 2.03 million units across the globe. The game is well on the way to beating out known sales figures for A Link Between Worlds and could even creep up to match Ocarina of Time 3D.

Speaking of excellent sales, Nintendo has posted their first total net gain since they began the overall losses two years ago. They net profit this past fiscal year was 41.8 billion yen (around 350 million) with a operating profit of 24.7 billion yen (around 207 million). These figures are actually higher than what many analysts expected, so it's safe to say Nintendo has had a huge bounce back year. They will likely remain profitable for the new fiscal year and maybe even the next, with the true risk coming again when new hardware is released. Of course, there are other areas to consider now, as Nintendo has yet to come to market with their first stage in the health market.

Nintendo is also investing in new theme park attractions, but in general those should show an overall net gain in their first year of existence.

Source: Nintendo

Up Close and Personal With Legend of Zelda Adventurer's Pouch Kit

megbethanyread — Thu, 07 May 2015 23:02:00 +0000

If you're searching for a new way to protect your 3DS handheld then look no further: the Adventurer's Pouch Kit may be the product for you! The awesome peripheral became available to pre-order from Gamestop back in March and now that it's officially been released, imgur user microcrash has provided images of the kit. Then again, that doesn't do much for those who live outside of the U.S. - such as myself!

The Adventurer's Pouch Kit includes a faux leather carry pouch, a Hyrule Map peel and stick cleaning cloth, and two styluses - one resembling the Master Sword and the other topped with the Hylian Shield. The pouch features the Triforce symbol and is embossed with the Hylian Crest and the The Legend of Zelda logo, and the interior has space for two game cards and two styluses. It also has a snap-on belt loop on the back so you can keep your handheld safe and secure on the go.

You can purchase the kit from Gamestop right now for $19.99, and with an average user rating of 7.3, what are you waiting for? Do be warned, however: it's only available for in-store pickup.

Photos of the Adventurer's Pouch Kit are available to view in the gallery below.

Source: imgur

Nintendo Lists Zelda U's Release Date as "To Be Determined"

Link 2 — Thu, 07 May 2015 21:26:00 +0000

It has been almost a year since the reveal trailer for Zelda U. During the end of last year, actual gameplay footage was shown last-minute to further whet our appetites for this highly-anticipated open world experience. It wasn't long ago that Eiji Aonuma specified that a 2015 release date for Zelda U was no longer the main goal, and that the game will not be shown during E3 2015.

It seems as if Nintendo is reluctant to commit to another release date for Zelda U, as the game's release date has now been updated from 2015 to "To Be Determined."

Could this be a sign that Zelda U still might be a 2015 release? Aonuma did not completely rule out a 2015 release, he just specified that it was no longer the main goal. However, some would say that Zelda U will most likely be delayed until next year for the sole purpose of the Zelda franchise's 30th anniversary.

What does Nintendo's updating the listing of Zelda U's release date mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo

Daily Debate: Fairies vs Red Potions: Which are better and why?

Paul Grzelak — Fri, 08 May 2015 18:08:00 +0000

They’ve had different names over the years and haven’t always functioned the same from game to game, but which heart-filling items do you prefer stuffing into your bottles: Fairies or Red Potions?

Some titles in the Zelda series have made this choice easier than others. Fairies in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask always revived Link with full hearts, and Skyward Sword’s Red Potions (called Heart Potions in that game) could be upgraded to carry two servings per bottle.

We’re also not blind to the fact that quite a few Zelda games have offered heart-replenishing alternatives to Fairies and Red Potions. Link has restored his hearts with bottled goodies including Blue Potions, Milk, Grandma’s Soup, and — when especially depraved — Bee Larva. It’s also worth noting that more recent Zelda games have nerfed Red Potions pretty hard, sometimes letting it restore no more than six of Link’s hearts.

However, for the sake of keeping this Daily Debate focused, we’re brushing all the above variables aside and presenting readers with essentially the choice in the infographic above.

So, if given the choice between...

Red Potions that cost some money, restore full health, and must be activated manually
Fairies that are available for free, restore between six and eight hearts, and are activated the moment Link loses all health

...which would you choose and why? Do you think one choice is better than the other, or does it all come down to personal preference?

Why not both?

Did Princess Zelda ever choose to both protect and destroy her kingdom? Would Hyrule ever be saved if Link decided to both save the land and sleep all day like a lazy bum?

I mean, picture this: Link is eluding a gang of darknuts, beat within an inch of his life, and he reaches into his pouch for what he believes to be a Red Potion to save himself. Instead, he ends up choking on a dainty little sprite that dies a horrible, suffocating death in the dark recesses of Link’s throat while Hyrule’s Hero is slain by servants of Evil.

Do you want that to happen?

Alright, if you are indecisive and the thought of taking a stance on an issue and proudly standing by it like a decent human being frightens you, you may attempt to make a coherent argument for why Link should sully his inventory with an unsightly combination of bottled goods instead of a tried-and-true uniform selection.

So, feel free to debate your decision (or indecision) in the comments below!

Symphony of the Goddesses Headed for Orlando

Mases — Fri, 08 May 2015 20:01:00 +0000

For the first time since 2012, The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses is scheduled to return to Orlando, Florida. On July 18, fans of the series will head to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to see the return of the highly-acclaimed performance series.

The third tour of the popular concert series is once again produced by Jason Michael Paul, whose previous works include two Final Fantasy tribute concerts and Play! A Video Game Symphony. The concert is arranged with a classical sense, tying everything up into a four-movement symphony that travels through the stories of several Zelda games, with accompanying visuals projected on a screen.

Past tours saw a massive turnout, and the Symphony of the Goddesses website even shows off several pictures of cosplayers that make it out to the concerts. One of the shows even featured Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin Williams, who was named after the beloved series.

Ticket prices have made a sizable jump, however, jumping from last tour's $40- $85 to $45- $125. Previous patrons of the symphony say they can't justify the price jump and won't attend this year, according to Knight News. Despite how some feel, tickets are selling quickly and you can purchase them here or at the venue itself.

How do you feel about the price increase? Is it justified due to demand, or just asking too much? Let us know what you think and whether you'll be attending down below!

Source: 1, 2, 3

ZI Interviews: Pushing Realism with Jared Potter, Director of The Skull Kid and Creatures of Hyrule

RODTheMaster — Mon, 11 May 2015 23:30:00 +0000

January 2015 brought us the release of a new Zelda live-action series called Creatures of Hyrule, featuring a blend of CG action, quirky humor, and arguably "the most accurate portrayal of Link in all fanfilm-dom." Series director Jared Potter of (Part One) /media is no stranger to Zelda webseries; producing the impressive short film The Skull Kid for Machinima in 2013, the filmmaker has continued to develop films that bring the Zelda world to life. We recently conducted an interview with Potter, discussing his projects, filmmaking, and live-action Zelda adaptations.

Zelda Informer: Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you first get into filmmaking?

Jared Potter: My love of filmmaking goes back almost as far as I can remember. Ever since I realized that I could put the images in my head onto the screen for people to watch, I've been hooked. Starting with short, stop-motion Lego videos at age 7, which then progressed into short videos starring all my friends and family, to more serious productions in high school, then onto film school and college, to where I am now, doing this professionally. I can't picture a time when I wasn't thinking of the next film project, or special effect I wanted to accomplish.

ZI: In 2013, you released The Skull Kid, a Zelda short film based on Majora's Mask. What initially inspired you to pursue this project? What were some of your goals and expectations for the film?

JP: That was something I had brewing in my mind for a long time. Running parallel with my love of filmmaking through the years was gaming (particularly The Legend of Zelda), and I was drawn to the idea of telling the tragic, untold stories of lesser-known characters; and which LoZ character is more tragic than Skull Kid? In the meantime, I wrote/directed/produced a short BioShock film titled New Year's End in 2012, which was picked up by Machinima. That led to the opportunity to make The Skull Kid for them.

I'd say the biggest goal, in my mind, was to make something that hadn't been seen before, in the realm of video game-based, live-action short films, namely Legend of Zelda shorts. I tried to not have many expectations since, at its core, The Skull Kid was a LoZ film that didn't star Zelda or Link, and the response could have been negative. But it exceeded any expectations I had, and it ended up in the top 3 most-liked videos released by Machinima that year.

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ZI: You released the first episode of the webseries Creatures of Hyrule in January of this year. How would you best describe this new series? Were you excited to revisit Zelda in your work? How are you handling this project as compared to The Skull Kid?

JP: have to give a shout out to my actor from the series Caleb Weathers who is, in my opinion, the most accurate looking Link in any live-action short film out there. The inspiration for the series really came from having him available to do more, and all of us wanting to see more. Creatures of Hyrule is a chance for us, as a production team, and the YouTube audience to see some more exciting LoZ action, humor, and hopefully some nostalgic moments all packaged up in 2-3 minute episodes. As a huge fan myself, I was very excited to return to this world. We've gotten so much enjoyment from making the series, and that's really what it's all about.

Machinima brought to The Skull Kid massive resources – funding, crew support, networking, and a huge audience. Creatures of Hyrule has almost none of that. The episodes were filmed with no budget whatsoever, and completely crewed by volunteers. It doesn't mean that we don't have a great time making them; it just means I have to wear more hats, as the content creator.

ZI: You write, direct, edit, perform sound work, and do the visual effects for Creatures of Hyrule. How do you manage all of these different roles?

JP: I have to hold myself to a deadline; otherwise I will be tweaking and fine-tuning the episodes forever. Being the writer/director/producer/editor/vfx artist/etc usually brings me to a place of extreme perfectionism, which can lead to a standstill. So, I will typically announce a “release date” way before the short film is even finished; that way I can hold myself accountable. I do enjoy every aspect of the process, but certainly cherish those times when I find artists that I can collaborate with.

ZI: The visual effects are some of Creatures of Hyrule's most defining features. Can you describe your visual effects process? What software and other technical equipment do you use?

JP: I'm a self-taught VFX artist, so I don't always take the most conventional route to getting the image I want. It usually comes down to finding the balance between believability and aesthetic quality, and I'll use whatever method I need to get there. In the most recent episode, for example, we didn't have enough time to choreograph a sword fight, so I ended up with lots of footage of Caleb swinging his sword into the air at nothing. From there, I had to construct what will be seen in the final image, as if it was planned all along. Slowly (very slowly) all the pieces come together and the final scene makes sense.

I typically start with a character sculpt in Zbrush, then move everything over to Autodesk Maya for rigging, animation, lighting, rendering, and then finally off to After Effects for compositing. There are some other programs I use occasionally but those are the work horses.

ZI: What would you say is the biggest challenge in adapting The Legend of Zelda to a live-action series? Were there any specific situations you encountered while producing the series?

JP: I think the biggest challenge is how the characters are handled. They've been developed, and refined, over the past 30 years into the characters we all know and love so much, and they work very well in the medium they live in. Link's silence works very well in the games, and I think it works well in short-form live-action films. None of my three current Zelda films have any dialogue, and I think that's an essential aspect to making them work, in that form. But how would that translate to a longer adaptation? I think it's a very thin line to walk.

I did struggle with the first few versions of The Skull Kid script, because I was trying to introduce dialogue, and it mostly felt very unnatural. As soon as I dropped it, the script worked, and that's when we got the green light from Machinima to make the film. Then of course there was the design. Translating LoZ character design into live-action is always a challenge. I pushed everything into as much realism as I could, which I think was successful in the end.

ZI: What has the fan reaction to Creatures of Hyrule been like? Is there any feedback you've taken into account for future installments or projects?

JP: The fan reactions have been phenomenal! I didn't expect the amount of support and encouraging words that we've gotten from everyone, and I am so thankful for that. It's the icing on the cake really. I'm such a big LoZ fan, so it's the highest praise coming from fellow fans of the games that we really did a good job. I read, and try to comment, on every piece of feedback associated with our series.

There have been many great suggestions for additional episodes, and some that we may actually attempt someday. There have also been some really great pieces of constructive criticism that I'll be taking with me into whatever project comes up, whether it's Zelda related or not. Aside from being something I'm very proud of, this series is a constant learning experience, and I'll always be open to learning from the audience.

ZI: Can we expect future episodes of Creatures of Hyrule? If so, what should fans be excited for in those episodes? What other projects do you have planned for the future?

JP: We don't have anything shot, as of right now, but I do have some ideas for another couple episodes. I would really love to do some kind of “boss battle” episode, where Link squares off with a big temple boss; something much larger in scope than what we've done before and possibly in the realm of Twilight Princess. In the end, it all comes down to time and money, since we are funding and completing these shorts entirely on our own.

At the moment I am in preproduction on a new short film (live-action, video game based, but not Zelda), which is going to be a massive undertaking for my team, but I think will be very enjoyable, since it has never been done before. I haven't talked publicly about it yet, so this is me keeping myself accountable. It will be released on my channel, and we're all very excited about it!

ZI: There have been rumors recently about Nintendo adapting their IP's in television and film. What would your ideal Zelda film look like?

JP: I think it's a very interesting idea, and I hope Nintendo finds the right team to adapt their material, if it's actually going to happen. My only hope would be that it retains the same strange humor and sense of fun that the games have. I think that reducing it to “Game of Thrones for the family,” as the Netflix rumors had been circulating, is the easy way out. The Legend of Zelda has its own very unique world that has been established for a long time, and it doesn't have to strive to be anything else. I would love to see all the same creative directors and artists who are involved with making the games be involved with any film or TV adaptation.

ZI: Are there any final thoughts you'd like to share with the fans?

JP: I'd like to finish by thanking everyone who has supported my team and my self throughout the making of these short films, and those sharing in the enjoyment with us all around the world. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next, and getting the chance to connect with more people as we continue making films, and growing our audience. You're all the best! Stick around for the next adventure.

We at Zelda Informer would like to thank Jared Potter for taking the time to talk to us about his impressive work. You can check out Creatures of Hyrule on Potter's YouTube Channel, along with some behind-the-scenes content and the filmmaker's other projects. You can also see Potter's other work on his website, Facebook, and Vimeo.

The Skull Kid behind-the-scenes photos credited to Sherie Suter.

11 Helpful Link's Awakening Hints From imgur User ThatGameDude

AboardTheBebop — Fri, 08 May 2015 13:46:00 +0000

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a series staple in my house, and it saddens me that it is often forgotten about when people start talking about the best Zelda title. While the dungeons may not be the most complicated, it still offers a fun set of puzzles and quirky Nintendo references strewn about. Luckily, it still stands as a diamond in the rough for some fans, including one imgur user who has dropped a few tips for the game, complete with images. If you have played the game before, go back and try these useful tidbits out for yourself. If you haven't, you can now be ready to play it like a pro. Everything from the make-shift bomb arrows to the special ending is detailed below.

What do you think of these fun tips and tricks? Have you played Link's Awakening? If not, I highly encourage you to download a copy from the 3DS eShop for $5.99.

Source: imgur

11 Helpful Link's Awakening Hints

AboardTheBebop — Fri, 08 May 2015 15:35:00 +0000

What do you think of these fun tips and tricks? Have you played Link's Awakening? If not, I highly encourage you to download a copy from the 3DS eShop for $5.99.

Source: imgur

Come Watch a Special Splatoon Live Stream with the ZI Staff Tonight: 10-11pm CT

Nathan — Fri, 08 May 2015 18:01:00 +0000

Tonight I'll be live streaming Splatoon over on our twitch channel. It will be a one hour stream since that is the time Nintendo has allotted us to play. Time allowing, we may continue the stream tomorrow as well during the hours assigned by Nintendo. The goal? To have fun! Anyone can play online during that hour tonight and who knows, we may even run into some matches against Nintendo staff! We're looking forward to some crazy, zany fun tonight! Since this is a special stream with a limited time frame, the stream itself will just have me talking over the full game on the screen, instead of a fancy camera action and some sweet text and logos.

We really want you to get the full Splatoon experience form our perspective, rather than getting a bunch of flashy stuff that really serves no purpose for this sort of stream. Join us tonight, as we get locked and loaded!

Photoshop Contest: Modernize the NES Zeldas

RODTheMaster — Fri, 08 May 2015 22:50:00 +0000

It's Friday once again, and that means ZI's weekly Photoshop Contest is upon us! This week we're going to remaster and revitalize the classic Zelda titles of the NES with the magic of image manipulation, as if you haven't had enough of Zelda remakes already. Of course, that fun won't get in our way of first celebrating the ultimate winners last week's contest: Zelda Superhero Team-Up.

Last Week's Contest:

With Avengers: Age of Ultron fresh in our collective minds, we put the amazing artists of our community to the task of assembling a team of Zelda superhero crime-fighters. Comic king Stan Lee would have no problem thinking up exciting alliterations to describe the number of excessively exciting entries we saw last week. Believe me, there were just too many great ones to include here, so head over to last week's contest page to see them all.

Best Submissions

Artist: HylianOfGondor

Artist: Link

Artist: RewYnd

Artist: KittyWhiskers51

Challenge Mode

As Hylian Ticipated held the Challenge Mode crown for the last three weeks, the emergence of a fresh new challenger was highly anticipated. Luckily, not one but two artists accepted the challenge to feature Link in four different Avengers costumes. Artist RewYnd submitted the ultra creative Four Swords "Link-Vengers" team soon after the contest went live, and artist DeNapes submitted a dramatic look at Link superheroes mid-conflict hours before the deadline. While it was an extremely close contest, ZI's staff has decided to award this week to DeNapes. Congratulations! I can't wait to see these two sensational artists go head-to-head in a future contest.

This Week's Contest: Modernize the NES Zeldas

There's obviously been a lot of talk of Zelda remakes in the last few weeks. Majora's Mask 3D is still fresh in our minds, some fans have recently looked back at Wind Waker HD, and rumors have surfaced about a possible Twilight Princess remaster. While it's all well and good to revisit these relatively newer Zelda games, I believe it's time for us to bring the NES Zelda titles into the modern era. I know you all love Zelda II, right?

The contest this week is to take a scene from either NES Zelda title (The Legend of Zelda or Zelda II: The Adventure of Link) and modernize it to fit in with more recent games in the series. You can use assets from A Link Between Worlds to pretty up these games, or translate the NES classics into 3D using assets from games like Skyward Sword. Whatever you decide to go with, you're free to use our images in the gallery below and whatever else on the internet from there.

General Rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Photoshop is not required to enter the contest. Any image manipulation software can be used to create your entry.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on May 13. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that who want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have a few Challenge Rules for you to follow:

1. Your entry must reimagine a boss from Zelda II.

2. Your entry must feature the Duck Hunt dog.

Good luck!

ZI Podcast 35: Meeting Toon Link In Real Life, The Most Replayable Zelda Title, And Why FF7 Sucks

Acohen95 — Sat, 09 May 2015 09:58:00 +0000

This week, we discuss the possibility of a Nintendo theme park, which title in the zelda series is the most re-playable, and what RPG elements the series could embrace. Plenty of fan topics, and good discussion all around, despite the audio issues, make this episode fantastic and definitely worth a listen. Your cast for this week is Adam (Embracing the pig inside), Jake (Thinks Konami smells), Jeff (We promise he’s not a robot), Sarah (Her pictures make Adam cry), and Tom (His music videos make Adam cry). There’s a healthy amount of debate in this episode, as well as a discussion on Nintendo’s Creators Program and more on the Hero’s Spirit theory.

Thank you to everyone who emailed in topics for this week’s episode, as well as Brandon for our awesome opening theme song, and Jeesh for that fantastic outro we use each week! If you have any of your own podcast topics, questions, theme songs, or art, please send those to us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com.

Also, if you want art, our podcast host (That’s me, Adam) recently opened up commissions! Check out the link below to see some of my better work and my prices. This banner was done rather quickly, so the quality of it is lower than what you would expect from something commissioned. I will also give you a loving shoutout on the podcast if you do reach out to me about commissions. Also, be sure to take part in our podcast survey by clicking here!

P.S. #EmbraceThePigInside and #TyForGirl

Social Media

Ocarina of Time Any% Speedrun Record Broken Again by a 17 Year Old

Nathan — Sat, 09 May 2015 18:28:00 +0000

Be warned, there is some some foul language in the video.

Ocarina of Time is not only considered one of the best games of all time, it's also one of the single most popular games in the speed running community. The record has been set many times over the last handful of years, but when Cosmos set a run of 18:10, it was virtually deemed impossible to beat. He held that record for nearly 8 months before a new glitch (yes, new glitches are still be discovered) enabled a sub 18 minute run, first completed by Jodenstone.

Skater82297, a 17 year old boy (or, is he a man now?), just set the record to 17:47. His next goal is to go below 17:40. In the video above, he stays mostly silent during the run, keeping his intense focus. He begins to breath very heavily when facing off against Ganon, because two prior runs when he was ahead, he actually died during the fight - and in this run he is literally a hit away from dying yet again. Once he completes the world record run, he breaks down emotionally in fits of joy. He may be just 17, but the amount of precision, execution, and time it takes to complete such a record is mind numbing.

Of course, many you may still cry foul that this is a glitch run and thus, invalid. Keep in mind there are many different speed running categories, including runs that don't allow glitches. In fact, the last 100% Glitchless run record was set back in march of this year, and a glitchless run (just beating the game, not a 100%) was done in back in April. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for other non Any% records set in the future - as I honestly feel all should get equal recognition.

The Legend of Zelda 2016 Wall Calendar Open for Pre-Orders

blaqkbird — Sun, 10 May 2015 20:50:00 +0000

Is your wall looking pretty bare? Looking for a new addition to your Zelda collection? Well look no further! The 2016 wall calendar for the Legend of Zelda series is now available for pre-order and will be releasing August 11, 2015. The calendar features Link on its cover, with some of your favorite characters from the Zelda series for each - Tingle included, of course!

As if the promise of having Tingle on your wall wasn't enticing enough, just read this description of the calendar straight from Amazon:

Dive into 2016 with an action-packed trip through the fantastical world of Hyrule. Featuring our hero, Link, in his never-ending quest to save Princess Zelda from the evil Ganon, this brightly colored 16-month calendar features images from one of Nintendo’s all-time bestselling games.

The calendar is available on Amazon, with a retail price of $14.99. At the time of this posting, the listing price for the pre-order is $12.33. Check out the beautiful images in the gallery below, and let us know in the comments what you think!

Source: Amazon

Nintendo is Considering Going Region Free with the NX

Nathan — Sun, 10 May 2015 15:53:00 +0000

During a Q and A session, Mr. Iwata stated pretty openly that they are looking at making the NX system become region free. This is huge news for all fans of Nintendo, but especially for Zelda fans. With Nintendo deciding to expand their IPs even more, there is a high chance of more Zelda side games, including ones that aren't released word wide such as the Tingle series. With a region free system, that would allow gamers to import those games if they really want to play it without having to also buy a second system for that specific region. You can also see how this is a huge benefit to gamers in countries who want to play Zelda games, but it's very expensive or very hard to get their hands on a Nintendo system.

"Removing region-locking from current game machines presents various issues, so we don't consider that to be very realistic. However, regarding NX, given the customer feedback and proposals from the market, while nothing has been decided yet, we're currently investigating internally what problems there would be in realizing it. You can think of that as the current situation. I understand your desire, so I'd like to look at it optimistically going forward."

We can only hope this ends up happening. Nintendo has talked about going region free in the past, so hopefully they take this request seriously before they release the new hardware.

Source: GoNintendo

Creating Pure Eyecandy: An Interview With VaduAmka, Creator of Awe-Inspiring Custom Consoles

TheGaspNinja — Sun, 10 May 2015 21:39:00 +0000

We've all seen it. Even if you're only slightly involved in anything related to gaming, you'll have come across at least one custom console or controller on the internet. Strangely, these amazingly detailed objects always seem so distant, because you know you'll probably never make one yourself, or you're never going to commision or even see one of these amazing works. Often the only thing we as fans can do is stare at our screens in awe, or leave a comment praising the artist for the incredible work they've done.

Back in March, while visiting one of Belgium's otaku and geek conventions called 'Made in Asia,' I got the chance to see several works by graphic designer and creator of custom consoles, Vadu Amka. We've covered her work before, and it was an amazing experience to see two of the Zelda related consoles she has made over the past years in all their glory. After asking, I found out that Kate, the artist, was present herself, and I was lucky enough to ask her a couple questions about her history, work process, and the console mods she has created. Keep in mind that everything has been translated from French, meaning some details might have gotten lost in translation. The full interview can be viewed below.

When and why did you start making custom consoles?

VaduAmka: Well, primarily I am a graphic designer and have also studied graphic design, but I first started making console modifications back in 2012. Before starting with consoles though, I experimented with some normal objects, like a steampunk themed iPod Touch case. One of the first consoles I made was actually a very simple Zelda related N64. The very first console modification I did was for a friend. I had seen other people's work on the internet, and wanted to try my hand at creating something along those lines. I enjoyed it so much, that I kept on going!

How do you generally make them?

VA: It's a very long process. First I get contacted by a client, who commisions a certain theme which is mostly related a certain video game or series. I then ask what their favorite moment in the game or series was, and center my console around that moment. I start out by sketching out several designs roughly, then narrowing down which designs suit the system better and move on to sketching them in more detail. Throughout the entire process I stay in constant contact with the client, asking for feedback and approval. Once the planning and sketching is done, I ask the client to specify a texture and colour. In the meantime I look for a broken version of the console of choice, which I repair later on. Once all that is done, I can move on to actually customising the console's exterior, using resin, acrylic paints, and resin epoxy among other items. Whatever serves the purpose of what I'm making. Once all the exterior work is done, I use UV laque as a finishing coat. Most of my expertise comes from the twelve years experience I have in arts.

How do you choose which console to modify?

VA: The client mostly chooses which console I work on, but sometimes I decide to make a console for myself or a friend. The themes aren't always game related though, I've made a The Walking Dead themed Xbox 360 and a Ghostbusters themed Sega Master System II.

Moving on to Zelda, are you personally fan of the franchise? Is it your favorite video game franchise?

VA: Not really (laughs), I'm a big Final Fantasy fan, but the Zelda themed consoles are certainly the most popular if not the most requested. I think it's mostly because there are a lot of possibilities with The Legend of Zelda, and because it has such a large following. The Wind Waker themed Gamecube was a lot of fun to do though, and I do like the challenge.

What's your next project or what are you working on now?

VA: My most recent project (at the time) is a Half-Life themed Dreamcast, which is exclusive to Made in Asia. My next project is Gameboy themed around Super Mario Land, which you can look forward to soon!

There you go! Not the longest interview, but still quite an interesting one. Be sure to check out all of her amazing console modifications here. Also, be sure to check out her latest console, which is another amazing Nintendo 64 based on Ocarina of Time! Loads of images of her Zelda projects can be found in the gallery below.

For more VaduAmka:

Caption Contest 017: "Forget Home-Runs, He's Going To Clear The Field!"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 11 May 2015 17:00:00 +0000

It's Caption Contest Monday again, so here we go. Last week was...interesting. I thought that Link being dressed as a postman would garner captions about, you know, Link being a postman. And while some of you did succeed in creating something witty from that, many of you focused on one of the other "aspects" found within the photo. I underestimated you, ZI fans. I will say this: I appreciate many of you being creative enough to say what you want to say and still warrant that PG rating, just like the Disney cartoons of old. I'm curious how many of you will get that joke. Regardless, I have presented those of you who received the most upvotes below. Congratulations to this week's winners. This week, let's take a look back at Link's latest new handheld adventure and one of the more interesting mini-games found in a Zelda title. Good luck and I'll see you all next week!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

By: Freakinthesheik

By: Monkee-goro

By: Hylain Ticipated

By: Mykel Dion

By: Nejnoj

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

POWER - "How am I supposed to mail that?"
Yero - Zelda: "Sometimes I like to try new things."
Link: "Message received."
Art1st4786 - "Remind me to fire my agent."
Hannah Coombs - After the events of Twilight Princess, Link decided to look for a career change, perhaps something that requires less clothing...
Hylianola - "My little flag is raised, so come check the male."
"Do he got a duty? HE DOOOO!"

This week's photo:

Gerudo Valley Kazoo Cover is Just as Amazing as You'd Expect

Jyaxen88 — Mon, 11 May 2015 16:30:00 +0000

The Gerudo Valley theme is perhaps one of the most popular themes from Ocarina of Time, and for good reason. The unique rhythmic groove, along with the epic setting it evokes, has kept it relevant in everything from symphonic arrangements, to soothing guitar covers. To some extent, it seems like it'd be particularly difficult to capture the epic nature of the piece on something as subdued as say, a kazoo. Enter Tsuko G. of Kazoo'd.

Known for video game music (VGM) arrangements and covers on kazoo, Tsuko G. has tackled everything from Super Mario Sunshine, to Super Smash Bros, to Xenoblade Chronicles, to Shovel Knight. This particular cover of Gerudo Valley actually marks his entrance into Zelda covers - and what an entrance it is.

With six kazoo parts, two clapping parts, and one percussion part to provide some momentum, this really is a full-fledged take on the legendary piece. And while the unique tone of kazoos may be a hit-or-miss with some listeners, there is no denying that Tsuko's cover captures the infectious energy of the tune, both through his tight performance and his engaged demeanor.

Tsuko G. is always taking requests for his next "Kazoo'd!" piece, so in addition to sharing your thoughts with us here, make sure to leave a comment or two on his YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter account, or make your support hear on his Patreon. Additionally, if you just have to have some kazoo tunes on the go, you can download his music from Loudr. What Zelda tune would you like to hear Kazoo'd next?

You Can Now Play as Link in League of Legends

Nathan — Mon, 11 May 2015 16:34:00 +0000

Yes, you can now play as your favorite Hero in League of Legends - or should I say, you've been able to play as him since last summer, but very few were actually aware of it. Technically, you're playing as a reskin of Garen, but he is the closets character in the game to moves that LInk himself actually performs. We can still pretend it's Link, right? I mean, he does certainly look the part! The reskin was created by Baecker Skins and can be downloaded for free right here. As you can see in the video above, there were some custom animations added to this reskin, such as the spin attack.

I have a couple friends who are really into League, so I may have to show them this mod. Of course, such modifications can't be used in the competitive environment overall, but they are still fun to play around with locally.

Daily Debate: How Should a Zelda Theme Park Attraction Work?

RODTheMaster — Mon, 11 May 2015 20:20:00 +0000

Last week, Nintendo announced a partnership with Universal that will bring its biggest game franchises to Universal theme parks. While this is certainly huge news, Nintendo didn't offer any specific information other than that attractions will feature its "popular games, characters, and worlds." The Legend of Zelda is obviously one of those "widely popular games," so it's not hard to imagine that a Zelda attraction will eventually come to be. With that in mind, we want to know what type of attraction would work best for the world of Zelda.

I expect many fans to suggest a Zelda rollercoaster. While I think a rollercoaster set to iconic Zelda music could definitely work with the excitement and thrills of the games, I have another suggestion. As a fan of dark rides like those seen in Disney parks, I think The Legend of Zelda work best in that kind of theme park environment. For those unaware, dark rides like Pirates of the Caribbean guide attendees through a series of scenes that tell a loose story. Through lighting, sound, and animatronics, dark rides are designed to show riders exactly what they need for a dramatic experience.

Unlike rollercoasters, dark rides are less focused on speed and thrills, and more on senses of discovery and wonder. Discovery and wonder are exactly what The Legend of Zelda are built upon! A dark ride that guides riders through the plot of a Zelda game, presenting major events and epic vistas as it moves along, would work amazingly. Perhaps the ride could even lead riders through a dungeon or two; the ride could hold some bursts fast-paced excitement for a fight or boss segment. If more virtual screens and simulated 3D movements were incorporated, the ride could even offer a different dungeon or experience every time you ride (such as Disney's Star Tours). In my opinion, the speed of F-Zero is best suited for a rollercoaster and the adventure of Zelda is best suited for a dark ride.

How do you think a Zelda theme park attraction should work? Should Zelda be incorporated into a rollercoaster or dark ride? What other attraction possibilities are there? Let us know in the comments, and Join the Daily Debate!

A Closer Look at Viz's Reprint of the Nintendo Power A Link To The Past Comic

AboardTheBebop — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:00:00 +0000

I can't count the number of times I've stated that my favorite game in the Zelda series is A Link to the Past. While some of that passion for the game is tied to a personal history, I still believe that the game stands as one of the greatest experiences in gaming history. So, when Viz decided to release the Nintendo Power comic featuring A Link to the Past, I was ecstatic. Well, our friend, Derrick, over at GameXplain has uploaded a video showing off the reprint. Check out the embedded video above to get a glimpse into the magic.

I love this story, and to see it fleshed out in comic form is...when I come up with a description bigger than "mind-blowingly incredible" I'll let you know. It is worth noting that, just like in the Zelda manga series, Link does talk in this story. So for those of you who are skeptical about giving Link a voice, I urge you to check this out and see if it changes your mind. The panels of the comic also provide a somewhat comical approach to our hero. You can check out the video to get a better understanding of the artistic style, but I love the idea that a young Link doesn't see giant monsters and say, "Okay, here we go." He's terrified, and it's hilarious. If you want to get a general idea, search YouTube for "The Real Legend of Zelda". Trust me, it's worth it.

I am really excited to snag myself a copy of this comic. But, now it's time for you to let us know what you think. Are you interested in grabbing one for yourself? What do you think of the comic book form of The Legend of Zelda? Do you think this shows promise for a movie or TV show where Link does talk and does have a personality? Let us know in the comments below!

Nintendo Announces European Release Dates for Ganondorf Amiibo and More

AboardTheBebop — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:32:00 +0000

Nintendo officially announced the release dates for several amiibo in Europe via their Twitter this morning. It is worth noting that the Europe and North America release dates are vastly different and does not denote release dates, or even release order, of these amiibo in North America. Ganondorf, Dark Pit, Palutena, and Zero Suit Samus release on June, 26 while Dr. Mario, Bowser Jr., and Capt. Olimar release on July, 17. So for those of our fans in Europe, make sure you get ready to pick them up at release. We here in North America will have to just continue to play the F5 war.

Are you excited for the release of these amiibo? Which ones are you still waiting for? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Twitter

Get a Closer Look at Majora's Mask Light from Club Nintendo

RODTheMaster — Tue, 12 May 2015 23:33:00 +0000

Last month, we reported that a nifty Majora's Mask light was announced as a Club Nintendo reward for European fans. While some were excited about this physical item hitting the soon-to-close Club Nintendo, others were skeptical of the light's quality. For those hoping to get a closer look at this Majora's Mask light in action, Pug Hoof Gaming on YouTube has released a full unboxing video for the reward.

The Majora's Mask light is approximately 12cm tall by 12cm wide, emitting an orange glow when switched on. As Pug Hoof Gaming points out, the light itself is a bit small, but still proves itself as a really cool item when the eyes start to glow. Club Nintendo hadn't shown off the light in action, so seeing it lit up in the video was quite a treat.

The reward is currently available at Club Nintendo EU for 6,000 stars. Club Nintendo is set to close in June, so I recommend you cash in soon if you'd like to get your hands on this Majora's Mask light. There is still no word as to if the light will be available in other regions like North America. For now, I'll just have to continue feeling envious that European fans get all the awesome physical rewards.

USAopoly™ to Release New Collectable Majora's Mask Jigsaw Puzzle

megbethanyread — Thu, 14 May 2015 03:39:00 +0000

One aspect of any Zelda game that we are all familiar with is the frustration and confusion that goes hand in hand with trying to solve an arduous puzzle. You can sink hours and hours into trying to find a solution with no luck. Now, what if the challenge was incorporated into real life?

USAopoly™, having released two Zelda puzzles previously, are set to release a new Majora's Mask-themed 550 piece jigsaw puzzle according to EB Games. The 18" x 24" puzzle features Skull Kid, Majora's Mask's most elusive villain, and is perfect for any Zelda fan seeking out a challenge.

This new puzzle is available to pre-order from EB Games for $11.99 and is set to release on May 31st. Whilst you're waiting, why not check out USAopoly's array of other Zelda things?

Source: EB Games

Moving A Link to the Past Cover Brings Your Adventure to a Close

AboardTheBebop — Thu, 14 May 2015 17:15:00 +0000

To many of us, the music in the Zelda series plays a huge part in our overall experience. In regards to this particular video, I feel our own Jeff Edelstein said it best:

The end of any Zelda adventure is a moment of mixed emotions. Many may feel enthralled to have finally overcome the challenges of a game well played; others will be saddened to see their adventures in Hyrule come to a close. No matter what the sentiment, however, a reflection on one's experience is bound to take place, often set to the relaxing melody of a closing theme.

YouTube musicians 8bitbrigadier and ThunderScott6267 came together to cover the end credits for A Link to the Past. I've always felt that end credits are just as, if not more vital, than the opening credits and I love seeing these brought to life in a beautiful form. I personally love that it instills a calm, serene sense of peace after the darkness has vanished while simultaneously marching to a triumphant fanfare of victory. This is just another example of the incredible works of Koji Kondo expertly performed by fans of the series.

What is your favorite song from The Legend of Zelda? What other songs would you like to hear get a classical and instrumental rendition? Let us know in the comments below.

Relax With This Soothing Island In The Sky Theme Cover

Cathron — Wed, 13 May 2015 01:39:00 +0000

YouTube guitarist Isac Saleh covers a wide variety of video game music, and now he's released his own version of the "Island in the Sky" theme from Skyward Sword. It's the perfect song to... listen to... and fall... asleep.

The song is peaceful and serene, just like the actual tune from Skyward Sword. Saleh strums his guitar creating two and a half minutes of Zelda bliss. It's because of tunes like the "Island in the Sky" theme that fans remember there is more to Zelda games than saving Hyrule. At the heart of every game is a rich land that has its own quiet moments for the player to enjoy. Link may be a hero, but remember he starts out more than a few of the games by sleeping.

Saleh lives in Sweden and has plenty of other video game medleys played on acoustic guitar on his YouTube channel. He also covers music from anime and film. In addition to performing his favorite video game tunes on guitar, Salah also produces arrangements of his music that can be downloaded from a link in the description in each of his videos.

For more information about Saleh, fans can view his Twitter profile.

What do you think of this Skyward Sword song cover? Let us know in the comments below!

Club Nintendo Cuts Price of Fierce Deity Puzzle, Majora's Mask Bag, More

Jyaxen88 — Tue, 12 May 2015 23:47:00 +0000

Update: The Majora's Mask Messenger Bag appears to be sold out.

As most Club Nintendo fans know, the long-standing customer loyalty and rewards program is on its way out this summer, making the way for a new one that will debut later this year. As part of the closure of the program, Nintendo added tons of downloadable games, and a sizable number of physical rewards, including a jigsaw puzzle featuring Fierce Deity Link and the Moon Children, a Majora's Mask Messenger bag, and a Legend of Zelda themed 3DS XL carrying case.

As was the norm with physical rewards, most of these were rather pricey, but with the end of the program in sight, Nintendo has seen fit to reduce their costs - or even cut them in half, in the case of the 3DS XL pouch and the jigsaw puzzle. While there's no way to earn more coins at this point, this price reduction should help those who still have coins left over to find a suitable way to use their remaining coins before Club Nintendo comes to a close on June 30th.

At the time of this writing, all the above rewards are still in stock, and the Club Nintendo website does not appear to be experiencing heavy traffic of any sort, so make sure to order your rewards while they're still around! And in case you need a reminder, images of each of the Zelda items are included in the gallery below. Will any of you be taking advantage of the price reductions? Which item will you be getting? Share with us below.

Source: Club Nintendo

Hey, Listen: These Navi Nilla Pops Will Make Your Mouth Water

Link 2 — Wed, 13 May 2015 01:18:00 +0000

Popular YouTuber Rosanna Pansino recently decided to create some Zelda-themed goodies for our viewing pleasure on her cooking show, Nerdy Nummies.

Pansino shows us step-by-step how these Navi Nilla Pops are made. Phase 1 is creating Navi's wings, which can be quite difficult. To help with this process, Rosanna has uploaded a nifty template that you can put under the preparatory wax paper to act as a guide. This template can be downloaded here, and it can be viewed in the image gallery below.

She had also given us a list of everything you will need to make these delicious treats, and provided links for convenient online ordering! Surprisingly, there are only five ingredients needed.

The end result is a mouth-watering Zelda treat that is sure to satisfy the appetite of any gamer. Plus, food always seems to taste better when you make it yourself. Even if you're too lazy to cook, be sure to watch Rosanna make them herself in the video above!

More Rosanna Pansino

Daily Debate: Could a Zelda RTS Work?

Jyaxen88 — Wed, 13 May 2015 00:13:00 +0000

While an action adventure series at its core, The Legend of Zelda has both experimented with other genres of gameplay, and incorporated elements form them. From Zelda II's "adventure" RPG, to The Wind Waker's open-world, these "borrowed" features make each Zelda game stand out from the rest, and add to their memorability. It would, however, be interesting to see a Zelda title that is fully enveloped within another genre, even if not a main series entry.

Although not a canon title, Hyrule Warriors gave us a taste a what Zelda could feel like if we allow ourselves to be taken out of our comfort zone - and a lot of people certainly bought into it. And while it does burden its fair share of criticisms, it did allow us to experience Zelda in a brand new way with features ranging from multiple playable characters, to cooperative play. It can't be ignored, however, that the mental challenges of a typical Zelda title were absent, and contributed significantly to Hyrule Warriors' fringe-worthy status on the spectrum of Zelda games. Nevertheless, this doesn't close the door to a Zelda spinoff that retains the puzzling elements of the main series.

While not explicitly puzzle based, real time strategy (RTS) titles elicit a great deal of thought in players, testing them to determine the right sequence of moves to assure a solid victory over there opponents. And, unlike many of the brainteasers in typical Zelda titles, they can be approached with more freedom, as series such as Fire Emblem have proven. Perhaps a Fire Emblem x Legend of Zelda title should be next in line after Fire Emblem x Shin Megami Tensei?

I'd love to see a Zelda title that maintains the story elements of Hyrule Warriors, but in based in RTS gameplay, but there's no guaranteed this would be quite the match I envision. RTS titles are rarely (if ever) known for their exploration, and what's the fun of Zelda title without finding that hidden treasure every once in while? What are your thoughts on the matter? Could a Zelda RTS work? Join the Daily Debate!

Nintendo Will Be Announcing Their E3 Plans Tomorrow: Will There be Zelda Content?

Link 2 — Wed, 13 May 2015 01:51:00 +0000

Earlier today, Nintendo of America announced on Twitter that they will be revealing their E3 2015 schedule tomorrow, May 13, at 9 AM PT.

Included in the Tweet was a hooded man who appears to be training alongside some gym equipment. The picture is quite fitting, as Nintendo captioned the picture with, "Who’s training for E3?"

After Eiji Aonuma's announcement that Zelda U will not be at E3 2015, I published a two-part editorial (Part 1, Part 2) theorizing about what I think Nintendo could be announcing Zelda-wise for this year's E3. I listed a number of possibilities, such as Twilight Princess HD, another spin-off title such as Hyrule Warriors 2, and a Zelda mobile game. While Nintendo has stated they will not be showing off their plans for mobile games during this year's E3, the other two options haven't yet been discredited.

The last option I listed was simply that there will be no Zelda content at all at E3. It's sad, but it is a very real possibility. Do you think that this could be the case? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below.

Nintendo Digital Event on June 16th, Nintendo World Championships 2015, and More!

Nathan — Wed, 13 May 2015 16:41:00 +0000

Nintendo released a video announcing their E3 plans today, just like they did last year with Reggie Fils-a-mech. This year featured Reggie himself heavily again, but they changed up the format to unveil something I feel like no one expected. Sure, they announced another Nintendo Digital Event on June 16th at 9 am PT, and yeah they are doing more Nintendo Treehouse live stream - all par for the course and expected. They even announced another Best Buy limited time demo opportunity, this time for Mario Maker. You know what wasn't expected? The return of the Nintendo World Championships. Yes, for the first time in 25 years, they have officially returned.

Qualifying rounds begin on the 30th of this month, but they haven't released full details yet. They are teaming up with Best Buy for the qualifiers, so stay tuned. Be sure to watch the video above for some good laughs. If nothing else, stick around for the ending as it is totally worth it.

Are ReDeads Actually Undead Creatures? YouTube's Extra Info Strives to Find Out

RODTheMaster — Thu, 14 May 2015 00:23:00 +0000

ReDeads are without a doubt some of the most menacing monsters in the Zelda series. Occupying the darkest crevices of Hyrule, these zombie-like creatures look and behave like animated corpses. Nintendo has offered contradicting facts about ReDeads' undead status, with sources unclear if they are the "living dead" or "clay monsters." YouTuber MasaeAnela recently sifted through the facts in her Extra Info series, arguing that these unsettling creatures truly are the dead brought to life by Ganon.

While many first assumed that ReDeads were undead, trophy descriptions for these monsters in Super Smash Bros. games assert that they are "magic animated into hideous humanoid shapes" and "clay monsters in the shape of humans." MasaeAnela did not agree with these descriptions and set out to uncover all the evidence to the contrary seen in Zelda games. Pointing out key clues in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, she makes a good case that the ReDeads seen in these games were once living humans.

MasaeAnela also digs deep into the Nintendo Power guide for Ocarina of Time to prove her case. The guide supports the fact that ReDeads are "decomposing" undead creatures and not merely magic fashioned to look undead. Using the guide and many quotes from the games, I'd say the YouTuber makes a pretty good case for ReDeads' undead fate. Perhaps these monsters were once living people brought back to life by Ganondorf's evil designs.

Whether or not you agree with this conclusion, the video still brings to light many contradictory facts about the monsters spread across Zelda and Nintendo media.

What is your stance on the issue? Are ReDeads actually undead zombies or men brought back to life by magic? Or are they merely magical beasts that resemble a decomposing figure? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Kotaku Compiles a List of Mario and Zelda Easter Eggs

Link 2 — Thu, 14 May 2015 01:58:00 +0000

The most widely recognized Nintendo characters usually hail from the Mario and Zelda franchises, so it just makes sense that they would cross over sometime. Most everyone knows that Link is now a playable character in Mario Kart 8, but did you know that Easter eggs tying these two video game giants together have been present since their very first games?

The most mind-blowing Easter egg to me was that a total of 10 Mario enemies can be found in Link's Awakening, including fan-favorite Mario boss Wart from Super Mario Bros. 2. That is an example of a Mario Easter egg in a Zelda game, but what about a Zelda Easter egg in a Mario game? One of my favorites was that in Super Paper Mario for the Wii, the first boss references all the way back to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link by dropping the famous, "I AM ERROR," line.

Be sure to check out Kotaku's full list here, because there are many more mind-blowing crossovers where those came from! Do you think Nintendo will keep planting these little Easter eggs in both the franchises' future installments, or will they stop because they feel it takes away from the games' authenticity somehow? More importantly, why does Link's Mario hat in the image above have an "L" on it? Feel free to discuss your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Kotaku

Daily Debate: Does Linear Gameplay Have a Place in Zelda?

Jyaxen88 — Thu, 14 May 2015 16:34:00 +0000

Zelda fans have their fair share of complaints when it comes to their least favorite titles in the series, not smallest among them being their spite for gameplay lacking in flexibility. Most likely cited by longtime fans, this limitation of sorts strikes a nerve due to its almost directly contradictory nature to a core aspect what early titles in the series: freedom of choice in exploration. As such, these players may feel pigeonholed, or unnecessarily guided when a Zelda game continuously presses them a single direction during their quest, allowing little room to breathe and enjoy secondary aspects of the game with ease.

While this is a perfectly valid concern, and one that Eiji Aonuma himself has explicitly mentioned as a consideration in the development of new titles, it would be presumptuous to assume that linearity has no place at all in Zelda games. Part of staying relevant in gaming is the understanding that games must appeal to a wide variety of consumers, often of extremely varied levels of experience and skill. A complete lack of any linearity whatsoever can lead to frustration, for example, if neophyte players find themselves stumbling into a dungeon they are not yet able to challenge. Little good this will do for the Zelda series if it hopes to bring in new players.

That being said, there are significant differences between linear and guided gameplay. The former sacrifices the player's freedom of choice, creating an "on-rails" gaming experience of sorts, but the latter can be much more than that. Giving advice to a player, or making it possible for them to obtain hints during their experience, accomplishes the goal of making gameplay approachable while not alienating veteran players who want a greater degree of autonomy and agency while playing. One of the best examples of this is in existing entries exists in the form of companions, providing helpful reminders so one doesn't lose their way if they choose to adventure off the beaten path for a while.

Having released A Link Between Worlds and Skyward Sword one after another, Nintendo seems to be trying to find that sweet spot between linearity and unrestrained freedom. Unfortunately, until we know more about Zelda U, we can't say whether or not they've found it, or rediscovered it, so to speak. For the time being, we'll hope that future Zelda titles are able to successfully appeal to myriad gamers, across all levels of experience. What say you? Does linear gameplay have a place in Zelda? Join the Daily Debate!

Relive the Excitement with an Acoustic Cover of the Twilight Princess Reveal Theme

Ziondood — Fri, 15 May 2015 18:44:00 +0000

72HoursRemaining, a musical duo on YouTube, is well known for their acoustic guitar covers of Zelda songs. With over 30 videos published, they've tackled a wide range of Zelda’s discography. In their latest video they've arranged their own acoustic rendition of the theme used in the E3 2005 trailer for Twilight Princess, titled "Don't Want You No More".

In the description of their video, the two give a brief history of the song and even go into the finer points of how they covered the piece, explaining which tuning they played in and what chords they played. If you're a skilled guitar player you could even try it out for yourself! They also decided to ditch guitar picks entirely to go for a more classic, fingerstyle approach.

To listen to more of their arrangements, or suggest new songs for them to cover, check out their YouTube channel here!

Did you enjoy their arrangement? Is there a song you want them to cover next? Let us know in the comments below!

Takara Releasing 4 Hyrule Warriors Figures, Featuring Link, Ganondorf, Zelda, and Lana

Nathan — Fri, 15 May 2015 18:04:00 +0000

A company called Takara in Japan has opened pre-orders 4 new Hyrule Warriors figures for a relatively cheap price. It features 4 of the most prominent characters in the game. The full set runs for just $17.09 through Ebay, but as they say you get what you pay for. These appear to be a big step up from the figures found in gacha balls, but a clear step back from amiibo. As you can see in the image below, these figures are not necessarily the greatest looking ones out there. Still, I may buy one just so I can get Lana. I just don't see an amiibo of her happening at all.

Buy them here.

Bolero of Fire Music Video Brings Life to Death Mountain

AboardTheBebop — Fri, 15 May 2015 22:05:00 +0000

Zelda inspired music seems to be more common week than usual here at Zelda Informer, but I honestly can't complain. Music is such a central part of the series and I love seeing fans' passion for Koji Kondo's masterpieces echo throughout my day. A few months ago (and we're sorry we just found this), STL Ocarina created a beautiful music video to the performance of Bolero of Fire from Ocarina of Time. Being a percussionist when I was growing up and playing Ocarina of Time, Bolero of Fire quickly became my favorite Warp Song. The driving force of the snare marching the tune along was enough to get me pumped about plunging into the depths of Death Mountain Crater and the Fire Temple.

This rendition replaces the harp with a violin and the snare with a piano and it works beautifully in resonance with ocarina performance. What do you think of it? What was your favorite warp song from Ocarina of Time? Let us know in the comments below.

Dawn of the Third Day Extended Music Video

AboardTheBebop — Fri, 15 May 2015 22:54:00 +0000

Earlier this week, a YouTuber under the name of NateWantsToBattle uploaded a throwback to his music video "Dawn of the Third Day", which debuted early last year. The video is honestly nothing more than a seamless loop of the original for nearly 28 minutes, but that hasn't stopped me from listening to it for the last few hours. I have a 30 minute commute to work and back, so I crank it up and by the time it's over, so is my drive. It makes my life super easy since my stereo system no longer works. The lyrics are very creative and the references to the Zelda series are quite entertaining.

All of that aside, if you need some solid background music that's relaxing while still holding an exciting rhythm, I urge you to add this one to your playlist. Got to do some household chores? Are you are just scrolling facebook and the room is too quiet? Maybe you actually play guitar and want to impress your Zelda-loving girlfriend/boyfriend; put this up and you have a chance to run through it 10 times without having to hit replay for practice.

While you're at it, check out the rest of Nate's music. He creates some really great songs that may bring a nostalgic tear to any nerd's eye. What do you think of the song? Let us know in the comments below.

The Era of Creation and Sky

HyruleHero3D — Sat, 16 May 2015 00:04:00 +0000

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Photoshop Contest: Zelda Theme Park Attraction

RODTheMaster — Sat, 16 May 2015 01:35:00 +0000

Come one, come all! It is time again for Zelda Informer's weekly Photoshop Contest! Nintendo dropped some news recently that they were entering a "long-term alliance" with Universal Studios theme parks, with Zelda attractions possibly on the way. This week we'll be engineering our own theme park attractions based on The Legend of Zelda, as well as announcing the winners of last week's contest: Modernize the NES Zeldas.

Last Week's Contest:

The rules for last week were certainly high-concept, asking you all to take scenes from classic NES Zelda games and translate them into present-day gaming. As challenging as the concept may have been, we saw many awesome and creative entries that put Zelda I and Zelda II onto current-gen tech.

All the entries were great, but these select few completely updated the blocky sprites of the NES (and by the deadline). After seeing the winners here, I still encourage you to check out the entries that barely missed the cut on last week's page.

Best Submissions

Artist: HaaYaaSkaa

Artist: James "Jei" Evans

Artist: monkee-goro

Artist: Darre Gamezz MudkiepzArronnsfe

Challenge Mode

I'm so happy to see Zelda II get all this attention! The Challenge Mode rules for last week asked artists to not only modernize the NES Zeldas, but reimagine a boss from Zelda II and include the Duck Hunt Dog for good measure. We had some really great submissions, but this week's Challenge Mode goes to Travis. I don't think a modern Horsehead boss fight would look any other way; of course he'd look like a cross between Kratos and an apocalypse horse. Of course.

This Week's Contest: Zelda Theme Park Attraction

Nintendo and Universal Studios have entered a "long-term alliance." As part of this alliance, Universal Parks will develop "dedicated experiences based on Nintendo's wildly popular games, characters, and worlds," (whatever that means). I am certain that Universal will someday utilize The Legend of Zelda in one of these "experiences," but for now the possibilities are endlesss. Some of you even shared your suggestions in Monday's Daily Debate.

Your mission this week is to create one of these experiences; you need to develop a Legend of Zelda theme park attraction. This attraction can take shape as many different options: a Zelda rollercoaster, a Zelda darkride, an Epona horse ranch, a Tingle-themed restaurant, etc. Just be sure it expresses the child-like excitement we all feel when we go to an amusement park. You rollercoaster tycoons can use the images in the gallery below to get started or use anything else from the internet to shop your photos.

General Rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Photoshop is not required to enter the contest. Any image manipulation software can be used to create your entry.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on May 20. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that who want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have a few Challenge Rules for you to follow:

1. Your entry must feature a Universal Studios character.

2. Your entry must incorporate the most up-voted comment fom Monday's Daily Debate (at the time of writing); Rodolink suggested "a place with thousands of pots to break with fake swords!"

Good luck!

Toe-Tapping Zelda II Town Theme Flute Trio

Link 2 — Sat, 16 May 2015 01:23:00 +0000

Straight out of the 2D world of Zelda II, InstrumentManiac brings us a cover of the toe-tapping Town Theme. You may notice that there is only one person playing, so why is it called a flute trio? It is because InstrumentManiac is playing all three flutes at the same time, due to the magic of recording and overlapping.

He recorded himself playing the flute three different times at the exact same speed, and put the three clips together. I know I wouldn't have the patience to do that! It must have taken a long time to get the speed just right for each one.

Along with the serene sound of three flutes, InstrumentManiac uses other instruments such as a drum and a tambourine. Overall, this is a very pleasant and peaceful tune to listen to. It's also entertaining to watch all the instruments being played at once.

Do you find this cover of the Zelda II Town Theme to be relaxing? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

VentureBeat Describes History of Symphony of the Goddesses, Explores the Symphony-Planning Process

RODTheMaster — Sat, 16 May 2015 16:23:00 +0000

"The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses - Master Quest" has continued its run throughout Europe and North America over the last few months. With each performance that takes place, we hear about the amazing experiences the symphony offers from many satisfied fans. But exactly what goes into making this symphony event a reality? News site VentureBeat recently chronicled the history of "Symphony of the Goddesses" and the extensive planning process just one show needs to go through.

The article describes the surprising beginnings of "The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses." The Zelda concert idea actually stems from symphony producer Jason Michael Paul's work on a Final Fantasy symphony project called "Dear Friends." Paul continued working on video game shows from there, which eventually led him to The Legend of Zelda 25th anniversary show.

VentureBeat describes in the article the planning process of the "Symphony of the Goddess" show in Toronto. Six months before the concert was set to take place, symphony directors began hiring their musicians. As one would be expected, some the musicians are video game fans, adding to the credibility of the event. One musician describes how the orchestra prepares for the Zelda music heard in the concert:

"'The musicians did not see the entire score, but we were given MP3 recordings of each piece to practice with to get a sense of how it all fits together,' cellist Chris Sharpe said. 'It’s not typical to get recordings provided, but musicians are resourceful at finding recordings of unfamiliar pieces to practice with.' ('YouTube is a great resource,' [associate director of operations for the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Andrew] Mellanby said.)
Sharpe said he looked over the music without his cello at first, to get a sense of how hard it would be to play and the style. Next up was a quick practice, looking at tempo markings and the tricky bits where he’d need to spend the most time honing his performance."

I would love to know what some of those "tricky bits" are in the Zelda compositions.

Surprisingly, musicians only went through one rehearsal; according to the symphony composer, the musicians are often able to "sight-read their music with no preparation whatsoever." The article describes how even in this brief time to rehearse, the musicians also spent their time practicing Star Wars music for an event the following night.

The last section of the article describes the symphony event from the audience's perspective:

"You saw no suits and evening wear; instead, it was more like a game con, with cosplayers, people in Zelda-themed shirts and jackets and tattoos, and hordes of fans clutching their 3DSes and favorite plastic Zelda clamshells from several generations of Nintendo consoles."

The sights and happenings described in this section are rather representative of all "Symphony of the Goddesses" events. Hopefully by reading of what took place Toronto, you'll find yourself excited to see a Zelda symphony as well.

"The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses - Master Quest" will continue touring throughout 2015. You can check out a full schedule of shows right here.

Source: VentureBeat

5 Reasons Why the Zelda U Delay is a Good Thing

AboardTheBebop — Sat, 16 May 2015 17:14:00 +0000

Everyone knows that Zelda U has been delayed outside of a 2015 release and will not be at E3 this year. So to quell the silence of news about the game, many fans are coming up with new theories in an attempt to defend the delay. This is the internet so there are some negative opinions, but many are tying to take a positive outlook on the situation. The people at Zoomin TV Games on YouTube have come up with 5 reasons why Zelda U being delayed is a good thing. Check out the video above to get some insight on why they believe the delay can only aid in the production of the game.

Do you agree with their views? Are you relieved that the game has been delayed to improve it or do you feel that the wait has been long enough already? Do you anticipate that the Wii U will not see a true Zelda title and the game will be pushed onto the "NX"? Let us know in the comments below.

Affordable and Customizable Triforce Necklaces Fit For Any Gender

Link 2 — Sun, 17 May 2015 00:54:00 +0000

Update: These necklaces are all sold out, but the seller plans to have more in stock in a couple of weeks.

If you're like me, you want everyone you meet to know that you are a Zelda fan. One of the best ways to do that is by sporting an accessory that bears an iconic symbol or object that is commonly associated with the Zelda franchise. The one that is most widely known is the Triforce, because hey, it's in almost every game. If you're in the market for something along those lines, look no further!

Recently, an affordable Triforce necklace by BilingualBunny has surfaced on popular craft website Etsy. It sells for $12.99 USD (before shipping) here, and it ships worldwide out of Utah.

The beauty of it is, you can customize your Triforce necklace so it's personal to you. You can choose the color of the Triforce, as well as the material that it hangs from. Your choices for the Triforce are:

Bronze
Silver
Black

Your choices for what it hangs from are:

Leather Suede
Tulle Ribbon
Waxed Leather Cord
Bronze Chain
Silver Chain
Black Ball Chain
Silver Ball Chain

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to order myself one of these necklaces. I'm going with the bronze Triforce and the bronze chain. Are you buying one? If you are, let us know what combinations you might pick in the comments below.

Source: Etsy

ZI Podcast Ep 36: Zelda II vs The World, Animated Zelda Series, and Crowdfunding 101, ft. RicePirate

Acohen95 — Sat, 16 May 2015 17:45:00 +0000

Also available for download via iTunes or Direct Download

In episode 36 of the podcast, we talk with one of Adam’s longstanding idols about some of the burning questions in the Zelda community: What makes Zelda II so terrible? Can you properly mod a Zelda game? And what exactly IS the Nintendo World Championship? This week’s podcast crew seeks these answers and more. But first, your team for this week is Adam, your host as always (Better in post); Caleb, the babe (This was his favorite episode); Jeff, CE Supreme (Making people mad, as always), and our special guest, Mick (SassPirate Mick, check out his new Metal Band EP this fall)!

In addition to the topics mentioned in this week's episode title, we discuss Zelda lore, virtual reality, and RicePirate shares some news fresh from the mysterious cabin (also known ans Sleepy Cabin: Seriously, check it out)! We also have a healthy sized interview with Mick about his work, growing up, and the quality of the content that’s being made online these days, rounding out the discussion by asking Mick what he would do if he was in charge of an Animated Legend of Zelda Reboot. Thanks so much to Aaron and Darrin (rhymes~!) for your fan topics and Brandon for your awesome theme song.

If you have any of your own topics, theme song submissions, theories, or gaming topics, please send those to us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com! We're more than happy to answer most any questions (keep it safe for the kids, people!) and feature fan work, so don't be shy!

ALSO please help us improve the show by filling out this survey about the podcast and what you'd like to see in the future. Additionally, if you enjoy our podcast, please consider subscribing to it or rating it on iTunes! Thanks for all your support!

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Fan Theory: Majora And The Fierce Deity Are Terminian Counterparts to Demise and Link

HyruleHero3D — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:50:00 +0000

Majora's Mask is one of the most popular games in the franchise without a doubt, but a darker aspect would be the origins of Majora's Mask and the Fierce Diety Mask. For those of us who have played the game, we do know that within each mask a spirit has been sealed inside. YouTuber VortexxyGaming believes that Majora and the Fierce Deity were the Terminian counterparts to Demise and Link. Vortexxy also believes that Termina is one of Hylia's creations and goes on to say that before Majora and the Fierce Deity destroyed each other, she sealed them both within a mask to seal away Majora's evil and to preserve the power of the Fierce Deity.

However, she explains that in order for Hylia to do that, she would have given up her mortal form and only leave behind her divinity and immortality, which would eventually end up taking on the form of a spiritual being with no physical form, which we know as the Goddess of Time. She explains that this new Goddess of Time could only silently watch as all the events unfold, but is also able to appear in multiple timelines due to her ability to influence time.

If you'd like to see the whole theory, check out the video at the top. What do you think of this theory? Sound off in the comments!

Ladies Man Link Episode 2: The Smolder

Nathan — Sun, 17 May 2015 21:04:00 +0000

Today we bring you our second episode in our new exclusive web comic series, courtesy series creator Ink Rose. Last time Link tried to win Zelda's heart with his smooth pick up lines... but ended up getting smacked. This week he takes a totally new approach! Will it work?

Daily Debate: Which Zelda Game Best Lived Up to the Hype?

Nathan — Sun, 17 May 2015 21:19:00 +0000

Hype is an interesting concept for Zelda fans. At the core, it simply means were really excited for whatever Zelda game is coming in the future. It can also mean our expectations for the game are too high and it becomes nearly impossible to live up the expectations. Twilight Princess is arguably the most hyped Zelda game to date from the moment it was unveiled in 2004. We've referenced the reveal video several times and by now I am sure most of the internet has seen it. If you are one of the rare who haven't, it's worth checking out even if you didn't like Twilight Princess.

However, did the game live up the high expectations it had before it came out? That's the debate for today as we look back at all of the build up to every Zelda game ever released. There were certainly games that exceeded the hype - it's safe to say many of the classics fall into that category, such as A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, and even Ocarina of Time - but what about the games that got a lot of hype right away. Did they live up to that hype? Did they underwhelm? More importantly - which game best lived up the hype?

Obviously there could be a lot of variance in the response to this. Hype is something that is hard to measure and how excited you got for a game before it came out may be very different than say, how excited I got. Your expectations prerelease and say, the next commenter's could be drastically at different ends of the spectrum. Personally, despite playing Zelda games 25+ years ago, I think the two titles (because I can't choose one) that best represented and lived up to the hype was Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds. I was part of the hype train for both of these games (and really, every Zelda game since 1998) and my expectations and hype levels were pretty high for both. For Skyward Sword, I was really excited about the prospect of motion combat. Personally, the game really delivered in that regard.

For A Link Between Worlds, I was looking forward to revisiting the world of A Link to the Past with a fresh eye, while looking forward to how they planned to mix up the formula. The game really hit on these for me. Neither game blew me away by exceeding my hype, but it was certainly a very close match between what was released and what I expected to get. Which Zelda game best represented your hype levels after release?

Evolution of Fairies in Zelda: Every Single Fairy in the Series

Nathan — Sun, 17 May 2015 22:22:00 +0000

Fairies have been part of the Zelda series since the game was first released in Japan back in 1986. They have appeared not only in the 17 main games in the series, but plenty of side games, such as Hyrule Warriors, the Tingle series, and the CD-i games. They even made an appearance in the official Zelda cartoon series and naturally the manga. Fairies are probably just as prevalent in nearly every title as Link himself is. MasterOfHyrule has put together a new video featuring every single interation of the fairy from 1986's original title release through Hyrule Warriors.

It's really neat seeing how fairies have evolved over time and all the various iterations of them. Cosplay by Rachel Nycole.

Exploring Zelda's Future: The Child Era

Tpaul Homdrom — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:40:00 +0000

Author’s Note: This is not focused on the upcoming Zelda U. It’s looking primarily at the future of the franchise beyond Zelda U, in terms of what may come after it.

Why only look at those eras, and not the Unified Timeline from Skyward Sword to Ocarina of Time? That’s because the Zelda series hasn’t done much to move the timeline forward. The two most recent entries in the series – Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds – served as a prequel to the entire series and a sequel to an SNES game, respectively. While they expanded on the lore of the series in different ways, I think it’s time to move the timeline forward and explore the future of the three different eras brought about by the events of Ocarina of Time. Today, it's time to look at the Child Era.

Setting the Stage

The Child Era includes Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, and Four Swords Adventures. These three games offer some very interesting possibilities for what is to come in the future of Zelda, and each game is remarkably different in story, structure, and gameplay.

What stands out to me the most in this era are the villains. We are introduced to two new villains: Majora's Mask (a villain in its own right, even if most of the game it was possessing Skull Kid) and Zant. We also see the return of Vaati, and the first – and so far only – reincarnation of Ganondorf. That’s right, every other game in the Zelda series with Ganon or Ganondorf as the villain has been featuring the exact same character. Weird, huh?

This section in Hyrule Historia concludes like so:

I don’t know about you, but to me, that small passage is loaded with intriguing implications for the future of the Zelda series in the Child Era.

Whatever Doesn’t Kill You Makes You… Stranger

Majora’s Mask introduced a concept that has yet to be explored in any other Zelda game: parallel worlds.

Different from Koholint, Holodrum, Labrynna, and New Hyrule, Termina isn’t a continent or distant land, but an entirely separate world in a whole different universe from Hyrule. Termina serves as an eerie counterpart to Hyrule, similar yet different.

Link sees many of the same faces as in Hyrule, but they belong to different people, have different lives, different stories to tell. The same races are present – Goron, Zora, Deku – but these are also very different from what Link experienced in Hyrule.

Majora’s Mask also took this opportunity to present a completely different experience, one that delved into dark themes, dealt with the end of the world and normal people’s reactions to it. Speaking of those normal people, much of the game is focused on side quests, on helping out ordinary people, so much so that the game feels incomplete if you play it solely for the main narrative.

What would another Zelda in a parallel world be like? I could see it flipping Zelda veterans’ expectations upside down, much like Majora’s Mask did. Maybe there are less dungeons than normal, or even no dungeons at all. Perhaps the gameplay is less about adventure or action, and is more of a mystery (Professor Layton X Legend of Zelda, anyone?). Maybe the entire gameplay genre is changed, to a platformer or beat-em-up or visual novel or rogue-like.

There’s also the opportunity to see the familiar characters, races, areas, and icons flipped completely on their heads. The Triforce could be an evil weapon that needs to be destroyed, the Zoras or Gorons could be the dominant race of the world, heck Kaepora Gaebora could be reimagined as an evil tyrant who serves as the final boss of the game (a guy can dream, right?).

The opportunity for a Zelda game to be completely crazy, zany, and twisted, juxtaposing familiar elements in unfamiliar ways, and even jumping ship to a different genre entirely is incredibly enticing. It would be a strange game, hopefully even stranger than Majora’s Mask, offering Zelda fans something completely new, exciting, and unexpected.

A World Less Traveled

Twilight Princess introduced Zelda fans to a whole new world, and not one that was shining, shimmering, or splendid. Instead, it was the Twilight Realm, and, well…

We honestly don’t see much of it.

The only step Link takes into the actual Twilight Realm is near the end of the game when he has to storm the Palace of Twilight to finally defeat Zant once and for all. And while he meets a few Twili (the native inhabitants of the Twilight Realm), they’re practically mute, offering very little information on their world or culture.

One thing it makes me wonder is, how did Midna and Zant get so much personality? Every other Twili we meet barely says a word, nor shows much of any personality or emotion in their body language. Zelda games do a great job at world-building, but not when it comes to the Twilight Realm and the Twili.

Hyrule Historia offers little else, aside from calling the Twilight Realm a “beautiful place, enveloped in the calm of a falling dusk,” and describing the Twili as “gentle, pure-hearted creatures.”

Not much to go on, which is why a future game exploring the Twilight Realm in detail would be so fascinating. Even with Midna shattering the Mirror of Twilight at the end of Twilight Princess, that isn’t final. There are always other ways to get there, and if some form of crisis arose, blurring the lines between the Light World and Twilight Realm once again, the opportunity for world-building and proper interacting with the Twili should not be missed.

Villainous Allegiance

The bookending quote of this era says “the evil sorcerer Vaati had become caught up in the cycle of Ganondorf the Thief.”

This intrigues me so much because it offers a possibility of a future Zelda title where two of the biggest, baddest villains of Zelda history team up to take over the world. And with a new, reincarnated Ganondorf, there’s an exciting clean slate on which to write a new personality, new powers, new motivations for the classic villain.

The Minish Cap gave a vast level of insight into the backstory of the villainous wind sorcerer Vaati. Outside of that game, he’s mostly just been a big blob of premium-grade final boss material. But imagine pairing Vaati in his humanoid, talkative, scheming form with Ganondorf the King of Thieves (wait… that title belongs to Aladdin’s dad...). Talk about a dual shock (sorry, Playstation) of cunning villainy and incredible power. Speaking of power, who would hold the Triforce of Power between the two?.

Personally, I fervently hope that the quote from Hyrule Historia isn’t just flavor text, but a true sign of things to come. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love seeing Ganondorf and Vaati team up in a big way. And think of the final boss fight! It’s the stuff dreams are made of. It may even see the return of the Four Sword, as one Link alone may not be enough to conquer his two greatest villains.

There’s also the possibility of the Gerudo coming back, which I’ve longed for ever since Ocarina of Time. Sure, they appeared in the parallel Termina, and pirates are always cool, but being purely antagonists (you can’t befriend them like in Ocarina of Time) just lessened the excitement for me. And their appearance in Four Swords Adventures, while different, was far too brief.

So, let’s see the Gerudo come back, please?

Conclusion

There are some very exciting possibilities for a game continuing the Child Era of the Zelda timeline. From parallel worlds to villainous team-ups to a proper look at a beloved section of Zelda lore, there’s a lot of opportunity for world-building.

Not just world-building, but true game-changing possibilities. I don’t know about you, but I get truly excited thinking about what could come in the future of Zelda.

I’ll be back soon (really, it’s not going to be a month-long gap this time, I promise!) with a look at the Adult Era of the Zelda timeline, and what a new Zelda game continuing that era could look like. Until then, let me know in the comments below what type of game and scenario you envision for a Zelda game continuing the timeline beyond Four Swords Adventures.

Exploring Zelda's Future: The Era of Decline

"Clock Town Carnival" image by giz-art
Banner art by marcobaruco
Professor Layton-Zelda image by swordxdolphin
Gerudo image by Nonro

Caption Contest 018: "Staring Off In Worry As We Wait For the ZVS Winner"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 18 May 2015 17:50:00 +0000

Welcome back to another Caption Contest Monday! Last week, Link came up to bat in the A Link Between Worlds baseball mini-game, and I have to say that as challenging as it was, you all knocked it out of the park! *Buh-dum psh* Bad jokes aside, I enjoyed everyone's submissions and our continued positive turnout for entries. This week, we're coming back to a timeless pair when it comes to solid captions: Link and Midna from Twilight Princess. I thought it appropriate as we are now in the final of our ZVS tournament here on Zelda Informer that we present one of the challengers. Since A Link to the Past's sequel was featured last week, it just made sense. So, let's see what you all have for this week. Good luck and I'll see you all next time!

Here are the updated rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages. PG-13 is my limit.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

By: Yero

By: Gabriel De Leon

By: Hylianola

By: Katie Parte

By: Monkee-goro

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Fan Down Under - "A Link Between Worlds Series"
Shovel Knight - "Sometimes adventuring becomes too much for such a young (and lazy) hero. Sometimes a hero just needs to relax with a nice game of baseball. With an octopus"
AKenerly - "hyrule courierss xD"
Lumian - "The only time, when you'll hate Baseball"
POWER - "Awesome! I get to smash pots and call it a sport"

This week's photo:

Video Compiles the Unused Content of NES Legend of Zelda

RODTheMaster — Tue, 19 May 2015 00:49:00 +0000

Considering how groundbreaking the original Legend of Zelda was, one would expect that a lot of ideas didn't make it into the final game. There were no doubt many items, enemies, and gameplay features that were left unused by the time development was completed. Well, YouTube's Nintendo News Network recently released a video listing the number of unused or unreleased pieces of content in the NES classic.

Tyler McVicker of the Nintendo News Network ran through the unused beta content in the NES Legend of Zelda. Much of his information comes from a certain prototype version of The Legend of Zelda from the Japanese Famicom. This prototype is assumed to be from late in the game's development because much of the content is identical to the final game. However, there are a few key differences between the prototype and the actual release. In addition, McVicker also cites cut content seen in the game's instruction manual.

In terms of content, earlier versions of the game saw marginally different text and a shorter version of the game over theme. Interestingly, the Old Man at the start of the game also originally offered Link the choice between the sword we see in the final game and the boomerang. Some of the other changes from the game's prototype version were the absence of the dungeon theme, the heightened difficulty in enemy layout, and the absence of my favorite character the Hungry Goriya. It's really cool to see how the game changed throughout development and to see what elements were added late in the process. Obviously, the second quest was a pretty late addition.

What did you think of the video? Do you know of any other pieces of cut content? Let us know in the comments!

Majora's Mask 3D Any% Speedrun World Record Broken Twice in One Day

RODTheMaster — Tue, 19 May 2015 02:47:00 +0000

After only a few months since release, Majora's Mask 3D is already being smashed by speedrunners. For the last month or so, the goal of MM3D speedrunners was to finish the game in less than an hour and 50 minutes. This week marks the completion of this goal, as well as new world records from two different runners. Today saw runner gymnast86 break the record with a time of 1 hour and 47 minutes; shortly after, runner iwabi broke that record with a time of 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 19 seconds.

On April 13th, Japanese speedrunner iwabi claimed the Majora's Mask 3D Any% world record by defeating the final boss after only 1 hour, 47 minutes, and 45 seconds. This new record marked the first speedrun under 1 hour and 50 minutes and set a new bar for MM3D runners. Yesterday American runner gymnast86 (zeldafreak943 on YouTube) bested iwabi's time by eight seconds, but the achievement was short-lived. Within a few hours, iwabi retook the world record with a new time of 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 19 seconds.

Most of the MM3D Any% route involves collecting a series of necessary items throughout Termina by sequence breaking into late areas early. For example, runners entered both Snowhead and Great Bay without finishing the Woodfall dungeon first. The first half of gymnast86's run was leading that of iwabi, but the Japanese runner pulled ahead when completing a skip into Ikana's Music Box House. From there, the runs went through a series of complex glitch set-ups that helped the players warp to boss fights early. Both players reached Majora under 1 hour and 45 minutes; while gymnast86's battle was surely impressive, iwabi held on to the lead by the end.

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Considering how close these times are and how fast these records have been broken lately, I see the race to 1 hour and 40 minutes heating up very soon. In fact, both runners have expressed their confidence in shaving quite a few seconds off their times. Who knows, maybe the Majora's Mask 3D speedrun record will reach the 1 hour and 27 minute time of the original Majora's Mask.

This is a friendly reminder that speedrunning, especially in an Any% category, allows for glitches and exploits. Remember, all gamers enjoy games differently. Please be considerate in the comments.

What do you think of the records? Are you excited to see Majora's Mask 3D get broken even more? Let us know!

Daily Debate: What is your Ideal Art Style for the Zelda Series?

Nathan — Tue, 19 May 2015 16:27:00 +0000

One constant since the release of The Wind Waker in 2003 is that we'll never know game to game what art style direction will be used in the Zelda series. That isn't exclusive to console games either, handheld games often feature different art styles game to game as well, even if they are still somewhat based on the sprite level (outside of 2.5D games). Up through the release of Majora's Mask in 2000, it can be argued that in general, Zelda games all conformed to a very familiar style. Ocarina of Time felt like a natural 3D extension of A Link to the Past, which felt like a natural extension of the games before it. Remember, we're talking strictly from a visual perspective, not from a gameplay one.

We've gotten many different art styles over the years, but today's debate goes beyond just the styles already used. There may be a art direction not yet fully realized in the series you wish for the games to adapt. In other words, what is your ideal art direction for the Zelda series? This is a tough one for me to pinpoint. Part of me wants to say an enhanced version of what we got in The Wind Waker, while another yearns for something closer to what is happening in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. However, don't get confused - I don't want a cross between both art styles similar to what Skyward Sword seemed to attempt to do (and I do think Skyward Sword looks pretty good). Rather, I prefer they pick a style and simply fully commit to it, rather than mash multiple styles together.

Zelda U presents an interesting perspective, but I haven't really seen enough of the art style just yet to really decide if I like it or not. What is your ideal art style for the Zelda series?

Zelda Themed 3DS Carry Case Returning to Club Nintendo in Europe

TheGaspNinja — Tue, 19 May 2015 18:04:00 +0000

As many people who follow Nintendo will know, the Club Nintendo rewards program will be replaced soon, and Nintendo has been very busy making sure that it goes out with a bang. Across all three main regions Nintendo has been cutting prices of items and adding awesome new goodies, like a Majora's Mask Lamp, to the long list which currently stands. As such Nintendo has decided to update the European list once more, reintroducing the Legend of Zelda themed 3DS XL Carry Case.

Our European readers will remember that Nintendo had added the new feature of digital downloads for Virtual Console titles to the stars catalogue, as it is called in Europe, a while back. These titles include all current Zelda games featured on the Virtual Console and they are available for differing amounts of stars. Nintendo sent out an e-mail today to those subscribed to the Club Nintendo newsletter, stating that they will be reintroducing certain beloved and highly requested items, alongside all new exclusive rewards. One of the items they will be reintroducing is the Legend of Zelda themed 3DS XL Carry Case which originally appeared in the stars catalogue back in August of 2014.

Other items they will be reintroducing include the very popular Luigi's Mansion 2 Diorama and six replicas of Mario Kart 7's cups. All new to the stars catalogue are a Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker Figurine Lamp, a Super Mario Eco Baddies Shopping Bag, and Super Mario Coaster Sets. All of these items were announced with coinciding pictures, which can be viewed in the gallery below, but they also mentioned several other items they will be including at a later point. These include a Club Nintendo Game Card Case - 2nd Edition, Kirby's Dream Blanket, a Super Mario Card Matching Game, a Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack CD, and a Club Nintendo Goodbye Coin.

The website Nintendo linked in their e-mail is currently down, so how many stars all of these will actually cost falls only to speculation. The Zelda Carry Case originally cost 4000 stars, but following the recent price cut in North America the exact prices remain uncertain.

What do you think of the items they have announced? Will you be getting any? What items would you rather have seen returning? Let us know down below!

Source: Nintendo PR

New The Wind Waker HD Themed Badges Have Been Added to the 3DS Badge Center

Link 2 — Wed, 20 May 2015 00:50:00 +0000

The Collectible Badge Center, a 3DS application that can be downloaded via the Nintendo eShop, is unfortunately a Japan exclusive. That doesn't mean we can't admire these new The Wind Waker HD-themed badges though, does it?

If you're lost on what The Collectible Badge Center does, it allows you to play a certain minigame three times a day. In this minigame, the player tries to earn badges from different games. These badges can be used to decorate your 3DS's home screen for customization purposes.

Recently, Nintendo added some new badges from what is currently the only HD Zelda game, The Wind Waker HD. These badges, from left to right, are as follows:

Beedle
Quill
Medli
Tetra
Toon Link
Aryll
Toon Link's Grandmother

I sure hope Nintendo brings the badge center to the West, so I can decorate my home screen with some beautiful The Wind Waker HD goodness! Would you download the badge center if it was available? Give us your answers in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo Japan

Get Your Hands on a Sweet Resin ChuChu Figure

RODTheMaster — Wed, 20 May 2015 01:40:00 +0000

ChuChus are the common gel-like enemies seen in many Zelda games. Their somewhat annoying chatter and adorable design have certainly carried these creatures from game to game, and they have become an iconic piece of the series. If you ever wished to own a ChuChu for yourself, you're now in luck. You can now buy handmade resin ChuChus from LegendaryTreasures on Etsy for $10 USD.

Obviously inspired by their Wind Waker design, these painted resin ChuChu figures are approximately two inches tall. LegendaryTreasures explains that because a mold is used to make the figures, small ridges and imperfections may be present. Honestly, I think such imperfections would give each figure a bit of character. Even though these items don't hop around with high-pitched babble, they might just be the best way to buy your very own ChuChu.

LegendaryTreasures has individual figures listed for $10 USD, as well as sets of three figures for $30 USD. Customers can request whatever color they'd prefer at checkout. The shop also has other Zelda items for sale, including a Wind Waker terrarium.

Will you be picking up one of these figures? Are you excited to finally own a ChuChu? Keep us posted in the comments!

Source: Etsy

Cosplay of the Week: Princess Hilda by Li Kovacs

Mases — Wed, 20 May 2015 02:29:00 +0000

This week we've got a stunning Cosplay of the ever so elegant Princess Hilda of A Link Between Worlds. We've also added a YouTube video by the model, showcasing the costume for you to see. Something a little bit different to our usual Cosplay of the Week features. The Dark Princess of Lorule is rather enchanting and, like Princess Zelda, will go beyond all means to redeem and protect her kingdom. Her portrayal by the ever lovely Li Kovacs is absolutely astounding and I don't think I've ever come across such a precise replica of Hilda before.

The props and clothing of this costume took Li over 2 months to make, and you can definitely tell how much effort was put into this creation. The rod with the reverse Triforce, the crown and the small details in the garment are very well put together. I honestly can't really fault this Cosplay at all.

Along with this video online, Li also has a Facebook showcasing professional photos of all her Zelda Cosplays. In the mini gallery below you can view her Hilda Cosplay's and let us know what you think of her efforts!

Li has many different Cosplays that she has worn, which can all be seen via her Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and her official website: www.likovacs.com.

Don't forget to show us your own Zelda Cosplays, and tag us in your Cosplay posts on Twitter with #ZIcostume.

Source: Li Kovacs - Official Website

Check Out These Amazing Photos of Link in the Real World

Nathan — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:31:00 +0000

Kyleigh Parker sent us in a collection of pristine photos featuring Link, among other enemies and characters, out in the real world. There is a lot of custom work done here, but beyond that, each photo tells a little story. Kyleigh is a photographer and an avid video game/figure collector, which is what lead to 51+ amazing photos. Today we're naturally focusing on the Zelda collection, featuring 51 individual photos, all masterfully crafted both in the quality of the image and the layout of the shots themselves.

You can find more of Kyleigh's work on their instagram and facebook.

Violinist Makes the Lost Woods Theme Feel Fresh Again

Link 2 — Thu, 21 May 2015 17:47:00 +0000

Recently I found a cover of my favorite song in the Zelda franchise, uploaded by YouTuber ed mz and it is possibly one of the best solo covers I have ever heard for the iconic Lost Woods theme. Just what makes this cover so great? It's the toe-tapping beat in the background combined with the creative styling of the violin to create something fresh and new.

This cover of the Lost Woods Theme is something any Zelda fan is sure to appreciate, whether or not you like Ocarina of Time. And although ed mz's skills might make fans (such as myself) jealous of his violin skills, it's clear ed mz has spent years mastering how to play this widely-appreciated instrument. Let's hope we get more fresh takes on Zelda tunes from this artist soon! If you'd like to check out more of his work, take a look at his YouTube page and his Twitter.

Are you listening to this cover over and over now like I am? Is it simply not your style? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Art Source: pancakesandhalibut

Fan Theory: How Zoras Evolved and Progessed Over the Course of the Timeline

Nathan — Thu, 21 May 2015 15:08:00 +0000

Do you remember a time when some felt Hyrule Historia put a halt to Zelda theories? Yeah, I don't either, as fans continue to theorize about all new aspects of the series. This time around, YouTuber Commonwealth realm combines with Anonymous Gamer and M. Productions to talk about what they are calling the "Zora Timeline". Zora have, in theory, been around since the very first game in the timeline as they go on and explain their connections throughout the game, evolution, and several mini theories to form the Zora Timeline.

While the video is a bit on the lengthier side, it is extremely well supported and they put all of their evidence right out in the open for you to decide if it's worthy. What do you think?

Dragon Roost Island Theme Gets a Jazzy Acoustic Guitar Cover

Tpaul Homdrom — Thu, 21 May 2015 19:56:00 +0000

The music of the Zelda series is no stranger to covers of all kinds, be they instrumental or acapella, acoustic or hard rock or improvised instruments. One beloved theme is "Dragon Roost Island" from Wind Waker. It's seen plenty of covers, but probably not one quite like this.

Performed by The Team Players, this rendition of "Dragon Roost Island" for two guitars starts off like you would expect, but quickly takes on a sort of jazz-reggae hybrid feel. There doesn't seem to be another version of "Dragon Roost Island" like this one, so give it a listen above and let us know what you think of it in the comments!

The Team Players have done a number of video game covers for acoustic guitar, including the "Milk Bar" theme from Majora's Mask. You can listen to more of their great covers at their YouTube channel by clicking here.

New Majora's Mask (N64/VC) Any% Speedrun World Record

RODTheMaster — Fri, 22 May 2015 00:18:00 +0000

As it would turn out, Majora's Mask 3D is not alone in world record speedrunning news this week. Not too long after two MM3D records were set in a single day, speedrunner FullGrownGaming set a new Any% world record in the original Majora's Mask. Besting the previous record by six seconds, this run saw Majora defeated in 1 hour, 27 minutes, and 3 seconds.

Since Swedish speedrunner EnNopp112 set the previous record back in March, Majora's Mask runners have set their sights on a better time. FullGrownGaming's run proved how difficult this goal has been, as every segment of the Any% route has potential for heavy time loss. FullGrownGaming's pace matched the previous record's pace throughout the whole run, only pulling ahead in the last moments with Majora's boss fight. Before entering the final battle, FullGrownGaming said he needed "the god Majora" to get the record; in the end, I'd say he pulled that off perfectly.

In the Any% category, runners' only requirement is to defeat the game's final boss, by whichever means the game itself allows. Yes, that does mean glitches and exploits are allowed. Much of the MM Any% route involves using creative methods to warp around the map and defeat the game's four bosses. One of these methods is the "Index Warp," which was discovered earlier this year. The Index Warp allows runners to travel to any owl statue without having to activate them. These types of warps, combined with precise movements, item management, and luck, are essential for a good time.

As FullGrownGaming states in his stream, there is still a lot of time to be saved in Majora's Mask Any% runs. A big goal for speedrunners now is to get a time under 1 hour and 25 minutes.

Daily Debate: What Are Your E3 Predictions and Expectations?

Nathan — Fri, 22 May 2015 02:31:00 +0000

We're going a little off the cuff here since the biggest event in the gaming industry will be upon us in less than a month. We know that Zelda U is likely skipping the event - though if Nintendo has proven anything over the years it's that they can't always be believed and they are unpredictable. That means that sure, Zelda U could get a trailer. Maybe we get some art. It's also just as likely that they stick to what they said earlier in the year, and Zelda U is not there. Does that mean no Zelda at E3 at all?

Still, we're not silly. E3 isn't just about Zelda (though, we'd love a Zelda only event). E3 is about the entire gaming industry, especially the the AA and AAA industry, and even some of the more prominent indie developers (such as the fine folks behind No Man's Sky). So here we are heading into the home stretch of May, ready to hear your E3 predictions.

My next boss man episode will actually be all about my predictions and expectations, so I'll save my list for that, but I am really curious to hear what you guys have going. Do you think Metroid makes an appearance? Maybe this is the year we finally see The Last Guardian. Half Life 3 (Valve is attending) perhaps? New hardware? Your predictions in 3... 2... 1...

Slack Off in Style With This Sweet Zelda Bathrobe

Link 2 — Sat, 23 May 2015 03:26:00 +0000

A new product is coming that any Zelda fan can admire: a Zelda bathrobe, scheduled for release in August from UK retailer Gamerabilia. There is no word on how much the cost will be, but if you're afraid that you will forget to check back, you can have Gamerabilia send you an email when the bathrobe is available to order.

I don't know about you, but when I get home from work, the first thing I do is put on a nice, warm bathrobe. What I should be doing is writing another article for Zelda Informer, but what I usually end up doing is catch up on the latest Nintendo news by reading Gamnesia. I used to feel guilty about slacking off and not writing as I should be, but not for much longer! Soon I will be able to slack off in style by wearing a comftorable Zelda-style bathrobe, and I'll undoubtedly be given the courage to keep the slack going strong. After all, who wouldn't be in a complete state of bliss while wearing a bathrobe with a Triforce on it?

The bathrobe can be viewed here. Will you be obtaining this Zelda-style bathrobe? Do you own any other Zelda apparel? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Source: Gamerabilia

The Game Grumps Take on A Link to the Past

Link 2 — Fri, 22 May 2015 22:45:00 +0000

Some of you may remember a while back when we told you that the Game Grumps started a complete playthrough of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Fun Fact: The Boss Man thinks Zelda II is one of the best Zelda games ever made!) The Game Grumps have completed The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, and The Wind Waker HD. They started playing A Link to the Past when former co-host Jontron was still with the channel, but never finished it as they stopped at 12 episodes.

Jontron's replacement, Daniel "Sexbang" Avidan, founding member of the YouTube sensation Ninja Sex Party, is now attempting to start all the way back from the beginning and finish it on his own. It's safe to say that Danny is no stranger to A Link to the Past, as he stated in the video that it was his favorite SNES game as a child.

Are you excited that the Game Grumps are revisiting this widely-appreciated Zelda classic? Do you think A Link to the Past stands a chance in the final edition of this year's ZVS? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Photoshop Contest: The Postman's New Life

RODTheMaster — Sat, 23 May 2015 01:06:00 +0000

It's that time again! A new Friday means a new Zelda Informer Photoshop Contest. This week, we're focusing on the Zelda series' beloved Postman character and exploring the life he led after Majora's Mask concluded. Don't get ahead of yourself, though. We first need to take a look at the winners from last week's contest: Zelda Theme Park Attraction.

Last Week's Contest:

We were all surprised by Nintendo's new partnership with Universal Theme Parks. To celebrate the possibilities this partnership may bring, we asked you all to create your dream Legend of Zelda amusement park attraction. There were many different avenues discussed in the comments and many great entries submitted. I'm all the more excited to see a Zelda theme park after seeing all the entries.

Best Submissions

Artist: HaaYaaSkaa

Artist: RyGuy

Artist: rtlozfan

Artist: TechTinker11

Challenge Mode

Last week's Challenge Mode involved some input by the ZI community. In addition to a Universal character, the entry needed to incorporate the ideas of user Rodolink, who suggested "a place with thousands of pots to break with fake swords!" Meeting both of these criteria was Mr. James "Jei" Evans, who presented a Zelda ride in which laughably excited families swipe at hundreds of pots while riding an Epona-led chariot. And who's the guide? A Minion from Despicable Me of course! Good job, Jei. Now get back to work on next week's Caption Contest!

This Week's Contest: The Postman's New Life

If players took the time to acquire the Postman's Hat in Majora's Mask, they were lucky enough to see the Postman flee happily from Clock Town. Freed from the obligations that bound this poor worker so, the Postman skipped into the great unknown. "I am now free! I can set my own schedule!" he shouted. We were left to imagine the beautiful new life this man led after Termina was ultimately restored.

Your assignment this week is to show us what amazing things the Postman did after Majora's Mask. What sights did he see? What people did he meet? What greatness did he achieve? It's all up to you and your image manipulation software. Just make sure the poor guy up there is happy. You're free to make use of our image gallery below and whatever else lies in store for you on the internet.

General Rules:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages.
Photoshop is not required to enter the contest. Any image manipulation software can be used to create your entry.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

Deadline: Submit entries no later than next Wednesday at midnight: 11:59 p.m. PST on May 27. Entries submitted after this Deadline will not be considered.

Challenge Mode

For those that who want to test their skills with something more challenging, we have a few Challenge Rules for you to follow:

1. Your entry must show the Postman on the peak of a mountain.

2. Your entry must show the Postman wearing Nike tennis shoes.

Good luck!

The Zelda Series Gets a Sweet 8-Bit Easter Egg in Splatoon

Nathan — Sat, 23 May 2015 04:23:00 +0000

Splatoon's release is just around the corner, as it releases on the 29th. Many press have early review copies (including our friends over at Gamnesia, who are answering questions about the game). New discoveries are being made every day in the game and finally a sweet Zelda Easter Egg has been discovered. Except... it's an Easter Egg that actually fits very well in Splatoon, especially when you consider in tandem with another Easter Egg from the Mario series.

An 8-Bit Octorok image can be found on the multiplayer map Urchin Underpass. Along with this image is one of a Blooper from Super Mario Bros. Why do these two fit with the game itself? Well, the inklings are squid like creatures, similar to the Bloopers, while their natural enemies are very similar to octopuses, just like the Octorok. There are sure to be many more Easter Eggs discovered as more of the game is played and future DLC is released.

Ocarina of Time 3D is the First Commercial 3DS Game to be Successfully Emulated

Nathan — Sat, 23 May 2015 05:04:00 +0000

Update: We forgot to include video proof. Keep in mind this happened back in December originally, but somehow slipped under our radar. Enjoy!

Emulated games are the bane of many companies' existences. While Nintendo has been putting a lot of measures in place to try and prevent the pirating of games, which is a similar concept, that hasn't stopped the hacking community nor the emulation community from coming up with viable solutions. Keep in mind that we don't endorse pirating or emulation - both are illegal according to 99% of user agreements. We prefer anyone who cares to play the Zelda series, or any video game for that matter, to get a supported platform and purchase said game legally. Still, when a breakthrough happens and the Zelda series is involved, it's definitely worth having a conversation about.

One important factor to note before we head in is that just because a commercial game has been emulated and can be started, it doesn't mean the game is really in a playable state. People have been trying to successfully emulate commercial 3DS games for years, but this is the first major breakthrough to one day getting to that point. Here is the evidence of Ocarina of Time 3D running on what is dubbed Citra, a 3DS emulator:

As I said, the game being emulated is a bit different from it being playable. Will it ever reach that point? Probably. Reality is, emulation is still a fairly popular underbelly within the video game community. With many classic titles now available through many different legal methods of purchase, the justification for emulating games has been slowly shrinking. Where do you stand on emulation? Are you excited by this breakthrough, or worried about the type of community this fosters?

We won't be providing any links to Citra, though you can easily find it for yourself if you are interested. Just keep in mind we'll be removing any links to emulators or roms if posted in the comments below. Try to keep this conversation centered around emulation and how you feel about that, rather than trying to spread the methods of emulation more organically. We're just here to further the conversation.

Source: Reddit

New 100% Speed Run World Record Set for Link's Awakening DX

Nathan — Sat, 23 May 2015 05:10:00 +0000

A new World Record has been set for a 100% completion run of Link's Awakening DX. Keep in mind that a 100% run does allow for glitches, so long as the game is 100% completed. We understand some prefer for pure glitchsless runs. In an effort to be more fair to the speed running community and our fans, we're going to be reporting on all speed run records that get set for all of the given categories. That includes Any%, 100%, Glitchless, and a few others.

This time around, the record was using a Japanese Emulator. The run hasn't been officially verified just yet, but you can see a full video of the run above, clearly showing the record being set. He claims he can pull off a sub 1:30 run at some point this summer. Personally, I'm just thrilled to see new records being set for other games besides the usual two games that get reported on. The rest of the speed running community that does other titles deserves equal support from the media and the fans.

ZI Podcast 37: Why Majoras Mask Isn't A Zelda Game, Favorite Link, & Hammerspace, Ft TopSpinTheFuzzy

Acohen95 — Sat, 23 May 2015 14:11:00 +0000

Direct Download (right-click, save as), iTunes

This week on the ZI Podcast we talk about why Majora’s Mask isn’t your typical Zelda game, we discuss the possible ways to fix wall puzzles, and we discuss how hammerspace works into the Zelda franchise. With plenty of fan topics, this episode had a lot to say with a shorter than usual length. This week’s cast is: your host as always, Adam, joined by Chris (Never stops talking about Ezlo), Caleb (the podcast’s Quiet Contender), Sarah (our self-proclaimed fashion expert), and special guest TopSpinTheFuzzy (We call him Jeph/Jephers).

Thank you to those of you who submitted fan topics this week, as well as theme song submissions. If you have any of your own work that you’d like us to feature, please send those to us at ZeldaInformerPodcast@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you all! This episode was a bit on the shorter side, due to Adam very very tired, so he (or I?) apologizes for that in advance. I hope you still enjoy this week’s episode.

Our guest for next week is Yacht Club Games (creators of Shovel Knight, for those of you who live under a rock), so we hope you look forward to that and send in some topics you'd like us to discuss with them! Also, please take our updated survey!

also #LegendOfBear

Social Media

This Week’s Guest

Special Thanks

News and Related Topics

Smooth Kakariko Village Arrangement Adds Lyrics and Jazz

Jyaxen88 — Sat, 23 May 2015 18:37:00 +0000

In any Legend of Zelda game, there are few opportunities for a hero to relax and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from a lack of enemies trying to do him harm. Of the handful of locations that actually afford this, Kakariko Village is perhaps the most well known, so it comes as no surprise that its iconic theme has been adapted to a smooth jazz arrangement. Jazz musician Insaneintherainmusic, also known as Carlos, has composed a version of the relaxing melody set to jazz piano, saxophone, bass, drums, and vocals - yes, there are even lyrics!

The entire five-and-a-half minute piece takes us from the most basic and familiar part of the theme, painting a picture of the picturesque setting with vocals, provided by YouTube artist Sab Irene. As it moves on, however, the listener is brought through an extended interpretation of the melody, providing an exploration of myriad wonderful characters, mirroring one's wanderings through the town, discovering all it has to offer. All is brought back together by a joyful return to the main theme and more soothing lyrics that drive towards a calming closing.

This beautiful arrangement is only one of six equally impressive tunes from Carlos and Sab's brand new album "Weebop", which explores and enhances themes from both the video game and anime musical spheres. Included in these are "Still Alive" from Portal, "Path of the Wind" from "My Neighbor Totoro", and "The Pokemon Theme" from "Pokemon: The Indigo League", among others. If you'd like to listen to samples of these, and/or purchase the tracks, check out the duo's album on Loudr, iTunes (available soon), or Google Play, and keep an eye on insaneintherain's YouTube page for upcoming releases.

What are your thoughts on this arrangement? Would you like to see the duo tackle any more of Zelda's classic tunes? Share your thoughts with us below.

Hidden Triforce of Wisdom Scholarship Essay Contest 2015

AboardTheBebop — Sat, 23 May 2015 19:19:00 +0000

So, I'm going to go ahead and guess that you like The Legend of Zelda. I'm also going to really make a stretch here and say that you probably like money? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you have to ask yourself one more question. Are you a senior in high school or currently enrolled in a college within the United States? If that answer was also yes, then you are eligible to take part in the Hidden Triforce of Wisdom Scholarship Essay Contest (holy crap, that title) for a chance to win $500. Before there is any confusion, this is not a cash reward but is indeed a scholarship only. What's the challenge, you ask? "Describe a time when you have displayed an exceptional amount of courage or wisdom to accomplish a goal in life" in 500-2000 words.

Here is the full criteria as stated on the website:

Major: Any Bachelor or Associates Program at an accredited school or institute
Class Level: High School Senior or enrolled college student
Enrollment Status: Full or Part-time
Citizenship Status: US Citizen
Annual Amount Awarded: $500
Number of Awards: 1/annually
Application Deadline (Updated): December 15, 2015
Winner will be announced by January 31, 2016
Essay: Student must submit a written essay on the following subject. The essay should be 500-2000 words. Please submit the essay in a Word or PDF document.
- Describe a time when you have displayed an exceptional amount of courage or wisdom to accomplish a goal in life.

Contact:
Hidden Triforce
1777 Stonehouse Lane
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
513.237.7151
Email: admin@hiddentriforce.com
Webpage: http://hiddentriforce.com

Note that I am not using humor to make light of this. In fact, to one person it could be the most important thing they read here. Seriously, if you have any free time and you fit the criteria above, go to the website and at least try. It doesn't matter if you are a writer or not, this is an opportunity to grow yourself and prepare for college and a career. If you win, you get a $500 scholarship! If you don't, you have an essay ready to go for your next school writing assignment.

Here, I'll make it really easy for you. Click here. That last sentence was a link, so click it. Even better, right click that link, open it in a new tab or window, and drop a synopsis of your essay in the comments below when you're done. Use your stories to start a discussion and share it with the community; only if you feel comfortable sharing, of course. And to everyone else, please remain respectful to others. Things might get personal. Okay, click the link. It's about five sentences back now. Good luck!

Hyrule Warriors: The Movie - "Act 2"

Nathan — Sat, 23 May 2015 22:35:00 +0000

Earlier this month we introduced you to a special project by our friends over at Zelda Universe. They took all the cut-scenes plus key moments in the game-play of Hyrule Warriors and turned it into a movie of sorts, with full voice acting. The first Act, which can be seen right here, was a decent success with most that viewed it being happy with what they got. With that being known, we are glad to see them produce Act 2 in just a few short weeks.

This isn't the end however, as Act 3 will be released likely at some point next month. Still, I've said enough - check out the second act above!

Daily Debate: What Makes a Great Dungeon in the Zelda Series?

Nathan — Sat, 23 May 2015 23:23:00 +0000

Dungeons have been a long term staple in the Zelda series, but what are the key fundamentals that make a dungeon great? Is it compelling puzzles? Non-linear design? Interesting new item mechanics? Maybe it's all about the boss fight. Of course it could be all of the above and then some, but it's one of those questions that doesn't have a true definitive answer. There have been many different approaches taken with dungeon design over the years and now it's time to talk about what approaches we like best.

One thing I've appreciated about dungeons over the years is having a fresh and original theme. So for me, the ideal dungeon design starts and stops with having a great theme we haven't seen before. After that, it comes down to unique and never before seen puzzles. After that, it's fun and new uses for various items in the game. If you can't tell, there is a consistent theme popping up in my desires: I like dungeons that feel completely their own. No borrowed elements from prior games, or overused puzzle designs we've seen time and time again. Pushing blocks? Been there and done that. Fire, Forest, Water, designs? Sorry, seen that too.

There are plenty of dungeons that fit these desires, though I don't know that any dungeon in the series hits every desire I have, as I want it to end with a challenging boss battle that I'll remember for years. While I recall many a boss fight, there isn't really that one fight I keep looking back on time and time again. What makes your ideal dungeon?

Artist Launches Majora's Mask Replica Kickstarter, A Chance for Fans to Get Their Own Mask

RODTheMaster — Sun, 24 May 2015 05:09:00 +0000

Majora's Mask has inspired many artistic fans to undertake projects based around the game's iconic masks. Last week, German artist Christiane Göhring launched a Kickstarter campaign for her amazing Majora's Mask replicas. With a goal of about $2,246 USD, the campaign will fund the creation of Majora's Mask replicas that will be sent to backers. The different reward tiers will determine the type of replica each backer will receive, from fully finished masks, to unpainted masks, to raw casts for backers to make their own masks.

The project's campaign video and overview shows off one of Göhring's amazing Majora's Mask replicas. The artist uses polymer clay as a base, coloring the 43 x 38 x 7 cm mask with acrylic paint and varnishing it with semi-gloss transparent coating. The craftsmanship and detail of these masks are absolutely amazing; they are certainly something many fans would like to get their hands on. This is why Göhring set up this Kickstarter as a chance for fans to get a hold of their own Majora's Mask.

Fans can pledge over $5 USD to show their support for this project and Göhring's continued work. The campaign then offers three reward tiers for backers who want their own masks, depending on the type of mask. Göhring writes:

"Whether you want a painted mask, ready to be hung on your wall, or the plain white base for you to get creative yourself - anything is possible!
-"I want to make my own mask": you’ll get an unpolished cast of the mask without primer or paint.
-"I want to paint my own mask": you’ll get a polished and primed version ready to be painted on.
-"Just give me the ready mask": you’ll get a completely finished mask.

The artist will also include a manual for the polishing, priming, and painting of the masks. The reward tiers are rather pricey, ranging from about $100 to about $250 USD, but there's no doubting the quality of these replicas.

The campaign will run for the next 20 days and can be found here. If you want your own Majora's Mask, this campaign is fantastic chance to do so. You'd also be supporting the work of an amazing artist.

Midna's Lament is Even More Intense in Metal/Jazz Arrangement

Jyaxen88 — Mon, 25 May 2015 14:45:00 +0000

When asked for a most memorable tune from Twilight Princess, many players will respond with the iconic Midna's Lament. Not only is it a gently moving piece with a hint of a dark side, but it accompanies a turning point in the game's narrative, as the partnership between Link and Midna begins to shift. In an arrangement equally technically and creatively impressive, YouTube musician RichaadEB, along with jazz musician insaneintherainmusic, has taken the intensity of that scene and made it all the more pressing and urgent.

Beginning with a gentle introduction much in the spirit of the original's, this arrangement rapidly morphs and embraces the powerful nature of the piece by overlaying multiple electric guitar tracks. This intense phase carries us through the rest of the first iteration of the tune, leading smoothly into a jazzy rendition featuring saxophone at the forefront. This bittersweet section, restores calm, only to give way to another metal section that drives home the urgency befitting a scene with a character's life on the line.

RichaadEB has covered a great many more video game music classics, including Stone Tower Temple and Ballad of the Goddess from Majora's Mask and Skyward Sword, respectively, as well as pieces from Shovel Knight, Pokemon, Skyrim, Super Smash Bros., Mass Effect, and more. If you enjoyed this arrangement, you can check more on his YouTube channel and his SoundCloud. And for more insaneintherainmusic, check out his YouTube Channel, as well as his Loudr, where you can find his albums for sale.

If you'd like to download the above cover, click here. What did you think of this unique take on a fan favorite? Are there more Zelda tunes you'd like to see RichaadEB take on? Share your thoughts with us below.

Caption Contest 019: "Hylians! Prepare For Glory!"

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 25 May 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Happy Memorial Day to all of our U.S. fans out there. Remember to take this day to thank those who have fought and died for us as well as their families. You may choose to celebrate this day with a moment of silence or by partying, but remember that the freedom to celebrate those losses came at a price for many, and that's what today is about. That's why this week, I've decided to theme the Caption Contest around those who are in the Hylian Army. Last week, we got some great responses from many of you, but the rules continue to bend for a good laugh. I've discovered that there's isn't much I can do about it, so I guess (in the spirit of the day) I'm officially changing them to "guidelines". Use your best judgement and don't get crazy, but it's not fair for those who strive to follow the rules to lose because of upvotes. So here's to the start of a "new" Caption Contest. Good luck and I'll see you all next time!

Here are the updated guidlines:

Please refrain from using offensive material (racial, sexual, overuse of offensive language, etc.) We want to make the contest fun and accessible for fans of all ages. PG-13 is my limit.
Keep the image as close as possible to it's original form (minimal photo editing). This is the Caption Contest, our Photoshop Contest is held on Fridays.
If you don't have the ability to edit the image, just leave it as a comment. We make sure to have a separate list of winners for this category.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at Zelda Informer. In fact, we encourage discussion based on those opinions. However, please do not insult other fans' work. What may be funny to one person may not hold true for another...and that's OK.
Have fun and be creative!

By: Yero

By: Travis

By: Hylianola

By: Monkee-goro

By: TickleMeTingle

And here are our non-photo caption winners:

Fan Down Under - Link: “Did you really need to do that to her Midna?”
Midna: “Nobody touches my hero without my permission”
Shovel Knight - Link: "Midna? You ok?"
Midna: "Never eat gas station sushi, Link. Bad sushi and adventuring just don't mix like I thought they would."
Zelda_N64: Link: "What are you doing, Midna?"
Midna: "That spider needs to die. You should kill it before I kill you first."
DonTheMask! - I'm carrying a shield, a sword, bow and arrows, etc..... and you have the nerve to piggy back on me?
David Crisoto - When bae see's that one girl she don't like wave to you.

This week's photo:

Changing the Formula: Zelda As An RPG

AboardTheBebop — Mon, 25 May 2015 21:10:00 +0000

For almost 30 years, the Zelda franchise has stood out as a truly unique experience. Very few games have even been remotely comparable. In my time working at GameStop, the only game I can remember anyone using Zelda as a comparison for how the game plays was Darksiders. So why would we want to take that away? Why would we want to make the next game in the series like everything else? Would that not take away from just how special it is? These are all valid questions that I plan on answering, but they can be summed up by asking, "Who said that we had to take that away to reach the next level?".

There are few games in this world that I have beaten then quickly decided that I wanted to play it again. Many of the Zelda games fall into this list alongside the Arkham series and other massive RPG's like Skyrim and Dragon Age. However, I do have a confession to make, and I'm pretty sure I can smell the hate already: I have a hard time replaying the Zelda games to completion time and time again.

"How can you call yourself a Zelda fan if you won't even beat the game a second time?" Give me time to explain myself and I promise that while you may not agree with me, you will see my point. All I ask is that you bear with me and hear me out as I try to explain where I believe that Zelda becoming a "typical" RPG could be the best thing for the future of the series. Some of this may sound like hate, but I assure you that I have loved every game in this series. They are all incredibly special to me and have few, if any, flaws in my opinion. These are just steps that I believe Nintendo could take to make the games even better.

One Sword to Rule Them All?

There is very little to gripe about when it comes to Zelda games, but I feel that the lack of choice has held the series back in the long run. Let me first clear the air of fuming fanboys by stating that A Link Between Worlds did a lot to fix this. Call me stingy if you want; I still think that it wasn't really enough. While you did get to choose the order in which you did things, everything that you did remained the same. I could choose to rent the bow first one playthrough and last in another, but the fact was that when i got to the dungeon that used the bow as its required item, it still had the same puzzles, enemies, and bosses. There were no changes based on how I really wanted to play the game.

Is that to say that Zelda doesn't give any freedoms? Not at all. Sure, the looming shadow of evil encompasses more and more of Hyrule every second, but take as many days as you want to attempt to catch the Hylian Loach. Go ahead and spend the next hour running all around Hyrule doing that chain trade quest. Now, what did that do to change how you play the rest of the game? Probably not a whole lot.

The game pushes you to use the Master Sword by limiting the effectiveness of other weapons in the game. A large number of the weapons are more like tools that happen to be slightly more effective against a small handful of enemy types. While this may be good for giving the many items the games promise a reason to exist, too many times have I felt that I picked up something cool, used it for the next 20 minutes, and let it gather dust in my inventory, not by choice, but because it was now, for lack of a better term, useless.

I get it; the series is about puzzles and the current structure allows (almost) every enemy to be a "combat puzzle". But why must there be only one solution? When I play games with a bow and arrow, that's my weapon of choice. However, I can't use that weapon freely in Zelda because, unless specifically built to be taken out by an arrow, most enemies auto-block unless you have stunned them with a deku nut. Using those items together just doesn't make sense. Maybe you like heavier weapons like the Biggoron Sword or a hammer. You will probably find that many enemies will auto-counter it and leave you open for an attack. And don't even get me started on using magic.

So why the limitation? Are they trying to maintain an emphasis on the Master Sword as an item of legend? If so, why have they incorporated so many other weapons that can damage pure evil like Zelda's Bow? Even if you wanted to maintain the Master Sword as the pure "bane of evil", that concept is really only vital for sealing away what is usually the final boss. In few instances are the earlier bosses (I'm looking at you Agahnim) supposedly only weakened by the Master Sword specifically...or the bug net, apparently.

Combat Vs. Experience

Please don't take what I say out of context. I am well aware that the combat in the Zelda series has never really been the focus. If it was, it would be just like every other sword-slinging RPG out there. While I used the weapons of the game as an example for the weaker combat portion of the gameplay, I'm really trying to hone in on the experiences that are created by those items and your freedoms in using them. Let's play around with a few examples.

One of the coolest aspects of dungeons in Zelda is that they are themed. While you are still doing similar tasks in each one, they feel vastly different because everything surrounding it is different; It's part of the beauty of level design that this series captures really well. However, too many times have I felt that the item or weapon just becomes a tool - A tool that you use for a dungeon gimmick which quickly falls flat, unless you are in its proper dungeon.

Having most of the main items and weapons available outside of the dungeons proved to be a successful idea in A Link Between Worlds. Use that freedom to construct dungeons that can still remain themed, but can be explored almost to its entirety with what you have available based on your play style. Imagine how different the same exact Fire Temple could feel if you played through it once as a rogue and once as a mage. In the same room, you could essentially cross a lava pit with an arrow/rope combo item if you were playing rogue or by using your connection with the magic of the goddess Din, you could bend the earth to create a stepping stone to cross.

Here's another one. Link traverses down a staircase into a large open room with two platforms on either side, separated by a wide crevice, and joined by a wooden bridge. A typical Zelda-style interaction could have a number of Lizalfos either drop from out of nowhere or stand at spawn points, ready to attack. Now, you are in a standard "wait for an opening" battle situation: block, dodge, swing, repeat. But, what if you could change how you handle the situation based on the environment instead of simply the pattern of the enemy?

Imagine throwing a pot to draw the enemies in a specific direction so you can sneak up for a stealthy approach or blow up a barrel once they are within range of the explosion? Maybe you like heavy weapons and would like to see your strike break their block and stagger them for an opening. What if you liked magic and decided that you wanted to get them on the bridge so that you could burn it out from underneath their feet. Not only would this be a fun and strategic win, but it also opens up the possibilities of penalties for your specific method of play. Now that the bridge is gone, you must find another way across, adding to the "puzzle" aspect of exploring dungeons.

Another example would be an improvement to the way that we interact with bosses. While a number of bosses in the series are memorable, I feel that most fall prey to a stale execution that has been a Nintendo trope for decades: use the single specific way to damage the enemy and hit them a specific number of times. It's okay to allow some methods and weapons to be more effective on certain bosses than others, but simply taking away the idea that it is a necessity could be the key to adding interest to every boss fight. This time, I'll use Volvagia to explain. This is a general example and I am ignoring the obvious technical limitations at the time to prove a point.

To defeat Volvagia (spoilers, I guess?), you must wait for his head to pop out of one of the many holes in the pillar you fight on. For a very short time, he will kind of just...sit there. Hit him with the Megaton Hammer to "paralyze" him then slash him a couple of times with your sword. Avoid his attacks, then do it again. Throughout this fight, there are other combat opportunities which were made impossible because of a necessary pattern. Why?

He could have been a much more interesting oppenent if while he was flying above, I could have have pulled out my bow and attacked him in the air, ignoring the attacks he made from the ground. For heavy hitters, an epic approach would have been wait until he drops low enough and glides across the ground towards you so you can side-step him and hit him with a smooth counter. Those who prefer magic could have a great time casting water powers gifted by Nayru to deal elemental damage. The boss wouldn't have to be changed at all, but the alternate methods of damaging him would allow for versatility that everyone could enjoy on a personal level.

Getting More Personal

Another important aspect of RPG games are the character interactions. For nearly thirty years, Link has remained silent; as long as you don't count the "Hyet"s and "Hyah"s. Why would Nintendo do that? Why would they render our character completely voiceless? We know he does actually talk, because when he's asked a question, following his trail of dots of speech is usually the other character reaffirming what he secretly said. Sort of like:

Zelda: "What's your name?"
Link: "........"
Zelda: "Link, huh? That's a funny name."

The community still argues on whether or not Link should talk, but the fact is that he does; we just don't hear it. How many of us played through games when we were kids, or even now for that matter, and when someone asked us a question in game, we answered out loud? That is Link's voice. Yours is. That's why they designed him that way is so that you could become the hero and have your own thoughts interpreted by the NPCs. So if they want to give us that level of personal connection, why can't we customize our appearance?

The series has sat pretty hard on the concept of Link being a blonde haired, blue eyed Hylian, just as Zelda will always be a princess of the Royal Family. The green tunic is symbolic of the Hero and is traditionally worn by the following rebirths of the Hero. But, that's pretty much it. I'm not even going to ask for much here, but why can't I select things like faces, complexion, or even gender? It can seriously be very minimal, but give me a chance to create my hero in my own manner and suddenly Link becomes more of a personification of my inner "Hero" than ever before. Look at Fire Emblem: Awakening. The customizable character only had a few editable traits, and even those had a measly number of choices. But, when I was done, that character was my own. I immediately felt connected and the series could only benefit from that concept.

Okay, let's take a step back to our connections with the characters of the world. Outside of the clear bad guys, you are rarely met with opposition. I find it strange that most people are not only bothered by the fact that you just walk into their house, but they are often quite open about their opinion of others. After they spout for a second, they simply go back to their day. What is their purpose? Why are they there? What do they do with their lives? Why aren't they asking for help? Why are they not furious that I barged into their house and broke their pottery? Why are so many people except for main characters completely oblivious to the fact that I look exactly like the hero of legend and not put two and two together?

In fact, I think that is one of the reasons I love Twilight Princess so much. People were legitimately disgusted or scared by you in your wolf form. They interacted with not only what you did around them, but who you were as well. I want NPCs that recognize me as the Hero, either being supportive of me or banishing me because my return means the coming of great evil as told by the prophecy that they all know. Make them all feel like they're a part of the world instead of mentioning that if they aren't careful, they will burn the stew that they have been cooking for the last seventeen days. The overall stories are usually fantastic in Zelda games, but adding personalization to more NPCs and allowing for the capabilities to help the ones in need by completing a large variety of quests can add small details of depth that will make the adventure a true epic.

To Sum It All Up

I may be in the minority when it comes to these ideas, but I truly believe that in a world where more games are evolving to incorporate puzzle solving, the Zelda series not using their new hardware to evolve the franchise into something bigger could be detrimental. Zelda U is on the horizon, and it's possible that the delay of the game could be to expand on ideas like these after hearing what the fans want to see. I'm not asking for a lot, honestly. The puzzles that have made the Zelda franchise so famous will remain intact, and will surely be as great as ever. But, taking that level of thought and strategy used to solve puzzles and incorporating it into every aspect of the game would put it back on top of the fantasy adventure genre. A leveling system with hundreds of equip-able items is not the direction for the Zelda series to take. However, the ability to focus on a specific play-style and improve on it with skill and weapon upgrades would be a welcome change to the standard formula.

I wholly anticipate many of you to come up with reasons to hate on me, argue my points, or even shut down some of my views on the series - this is the Internet, after all. As I said before, you may disagree with me, and that's okay. I just wanted to stress how I think the franchise could flourish and where I want to see it go. That could be very different for you, and if it is, express yourself below...tactfully. I'll take it all with a grain of salt and accept it because this is how I feel about the franchise. Not in the "My way is right and I'm going to stick by it" kind of way, but in the confirmation that you are expressing how you want to experience the game and only reaffirming my point. I believe that the road you travel should not only be your own, but that you should also be able to choose how you travel down it.

Fan Art:

Link in Forest by Kettleblack
Link's Weapons on Pinterest
Desert Temple on Pinterest
Lava Bridge by MrBlackCap
Volvagia vs Link by RokenshiDragon
Rogue Link on Pinterest
Link Custom Armor by AnimeTayl
Forest At Night on 4ever.eu

Daily Debate: What Makes a Great Side-Quest in the Zelda Series?

RODTheMaster — Mon, 25 May 2015 19:44:00 +0000

Over the weekend, we asked what you all thought makes a great Zelda dungeon. With dungeons taking up much of a Zelda games main quest, I thought I'd steer the discussion toward content outside of the main quest. Side-quests have always played a role in the series, offering extra challenges or stories for the player looking for more to do. There have been many great and many not-so-great side-quests, so let's look at what elements separate the two.

I have always found that my favorite side-quests are the ones that reveal additional story or character moments. For example, collecting the masks in Majora's Mask offers several fulfilling plot moments, some more engaging than the main-quest. Because most masks are optional, obtaining each one is a side-quest in itself, usually offering a strong character story within Termina. I don't have to remind you all of the Couple's Mask quest, do I? More recently, Skyward Sword's quests for Gratitude Crystals offered similar character moments from the residents of Skyloft.

There are a lot of side-quests out there that have no significant bearing on plot or character (such as collecting seashells in Link's Awakening or rabbits in Spirit Tracks) and these quests make it hard for me to invest in what I'm doing.

With Zelda U promising a much more open game world to explore, I'd imagine the game will be full of side-quests. It would be best that we define great side-quests that Zelda U will hopefully live up to. What types of side-quests are ideal in a Zelda game? What separates a great side-quest from a terrible one? Let us know and join the Daily Debate!

The Link Amiibo Will Unlock a Special Yoshi Costume in Yoshi's Woolly World

Link 2 — Tue, 26 May 2015 18:56:00 +0000

Ever wanted to play as a mash up between Link and another Nintendo character? Dream no longer, for the highly anticipated game Yoshi's Woolly World will allow you to play as "Link Yoshi" by using a Link amiibo. It has also been revealed that three other Zelda amiibo will be usable: Toon Link, Sheik, and Ganondorf! Non-Zelda amiibo will be able to be used as well, as the video above showcases Mario Yoshi and Donkey Kong Yoshi.

You can view full-sized high-quality images of Link Yoshi being unlocked and Link Yoshi in action by checking out the gallery below. Yoshi's Woolly World launches fall 2015 in North America, June 26th 2015 in Europe, June 25th 2015 in Australia, and summer 2015 in Japan.

I was not originally going to be buying Yoshi's Woolly World, but upon further inspection, I may have to reconsider that decision. The gameplay looks amazing, and I will be able to play as Link Yoshi! Are you planning on playing this game? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Nintendo Everything, Eurogamer

Another Batch of Symphony of the Goddess Tour Dates Announced

Link 2 — Tue, 26 May 2015 20:02:00 +0000

Haven't had a chance to see The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses Master Quest tour? You may be in luck, as 33 more concert dates have been announced. Most of these concerts take place in the United States, but some will be held in countries such as Italy, Canada, Ireland, and others around the world.

The list of new concert dates is as follows:

Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth Theater; May 22
Calgary, Southern Jubliee; May 23
Montreal, Place des Arts; May 30
Las Vegas, The Venetian; June 10
Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall; June 14
Austin, The Long Center PAC; June 20 at 2pm and 8pm
San Diego, Copley Symphony Hall; July 11
Orlando, Dr. Phillips Center; July 18
Charlottesville, John Paul Jones Arena; August 28
San Francisco, Davies Symphony Hall; August 29
Durham, Durham Performing Arts Center; September 10
St. Louis, Powell Hall; September 11, 12, 13
District of Columbia, Strathmore; September 16
Philadelphia, Mann Center; September 18
Providence, Providence Performing Arts Center; September 25
Chicago, Auditorium Theatre; October 1
Indianapolis, Old National Center; October 2
Milwaukee, Milwaukee Theater; October 3
New York, Barclays Center; October 13
Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall; October 15
Columbus, Ohio Theater; October 18
Houston, Jones Hall; October 22
Dallas, Music Hall at Fair Park; October 24
Portland, Keller Auditorium; October 25
Hamburg, O2 World; November 8
Amsterdam, Heineken Music Hall; November 11
Brussels, Palais 12; November 12
Madrid, Palacio Vista Alegre; November 13
Barcelona, Auditori Forum; November 14
Rome, Auditorium Conciliazione; November 15
Zurich, Hallenstadion; November 21
Dublin, Convention Centre; November 22
San Jose, San Jose Civic Center; December 5

Interested in buying tickets, or want more information? You can visit the symphony's official website here.

Have you been to a Symphony of the Goddess concert yet? If you have, share your experience with us in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo Everything

Twilight Princess Wins the 2015 ZVS Best Zelda Game Tournament

Nathan — Wed, 27 May 2015 02:10:00 +0000

It's been a wild ZVS Best Zelda Game Tournament this year, as we had a lot of close matchups with the finals not being an exception. A Link to the Past and Twilight Princess went toe to toe, exchanging leads several times, but in the end Twilight Princess took the crown in what was our closest ZVS finals ever. The championship was decided by less than 1% in the votes, with less than 10 votes between them being the different, with over 3000 votes cast. Here is the ultimate final tally and result:

Now that the tournament has ended, it's time to make suggestions for our next ZVS tournament, or ways we can improve this specific one for next year. Please refrain from saying "we need to do the posts more often, etc" - we're aware and the issue that caused all the delays will be rectified in the future. What matters right now is how we can make a more compelling Best Zelda Game Tournament next year, and which ZVS tournament you wish to see next. Fan art above is by GENZOMAN.

Theorization of Demise's Origins: Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds Are Connected

Link 2 — Thu, 28 May 2015 08:30:00 +0000

Spoiler Warning: Major Plot Spoilers for Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds.

Remember Demise? The main villain of Skyward Sword whose hatred is later reincarnated into what is now known as the The Great King of Evil Ganondorf? Sure you do.

Most think he is just a one-time villain who was created by Nintendo just so they had a new and exciting villain in Skyward Sword, but I know the truth. After reading this editorial, so will you.

Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds

There is a connection between Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds. It's so subtle, yet so important. It makes so much sense once you think about it. My question is this: have you ever studied Demise's sword? I have, and what I found was pretty interesting.

On Demise's sword, there is an upside-down Triforce. Some would say something along the lines of, "So what? He's evil, it's just an inverted Triforce. Nothing more." If this were early 2013 or sooner, I would agree, but a little game was released later in 2013 called A Link Between Worlds. A Link Between Worlds features a darker counterpart to Hyrule: a place called Lorule.

The Hyrule Kingdom has the Triforce, created by the three goddesses, as explained in Ocarina of Time. Therefore, Lorule, its counterpart, must have its own Triforce, correct? I am indeed correct, for in A Link Between Worlds, much of the game plot is based around this Lorulean Triforce. Some called it the "Nega-Force" before the game released. Regardless of its name, there is something very different about this Lorulian Triforce: it is upside down.

Ding! The light bulb turns on! What small detail has been engraved on Demise's sword that Nintendo so cleverly put there? It is the very same upside-down Triforce. I theorize that Demise's sword, as well as Demise himself, originated from Lorule. Surprised?

Fissures Speak Louder Than Words

Another connection to A Link Between Worlds was Link's new-found ability to merge and travel along walls using a bracelet given to him by his Lorulian counterpart, Ravio. This enables Link to travel freely between the world of Hyrule and Lorule, by slipping into cracks along the landscape. These cracks are described in the game as "fissures."

I promise I haven't educated you about the proper term for A Link Between Worlds' magical cracks in the landscape for nothing. The reason I dedicated a whole paragraph to it is because these cracks are mentioned in Skyward Sword. It is described to Link how Demise and his minions came to invade Hyrule: they traveled from a dark place via cracks in the landscape. These cracks are once again described as "fissures."

Is it a stretch to say that the fissures mentioned in Skyward Sword and the fissures that appear scattered throughout A Link Between Worlds are one and the same? I don't believe so. In fact, I think Nintendo, or rather, Aonuma and the Zelda development team, have geniously crafted this little connection between Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds.

A future Zelda game might revisit these fissures, and we may see the return of Lorule and its inhabitants. It's looking like Zelda U will be a Skyward Sword sequel or prequel, so could we see the return of Lorule much sooner than we think? It's possible.

I could theorize about Zelda U all day, but that's for another editorial. For now, I'd like to present my final convincing argument on how Demise originates from Lorule, and how Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds are connected.

Lions and Tigers and Living Swords, oh My!

Think back, if you will, to the events of Skyward Sword. Link uses the Goddess Sword, which later transforms into the Master Sword. Fi, Link's companion, is the spirit of the sword. For all intents and purposes, Fi is the Master Sword.

Now hold that thought! We will revisit that in a moment. I would like state again the fact that Lorule is an alternate version of Hyrule. To further explain this, I will list a few examples. Princess Zelda's Lorulian counterpart is Princess Hilda. Link's Lorulian counterpart is Ravio. Not only that, but we see that most of the residents in Kakariko Village have Lorulian counterparts as well, such as the Blacksmith and his wife.

Now let's move back to Skyward Sword. If Fi originates from Hyrule, than she must have a Lorulian counterpart. Who could this be? Who else can turn into a sword? The Demon Lord himself, Ghirahim the fabulous! Not only does he turn into a sword, but he turns into the foundation of this theory: Demise's sword.

Think about it: Fi, a Hyrulian, turns into the the Master Sword, which has a Triforce on it. Ghirahim, now a supposed Lorulian, turns into the opposite of the Master Sword, Demise's Blade, which has an upside down Triforce on it. It all fits into place! It's all a clever plot designed by the minds behind the Zelda franchise. How could it not be?

Closing

Such meticulous detail was planted for us, the theorization community, by Nintendo. This tiny, yet so important aspect of the upside down Triforce is most likely not a coincidence. If it was just one detail on its own, then maybe I would say otherwise: but it's not.

We also have the particular and peculiar wording of "fissures" described in both games, and the carefully designed counterpart to Fi, Ghirahim. I mean, come on! They both turn into swords. These three details that just "so happen" to support each other can not be coincidences.

Have I convinced you? Is Demise now more important than you originally thought? Do you think I'm spouting untrue hogwash and that this theory is the epitome of wrong? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Fan Art: Legend-tony980

New Any% Speedrun World Record Set For The Wind Waker

HyruleHero3D — Wed, 27 May 2015 02:39:00 +0000

Speedrunner ChaoticAce has made a very big achievement: Setting a new World Record for speedrunning The Wind Waker. Ace has been working to improve his completion time of the main quest of Wind Waker, finally reaching this new record of four hours, three minutes, and fifty-eight seconds. For those of you who don't know what Any% is, it's a type of Speedrun that only requires completion of the main quest through any means, which includes glitches. The goal is to get to the final cutscene/end credits from the very beginning as fast as possible. You can check out how much he beat the previous records by at ZeldaSpeedRuns.

Daily Debate: What is the Best Overworld For 3D Console Zelda Games?

Mases — Fri, 29 May 2015 17:45:00 +0000

Throughout some the of best 3D titles of The Legend of Zelda series, we've seen some pretty iconic places: mystical forests, frozen peaks, and mysterious temples. But what I'd like to discuss today is the area that binds them all together in a single world. Today, we are going to take a look back at the overworld zones, their best features, and what we'd enjoy seeing most in future titles.

The most memorable form of overworld in Zelda is the field system. While a field or pasture fits in well with the theme of a game like Zelda, the use of fields makes for some of the best exploration in a game. You can roam around endlessly, observing all the details put in, or head straight to your destination; walk steadily on foot, or dash on your steed; fight off enemies in your way, or go around. In the end, more often that not, a path will be laid out for you, yet the way you follow through is always up to you, as the field offers more freedom than almost any of the other aspects of the games it's in.

In early 3D titles, such as Ocarina of Time & Majora's Mask, once we first step foot into the fields we have complete control to go to almost any spot in its boundaries. Both games had the iconic locations primarily linked through the field, just as well as in almost any other game with the field system, and the first time we explore a new location we usually enter from its connections to the fields.

However, in a newer Zelda game with the field overworld, Twilight Princess, the classic system is redone in an unusual, but refreshing manner. Unlike other games, Twilight Princess' fields are only shown to us piece by piece, each separated from one another by natural boundaries. This is used as a tool for the game's linearity, as we cannot venture to the other parts of the field without gaining access to their passages. That means as we continually progress throughout the story, more and more of the world will come into view. This opens up new passages and unique fields to explore later on, rather than all at once, like in previous games.

Another type of overworld seen before we adventured into Twilight Princess was the Great Sea. In a timeline in which Hyrule has been flooded by oceans and only small islands remain, we travel across the Great Sea after gaining access to a vessel; an important factor, as we cannot simply travel across the seas on our own accord. The Great Sea offers more freedom in some ways, but lessens it in others. With only a large body of water in our way, so long as we have a boat, we can travel across it in any direction we please, approaching islands at any angle, and ignoring places we wish to skip.

As we must remain in our vessel during our voyages, we are unable to use most of our skills and inventory while journeying its overworld. So far only The Wind Waker and its sequel, Phantom Hourglass, have shown to use this style of overworld. While it's truly an interesting factor to see in a Zelda game, it's unclear if we will see it again any time soon.

The newest form of overworld to 3D Zelda are the skies from Skyward Sword. Although we've only seen the use of this overworld once, it was one of the most intriguing aspects of the game. In it we flew through the sky on our Loftwing, exploring the mysterious floating islands and following the pillars of light to the surface of the world. One of the best parts of exploration through the sky overworld was the addition of a z-axis, allowing us to rise up and descend within a certain boundary, setting it distinctly apart from other 3D Zelda titles. It's doubtful that the sky will ever appear as an overworld again, but it would likely make a welcome and exciting return in any new game to the Zelda series.

What are your opinions about the best overworlds for Zelda? Is there a favorite system you'd like to see return? Maybe a new one you'd like them to try out? Leave your opinions in the comments below!

Check Out This Great Unique Zelda Item Art

Nathan — Wed, 27 May 2015 03:46:00 +0000

Zelda fans find a new way to surprise me every single day, and it has happened again thanks to artist Marie Bergeron. She has re-imagined a slew of of Zelda items in a great art style. She also sells prints of much of her work, but more on that later. Her art invokes classic old school feeling that tugs at my heart strings while systematically making me want even more. You can find much more of her work over on her Tumblr page or buy some of her prints on her store. Are you loving her art as much as we are?

Daily Debate: What's the Best Way to Handle Romance in a Zelda Game?

RODTheMaster — Wed, 27 May 2015 09:30:00 +0000

While adventure, exploration, and fantasy continue to be the focal points of the Zelda series, players have been able to explore the idea of romance from time to time. For the most part, these romantic elements never felt too forced or annoying, but many fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with the way these things have been handled. If there truly is a place for romance in Zelda, what's the best way to make it work?

The concept of romance has been seen in a handful of Zelda games, such as Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword. In the former, romantic prospects for Link are merely implied or only brought up briefly. The closest thing Link has to a romantic encounter is with Princess Ruto, and the hero does not seem all that invested in such a relationship. In Skyward Sword, a romantic relationship between Link and Zelda is implied as a possibility, but it never progresses enough for some players to feel satisfied. Some fans may prefer to see a relationship fully form between these types of characters, while others may prefer that romance stay understated.

The most players have been able to lead Link down the path of love was with Peatrice in Skyward Sword. Link is given agency in the situation, spending time talking to the girl and ultimately choosing a relationship if the player agrees. However, to me, there is still an emotional disconnect coming from Link. The problem I recognize in many Zelda games is that Link is never given the chance to develop a romantic interest as a character. Flirtations and emotions are directed at him every so often, but as players, we are not allowed to see him react realistically. To me, if romance is to be handled correctly in the series, Link needs to be given the chance to engage with characters in a way that shows romantic development between both Link and his partner.

What do you think? How should the Zelda series best handle romance? Should stories spend more time developing romantic relationships between Link and others? Or should the idea romance be left undefined? Share your thoughts and join the Daily Debate!

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