legend of zelda
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VC Friday: Riots in the streets
Today's news: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time hits the Virtual Console in Europe, and every gamer in Japan and the U.S. shakes their fist and curses Nintendo. What a coup! It seems like things are really hot and cold for Europe when it comes to gaming. Usually, gamers have to pace around, waiting for games and systems that are months delayed, but when you guys get something early, it tends to be pretty awesome. So ... you downloading it today? OoT isn't cheap by VC standards, but is that much to pay for what many consider to be one of the best video games of all time?Today's releases: Kid Icarus -- NES -- 500 Wii points The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time -- N64 -- 1000 Wii points
DS Daily: On Zelda
Remember this? Phantom Hourglass crushed every other option in that poll, and today we'd like to talk about why. What is it about the Zelda franchise that keeps you enchanted? We'd also love to hear about your favorite Zelda memories. We recently re-played the original on the Virtual Console, and rediscovering everything brought back our earliest memories of the series. It's made us half want to play through all of them again! Do you ever get that urge? And for those of you who (gasp!) aren't fans ... what is it about the adventures of Link that turns you off?
President's Day surprise: Jefferson (?) in Twilight Princess
Even after the day, the spirit of President's Day (sure, why not) continues in Videoland. Zelda Dimension posted this picture of a painting found on a wall in Zelda: Twilight Princess, and it looks an awful lot like Thomas Jefferson ... or maybe George Washington? Or maybe dust? Apparently, one of the NPCs is a student of American history. We love finding secrets in Zelda, but we don't like being confronted with a blurry texture in a Wii game. Maybe the Zelda Dimension blogger was using composite cables, and that's why the picture is blurry? Yeah, that's the ticket!We look forward to seeing the Zelda timeline theorists chew on this one.[Via digg]
Miyamoto's future: unique, simple, nonviolent games
Shigeru Miyamoto has spent a lifetime developing hit games for Nintendo -- Mario, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, etc. Speaking to CNN's Talk Asia, the industry legend disclosed that he hopes to continue working on games for everyone to enjoy that tackle themes atypical for gaming."There is an abundance of themes that people are interested in," he said, "and video games have only touched on few of them." No examples are cited, but would he consider working with serious, mature themes such as heartache, loss, redemption, suffering, et cetera? Miyamoto, alluding to Nintendo's new mantra, also explained that his future projects will be simple enough for all ages to enjoy, which is something he has always seemed to be adept at, though our previously-mentioned themes will probably not feature into universally-appealing projects.The interview touched briefly on violence in video games, a theme Miyamoto does not wish to tackle. "Looking at the overall picture, it is important to understand and feel the pain that people might have ... we also have to take a careful approach, even in the circumstances when we are not portraying direct violence." Though the game legend might have aversion to violence, his words imply that there are cases when non-excessive presentation of aggression is understandable. Then again, if his goal is to appeal to people aged five to 95, then violence is probably something he's better off avoiding.The Talk Asia interview also serves as a primer for those interested in Miyamoto's background; much of the history discussion reads like a Wikipedia entry.[Pictured: Link nonviolently driving a sword into Ganon's head. Don't worry, he doesn't die.]
Twilight Princess Easter eggs & tin-foil hat conspiracies
Green chus? Bottomless pits of water? Warp birds named after hexadecimal color codes? Maaaybe...IGN forum poster yoshi117's list of Twilight Princess "Easter eggs" isn't entirely useless; in fact, it highlights many of the inconspicuous details that were sprinkled into Nintendo's heralded masterpiece. The importance of these minute elements is often overlooked in game development, but Nintendo EAD proves once again how a little touch of wonder, or harmless act of mischief, can provide a lasting memory.[Thanks, KozWiz; via Wii Fanboy]
Play Zelda on your PSP
Nintendo isn't making a Zelda game for the PSP, but that doesn't mean soon you won't be able to play with Link on Sony's system. Over at the DCEmu forums a user named Zion has created a teaser trailer for a homebrew Zelda game he's creating. The trailer is short, but shows immense promise. If you'd like to find out more check out the DCEmu forums.
Nintendo holds key to franchise longevity, profitability
As noted earlier, a list published by UK newspaper The Independent reveals what many already assume; Nintendo's Mario is the best-selling franchise of all time. Coupled with the second best-selling franchise Pokémon (also a Nintendo property), the two series, which have sold a combined 348 million games worldwide, account for nearly 34% of the total sales of the top-twenty best-selling franchises; which include two additional Nintendo IPs ranked in the top ten, Donkey Kong and Zelda. So what's Nintendo's secret?Cross-culture appeal, spin-offs (e.g., racers, sports titles, puzzlers), brand saturation (e.g., apparel, card games, TV shows), and E-ratings all appear part of a profitable formula built for the long haul.
Ohhhh Canada, you could win a giant Link
People of Canada, you can win a giant life-sized link to roam the plains of Saskatchewan ... or just have it sit in your room, staring at you with those deep blue eyes. Nintendo of Canada is having a contest between now and Jan. 31, the grand prize is a "limited edition life-size collectible statue of the character Link from the Legend of Zelda." Approx. value is $500 CDN ($425 USD). Three second prize winners get a Link "statuette." Here's a weak part for the grand winner: "Delivery charges are the sole responsibility of each winner." So, not only do you have to win Link, but you've got to ship his "life-size" self. No details on Link's height or weight. We wish there was a bigger photo to show, but that's all we've got. Beware the pointy ears though, you'll poke your eye out.[Thanks Cody]
Artistic NES up for sale
The NES, billed as the savior of the video game industry after the 1980s crash, has a special place in the hearts of many long-time gamers. Now, an artist is offering up a piece of that with an NES. Not just any original NES, but one lovingly painted. Depicting The Legend of Zelda, one of the NES's landmark titles, the NES is not only a functioning piece of gaming history, but an incredibly well done piece of art. The NES looks like a screen shot were taped to the top of it and is protected by 3 or 4 layers of acrylic coating. The seller also has other custom painted systems featuring Kid Icarus and Mega Man 2. Worth taking a look at if you're under the mindset that games are art, as these systems are quite artistic.
Metareview - Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube)
For Wii-less GameCube owners it's a no-brainer; you pro'ly been had your copy of Twilight Princess. But for those few Wii owners who are considering the GameCube edition, still unable to take decisive action, here are several takes on how the two versions match up:
Wii Mario & Metroid, DS Zelda in late '07
Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption will arrive in late 2007 according to the latest round of whisper down the lane. CVG reports that "sources close to Nintendo" have cited the delays and have also verified that Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will be released at the tail-end of next year.Officially, Nintendo would only acknowledge that Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, and Phantom Hourglass would debut in 2007. But the holiday stretch (October-December) is the obvious release window. Be patient.
Adult Link awes gamers
It's about time we saw an adult Link figurine! We got kinda tired of looking at Skull Kid and Fierce Deity Link standing on our shelf all alone. Yeah, we are the losers who dropped too much money for these guys. And yes, we do still live with our mother. So what? The Hero of Time proudly carries the Master Sword in his left hand (the way it should be -- no offense Twilight Princess) and looks like he us ready for some good 'ol Ganon slaying. Got $110 with nothing better to spend it on? We've got you covered. [Via Press Release]
New Zelda for Wii "deep in development," Phantom Hourglass delayed
The new issue of Game Informer (#165) reportedly alleges that the next Wii installment of The Legend of Zelda has been "deep in development for around a year." Admittedly, this rumor comes as little surprise, since consistent first-party support is crucial for Wii's success.We needn't remind you that Twilight Princess is a GameCube game with tacked on Wii functionality. While no doubt a key asset to the Wii launch, Twilight Princess is not a showcase for the new platform. Rest assured Nintendo has been working on 'that' particular Zelda entry since the moment the Wii concept was birthed. That's not to say we expect a true Wii Zelda before 2008. Remember, Metroid and Mario are holding it down in '07.Game Informer also reports that Phantom Hourglass for DS as been delayed until October 2007; a full year after the Wind Waker sequel was initially expected. Sound familiar?
Readers pick best webcomic: Zelda get!
Joystiq readers congratulated Press Start to Play's creators for picking up Twilight Princess by awarding their recount with the dubious nod as webcomic of the week. "[It] wins this one for me," explains commenter CJC, "having done that same thing before." Indeed, many other comments admit to having the same experience when purchasing their copy.Second place goes to VG Cats' G-Four'd and third place Penny Arcade. We love Tycho and Gabe's work, but this comment by reader Tim may make true fans of this wrapup sick, as he notes that he votes for PA weekly without even looking at the other choices, but at least he's honest.Our pick of the week? Digital Unrests' nerdtacular Vectorman strip. Thanks for everyone who (legitimately) voted; be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!
Master Sword forged for Zelda fan
What do you get when you take a bloke obsessed with Zelda and too much money? A real-life Master Sword, straight from Scotland. The blacksmiths over at Castle Keep took several designs and artwork of the Master Sword from fanatic Paul Hantschel and prepared to forge. Almost a year and $3,300 later, Paul received one of the most famous weapons in gaming history. Now it is time for him to don the traditional green tunic and take on the greatest task gamers have faced for nearly 20 years. Following the break is a ginormous image of the real-life Master Sword in all its Tektite slashing glory. You are allowed to drool for a moment before remembering how much he paid for an item that it will probably do no more than sit on a mantle or be sold on eBay after its glitter has vanished. [Via 1P Start]
Nintendo sells 600K Wiis at launch, 454K Zeldas
Nintendo's numbers are finally in and business is looking good. Nintendo has reported they sold 600,000 units at launch and are on track to hit the full million goal in the US by the end of the year. The Wii wasn't flying off the shelves alone. Twilight Princess accompanied 454,000 of them. That number is actually quite surprising given how large a franchise it is; we'd have expected every Wii to be paired up with its very own Zelda game, a 1:1 attach rate. In any case, Twilight Princess is looking to be the first million seller on the Wii if Nintendo can (presumably) reach those 2 million in the US by the end of January. Nintendo's positive news is nice for those who still want a Wii but can't yet find it; you may have a relatively easy time finding one before the next big holiday hits. This is, of course, a far cry better than the other guy. Can Nintendo capitalize on their production capabilities and storm the market?
The Master Sword has been found!
Some people truly enjoy their franchises; Paul Hantschel is one of those people. It would seem Paul wasn't satisfied with cheap plastic knock-off replicas of the Master Sword and decided he would want to own the real deal. Just don't stick it to your Wiimote and lose control. With £1,800 in hand -- or a whopping $3,300 -- he asked a blacksmith by the name of Rob Miller in Scotland to build it. 10 months later, Paul is battling Dodongos with his trusty sword. The $3,300 is certainly a hefty price but, given the details seen in the sword, well worth it. We're wondering what kind of metal the smith used ... most likely SCA-approved iron. While we're sure Paul already knows this, he should keep the thing oiled to keep it from rusting. In any case, this method of obtaining the Master Sword is much better than fighting your way through a forest or getting thrown into the future. [Thanks, Justin H.]
Zelda, a retrospective in six parts
It's likely that you've seen one or even all of the Zelda retrospectives at GameTrailers, but we wanted to collect them here for ease of viewing on those long winter evenings. They've done a really fantastic job of chronicling what truly has become an epic adventure -- perhaps even, for us, one of the foremost fantasy tales of our lives. Even if you're not a huge fan of the series, it's likely that you know some things about Link; that he is out to save Hyrule, that he favors green, and that his story is tangled with that of a certain princess. It's so strange to think of The Legend of Zelda as spanning twenty years (especially to those of us who clearly remember playing the original ...), but watching these retrospectives, one begins to feel the time that has passed, because the story of Link has become a part of us, alongside the other fairy tales with which we grew up. Link is a modern hero and his never-ending quest, in every form, is ours as well.If you're looking to save all the footage for posterity (and later watching), there's a convenient torrent of all six parts over at WiiNintendo.net.
CNNMoney picks 10 best gifts for gamers
Having already advised gamers to hold off from buying a PlayStation 3, it's not surprising that CNN's Chris Morris has no PS3 goods on his holiday shopping list. Besides, only a few brave (and crazy) souls have managed to procure Sony's "non-competitive" new console. Instead, Morris recommends the following titles for CNNMoney's game gift guide: Gears of War (Xbox 360) Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, Xbox 360) Half-Life 2: Episode 1 (PC) Guitar Hero 2 (PS2) Kingdom Hearts 2 (PS2) Okami (PS2) Brain Age (DS) New Super Mario Brothers (DS) Excite Truck (Wii) Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) Not a very sports-friendly list (no Hawk or Madden?), and PSP owners are also left out in the cold. Anything else missing?
Joystiq Video: Buying Zelda (NES) on the Wii's Virtual Console service
After finally getting our Wii connected to the internet (after myriad failed attempts), we immediately jumped into the Wii Shop to download one of the thirty or so games promised around launch. First in the virtual shopping cart: The Legend of Zelda. After a brief download (with Mario waiting screen), we fired up our new Zelda channel and played what appeared to be a pixel perfect replica of the 1986 NES classic. Nice touches: hot pluggable GameCube pad support (we popped in a Wavebird and it just worked) and an embedded instruction manual (just hit the Home button).Available games and prices (remember, 100 Wii points = 100¢ in US currency and ¥100 in Japanese currency, but the conversion isn't so neat for other currencies) : Altered Beast (800 Wii points) Donkey Kong (500 Wii points) F-Zero (800 Wii points) Mario Bros. (500 Wii points) Pinball (500 Wii points) SimCity (800 Wii points) Soccer (500 Wii points) Solomon's Key (500 Wii points) Sonic the Hedgehog (800 Wii points) Super Mario 64 (1000 Wii points) The Legend of Zelda (500 points) Wario's Woods (500 points) A video of the entire Wii Shop experience is embedded after the break.
