zelda
Latest
A real-world 'Zelda' escape room game is coming next year
Have you ever found yourself humming the Zelda theme on your commute, longing to embark on a Hyrulian adventure? Well, next year Nintendo will make that dream a reality.
'Switch' is Nintendo's next game console
It's been almost a year and a half since Nintendo announced the NX, and now the gaming giant has finally dropped the codename and secrecy in favor of something more official: Switch. Like the countless rumors previously asserted, it's indeed a hybrid mobile and home console with a tablet element and detachable controllers. The tablet itself (which Nintendo calls "the Switch Console") is thin and pretty attractive. It looks to have a screen measuring around 7 inches, of unspecified resolution. At home, it'll plug into the "Switch Dock," which in turn plugs into your TV. While out and about you can either hold it like a Wii U gamepad or use the built-in kickstand to prop it up. In the trailer, a gamer slides what looks to be a 3DS-style cartridge into the tablet, meaning games are likely to distributed both digitally and physically. It's powered by an unspecified custom Nvidia Tegra processor, which is "based on the same architecture as the world's top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards." Whether that means Pascal -- the architecture underpinning the 1000 series of GeForce cards and the yet-to-be-announced Tegra X2 -- or just that Tegra chips in general are based on the GeForce architecture, is not clear. But the question of which SoC is powering the Switch -- and whether it's based on newer or older architecture -- is important to answer if we're to work out what exactly it's capable of.
The new Zelda 'Breath of the Wild' trailers are the best yet
We're hours away from Nintendo's (brief) reveal of the NX, and if there's one game we're excited for, it's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The new adventure, which is coming out on both the Wii U and NX next year, was a highlight at E3 2016, giving fans their first exposure to the more open, dynamic world. Now, Nintendo has released two new trailers, which show off its exploration and combat in equal measure. They're beautiful snippets of the full game, underpinned by a sweeping orchestral score. I don't need to say much more -- just go watch them, you won't regret it.
Lost Japan-only 'Legend of Zelda' game is available to play
Even the biggest Nintendo fan out there might not be familiar with Satellaview. It was a Japan-only peripheral for the Super Famicon (the country's version of our Super NES) that broadcast games via satellite -- one of which was a remixed version of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Now, as reported by Kotaku, fans outside of Japan can give The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets a shot for the first time.
Play 'The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword' on Wii U today
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is available to purchase and download on the Wii U via Virtual Console today. This is the original version of Skyward Sword with no remastering or updates, Nintendo announced during its 3DS-focused livestream this morning.
Deconstructing the legendary dungeons of 'Ocarina of Time'
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of those games that practically everyone has played and regards fondly. The landmark 1998 game was incredibly influential, and when folks put together lists of "best games of all time," it's usually within the top ten. Ocarina also marked the long-running franchise's move from a top-down view to full 3D thanks to the leap in power that the Nintendo 64 provided. But how do its dungeons stack up to previous games in the series? Specifically, A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening? YouTuber Mark Brown answers just that with a smart and thoughtful examination of the game.
Nintendo's new NES commercial will toy with your nostalgia
Between the incredible popularity of Pokémon Go, game-themed sneakers and the NES Classic Mini console, Nintendo's nostalgia bombs show no signs of stopping. The gaming juggernaut is fueling that fire with a decidedly retro-style trailer for the new-old system, replete with the familiar "now you're playing with power" tagline from the '80s. It's a fun look at the analog past in our digital future. But upon closer inspection a few things pop out. For starters, folks who've played anything reissued via Virtual Console on Wii U or otherwise can attest that the games look dingy and dull.
Nintendo's E3 'Zelda' booth is almost as good as the game itself
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is easily one of the best games we've gotten to try at E3 this year. And in true Nintendo fashion, the company's booth is nearly as impressive as the game itself. The company pulled out all the stops this year, building a huge Hyrule environment in its booth for attendees to stroll through. You could take photos with a wonderfully detailed Link statue, cover in fear from various goblins and stroll through the Temple of Time. There was even real grass all around the booth to help simulate the wonderfully alive world that you get to explore in the game. Words don't quite do it justice, though -- check out this gallery of one of Nintendo's most lavish E3 booths yet. Follow all the news from E3 2016 here!
'Breath of the Wild' is the boldest 'Zelda' game in years
Nintendo wasn't lying, or even exaggerating. There really has never been a Legend of Zelda game quite like Breath of the Wild, and the series should be all the better for it. I've extensively played (if not quite finished) every major Zelda game, but that familiarity with the series rarely came in handy throughout the 45-minute demo I played at E3 today. I was confused and disoriented, not quite familiar with how I should be interacting with my surroundings -- much like Link himself after being awakened in a shrine with no clear direction on where to go.
Nintendo's 'Ever Oasis' is a dungeon crawler in the desert
Okay, Nintendo may have said it was only bringing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pokémon Sun and Moon to E3, but we all knew something else would show up during the show. Well, here it is -- Ever Oasis, a brand-new action RPG for the Nintendo 3DS.
Celebrate E3 and new 'Zelda' with this lavish Nintendo sale
E3 2016 is in full swing, and there's already a bevy of titles being shown off that we can't wait to get our hands on, particularly The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the upcoming Pokémon Sun and Moon. Nintendo know this very well, and thus is running a special E3 sale from now through June 21 with up to 40% select digital games.
The new Zelda game will give us the first 'flexible' Amiibo
The next Legend of Zelda game is introducing big changes to the series. It features a big, open world. Our hero can jump, climb and cook. For the first time in 30 years, Link actually changed his shirt -- but it's changing more than the gameplay of one franchise. It's also changing Nintendo's toys-to-life figures: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's toy series will feature the first Amiibo with moving parts.
'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' is Nintendo's next classic
Nintendo kicked off its E3 2016 livestream with a frankly gorgeous Zelda trailer, showcasing what we'll get to play and experience when the game eventually lands in 2017 on the Wii U and NX. The style of the entire thing is somewhere between Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, albeit cranked to the max. This is Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and it already looks pretty amazing. Was that voice-acting? At least four outfits, including armor? Cooking? Gliding? Oh boy.
Special edition Nintendo Vans prove your inner nerd never died
Vans loves working with iconic pop culture entities. To date, the company has released shoe and apparel collections inspired by Star Wars, The Beatles and, most recently, Disney. Now, as rumored, Vans has teamed up with Nintendo on a line of retro gaming sneakers and accessories for men, women and kids. There are 13 different footwear styles, each featuring prints that pay tribute to Nintendo's first flagship console, the NES, as well as 8-bit graphics and characters from the Super Mario Bros. franchise.
Nintendo and Vans team up on retro gaming sneakers
A Nintendo-themed line of Vans sneakers has mysteriously popped up online. A European store listed the range that includes classic gaming icons like Zelda, Mario and Duck Hunt, adorning some of Vans' most popular styles (like the Old Skool). Not much else is known about the collaboration, and the listing seems to have been removed (though a cache of it can be found here). The only other info being the collection will likely go on sale in June, priced at around €65 ($75). This isn't the first time we've seen Nintendo sneakers, but it's the first time we've seen them done in a way we'd actually want to wear.
Nintendo kills 3D 'Zelda' tribute game on the web
About a half million people were amused by a browser-based Zelda tribute, but Nintendo's lawyers weren't among them. As we predicted, the company told the folks behind Zelda30Tribute to take it down on account of copyright infringement. "I guess [the game] was a little too pixel perfect," say developers Scott Lininger and Mike Magee. Overall, the duo feel that building the 2.5D enhanced demo was worth the legal action, though. "We learned a bunch and wrote some code that others might learn from, too," they say.
'Zelda' turns 30 and gets a browser-based tribute game
While we all endure the endless wait for a new Zelda game to grace the Wii U in its last days, the original quest that put Link (and Ganon) on the map is getting a new lease on life. The fan-made project, a voxel-based tribute to The Legend of Zelda that debuted on the NES 30 years ago, takes the 8-bit classic and reimagines it as a playable 2.5D, browser-based game. Yes, you can play it on your laptop or mobile phone. It's a tribute, albeit unfinished, to "the greatest console game of all time" from programmers Scott Lininger and Mike Magee. And, knowing Nintendo, it's the kind of thing we imagine won't survive on the internet for long. So on this day of VR buzz, why not switch tracks for a bit and indulge in video gaming's past.
'Harry Potter' meets 'Zelda' in a fantasy action game
Mages of Mystralia is a fantastical romp through a mystical world, starring a young woman named Zia who discovers she has powerful magical abilities -- though this isn't necessarily a welcome development. Zia accidentally burns down her house and is forced to flee her homeland, and as she journeys across the countryside she meets other exiled mages who help cultivate her powers. Eventually, it's up to Zia to save Mystralia from certain doom. Mages of Mystralia combines elements from some of the most popular fantasy franchises in recent memory: There's a special, magical child like in Harry Potter, whimsical yet creepy woodland creatures as seen in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and a determined, red-headed young warrior like the star of the Disney-Pixar movie Brave. All of this is bundled into a cohesive narrative by a star of Dungeons & Dragons lore, the creator of the Forgotten Realms world, Ed Greenwood.
Explore Google Maps with Link from 'The Legend of Zelda'
Here's a little something to brighten up your day -- open up Google Maps in the browser and you'll notice that the yellow Pegman now looks like Link. The fabled Hero of Time is there to celebrate the The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, which launches today on the Wii U in Europe and North America. He'll be sticking around for a good five days, which makes sense given the game doesn't come out in Japan until March 10th. In the meantime, enjoy dragging his little tunic and sword around your hometown. Who knows, maybe there's a dungeon or two to be found?
Nintendo's 2015 was the best of times and the worst of times
Let's face it: In the world of video games, Nintendo exists in a state of constant scrutiny. More often than not, the Japanese company is targeted for being "behind the times" or "out of touch" with what its fanbase wants. Looking back, however, we see a more dynamic mish-mash of good and bad decisions. In 2015, Nintendo teased us by promising to build mobile apps, but pleased us by adding some unexpected classics to its digital game library and announcing a new game console. The company had breakout hits like Splatoon, but also fumbled on launch dates, failing to deliver Star Fox Zero and Zelda Wii U by year's end. How is Nintendo doing, really? Let's take a look back at the highs and lows of Nintendo's year and find out.Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images
