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Beyond Frustration: Deciphering the Significance of the Crimson Moon in ‘Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

And if we tell you that in addition to a brilliant narrative resource… there is a compelling reason for it to appear every almost three hours of the game?

Every time in ‘Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom‘, right in the middle of any plain, the cinematic of the crimson moon appears, it’s a reason to be concerned. The dead come back to life, stronger enemies emerge, and your wisest option (at least if you’ve just started your adventure in Hyrule) is to seek refuge in a sanctuary or wait until the chaos subsides. But what if we tell you that beyond being a brilliant narrative device, there is a significant reason for its appearance roughly every three hours of gameplay?

Zelda Classic DOWNLOAD

Child of the Moon

Every 168 minutes of gameplay, the crimson moon appears in the new Zelda to stir things up. Well, more or less: advanced players have discovered a way to trigger its appearance ahead of time. If you push the limits of what the Switch is capable of, thereby overloading its memory, the game interprets it as a “panic button” to exit with the relevant cinematic.

For instance, when many objects appear near Link or he is pursued by numerous enemies simultaneously, the crimson moon eliminates them by resetting the game. It’s a method to hide something that many of us already suspected: the Switch isn’t exactly the most powerful machine on the market, and the new adventures of Link and his companions make the most of it.

Where any other developer might have gone for a more hasty way to address memory issues, Nintendo has proven they’re the best in their field for a reason, concealing their shortcomings while simultaneously enhancing the game’s dark and despairing tone. They rescue the Switch from itself, preventing players from witnessing its limitations.

They’ve accomplished so much with so little, quite literally: even though ‘Baldur’s Gate 3‘ might have the potential to be the game of the year, none other has transformed its shortcomings into opportunities quite like this one. A marvel that never ceases to amaze us.

Zelda Classic DOWNLOAD

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From Near Miss to Timeless Classic: The Untold Story of the Song That Almost Became ‘The Legend of Zelda’ Main Theme

What then prevented us from using Ravel’s ‘Bolero’ as the main theme of that little game from 1982 entitled ‘The legend of Zelda’?

It was not uncommon during the era of 8-bit consoles to find that the main themes of some video games were simply chiptune versions of classic songs that were not copyrighted. For example, ‘Tetris’ used ‘The Nutcracker,’ ‘Final Fantasy II’ incorporated ‘Swan Lake’ (both by Tchaikovsky), and ‘Might & Magic’ featured Pachelbel’s ‘Canon.’ They sounded good, were adaptable, and players liked them… So, what prevented using Ravel’s ‘Bolero’ as the main theme for that little game from 1982 called ‘The Legend of Zelda’?

Zelda Classic DOWNLOAD

We are going to a ravel party

On November 22, 1928, something unique was about to happen at the Paris Opera, but many of the attendees were not even aware that they were about to witness the premiere of a melody that would resonate throughout the decades. Maurice Ravel, who adapted an Islamic song using an orchestra and his own arrangements reminiscent of Spanish boleros, debuted a song that supposedly took place in a Spanish tavern, where a dancer would climb onto a table and begin to dance, increasingly accompanied by the clapping of the audience.

At least, that’s what was written in the program booklet handed out at the entrance. Ravel preferred it to resemble a factory due to the mechanical nature of the music. In those years, it became a huge success that resurfaced fifty years later thanks to ’10, the Perfect Woman,’ where Bo Derek moved to its rhythm. The problem is that Blake Edwards did pay the corresponding rights for its use, which cannot be said for Nintendo.

After the success of the song in the film, Koji Kondo thought that Ravel’s fantasy could fit perfectly as the opening fanfare for ‘The Legend of Zelda’. They adapted it, everyone was thrilled, and the game development continued. However, once it was finished, someone realized that less than fifty years had passed since the author’s death, which meant that the tune was still under copyright in Japan. Oops.

Kondo spent the whole night reworking parts of the game’s music here and there until he came up with the melody we all know now. Miyamoto himself remembers it as a tune that “above all, suggests bravery. So I think it is the perfect song to play when you embark on an adventure.” It was just one night, but it was definitely worth it.

As of today, Ravel’s works are in the public domain in many parts of Asia and the European Union, and in the United States, they will enter the public domain starting from 2025. Will we be able to hear the ‘Bolero’ in the game that comes after ‘Tears of the Kingdom’, even as a simple reference? Well, let’s wait and see what Link has in store for us.

How to play ZELDA Classic – Guide for Beginners

There have been many Zelda games over the years that have brought joy to Link fans worldwide. However, nothing beats pure nostalgia like the Zelda classic game on the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). 

If you’re new to this title and never saw the original, you may be struggling to work out how to get started and try it on your modern PC. Stay tuned as we show you how to play Zelda Classic with a few tips!

What is Zelda Classic?

When it comes to retro gaming, few 90s titles live up to the hype like the original Zelda. Sure, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild looks stunning, but there’s something about going back to the first one that sets the right tone. It falls in the 2D action-adventure genre with pixellated graphics and old sounds that takes you back a few decades.

How to play Zelda Classic

While you can still play Zelda Classic on NES emulators, Nintendo has released a version that’s compatible with Windows and Nintendo Switch. Some of the controls have changes to work with keyboard and touchpad mechanics, but the quests and characters remain the same.

Getting started

To play Zelda Classic on your PC, you need to download the executable file from a reliable source. It provides the three quests from the original game, while there are a few more additions for you to enjoy. You’ll load them as qst files, which loads them as custom games.

For now, ensure you save the executable file to your PC, extract the files, and create a shortcut on your desktop.

How to play Zelda classic

Version details

You should always check which is the latest version you have of Link and Zelda Classic. While 2.50.2 is more closely related to the original game and characters, there are newer versions that offer ZQuest as a game editor. There are also other developers on Discord channels providing other builds. 

How to play Zelda classic

Starting the game

When you’ve figured out how to play Zelda Classic from the guidelines above, you can now run the executable file. On the main menu, you’ll click on “Start: Play Game” for the action to begin. You can also register your name to save your profile for future gameplay.

How to play Zelda classic

Loading custom quests

When you play Zelda Classic for the first time, the game will ask you for the quest directory. It will only do this once. When you set the location on your PC, it will show you the other custom games you’ve saved, created by other developers using the ZQuest editor. Feel free to try those when you’re done with the main game.

How to play Zelda classic

Play Zelda Classic

You’re now ready for action in one of the oldest Zelda games available. You’ll need to fight monsters and find items to complete each level in the dungeons. For instance, level one has a raft, stepladder, and flute you’ll need to discover to aid you on your quest. You can only access the next level when you complete the current one.

How to play Zelda classic

Zelda Tips and FAQs

With a better understanding of how to play Zelda, it’s time to turn to some tips and questions you may have. You can also check out our article on the top-ranked love interests in Zelda games. 

Where can I play the original Zelda?

If you have an NES emulator on your PC, you can still play the original Zelda. However, the quality isn’t good, and the controls aren’t aligned with modern technology. To make it work, you’ll need the latest version that’s available for Windows and Nintendo Switch. There’s even a Zelda Joy-Con controller to add to the experience.

How long does it take to play the original Legend of Zelda?

For the main story in Legend of Zelda, it will take you about 8 hours to complete. If you add some of the extra quests, it may take you close to 9 hours in total. For the completionist achievement, you’re looking at about just under 11 hours.

Why are Zelda games so good?

When it comes to Link and Zelda games, there are many reasons why gamers love them. For one, the dungeons provide many items to find and quests to complete. You’ll also love the quirky characters and the humor that comes with them. The combat system is also kept simple to make the titles more enjoyable.

How to unlock and play new quests in Zelda

While you may like the main storylines linked to Princess Zelda, you can also play other quests in the Legend of Zelda classic game. They’re available from developers that use the ZQuest editor. You’ll need to obtain qst files and place them in the same quest directory you indicated when you first start the game.

Get Linked to the Zelda classic

Well, you now have a full overview of how to play Zelda classic on your PC. You’ll have better controls that are compatible with keyboards, while there are some new tones and sounds for the latest quests. It’s time to head out and save the day!

How to play ZELDA With Tips!

Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda is a classic fantasy action-adventure video game that helped define a generation of games from the late 80s and early 90s. It’s the first installment in a famous series. A boy named Link is the main character. The Japanese version of the game is called The Hyrule Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda (who is the beloved princess of Hyrule).

There are plenty of versions and games in the series, which we’ll discuss while showing you how to play Zelda.

How to play Zelda games

There’s a library of Zelda games you can enjoy, each with different storylines and themes. We’ll give you a short intro for each of them as well as some info on how to play them.

Zelda Classic

Zelda Classic is a modern tribute to The Legend of Zelda, still considered one of the best video games ever. Zelda Classic has been developed into a replica of the NES version. But Zelda Classic allows new quests that can use traditional or enhanced graphics and introduce new challenges and enemies.

Before you play Zelda Classic, why not play games in the original series so that you understand the background?

how to play Zelda 2

How to play the Legend of Zelda

Even though The Legend of Zelda came out decades ago, it’s a quality game that works on all the major modern web browsers today. It’s part of the Arcade, Adventure, Emulator, and NES gaming categories. It’s the way to enter the world of the Zelda series and meet the main character, Link.

To play, you must defeat many enemies while you search for the hidden pieces of the Triforce. When all eight pieces are reassembled, you will be able to enter the evil Gannon’s lair, defeat him, and in so doing, save Zelda.

how to play Zelda 2

Other games in the series

There are many other games in the series for you to play if you enjoy the first installment. They include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Other well-known series games include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Mystery of Solarus, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

Zelda Tips and Tricks

For more than 25 years, the Legend of Zelda has enchanted players of all ages with its delightful worlds, rich histories, and lovely music. There’s magic in all of them, from the earliest to the latest. But the earlier games can be challenging, so here are some ideas to make them a bit easier. 

Open a dungeon door without a key

Just enter the first dungeon, exit, and then go back in. One of the northern doors will unlock.

The secret save screen

Usually in Zelda, you have to die before you can save your game. But you can use the up and “A” combo on the second controller to save whenever you please. This will save time and unnecessary deaths! 

Influencing gossip stones

There are gossip stones in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask that mostly tell the time. But if you have the Mask of Truth, each one will tell you something like a gameplay secret. 

Skip to the second quest

Once you’ve conquered Ganon in the first Zelda, you’re allowed to start the Second Quest, But if you type Zelda as your name, you’ll go straight to the second quest. But be warned, it’s more difficult than the first.

Weaponize the sun’s song

If you play the Sun’s Song’s delightful melody to a lot of Gibdos or ReDeads, you’ll freeze them in place! 

Make bomb arrows

In Link’s Awakening, you can combine your bow with your bombs to create bomb arrows to increase the power of your attacks.

Reduce the number of enemies

In the original Legend of Zelda, if you eliminate all the enemies except one on a screen, there will still only be one left the next time you go into that screen. 

A fast travel trick

In A Link To The Past, you can go to Kakariko Village and play your flute in front of the weathercock, which will come to life and take you to eight places you want to visit.

A secret supply room

Behind a fake wall on the main floor in Ganon’s Castle (which you’ll need the Lens of Truth to see), there’s a chamber with fairies and business scrubs ready to help you replenish your strength. 

Steal The Bow

You need an expensive bow to beat the game in Link’s Awakening. But instead of spending a fortune to buy it, just steal it from the shop! But then everyone will call you ‘thief’ for the rest of the game.

how to play Zelda 2

Become the legend

Games in the Legend of Zelda series are still great fun to get to know and play, even if they’ve been around for decades. Start with the first one and then play them in any order after that. You’ll love some of them, and others might not fascinate you as much, but they’re classic video games that are well worth a try.

For further reading, check out our article on “Legend of Zelda love interests, ranked from worst to best.”

Legend of Zelda love interests, ranked from worst to best

Legends of Zelda Love Interests Wallpaper

Despite the fact that Link constantly voyages to save Princess Zelda and stop the evil Ganon/Ganondorf/Calamity Ganon, he actually has a plethora of love interests throughout the series!

As everyone knows: love makes the world go ’round, and we’re certainly suckers for romances stories. And guess what? Link’s relationships are fun to follow and make his grand adventures all the more interesting!

Before going on, we should be clear about two things:

1. “Worst” doesn’t mean bad. Even the lower relationships have their merits. Usually…

2. This isn’t shipping. There’s nothing wrong with shipping, of course, but there is a difference: shipping combines any two random characters for the pleasure of adoring fans, while we’re examining relationships that have been canonically established. Usually…

Now that’s finished, let’s get to it and check out the-

Love interests in Legend of Zelda from worst to best!

(And yes, many of these will be different Zeldas)

Just Friends – The Kiddos

Sometimes, Link is a kid! Since there could clearly be a relationship with these folks when everyone grows up, we’ll give them recognition. However, until they’re older, these are simply Link’s candidates for BFF:

Medli (Wind Waker)

I’ve been looking for a cute wallpaper and i found this. I instantly fell in love. from zelda

Medli has a great story that we find incredibly sad: after saving Dragon Roost Island and helping her brother find courage, Link realizes that sages need to constantly worship the gods to actualize the Master Sword’s power. Poor Medli is then dropped in an underground temple indefinitely, likely to become one of the withered sages from Breath of the Wild.

But if that wasn’t the case, Link could’ve been great friends with this adorable Rito kid. Hopefully, Link will bring the pirate ship around every once in a while to say “hello” and “thanks for saving us”!

Oh, and for Makar as well.

Purah (Breath of the Wild)

Ah, one of Link’s many platonic Breath of the Wild crushes! It becomes especially platonic when she turns herself from a 100-year old woman into an intelligent and peppy child of, what, 7 years?

Still, now that Link and Zelda are back together and scouring the land for new horizons, we’re sure they’ll enjoy the occasional visit to Hateno Ancient Tech Laboratory every once in a while.

Tetra (Wind Waker)

TETRAAA

Yeah, she’s also Zelda. However, we call her Tetra because – much akin to Sheik’s character switch – she has an entirely different personality in and out of costume! Tetra plays up the swank, smack-talking pirate queen role and constantly jokes with Link. Frankly, she’s pretty badass for a kid! The moment she becomes Zelda in Hyrule’s ruins, Tetra suddenly reverts a delicate princess in need of saving.

For that reason, Tetra, not Zelda,  is our top choice for Link’s friends!

Relationships

Now begins the true quest!

Princess Ruto (Ocarina of Time)

Overly Attached Ruto from zelda

Full disclosure: while relationships with Zoras like Ruto and Mipha are blantantly obvious, they make us a bit sad. Why, you ask? Because their love is almost totally unrequited and yet they’re unswayed regardless! We might even consider this particular relationship “bad”…

Here’s why: Princess Ruto sees Link for the first time and says, “You’re gonna be my husband, deal with it, yo”. That would be okay if the decision was passed off as the capitulations of a strong-willed young princess, but when they grow up she’s still chasing the pipe dream of a relationship. Link had a relationship with Mipha, but no love has formed here. 

The necessary time to develop a connection is important for story and relationships in general.

Now, we aren’t going to claim this relationship only gets attentions because some fans find adult Princess Ruto hot… We WILL say that she was intended to be comedic relief and works well as such! It can be pretty funny to watch her chastise Link for taking his time showing up to save Hyrule.

But is this a good, healthy relationship? No. Absolutely not.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time turns 20. Here’s how it changed gaming forever

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Zelda (Zelda II: The Adventure of Link)

Zelda II

Zelda from “Zelda II” is the only one we’ve included from the originals. Why? Because most of these titles don’t show anything between Link and the princess! In the first game, you simply quest to find Zelda as a heroic night, and in “A Link to the Past” the princess telepathically butt dials calls you to her aid shortly before your uncle gets brutally killed in Hyrule’s defense.

So, yeah, not much there…

At the very end of Zelda II, however, Link gets a solid hug from Zelda, which is enough to imply there’s something romantic happening. It’s happens quick, it’s at the very end, but it’s there!

And sorry about your uncle, Link. Press F.

Saria (Ocarina of Time)

Always Saria over Zelda from gaming

Ah, poor Saria.

Aside from having a great song and taking care of the Kokiri people, Saria supports Link with the other sages. Similar to poor Medli, that means she’s destined to be a sage for a very, very long time.

Still, she’s a great character that takes care of others and even journeys to the Forest Temple in response to spirits calling her to help. Props to her!

Unfortunately, once she becomes an adult there’s not much between Saria and Link. They meet briefly and he helps her before she’s sage-ified. Otherwise, this relationship would have way more potential!

Ilia (Twilight Princess)

Sometimes, Link has a relationship with Zelda. But in “Twilight Princess” he had an actual girlfriend and only meets Zelda a few times for frivolous things like getting info, saving Midna, and defeating Ganondorf!

Saria and Link start the game in Ordon village, where her father is the mayorchief. Long story short, she gets captured and loses her memory, then spends much of the game helping out in a bar and being used to torture Link with creepy visions, the weirdness of which rivals Major’s Mask!

Still, what screen time she gets is actually pretty good: Saria helps Link, makes sure he takes care of his horse, and helps save Prince Ralis, a wounded Zora. After Ganon is defeated, love is entirely possible!

Mipha (Breath of the Wild)

Mipha’s Grace from zelda

Aw yeah, Mipha’s awesome!

A great trident wielder with unrivaled fluidity and grace in battle, Mipha brings the bearing of a princess and the sweetness of a soft-spoken battle medic to this metaphorical table of romance.

So why does she fall so low?

Well, for one, she’s dead. Two, Link clearly has a relationship with Zelda that begins before and ends after his relationship with Mipha, making love a little difficult. Finally, like Princess Ruto, she declares Link to be her husband of choice! To be fair, though..

Mipha doesn’t delude herself: she understands Link cares deeply for Zelda and opts for helping him when possible, with healing and fitted Zora armor (a symbolic gift from a Zora to her beloved). We’ve decided to accept these actions as a commendable acceptance of their relationship status.

That’s very mature of you, Mipha!

Ghirahim??? (Skyward Sword)

Ghirahim is fabulous from zelda

Haha! Just making sure you’re paying attention.

Ghirahim is a ship, folks: there’s no reason Link would get together with this flamboyant, closeted demon sociopath. Still, he does have the Joker’s odd lovability, along with a few great boss fights, so we’ll give him that.

But only that. Don’t lick Link, dangit!

Zelda (Skyward Sword)

Skyward Sword Zelda

Zelda and Link begin the game as good friends with romantic inclinations, and they end with the decision to leave their floating home in Skyloft so they may live together happily on the surface world until the end of their days…

Which is AWESOME! It’s nice to have a relationship in Legend of Zelda that ends successfully with a loving companionship.

Of course, let’s address the elephant: Skyward Sword is hated by a lot of people. It’s one of the easiest Zelda titles and the controls (many of them being tested in preparation for the beloved Breath of the Wild, like the stamina mechanic) were a tad wonky, but…frankly, we thought it was nice!

It’s a good-looking game, we enjoy the pastel artwork, there are some good new characters introduced, the background into Hyrule’s past fills in some gaps, and the romance between Zelda and Link is wonderful!

Midna (Twilight Princess)

Midna and Link from RoleReversal

What can we say? Twilight Princess, despite all odds, is a favorite!

Midna is the twilight princess, a member of the Twili people, who were sent to a prison realm that was created by the gods to punish ancient wannabe triforce thieves. You meet her in an impish form as she accompanies you on a journey to stop Zant from bringing endless Twilight. In the end, the two worlds are separated once more and Midna, in her full form, gives Link a sad farewell before closing off a portal between the worlds.

Not only did we like their transition from arguing couple to good friends, we found her sacrifice impressive and sad. Anyone who’s played the game (and enjoyed it) probably found her departure as sad as Fi’s.

But hey, sometimes sadness can be a good thing.

Marin (Link’s Awakening)

I made Link and Marin at the beach! (22,000 perler beads and 6 full days of my life) from zelda

While one of the handheld games, we needed to include Marin for obvious reasons! She and Link have a worthy, well-formed relationship that ends with tragic beauty.

Link meets Marin on a mysterious island and they form a budding relationship before realizing the world is a dream formed by the Wind Fish. Basically, their quest to awaken it will terminate in the destruction of their universe! Still, they complete their noble quest and share a tearful farewell as the world disappears. Link is saved at the last moment…

When he awakens, the Wind Fish says his memories will always exist in his heart, and a secret ending reveals Marin has been granted her wish of becoming a seagull, truly free as a bird.

We might’ve cried. Seriously, no lie.

Zelda (Breath of the Wild)

Link and Zelda sleeping together [BotW] (crosspost from r/gaming) from Breath_of_the_Wild

Ah, a relationship 100 years in the making!

This particular Zelda met Link when he became her personal guard and the champion of Hyrule after being chosen by the Master Sword. From then on, they were inseparable and went on numerous quests together. Finally, at the end of Breath of the Wild, they’re reunited a century after their bitter defeat at the hoofs of Calamity Ganon!

Aside from being an amazing game, the relationship between Link and Zelda is well-established in the numerous flashbacks gathered throughout the game. Link may not talk, but their mutual love is clear to everyone, including the other members of the Divine Beasts Riders.

Finally, though this probably shouldn’t be permissible as evidence, the teaser trailer for Breath of the Wild’s Sequel shows the two back on the trail of mystery. While it probably won’t go well for them, we sure hope it ends happily this time around. Happy trails, you two!

Top 10 Zelda games

What Zelda game is the best? Check to see if yours topped our list!

Zelda

Take a look at any list of the best games on any Nintendo console. For each system, you can expect to see a Zelda game at or near the top of the list.

Why is that?

It’s because Nintendo knows that The Legend of Zelda series is special. Each entry in the franchise is a game-changer in terms of gameplay, puzzle-solving, and graphics. 

With that being said, there is so much contention to which Zelda game is the best. Arguably, there is more debate as to which Zelda game is the best than any other series of games ever created. As lifelong fans of the series, we took this list very seriously, and we are open to further discussion in the comments below. 

Top 10 Zelda games

10. The Legend of Zelda

Zelda

It’s kinda crazy just how much the first Zelda game was able to cram in that NES cart. Along with a huge amount of power-ups, dungeons, and secrets, the game even had a save feature. Think about that: the Mario franchise (which was Nintendo’s golden child for years) have just as much to cram in its games but didn’t include a save feature.

As popular as the game was when it first came out, it’s still a jam today. There are even a ton of gamers who play the game with various challenges.

If you’re a fan of the franchise, you need to go back to where it all started. The Legend of Zelda is still just as fun today as it was back in the day!

9. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Minish Cap

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap has really fallen under the radar in terms of Zelda games. It’s definitely not a title you hear brought up often when people discuss their favorite Zelda games. However, that’s a crying shame because The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is a phenomenal game. 

The game takes elements from other Zelda games such as enemies, characters, and power-ups, but it tells a creative story and adds an original mechanic to the series. Link now has to solve puzzles both in his normal size and also while the size of a bug. Sometimes, in order to get to a boss’s weak point, you’ll have to shrink like Ant-Man to get past the armor to its weakness. The shrinking mechanic is a ton of fun. The best parts of the game are just exploring the world in your shrunken state and seeing how you can now interact with the world around you.

8. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

link between worlds

The Nintendo DS received two Zelda games: Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. When compared to other DS games, they’re not bad. When compared to other Zelda games, they’re trash. They employed heinous controls for Zelda standards paired with extremely sub-par stories and dungeons. Yeah, there’s a reason why they aren’t on this list.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds truly learned from the mistakes of its predecessors. A Link Between Worlds has great controls and great dungeons that all tie in with a great story! 

7. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Zelda wind fish

There simply isn’t another Zelda game like Link’s Awakening. It has a story unlike any Zelda game and introduces characters extremely dissimilar from your typical Zelda game.

Link is trapped on an island and is planning his escape. While on the island, the community takes him in and treats him like one of their own. Unfortunately, the island is only an illusion in the mind of a giant flying fish. If that sounds weird it’s only because it is. 

Link has to make the choice about whether he should live in this dream world with his new friends, or escape the island to return to his home. This wildly emotional story somehow fits entirely on a small GameBoy cartridge.

6. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Twilight Princess

Let’s go back to E3 2005 really quick when we first saw the trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Oh man, this trailer is still incredible. When this trailer first dropped, fans went ballistic. The internet erupted with speculation about what Link would be facing, why he turned into a wolf, who the children were, and what on Earth was happening to Hyrule.

Unfortunately, Twilight Princess didn’t quite live up to the hype. Him transforming into a wolf was by far the weakest part of the game. The wolf mechanics weren’t as polished as they should have been, and the collecting missions you did while you played as the wolf were insanely boring. 

However, beneath all of that, there is still a really good game. Some of the dungeons in this game are the best in the entire franchise. New weapons like the Double Clawshot and the Ball and Chain have become series favorites. Also, the game’s new character Midna is so beloved that fans are begging for her return. 

5. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

Wind Waker

When we first saw trailers and screenshots of Wind Waker, fans were pretty upset. The more cartoony version of Link just wasn’t what anyone was expecting. The games always had a more adult and serious look, so seeing Link look like a cringey anime character was disheartening. 

The hatred was so loud that a lot of fans boycotted the game and refused to buy it. However, those fans missed out on something truly great. Wind Waker has quite possibly the smoothest combat mechanics in all of Zelda. Link works his sword like an artist. It always seems like every time you get hit, there was something you could’ve done to parry it, or to avoid it altogether.

If you can look aside from the artistic choices the game made, you are in for one of the best games in the franchise.

4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Link to the past

Oh man, here comes the controversy.

No, we don’t think Link to the Past is the best Zelda game. We don’t even think it should make the top three. However, it is still a darn good game. 

In many ways, Link to the Past set the framework for every game to come. At first, you think that the game is going to be relatively short. After beating only three dungeons, you go toe-to-toe with the game’s main villain. However, you then discover that you aren’t even close to being done. You now have to rescue seven maidens (one of which is Zelda) from being trapped in the Dark World, and then face the game’s true final boss, Ganon. No other Zelda game had that same shift in tone. However, so many other Zelda titles have followed that same formula since: (Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword just to name a few).

Link to the past is an incredible game. However, it missed the top three by just a hair.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Majora

It’s so weird but Majora’s Mask feels both dead and alive at the same time. The game takes place in this extremely somber world where all of the characters are facing certain doom. There aren’t a lot of happy moments. Instead, there is an over-arching feeling of dread encroaching on this world. However, everyone still goes about their day like everything is normal.

The game runs on a schedule where everyone makes their in-game appointments. You always know that the Goron is going to make a reservation at a certain time, you know that there is a wedding scheduled mere minutes before doomsday, and you know that aliens are going to invade a farm at night! 

The game is made with all of the same bones of Ocarina of Time, so sometimes it feels like you’re playing a really good ROM Hack. However, the completely original story, mechanics, and gameplay make for a truly refreshing game.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild isn’t just a Zelda game; it’s a celebration of Zelda. It takes pieces of core Zelda traditions and turns them into a masterpiece. There are only four main dungeons (minus the DLC), as well as a final battle in a castle filled with booby traps and easter eggs.

The game is centered on exploration and charting your own course. You decide the order in which you take down the dungeons, and you decide how you will tackle each obstacle. Do you want the Master Sword? Go get it! Do you want to skip all of the dungeons and go straight to Ganon? It isn’t optimal, but you can do that too!

On top of all of that, there are dozens upon dozens of mini-dungeons in the form of shrines throughout the game. You simply can’t play this game for just an hour. You will only be satisfied if you spend hours upon hours taking this monster apart.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Master Sword

We had to.  There simply isn’t a better game.

Not only can you see the change in the Zelda franchise from before and after Ocarina of Time came out, but you can also see it in the history of video games altogether. This is the type of game that makes other game studios go “What are we even doing with our lives?”

Ocarina of Time is the embodiment of everything that’s great about video games. It is universally loved and adored by gamers everywhere. It’s not just the greatest Zelda game, but it’s also the greatest video game ever created.

Mic drop.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time turns 20. Here’s how it changed gaming forever Read Now

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gets a sequel

Journey back to Hyrule in this new trailer for the sequel to Breath of the Wild.

Breath of the Wild 2

Nintendo won E3.

At the end of Nintendo’s Day One E3 presentation, they shocked gamers everywhere with a trailer announcing a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game will be for the Nintendo Switch.  

In the announcement trailer, we got a glimpse at the new threat facing Hyrule.

However, it might just be an old foe who has come back to wreak havoc.

A new baddie, or a returning threat?

Demise
That hair reminds us of another Zelda villain who swore to return… Also, that symbol on the right looks like a sage medallion.

At the end of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the main villain Demise swore to return one day. Well, it looks like that day might have come.

Demise
We got some very similar hair going on, and the new bad guy’s headpiece could very well be hiding a scar. Also, GLOWING EYES!

Demise is no Ganon, but he is very threatening. After being defeated, he says that Link and Zelda‘s bloodline are cursed to forever fight his incarnations. Ganon’s many appearances in Zelda games appear to be the fulfillment of that promise. However, now that Ganon is dead in the Breath of the Wild universe, Demise might be back to handle the matter himself.

However, if it is not Demise, we have another idea. That symbol on the right looks a lot like a medallion you might see on a sage. Sages are godlike beings in the Zelda universe that help keep order across Hyrule. If it is not Demise, perhaps this is a dark or corrupted sage that is trying to come back to destroy the land of Hyrule.

Playing as Zelda?

Link
Uhh, I don’t think that’s how you do Kakashi’s Lightning Blade.

In the trailer, a mysterious power appears to infect Link’s right arm. We think this means one of two things.

Option 1: Link is out of commission

This could mean that Link is in trouble. He could very well be corrupted or on the brink of death. If he is corrupted, then Zelda has to free his mind and break the spell. If he is on the brink of death, then Zelda has to find the cure for what ails him. In both of these scenarios, Zelda would be at the forefront of the game rather than Link. Honestly, we are 100% down to play a game entirely as Zelda.

Option 2: Link has new powers

This glowing arm stuff could also mean that Link literally has new tricks up his sleeve. For all we know, Link has new magical abilities that can be used for both adventuring and combat. This could be cool, but between the two options, we like the one where we play as Zelda trying to save Link more.

Callbacks to Majora’s Mask?

Breath of the Wild

In the trailer, Link and Zelda appear to be searching under Hyrule Castle. While there, they find an ancient evil that is spiraling this ominous looking energy upwards into the land of Hyrule. At the end of the trailer, we see Hyrule Castle begin to sink into the ground. Immediately, this gave us the same vibes as The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. 

We can’t help but notice a ton of similarities. Like Majora’s Mask, this game is a sequel to a smash hit that came out only a few years prior. It also uses a similar overworld and similar characters. Finally, in Majora’s Mask, you are trying to save Termina from being destroyed by a falling moon. In this game, you appear to be trying to save Hyrule from a similar fate.

What we’re anticipating is a very similar experience. We are guessing that the Breath of the Wild sequel will include many side-missions that feed into the main story. If we finally get to play as Zelda, this would mean that the princess herself is helping out the citizens of Hyrule with their problems.

What do we want?

We only found out this game was coming out a few hours ago, and we already have a list of demands.

At the end of the day, we are hoping for a dark game like Majora’s Mask. We want to play as Zelda, and fight an ancient evil that is threatening to destroy everything she just saved.

We want an ominous, gloomy aura throughout the game that is only stifled by the joy that comes from helping out the colorful cast of supporting characters.

Breath of the Wild was unlike any Zelda game we have played before. The fact that this is its own game rather than more DLC is incredible. We don’t have a release date yet, but we can only hope that Nintendo will divulge more in the coming months.

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New secret level discovered in original Zelda NES game

A new secret world has just been found in the 33-year-old Zelda game for the NES.

Zelda start screen

The classic Nintendo consoles like the NES and the SNES have been having a bit of a renaissance recently thanks to the criminally underproduced retro mini consoles Nintendo has been putting out. A small production run means demand for the little beasts has always been high. The demand wouldn’t be there though, if the classic games you get with them weren’t still fun to play. Nostalgia is great, but unless you still get that jolt of childhood joy, a console won’t keep your attention for long.

These classic consoles have plenty of classic games that keep us coming back. Games like Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart, Star Fox, Punch Out, and Metroid. Many of these have spawned franchises that reach out over decades, but the original games can still hold their own. The true classic games always have something more to offer. This has never been truer than with The Legend of Zelda on the NES, which served up something new and strange this week.

$299
Nintendo Switch - Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con

From: Amazon

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A new secret world has just been found in the 33-year-old Zelda game for the NES

A developer whose YouTube name is SKELUX made the shocking discovery. After hours of work, he was finally able to break through to what he calls the ‘minus world,’ a buggy Zelda underworld that only exists for coding reasons.

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In the video below, SKELUX tells the interesting story of how he found The Legend of Zelda’s minus world. Apparently, there are many old games that have minus worlds, built so that developers could test out code and just generally experiment with things they were thinking about adding to the main worlds of the games. The classic Mario Bros. games have them and glitches can help you find them and break into them. Other games, however, have code blocking entry into the minus worlds. The Legend of Zelda is one of these code protected games, which could explain why nobody found the minus world for over 32 years.

SKELUX’s story is definitely worth a watch as he shows how he broke into the minus world and even explains why it is called the minus world. Even if you’re not a coder yourself, you’ll still be interested to learn about how the developers back in the 80s used to design their game worlds and how that has piqued the interest of modern-day developers, causing them to look at them further. Like why is The Legend of Zelda map 16 x 8 but the code allows your sprite to be positioned on a grid of 16 x 16?

Image via: YouTube user SKELUX

We love little quirks like this at Softonic and we hope you do, too. If you have any favorite secret levels from the games you used to play in the past or still play now, we’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

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The new Zelda trailer is awesome. It’s a shame Nintendo will probably take it down any minute

It’s quite surprising that Nintendo hasn’t had this game taken down yet, however, the creator of the unofficial The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 2D has launched a new trailer. Yes, the remake is great, awesome, etc, but I can’t help but feel Nintendo will take it down very soon.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

A fan back in the day launched a version of Super Mario 64, and Nintendo took it down. Another fan tried to make another Ocarina 2D, and Nintendo took it down.

On this occasion, I really hope I’m proved wrong.