Author: Mike Midwood

As the Zelda series began to progress and technology improved, one of the greatest boons was the ability to thematically develop the dungeons. From the simplistic gimmick of Key Cavern to the dark history of Arbiter’s Grounds, Zelda dungeons went from cookie-cutter labyrinths to structures with personality and pizzazz. With the cold weather months upon us, I thought it would be pretty chill to look at the various ice-themed dungeons throughout the series? Which is your favorite? While The Minish Cap‘s Temple of Droplets has…

In partnership with Universal Studios theme parks, the first Super Nintendo World amusement park opened in Osaka’s Universal Studios Japan in 2021. Early in 2022, Universal confirmed that they would be bringing this new attraction to North America in 2023. We now have a specific release date, as Nintendo has announced that Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood will open on February 17th, 2023. Wahoo!   Get ready for a new world of adventures when #SuperNintendoWorld opens 2/17/23 @UniStudios!…

Wintertime is nearly upon us. For many, this time of year is filled with fun and happiness. Holidays, family functions, and parties abound as we move toward a new year. Winter can be very harsh, however, bringing cold weather, icy conditions, and tempestuous winds. These atmospheric phenomena can create landscapes that are equal parts beautiful and barren, serene and savage. Like most fantasy franchises, the Zelda series has crafted a number of winter wonderlands and wastelands, but which do you think is…

Not only has Breath of the Wild been both a major financial success and critical darling, it’s also received adulation from industry peers. Whether listed as an influence or simply recognized for its outstanding achievement, other developers have had no shortage of praise for Nintendo’s open-world opus. Apparently, Bethesda director and executive producer Todd Howard is a big fan of the game. In a recent interview with the Lex Fridman Podcast, Howard gushed about Breath of the Wild, calling it “fantastic” and “…a…

Ever since the visual technology supporting video games has improved, so has the desire to present engaging characters. One of the primary methods of achieving this has been to implement professional voice acting. While many big budget games now see full cast voice acting as an absolute requirement, The Legend of Zelda franchise has only recently dipped its toes into this pool. Or has it? Depending on your definitions, one could argue that voiceover has existed in the series for quite…

If there’s one thing I love in this world it’s The Legend of Zelda, and if there’s another it’s metal music. Ever since I was young I was always fascinated by metal. The genre’s aggressive tone, complex arrangements, and sonic intensity drew me in just as the vibrant land of Hyrule did for Zelda games. Thanks to the creativity and talent of our community’s musically inclined fans, I’m lucky to see these two appreciations blended with regularity. One such example is this recent…

It has been a momentous year for the video game industry. From triple-A releases to independent darlings, 2022 has seen a treasure trove of excellent gaming experiences become available to players everywhere. On December 8th, these titles will come together to determine the best of the best at The Game Awards, hosted, of course, by Geoff Keighley. While seeing these heavyweight releases duke it out is always exciting, many people come to the show to see new trailers or gain…

In general, I have mixed feelings on the updated versions of Zelda games we’ve seen over the last decade. At best, I’ve found them to be minute upgrades that often lose some of the original’s charm in the process. Sometimes, though, I feel a lot of what made the game worth playing is sacrificed in the name of convenience, or for seemingly no reason at all. It can’t be denied, however, that these games possess some advantages over their predecessors, be they…

The spooky season is in full swing. If you’re planning a costume, hopefully you have the details down by now as Halloween is just around the corner. I’ve always loved this holiday. It isn’t the candy or the parties, though, that make Halloween exciting for me. It’s the monsters! Thankfully, the Zelda series has a vast bestiary of fearsome foes and creepy creatures. If one were looking for costume inspiration, this franchise would offer no shortage of options. If you wanted to…

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a divisive game. However, most people seem to agree that it contains an absolute banger of a soundtrack. Short and sweet, each track perfectly compliments the moments in which they appear, and this is especially true of the battle sequences. The songs that accompany each fight are fast-paced, bombastic anthems that heighten the intensity of the difficult combat. They also translate perfectly into contemporary renditions, as evidenced by this awesome rock cover of “Great…