Get Your Quarters Ready For This Fan’s Zelda-Themed Arcade Cabinet
Posted on January 25 2022 by David Nystrom
There’s something truly unique that is captured by the sights, sounds, and feel of classic arcade cabinets. Whether it’s the sound of the quarters dropping in, the snapping and clicking of the joystick and buttons, or the atmosphere of the arcade setting, there is an undeniable sensation of nostalgia and history that washes over anybody who steps up to one of these machines. While indeed packed with its own nostalgia and history, the Legend of Zelda series was never directly intended for an arcade setting, and yet that hasn’t stopped some people from creating that experience.
Reddit user elonepb recently showed off their incredible Zelda-themed arcade cabinet. Decorated with iconic artwork on all sides, the machine features Link on one side and various forms of Ganon on the other. The front has iconography showing the Triforce, a couple of additional Links, and plenty of buttons for whichever game is being played. They mention in comments below the original post that the screen is just a PC monitor and that the games are all being run by an emulator. The button and control mapping was done through the cabinet maker as well, customized for their purposes.
I think this is a super cool and unique item. As somebody who has memories of playing the original Super Mario Bros. at the laundromat, Nintendo games on stand-up arcades really tickle that nostalgia bug. That said, I imagine diving into a more story-driven experience like a Zelda game would be a really unique and different take on the franchise. I love the way this thing looks and I wouldn’t turn down a chance to try a Zelda game on it for sure. In fact, I’d say that, if I had the chance, I’d want to give Zelda II a go on this. It might make that experience feel totally unique and might drive me to an even better place with that game. I would have to go and get a custom-made chair for it, though, to match.
What about you? Does the idea of a retro arcade cabinet blended with Zelda get your nostalgia going? Is there a specific game you’d want to try out on something like this? Let us know in the comments below or chat about it over in our Discord!
Source: elonepb
David is an editor at Zelda Dungeon. He’s the author of the ongoing series, The Era Without A Hero, and his favorite Zelda games are Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword. He’s also generally a fan of JRPGs and other major Nintendo titles, such as Smash Bros. and Mario.
