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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.
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.
Metareview: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The reviews are rolling in, and it's safe to say at this point that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is going to be a megahit. Reviewers everywhere are bestowing high-to-perfect scores on Link's latest, and many are already declaring it the best entry in the series. And considering the series, that's a bold statement. But there's one word that keeps popping up in these reviews: fantastic. And that's some of the best news we've heard in a long time.1UP - 100%: Twilight Princess is something you rarely see: a 60-hour adventure in which every moment is memorable. But then, maybe that's no surprise -- it represents the full resources and effort of the world's most powerful first-party developer, and thanks to all those delays, it's even enjoyed an extra year of polish and refinement. The question to ask therefore isn't "Is it any good?" but rather "Just how good is it?" The answer? Truly fantastic.
Spoilerific Twilight Princess video
Oh, agony. Those not fortunate enough to play Zelda: Twilight Princess must settle for spoiler videos. While most are patient enough to wait to see plot points of the game when they play it, the rest of us can't help ourselves. We almost mess our pants at the mere mention of the game so you can imagine what happens when we find videos such as this. Enjoy the over-taking of Hyrule after the break! Whoops .... [Via Go Nintendo]
Looking at Link from a different angle
After venturing through an endless wasteland of blue screen, the New Golden Boys created a short taking a look at the darker side of Link. Featuring interviews from different characters in the the Legend of Zelda series along with a few geeky game store clerks, the whole scene is all too familiar to Zelda aficionados such as ourselves. The short is set to air tomorrow night on MTV's unfortunately named The G-Hole Special. ***CAUTION*** This isn't safe for those sensitive to foul hand gestures or talk of molestation. Just thought we'd warn you. Catch the video after the break! [Via The Girl Gamer]
Gorgeous new Zelda: TP screens
The day for Zelda: Twilight Princess draws nearer and nearer. It has been three years since fans last saw a console Zelda title. The anticipation and hype surrounding this game couldn't be stronger and to further antagonize you, we've got more screens. Screens of visually arresting landscape, gigantic monsters, and our favorite hero. Time couldn't possibly go any slower.
Zelda Twilight Princess trailer and title intro
It's hard to hold back the inner-child who becomes utterly intoxiated by the promise of a new Zelda adventure. Link is (literally) the essence of a video game hero, and we're as eager as you are to ride with him again.No, we're not ready to crown Twilight Princess just yet -- Okami offers some stiff competition in this year's fantasy-adventure category -- but Nintendo's latest tease (a new trailer and the game's intro sequence) has aroused a dormant longing. See for yourself...
Wii's Zelda charms non-gamer, Wii Sports, others fail
Wii was recently put to the test by the BBC's Rebecca Morelle, a self-proclaimed "videogame-phobe." Looks alone were winning Morelle over until she was handed a controller and clumsily gyrated herself into embarrassment playing WarioWare. A few rounds of Wii Sports didn't help -- the awkwardness only grew. After Trauma Center and Excite Truck the playtest had improved to just "so far, so OK." Enter: Twilight Princess. To Nintendo's surprise, it wasn't the disjointed inanity of WarioWare or the "swing away" nature of Wii Sports -- as Morelle notes, some just lack sporting ability -- that would win over the uninitiated. Instead, Morelle reveals that narrative lifted her veil of skepticism; a sense that her movements and the characters on screen were combining to create a coherent story. Nintendo should not underestimate the power of its key franchises to command emotional attachments (like, go easies on the party games, 'kay?). Marked by intuitive control, Wii might be (so-called) videogame-phobes' best shot at understanding these narratives that we hold so close to our hearts. [Thanks, Aisling]
Fusion Tour impressions from the mid-South [update1]
Last week, we forayed into an as yet undiscovered country for a chance with the Wii. What country? Well, it's more of a town, really ... a smallish town ... known as Jonesboro, Arkansas.Arkansas State University in Jonesboro is a strange stop for the Fusion Tour. Sure, it's a college town, but there are far more obvious locales nearby. Little Rock is a mere two hour drive away. It's a big, grown-up city, home of a President and all. And Memphis, that sultry city of the blues, is less than an hour away for those with particularly heavy accelerator feet. But Nintendo chose Jonesboro. Sigh. In service to you, dear reader (maybe not all of it), it was Jonesboro-ho.
False Alarm: GameCube Zelda:TP won't be at retail in US either [update 2]
[Update 2: Nintendo's official statement: Online reports about the Nintendo GameCube version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess are incorrect. The amazing game will be available at retail outlets nationwide on Dec. 13.]We are gathered here today to mourn the loss of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Nintendo Gamecube, we hardly knew ye.Joystiq has confirmed with numerous Gamestop and EB Games retailers that the Gamecube version of the newest Zelda offering has been removed from their computer system. Their websites have also been updated to reflect the change. We have yet to receive any official word from Nintendo, but all signs point to this as a done deal.Get out the pine box and some nails, prepare to bury your Gamecube. It's over. The Gamecube is dead, long live the Wii.Unless -- Nintendo announces they'll offer Zelda:TP from their online outlet like they will in Japan.[Thanks Nick][Update: 1) Nintendo's PR company is attempting to confirm the information. 2) Some Gamestop and EB Games employees say the reason the game is no longer in their computer system or online is that pre-orders have been maxed out. Apparenly once the company stops taking pre-orders, they remove the game from their computer system entirely. 3) As previously reported, even if the Gamecube version -- the system the game was originally developed for many moons ago -- still comes out at retail, gamers will still be forced to wait until December 11. A full three weeks after the Wii version is released. 4) Nintendo of Europe has apparently confirmed that the game will retail normally there saying, "It's a safe bet to assume the US will be doing the same as us - a full release, though it will be printed in smaller numbers than the Wii version.]
Skull Kid figurine makes fans swoon
Skull Kid was such a huge pain in the ass in the Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask that we weren't too happy to see his, er, face, being a beautiful nine inch tall figurine or not. On second thought, he looks quite incredible. Not as incredible as the Fierce Deity Link but really darn close. Being the Zelda freaks we are, we still find it hard to drop $100 on this figurine. Still, it is pretty awesome. [Thanks Alex!]
