Link stands atop a cliff, looking down on the ominous scene. His tattered green tunic is a constrast to the warm colors that dominate the piece and makes him stand out as an opposing force. The master sword in his left hand literally glistens with hope for Hyrule in the face of the doom and destruction that surrounds the Hero of Time.

Remarkably, this picture was completed in 3 hours, and the artist even mentions that it was intended to be a quick two hour speed painting when he decided to push the idea further.

Timothy Kelly captures that intense atmosphere that was created around Ganon’s Tower and how the triforce of power had enabled Ganon to control every aspect Hyrule, even down to the terrain and weather. Make sure to leave your thoughts about todays Fanart Spotlight, as well as showing your support for the artist, by checking out the rest of his work.

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Guitarist Jim Cook is a frequent YouTube user and is well known for the amazing Zelda covers he uploads to his page. His most recent composition is his metal version of the “Ordon Village Theme” from Twilight Princess and it sounds amazing.

I found this version of the song quite a change yet it is a welcome difference and one where the guitar work fits perfectly in the song. You can find other Zelda covers Jim has worked on by clicking here.

Hit the jump to view the video of this awesome music cover!

Do you like this cover of the “Ordon Village Theme?” Do you know of other versions that sound better than this one? Let us know in the comments now!

Source: YouTube

~~~Recent Content Updates~~~

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In every pantheon there are many tiers or levels of gods based on power and importance. Besides the major gods, there are many others. The Greeks had a god for practically everything. Not all of them were important enough to live on Mount Olympus, and some that did live on Olympus weren’t all that important. Take Hephaestus for example, the deformed god of the forge. Hera threw him off of Olympus when he was born because he was hideous, but Zeus brought him back to make lightning bolts for him. He was around Olympus, but I don’t think any of us would consider him a major god. There is no way that we can compare him to his siblings, like Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, who burst from Zeus’s head fully formed and armed for battle when he tried to eat her mother to prevent her birth.

 
Perhaps a better parallel from Greek mythology to the minor deities we see in Hyrulian mythology would be the “underling-gods” of the major Olympian Gods. For example, Poseidon was the Olympian god of the sea, definitely a major God. Under him were a host of other less important gods. For example, there was Aegaeon, the god of violent sea storms, or Ceto, goddess of the dangers of the ocean and of sea monsters. Below them there are “Demi-God” like beings, often referred to as “the son of Poseidon by ….” or “the daughter of Poseidon by…” and then sea monsters that act like guardians of the sea, and lastly simple sea spirits, like the sirens or the mermaids. These other categories will be discussed in more depth in later chapters of this series.

 
The Norse people had twelve major gods, including all of the gods listed in the previous chapters. Below them, however, there were also minor gods, though not as many in number as the Greek Minor Gods. Some examples are Ran, Keeper of the Drowned, or Honir, the silent god known for indecisiveness. Deities below them in the Norse pantheon are Light Elves and Dark Elves (also called Dwarves), the Giants and other mystical creatures, and then spirits, which are more personifications of concepts than creatures. Again, more on this in later chapters.

 
We don’t know the names of many of the Hyrulian minor gods, not because those names don’t exist but because they’re not central enough to the “myths” (the games) to warrant naming. Like the Three Golden Goddesses, the minor gods are almost never seen in the world itself. They, too, are most likely absent from the world and worshipped in their absence.

 
First, we will talk about the most important of the minor gods, the two we do have names for and see in Majora’s Mask. Despite being a parallel world, Termina is still a part of the Hyrulian worldview (as discussed in the Cosmology article) and it is still one of the stories of which the people speak, if we are looking at the games as a collection of myths. These two characters straddle the line between major and minor gods. After we talk about them, we will move on to the nameless gods and goddesses we see throughout the Hyrulian myths.

 
Majora

In the introduction, we talked about the moon god and sun goddess archetypes seen throughout world mythologies, and I claimed that the Fierce Deity is the spirit of the moon, and Majora is the spirit of the sun. From there, it is easy to interpret them as minor gods instead of merely spirits. However, in order to discuss them as gods, I first need to lay out evidence for their associations. In regards to Majora, I am arguing that Majora is female, and that she represents the sun enough to be considered a sun goddess.

 
I have three major points to support the hypothesis that Majora is the incarnation, or spirit, of the sun. The first point dovetails nicely with something I should establish first, and that is Majora’s gender. The most obvious detail listed by fans of this theory is that when the mask sprouts limbs and a head, the eyes of the mask are situated on the chest of the new creature. Though they do not protrude, their design suggests female breasts.

 
The eyes of the mask are simple. They are orangish-yellow, much like the sun, and consist of an outer circle with a simple dot in the middle. A little known fact about this is that that symbol, depicted below, was originally the Egyptian symbol for their major god Ra, a sun god. Today, it is used by astronomers as shorthand for the sun in research writing. Likewise, they use a familiar symbol to represent the moon: a crescent moon, also depicted below.

 
Now where have we seen these before? How about on the chests of Majora and Fierce Deity, respectively, during the final battle? They are literally labeled with the scientific symbols for sun and moon. Now, this fact and the color of Majora’s eyes/breasts are circumstantial evidence. It is, nonetheless, a simple observation and my first point.

 
Before going into the next point, it’s important to finish establishing Majora’s gender. Beyond the remarkable resemblance to breasts, Majora’s voice is feminine. It’s not just the high-pitched voice of a young boy or young man in a video game, it’s literally the voice of a woman. Listen to her voice in the following youtube video of Majora’s Wrath. While you do, please pay special attention to the way that Majora’s Wrath dances. She lifts up on her toe with one leg crooked and she spins, much like a ballerina with long ribbons in her hands might spin.

 
Again, look for Majora’s ballerina-like dancing and listen for her high pitched vocal sounds:

 
Skull Kid may have been male, but Majora herself is most definitely female. Now that the pronoun usage is explained, let’s move on to what really matters.

 
The second point has to do with color. Majora’s color scheme is bright and glaring, dominated by harsh purples and reds. When Skull Kid uses the power of the mask to cast spells, Majora’s power radiates from the mask in a circular beam, like it was emitting sunlight. The boss room Majora takes the hero to for their final battle is filled with a rainbow of color. I’m sure some of you scientifically-inclined Zelda fans already know about the relationship between light and color, but for those of you who don’t let me give you a quick lesson.

 
Sunlight radiates from the sun in waves. Within these rays of sunlight, also called white light, are specific rays including every color in existence. Color is actually contained in the light itself. What this means is that no item on earth actually has its own color. An apple looks red because it reflects the red wave in the sunlight. A tree’s leaves are green in summer because it reflects the green wave. In order for something to look white, it has to reflect all of the colors waves in the sunlight (hence why sunlight is white). In order for something to look black, it has to not reflect any of the waves in the sunlight.

 
Without sunlight, color wouldn’t exist. Try this: go into a room with no windows, preferably at night. Wait until your eyes adjust, which they usually will after a while. This will even work in rooms with curtains at night. Once your eyes have adjusted, look around and honestly try to pick out specific colors. You can’t. Without sunlight (or moonlight, as the light of the moon is merely reflected sunlight) encountering the items they don’t appear to have color. Your mind may try to pin a color on it because it knows what color it SHOULD be, but if you really look honestly all you will see is shades of gray and black.

 
This is interesting in two respects. The relationship between the sun and color is fascinating. Color is in the sun’s light, not in the world. Therefore, the fact that Majora is so strongly associated with the sun is important. Also, note that the moon has no light of its own. What light the moon gives is reflected light from the sun, like one gigantic round mirror. If Majora is the sun, how interesting is it that the sun gives Link the key to exposing the moon? By putting on the mask received from Majora, the moon can finally be seen through Link. In a way, Majora gives Fierce Deity his spotlight.

 
This moon connection can also be seen in the color issue. Just as the moon is white surrounded by black, so Fierce Deity is white and black. The eyes of Fierce Deity have no pigment or pupil. His hair is white. His tunic, though often interpreted as light blue, is also often thought to be white. His armor is silver and his leggings and undershirt are black. The only color on the Fierce Deity, in fact, is the war paint on his face, armor, and gauntlets. Other than that he, like the moon itself, is nothing but white and black. Without pigment of its own.

 
Still not convinced that Majora is the sun? Let us look at Majora’s temple, the Stone Tower Temple. For more information on the Stone Tower Temple and Majora, please see Hylian Dan’s “The Message of Majora’s Mask”. Seriously, if you haven’t read it, go read it now. Right now. Your life is incomplete and you didn’t even know it. You see, Hylian Dan brilliantly explores the Stone Tower Temple, and he comes to the substantiated conclusion that the architecture in the temple indicated that it was used to worship the mask, among other things. Take a look at this famous image below:

 
If that isn’t one gargantuan sculpture of Majora’s Mask, then I don’t know what is. The mask can also be seen carved into the pillars in the boss room of the temple. This room is actually a giant desert, where the light of the sun beats down on the land and kills everything alive. When we think desert, we think hot, unforgiving sunlight. It’s noteworthy to observe that this sun-filled, Majora-decorated place is in the heart of Stone Tower Temple.

 
The key to Majora’s temple is light. Sunlight, to be specific. Most of the puzzles involve reflecting sunlight onto objects, and the light arrows (which contain concentrated sunlight) are obtained and primarily used here. The key puzzle of the temple involves inverting the natural roles of the sky and the earth, placing an inverted sun and moon under your feet. The whole temple is actually decorated with suns. Take a look at the doors in the temple, for goodness sake.

 
And if you’re not convinced by the sun and moon symbols, the color schemes or science of color, or the multitude of sun-related elements littering the Stone Tower Temple, then I have one last nail in the coffin for you. Let’s go back to that rainbow-colored boss room. Look at the following picture of the beginning of the fight and tell me what you see.

 
A sun. The centerpiece of the boss room design is a large, rainbow-colored sun. Not only that, but Majora’s Mask itself is mounted in the center of that sun. When the battle begins, it detaches itself from the wall and emerges out of the sun to fight us. Developers don’t get much more direct than that folks. Majora represents the sun itself, and she is the sun goddess of Hyrulian mythology.

 
What I find to be most interesting about Majora is her trickster nature. As I said in the introduction, Majora fits this archetype to a T. It makes sense that Majora would be the trickster and female due to the dominance of females in the Hyrulian pantheon. They are definitely a matriarchal society, as we rarely see a King of Hyrule with more power than Princess Zelda, and almost all pantheons accurately represent the patriarchal or matriarchal nature of the society that created it. If men rule your society, they will rule your gods as well. Vice versa, if women rule your society then they will rule your goddesses.

 
However, I think what Wikipedia notes about trickster figures in mythology is very telling on this subject:

(Source: Wikipedia)

 
As you can gather from this quote, Loki is the trickster in Norse mythology. He is very like Majora in his ability to change forms. Also, though he is sometimes merely tricky, he later becomes borderline evil and malicious. When Skull Kid, possessed by Majora’s Mask, started out he merely played pranks. As he went on, the pranks became more and more malicious. When he nearly caused the destruction of the world, the moon god, Fierce Deity, had to step in to keep the sun goddess, Majora, in line. There will be a further discussion of Skull Kid in the seventh article on spirits, as this immortal creature may be a better candidate for the trickster role than even Majora.

 
One last thing of note, in respect to sun deities and Majora’s Mask there is a common myth found in almost all mythologies: the myth of the dying or missing sun. These myths are used to explain a variety of solar activities, including why the sun disappears every night (Apollo’s Chariot vs. Artemis’ Chariot), shorter days in the winter, and Solar Eclipses.

 
A solar eclipse is when the moon covers the sun during the day for a period of time. If we are treating Majora’s Mask as a myth, Majora as a sun goddess, and Fierce Deity as a moon god, then this is clearly a Hyrulian missing sun story created to explain solar eclipses. What else was the moon doing than covering the sun? There is a lot more to it than that, but compare it to a similar Japanese myth about the Goddess Amaterasu.

 
Amaterasu, a sun goddess, hid in a cave because she was frightened by the behavior of her brother, Susanoo, a moon god. The world is plunged into darkness until she is willing to emerge. This myth is explaining a solar eclipse, but has to do with the bad behavior of one causing a reaction from the other. In Hyrulian mythology, the sun goddess takes control of the moon god and forces him to fall, covering the sun in the process. Only with the help of the Hyrulian culture hero, Link, is the moon god freed from the power of the sun goddess and return to his rightful place in the sky.

 
The Fierce Deity

Having established that Majora is the sun goddess, it is not difficult to make a claim for Fierce Deity as the moon god. We’ve already explored the symbol on his armor and his color scheme (or lack thereof). We went over how just as the sun gives its light to the moon so that we can see it, in the same way Majora gives Fierce Deity the “spotlight” by giving the Fierce Deity mask to Link. Lastly, we looked at Majora’s Mask as a Hyrulian missing sun story used to explain solar eclipses.

 
There are many theories about the true nature of the popular Fierce Deity Mask given to Link by Majora herself. This mask bears a striking resemblance to Link, and is very powerful. Tatl wonders if it could be more evil than Majora, and Majora calls it the “true bad guy”. However, Hylian Dan’s legendary article gives another, more positive meaning for the Fierce Deity Mask: a mask representing all that Link has learned in gaining the other masks, full of hope and promise. This reading would seem to be collaborated by a gossip stone in Majora’s Mask that says: “The Fierce Deity Mask, a mask that contains the merits of all masks, seems to be… somewhere in this world…”

 
Despite the factors we have already covered, the biggest case for Fierce Deity’s godhood rests in Majora through an important aspect of the Hyrulian worldview. Hyrule is about balance, just as its goddesses are. That is what they believe in on the most basic of levels. If we look at the story about Termina in this light, we notice that even Termina has balance in everything. For the Sonata of Awakening, we have the Goron’s Lullaby. For the New Wave Bossa Nova, a song of birth, we have the Elegy of Emptiness, a song of death.

 
Snowhead is getting colder, and Great Bay has warmed up. Poison in the swamp is killing all life, and the dead are rising from their graves in Ikana. Even the masks themselves have opposites. The postman’s hat is one of freedom, and the Gibdo’s Mask is a mask of confinement. The Couple’s Mask is a mask of happiness, and the Circus Leader’s Mask is one of terrible sadness.

 
What we’re getting at is the fact that for everything, there is its opposite. Therefore, for Majora, a being representing the sun itself, there is her opposite: the Fierce Deity. Where she is colorful, he is without pigment. Where she is female, he is male. Where her mask possesses the wearer, his mask lends its strength. Where she is associated with the sun, he is the moon.

 
Let’s look at Fierce Deity’s relationship with the moon. First, we know that the Fierce Deity mask is a transformation mask. Other than the Giant’s Mask, which is more of an enlargement of your current form than a true transformation anyway, every transformation mask in the game is created by healing the soul of a troubled or dying person. So whose soul is in the Fierce Deity mask, and how did it get there? I and others will argue that it is the moon itself.

 
The Fierce Deity mask is obtained inside the moon. The moon has been unnaturally forced down by Majora, but for some reason it doesn’t just hurtle into the earth and destroy it in one quick swoop, despite its size. It is as if the moon is resisting, like it doesn’t want to destroy earth. This is supported by the fact that a tear falls from the moon’s eye, a rare occurrence we are told. It is mourning what’s happening. The creepy eyes we see in its face are identical to Majora’s eyes, and we do not hear it speak until Majora’s Mask enters into the moon and those unnatural eyes light up. The voice speaking is the voice of the creature possessing the moon, Majora, not the voice of the moon itself.

 
All of this shows that the moon is a sentient being on some level. It has consciousness enough to mourn and cry over the fate of the land, consciousness enough to resist Majora’s power. In the long run, however, the sun is much bigger than the moon, and has much more power.

 
When we eventually leave the inside of the moon, the Happy Mask Salesman says that we have a great many masks full of happiness. This indicates that Link still has his masks when he leaves the moon. What happens in the moon happens in a spiritual realm, on some level, or perhaps inside the moon’s consciousness. It is possible to view the events there as Link entering the moon’s mind in order to eradicate the demon that has entered it and possessed it. What we find inside of the moon, then, is caused by the moon himself and not by Majora.

 
Once we enter the moon, we find ourselves on a serene plain. In order to get the Fierce Deity Mask, you have to have obtained and then given away all of the other masks in the game to the four children running around the tree. They each wear one of the four masks obtained in the four corners of Termina, representing the fate that each of those lands faced before Link helped them. Perhaps these children show the moon’s guilt. It feels like it cannot resist the power of the sun and by that failure it has caused these things to happen. Its powerlessness has caused the imminent destruction of the earth over which it foresees.

 
By giving masks to these projections of the moon, Link proves to it that he has helped the world, and he can help the moon himself. Link moves on to the center child, the one wearing Majora’s Mask. This child represents the part of the moon that is possessed by Majora. Link has healed the moon’s spirit by giving the masks to the four children, and so the mask containing the moon’s spirit is created. Majora, the sun, working through what foothold she has left on the moon’s phyche, gives the mask with the moon’s spirit to Link so that she can regain control of the moon by defeating Link and the mask. However, Fierce Deity, the moon, easily overcomes the sun on its own territory and returns to the sky.

 
I think that all of this fits perfectly from a mythological standpoint. Most often, as I said before, moon gods are male (with the notable exceptions of Roman and Greek mythology, which even then used to be opposite in the early Greek Myths) and sun goddesses are female. This is true in Norse mythology, Japanese Mythology, early Egyptian mythology, and early Greek mythology. Lithuania, Finn, Inia, Sri Lanka, the Hittites, the Babylonians, and some Native American tribes (including the Cherokee, the Natchez, Inuit, and Miwok tribes) all have female solar goddesses and male lunar gods.

 
Fierce Deity also fits with the archetypal hero-god. Thor is the hero-god in Norse mythology, and the favorite of the people. He is a strong, strapping young man with a huge, famous hammer who keeps Loki and the powers of evil at bay. He is the god of thunder and battle, associated with the sky. Thor is second only to Odin, but was more popular among the people than Odin was.

 
Fierce Deity fits this perfectly—with his trademark huge helix sword, he is armor-clad and fearsome, but depicted in the Majora’s Mask myth as being a hero. A dangerously powerful hero, but aren’t all gods very dangerous on one level? I would say that Fierce Deity is not only the god of the moon, he is also the god of battle and the hero-god of Hyrulian mythology.

 
The Goddess of Sand

The Goddess of Sand is the first in our discussion of nameless minor gods of Hyrulian mythology. We see her likeness depicted in statues but not her physical self, much like the statue of the goddess in Skyward Sword. We also never see the Three Golden Goddesses outside of cut scenes, but we do see statue representations of them. Because we are Hylian in the myths and not Gerudo, we do not hear legends about the goddess of sand as they would have when they were young.

 
Some may argue that she is a Gerudo god and not a Hyrulian god because the Gerudo are separate from Hyrule and have a king of their own. I would argue that so do all the other races. The Zora have King Zora, the Gorons have their Big Brother Darunia, the Kokiri have the Great Deku Tree (or Deku Tree sprout), and so on and so forth. Greek culture was the same way. They were all independent governments with their own kings, laws, and patron gods united under one banner. For example, in Greece the Spartans worshiped Ares, the god of war, and were very battle-hardened, war-bent people. Athens worshiped Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and was known for its great works of art and knowledge. Athens and Sparta were equals, with their own kings, gods, and different philosophies, but they were also both Greek.

 
Sometimes the citystates fought among themselves, especially Athens and Sparta, but eventually they became united. In Ocarina of Time we are told about a time when the country was at war within itself. It is described as a time “before the King of Hyrule united the world” (OoT), and at the beginning of Ocarina of Time we see the King of the Gerudo citystate pledging allegiance to Hyrule. The other races have already done this, and the country of Hyrule has been sealed as one. That’s why in both Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, the places where the other races live with their kings are not marked on the map as separate countries. They are shown as a part of Hyrule, where these other races live and pay homage to the king/queen of Hyrule.

 
This is important when including the Goddess of Sand as a part of Hyrulian mythology. The Gerudo, though their own citystate, are Hyrulians too. That is why one of the six temples scattered throughout the land of Hyrule lies in the heart of the Gerudo Desert, is guarded and built by Gerudo masons, and depicts the patron goddess of the Gerudo. This is not indicative of another country, but of a citystate-like system of government, and therefore the Goddess of Sand is included as a Hyrulian Goddess.

 
Basically, all we have of her are a few statues. In Ocarina of Time, she is shown with a snake wrapped around her body. One might guess that she is part snake somehow, or able to turn into one. Perhaps she has a pet snake that is closely associated with her. In Twilight Princess, she is shown holding fire as well as with a snake wrapped around her body. By the time the Arbiter’s Grounds had been built it is possible that she was becoming more associated with Din as the Gerudo race and culture faded from the land and Hylians tried to adopt her into their main pantheon.

 
The Goddess of Time

The popular thought is that Nayru or Farore is the Goddess of Time, however neither goddess is a perfect fit and she is not named. When Majora’s Mask first mentions the Goddess of Time, Zelda says that she is watching over him. Throughout the journey she gives Link new time related abilities using his Ocarina of Time to slow time, speed up time, skip whole chunks of time, and even to reset time. Perhaps she is his patron goddess.

 
In Skyward Sword, we learn more about her, but that is a spoiler and will be discussed in more detail in the ninth chapter of this series.

 
The Goddess of Spirits

Seen on an island in Phantom Hourglass, the Goddess of Spirits presides over mystical spirits and their powers. In the game, she is able to help the three spirits traveling with Link regain their memories and their powers. There is no other information about her, and we never see her physical representation.

 
The Goddess of Fortune

The Goddess of Fortune is mentioned by some of the people in the Wind Waker as living on an island in the ocean. When Link clears the rubble blocking her spring, she thanks him with a larger wallet. Little else is known about her.

 
The Goddess of Wind

The Goddess of Wind is briefly mentioned by people in the Wind Waker, but we do not see more about her. Some fans believe that she may be Farore because of the association with the spell Farore’s Wind, but it is just as likely for Nayru to be the Goddess of Wind due to her status as the sky goddess of Hyrulian mythology. Along those lines, it is also possible that Nayru is the Hyrulian goddess of love because of the spell Nayru’s Love, but again there is no real evidence for this.

 
The Mountain God

This goddess is worshiped by the Goron people in Spirit Tracks, where Kagoron prays for his people at her alter atop the Mountain of Fire as they face the erupting volcano. They believe that she, in her anger, is causing the volcano to erupt. Some fans suspect that this could be the Goddess Din because of her association with the earth and fire.

 
PREVIEW OF ARTICLE 5:
Now that we have examined the minor deities of the Hyrulian pantheon, it is time to look at the beings that are just above being a guardian and just below being a full goddess. The common term for this is Demi-God, as they are often seen as getting god-like powers or immortality either from being descended from a god, or through some other divine means.

Author: The Wolfess

Jennie Marie, also called The Wolfess, is getting her Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry at Eastern Washington University. She is the author of a three-book Zelda fan fiction, The Doppelganger Trilogy and does freelance articles for Zelda websites. The Wolfess has written such articles as Zelda Wii Needs An Anti-Hero, Skyward Sword’s Art Style: Straddling the Line or Walking a New Path, and a ten-part series on The Hyrulian Pantheon currently running at ZeldaDungeon.net.

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• Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes
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• Skyward Sword Pieces of Heart
• Skyward Sword Video Walkthrough
• Skyward Sword Walkthrough
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• Deku Baba

Lara has dressed up as a potato sack, Alice from Alice: Madness Returns and as Misty from Pokémon in previous videos. To add a little extra pizzazz to her Ocarina of Time Medley, Lara dresses up in a Link cosplay costume (very fitting for the occasion). Make the jump to watch the video!

Not often is it that one encounters an individual cosplaying and playing original N64 Zelda compositions on the piano at the same time while looking pretty. Enjoy the video, and be sure to subscribe to lara6683 to stay tuned for more cosplay + piano or cosplay + violin pieces.

So what do you think? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

Source: YouTube

~~~Recent Content Updates~~~

• Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes
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I think this is what deviantARTist ~ProjectVirtue had in mind when creating this wonderful work of art showing the friendship between Link and Ruto. Make the jump for an even closer look at it.

Source: D A Via GoNintendo

~~~Recent Content Updates~~~

• Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes
• Skyward Sword Gratitude Crystals
• Skyward Sword Pieces of Heart
• Skyward Sword Video Walkthrough
• Skyward Sword Walkthrough
• The Minish Cap Walkthrough
• Deku Baba

With this new version, as you can see in the video above, plenty of new features have arrived to help make the commenting community much better. As the Disqus team put it, “we started building a new Disqus to rethink what’s truly important for a discussion platform.” This new version has pretty much been redone from the ground up to ensure that you, our commenters, are happy with the platform.

The newest features of this platform are realtime comments, a community tab, a little dashboard for your personal account, and voting. I’ll go over each of the different features below.

1. Realtime Comments

No longer will you need to constantly refresh the page to see what other people are saying about a post. You can just stay on the page to wait for new comments to be posted, as you’ll get this neat notification that will let you know that there’s a new comment that you can view or reply to! With this feature, you can stay in on the action and actively discuss the topic that is at hand.

2. Community Tab

If you’re curious to see what is going on around the rest of our news posts, you can do that easily from the new community tab that can be found on every post. You can see the users that have commented the most, as well as see what is going on at that moment in other posts. I imagine that this is the section of Disqus that will receive the most new features and refinements as the development of this new version goes on.

3. My Disqus

If you’ve made a Disqus account (which I recommend you do, as it is free and can connect you across many sites on the web), you can see a little dashboard that will let you know if you have any new notifications, if the people you follow have commented recently, and several other things. In the old version, there only was a little notification drop down along with a dashboard on the Disqus website for you to view that information. Now, it is all in the same spot and very easily accessible anywhere you go.

4. Voting

This is the feature that I found was most missed when we made the switch from IntenseDebate to Disqus back in January. I read and reviewed many concerns during the switch that had to do with the voting system (thumbs up and thumbs down) being gone. With this new version of Disqus, the voting system is back. This system should be used to help find quality comments and threads, as Disqus has a few algorithms to sort through comments to bring the best ones up to the top. This does leave room for trolls to vote many things down, but if you users are active enough to vote up and down the comments, I’m sure that it won’t be much of a problem.

Final Thoughts

So, now that you know what the new features are, I urge you to check them out and give all of them a good try before you judge the new system. If you find any problems with the system, use the nifty “Send Feedback” option that can be found above every single Disqus thread. This version will be permanent in about a month, so make sure you voice your opinions to the developers before it becomes too late to help shape this new version.

I personally like the new system, as I was able to give it a shot the very day it came out via Disqus’ blog. I like to try new things, and I really feel that this version of Disqus will really help you folks interact with each other in better ways than before.

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• Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes
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Lanayru Mining Facility is the third dungeon of Skyward Sword, found in the technologically advanced Lanayru Province. The most obvious and unique feature about this dungeon is how advanced it is, because like the region as a whole it is filled with extremely advanced technology. This isn’t immediately apparent until you activate one of the Timeshift Stones within, however, and honestly the level of technology in Lanayru Mining Facility is a shocking contrast to that of the outside areas. Activating Timeshift Stones in Lanayru Desert and Lanayru Mine will mostly just revert the desert into a place with abundant life, and might throw in some mechanisms here and there (though they are very advanced). But Lanayru Mining Facility, being a dungeon, is a fully-enclosed, mechanical and electrical facility, true to its name.

Some may like or dislike this level of technology in a Zelda game, but either way it makes the dungeon extremely unique compared to others in the series. It’s one part ancient ruin (again, much like the previous two dungeons in the first “dungeon trio” of the game), and one part something we’ve never seen before: An electricity dungeon. This unique technology theme combined with the innovative Timeshift Stone mechanic gives this dungeon its own identity, and its puzzle-driven design is brilliantly executed, feeling like a sand-flooded ruin and then an advanced, guarded and dangerous facility at all the right times. It definitely feels like walking through two worlds.

One thing I hear people complain about sometimes is the dungeon’s music, usually saying it’s a really annoying theme. But part of why I love it is how unique it is. It’s a very weird song that combines well with the uniqueness of the dungeon. I can’t stop people from personally disliking it, but I can provide reasons why I think it’s a good song. I wrote a post analyzing this song on the forums, so rather than reiterating it I’ll quote it:

I said earlier that the puzzle design in Lanayru Mining Facility was extremely good, and it is definitely a puzzle-focused dungeon. While I have some complaints about the Gust Bellows and how they are used in later sections of the game, they are used excellently within the dungeon itself, and most of the dungeon’s puzzles are very unique, and play off the sandy ruin and advanced facility themes. It’s also one of the game’s longest dungeons, with a large amount of rooms. I spent significantly more time here than in most of the other dungeons.

Being that it’s puzzle-centric, it has a minimal focus on combat, with few dangerous enemies; Most of the foes are mere nuisances, though there are many. There is no miniboss. I would however like to comment on how well-executed the dungeon boss Moldarach was. I thought it was brilliant how this boss was set up earlier in the dungeon, with Fi’s description of the Aracha growing large after a thousand years hinting at Moldarach himself. It’s neat how they set that up, and it makes Moldarach and the Aracha in general feel like a real part of the world. Moldarach himself is a very fun battle — although he could have used more health — and honestly he’s probably my third favorite boss of the game, after Ghirahim and Scaldera. I especially couldn’t get over that I was having a sword duel with a giant scorpion!

All in all, as I have said, I felt Lanayru Mining Facility was an amazing dungeon. It’s one of the smoothest dungeons of the series, with some of the best puzzles and some of the best flow and progression as you move through it, with neat little touches like acquiring the map late in the dungeon, giving you incentive to backtrack for chests like a treasure-hunter. It’s got excellent atmosphere, a cool song, and an incredible finale.

But how about you? I know some share my fondness for Lanayru Mining Facility, but plenty others do not, and I’m curious where you stand. Did you enjoy the dungeon, did you find any aspect — including the music — annoying, or is it a section of the game that you’re indifferent to? Tell me in the comments and keep an eye out next week for the fourth Skyward Sword Dungeons entry: The Ancient Cistern.

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Make the jump inside to have a closer look at both of these neat looking figures.

Although these bobble heads do look amazing, it is going to be close to impossible to own one seeing as they aren’t commercially produced and handmade by the artist. It would be a nice collection piece, but for now I think you will have to find something else to spend your money on and make your Zelda collection grow.

Source: Destructoid

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So what did you think? Like the video? Going to attempt to play a saw? Tell us in the comments!

Source: YouTube

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Reddit user BansheeIndian has created an incredible piece artwork showing off one of the ways he envisions it, and–yes–Link is included as well as Mario and the original cast from the first game. Make the jump inside for a close look at his artwork.

This is an incredibly unique spin on the Smash Bros. series. Although it they don’t look like the fun loving characters we all came to know over the years, just remember: it’s not what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside. So even though they may look menacing and evil, they could still be warm and fuzzy on the inside. So what are your thoughts on this piece of artwork?

Source: Kotaku

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YouTube user ShanesDominoez has done just this. He has made a short three minute video of the history of Nintendo, but has done so by making use of thousands of dominoes. In his video he gives tribute to Mario, Pokemon, and Zelda, as well several consoles. Make the jump inside to check the video out for yourself!

I usually find myself coming across countless Zelda and Nintendo artwork and fan material, but each piece seems unique in its very own way which is why I have come to love the Zelda fan base more than any other. What are your thoughts on the video? Would you have spent that much time stacking up dominoes just to watch them fall?

Source: Mashable
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Jump inside to check out some pics for yourself.

Wow, this one is amazing, and for only $10 too. Already ordered mine. I really like the design on this one, I thought the ocarina made up of a series of any timepiece imaginable was an interesting take. I think I saw a cuckoo clock in there somewhere too. Too bad I will have to wait until it comes before I can fully make out what the yellow stuff in the background is though. The pics on the site were a little small so I still did not figure it out.

So what do you think? Do you like the shirt? Will you be buying one? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Shirtpunch

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If you recall, Nintendo conducted a giveaway via Facebook that would distribute a replica Master Sword and Hylian Shield to one very lucky fan out of the 25,000 that submitted their picture. After the 25,000 picture goal was met, Nintendo closed the giveaway to begin production of the mosaic. As you can see, it is the official artwork Link from Skyward Sword. It is absolutely amazing to see the thousands of individual portraits come together to form a single piece of art.

What did you think of the mosaic? Did you make it into the mosaic by submitting your entry? Tell us in the comments below!

Source: GoNintendo, Zelda Universe

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Well guys, it has been several months since the start of the Hymns of Light and Shadows video features and we have finally reached the end of our adventures with it. The two final videos from the album are “Dragon Roost Island” and a Majora’s Mask medley. I am a fan of “Dragon Roost Island,” but the last song of the album definitely takes the cake.

Maybe we will see something new in the future from CsGuitar89, but for now I thank him for all his effort that he has put into his Zelda album and allowing all of us to download it for free. Remember to check his YouTube for new updates and info on how to get the album for yourself. I hope you loved following along to the Hymns of Light and Shadows segments as I did covering them. Let us know your thoughts on the album below and show support for all the hard work put into the album and the videos.

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Make the jump inside for a closer look at this very interesting interview with Donna Evans.

Source: Nintendo Gamer
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Copies of the game can still be found on auction sites today. While they aren’t very common here in the United States, you will still find them from time to time, albeit for much higher prices than they are found in Japan. On Japanese auction sites, there are complete versions of the game that can be found for under 2,000 yen, or roughly $25. Go ahead and make the jump to check out the collection video.

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This contest is open to everybody worldwide! If you live in Europe or Australia, you don’t need to worry. If you win a handheld or a game, you will get the handheld or game that is for your specific region. Furthermore, if you already have the prize that you end up winning, that’s fine, as there will be equivalent alternate prizes available. Go ahead and make the jump for more details or just Register at the Forums to get started!

Eligibility Requirements

• Register at the Forums.
• Make a post in this thread, listing your most anticipated game of 2012.
• Have 100 All-Time TOTAL Forum Posts.
• Make 50 Posts during the month of May.

Prizes

• Consolation Prizes – Link Plush Dolls, Pokemon Plush Dolls, Darksiders for PS3/Xbox360
• 3rd Place Prize – Complete Zelda Anime Show DVD Box Set.
• 2nd Place Prize – A Nintendo Wii, 360, PS3, or 3DS game of your choice!
• 1st Place Prize – A brand new Nintendo 3DS console!!!

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All these amazing deals on various Zelda themed apparel. It is just great. At least this time we have another two days to grab one before the offer ends. I think the last couple times they were only available for a single day. Still, I think this is a great offer. I like the Knight Academy idea presented here. It imitates a school shirt pretty well. And well I generally like it when fan logos are presented as something real like this. For only $10 I really cannot see a reason not to get it.

So what do you think? Do you like the shirt? Will you be buying one? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: TeeRaiders

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Zelda’s Lullaby is probably one of the most obvious leitmotifs in the series. Ever since A Link to the Past, this mystical piece has been the trademark of our dear Zelda.

The Chest Fanfare

Okay, this one is so obvious that it’s easy to miss. The Chest Fanfare has been around since A Link to the Past; however, it has been elaborated and revised through other games in the series (namely Ocarina of Time)

Puzzle Fanfare

Everyone likes hear the Puzzle Fanfare after spending several minutes (sometimes even hours) on the various puzzles found in Zelda games. This leitmotif is actually one of the few that originated from the first Legend of Zelda game.

The Pulling of the Master Sword

Many people are under the impression that the Fanfare that plays during the pulling of the Master Sword came from Ocarina of Time. It’s an understandable mistake to make, since much of that game is spent traveling through time via the Master Sword. The first occurrence of this leitmotif, however, is actually (like many other leitmotifs in the series) from A Link to the Past.

Hyrule Castle

This leitmotif is less prevalent than many of the others, but it is definitely reoccurring throughout the series. It was first introduced in A Link to the Past (Suprised?). This leitmotif has been used as Castle Music in other Zelda games (Minish Cap); however, it has also been used simply to reference royalty or the king of Hyrule (Wind Waker).

Ganondof’s Theme

Finally, here’s a theme that didn’t come from A Link to the Past (though Ganondorf himself is referenced in the game). Starting with Ocarina of Time, this leitmotif has been used as the theme for the power-hungry villain, Ganondorf.
Edit: I stand corrected. This theme does occur in A Link to the Past. Go figure.

Serenade of Water

This one is arguable. This theme was actually one of the warp songs from Ocarina of Time. In that game, it wasn’t really directly associated with a particular character, or idea. In Twilight Princess, however, the Serenade of Water made a comeback as the leitmotif for Ruleta, the Zora Queen Ghost. Technically, this one isn’t a reoccurring leitmotif because it wasn’t used as a leitmotif in Ocarina of Time, but what the heck. The more the merrier.

Kakariko Village

Ever since A Link to the Past the Kakariko village and its theme have become inseparable. This leitmotif has been used in Ocarina of Time, Four Swords Adventures, and Wind Waker (heavily remixed).

Epona’s Song

What is a trusty horse without its own theme music? A trusty horse that isn’t as cool as Epona, that’s what! In Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and Twilight Princess, your trusty steed will come your way whenever you play this leitmotif.

Song of Time

Though the Song of Time occurs in a few Zelda games, only two use it as a leitmotif. Both Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess use this music to accompany the physical location of the Temple of Time.

Saria’s Song

Strange enough, Saria’s Song is not a leitmotif for Saria (with the exception of Ocarina of Time). Rather, Saria’s Song has become a reoccurring leitmotif for the Lost Woods or other mysteriously wooded areas (such as the Woods of Mystery in Majora’s Mask).

Though there are many other reoccurring themes in the Zelda series, many of them aren’t used as a leitmotif for the same character or idea within a game. Likewise, there are many leitmotifs that occur in a Single game, but aren’t used in others. Regardless, we can be sure that many of the themes listed above will continue to be used throughout the series. So, what are your favorite reoccurring leitmotifs throughout the series? Are there any that I missed that you think should be on the list? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

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Source: YouTube

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To see the reference, please take the jump.

I think this is pretty neat that the developers of this game decided to put a reference to a well known line in the Zelda series. I’m also loving too how the area also seems to vaguely resemble the place where Error was found at in Zelda II.

What do you guys think? Please leave your comments below!

Source: YouTube

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Ocarina of Time introduced so many new elements to the Zelda series. On top of it being the first 3D Zelda game, it also had so many revolutionary items, had a perfect targeting system, and introduced a musical instrument to play a much more important role in the game. It incorporated excellent combat and ingenious puzzles. Needless to say, it was a masterpiece. When Twilight Princess was released, it tried to do the same thing.

One of the coolest and most revolutionary things about Twilight Princess was the ability to transform into a wolf. No Zelda game previously had anything like that. But it might have been the only revolutionary thing about the game. And it felt to me like it got the idea from the idea of time travel in Ocarina of Time. That was one of the coolest things about that game. In Twilight Princess, Miyamoto wanted a revolutionary idea that had the same effect as time travel from Ocarina of Time. I personally thought it was a very good idea, and it added more to the dark tone of the game.

Another thing I mentioned before that Ocarina had was awesome, revolutionary items. We had seen the hookshot in A Link to the Past, but this was the first time we had seen it used in more than just four directions. In Twilight Princess, Miyamoto again wanted the same effect with even more revolutionary items. I mean, it had a ton of items. The thing is, though, they went too far this time. The items were more gimmicky than revolutionary. And that was one of my main complaints about the game. The only traditional item in the game was the bow. Some things were cool and useful like the Clawshots. But others were just plain dumb. Honestly, was there any use for the Spinner and Dominion Rod outside of their respective dungeons?

I think the reason that hardcore fans don’t appreciate the game as much as other video game fans do is because of the graphics. Graphics are one of the most attractive things about a video game. And although this is stereotypical, I think it is true. People who put graphics on the top of their priority list don’t tend to know much about video games. It’s just a fact. The visuals of Twilight Princess just look very attractive to those “graphic whores” out there.

Miyamoto promised that the next console Zelda game would have much more innovation and fresh ideas. I think that was true about Skyward Sword for the most part. And I am not saying Twilight Princess was a bad game. It was one of the best games in the entire Zelda series. But I just think the creators need to realize that Ocarina of Time was a one-time deal.

I just think that the overall theme of the area, the actual concept behind it, is a little bit inherently dark and sad, and I’m not sure whether people agree about that, or noticed the same things that I did. (I literally don’t know; feel free to tell me!)

So how do you feel about Lanayru Desert? Do you feel like I do, that it was a fairly sad area? Or do you think I’m reading too much into it? And if you did feel it was sad, did you ever get emotional about it, and did you think it was a good thing or just unpleasant? Tell me in the comments!

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Plus later on they made their very own version of Scrapper from Skyward Sword using the same techniques. This one was a later creation using a more detailed process. Luckily she provided several pics and some descriptions going over the process of creating it.

You can view the entire step by step process of Scrapper’s creation here

Oh wow, I was pretty amazed with the sage medallion cupcakes but the Scrapper was just too great. I’m not so sure I could ever ruin it by eating it though. It would have to stay on the table…forever. I have seen a few interesting Zelda themed cake creations in the past but the medallions was a pretty creative way to feature cupcakes. It’s simple and still perfectly represents the item from the game almost exactly.

So what do you think? Do you like the cupcakes? Would you like to see more from Cakecrumbs in the future? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Cakecrumbs Livejournal

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Link has a real good reason to be afraid of his shadow now if he wasn’t scared of it before.

This artist did a real good job of showing just how scary Shadow Link can be and I’m pretty sure that this was how he looked to Link when the Hero encountered him in the game. Safe to say I’m glad it was Link having to fight him instead of me, because with that look on his face, I would give up and get away from as fast as I could. Sorry Zelda.

Please check out the artist’s gallery here and let him know what you thought of it. Also please let us know what you thought of this piece of artwork in the comments section below. Stay tuned for the next Zelda Fanart Spotlight!

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Source: YouTube

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To those who’ve played other 3D Zelda games, and especially those of us who were introduced to Zelda or gaming in general with games like Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker, the approach might have felt brand new.  But it’s obvious that it echoes past Zelda games, specifically the two-dimensional ones which are widely regarded as classics.  What sets it apart is its implementation and design.

Skyward sword is an action game, and everything about the game — from its Wii Motion Plus-focused control scheme to its focus on combat — makes this abundantly clear. But most importantly, and perhaps least immediately obvious, is the overworld design, which funnels the player through countless motion-based challenges seamlessly integrated into a linear quest. This is not a Zelda game designed with openness in mind. It is, arguably, not even a Zelda game that feels like it’s designed to house a living, breathing world. Instead, its focus on raw action gameplay rewards not exploration, but maximization of the resources and items that the game constantly throws at the player. It’s a system of punishment and reward that needs refined, artful gameplay to provide an enjoyable experience.

In the process, it borrows ideas liberally from past Zelda games, but applies them differently. In the original Legend of Zelda and A Link to the Past, a variety of gameplay styles were possible in the overworld, and they felt spontaneous, not programmed. A Link to the Past had a fair amount of stealth gameplay; there was no shortage of opportunities to dodge and strategize when navigating around enemies, and it helped that your health was constantly threatened in the early stages of the game.

Skyward Sword earnestly implemented that for what felt like the first time in a 3D Zelda game. This is partly due to the combat system itself, which is fast-paced, strategic, and wholly different from that of any other Zelda game, but without an overworld that complemented the gameplay, it simply wouldn’t have been successful.

The design of each area appears at first to be labyrinthine. Visiting each area for the first time, it’s easy enough to get lost and turned around, especially in the similar-looking central area of Faron Woods. The first trek through Lanayru Desert is certainly confusing, and offers a host of new gameplay ideas to supplement the experience, along with forcing the player to rely on the map while constantly contending with the quicksand scattered about. Eldin Volcano offers more obvious variety than either of the other regions, with a segmented approach that utilizes fetch quests in its limited space.

One of the brilliant things about this design is that as the player advances through the game, they will no doubt become intimately familiar with each of the individual regions. This is because they’re constantly being repurposed and expanded, and the plot-based expansions are offered up one at a time so that there’s always something more to an area. One trek through Faron Woods won’t show you everything it has to offer, and you probably won’t guess at the flooding that occurs later in the game, or the implications it has for the gameplay. The tightly-packed caves and towering walls, complete with platformer-style gameplay, that marked the early regions of Lanayru Desert couldn’t have prepared us for the more open, entirely different Sand Sea. And it’s unlikely most would have guessed, when navigating the initial challenges of Eldin Volcano, that the area was designed with stealth in mind, and was later to be littered with enemies that actively hunted a vulnerable Link, stripped of items, at every turn.

These regions were designed for variety, and by the end of the game it felt like the designers knew this was important and made the overworld first; The overworld was a response to gameplay ideas, but it also fed them. You had exactly the sort of experience the game designers wanted you to have when you played Skyward Sword, and it was an experience of varied but well-developed gameplay supplemented by a clever and evolving plot. Perhaps more than any Zelda game before it, Skyward Sword’s world felt like it responded to every item Link obtained and every small twist in the story, so that by the end it was fundamentally cinematic.

What was missing from this overworld was player input and a sense of discovery, which is basic to the Zelda experience. By focusing their ideas and patterning the world, the developers allowed it to take on all the traits necessary to distinguish Skyward Sword from its predecessors. Perhaps in the future, however, Zelda overworlds would benefit from a more mixed set of gameplay ideas. Skyward Sword echoes the 2D games’ overworld, but adds to it by constantly developing and changing things about the overworld. What would it feel like if this development was supplemented by the kind of player input that made A Link to the Past or even the more contemporary The Minish Cap stand out?

In any case, Skyward Sword, with its action focus, would not be nearly as good as it is if it didn’t have an overworld which held up its ideas. The concepts introduced in the three major regions should be celebrated as a milestone for Zelda that drew on classic ideas and introduced new ones. Perhaps Nintendo can find a clearer path for the future by looking back at some of the things that made previous overworlds as great as they were.

Author: Hanyou

Hanyou has worked for the article staff, both as a writer and as an editor, for over a year. He has also been an active member of the Zelda Dungeon forums since 2008 and an avid fan of the Zelda franchise since 1998. He has degrees in writing.

Well, she’s back at it again with another parody of our beloved franchise, this time depicting why at the end of Ocarina of Time Link may have not wanted to return to his childhood after all. Interestingly, you’ll notice Link is voiced by the same actor who has voiced Link in a completely different Zelda parody series. Jump inside to see the video.

Warning: video contains vulgar language and situations.

Source: YouTube

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YouTube user Artificial Fear has uploaded a fast paced cover of the “Dodongo/Volvagia Theme” from Ocarina of Time and it sounds amazing.  The video showcases his awesome talent to play a metal version of the song by strumming his electric guitar to perfection.

I like the way Artificial Fear handles his guitar, giving off such a casual vibe. It makes his version of the song that much better in my opinion. He has also covered some other Zelda songs including “Ballad of the Goddess” from Skyward Sword and “Ganon Battle” also from Ocarina of Time. You can click here to view his profile and the songs he has uploaded.

You can find the video of Artificial Fear’s wonderful cover after the jump!

So what do you think of this metal cover of “Dodongo/Volvagia Theme?” Do you like the guitar playing? Do you know of any better cover of the same song? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Source: YouTube (via GoNintendo)

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Doing a brief bit of research, it turns out that other copies of this rarity have sold anywhere from as little as $26 all the way up to $150. This listing currently has had only six bids as of the time this was written, and is up to $17 presently with three days left to bid.

Is this the sort of thing you need for your Zelda collection? Let us know in the comments if you have a copy of the watch yourself, or if you plan on bidding.

Source: eBay

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Jump inside for the song!

My only complaint with the arrangement is that I feel it is over just as it is starting. I wish he would have developed it a bit further as it seems he had several strong ideas about where to take it, he could have played around with those a bit more and gave the song a more satisfying length. But being that he says his primary motivation for the creation of this arrangement was as an alarm tone, I suppose it is plenty long enough for that.

If you, too, would like to download it and use it as an alarm tone, be sure to visit his SoundCloud for the download.

What do you think of the remix? Let us know in the comments!

Source: YouTube

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On his etsy page about the art, he goes into detail about the piece, saying:

-This is a 2-D print of a 3-D papersculpt piece by me, so if you put it in a frame, it still gives off the illusion of being 3-dimensional!
-The image measures 8″ x 8″ on 9″ x 9″ paper
-The image is printed on high quality Canson Photographique paper using an Epson 9900 series printer with Epson ultrachrome archival inks
-Each print is signed, dated, and numbered by me!
-It will come bagged and boarded between two pieces of cardboard and shipped in a stiff envelope.
-I have a very small amount of these since I am too poor to get a lot of them made, so get your hands on one while you can!

the Master Sword w/ scabbard, Hylian Shield, Hero’s Bow, Quiver w/ arrows, Gale Boomerang, Hawkeye, Ball and Chain, Dominion Rod, Bomb (regular), Water Bomb, Slingshot, Heart Container (Piece of Heart), Green Rupee, Blue Rupee, Yellow Rupee, Red Rupee, Small Key, Bottled Red Potion, Bottled Blue Potion, and Bottled Fairy!

I went into great detail with each piece and made sure to capture the distinctive features of all the items that are showcased! Not to mention, everything was completely hand-cut by me over the course of 8 months!

Please note: if you lift the item above your head, it will not make the “da da da daaaaaaa” sound.

These are really well made, I am loving that little Gale Boomerang. Overall the amount of detail placed into each of these items is amazing. It not not easily noticed at first but a closer inspection brings out all those little details.

So what do you think? Do you like the new items? Will you be getting these? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: etsy

~~~Recent Content Updates~~~

• Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes
• Skyward Sword Gratitude Crystals
• Skyward Sword Pieces of Heart
• Skyward Sword Video Walkthrough
• Skyward Sword Walkthrough
• The Minish Cap Walkthrough
• Deku Baba

Renowned gaming website 1Up has been under scrutiny in the past for its harsh criticism on the Zelda series yet the writers have acknowledged their strict comments and an article has been written on the site which gives five strong reasons as to why Zelda is the top action RPG.

Hit the jump to find out what 1Up had to say about our beloved series!

1Up comments on how the use of equipment other than just a sword and shield have really defined how a great series can run. They also give credit to Zelda’s amazing dungeons, short, understandable story plot, and finish off the article with praise toward the combat style and the direction the creators take toward each game.

You can read the full article by clicking here.

Do you agree with 1Up’s reasons toward Zelda being the best action RPG? Are there any other reasons you can think of that make the Zelda series so special? Share those comments with us now!

Source: 1Up

~~~Recent Content Updates~~~

• Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes
• Skyward Sword Gratitude Crystals
• Skyward Sword Pieces of Heart
• Skyward Sword Video Walkthrough
• Skyward Sword Walkthrough
• The Minish Cap Walkthrough
• Deku Baba

Warning: contains vulgar language and adult situations.

I think this one digs a little deeper into Link’s life than I think I have ever cared to go. Especially later on when he mentions his… hand. It is still pretty funny overall.

So what do you think? Do you like the video? Have you learned anything you didn’t want to know? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: YouTube

~~~Recent Content Updates~~~

• Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes
• Skyward Sword Gratitude Crystals
• Skyward Sword Pieces of Heart
• Skyward Sword Video Walkthrough
• Skyward Sword Walkthrough
• The Minish Cap Walkthrough
• Deku Baba

How do you like the shirt? Have you gotten any cool Zelda merchandise recently? Post in the comments and let us know.

Source: Tee Fury

~~~Recent Content Updates~~~

• Skyward Sword Goddess Cubes
• Skyward Sword Gratitude Crystals
• Skyward Sword Pieces of Heart
• Skyward Sword Video Walkthrough
• Skyward Sword Walkthrough
• The Minish Cap Walkthrough
• Deku Baba