MetaFilter posts tagged with zelda

The Legend of Zelda: Clockwork Empire

laconic skeuomorph — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:16:26 -0800

Inspired by Anita Sarkeesian’s Video Game Tropes vs Women, internet cartoonist Aaron Diaz of Dresden Codak (Previously) wanted to pitch a Zelda game where Zelda herself was the hero, rescuing a Prince Link. The Legend of Zelda: Clockwork Empire is that pitch. There's a FAQ with more info. Direct links to the full-size images from the tumblr: Cover art Zelda Prince Link and Ganondorf Calatian Empire, Foglands, and Hylian Ruins Combat, weapons, and outfits The Gauntlet of Gamelon and magic Schools of magic example images

Don't Go Alone Smoke This

kittensofthenight — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:45:18 -0800

Snoop Fairy's Weed Fountain The Legend of Zelda: Smokarina of Time Punch Out 1, 2 Snooper Mario World, Snooper Weed Bro's Deluxe Seriously Hella Smokeymon. Just in case the source of the meme.

something something "face off"

codacorolla — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:40:55 -0800

The Legend of Cage: Beneath the Mask is a texture pack modification for Majora's Mask based primarily on the face of actor Nicolas Cage. Via.

Q is for Q-bert, who fell down the stairs

louche mustachio — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:37:08 -0800

The Game Over Tinies. Created by Brentalfloss. (first link has the entire alphabet on one page.)

Detailed design notes on Zelda, Castlevania and Mega Man

JHarris — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:49:25 -0800

The blog of video game journalist Jeremy Parish, ~~ToastyFrog~~ ~~GameSpite~~ TeleBunny.net, has four in-depth, stage-by-stage, exhaustive examinations of classic 8-bit game design: Castlevania, Castlevania II, The Legend of Zelda, and Castlevania III. They are required reading for prospective game designers. (Complete links inside. Mega Man fans, look here.) Castlevania Simon Belmont's graphics Area 1 (entrance, Vampire Bat) Area 2 (hallways, Medusa) Area 3 (walls, Mummies) Area 4 (tunnels & courtyard, Frankenstein's Monster & Igor) Area 5 (armory, Death) Area 6 (clock tower, Vampire Bat gauntlet, Dracula) Shot Multipliers Castlevania II: Simon's Quest Introduction & Premise Hearts & Day Cycle Towns Mansions Villagers (the lying bastards and the Graveyard Duck) Overworld Simon's abilities, enemy nerfing Castlevania & Dracula The Legend of Zelda Overworld Level 1 (the door trick, Stalfos, Gels, Keeses, Goriyas, Bow, Boomerang, Aquamentus) Level 2 (Ropes, Moldorms, Goriyas, Magic Boomerang, Dodongos) Level 3 (Zols, Red Darknuts, Raft, Manhandla) and Level 4 (Vires, Stepladder, two-headed Gleeok) Treasure Listing Level 5 (Gibdos, Blue Darknuts, Pol's Voice, bomb upgrade, Recorder, Digdogger) Level 6 (Wizzrobes, three-headed Gleeok, Magic Wand, Red Gohma) Level 7 (the "rest level", bomb upgrade, Aquamentus) Secret Caves Level 8 (Blue Darknuts, Blue Gohma, Magic Key, Magic Book, 4-headed Gleeok) Level 9 (huge layout, Silver Arrow, Red Ring, Ganon) Overworld Enemies Underworld Enemies Second Quest Castlevania III Block 1 (town ruins, Skeleton Knight) Block 2 (optional level, town clock tower, going through the level twice, Grant) Block 3 (misty forest & cliffs, Cyclops, collecting Sypha) Block 4 Sypha (ship, Medusa, Mummies and Cyclops) Block 5 Sypha (tower, Frankenstein's Monster) Block 6 Sypha (the waterway, twin Skeleton Dragons) Block 7 Sypha (bridge, Mummies, Cyclops and Gargoyle) Block 4 Alucard (swamps, Vampire Bat) Block 5 Alucard (approach to the castle, Alucard) Block 5-7 Alucard (underground passage, Skeleton Knight, advanced version) Character assessment Block 6 Alucard A (castle cellar, Frankenstein's Monster) Block 6 Alucard B (Roman ruins, rising water, skeleton dragon king [fought twice]) Block 7 Alucard (falling and melting block puzzles, Mummies, Cyclops and Gargoyle bosses) Block 8 (the castle itself, Castlevania 1st level reprise, Death) Block 9 (climbing the castle wall, the Doppelganger) Block A (the Clock Tower, Dracula) BONUS: Forum user Glass Knuckle's epic-length thread A Critical Look At Mega Man Stages (warning: will take days to get through, because he means ALL Mega Man stages, through the sequels) Interesting facts gleaned from the series: - In the first quest, all of Zelda's overworld secret passages are optional except those which lead to dungeons (which have clues). - In Castlevania, every platform that looks like it's floating in the air is actually supported by background scenery. This continues (to a lesser extent) in Castlevania III. - In Castlevania, great care was taken so that the castle is a consistent place. Pillars that extend between two screens match up between them. - In areas with flowing water in Castlevania III, if you happen to have Sypha with you with the Ice magic, you can freeze it, a cool effect that makes these sections much easier. - The most powerful weapon in Castlevania III is Sypha's "weakest" subweapon, the Fire magic, which does twice the damage of the maxxed-out whip. - There is a stage in Castlevania III, the Skeleton Dragon King, where the boss is fought halfway through, but escapes with four health left, which you have to knock off of him at the end of the level (while the water level rises beneath you). Castlevania III was changed in non-trivial ways between the Japanese and American releases. The music is different; although the tunes are generally the same in structue, the Japanese release (which unlike the first two games wasn't originally a Disk System game) includes extra sound hardware in the cartridge that provides extra instruments. Also, Grant's abilities were changed: in Japan, Grant can always throw Daggers. In the US, they gave him the ability to use the Dagger Subweapon, in addition to the Axe. And enemies do damage by creature type in the Japanese version, while in the US version they do damage depending on where in the game you encounter them (like the original game). Because of this, the Japanese version is a little easier than the American version.

Saving Zelda

Charlemagne In Sweatpants — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 21:40:33 -0800

Second Quest is a fully funded Kickstarter comic by David Hellman (the artist of Braid) and Tevis Thompson that attempts to put the criticisms of modern Zelda games in Tevis' essay Saving Zelda (previously) into comic book form. As Tim Rogers says, "People are willing to pay money to make a comic book about Zelda‘s pedantry exist. What a weird time."

THANKS A MILLION. PRESS START TO REPLAY

JHarris — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:03:47 -0800

For Zelda Day, some points of interest regarding Zelda II, the black sheep of the Legend of Zelda series of video games:

Here is a remake of the beginning of Zelda II (including the first dungeon) in 3D. Requires Unity.
The Cutting Room Floor notes there were a lot of changes between the Japanese Famicom floppy disk and US ROM versions of Zelda II.
Here is a no-glitch, no-tool-assisted playthrough speed run of the game, skipping several key items, finished in 1:05.44.
There is a notable glitch in the game, where the Fairy spell can easily be used to warp to other places anywhere you can jump off screen or there's an elevator. A lot of people don't know the Fairy spell can also be used to pass through locked doors.
A bit of engrish in the game's translation, "I AM ERROR," gave rise to a minor meme.
The site www.secrettoeverybody.com provides images and quotes from across the first four games, including the above and the game's weird ending message.

Dibs!

cthuljew — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:54:04 -0800

The Glitch [slyt]

Legends of Localization: The Legend of Zelda

shirobara — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 18:35:31 -0800

Legends of Localization: The Legend of Zelda is a comparison of the Japanese and American versions of The Legend of Zelda. It highlights differences in music and SFX, why the intro story is in English in both versions and why Pols Voice supposedly hated loud noises, what some of those cryptic hints originally said and how Testitart became Manhandla. It was written by Tomato (Clyde Mandelin), a professional anime and game translator whose fan translation of Mother 3 showed up on the blue in 2008. Previous Legends of Localization: Earthbound, Super Mario Brothers. Next up: Final Fantasy IV/II.

Fistful of Rupees

jrking — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:32:08 -0800

TGS's Zelda / Western mash-up, FISTFUL OF RUPEES, is a three-part web miniseries starring TJ Smith, Lisa Foiles, and Rawn, with guest appearances by Dodger and Jesse Cox.

A link to the past

Artw — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 20:56:51 -0800

Seedling - "an incredibly overt love letter to SNES-era Zelda games" (flash) (via RPS)

Doot do do doo do doot do do do dooooo

The Whelk — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 02:32:14 -0800

Kame Chan is a cockatiel that likes to sing. The Chocobo theme! Zelda! Victory!

Ones who does not have Triforce can't go in.

Fizz — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:05:33 -0800

My Son’s Zelda Nursery: "This is what has been keeping me busy for the past 3 months. As soon as I found out we were having a boy I knew I wanted his room to inspire adventure, creativity, and exploration. Having a place to like that to grow up in would be amazing!" [via] "My awesome friend Wes – who did the Yoshi’s Island nursery for his daughter – made all this possible. I was able to tell him my vision for the room, and he took it out of my brain and put it on the wall… exactly as I imagined it. The amazing art that you see is his, he sketched all of it on the wall freehand! He also did the painting save for base coats, some under layers, and the clouds. I’ll never be able to properly thank him. In total, we spent over 150 hours on the room over the course of 3 months. It feels good to be finished. In truth, I wanted to grow up in this room. I will enjoy it as much as my son will, maybe even more. I can’t wait to rock him to sleep, telling him stories of heroes and adventure while looking at these walls. Soon, little man. Our house and hearts are prepared for you."

Zelda Flipnote

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:40:07 -0800

Flipnote Studio lets you create animations with a stylus on Nintendo's DSi handheld console. Nintendo had a contest to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Zelda, and the quality of submissions was high (higher than this, anyway). Personal favorite: Michi from Japan's Duck Amuck homage. Also good: A-S from Japan, Glen-i from Europe, Cheval from Europe, Kengo from Japan

Lindsey Stirling

garlic — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:16:49 -0800

Lindsey Stirling dances while she plays the violin : Shadows more: On the Floor Take Three Spontaneous Me Electric Daisy Violin covers / medleys:Zelda Medley Lord of the Rings Medley Party Rock Anthem less dancing, more rapping (by Eppic): By No Means

Saving Zelda

JHarris — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:42:51 -0800

Tevis Thompson writes about Nintendo's video game series The Legend of Zelda. Specifically about how it's gone downhill since Ocarina of Time. (via Kotaku) Thompson's premise is that the games have largely discarded the most important aspects of the original: the awesome sense of discovery, the challenging play, the non-linear structure, and the sense of having to make your own way through a large world. He rails against the artificial world construction of later games, in which items are mostly keys for obvious locks. He writes:

Modern Zeldas do not offer worlds. They offer elaborate contraptions reskinned with a nature theme, a giant nest of interconnected locks. A lock is not only something opened with a silver key. A grapple point is a lock; a hookshot is the key. A cracked rock wall is a lock; a bomb is the key. That wondrous array of items you collect is little more than a building manager’s jangly keyring.
Almost everything in Zelda has a discrete purpose, a tedious teleology. When it all snaps into place, some call this good design. I call it brittle, overdetermined, pale. It’s the work of a singleminded god, a world bled of wonder.
Players are constantly reminded that they’re shackled to a mechanistic land. There is no illusion of freedom because the gears that keep the player and Hyrule in lockstep are eminently legible. You read the landscape all too easily; you know what it’s asking of you. One of the greatest offenders occurred early on with A Link to the Past: most bomb-able walls became visible. What had been a potential site of mystery in the original Legend of Zelda (every rockface) became just another job for your trusty keyring. Insert here. Go on about your business.

Not changed: the Spread Gun is still ridiculous.

Pope Guilty — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:16:40 -0800

Super Mario Bros. Crossover 2.0 is out! An expansion on the original game, which let you play as various NES characters transplanted into Super Mario Bros., but using the rules and abilities of those characters from their original games, version 2 offers more special abilities, more characters, and your choice of audiovisual "skins" based on four Mario games from the NES, SNES, and Gameboy, along with one based on Demon Returns. There's even instructions for playing with a gamepad! For more information, see the Super Mario Bros. Crossover Wiki or watch the exciting Super Mario Bros. Crossover trailer! [Previously]

"When I was a child, I went hiking and found a lake."

Edogy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:09:11 -0800

An analysis of the design of the first dungeon in The Legend of Zelda.

Bap Bah Dah Pah Baah Yap Pah!

The Whelk — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:58:44 -0800

Nerdcore rock band I Fight Dragons presents I Fight Ganon, a live performance of the Legend Of Zelda Theme song

It's dangerous to go alone!

dirigibleman — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:17:39 -0800

Epic version of The Legend of Zelda theme, on marimba, snare drum, cymbal, bells, timpani, and triangle. Ocarina of Time on marimba! Song of Storms Song of Time Saria's Song Gerudo Valley Bonus! gypsy-jazz version of SMB 2 theme on guitar

Awesome Beard Makes Games More Awesome

SpacemanStix — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:00:26 -0800

Robin Williams and his daughter Zelda are in two commercials promoting the re-release of The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 3DS. Zelda William's name is not coincidental, as she was named after the video game princess.

I Draw Nintendo!

chunking express — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:05:18 -0800

I Draw Nintendo! A Nintendo fanart blog by Zac Gorman.

It's a secret to everybody.

BlackLeotardFront — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:29:37 -0800

BS Zelda Retrospective (SLYT). In honor of Zelda's 25th anniversary this month, this is an interesting look at the live-broadcast Satellaview games in the Zelda series, which had some compelling and strange tweaks to the Zelda formula. The beginning is an introduction to the service, and the fun bit begins at 8:50.

LoZ turns 25!

Deflagro — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:48:09 -0800

Today is the 25th anniversary of the release of The Legend of Zelda. Celebrate by learning about some of its oddities or watching some commercials!

What you need to do is find yourself a new heart container and fill it.

NoraReed — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:32:41 -0800

NintendoFilter: Remi Kart: Mario Kart in the streets and grocery stores of France (via). The Legend of Zelda as a 1980s teen movie (via).