Link’s Awakening [Video Game Review]

November 20, 2019November 20, 2019 Rachel Game Reviews, Home, Kris & Rachel, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda game review, link's awakening, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, review

Title: Link’s Awakening
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Category: Action, Adventure
Release Date: September 20, 2019
How we got the game: We preordered the game from Amazon

krismii
My first time playing Link’s Awakening was ages ago on my Gameboy Color. I didn’t get very far at all, perhaps only to the second dungeon. To see it remastered for the Nintendo Switch was exciting, and I was looking forward to giving the game a real try.

I’ve never played this game. So, I was excited and it was interesting at the same time.

krismii
The gameplay is fairly straightforward for Link’s Awakening. As Link, you explore the land by moving with the analog stick, the 3D plane allowing you to move in diagonals and circles as opposed to the horizontal and vertical linear paths of the original version. Your sword and shield, when you retrieve them, are each given a Joy-Con button, while other items can be assigned by X and Y by the player.

rachmii
Link waddles around the world and it’s just so cute! As he waddles around though, he needs to get into these specific dungeons so that he can collect instruments. The dungeons are hidden around the map and you usually have to solve someone else’s problem or a puzzle of some sort to get into the dungeons themselves.

krismii
The dungeons have their own themes, generally centered around the area they are located in, a key item, or a certain type of boss. Each of the dungeons’ rooms has a purpose, whether it’s to defeat all enemies or solve a puzzle in order to progress towards the boss room and, beyond that, the room that holds the instrument. It’s actually a fairly typical Legend of Zelda game, while notably being one of the few that does not have Zelda in it.

I honestly didn’t realize the game didn’t have Zelda in it at first. Somehow, that went over my head. As Kris said, the gameplay is typical of your average Legend of Zelda game. You explore the world, enter dungeons, and once you get through those dungeons and collect all you need, you get to fight the big boss. There are items you collect along the way, of course, to aid you on your quest such as bombs and, of course, the master sword.

krismii
This remake of Link’s Awakening also has a special mode with Dampe the grave keeper. Throughout your journey, you can collect chambers that can be used to create your own dungeons. It seems to be a watered-down version of Super Mario Maker but with Legend of Zelda dungeons.

It’s not as exciting as it sounds. You need to find pieces of the dungeons from the game throughout the world and then you can rearrange them to make your own dungeon. It’s not too bad though I would love to see a Zelda Maker at some point.

krismii
This game has been rightly praised for its graphics. They’re adorable! The land and character models all resemble clay-like dolls, and the cartoony style works. While I’m not sure if I would enjoy a longer Legend of Zelda game in this art style, I can fully appreciate it for Link’s Awakening.

The graphics are colorful and cute, I agree. I enjoy watching Link wander around also see the Goombas and Piranha Plants as well.

krismii
You can never go wrong with the music from a Legend of Zelda game, particularly one that revolves around finding instruments. The music is charming, with the tempo just right in every area.

My favorite song? Whenever Marin sings. Her voice is charming and it fits her character so well. All the music is great. I wouldn’t expect any less from a Zelda game though.

krismii
The story of Link’s Awakening begins with Link miraculously surviving a lightning bolt while out at sea. He washes ashore Koholint Island, where a young woman named Marin finds him and helps heal him until he wakes up. Link is told that he cannot leave the island until the island’s guardian the Wind Fish awakens, so Link sets off on a quest to obtain all of the instruments in order to wake the Wind Fish.

Link, along the way, meets some pretty interesting characters. Some that will help him and some that will hinder his quest. However, he has the one goal in mind – to get off the island. Why? Where was he headed before? Who knows.

krismii
Link’s Awakening is fairly linear and one of the shorter Legend of Zelda games. With that said, this game packs so much charm in it that I’d be surprised if it’s not a game that one picks up again for nostalgia purposes.

This is definitely something I’d play again if I ever got the itch. It’s a gem and I’m glad Nintendo remade it giving it time in the spotlight once again.

Link’s Awakening gets…
4 out of 5 lives.

Have you played this game? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!

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Top Tuesday: Favorite Dungeons In Skyward Sword

November 19, 2019November 19, 2019 Rachel Home, Rachel, The Legend of Zelda, Top Tuesday gaming, skyward sword, The Legend of Zelda, Top Tuesday, video games, zelda month

Happy Tuesday!

Since it’s Zelda Month, I thought I’d talk a little bit about some of the games. Majora’s Mask is one I have never played personally, I’ve just been other people play the game. With that said, there are some masks that I love because of what they can do but also because of their design as well.

Skyview Temple

The Skyview Temple is the first dungeon of the game and it’s one of my top favorites. I don’t know what it is about this particular dungeon, but I’ve had a soft spot for it. Maybe it’s because it’s the first for the game or maybe it’s because the first in general for Link and the series as a whole – if we’re looking at the timeline.

Skyview Temple is simple and it has a pretty design. Plus, Ghirahim is the boss, which is great.

Earth Temple

I had to pick this one as a favorite. It’s fire. You can’t go wrong with fire. Anything that has to do with fire is my favorite. Enough said.

Sandship

This particular temple always stood out to me. New mechanics were introduced for this one where Link has to take a time thing back and forth to places and go back in time in order to figure out the puzzles of the dungeon and get himself through it. The atmosphere of the desert and pirate ship are ironic which makes it that much cooler. The Sandship as a whole is a great idea and it’s fun.

What are your favorite dungeons from Skyward Sword? Let me know in the comments below! If you liked this post, please share it around.

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Byleth Should Have Been a Student

November 18, 2019November 17, 2019 Kris P. Home, Kristen, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch fire emblem, fire emblem three houses, gaming, Nintendo, three houses, video games

Happy Monday, everyone!

Amidst Zelda Month and Pokemon Sword and Shield hype, I’m still enamored with Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Yet, I’ve been thinking more and more about Byleth’s position in the game.

Byleth in Fire Emblem: Three Houses should have been a student. I honestly believe there still would have been as much potential for the game had Byleth been a student rather than a professor.

When it was announced in the beginning of Three Houses’s life that your main character would be a professor, the idea was intriguing. What wasn’t intriguing was the idea of romancing those who were your students, even if the option of marriage wasn’t a thing until after a time-skip that conveniently ages said students appropriately. The idea of a teacher/student relationship was always off to me, no matter how much I enjoy the characters.

Because, let’s be real, even after the time-skip, the majority of characters still treat your character as their professor. Maybe it’d be a bit more tolerant if the characters treated Byleth as an equal after the time-skip, rather than still calling them, “Professor.”

Being a student within your favorite house would have avoided the teacher-student dynamics. The activities during the Exploration option wouldn’t change at all, and you can still be Rhea’s favorite, for story reasons. During the class and lecture parts, your skills and goals could grow with your classmates’, and you could join the partnered weekly activities for support bonuses. The options of changing the other characters’ goals can stay the same as well — or, if you’d rather go a step further, being able to “persuade” your classmates’ goals can be something you can do only after you have so many support and friendship points.

“But, Kris!” I hear you say. “Who would be the professor of your class?”

Make Jeralt be the professor of your class! I know he’s supposed to be a knight rather than a professor, but having him be the professor of your class may make his death more meaningful whenever it happens. Or, hey, make his death happen during the battle right before the time-skip. At this point in the Fire Emblem franchise, having the main character’s father, or last remaining family, die for the emotional feels is a bit of a cop-out.

Or if we want to keep Jeralt in his regular position, make Seteth be the professor. Obviously the monastery is short-staffed since they made a random, young mercenary the professor of a class — and, yes, I realize there are story reasons for it too — and Rhea can totally say, “Go forth, Seteth, and impart your wisdom to the students.” Considering Seteth is suspicious of Byleth in the first place, maybe he’d want to be in their house to help keep an eye on them, and having Flayn join later could bring some other interesting dynamics into the game.

“Okay, fine,” you may say, “but what about romancing the other teachers after the time-skip? Wouldn’t that be the same problem?”

It would be, if the other teachers were just as important as the student characters. In my first route, the only teacher-like character that was in my army was Seteth, because he was recruited automatically. I more or less forgot about the other teacher and knight characters at that point since I was so focused on the story and the student characters under my care. Considering there are only a handful of teacher and knight characters compared to the plethora of student options, paired endings with them could be out of friendship or the characters could be considered a parental-figure to Byleth.

(Isn’t that what a couple of same-sex options are for male Byleth, anyway? Forgive me, I haven’t played as male Byleth to figure it out.)

Honestly, after the time-skip, not much would have to change if Byleth was a student instead of professor. Byleth would still be a central figure for the war because of story reasons, and can still take charge in the lecture halls. Just take out the “Professor” voice clips, and you’re good.

I don’t believe Byleth needed to be a professor or a figure of authority to the student characters in Three Houses. Being an equal to them, despite — and especially because of — their birth circumstances, would have done just as well in a game that centers around wars that are about morality, revolution, and finding the truth.

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Which Zelda Are You?

November 17, 2019November 4, 2019 Rachel Home, Kris & Rachel, The Legend of Zelda gaming, Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda, video games, zelda month

krismii
Fairly recently, we did a post titled, “Which Link Are You?” speculating which of the many versions of Link there are in the games would best represent ourselves. This post has a similar question, but uses a vastly different character as the star. Like Link, there are many versions of the princess — or queen — Zelda throughout the franchise’s multiple timelines, each with their own personality as well. Zelda can be a bit trickier, admittedly, considering she generally plays a more supporting or passive role in the games, but there are still plenty of moments where her personality shines in said games. Rachel, if you were one of the versions of Princess Zelda, who do you think you’d be?

Easy. I would be Zelda from Skyward Sword. Like the question with Link, I don’t know exactly why I would choose this particular Zelda, but it was the first one that came to mind. Zelda from Skyward Sword has a bubbly personality. She has plenty of lines, especially in the beginning, isn’t afraid to stand up for herself or her friends (here’s looking at you, Groose. ~~Just kidding, I love you.~~), and she really looks out for her family and the world she lives in. She goes into adventure, not knowing what’s going on, and even seals herself away knowing it’s the right thing to do. Which Zelda would you choose?

krismii
A bubbly personality, and a bit of a troll when it comes to shoving Link off of the Goddess Tower… that’s you! I can see all that in you and I think you’ve chosen well. As for me… My first instinct was Zelda from Ocarina of Time. Even as a child, she didn’t hesitate to follow her instincts and has a fierce protectiveness of her world. She wasn’t the type of woman to wait for a hero, either. While Link sleeps, she is forced to disguise herself for her safety, but she continued to help those in their world as Ganondorf took over, and became a crucial ally to Link as Sheik. I admire that strength and hope I’d be that brave as well.

I can see that too. You wouldn’t be the type to sit around and wait for something to happen. You would disguise yourself and do anything you could to help without screwing things up further just by showing your true self. As I asked in our Link post, which Zelda do you see me as being most like? Which one did you think I’d pick?

krismii
I’ll admit, I kind of forgot about Skyward Sword’s Princess Zelda but she fits. Judging only from what I’ve seen in Smash Bros. Ultimate, you do remind me of the Zelda from A Link Between Worlds. She’s adorable but powerful. Tetra probably wouldn’t be a bad fit, either, being a pirate captain sailing the seas and keeping order on a ship! Is there another Zelda you would pick for me?

rachmii
I honestly didn’t think of Tetra. I do agree that the Zelda from A Link Between Worlds is adorable. She reminds me of the Zelda from Skyward Sword though. I think they mostly look alike to me. As for you, I thought of Breath of the Wild Zelda. Maybe it’s because this game is the most fresh in my mind, but Zelda in that game truly embraces the world around her and does her absolute best to fight for what she believes in. She fights for her friends, her family, and her kingdom. Plus, she doesn’t feel like she needs a “knight” by her side. She’s also snarky to Link and her father and can be defiant and stubborn… you.

krismii
I’m going to try to take that as a compliment, haha! In all seriousness, I’m down with that. Trying to find her power throughout the memories and before Link’s awakening — pun intended — resonates with me trying to figure out my own power, if you will, in life. Like that Zelda, I’ve been trying to figure out what I want to do and how I’m going to achieve those goals, but I also enjoy all the research that may come with life. That part of her reminded me of you, too! Especially when she tries to get Link to eat a frog. That conversation totally could have been me and you.

Oh, yeah! The frog memory sticks out in my mind. I would totally try to get you to eat a frog… or something ridiculous. (I’d feel too bad for the frog.) I think Zelda has a lot to offer in all her various forms and we can find a little piece of each one inside of us.

Which Zelda would you be? Let us know about them in the comments below! If you like this post, please share it around.

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#GamingTogether — Zelda Month Questions

November 16, 2019November 16, 2019 Kris P. #GamingTogether, Home, Kris & Rachel, Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda #GamingTogether, gaming, legend of zelda, Nintendo, video games, zelda month

We’ve been doing #GamingTogether for a while now on our social media sites. With November being Zelda Month, we collected a few questions from this month that have to do with the Legend of Zelda series. Let us know your responses to these questions!

What’s your favorite Zelda game?

Kris: If I had to choose just one Zelda game to play for the rest of my life… I honestly think it would be Breath of the Wild. Twilight Princess would be a close second, but I think the bigger world, exploration factor, and the lore of Breath of the Wild puts it in the first place.

Rachel: I think my favorite Zelda game is Skyward Sword. I normally don’t like the “beginning” of things that much because it’s a lot of background story and getting to know the characters. However, Link and Zelda were already well established when Skyward Sword came out and they had fun personalities. The dungeons, music, and atmosphere as a whole were cool.

Who is your favorite side character in the Zelda series?

Kris: There are way too many side characters in the series to choose from! After thinking on it for a few minutes, though, Quill from Wind Waker popped up in my mind. I love the Rito race in the Zelda games and Quill was a great introduction to them. He was the one who convinced Tetra to allow Link to join her crew, introduced Link to his chief and tribe, and it was the Rito who rescued Link during his second encounter with Ganondorf. Quill’s an unsung hero of the series, in my opinion.

Rachel: I’m detecting a pattern with my answers, but I absolutely love Fi from Skyward Sword. She has a cool design and having her be the embodiment of the master sword is a cool idea. Plus, she dances and has a great voice.

What’s your favorite thing about the Zelda series?

Kris: Honestly, I believe the story. The reincarnations of the heroes and main antagonist, the lore of the goddesses and Triforce, and how it all boils down to just protecting the world from evil. The characters push the story forward, of course, but it’s usually the worlds and their stories that I get most excited about.

Rachel: I agree with Kris. The story is my favorite part for the same reasons as her. I enjoy trying to piece the timeline together when a new Zelda game comes out.

On a scale of 1 – 10, how excited are you for Breath of the Wild 2?

Kris: I’m going to go with an 8 or 9. I’m wicked excited, but I’m trying to keep my expectations a little lower than I normally would. I love Breath of the Wild, and I’m hoping that the sequel can live up to it!

Rachel: Honestly? 1,000. I know I probably shouldn’t get my hopes up too much but I think they’re going to do a great job with the sequel. Judging from the quick trailer they showed, it seems as though they may be a bit more depth to the story.

Did you get a chance to answer these questions? If not, what are your responses? Let us know in the comments below!

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Which Link Are You?

November 13, 2019November 4, 2019 Rachel Home, Kris & Rachel, The Legend of Zelda gaming, Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda, video games

krismii
Constant in the Legend of Zelda series are the main characters, namely Link and Zelda. Yet, almost every game has a different reincarnation of the two heroes, from scrappy kids to brave adults to teenagers who were just kind of thrown into the whole saving the world business. Even though Link is almost universally mute and is the player’s avatar, he does bring quite a bit of personality to the games. So, Rachel, if you had to be reincarnated into any Link, which would it be? Which version of Link do you believe best suits or matches you?

Honestly, I thought this would be a hard question. When presented with it though, my first instinct was to say the Hero of Winds, Link from Wind Waker. I don’t know if it’s because he has a cartoon-look about him or that he’s another child form of Link. Or maybe it’s because he lives on an island and hey, who really wants to be around so many people? The ambiance of the ocean waves is peaceful and relaxing (with the exception of the occasional monster here and there). With that said, before we go into deeper discussion about this, which Link would you be, Kris?

krismii
I can see you exploring the sea with (or as) Link from Wind Waker. He’s a good sibling, adorable, and always expressive. While I would not be one for sailing at all, I can get behind the idea of not living too close to people on an island, haha! As for me, my first instinct is Link from Twilight Princess. Aside from the wolf tendencies, I would be down to having a horse and helping out on a farm with goats and other animals. Living in a small village and having the neighbors be close enough to be family is appealing, but the rest of the world is right outside of the borders should you wish to explore. And, seriously, you can pick up the dogs and cats! That is totally me!

Yes, I can see you being Link from Twilight Princess. I agree, it would be awesome to live on a farm, own a horse, and be able to pick up the dogs and cats! Twilight Princess Link would not be me at all because, while I wouldn’t mind being a wolf, I don’t do well in the dark. Out of curiosity, which Link did you think I’d pick? Or, which Link do you see me as?

krismii
Link from Wind Waker was right up there on my list for you, as I thought more of younger versions of Link for you. I’m not sure if that’s mainly due to you being my younger sister or because most of them seem to have more excitable personalities. As previously mentioned, Link from Wind Waker is very expressive and the Links from Four Swords Adventures have always seemed a bit chaotic. What about me? Were you surprised by my choice?

rachmii
Ah, that’s fair. I actually thought of the Link(s) from Four Swords Adventures. I wasn’t necessarily surprised by your choice, no. I had a feeling the Twilight Princess Link was up there for you. However, I’ll admit, my first thought for you was Breath of the Wild Link. You seemed to enjoy the open spaces and you were easily distracted by all the various side quests, different horses to obtain, and… well, staring at the dogs. Because of the exploration, weapon durability, changing horses, and the like, I always felt like Breath of the Wild Link flies by the seat of his pants. That makes me think of you.

krismii
I’m going to take that as a compliment, thank you! Breath of the Wild Link is one of my favorite incarnations, I’ll admit, but I never thought of him in the ways that you have described. He’s a bit more on the impulsive, spontaneous side, just going with the flow mainly because he has no choice, but I never thought to connect him to myself that way.

You’re welcome. I think there’s a little Link in all of us in some form or another. It’s fun to think about!

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Weapon Durability In Zelda Games

November 10, 2019November 4, 2019 Rachel Home, Kris & Rachel, The Legend of Zelda breath of the wild 2, gaming, Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda, video games

rachmii
When it comes to Breath of the Wild and the upcoming sequel, there’s some talk about weapon durability. Most of the people I’ve seen say how they do not want weapons to break in the sequel. Breaking weapons is annoying and it’s easy to run out of them. However, I’ll admit, I didn’t mind the weapons breaking at all. If they brought that back for the sequel, I’d be okay with it.

krismii
I didn’t mind it too much either, to be honest. I think it was due to the fact that there was such a variety of weapons (and makeshift weapons) that Link couldn’t feasibly hold them all, even with the pouch expansions. From a developer’s standpoint, having weapon durability forced the players to experiment and improvise with the weapons they found throughout their adventure. It added a small layer of challenge and strategy mixed in with the game’s physics. Of course, there were definitely times when I found a favorite weapon and didn’t want to use it often to “save” it, which negated its purpose, which is a bit annoying. Overall, though, I didn’t mind weapon durability for this game.

Right, I agree. I like how the game sort of forces you to explore and think outside the box when it comes to using various weapons (or using something as a weapon when it’s not necessarily intended to be a weapon). People have used the Sheikah Slate and those power-ups in so many unique ways with or without the use of other weapons. I watched a speedrun where they defeated Ganondorf with a stick.

krismii
I believe that. The only weapon durability that I did not agree with was the Master Sword. I believe, instead of giving it a complete cool-down time, they should have just diminished the Master Sword’s power. Turn it into a normal sword while it rests, so it can still do something, and have the cool-down time be mainly for it to reach its full power again. Completely taking it out of commission when it “broke” was so annoying. It’s still a sword. It can still stab.

Yeah, I didn’t agree with that either. The Master Sword is the “Master” Sword for a reason. I didn’t think it made sense for it to “break.” And again, they probably didn’t want people spamming the Master Sword for the rest of the game and lose out on some other options and exploration, but… it’s the Master Sword. It shouldn’t break. So, if they decided to have weapons break again for the sequel, I wouldn’t care. I just hope the Master Sword is more durable.

krismii
Agreed. I understand that the weapon durability was not favorable to most Legend of Zelda fans, and I wonder if it’s due to the fact that most of the previous games were more linear. Obtaining new tools and weapons were rewards for advancing in the story, and a good chunk of the items were used for very specific purposes. They didn’t break, but you would need to gather ammo sometimes. If gathering weapons were more linear in Breath of the Wild, that would have changed the dynamic of the game. It’s the opposite with the Fire Emblem series, actually. Being a game that focuses on war battles, weapon durability is common and strategic. I believe there was a recent game that did not have the weapon durability, and it was odd, as you gathered these weapons that you would later just throw away when better weapons came along. It wasn’t a natural progression like most Fire Emblem games.

rachmii
That’s true. All the other Zelda games have a purpose when it comes to items and weapons. Breath of the Wild was more focused on exploring and using the world’s resources as best you can and in a unique way. I wonder if people were put off by this because it’s different from the typical Zelda games. It was a change no one expected and people don’t tend to take change well – not at first, anyway. With that said, if the weapons break in the sequel, I wonder if people will be more accepting of it (despite people already voicing they do not want it).

krismii
They may be more expecting it and accept it with a huff because it’s been established, if you will, in that particular version of Hyrule. If only for that reason alone, actually, I do think it makes sense for the weapon durability to stay. The exception being the Master Sword, of course, and now I’m curious if we’ll have to find the Master Sword again or if Link will have a version of it at the beginning of the sequel… There’s too many ifs to this game.

There are a lot of ifs, yeah. We’re not going to know anything about the game until they’re ready to release it. I think the weapon durability would make sense as well. As for the Master Sword… I think it would be cool if we have to find it again. Who knows, the little bit they showed to us could be the very opening of the game. They’re going to accidentally unleash something and all hell will break loose. They’ll get split up and Link will go unconscious for a few years because that’s how he rolls. I don’t think it would make sense for him to already have the Master Sword. Because, weapon durability or not, I doubt people would really explore to grab more weapons.

krismii
I love how Link’s usual way of starting out these games is waking up, haha! There were other games that Link already had his trusty Master Sword. It may be a basic weapon until later on in the game when his “true power awakens” again. Or perhaps he had returned it to its resting spot after Calamity Ganon was defeated. Either way, it’d be interesting to see how the weapon durability from the first game will affect the Master Sword and the other weapons in the sequel.

rachmii
That’s a good point. I’ll be curious to see what exactly they do with it. I have a feeling it’ll get lost somewhere though. Or some enemy will come and steal it. That said, I think weapon durability isn’t a bad idea and I’d be fine if they kept it in for the sequel.

krismii
I’m fine with the weapon durability as well, but I feel like we’re in the minority. If Nintendo, say, remade Ocarina of Time again and tried to smoosh weapon durability into that game, that wouldn’t fly at all. For Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule, I felt like it made sense, despite how frustrating it was at times.

How do you feel about weapon durability in Zelda games? Do you want it to carry over to Breath of the Wild 2? Let us know about them in the comments below! If you like this post, please share it around.

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Debate: Ocarina Of Time Vs. Majora’s Mask

November 9, 2019November 4, 2019 Rachel Debates, Home, Kris & Rachel, The Legend of Zelda debate, gaming, gaming debate, majoras mask, ocarina of time, The Legend of Zelda, video games

krismii
Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, both originally for the Nintendo 64, are arguably a couple of the most popular Legend of Zelda titles. They may not be everyone’s favorites, but no one can deny the impact both have made in the world of video games today. Speaking of them not being everyone’s favorites, Majora’s Mask is most definitely not mine. Out of the N64 titles, I much prefer Ocarina of Time over its sequel.

rachmii
Both of these games have their pros and cons, yes. They are similar but very much different. I’ll be honest, when I was younger, I thought they were basically the same game. Why? I don’t know. I was a dumb child. Regardless, growing up watching Kris play these games allowed me to fall in love with both of them. I enjoy both adult Link and child Link. I like the plots of both games. However, if I had to choose which was better over the other, I think I’d have to go with Majora’s Mask.

krismii
You weren’t dumb, they do share the same engine and character models. In fact, Majora’s Mask relies on that for its story. I think that was one reason as to why I was never fond of the game when we were younger. To me, it wasn’t as original as Ocarina of Time. Ocarina was so successful that Nintendo wanted another quick Legend of Zelda game to emulate the success. With that said, I definitely prefer Ocarina’s story over Majora’s Mask. Ocarina of Time had this original, exciting adventure in order to save the world. The dungeons were unique as you gather items and allies, and the puzzles both in and out of the dungeons — and through time — were great to figure out.

You say you enjoyed the puzzles both in and out of the dungeons “and through time” but Majora’s Mask is one huge puzzle through time. It’s a race against the clock and, while it’s stressful, it gives you various routes to play through as you relive the same three days over and over. Given the various theories of the game – is Link dead? Is he in limbo? – the idea of going back in time for the same three days adds a lot of depth to the game, despite the same things happening over again.

krismii
See, the time constraints of Majora’s Mask were not fun to me at all. Puzzle-wise, I was speaking more of how I enjoyed seeing the effects of things I’ve done as past Link in Ocarina of Time in the future. The windmill, the Spirit Temple… Being able to see the effects of Link’s help — or the effects of him not being there to help — was fascinating to me as a story mechanic. It also allowed me to see the results of everything Link has done rather than be erased from time over and over again in Majora’s Mask. It felt like my actions in Ocarina of Time mattered much more than anything I did in Majora’s Mask. To me, Ocarina had a better world to explore as well, with more unique characters to get to know and watch grow between the seven-year time gap.

Okay, that’s fair. However, I’ll argue that you can’t see how your actions affect things because in the future, if you don’t “win,” the world is gone. As for the characters, I find the lot in Majora’s Mask to be quite unique. Each of them has their own story that they share with you as you collect their masks. They’re giving you part of their soul as they pass on to another life. They’ve all had hard times. They’re all grieving for something in their own ways. Link takes those stories, those lives, in his hands and becomes one with them in an attempt to save the world and to maybe, possibly, save those characters by allowing them to rest in peace.

krismii
Going off on your argument, the world would literally be gone in Majora’s Mask via a giant moon with a creepy face. Not only that, due to always turning back time and starting over, there’s always those certain characters that you may save in one timeline but will still meet a terrible fate once you turn back the clock. To continue flipping your reasoning, it’s similar with the Sages in Ocarina of Time. They each give up their previous lives for the greater good, sharing their strengths and power with Link as they all band together to save their world. They abandon who they were to become who they were meant to be, whether they like it or not, for the greater good. Aside from these more philosophical reasons, I just also greatly enjoyed the dungeons and exploration of Hyrule more in Ocarina than Majora’s. Majora’s Mask had you rushing, always worried about the clock, while Ocarina granted you more time to figure out secrets.

rachmii
That’s all well and good. And honestly, I absolutely love both games. It’s really hard to pick which one is “better.” As I said earlier, they both have their pros and cons but are completely unique in their own way. I’ll be curious to see which side our readers are on.

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Friday Favorites: Ice-Type Pokemon

November 8, 2019November 7, 2019 Kris P. Friday Favorites, Home, Kristen, Nintendo, Pokemon gaming, ice, Nintendo, Pokemon, pokemon sword and shield, video games

Happy Friday everyone!

To go along with the cooler weather coming up where I am and the fact that Pokemon Sword and Shield will be released in a week, I am celebrating with a list of my favorite Ice-type Pokemon! Admittedly, I don’t use Ice-types often in the games. I’ve only recently started enjoying their prowess. Maybe that’ll change with the next generation?

Glaceon

I love Eevee and its evolutions. It’s no surprise that Glaceon would make my list of favorite Ice-types. Its design is sleek and reminds me of the angles and shapes that snowflakes take. Glaceon, when it first appeared in Gen. IV, had a one of the most unique ways to evolve as well. As out of the way it seemed, I found it interesting that Glaceon evolved via level up at a special location.

Dewgong

I was always amused by Dewgong in the anime. Its smile was always kind of goofy and the way it said its name just made me laugh. The seel-like Pokemon were always designed well, in my opinion, and Dewgong happens to be my favorite out of the lot.

Alolan Ninetales

Who doesn’t love Ninetales’ majestic design? They doubled down on it with Alolan Ninetales, combining the Ice and Fairy types to make such a beautiful Pokemon. Fairy is another type that I don’t use often, but it was great to see the two types’ power combined with Alolan Ninetales.

Alolan Sandslash

Like Ninetales, the original Sandslash was on one of my first teams and I loved it. I was curious about its Alolan form and, despite how late in-game you can catch him, he was an awesome addition to my team against the Alolan Pokemon League. Admittedly, I caught him for nostalgia purposes and for his part-Steel typing, but his Ice-type moves definitely came in handy!

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Breath Of The Wild 2 Wants & Predictions

November 6, 2019November 4, 2019 Rachel Home, Kris & Rachel, The Legend of Zelda breath of the wild, breath of the wild 2, gaming, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda, video games

rachmii
I just wanted to say that when Nintendo showed that little bit from Breath of the Wild 2, I called the sequel before they showed the characters. I knew it was coming… although, before I called it, we thought it was something else. I can’t remember what we thought it was though. Regardless, when we saw Link and Zelda we were ecstatic.

krismii
We literally screamed when it was revealed to be the sequel. It was such a fun world to explore, in our opinion, and we’re wicked excited to return. Despite the teaser trailer, I believe my favorite part of finding out about the sequel are all the predictions floating around on the Internet. Has anyone else heard of “Hydrated Ganondorf?” That redead-like, decrepit being in the ruins that Zelda and Link were exploring looked like the defeated Calamity Ganon, and creative people on the Internet did their thing to imagine our heroes awakening and restoring the spirit of Ganondorf. In all honesty, I would totally be down to hear about the lore of Ganondorf in the Breath of the Wild time and to see what his design would be like.

rachmii
I believe you were brushing your teeth. We watched the Nintendo Direct (or was it E3?) on your lunch break because we wanted to watch it together. You were trying to get ready to go back to work right as it was ending. Hydrated Ganondorf is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. But honestly, I think it would be great if Zelda and Link needed to reawaken Ganondorf for some reason. They need the Triforce of Power for something and have no choice but to reawaken him. Whether Ganondorf is on their side, pretends to be, or just totally doesn’t go alone with them, is a risk they have to take.

krismii
I was brushing my teeth to go back to work, haha! Thankfully, I didn’t spit everywhere and rinsed my mouth before screaming. As for a Hydrated Ganondorf, I am extremely interested in seeing a game where the holders of the Triforce have to work together somehow. Perhaps the Triforce of Power corrupted Ganondorf, and with Calamity being put to rest in the previous game, his spirit is able to return just long enough to figure out, I dunno, the mystery of the Triforce pieces. Why was Power able to corrupt him? Why did it take Zelda so long to find her own powers? Why can’t Link just get a more deserved nap (as opposed to a 100-year long coma)? Having Ganondorf, Link, and Zelda be friends will be all the more heartbreaking if they need to seal Ganondorf away again at the end of the game.

I agree with all of that. On the flip side, how would that change the series as a whole? I mean, what would that mean for future games? In this timeline, they more or less become “friends” with Ganondorf. Maybe not friends, but they at least get close enough to work together somewhat. It makes me wonder, if this were to happen, how other games in the series would turn out knowing they the trio has the potential to work together. Does that make sense?

krismii
It does make sense, and now I just want a future game where, after the three are reincarnated once again, they go on a quest to punch the goddesses that burdened them with this recurring fate to always be against one another with the world’s well-being hanging in the balance. The Legend of Zelda games speak of the Sacred Realm, the resting place of the Triforce and where the goddesses departed from Hyrule after creating it. Imagine if there was a game where we fully enter the Sacred Realm in search of the goddesses, for good or for bad.

Oh, man, that would be amazing. The Goddesses are the “bad guys” in a way. What a twist! Aside from plot, though, what else would you like to see in Breath of the Wild 2?

krismii
I would like to see more traditional dungeons, which seems to be a main concern with the fanbase, as I’ve seen around the internet. I didn’t mind the Divine Beasts and the plethora of shrines scattered about the land, as they definitely fed my inner explorer. I did miss the traditional dungeons, with greater challenges and more unique bosses. If we could have a few of those in the sequel, I’ll be happy. What about you?

rachmii
I agree with you. My main thing is that I want to see the dungeons again. The Divine Beasts were great and even though the puzzles were different and unique, they still felt too similar and repetitive. I missed the more varied bosses as well and the themes, if you will, of the dungeons. On the flip side, finding all the shrines were a lot of fun as well as locating Link’s Memories. They felt like scavenger hunts to me and I hope they bring something similar like that back.

krismii
Definitely agree in regards to Link’s memories — those were so much fun to find, especially since it forced us to look around the world and see little nods to previous games in the scenery. One other thing I’d like to see in the sequel is a playable Zelda. Like, c’mon, the poor girl was stuck for 100 years trying to keep a monster at bay while Link was able to sleep. Let her explore and defend both herself and Link against whatever monsters that may still be lurking under the surface of Hyrule. I’ll be so disappointed if the opening of Breath of the Wild 2 ends up with a reanimated Calamity Ganon kidnapping Zelda and whisking her away somewhere else…

I agree, I think it would be awesome to play as Zelda. Maybe they unleash something accidentally at the beginning of the game (or whatever Nintendo showed us when they announced the game) and Link seals himself away instead of Zelda. Maybe they argue about who gets to do it (can I change this to “who gets sealed away”?) and Link wins and then you have to play as Zelda. I know it would disrupt the flow of the series, but I think that’d be pretty unique. Or, they get split up and you alternate dungeons playing as both of them in different spots.

krismii
Perhaps it would disrupt the flow of the series, but take a look at the more recent Legend of Zelda spin-off games. Linkle appeared in Hyrule Warriors, giving us a female Link, and Cadence of Hyrule allows you to play as Zelda as well. Considering the ambiguous figure of Link in Breath of the Wild, as well, especially with the Gerudo armor set, I think we’ve been getting hints for a female playable character. Zelda is popular with the Smash Bros. series as well, and she’s been known to kick ass in every game she’s appeared in. I’m definitely down with having Zelda be playable in the Breath of the Wild sequel. It’d be about damn time.

True, though I don’t consider those games part of the main series. Either way, I’d be more than happy to have the option to play as Zelda as well. Whether we play as her instead of Link or if we get the choice to switch between the two on a dual adventure. The possibilities are endless.

krismii
I think there would probably be some fanboys rioting if Nintendo had randomly made Zelda the playable character in a main game, which is why I mentioned those spin-off games. Kind of ease the fans into the idea, you know? I would be down for a dual adventure, as long as it’s done well. Honestly, even if Zelda isn’t a main character, seeing her react to the world and just join us on an adventure would be amazing.

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How do you feel about weapon durability in Zelda games? Do you want it to carry over to Breath of the Wild 2? Let us know about them in the comments below! If you like this post, please share it around.

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What are your favorite Ice-type Pokemon? Let me know in the comments below! If you liked this post, please share it around.

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