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Watch this guy shred through four decades of video game music
Sure, some video games require lightning-fast fingers, but even the most insane combos in Street Fighter don't quite compare to running up and down a guitar's fretboard lickety-split. To pay tribute to 40-plus years of gaming history, YouTuber FamilyJules7X put together an epic 17-minute performance (embedded after the break) of music from the medium's past and present. If you ever wanted to hear heavy metal versions of classic game-themes like Space Invaders, Phozon and Tetris alongside those of Donkey Kong Country, Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Fallout 3, this should be right up your alley. Most impressive? Jules shot the video, mixed the audio, programmed the drums and performed the guitar and bass parts himself in eight days -- all during his last week of college finals. If you want to download an MP3 of the track, hit the YouTube page. Now, if you'll pardon us, we have some head-banging to do.
The original Legend of Zelda goes first-person for Oculus Rift demo
What happens when you cross Being John Malkovich with NES classic The Legend of Zelda? You get the terrifying Oculus Rift demo seen in video below the break. The mod is currently just the game's overworld and its first dungeon, but there are plans to scale up the whole game to VR playability by March of this year (yes, for free -- this is Nintendo's property, after all). Should you already have an Oculus headset and a strong constitution, the demo's available right here.
Zelda edition Nintendo 3DS XL spotted in GameStop ad with $220 price
Americans wanting that flashy Zelda edition 3DS XL may not have to import a European model. If GottaDeal.com's leaked copy of GameStop's Black Friday flyer proves to be accurate, Nintendo's gold-colored handheld should be available in the US for $220. As overseas, stateside buyers would get both a Triforce-adorned 3DS XL and a download code for A Link Between Worlds. Nintendo hasn't confirmed an American launch, so don't plan your shopping trip just yet; we've reached out to the company for details. Should the Zelda bundle come to the US, though, it may satisfy gamers (and gift-givers) looking for a truly stand-out system this holiday.
The Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker HD launches in October, boasts faster sailing
Looking for a new Zelda game for your Wii U? Nintendo hasn't quite spilled the beans on that one, but it has given us some additional details about the system's upcoming Gamecube remake: The Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker HD will hit stores this October. Naturally, Nintendo boasted that the game would be rendered in 1080p, justifying the "HD" part of the game's title, but the company saw fit to patch some of the original game's non-visual shortcomings, too -- lightly teasing itself for the Gamecube release's long and dull sailing segments. The fix, apparently, was numbingly simple: hold the A button to sail faster. Satoru Iwata also explained that they also had to tweak a few mechanics to get it ready for the Wii U, namely replacing the GBA-link Tingle Tuner mode for the original game with a "Tingle Bottle," which allows users to send messages in a bottle via Miiverse. Unfortunately, that's all Nintendo had to say about the Zelda franchise. Is a Wind Waker remake enough to tide fans over until the Wii U gets an original Zelda game? Let us know what you think -- we do have a comments section, after all. Follow all of our E3 2013 coverage at our event hub.%Gallery-191044%
Watch Link rescue Zelda using 16 Apple devices
FinalCutKing, the ever-popular YouTuber, is back with yet another short film, this time featuring Nintendo's own Legend of Zelda franchise. After Princess Zelda is captured on the display of an iMac, Link springs into action, exploring a total of 16 Apple iMacs, MacBooks, iPads and iPhones in search of her. We won't spoil the ending, but suffice it to say that he gets a little digital help from Apple in taking out the evil kidnapper.
Legend of Zelda prototype cartridge goes to auction: $150,000 proves your loyalty to Hyrule (video)
And you thought that Nintendo World Championships gold cartridge would make a nice start to the retirement fund. An eBay auction from tjcurtin1 is offering a prototype NES cartridge for the US release of The Legend of Zelda at a Buy It Now price of $150,000, or roughly ten times more than the typical final bid that Price Charting quotes for a typical NWC cart. While it looks like an unassuming yellow chunk of plastic, it's actually a Nintendo of America copy from February 23, 1987 -- half a year before the definitive action adventure reached the US market. The game still plays and can even save its game on the still functional, industry-first battery backup. Just remember that it's not necessarily going to reveal any design secrets from Shigeru Miyamoto or Takashi Tezuka: the seller warns that he can't see any practical differences between the early copy and the (also included) shipping version. Anyone well-heeled enough to buy the prototype is therefore going solely for the collector's value. But for those determined to be the coolest kid on any block about 25 years late, there's only one way to go.
Nintendo looks to keep you warm, bundled even, with two more 3DS packages
So you've got a few folks on your holiday shopping list that just aren't Zelda fans. You can still spring for some Nintendo hardware with two more bundles due out December 4th. Inside, you'll find a pink Nintendo 3DS paired with your choice of nintendogs + cats: French Bulldog and New Friends or nintendogs + cats: Toy Poodle and New Friends. Both of the aforementioned bundles will set you back $169.99 -- the same cost of a lonely 3DS system purchased solo. If a pink handheld just isn't what you're after, you may opt for one of The Big N's other bundles already on shelves, including the Midnight Blue DSi XL. In need of a quick refresher before hitting the mall? Check out the PR below for a complete list of Nintendo's holiday package offerings.
Zelda-branded Nintendo 3DS coming to US GameStops?
Is Nintendo's Zelda-branded 3DS making its way to the US? It certainly seems to be, based on the above GameStop ad. Spotted by one of our eagle-eyed tipsters, this leaked Black Friday promo offers the gold-and-black, Hyrule-emblazoned console as part of a bundle deal that also features The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. This can all be yours, apparently, for the price of $200 (or as little as $100, if you're willing to part with one of your older consoles). Nintendo has yet to issue an official word on Zelda's stateside arrival, but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we hear more. [Thanks, Colin]
Daily iPhone App: Fara
Fara is quite a game. The gameplay itself new -- in fact, the script even jokes that the hack-and-slash, Zelda-style title has been done before (by a guy in a green cap). It's Fara's style that's special. The backgrounds and characters are all hand-painted, and the script's self-referential writing push Fara past its humble gameplay mechanics. Plus, the intro hints at a much larger premise Fara offers some fun physics twists and the touch controls are well executed. Most of your moves a swipe or a tap, yet I felt fully in control of the character's actions. That's a great sign with an action game like this. There's a lot of mystery in Fara. So much so that casual gamers might be turned off by its reliance on gaming tropes and the mix of styles that hints at that larger story. But I would say it's worth sticking with. There's a lot of depth here, and while Fara just drops you into its strange world, it's a world worth exploring. Fara is available on the App Store for US$2.99.
Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and golden Wiimote headed for November 20th release
It's hard to believe Link (read: you) has been saving Hyrule and the kidnap-prone Zelda for 25 long years. To commemorate this video gaming milestone, and its upcoming Skyward Sword installment, Nintendo's issuing a limited edition Fabergé egg. Alright, we kid, it's actually the golden Wii Remote Plus we told you about back at E3, except now we've got a release date and pricing. Hitting retailers' shelves on November 20th, gamers can opt for the golden remote bundle at $69.99, or the standalone game for $49.99. Although the swanky controller won't be sold separately, all initial units of both offerings will come with a gratis The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert music CD. You can head past the break to check out the Big N's official presser.
Miyamoto: Ocarina of Time could have been in first-person perspective
There aren't many gamers who don't harbor fond memories associated with the Nintendo 64's classic adventure (and to many, the greatest installment in the Hylian franchise), Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. In addition to its beloved story and incredible visuals, it was a groundbreaking third-person adventure through an intricately detailed fantasy world -- but would we (and Game Rankings) still hold the triforce-hunting adventure in such high regard if we had experienced Hyrule directly through the point-eared protagonist's eyes?In a recent discussion between Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and revolutionary game developer (and Time's most influential person of 2008) Shigeru Miyamoto, it was outed that Shiggy secretly possesses a penchant for first-person shooters (notably, Rare's seminal N64 shooter Goldeneye), and that he'd considered creating Ocarina of Time using an Oblivion-esque first-person perspective. We're not quite sure how this would have affected the title -- but we're certainly terrified of the prospect of witnessing Darunia's sexy dance of seduction first-hand.
Readers pick best webcomic: Visceration Station
Big thanks to Supafine's "Legend of Zelda: Visceration Station" webcomic for finally (and logically) explaining the heart system to us. The least we, as the Joystiq community, can apparently do is bestow you the honor of best game-related webcomic of the week.Second and third place went to XKCD and College Humor, respectively. Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to let us know of any gaming comics you stumble upon this week!
April Fools' Alert #3: Legend of Zelda movie by IGN
IGN has a little fun this April Fools' Day with its exclusive Legend of Zelda movie trailer. The preview plays out like one giant cliché with fan service and a distinctive Uwe quality to it. We'd love to embed the preview and show you, but the code is broken and all we seem to get is some PSP-licker (and game butt-rubber) hosting a show.Last year we had another impressive Zelda-inspired April Fools' joke with a preview for a Legend of Zelda game set in a future/Star Wars version of Hyrule. We can't help but think IGN's trailer would have been better (and more over the top) had Link been walking down the street of some poor provincial town and people started bursting out singing like the opening of La Belle et la Bête Beauty and the Beast.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
You got The Quilt of Power!
Look, it's all well and good stomping off to rescue princesses and reassemble golden triangular relics, but at least remember that it's a cold, unforgiving world out there, and you'll need something warm to wrap around yourself at some point. As the only other Zelda quilt we've posted about was never put up for sale, this one should do the trick, even if it is ... $475?! We advise chopping grass to raise the required funds.Take a closer look at this work of art after the break.
October NPD: Wii, DS dethrone Xbox 360
After the NPD group's short-lived hesitation in providing monthly US console sales data spawned many an unhappy emoticon, it comes as a great relief to present October's magnificent results. This is especially true considering that all platforms have ducked out of last month's Halo effect and returned to their familiar positions -- the Wii and DS are back on top and the PlayStation 3 is, well, you know. GameDaily notes that the industry once again saw over $1 billion dollars leaving wallets at uncanny speeds, placing total sales for the year (through October) at $10.5 billion. At the same time last year, the amount had "just" reached $7 billion. Nintendo Wii: 519K (5 million total) Nintendo DS: 458K (13.6 million total) Microsoft Xbox 360: 366K (7.1 million total) Sony PSP: 286K (8.8 million total) Sony PlayStation 2: 184K (39.4 million total) Sony PlayStation 3: 121K (1.9 million total)
Today's most retro montage: Zelda ads
Currently popular on GameTrailers, we missed Skullkid700's montage of Zelda commercials from earlier in the year. Since this sort of thing only gets better with age, we're highlighting it here. We've come a long way.See the montage after the break. Yes, it includes the Zelda rap. You have been warned.
Today's most mechanical (poultry) video: Robot Chicken does Legend of Zelda
When all else fails in the world of hottest videos, we can always turn to Seth Green's maniacal "Robot Chicken" series for some skewed take on our beloved video game memories. Today's bastardization of gaming canon comes in the form of Legend of Zelda, following his rescue of Zelda. It didn't quite turn out as planned, but hey, at least he got eight rupees. Our only critique is that Link doesn't hold them high over his head in a dramatic pose.
In Zelda, even walking can be an adventure
We don't have to tell you that a lot of people weren't exactly fans of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; Nintendo fans who loved it (and even those who didn't) heard the complaints over and over again. That's made a few people a little wary of the upcoming Phantom Hourglass, and we understand. Really, we do, even if we don't necessarily agree. But from every scrap we've seen from the latest handheld entry in the franchise, it's shaping up to be a real adventure -- which is the biggest complaint about the series as time goes on. We've seen it. We've done it. We've been been heroic through the ages, and though we love every moment spent in Hyrule, sometimes, we crave something a little different. From the looks of things, we're about to get just that, and more.Our own JC Fletcher spent some time with Phantom Hourglass recently at PAX, and his report is nothing short of glowing. Everything in the game feels fresh and new, and what's more? It's just plain fun. There are all the elements we need for a Zelda game: familiar enemies and tasks, but the smooth stylus-based controls turn the forests and seas of Hyrule into a whole new world. We've been waiting for this one for a long time, but the closer we get to release, the more it seems that it's all been worth it. We've tucked a video behind the break that offers up a short glimpse of simple navigation that shows off the stylus-based movement, so you can see for yourself. Just watch out for the trees. %Gallery-4748%
Metroid retrospective explores first two games
It's kinda strange how GameTrailers is doing the job we'd expect from a video game cable network. Anyway, right on the heels of the second installment in their Final Fantasy retrospective, GameTrailers has also released the first part in their Metroid retrospective. The five part series starts off with Metroid on the NES and Metroid II on the Game Boy, subsequent episodes will come out every week.Of course, the series goes in game release order and not chronological order. Metroid II is actually much later on in the Samus plot line than the Metroid games of recent -- but we're sure that'll all get explained. This retrospective seems to be done just as well as the Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy ones we've come to enjoy. Hopefully in time they'll find a little section on the site to dedicate to these for lazy Sunday afternoon viewing.
Digdogger hates certain kind of fashion
We're about as nerdy about NES games as one can get without becoming a ruined shell of an eBay addict, but we're pretty sure we'd get self-conscious about walking around with this Legend of Zelda overworld map belt on. But, then, we'd be more self-conscious about walking around with no pantal support at all. Alas, this belt is for ladies only, so we won't be testing our love of Zelda and secure pants against our modesty. The belt will be available for sale on the 27th, at a special price of $15. Boy, this is really not expensive![Update: it's actually unisex. Also, I suppose it's silly to think of a belt being 'for ladies only.' If it looks like a belt you want to wear, wear it! Thanks to unbreakable_idea for the correction.][Via Wonderland]
