Legend of Zelda

Hey Zelda Dungeoners and welcome again to another segment of Timeshift Thursday! The whole purpose of these editorials is to imagine that we’ve hit a timeshift stone and headed back in time to reminisce on all the good times experienced from the Zelda series. Yet, today I’ll be taking a different angle for this episode of Timeshift Thursday. This week’s segment is dedicated to exploring the reasons why Nintendo would choose The Wind Waker as its Wii U remake.

The Wind Waker is a game-changer for the Zelda series. Becoming the first Zelda title to fully feature cell-shaded graphics, The Wind Waker performed greatly in dividing the “casual” and “hardcore” audiences. Just the thought of Link looking so cartoony did not appeal to many Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask fans yet in the end it became one of GameCube’s most successful titles. It seemed Nintendo was using this opportunity to attract a younger generation of gamers and reveal how fun the Zelda series actually is while not shying away from implementing the strategic puzzles and dungeons known to the series.

So, why did Nintendo choose The Wind Waker to become Wii U’s first Zelda title? There are certain reasons which may be gathered to complete the theory as to why this particular Zelda title was given the thumbs up and it’s not just because its 10th anniversary has occurred in 2013. If you’d like to join me in discovering further as to why The Wind Waker is gaining a HD remake then click the jump!

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A few weeks ago the folks at Dorkly conducted a poll to rate the top ten greatest Zelda games of all time. After getting nearly 200,00 votes they have finally posted the results of that poll in an article titled “10 Greatest Zelda Games in History”. They ave separated it into two parts, first there is a simple image lineup of all the games displaying them in order. Then there is the much more detailed article giving a brief description of each entry and discussing why they are within their ranking counting from last to the first.

Jump inside to check it out for yourself.

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The 3D Printer craze just got a lot more interesting. For those of you who haven’t heard about them, 3D printers are machines that are capable of taking a digital model and creating it in real life by adding layer upon layer of material in different shapes that correspond to the dimensions of the model. While people debate the possibility of making weapons with them, the Hyrule Foundry has created templates for 3D Printers to re-create the obtainable items from The Legend of Zelda for NES. Hit the jump to see what these items look like, and to learn where you can get them!
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Every now and again there comes one great person with a great talent that stuns people all around the world in one simple upload. Today is no exception. Today I present to you exactly what the title of this post says, the Zelda theme on an accordion app for the iPad. Music is such an integral part of the Zelda series that it’s almost refreshing to see the songs we love come back to the light in a different form. The video is after the jump and if you only want to see the Zelda theme skip ahead to 0:29. Read more…

Hi fellow Zelda Dungeon fanatics and welcome, once again, to another Timeshift Thursday feature! This week I’m looking forward to sharing and discussing a climatic battle scene with you from Link’s latest adventure, Skyward Sword, in which I’ve found the combat before the corresponding final battle to be a richer, more difficult experience. Because Skyward Sword doesn’t include the most amount of highlights for a Zelda game, in my opinion, I haven’t leaned toward writing a feature revolving around the title. Yet, because we are discussing famous Zelda battles now, I do want to write about, possibly, my favourite part of Skyward Sword.

Today, we’ll take a look at the extensive Horde Battle brought about by one of Link’s main antagonists in Skyward Sword, Ghirahim. This section of end-game battle sequence truly tests Link’s reasons as to to why he is blessed with the Triforce of Courage. It is an outstanding test of courage and we shall see that further along the article!

If you want to read more about Link’s excruciating battle with Ghirahim’s minions then click the jump below and take the full descent toward the Sealed Grounds!

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Hi dear readers, and welcome to another exciting segment of Timeshift Thursday! Similar to last week I will be taking a good look at one of Link’s epic battles, where the gamer may have had a very memorable and inspirational experience, while examining the reasons as to what made it so incredible. I’ve drawn my thoughts from Twilight Princess where quite a few one-on-one combat events happen and have picked the one I found the most exhilarating.

This week features Link’s horseback fight with King Bulblin and it includes a stunning clash atop the glorious Bridge of Eldin. With Link clinging onto Epona’s reins, while trying to slash at the King of Bulblins and risking taking a disastrous plunge off the edge, this does happen to be one courageous act by our hero!

Would you like to learn more about Link’s Bridge of Eldin battle with King Bulblin? Hit the jump if you want to read deeper into the article!

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Hey Zelda fans and welcome to this next segment of Timeshift Thursday! Usually, these features are set aside to explore different areas in our hallowed series yet today, and in the next few weeks, I’ll be mixing up the content a little. I’d like to use the next couple of weeks or so to focus on some of the Zelda series’ greatest battle scenarios and explore the reasons as to why they gave us such a memorable, emotional, and unforgettable experience. Link truly engages in some fierce combat while on one of his Hyrule-rescuing adventures and I thought it would be a great opportunity to reminisce on some of the most enterprising fights from the series.

Today we will be taking a good look at my favourite boss battle bringing back the epic greatness from my younger years! Being a favourite Zelda title for so many fans by bringing back the childhood memories, Ocarina of Time displayed an epic story revolving around the proper 3D environment of Hyrule and the main characters, Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. Yet it was the final battle between Link and Ganon which provided that dark atmospheric sensation every Zelda game’s end needs to have!

Would you like to read about Ocarina of Time’s final battle between Link and Ganon? If so, click the jump and keep reading!

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Every Zelda fan knows about the fabled Hyrule Historia and since it has come out there have been numerous copies sold. But for those among us who have not purchased a copy of the book are are still looking, there is a great deal over on !ndigo which is selling their copies of Hyrule Historia for an amazing 59% off the cover price. That brings the price down to $15 or if you are a member it comes to $14.25.

Jump inside to check it out for yourself.
 
 
 

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Every Zelda fan has got to own something from the series, something that reminds you every time you look at it “That’s why I love Zelda.” For me it’s my Hyrule Historia. Flipping through it reminds me why I enjoy the games so much. Now if your a Zelda fan and you don’t own any piece of merchandise then there’s a cheap affordable start to the collection: Triforce Claddagh Rings. If you want to learn more about these hit the jump.

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As Zelda fans, we have undoubtedly been subject to the greatest variety in art style and graphics in a single video game series. We’ve seen 2D, cel-shaded, 3D, 2D cel-shaded, realistic, impressionistic, and variations of those listed. People always have very different opinions on which one is the best and why. So that’s what I’m here to discuss. I shall explain each art style or graphics implemented by each game, and then you can simply pick which one is your favorite. Don’t let your opinion go unheard!

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Recently Did You Know Gaming released an image showcasing a fact about a part of the Legend of Zelda series which many of us were already aware. However, with the Oracle games release on eShop getting an official release date in the US, the fact is relevant and good to point out to those who were not already aware: there was actually suppose to be a third Oracle game in the Zelda series. It was meant to form a trilogy of sorts that completed the story where Ganon rose again. The games were originally meant to focus on each piece of the Triforce, but of course were changed to simplify maters before release.

If you want to know more about the third mystery game hit the jump.

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A few of you might remember a certain 3.14 second trailer that was released pertaining to the upcoming documentary “It’s Dangerous To Go Alone… The Movie.”  Well, as most of you know by now, that trailer was only available for a limited time, so Zelda Dungeon wasn’t able to make a post on it.  Fortunately, the makers of the video game documentary recently released a new, full-length trailer for the movie as well as an extremely awesome webpage that allows you to play a great recreation of the original Zelda game to unlock all of the content on the site.  Sound a little odd?  Well…it kinda is, but seeing how this movie is based on the nostalgia factor from the fist Zelda game (or that’s what I think anyways), I can see why they would add that.

Jump inside for more!

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Hi, and welcome to the latest segment of Timeshift Thursday where I take you back to some of my favorite Zelda areas! It’s great to have you join me again and hopefully the topic this week is in your best interests. Ocarina of Time is back on the agenda as we look at a beautiful part of its glorious overworld and discover the race who inhabit its region.

Ocarina of Time was such a memorable game; especially for those who were introduced to the Legend of Zelda because of its stunning world of Hyrule, introduction of peculiar tribes, beautifully captivating story, and the immerse 3D environment it portrays. The most praised video game title, unfortunately, has cursed every Zelda game since to ultimate failure and disregard no matter how hard Nintendo tries to give us a nostalgic feeling about it. Hopefully brand new Zelda Wii U and 3DS titles agree with people’s expectations although the standard is, as mentioned, set quite high. Anyway, let this week’s feature roll!

Today, we’ll be taking a breathtaking look at Zora’s Domain from Ocarina of Time! This indoor water center hosts a group of fish-natured beings called Zoras and they happen to intertwine with Link’s quest in a very important way. Click the jump below and let’s take a good look at the glorious Zora’s Domain!

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Well, Nintendo has finally blown the lid off in regards to a new Zelda 3DS title during this morning’s Nintendo Direct presentation. After possibly years of developing the title in secret, A Link to the Past 2 will be the sequel to the original SNES title and, from the trailer we’ve seen showcased during Nintendo Direct, this 3DS title will indeed be hyped up dramatically as the current Holiday 2013 launch window draws closer.

Yet what will be different about this new Zelda 3DS title? According to the footage shown during the presentation, quite a few changes have already been brought before gamers’ eyes so hit the jump below if you’d like to see some interesting mechanics Nintendo is utilizing for what some are calling A Link to the Past 2!

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Well it must be that time of the week again!  On today’s Windmill Hut, we take a look at some awesome recreations of Zelda musical numbers on the marimba!  Unfortunately, today’s feature musician MartOzz hasn’t been active in the past seven months, but his videos are still pretty amazing so lets have ourselves a blast from the past, shall we?  Also, as usual, I fully recommend that you go check out his YouTube channel because there is a lot more musical content on there than you’ll be listening to today.  That being said, I’ve picked out my two personal favorites from his video selection and I think you’ll enjoy them quite a lot.

Jump inside for some great marimba music!

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Every gamer who lived through the ’90s should remember one thing: top-down perspective (or overhead view). This pervaded many games throughout the history of video games such as Pokemon, SimCity, Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy, and of course the early Zelda games such as the original game and Oracle of Seasons/Ages. But how well would these games fare in 3D?

Hit the jump to find out!
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Hi Zelda Dungeoners, and welcome back to another Timeshift Thursday feature! I am glad to proclaim I have just started playing through the Wind Waker properly for the first time and I must say I am greatly enjoying it; at least the introduction anyway! The cartoon shading has survived amazingly well over the past 10 years and all credit to Nintendo for planning to give us a HD remake. As we head into this week’s feature, we will be taking a good look at one of the standout areas experienced in the Wind Waker which Link faces straight from the get-go and also later on in the adventure.

The area we will be exploring today is known as Forsaken Fortress and happens to be the evil lair of the powerful Ganondorf in which Link must breach if he wants to save his beloved sister, Aryll. It’s a difficult but welcoming start to the game and we’ll see why this helps the Wind Waker to be one of the most memorable Zelda titles. We’ll also check out theories regarding Forsaken Fortress and how it relates to another well-known area featured in a different Zelda title placed earlier in the timeline.

Would you like to take a look at Forsaken Fortress-one of the Wind Waker’s most memorable areas? If so, then be sure to click the jump below and take a look for yourself!

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Alex Plant at GenGame recently published an article on the upcoming Zelda title for the Wii U and Twilight Princess. As the article points out, Twilight Princess was seen as a return to form after the departure that Wind Waker was, and the Wii U title has the potential to be the same thing after the experimentation of Skyward Sword. Hit the jump for the article and some thoughts on it. Read more…

As most of you know, Zelda Reorchestrated (ZREO) has been showing their love for the series by producing beautiful symphonic performances of various Zelda scores for almost a decade now.  Unfortunately, that time has come to an end, and ZREO is ending their fantastic musical journey.  We here at Zelda Dungeon are woeful that this experience has ended so suddenly, and would like to give a personal thanks to the team of Zelda fans who worked on creating beautiful recreations of the Zelda musical numbers.  ZREO has always produced the most high-quality symphonic remakes, such as the astonishing Twilight Symphony, and it’s a true shame that this journey has come to an end.

Jump inside for more…

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Hello again Zelda Dungeon readers and welcome to another Timeshift Thursday feature! I must express my sadness in not being able to write a feature last week yet it’s great to be back and I hope you will forgive me. Anyhow, I look forward to exploring another iconic area in the Zelda series as this week I’ll be covering a special section found in Majora’s Mask. Let me get this straight first, though. I have never played Majora’s Mask at all. I’ve seen it at game shops dreaming of playing the title on the original N64 but never got the chance to purchase it. So, first I’ll ask, should I play this Zelda title? Is Majora’s Mask a worthwhile game in the Zelda series to play? Should I be heading to the Wii Shop to download this game straight away? With those questions in mind, let’s head into this week’s Timeshift feature!

The Ikana Kingdom was once a prosperous province whose soldiers would unwaveringly fight to keep its King and his land free from their enemies. Yet, by the time Link arrives to this sacred place, a curse has been placed haunting the once beautiful landscape and turning the lush kingdom into a withering desolation. The King sits on his devastated throne lording over the dead as his castle lies in ruin. Just writing about it leaves me in tears and that’s what makes Majora’s Mask seem like such an emotionally moving game; probably more than any other Zelda title. From what I’ve read about Majora’s Mask, it’s dark, depressing, and the script details destruction and unhappiness.

Let’s take a closer look at Ikana Kingdom, its descriptive areas and find out some interesting details and theories regarding the area after the jump!

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Can you believe it! Thanks to fellow gaming site, Cubed3, we have found out that Nintendo and Retro Studios have been working on developing The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask x Nintendogs for the 3DS and mixing it up with some cute puppy influence. After such a long wait for Majora’s Mask to be remade for one of Nintendo’s current consoles, fans should be impressed that the announcement confirms what patience has provided. By adding the Nintendogs element into this exciting crossover title, Shigeru Miyamoto has fulfilled his dream by revamping the title to create a heart-warming Zelda title compared to its dark and creepy original N64 classic.

Nintendo stated that they originally developed Majora’s Mask as a simple remake for the 3DS which was originally ready for release on December 21st 2012 but instead decided to add a new style of playing by introducing Nintendogs to the mix and settling on a release date of April 1st 2014. This exciting new title in the Zelda series will only release via the 3DS eShop.

The debut trailer for Majora’s Mask x Nintendogs plus comments from Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime and Retro Studios’ boss Michael Kelbaugh can be found after the break!

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Have you ever wondered about Link’s past in Skyward Sword? If he had parents or siblings? Or how he and Zelda first met? An amazing video was recently created by FerisaeArt on YouTube who has created a animatic, comic styled video based on their interpretations of what they think life was like for Link before the beginning of his journey to becoming the goddesses’ chosen hero and how his friendship with Zelda began and how it became to be what it was throughout the game Skyward Sword. Watch the video after the jump!

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Not many Zelda fans would go so far to make handmade Zelda soap for a bathroom accessory.  With that said, it is really no surprise whatsoever that some folks over at Etsy are now officially selling a Zelda hand cleansing material.  Along with other fantastic-looking soaps, these are available on SmallThingsForSale’s Etsy page, and come in the form of the Triforce, a Piece of Heart, various colors of Rupees, and more. So, if you’re interested in cleansing your hands with the power of Din, Nayru, and Farore, this handmade product may just be fitting for you!

Jump inside for more!

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For those of you who like to listen to different recreations of the fantastic Zelda musical numbers, you may have heard about a user on YouTube that goes by the name Smooth McGroove. Well, even if you haven’t, this bearded master of acapella has stunned us once again with his terrific version of The Wind Waker’s over world theme sung in full acapella.  What’s even more impressing about this video is that all eight parts are sung by the same man, making his musical genius that much better.  Hit the jump for more! Read more…

Almost every individual who considers themselves a “gamer” and has half-decent taste expresses a great respect towards Ocarina of Time or just Zelda in general.  And why shouldn’t they?  Ocarina of Time is arguably the best Zelda game to date.  Also, Ocarina of Time was a pinnacle in gaming history, marking the beginning of 3D graphics and gameplay.  So with that said, it comes with no surprise that Miyamoto had the most fun creating this wonderful N64 masterpiece that will go down in gaming history.

Jump inside for more!

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Zelda fanatic KennaW has created a sweet mod for the original Legend of Zelda where instead of playing as Link, you can play through as Princess Zelda. The game is identical, other than the sprite swap, where you control Zelda instead of Link. The developer has created a short video highlighting some of the gameplay and you can see that after the jump. Additionally there are instructions on how you can go about downloading the game.

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Are you still wondering why Nintendo chose to remake one of GameCube’s greatest titles, The Wind Waker, for its most recent console, Wii U? Nintendo sure left a lot of Majora’s Mask fans isolated when revealing that this HD remake would be the next Zelda title to release and considering the original game, after 10 years, still does not look outdated many do wonder if The Wind Waker really needs to be remade.

Legendary games designer Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed in an interview with news publisher ABC as to why The Wind Waker was indeed the chosen Zelda game to be remade for Wii U. He explains in this interview that the visual style for The Wind Waker was a strong reason as to why Nintendo was so ambitious and details as to what they can expect this updated version to bring to gamers’ attention.

Are you interested in what Mr. Miyamoto said particularly about The Wind Waker for Wii U and why they chose to remake this Zelda title? If so, then click the jump below and find out!

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Howdy, and welcome to the next segment of my weekly Timeshift Thursday feature! Most long-time Zelda fans usually have childhood memories either remembering the original NES self-titled adventure or Ocarina of Time as their first played game in the critically-acclaimed series. I fall under the latter category as my Ice Blue N64 regularly loaded up that special limited edition gold cartridge delivering the entertainment and fun I had drifting away form the real world into the land of Hyrule. Sometimes, I wish I could head back in time and do it all again; that would be such a privilege! Thankfully, with the powerful Nintendo 3DS handheld, I can now take the magnificent Ocarina of Time anywhere I want to and enjoy the beautiful stereoscopic 3D I love so much.

Today, I’d like to take you to the beautiful Gerudo Valley and its mysterious fortress which features prominently near the end of Ocarina of Time and houses one of the greatest Zelda compositions ever created in the series. There’s plenty to discover about this stunning area included in the land of Hyrule so hit the jump below if you’d like to learn more!

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Zelda-themed music albums are usually a delight to listen to and this uniquely created composition work is worth taking a look at. Converging Ocarina of Time Zelda melody with popular rap artists, producer Team Teamwork turns this album, The Ocarina of Rhyme, into a never-heard-before music experience. Even if you’re not a big fan of hip hop conversing with Zelda be sure to check this out as it is quite a good listen; the production work is brilliant!

You can take a listen to the full 34 minute album after the jump!

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Did you know that Majora’s Mask was only released due to Eiji Aonuma’s lack of desire to create a mere expansion for Ocarina of Time which they referred to as “Ura Zelda?” This is the game that was eventually revised and released for the GameCube on a disc along with Ocarina of Time as a bonus for those who had pre-ordered The Wind Waker.

Yes, originally the plan was to get a second Zelda title out on the N64 within a year after the release of Ocarina of Time, and Mr. Miyamoto felt the easiest way to do was to simply remix Ocarina of Time a little bit and release that as an expansion. Eiji Aonuma, now handed the reigns to the Zelda series, really didn’t think that was exciting enough an offering to the fans, so he suggested that instead they simply reuse all the assets possible and create a brand new game.

Jump inside for more details!

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Miyamoto has made some crazy comments about his much-loved Zelda franchise in the past, but this is just ridiculous.  Our friends over at GenGAME recently reported that Mr. Miyamoto told Polygon about his plans for the Oracle games in their early development.  He stated that he wanted the games to be more episodic, and development for the games actually began with the notion of trying to sell each dungeon individually!

Jump inside to read more!

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Hi, and welcome to another episode of Timeshift Thursday where I take you along to explore some of my favourite areas in Nintendo’s ground-breaking Zelda series! Today, I’d like to show you one of my most loved parts of the Skyward Sword adventure; an area which by namesake’s really proved to be an extensive “trial”. The entrance to this area known as a “trial gate” leads to the testing of Link’s courage, strength, and wisdom while also reflecting that trial upon the gamer who must not make any dangerous error while trying to clear through the hallowed grounds.

So today I’d like to take a detailed glance at the Silent Realm. This is one of Skyward Sword’s darkest moments; a very sacred place where Link gains a unique item for his journey if he completes the strenuous test. You can follow my writing and learn more about the Silent Realm by clicking the jump below!

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The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia has been a worthy wait for fans drooling over the thought of an English translation for the beautiful art book. Nintendo and Dark Horse produced the publication and released it in January to widespread acclaim as it hit number one on Amazon’s top 100 bestsellers list. Though so many gamers and avid fans purchased Hyrule Historia, there are still others who are still waiting for the right time to hit so they may lay hands on this glorious history of Hyrule.

If you still happen to be sitting on a fence contemplating on whether to pick up Hyrule Historia then Amazon may have a deal to hook you into letting go of your cash! The online retailer currently has the Zelda book discounted for a reasonable price so now’s the time to act. Click the jump and read about the details regarding this discount for Hyrule Historia!

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Welcome to another segment of Timeshift Thursday! It’s great to have you join me as we discuss some of my favourite areas from past Zelda games and I would go so far as to say that this will probably be my most controversial editorial yet. I say this because I’ve read so many different opinions about this particular area and the actual Zelda title itself. Yet, I’m welcome to any comments you have about my different tastes in the Zelda series so let’s get into it!

Because almost all Zelda titles take place in the land of Hyrule, Nintendo can always be counted on to give us a beautiful Hyrule Field for Link to explore. Starting with the original NES adventure and fast forwarding all the way to Twilight Princess, Hyrule Field has been a memorable experience for players to travel in. By the time Ocarina of Time was being developed Nintendo even implemented a new method of travel, horse riding, by adding Epona to the Zelda series and giving us plenty of memories for our gaming childhood. We’re not here to talk about Ocarina of Time’s Hyrule Field, though. No, Nintendo created a greater, more expansive Hyrule Field which I love exploring to this day and hope to convince at least some as to why I thoroughly think Twilight Princess’ Hyrule Field as the greatest in the Zelda series.

Are you interested in taking a look at and sharing your opinions about Hyrule Field in Twilight Princess? If so, please hit the jump below and read my thoughts as to why I enjoy this area!

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Hello, and welcome to another Timeshift Thursday feature where I delve deep sharing some of my all-time favourite areas from the Zelda series! This week, I want to take you back to Nintendo DS’ first ever Zelda title, Phantom Hourglass, which happens to contain a very special island situated in the Great Sea. I may be one of few gamers who actually enjoy Phantom Hourglass’ storyline and gameplay yet it was the first DS game I bought after I picked up the console and it does contain a special place in my heart.

This island we will take a look at today is very special because of its unique shape, physical appearance, and fun minigame which you can complete to gain a particular inventory item. We’ll also take a recap at what you can actually do on this actual island and how Nintendo used this special island’s shape to create a memorable experience for Zelda fans.

Click the jump if you would like to read more about this interesting island in Phantom Hourglass referred to as Dee Ess Island!

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