Tag: Analysis

With the release of Twilight Princess HD, many of us will once again embark on a journey into a version of Hyrule that is shrouded in darkness. And what better way to do that than with the help of the Princess of the Twilight Realm; there’s no better guide (and in my opinion, no better companion) in all of the Zelda series. Midna is one of the most inspiring female characters in the lineup. She’s strong in terms of both…

Back in March GameStop offered preorders on an Adventure Pouch inspired 3DS case. I didn’t waste any time and immediately put my bid in for one. The orders went out on April 28, and I received mine in the mail today. I was impressed by the quality and style of the case, so I wanted to share with you my unboxing of the Nintendo 3DS Zelda Adventure Pouch Case. Hit the jump for pics. Kassye Butler26 year old mother of…

Welcome to the tenth installment of Piece of Heart, where we look at The Legend of Zelda series through the eyes of a literary professor and examine how its literary elements enhance the gaming experience. This week’s lesson is titled “Geography Matters…” The gist of it is that certain environments breed certain types of people– culturally, psychologically, financially, historically, and otherwise. Aside from general settings, specific geographical monuments also have significance. The effect of geography is easy to see in…

Regarded as the most beloved game for the Nintendo 64, Ocarina of Time has seen three different ports and at least five different controller options through the years. Each new controller has brought with it a different gaming experience, and either enhanced or detracted from the original gameplay. I have had the privilege of experiencing Ocarina of Time on all of its ports, and decided to give my take on how each controller handled the game and changed my overall…

To celebrate our newest series, Tadtone Tuesdays, we look at one of the most powerful items in all of the Zelda canon. Link’s arsenal is made up of many powerful items that he uses throughout his quests, however, one item in particular holds a magical power that goes far beyond the abilities of just causing damage or solving puzzles. Between Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, the Ocarina is possibly the most powerful item in all of Hyrule, second only…

The Legend of Zelda has a long and storied past with mobile systems; indeed, the marriage of the two dates as far back as the series’ fourth game, Link’s Awakening.  In this article, I take a look at the design of portable Zelda games by comparing Link’s Awakening, the oldest, and A Link Between Worlds, the youngest, side by side.

Welcome to the ninth installment of Piece of Heart, where we look at The Legend of Zelda series through the eyes of a literary professor and examine how its literary elements enhance the gaming experience. This week’s lesson is titled “Flights of Fancy”. This chapter could be wholly devoted to Skyward Sword since the name itself implies a departure from land, but instead we’ll examine literal, figurative, and ironic instances of flight that occur throughout the Zelda series. The Legend…

Video game graphics have improved immensely over the years and The Legend of Zelda is a prime example of its growth, beginning with 8-bit sprites and transitioning to fully animated 3D models. And there’s no doubt that 3D animation has come a mighty long way since Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64. Imgur user, game designer, and 3D artist John Guerra was thus inspired to pick-apart the workings of five 3D Princess Zelda models. The jump in resolution from…

Welcome to the eighth installment of Piece of Heart, where we look at The Legend of Zelda series through the eyes of a literary professor and examine how its literary elements enhance the gaming experience. This week’s lesson is titled “It’s All Politics”. While I don’t think that any Zelda game was created as an analogy for a real-world political situation, it does usually surround war and the dangers of a power-hungry government. This lesson argues that no piece of…

Welcome to the seventh installment of Piece of Heart, where we look at The Legend of Zelda series through the eyes of a literary professor and examine how its literary elements enhance the gaming experience. This week’s lesson is titled “If She Comes Up… It’s Baptism”. Basically, being submerged in water can represent a character’s rebirth. The Wind Waker in its entirety comes immediately to mind, leading into the lands that emerge to make up new Hyrule in Spirit Tracks….