RipTen Videogame Blog » Legend of Zelda

Top Ten Gaming Wake Up Calls

Gavin Bard — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:00:28 +0000

The problem with having to save the world is that, more often than not, it doesn’t wait until you’ve had a full nights sleep. The eldritch abomination, the never-ending war that has reached your doorstep, the great civilization threatening calamity, a doting mother- these are all things that are sure to pull a hero out of his or her much needed slumber. They are all also very likely to appear in role-playing games. This may seem like a cheap plot device, but it actually makes a lot of sense- it is scientifically proven that you are 60% more likely to participate in an important adventure if you are woken up first, as opposed to just waking up naturally. That must explain why so many games start off with someone rolling out of bed.

10.

To the younger crowd, or to the vile casuals, LucasArts is just the company that makes all the Star Wars and Indiana Jones games and SCUMM is just the name of a Napalm Death album. Well, maybe they don’t think the Napalm Death thing, but they probably think the LucasArts thing. That is a definite shame, as LucasArts were the creators of some of the most important and entertaining adventure games in history including Maniac Mansion, Grim Fandango, and the Monkey Island series to name a select few. One game that gets sort of lost in the shuffle is Loom.

Loom was an ambitious game, and one that took a lot of chances with the adventure genre. It was one of the rare LucasArts adventure games to take itself seriously, and its gameplay was a departure from the conventions of the genre. Instead of using objects to interact with the environment and advance the game’s plot, you used your trusty distaff to play enchanted notes. Think of it as a distant cousin to Ocarina of Time except with way more weaving.

It also started with the main character, Bobbin Threadbare, being woken up on a cliff side by a messenger fairy. Actually, I guess the Ocarina of Time comparison is more apt than I thought. Although Link wasn’t waiting for a swan that visits him on his birthday every year. At least I don’t think he was, sometimes I’m not very observant.

09.

Possibly unpopular opinion time; I really liked Final Fantasy VIII. Despite my cold, tough, grizzled exterior and my overwhelming manliness, my distaste for gender roles begets a soft spot for well told love stories. That was all Final Fantasy VIII was to me, the first real love story in the series. I liked the characters, the story had more than a few genuinely emotional moments, and I’m pretty sure Quistis Trepes is the reason I developed a teacher fetish.

Final Fantasy VIII first gives you control of Squall after he finds himself in the infirmary due to getting the business end of a sword to the forehead in a training session. You would think after a steady dose of head trauma they would encourage you to stay in bed for a little while longer, but not in Balamb Garden! There are dastardly reality threatening plots to unravel and wars to fight- after class and acting like the world’s worst loner tour guide of course.

08.

Arguably the most well known entry in Namco’s legendary Tales series, Tales of Symphonia continued many of the trademarks of its predecessors while updating them for the 3D world of the 2003- spirit summoning, oodles of character development, and bad guys who actually have real reasons and depth to what they do, it was all here. It also featured the generally great Tales battle system, as well as a plot so intricate and well done that it may as well be an anime. Actually, they ended up making it one.

It also features one of the most enduring hero types in RPGs, the dense one. Lloyd Irving might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he makes up for it with logic and loyalty, and also awesome fighting skills. Fighting isn’t the only thing he is adept at though, he can also fall asleep standing up, which is where Tales of Symphonia starts off. I’ve had some boring classes before, I’m looking at you every math class I’ve ever had, but even I don’t think I could doze off on my feet during them. I also don’t think I could protect my friend as she goes on a quest across the world in order to awaken a goddess and save the world. There is way too much to do on the internet first.

07.

Originally scheduled as a launch title for the PlayStation 2, Dark Cloud ended up being released a few months afterward. It became one of the first “must have” RPGs on the console and is remembered pretty fondly for its unique combination of action-RPG and city building mechanics. I’m hard pressed to think of a game released between Dark Cloud and Fable 2 that attempted to mesh the two, let alone succeeding at it. I’m sure you fine readers will remind me of a few in the comments though. Most likely angrily.

Dark Cloud takes a while to get to it, but the game proper starts off after the main character, Toan, is knocked unconscious when his village is destroyed by a giant flying genie who shoots energy beams from his legs. It isn’t all bad though, as a Fairy King wakes him up after transporting all of the villagers away before they can be killed. He also tells Toan that he has to go save the world and rebuild civilization against enormous odds and at a great risk to himself and the friends he makes on his journey. There is always a catch with these magic fairy types.

06.

I vividly remember purchasing this game the day it was released in America, which was now over a decade ago. There are some other games on this list I played before this, but I definitely forgot how old this game was now. Nothing makes you grapple with your own mortality more than video games. Maybe music I guess. Did you know “Calculating Infinity” and “Domestica” both came out over ten years ago now as well? I can’t even fathom how I would have turned into the ~~pretentious~~ musical ~~elitist~~ aficionado I am today without those two albums. If they don’t invent immortality pills soon I’m going to be so pissed.

Wait, what was I talking about?

Oh, video games.

Golden Sun is a game for the GBA that still holds up as one of its better RPGs. An impressive feat considering the longevity of that lovable handheld. It follows another popular character archetype in the silent protagonist Isaac. Isaac has the misfortune of being awoken by his mom when a gigantic boulder is threatening to squash their town. On the list of things to be waken up for, “a huge rock is going to kill us” might be one of the least appealing. Right up there with “you have an appointment with the dentist” and “today is election day.”

05.

Dragon Quest-slash-Warrior, while never as popular in America as its Final Fantasy counterpart, is more popular in Japan than slightly disturbing pornography. It is so popular in fact that, after Dragon Quest III was released, Enix decided to stop selling Dragon Quest games on weekdays because of mass absenteeism to places of education and employment across the country. Who knew the way to defeat wage slavery and the for profit education system was just to release Dragon Quest games?

Depending on who you ask, Dragon Quest III is either the best Dragon Quest game or the second best Dragon Quest game. It really doesn’t fall much further than that. It was such a great representation of traditional Japanese RPGs, and it was a fitting end piece to the original trilogy. It also begins with- you guessed it- the heroes mom waking him up on his sixsteenth birthday so he can meet with the king and be sent on an epic world saving journey. On my sixteenth birthday I got a PS2. Equally as important, honestly.

04.

This could have just as easily been Ocarina of Time, but I’m a retro gamer at my core so I’ve always considered this to be the best game in the series. Besides, this whole list could have been Legend of Zelda games. It would probably be easier to pick a game that didn’t start with Link waking up.

How much do I actually have to say about A Link to the Past?

If your answer is “more than that” you haven’t played enough video games yet.

03.

Where do you even start with Planescape: Torment? One of the single greatest gaming experiences in the history of our fine hobby, Planescape: Torment made breaking genre conventions its job. This game has so many choices and so many consequences that it makes Deus Ex look like a rails shooter. You could essentially avoid every combat situation in the game with the right amount of stealth and dialog choices. In a way, Planescape: Torment was one of the first examples of a successful narrative based game, and more of an interactive novel than a traditional RPG. This is why it was so perfect though.

If ever I could pinpoint the exact moment I decided I would rip my shirt off, bare my chest, and defend PC gaming to my very death, it would be the first time I played Planescape: Torment.

Of all the dudes-waking-up moments on this list, Planescape: Torment probably sports the darkest. The Nameless One isn’t woken up by his mom, he is woken up in a mortuary. He doesn’t need to meet the king for his birthday and save the world, he needs to recover his lost memories after being killed.

If you take anything from this list, it should be going out and playing Planescape: Torment. Oh, and also you should be entertained by the list. I forgot about that part.

02.

Chrono Trigger is perhaps the best known example of this. Since it is considered to be one of the best RPGs ever made, it is understandable. I certainly wouldn’t argue anyone who told me it was, although since this is number two you have probably deduced that there is a game I would rank above it. We will get to that.

In Chrono Trigger, the titular-minus-the-H character is woken up by- you guessed it- his mom. Instead of being sent directly to save the world from the time devouring evil, he is sent to the Millenial Fair for merrymaking and a good time.

Until the whole rip in the space-time continuum sends him to save the world from the time devouring evil.

Better than most state fairs I’ve been to. Usually they just have funnel cake.

01.

Earthbound is my number one choice for every list ever. Best RPG? Earthbound. Best quirky game? Earthbound. Best first person shooter? Earthbound. Best vegetarian Mexican restaurant in the Philadelphia region? Earthbound. Luckily for me, Earthbound is actually relevant to this list so I don’t have to bullshit you about how good its veggie burritos are.

Ness, the quiet hero of Onett, is just a normal kid with a hyper-intelligent dog until he is woken up in the middle of the night by a meteorite crashing to earth in the hills outside of his home. As any curious kid would do, he eventually goes to explore before being turned back by the long arm of the law. With nothing else to do, he goes back to sleep.

A full night’s sleep is not in the cards for Ness, however. When his frustratingly annoying neighbor wakes him up later on with the incessent knocking of “shave and a hair cut” he finally gets his chance to see the meteorite up close. Then he fights a huge silver robot and a time traveling bee tells him that he has to somehow save the world from an evil alien that might also be a fetus. Don’t worry, it all makes perfect sense in the end.

Oh, Itoi. Don’t ever change.

Did I miss anything? Are there any heroes that could have used a few extra hours sleep that I didn’t include? Let us know in the comments.

Zelda: The Lost Oracle is Fan Made, Awesome

Gavin Bard — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:00:39 +0000

Joel Furtado’s trailer for “The Lost Oracle” is absolutely gorgeous. Breathtaking even. The Wind Waker inspired visuals really come alive and work perfectly for an animated project, which almost pains me to admit consider one of my biggest mistakes as a gamer was complaining about them at the time- I was much less refined in 2003. Wait a second though, I see you opening your wallet and flinging dollar bills at the screen. Don’t get too excited. As a testament to the cruel, hard realities of the universe we live in, it is a fan-made labor of love to one of the most iconic series of all time and not an Actual Thing that is Happening. Although, as a fringe candidate for the New Jersey state senate maybe I can start my political corruption off right by forcing him to turn it into a full-run animated series.

Regardless of animation quality, if he makes Link say “excuse me, Princess” even once I’m going to send Joel off to Guantanamo.

Iwata: Not All Wii U Games Have to be in HD

Sam Naylor — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:27 +0000

Speaking to investors, Nintendo‘s President Satoru Iwata has said that not all Wii U games have to be in full HD.

When asked about development for the Wii U, Iwata said:

Looking at the software for home console systems, there are certainly the software titles for which very rich graphics must be reproduced on HD displays… But we do not think that any and all the software must be created in that fashion.

He went on:

Rather, we have to create the dynamic range of appeals that the consumers can appreciate… As we will showcase the Wii U at E3 in June this year, the detailed announcements must wait until then, but we are aiming to make a system which shall not be forced into competing with the others where the contenders can fight only with massive developer resources and long development times as their weapons.

Iwata made it clear that titles like The Legend of Zelda will be treated to full HD, as the fans will expect it of them at this point. Still, it seems very odd that in this day and age there would still be issues with making every game in HD. You would think they’ve got it sorted by now- though maybe Nintendo doesn’t have as much practice as the other developers.

Via [Gamingbolt]

Edit: I realise how this looks- thanks to some snide comments below- and think I should clarify. When I wrote “HD” I was referring to high definition as a concept, rather than a screen resolution (i.e 720p, 1080p)- you can read for yourself in the quoted sections what Iwata means. I understand that my writing could be clearer on this occasion, and seek to improve at any opportunity. I’ll leave the post as it is for history’s sake.

New Zelda Title Coming to 3DS, Majora’s Mask Remake Being “Considered” As Well

Sam Naylor — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:05:33 +0000

Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has said in an interview that there is a new 3DS Zelda in the works.

The new game is not a remake but an entirely new game, though it will “utilize ideas from previous console iterations of the series.”

You mean there might be a boomerang or bow or bombs or dungeons or green-hatted protagonist? Nice.

Aonuma also mentioned that a 3DS Majora’s Mask remake is not to be ruled out, and Nintendo is in fact “seriously considering” the prospect once they’ve milked the last out of the Ocarina of Time remake.

Via Joystiq

Watch The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Opening Cinematic Video

Garrett Hartman — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:30:51 +0000

You interested in seeing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword‘s opening cinematic video? Then you’ve come to the right place. Just don’t expect it to be spoiler free. I mean it’s not like it will give away the ending or anything, but could spoil a thing or two that might be better enjoyed when it releases in November.

For those brave enough, enjoy!

Zelda Producer: “I Always Want to Work on Something New”

Sam Naylor — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:10:41 +0000

Zelda Producer Eiji Aonuma has made it clear that he’s got more to offer the gaming world than just Zelda games.

Aonuma’s been making nothing but Zelda games since 1998, so surely it’s no surprise. He said:

“Yeah, the truth of it is I always want to work on something new,” he confessed. “It just turns out that as I’m coming up with these ideas along the way, I realize, ‘Y’know, this could really work on a Zelda game.’ And it sort filters back into it and in the end, we come back into another Zelda project.

“So in some ways, it’s a bit of a challenge for me personally that Zelda ends up becoming this pool of my ideas and it keeps absorbing the ideas I have and they get integrated back into Zelda games. But that’s just sort of the way it’s flown for me.”

After over ten years of nothing but Nintendo‘s boy in green, it’s not really a surprise for Aonuma to stretch his legs- and as gamers we should be right behind him.

The Adventures of Link, the Unmedicated Lunatic (Comic)

Demir Aytekin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 03:44:01 +0000

Follow the adventures of Link, the manliest lunatic in the universe, in his very own random comic strip series. All of the original artwork and official comic book is property of Valiant Comics and Nintendo.

…

E3 2011: Legend Of Zelda 4 Swords Adventure Coming to DSi for FREE!

Matthew Sims — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:30:46 +0000

Nintendo announced today at their keynote speech at E3, that in addition to launching Skyward Sword, they will also be releasing the 4 player classic, Legend of Zelda: 4 Swords Adventures for free.

The title will be available for free to DSi owners from the DSi store come this September.

Stay tuned to Ripten for our continuing coverage of E3.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: The Legend of the Zelda

Dylan Duarte — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:25 +0000

One would think that Link would be a little less happy-go-lucky what with the stress of trying to find the triforce and the threat of Ganon disrupting Hyrule’s peaceful existence, but here he is, happy as a clam! We could all learn a lesson from his optimism.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

Today’s smile-inducing picture is courtesy of enkana.

Video Game Cutting Boards For Kitchen Gamers

Stephanie Gutowski — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:23:15 +0000

Rejoice all you fanboys and girls. Your kitchen is now complete. 1337Motif of Etsy offers several geeky-awesome retro cutting boards, all handed crafted out of maple, walnut, or cherry. Now you have a reason to learn how to cook.

Legend of Zelda, Pacman, and Space Invaders are the only styles available right now (though it seems some are on back order) but it looks like he’s working on expanding his selection. According to Motif, they’re all safe to eat off of. He uses FDA-approved glue and treats them all with a mineral oil/beeswax mix. Whatever that means. Sounds like yum.

These are a little on the spendy side, though. You’re looking at coughing up $125 for that Triforce board and $165 for Space Invaders. If you’re one of those people who stuffs their cushions with cash, this probably isn’t going to set you back much. He also offers a set of Space Invaders coasters for a more modest price of $50. Too much? Try a Space Invaders necklace for $15. You know, if you’re the kind of person who would wear a wood cut Space Invaders necklace. I think they’re pretty sweet, and I have amazing taste.

For more samples of his work, including non-gaming-inspired boards, check out 1337Motif’s Etsy page. Maybe even make a request or two.

Sweet.

[Source: GoNintendo]

Retro Classics to Be Updated for Nintendo 3DS

Sam Naylor — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:37:01 +0000

Nintendo have already announced that Ocarina of Time will be coming to the 3DS, but a handful of NES and SNES classics including Yoshi’s Island have also been revealed to be coming to the system.

The list of games spotted on showreels at E3 2010 is impressive: Mega Man 2, Castlevania, Urban Champion, Kid Icarus, Yoshi’s Island, Smash Ping Pong, Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros., Tennis, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid and Mystery of Murasame Castle were all reportedly shown on the 3DS with “pop-up book” style graphics.

When asked, Reggie Fils-Aime said that “these games were potentially getting more than just ported over,” with Miyamoto adding that these games would be likely to take advantage of the new hardware.

I can’t really think of anything more suited to a pop-up style than something like Yoshi’s Island, so this sounds like great news to me. I feel bad for it, but I still want to keep buying these brilliant old games over and over again. Nintendo have tricked me once again, and I know it, but I can’t help it.

The Story Behind Link’s Second Quest, aka Your Childhood Was a Mistake

Gavin Bard — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:59:02 +0000

Life is just one long chain of events that came incredibly close to not happening. From evolution to electricity, many of the most historically important events of our lives were just as close to not happening as they were to happening. More importantly than stuff like human beings evolving from the primordial ooze or some old dude getting his kite hit by lightning is The Legend of Zelda. Brace yourselves for this one, but the legendary Second Quest was just a programming mistake. In a recent “Iwata Asks” entry on Nintendo’s website, Toshihiko Nakago made us all realize just how close our childhoods came to being just a little bit crappier by revealing that the Second Quest of The Legend of Zelda was actually supposed to be integrated into the First Quest. That was until Takashi Tezuka made a mistake and only programmed half of the games dungeons, thus changing the course of human history.

Toshihiko Nakago explains;

I created the data exactly in line with it, but then Tezuka-san made a mistake and only used half of the data. I said, “Tezuka-san, there’s only half here. Where did the other half go?” and he was like, “What?! Oops, I messed up…” But Miyamoto-san said it was fine just like that.

Apparently Miyamoto then played the game with only half the data and decided that it was perfect just like that, because that guy is like the video game Morpheus and knows exactly how to fulfill our dreams. They eventually decided to fill the other half of the memory with the remaining dungeons and added them as the secret Second Quest. So yeah, it almost didn’t happen. It is crazy to think about how different The Legend of Zelda would have been with the Second Quest integrated into the first one. Would it still have become as legendary if it were that much longer and that much more difficult? If the difficulty turned off all of us young and impressionable gamers to the series, how different would the gaming landscape look even today? Would any of us even be the same people we are right now if they never made that mistake and Zelda didn’t capture our imaginations? It is way too early in the morning to start getting philosophical about video games. I need a drink. It isn’t too early in the morning for that.

[Source: Nintendo]

The Legend Of Zelda Hits Hulu

Demi Adejuyigbe — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:09:10 +0000

Ah, eighties morning cartoons. Full of campy dialogue, loose plots, tie-in breakfast cereals, and minute doses of awesome that would only brighten up your day. Or at least, that’s the way I assume they were- I’m a 90s kid through and though, but I know for a fact that The Legend of Zelda morning cartoon was just as I described above, complete with its own infamous catchphrase delivered by Link after he saves Zelda. For those of you that don’t know of the series or just never watched it, the entire series is now on Hulu.

Of course, I’d have to be a fool not to plug the best television comedy ever produced here, as it shares Zelda‘s famous “excuuuuuse me!” line, and the entire series is on Hulu as well. Man, it’s like they’re the exact same show! Below is the famous line from The Legend of Zelda.

Miyamoto Joins Three of His Video Game Creations in a Legendary Animated Short

Chad Lakkis — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:39:30 +0000

Shigeru Miyamoto teams up with a trio of video game characters he created in an impressive short illustrated and animated by Newgrounds user, Awkward-Squid.

The concept behind the flash animation, titled “Legend of Miyamoto”, involves Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong helping their video game father make his way through their world. Squid says that the work was rushed a bit due to the fact it was being done as a university assignment, but I think it turned out great.

Check it out after the jump.

Make sure to head on over to Awkward-Squid’s user page and show him some love for this awesome piece of work.

Source: GoNintendo.com

Legend of Neil: Episode 5 (NSFW)

Chad Lakkis — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:47:47 +0000

If you are new to the web series titles “Legend of Neil”, it is based off of exactly what you think it is based off of — The Legend of Zelda. This version however, is something that would never get the Nintendo family seal of approval.

Neil’s journey to the videogame world of Hyrule begins when he decides to get himself off while playing a drunk game of Zelda. He wraps the controller cord around his neck (for added stimulation of course) and blacks out in the process. When Neil wakes he finds that he is no longer at home on his couch.

The series is well produced and very entertaining. Have at episode five as well as links to the four previous episodes after the jump.

Legend of Neil: Episode 5 description and credits via the Atom website.

Description: Have you met Old Man’s brother, Old Man? He’s left-handed, good with potions and he’s really — Balls! Shit! Ass! Grape juice! — great at explaining how maps work.

Credits: Creator: Sandeep Parikh, Producer: Leah Mann, Director: Sandeep Parikh, Producer: Sandeep Parikh, Writer: Tony Janning, Writer: Sandeep Parikh, Cast: Tony Janning, Cast: Eric Acosta, Cast: Scott Chernoff, Cast: Sandeep Parikh.

Legend of Neil: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4

Source: Atom Films

Legend of Neil: Episode 4 (NSFW)

Chad Lakkis — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:26:43 +0000

The series is well produced and very entertaining. Have at episode four as well as links to the three previous episodes after the jump.

Legend of Neil: Episode 4 description and credits via the Atom website.

Description: Neil may have learned how to shoot lasers out of his sword and defeat Octorocks, but will he be able to overcome his dumb face and stupid brain?

Credits: Creator: Sandeep Parikh, Producer: Leah Mann, Director: Sandeep Parikh, Producer: Sandeep Parikh, Writer: Tony Janning, Writer: Sandeep Parikh, Cast: Tony Janning, Cast: Eric Acosta, Cast: Scott Chernoff, Cast: Sandeep Parikh.

Legend of Neil: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3,

Source: Atom Films