Tag: and

Greek mythology is one of the single most well-known and frequently taught mythologies in the world, similar to that of its cousin, Roman mythology. Partly because its stories have survived so well and partly because it’s so old, it’s become extremely influential in the modern world and especially in fiction. Our planets are named after the Roman equivalents of its gods, and many of our favorite fantasy beasts come straight from its bestiary. Of course it’s no surprise that Zelda…

What does Zelda borrow or mimic from Celtic myths? Celtic mythology is responsible for such Zelda staples as Epona and Fairies, and there are a number of other notable and even shocking consistencies between the mythology and the Zelda series. Celtic myth is about warriors and heroes sent into battle instead of gods and spirits to save lands, fight evil creatures, rescue fair maidens, and discover magical artifacts. Zelda is modeled after fantasy tropes, and many of them date back…

Let’s talk about Skyward Sword. I’ve been fairly vocal in the past about my gripes with this game, and while as a whole I will continue to insist that it is not a bad game, and is in fact a good one, I will also insist that it is one of the weaker titles in the series. Today, we’re going to discuss why I hold this opinion: poor skill scaling. Before we discuss how Skyward Sword specifically suffers from this,…

Another new discussion video, this time about Zelda Wii U! I’m sure most of you are familiar with the recent news on the subject, about Nintendo wanting to “rethink the conventions of Zelda” and their two examples of what they want to change. This video covers my thoughts and reactions to their sentiments, as well as my hopes and concerns for Zelda Wii U. Enjoy! You can watch the video here or check out the embed after the jump. Here’s…

Hey guys, new discussion video! This video’s about The Wind Waker HD, and how I feel it measures up to the original game’s visual design. Obviously the graphics are a big deal with the remake, but I had some thoughts on it that I wanted to share. You can watch the video here or check out the embed after the jump. The Wind Waker might be my least-favorite Zelda game, but it’s still a very impressive experience. I always felt…

Roughly one year ago, Skyward Sword was released for the Nintendo Wii, marking the 16th major entry in the franchise and the first Zelda game to use full motion controls. The game received nearly universal praise, getting 9’s and 10’s left and right from countless reviewers. Many critics also labeled it as the most significant breakthrough in modern gaming since Ocarina of Time, some going as far as to call it the best Zelda game ever made. Whether that’s true…

The land of Hyrule has always been a very diverse realm with a large variety of peoples and monsters living throughout. A very common aspect of the Zelda series is there being a clear distinction between a friendly NPCs that will talk to Link and cannot be attacked, and unfriendly enemy NPCs, which almost never speak and only exist as opponents to be defeated. This does not account for everyone, as there are the occasional exceptions on both sides. Nonetheless,…

New video discussion! This one’s about “transportation” overworlds in Zelda games (as I call them), the kind that has appeared in The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and Skyward Sword. The discussion is basically about why we’ve been seeing them so much, and how Nintendo hasn’t done many other kinds of overworlds in a while. Enjoy! You can watch the video here or check out the embed after the jump. I’ve never been a fan of this type of…

Welcome back. A few weeks ago, we discussed the idea of a film based on the Zelda series, and looked at the plots of Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time, comparing them to Robert McKee’s definitions of the archplot and the miniplot respectively. This week, we’re going to continue looking at McKee’s plot triangle, focusing on the third type of plot: the antiplot. If you haven’t read the first article in this series, I advise you to go do so…

“Goal-oriented gameplay and environmental presence exist in unavoidable tension. In moderation, sense of purpose can make a place come alive. But when we focus on moves, strategy, puzzles, and other performance-oriented tasks, we’re left with little cognitive room to appreciate the surrounding environment.” – Douglas Wilson, “Look Before You Warp”1 The above quote is from a chapter in The Legend of Zelda and Philosophy: I Link Therefore I Am (a collection of essays, edited by Luke Cuddy) in which Wilson…