by Shane Kelley Shane shares how The Legend of Zelda series can connect us and heal us during difficult times. So, most of you know that my first game in The Legend of Zelda series was Zelda II: The Adventure of Link at the age of 5. Because of this, I did not care too much for the series (very sad indeed). This was later changed by a simple act of kindness when I owned an SNES. My uncle, who I didn’t know was big into the Zelda series, lent us A Link to the Past. This deed was what revitalized the series for me and shaped my paths in life. As I've grown older, I’ve enjoyed all sorts of Zelda games and experiences--from Day 1 buys, standing in line, preorder bonuses, and even going to E3 2016. Over time I became much more involved in the games, but I lost track of what my uncle had played or where he was in his journey of The Legend of Zelda. As time passed and I went through high school, college, career moves, marriage, fatherhood, and so on and so forth, I spent less time checking in on extended family because, of course, life is busy, especially with having over twenty aunts and uncles and 80-plus cousins. This is an unfortunate byproduct of a busy lifestyle. In early 2022, I learned my uncle's wife had a form of cancer that gradually took its nasty and aggressive course and brought her to a better place. This occurred a few weeks before the holidays, so instead of celebrating with friends and family, we ended up mourning a missed loved one. I had not seen or talked to my uncle in a few years, and seeing him made me reminisce about when I was younger as well as feel so heartbroken for him and my cousins. One thing that is always hard about a situation like this is trying to talk to someone who is hurting and knowing you cannot fix what has already occurred. Mustering the courage to go up and talk to him and give him my heartfelt condolences led to what I hope will bring future smiles. As I conversed with him, I felt the sadness that was understandably present. Because of this, I wanted to lighten that feeling and asked him if he had played Zelda lately. He said that he had not in a while, but he still had the NES, SNES, and N64 hooked up to his television because of all those games he enjoyed. He had not picked up a Nintendo Switch at all, so he had not experienced Breath of the Wild. I talked to him about the upcoming Tears of the Kingdom, and he sounded excited. I then said you can play most of the older Zelda games on the Switch as well. All this information really helped break the solemn mood. After talking to him, I felt as though he missed the series, and I immediately had some ideas. I went over to my cousin and told him about my discussion with his dad. I suggested that maybe the family pick up a Nintendo Switch for him. I told him about all the Zelda games available on the system and that maybe it would make a great gift to help him through this time. He could catch up with most of the games he missed and be prepared for Tears of the Kingdom when it came out. My cousin thought it was an excellent idea and made sure to take some notes of what I had said. I hope that they end up getting one for him because he deserves to smile in times of darkness. It makes me smile whenever others enjoy a series that I do, too. I’m sure many of you have experienced things in your lives as well that have caused you or someone you know pain. I hope you and the ones you love can smile once again in some form or fashion, no matter what has happened. It doesn’t matter how you get there, but embrace the happiness you gain along the journey to recovery from the despair that tragedy leaves behind. Smile, my friends, and let the light take over. Please follow me on Twitter @stillsaneshane. Image Source: Provided by author

Celeste shares a comic book from a long time ago! HOST: Celeste Roberts COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S6 E4 | David is joined by Hazel to discuss some of their favorite Mini Games in the Legend of Zelda series. HOST: David Geisler GUEST: Hazel WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S6 E3 | David and Andy meet in person for the first time to build a top ten list of oddities in Zelda games. HOST: David Geisler GUEST: Andy Barney WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

by Stephanie Klimov Stephanie reflects on Nintendo's ability to reuse assets for Zelda sequels in creative and engaging ways. Nintendo holds several reputations, one of which includes the master ability to make use of all its assets in the most efficient way possible. This efficiency has led to several Zelda sequels with familiar settings and characters who are completely flipped on their heads or expanding on an existing asset. The two most iconic examples within the franchise are The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time vs. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask as well as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild vs. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. How does Nintendo keep things from becoming stale? Let’s take a deeper dive. Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask Majora’s Mask is a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time. It begins with Link in the Lost Woods searching for Navi, who left him abruptly after he completed his quest to defeat Ganondorf. Soon, Link is met with a terrible fate and lands in the world of Termina. Despite a new world and different landscapes, we see familiar faces, like the Cucco Lady as Anju or Malon as Cremia. They look pretty much the same; however, Anju has a completely different role. In Cremia’s case, she lives at a farm like her Ocarina of Time counterpart–although her younger sister, Romani (the child version of Malon), is much more interested in fighting off aliens! In a 2015 interview with Game Informer, Eiji Aonuma answers the question on whether reusing the same character models was a stylistic choice or time- and money-saving decision: “Really, it was a little bit of both... I think a lot of it comes down to those character models having the ability to express something that they couldn’t in the setting of Ocarina because we had this very different image for the world where Majora’s Mask takes place.” -Eiji Aonuma While some people may scoff at the thought of reusing assets, Majora’s Mask carries a completely different story, theme(s), and tone. The game has its own identity, and fans have enjoyed it just as much as–if not more than–Ocarina of Time. Nintendo achieved this with great success because they did not simply hit copy and paste. They grafted the assets into a style that fit Marjora’s Mask and altered the premise. Ocarina of Time is an epic quest filled with several dungeons and sages where you strive to defeat the King of Evil. In Majora’s Mask, Link must save Termina before the moon crashes in three days. There is a three-day time mechanic, only four dungeons, a mask mechanic, and scores of side quests. Note that Nintendo picked out a concept that was minor in Ocarina of Time–the Happy Mask Salesman and his masks–and expanded on that idea. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is Nintendo’s first open-world Zelda game that focuses on exploration. Players have poured hundreds of hours scouring the largest map in franchise history, and some even completed the Hyrule Compendium and 900 Korok Seed side quest. What had fans scratching their heads during the six years waiting for the direct sequel was wondering how in the world could Nintendo create a fun game with the same map that we’ve explored up and down over and over? Would we be cooking the same foods and fighting the same enemies? If an open world Zelda is about exploration and we’ve explored it all, what is there left to do? At the time of this writing, I have seen all trailers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and am eagerly awaiting for its release in May; however, we also have seen a ten-minute gameplay demo from Eiji Aonuma that proves that Nintendo once again found a way to build off of what has been done in Breath of the Wild. Eiji Aonuma played ten minutes of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on March 28th, 2023. In addition to expanding the map to the sky, Aonuma revealed brand new game mechanics, most of which involve creating or building weapons and enjoying different modes of travel. These new abilities are called Fuse and Ultra Hand. If sky islands weren’t enough (as many were skeptical since The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’s islands are mostly barren), Nintendo hands us a “sandbox” to play in. So, if Breath of the Wild’s statement is “explore everything,” then Tears of the Kingdom’s is “create anything”! This again flips Breath of the Wild on its head–creates another vertical, so to speak–despite repeated settings and items. Eiji Aonuma challenges us, the end-user, on how we could ascend into the sky and what creations we could come up with. I also want to comment on the Zonai, which have long since been a theory and recently confirmed as playing a large role in Tears of the Kingdom. Like with the masks in Ocarina of Time, Nintendo has expanded on the Zonai that were merely referenced in Breath of the Wild with landmarks and statues in the Faron region. Nintendo has this ability to create a living, breathing environment, leaving little bits of lore and background in its games, and, if the team so chooses, can pick out a specific feature and flesh out details until it becomes a major influence on a sequel. This heeds to their attention to detail and artistic genius on either reusing assets or reiterating on them. This Nintendo touch assures that Zelda and other first-party franchises are in good hands. What do you think about reusing characters, locations, and/or assets in sequels? Do you prefer a sequel over its predecessor? Let me know on Twitter!

On September 13, 2022, a Nintendo Direct revealed new games and, most importantly, more information regarding the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, including its name–The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom–and its release date of May 12, 2023. If you missed this portion of the Nintendo Direct or want to re-watch it--and we don’t blame you!--check out the video below: Source: YouTube Although the footage of the next Zelda title is only 1 minute and 23 seconds long, fans of the series are likely already creating their own theories about everything showcased. A few people from the Another Zelda Podcast team could not resist sharing their own thoughts, too! If you’d like to follow the writers on Twitter, click on their names for the links to their profiles. If you’d like to discuss your thoughts, join our Discord! Carlos With The Legend Zelda series, I have found that the reveal trailers have a lot of interesting insight, tidbits, and occasional misdirection to mentally absorb. The Tears of the Kingdom reveal, no doubt, shows that the clear and absolute focus of the game is the character etched in stone. Her eyes are similar in design to those of Midna’s Helm or Majora’s Mask, with an emphasis on the lower lashes. This historically has always been attributed to powerful beings to include the “Zelda” figure carved into the stone. Overall, there is a lot of focus on eye symbols throughout the short clip. Historically, the eye symbology has been attributed to the Sheikah, and I wonder if we will go deeper into their history during this game. Moving forward, we see seven symbols surrounding the center figure, which harkens back to the sages in the Temple of Time. Is this the Goddess Hylia? Are we looking at Skyloft’s lore or something even older? There is a battlefield featuring humanoids fighting monsters, and what is particularly interesting is the fact that the symbols on the shields are not Hylian. I wonder if this may represent the mysterious Zonai tribe, which is hinted at when visiting the Zonai Ruins in Breath of the Wild. In addition, there seems to be two different versions of Link in the game. One is the Link we know from BOTW, and one has the more wild-man look (think Robin Williams as Alan Parrish in Jumanji). I tried to look at this trailer through the lens of Skyward Sword, which seems to be the source of inspiration for this entry. I wonder if this pointy-eared person and sage-wielding figure is a Zelda from the past. Perhaps the purpose is to take Zelda from BOTW and have her reassume her place as the Goddess or as protector of the realm. I say this because if you look at the very last screen shot, it looks to be the carving of this “deity” and what appears to be Zelda grasping hands. If you’re not looking closely, you will miss it, as the game title is cleverly overlayed to obscure the clear view. The symbol for the game is two dragons in a circle, which could lend itself to the idea of each Zelda replacing a previous version throughout time to protect Hyrule. Whatever the case maybe, Nintendo has given us just enough to salivate and stir up the fandom into a buzzing bee hive. I am sure no matter what we were shown, it will not compare to what the story truly contains. I could not be more excited for the next iteration of video games’ greatest franchise. Celeste I was unable to watch the footage for the next Zelda title live due to work, but once my meeting finished, I immediately jumped onto YouTube to see what Nintendo has in store. I noticed some friends had mentioned Zelda in a few Discord channels, which only increased my excitement. Here is my stream of consciousness: The beginning of the trailer features a stone carving of what appears to be a winged creature–are those wings on its head, or is it just an ornamental headdress? OK, we see more stone carvings of what resemble Moblins and Bokoblins facing a human figure. That human must be Link. Do these carvings act like hieroglyphs? Will we run into them in the game itself? I would love to carry around a Book of Mudora-like tome. Now we see that carving of the figure from the beginning again. Upon closer examination, I think it looks like Ganondorf from the first trailer for the sequel to Breath of the Wild. It’s causing what appears to be a female human to levitate? Is that Princess Zelda? I assume she is in jeopardy once again. Link is opening huge stone doors. I wonder if he has been slumbering for several years again? How cool would an opening scene like in Breath of the Wild be? Just taking in all the majesty of the land before us… Also, Link’s shield has a Sheikah eye on it? Now we see multiple tiny islands floating in the sky–are we revisiting the lands of Skyward Sword?--and Link just dove off a floating rock. Does this location hint that Loftwings will return? More climbing awaits, as well as the functions of the Sheikah Slate (at least Stasis seems to be used here). Will we gain new abilities with it? Now Link is descending from the sky once again, but he lands on the back of a flat bird-shaped glider. The screen darkens and shows us the title of the game: Tears of the Kingdom. Is this an ominous or a joyous title? I wonder if the ambiance will be reminiscent of Majora’s Mask: sorrow, regret, destruction, fear, and longing. Or could “tears” have a happy implication, like renewal and tears of joy streaming down the cheeks of everyone in Hyrule? Will time travel be featured again? Note to self: schedule off work on May 12, 2023. Ryan Breath of the Wild 2… or should we say Tears of the Kingdom? There isn’t a whole lot to see in the latest teaser trailer with a few shots of wall carvings and Link running around (or falling down in a lot of cases), but there are a few things that stick out to me. Let's take a sorta dive off the cliff to point out some things. The first thing is there is no Ganondorf shown here at all, and there is no real shot of Zelda, either, but that isn't a really bad thing–just more of an observation since the only other trailer is so focused on a possible Ganondorf being resurrected with Zelda and Link teaming together to check it out. Nothing more to see here. My big point, though most viewers likely noticed, is the possible return to Skyloft or to what remains of Skyloft after the events in Skyward Sword. It is somewhat obvious in the first jump Link takes! And since it has been millions of years since Skyloft was last seen (if we are thinking that the previous games are not just stories and the timeline presented is real), it looks the right part, but the question is, why is it here? Could this also confirm that the timeline is correct and not just legends passed down? Could the Loftwings make a return (would be nice to have something reappear from Skyward Sword as I discuss in a previous blog)? For my next big point that some may also notice, I have two takes. The fox-like creature on the wall looks very familiar to me… it could either be one of the two creatures from the Silent Realm (the better guess), or could we have another return of a creature from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask: the Keaton (not as likely, I think). I know we all try to forget the Silent Realm when replaying Skyward Sword, but if we are revisiting Skyloft, the SIlent Realm couldn't be far from the same path, right? I would like to see the return of the Keaton and see what power the deity (check out the aforementioned article again for what they are based on) could have. The last thing is the name itself: Tears of the Kingdom. As last we saw (no matter the timeline you are in with the Breath of the Wild line or the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity line), everything was on its way to being better, as the Calamity was gone. So the “kingdom” with tears would not be the one we just saved, but it could again refer to the Skyward Sword-era kingdom that is discovered. Now, get your tinfoil hats on, as I am going to drop a theory that would make sense with all of the Skyward Sword mentions, and that is… the first trailer features not Ganondorf but Demise himself. A HUGE stretch, I know, but it is possible with all the information tied to Skyward Sword. If this is the case, I am super excited for this game. Maybe we will see a return of Fi as well. Those are my thoughts on the new trailer, and, yes, a lot could be overthinking it, but, man, what if I were right about some of these? If you want to chat it over, you can find me on Twitter @rambokuhn or @wiseoldowlsbrew to dive in more. Now we all mark our calendar for May 12, 2023 (hopefully it stays there). Cheers! Shane As I am ready to start watching the live trailer on my break at work, the typical event occurs, which never fails: my amazing coworker, who has no infatuation with the Zelda series or video games in general, waltzes into my area and starts talking. Of course, I was half listening to both him and the Nintendo Direct, but as a good friend and coworker, I ultimately stopped and paid attention to the questions at hand. Then I proceeded to have a 3-hour meeting, which both was and wasn’t expected. So, immediately I had to utilize my lunch to watch and thoroughly examine the footage, and here are my thoughts. Per usual, the beginning starts off a bit slower and shows a story depicted through art on what seems to be a wall. About 24-30 seconds into the trailer, you see a being surrounded by 7 tear-shaped symbols. Immediately, three things crossed my mind. First, that 7 in the past is associated with the 7 sages. Second, this brings me back to Skyward Sword with the tear trials in the game. Lastly, it gives me huge dungeon vibes. Traditionally, whenever you need to obtain something in the Zelda series, you associate it with a dungeon. Could we then be getting items back, and could each tear represent a trial? The next scene is also interesting. Link opens a massive door and heads out running to an open area in the sky. What I found most interesting is this seemed just like when Link leaves the cave in Breath of the Wild, but this time, instead of stopping at the cliff to admire the massive landscape before his eyes, Link takes a leap of faith, Assassin’s Creed style, off the floating island. This leads me to believe the action and story will be quicker and not as slow-paced as Breath of the Wild. Hopefully this also hints at a stronger narrative as well. The last thing I want to point out that I found interesting is the symbol of the reptile-like creatures eating one another, forming a circle. This automatically brings to my mind the ouroboros, which symbolizes an eternal renewal or cycle of life, death, and rebirth, whether it be the same thing or the transfer of a soul to a new vessel. This symbolism could mean the cycle of Zelda, Link, and an evil persisting through the ages that never dissolves or diminishes but transfers its hate into a new home like a hermit crab upgrading its shell. I had a lot of thoughts on the new trailer, and I’m sure I will have more. I can’t wait until May 12th, 2023! Stephanie Like thousands of others, I waited with baited breath for any Zelda news during the September 2022 Nintendo Direct. Our dreams came true with a brief trailer, title card, and release date. Delay after delay, we now have The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, releasing May 12th, 2023. There’s not much I can say other than I am filled with excitement and gratitude. There may have been minimal story points and gameplay revealed, but all I wanted was a name and a date. The title, Tears of the Kingdom, lends to a darker, sadder theme, and the neon green coloring hints at the initial trailer–where this mysterious vortex holds a mummified corpse (Ganondorf?). The new trailer opens with a scroll depicting a never-before-seen being, with images of war and a horizontal figure. The camera pans to another shot of a figure intertwining her arm and hands with…the screen cuts to another image. This is a mystery we will soon have to figure out. We also see this creature surrounded by seven objects, which likely are these “tears,” but I also would hope it will herald the return of sages. The music swells, and Link bursts through the double doors and dashes from the ledge and free falls through the sky. With close observation, much of the landscape below is consumed by Malice or Malice-like material. Link moves about with new moves and skills that bring a sense of verticality to this new game. The trailer provided me with more questions than answers, but this only whets my appetite for this upcoming sequel. Part of me wonders if this will become what The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword should have been. For now, I’m grateful for what Nintendo has shared, and I am looking forward to more information–likely in the Spring of 2023.

by Stephanie Klimov Are 2D Zelda titles a thing of the past? Whether we wish to acknowledge it or not, The Legend of Zelda franchise has been around for a long time–over 35 years and counting. In fact, 2023 will herald the 25th anniversary of the fan-favorite, Ocarina of Time. Growing up, I would chat with friends and the gaming community, and our first Zelda titles were similar: it usually came down to A Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time. These three titles were released between 1991 and 1998. However, in the last few years, I’ve heard more often than not that many fans’ first games were Twilight Princess or even Breath of the Wild. That blew my mind. Decades have flown by, and I haven’t realized that a new generation of gamers has discovered Zelda. More importantly, their first impressions of Zelda are also much different than someone my own age (mid-30s) or older. This demographic has not experienced the 8- or 16-bit 2D art style and gameplay, unless they were surrounded by friends or family who exposed them to the earlier games. Expectations for Zelda are evolving–would the bulk of fans now expect high-graphic fidelity, hand-holding, and diverse gameplay? Imagine if The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild were your first Zelda game (and maybe for some of you, it was). Nintendo blessed us with a gorgeous world, colorful 3D graphics, non-linear gameplay, and the ability to do just about ANYTHING. With Breath of the Wild as your barometer, it may be challenging to fire up one of the Oracle games. Many would consider A Link Between Worlds as the last top-down “2D” title in 2013, not counting Tri Force Heroes. We also received a remake of Link’s Awakening in 2019, but Grezzo’s take was more of an isometric view. Looking at these examples, it has been a long time since we experienced a true top-down 2D Zelda game and even longer since an original top-down 2D Zelda game that is not a spiritual sequel or remake. We are now seeing Nintendo favor the 3D Zelda games, especially with the Switch closing the gap between the console and handheld market. The next mainline title will be The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As we go all in on this refreshed take on the franchise, there is little to no incentive for Nintendo to create a 2D game from scratch. At most, Nintendo may provide the old 2D titles such as The Minish Cap, Oracle of Seasons, and Oracle of Ages as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. If this ever happens, do you think newer gamers will play a linear and graphically and mechanically simplistic Zelda title? Maybe. Maybe not. I find it challenging myself to revisit older games. Even growing up with the N64, I have gone back to play some, and I don’t find enjoyment like I used to. The graphics are dated (all those pointy polygonal characters!), and the camera angles are wonky. When I played the original Legend of Zelda a year ago, I quickly became frustrated because I was not used to the technological limitations of moving just up, down, left, and right. It is natural that our minds become used to increasingly better technology. Just imagine going back and using home phones attached to the wall or texting on old cell phones that utilized “multi-tap” (three letters assigned to a number). We would be pretty frustrated and impatient. So, is this the end of 2D Zelda games? I say it is very possible. It is not because I hope for this result, but rather with the roadmap Nintendo has traveled for The Legend of Zelda, it will be hard to “go back” and appease the newer fanbase. Sure, gamers 30-something and older would love this, but once the market shifts to a greater percentage of gamers whose first experience is Breath of the Wild, the odds will continue to grow slim. Nintendo hasn't had the best history on giving fans what they want, either. It really makes you think about how much we have grown and that time does not discriminate. The franchise evolved–and had to to stay relevant–and it will continue to do so. Like Sheik once said, “The flow of time is always cruel; its speed seems different from each person, but no one can change it. A thing that does not change with time is the memory of younger days.” Follow Stephanie on Twitter and share your thoughts on 2D Zelda titles! Is this the end of an era? Image Credit: Nintendo via Nintendo Life

by Celeste Roberts In celebration of Carnival season, let’s explore the symbolism of the Triforce pieces and the colors of Mardi Gras. Everywhere else, it’s just Tuesday, but today, I’d like to blend two worlds: The Legend of Zelda and my own. The date this article publishes is Mardi Gras, which is a huge part of my region in South Louisiana and even other places around the world (it’s also known as “Carnival,” “Shrove Tuesday,” or even “Pancake Day,” which may be my favorite name for a holiday). It’s the last hurrah before the season of penance and Easter, so indulge while you can! Evident in the parades, King Cakes, tableaus, and decorations are the colors of Mardi Gras: purple, green, and gold. This trio has been the official color scheme of the holidays since 1892, when the Krewe of Rex in New Orleans assigned meaning to each color: purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. As I passed by homes adorned with these colors and drooled over King Cakes in grocery stores, I began to think of another trio greater than the sum of its parts: the Triforce. Like Mardi Gras colors in my area, images of the Triforce are ubiquitous in Hyrule, from statues to shields to garments. The symbol even bears some mystical lock-picking powers: playing “Zelda’s Lullaby” while standing on top of the Triforce stone in Kakariko Graveyard grants Link access to the Royal Family’s Tomb (a simple t-shirt would have sufficed as a souvenir for this spooky location, but I understand learning the “Sun’s Song” is helpful). Although the pieces are golden, each triangle possesses a unique virtue: the Triforce of Power at the top, the Triforce of Courage on the right, and the Triforce of Wisdom on the left. If we assign each of the Golden Goddesses and their colors to their respective pieces, then I suppose we could argue each piece has a sub-color–Power embodies Din, who is red; Courage embodies Farore, who is green; and Wisdom embodies Nayru, who is blue. While reflecting on the meaning of Mardi Gras’ colors, I thought assigning each one to a piece of the Triforce would be a fun exercise. Let’s start with purple–justice. The color purple is formed from the blending of red and blue, which are both important colors in the Zelda series regarding Din and Nayru, respectively. Hm, the Goddess of Power and the Goddess of Wisdom combined… if we reflect on the meaning of the word justice (fairness and righteousness), those two attributes fit. Purple has long been associated with royalty, and royals tend to make the laws of the land, like we learn Nayru did in Ocarina of Time when she “poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world.” This means the people in charge should uphold dignity and wisdom in their decisions. The next question is which character should be associated with this regal hue: Ganondorf or Zelda? The evil king is no dunce, but his actions are far from moral or righteous. Zelda, on the other hand, is both wise and impartial in the face of danger. After all, she surrendered to Zant in Twilight Princess out of fear for the fate of her kingdom. Thus, I would assign the color purple to the Triforce of Wisdom. Next up is green for faith. In addition to referring to a belief in a higher power or god, faith also means allegiance to one’s duty or a person. Farore, the Goddess of Courage, "with her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law,” according to the lore shared in Ocarina of Time. Having faith in an entity or a cause takes a tremendous amount of courage, in my opinion, since one risks disappointment or even betrayal. The Hero of Time is certainly a poster child for “upholding the law” as he smites baddies and rescues innocent people out of loyalty to both Zelda and all of Hyrule (or whichever land he is visiting). Due not only to Link’s signature color but also to his determination to protect Hyrule and give hope to its people, I would say the Triforce of Courage deserves the color green for this additional reason. Finally, gold represents power. This metal is also viewed as a status symbol, as it forms jewelry, crowns, and even statues. Obviously, we have only one Triforce piece left, Power, to which we can assign this color, but I decided to dig a little deeper into how Din’s color, red, could possibly be related to gold. A proper citation is needed for this statement, but gold apparently turned a reddish color in ancient times during the smelting process. In Ocarina of Time, we learn "with her strong flaming arms, [Din] cultivated the land and created the red earth." Who else often has red hair in his numerous reincarnations? Ganondorf–and I don’t think he’s dyeing his locks, either. Maybe he’s born with it, or maybe it’s just fate? Anyhoo, now I want to see the main antagonist of the Zelda series with golden hair. If Link and Zelda can pull that color off, why can’t Ganondorf? Maybe this is another idea for a future article… So, what do you think about my reasoning for the color associations? I don’t think we’ll see Zelda, Link, or Ganondorf riding in any Mardi Gras parades, but perhaps if they want to branch out of their usual color scheme, they can enjoy the festive colors of this celebratory season. Does your area observe Mardi Gras or any unique holidays? What colors are assigned to those celebrations? I’d love to hear what other colors you would give the pieces of the Triforce and why, so please let me know on Twitter!

Would you play a Zelda game starring a non-playable character (NPC) from the series? Carlos explains why this could work for future titles. by Carlos Gomez (a.k.a. The Lost Hylian) I was playing Cadence of Hyrule a few weeks ago, and I found myself really enjoying the unique game mechanics and approach to Zelda the game offers. The game is so amazingly different but still so Zelda. This made me really think about the different ways a Zelda story could be told–not just about Zelda or Link but about all of the lore of Hyrule we could explore. By using different game styles and characters, there are so many stories within the world of Hyrule that could be explored. As fans, we all seem to gobble up everything about the series. I even have Link’s Crossbow Training because, well… it's a Zelda game. There are so many ways that Nintendo could really use the vast list of characters to tell stories of Hyrule, both big and small, from epic histories to quirky stories of daily living. The series currently has 19 official games, which will soon be 20 when Tears of the Kingdom has its official release. That means that there is a lot of material that can be fleshed out to create new and immersive games. I’m not talking about the way Nintendo uses Mario as a namesake for various titles like Mario Tennis or Dr. Mario, nor do I envision the franchise releasing a title like Metroid Prime Pinball (though, come to think of it, a “Bowling with Gorons” game sounds pretty interesting). Instead, I would want to recognize that there are more opportunities to create titles like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Released as a third-party title, it’s a prime example where Nintendo really made an effort to expand the lore of the series. Though the canonical nature of the game is in doubt and debated, the end result is clear: it provides a refreshing approach to expanding the world of Hyrule and gives the player a glimpse into what led the kingdom to its unfortunate demise prior to Breath of the Wild. While I really love that level of exploration of Age of Calamity, not every title would need to be on such a grand scale. More importantly, they wouldn’t even have to have Link or Zelda as a playable character. Perhaps a game that simply takes several Ocarina of Time NPCs and creates various mini games for them, like the postman, Saria, a castle guard, or maybe even Epona. The game could be set up as chapters and like a book of short stories; it could be filled with small, self-contained adventures. These “Tales From Hyrule'' could not only provide fun game mechanics but also serve to flesh out the franchise and give insight to little-known characters. Another small character who could tell an interesting Hylian tale is Agitha from Twilight Princess. She is a young rich girl who believes she is the “princess” of the Bug Kingdom. In the game, Link gives her insects in exchange for rewards and eventually can even earn the Giant Wallet. With her intense fascination with bugs, she would be a prime candidate for a Pikmin-style game. She could travel around Hyrule ridding the land of a Skulltula infestation and saving the native insects of her world. The fact that she seems a little crazy definitely opens the door for fun fantasy elements to include a unique art style, or perhaps she could even inhabit different insect bodies. This might even pave the way for a Minish Cap-style adventure. Out of all of the characters in the series, the easiest to create a game for would be a Zelda character who already has four games of their own. Yes, that character would be Tingle. Many remember Tingle from his first appearance in Majora’s Mask; however, most people don’t know that he has his own titles on the DS, starting with Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland. He followed on with three more games and has somewhat of a cult following in Japan. Not achieving the same level of success in the United States, he still offers a good sense of comic relief, and his uniqueness makes him versatile. Historically, he has been a map maker, and because of this, I see him as an explorer. Perhaps he stumbles on a mystery in Hyrule Castle and must search the grounds to gain useful items and clues to solve the mystery. Luigi’s Mansion 3 already has a game engine that could translate very well to this concept, and using the same cartoonish art style suits Tingle's personality very well. Any of these games could be chock full of Easter eggs and bits of lore. The game wouldn’t have to have a direct effect on any particular timeline or impact in furthering any particular plot. These games could tell the stories of the NPCs we have come to love and enhance the game experience. Who wouldn’t want to know more about Groose from Skyward Sword or learn more about Medli, who assists the great Valoo in The Wind Waker? There is a treasure trove of adventures that can be had, and as a fan, I would gladly spend my Rupees on them. With all these ideas and the many more that I’m sure you, the reader, have, it does cause some fears to bubble up to the surface. Like I mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t want the Zelda series to become like Mario with the characters slapped onto every title for the sake of making a game more marketable, nor would I want it to be like Metroid Federation Force, a game that, despite having “Metroid '' in the title, seems to lack the spirit or heart of what makes that franchise great. The point is if Nintendo did this right, it would be a whole new way to experience the world of Hyrule. What do you think? Would you want to explore Hyrule through the eyes of an NPC? Would you see a game like this as a simple money grab? Please share your thoughts by reaching me @The_Lost_Hylian on Twitter, thelosthylian on Instagram, or check out my Facebook page, The Lost Hylian.

By Shane Kelley Feb. 12, 2019 Hey, listen, for it is dangerous to go alone! So, don’t. This, though not the official quote, combines the essence in which the hero Link is not alone on his travels. “Hey, listen!” is well known to be uttered by the fairy Navi who aids Link in Ocarina of Time. “It’s dangerous to go alone” is said by the first-person Link interacts with ever in the series. An older gentleman utter’s the phrase “Take this” which refers to Link’s first item, the sword. This was modified as a catchphrase for the game Tri Force Heroes to say “It’s dangerous to go alone! So, don’t,” summing up that, though you may be the hero who saves the day, you couldn’t have done it without the help of others. Whether it’s a talking boat, wise owl, a chatty hat, a living sword, or a grown man in a tight green unitard, you always get something unique in a Legend of Zelda game. All these characters have one thing in common: to support Link in his quest to save the day. What can we speculate for the next Zelda game or games in the series? How does Breath of the Wild influence future sidekicks, and are they necessary to the story? Let’s go on a quest of our own. Glancing at the entries in the Zelda series, one can see a plethora of characters that aid Link along the way. I further categorized them into three groups: supporting, stationary, and travel guides. Each entity has some role that will help our hero along the way and, in the process, tell the story. Though the characters vary throughout each game, you can always count on them being there when you need them. Supporting guides can be very broad and have a wide spectrum of duties or roles in each game. Examples would be Impa, Tingle, Epona, and, most recently, the Champions from Breath of the Wild. These characters usually will come to Link’s aid at various places in the game, usually providing advice, clues, and support when summoned or happened upon. Supporting roles tend to add to the story but also try not to suppress or limit the flow of a game for long periods. One other character that plays this role is Kaepora Gaebora the owl, who plays a supporting role in Ocarina of Time. When Link leaves the Kokiri forest he makes an appearance giving him advice as to not get discouraged in the toughest of times; however, in A Link to the Past, this character is represented as a statue who offers advice within the dungeons of the game, making him a stationary guide. Stationary guides are advisors who, given a pedometer, would not be anywhere close to 10,000 steps in a day. These guides are fixed and provide Link with information or hints on where to look or go next in the game. Some examples are gossip stones, fortune tellers, the Great Deku Tree, and the above-mentioned stone owls. Gossip stones and owl statues are scattered around Hyrule and provide hints in the present location. The Great Deku Tree from various games is in fact stationary but usually plays a bigger role in the story and could also be considered a support. Fortune tellers like rupees, so after cutting the lawns of Hyrule, you may want to spend some on the wisdom that these channelers can provide. Though their wisdom may be worth knowing, I always get a bit creeped out by Sparrot in Skyward Sword. Traveling guides are usually the most recognizable in a game and are often the closest companion that Link mingles with along the way. Some of these world travelers are Navi, Midna, Fi, Elzo, Linebeck, and the King of the Red Lions. These hero helpers advise Link on his journey and further establish the story of the game. Some of his traveling guides also provide transportation along the way, while others become accessories such as a hat or sword. Whatever role his traveling partner takes, you know you’re in for some interesting dialogue and additional play mechanics. With a rainbow of companions in Link’s past, what does Links future look like? The beginning entry of the Legend of Zelda series puts you into the world with minimal direction or instruction. You must explore and discover the secrets that lie within. Bring it full circle to Breath of the Wild which utilizes the same formula and puts Link in a more robust and epic Hyrule. As you may have noticed, what these two games have in common is their lack of a traveling guide, which does open up options on how the person wants to play. Without this restriction, you can move about the game freely versus a linear route or story. Guides can be helpful at times but walk a narrow path between having an open world versus linear objectives. This balance is what can make or break the experience for an audience. Breath of the Wild took the original concept and ran with it. The game did not feature a living traveling guide but did feature the Sheikah Slate, which could be considered a guide that travels with you. It’s pretty much Hyrule’s version of a cellular phone with GPS mapping, information, and a built-in camera. Even when you get to a tower and reach the top, the Sheikah Slate receives an update of the regional map. With this technology, plus the technology in the previous Zelda game, Skyward Sword, you can see that these technical advancements are slowly creeping into the series, which can change how the game plays as we can see in Breath of the Wild. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It really comes down to how well the creator can convey it to the player. So, what can we gather from all of this for future titles in the series? We can definitely feel a shift when it comes to the Zelda series, and we know that producer Eiji Aonuma has stated that “…the incredible freedom that this game offers you and how well that’s been received…to me, it means that freedom, that level of freedom is something that needs to be maintained in Zelda games going forward.” What form or forms can we expect Link’s guides to be in his next quest? We know that a new Zelda open world game is coming with a similar formula as Breath of the Wild. There have also been rumors of a 2D Zelda in the works, but we do not know for certain. There is also a rumor that Nintendo reportedly wants an annual Zelda title released on the Nintendo Switch. This would be fine with me, so long as gameplay, story, and the integrity of the game do not suffer. Whether you like being nagged by a certain repetitive fairy or prefer the technology of the Sheikah slate, there is always a fun Zelda experience to be had. What are your favorite guides in the Legend of Zelda Series? Where do you see Nintendo taking the series after Breath of the Wild? Where can I buy a Tingle outfit? All serious questions, indeed. I’m ready to see what’s next. Are you? I’m excited to be part of the Another Zelda Podcast Universe. If you like my articles and would like to say hi, please follow me on Twitter @StillsaneShane.

By Lizzi Nielsen Feb. 5, 2019 I am a Nintendo kid through and through, though I have to admit that I am one of those fans that saw any new Nintendo system as a means to an end, where “end” equals “every Legend of Zelda game.” See, it’s just that I was raised by Link and Zelda. Okay, not really, but I grew up watching my parents and older brother play the original three games until I was old enough for my own play-through of Link to the Past. I was hooked by the lore, the myriad of puzzles and problem solving, and all of the iconic music. Despite being my family’s audience for the entirety of Link to the Past, it still felt like a brand new game since I didn’t remember many of the specifics regarding how to solve the puzzles or beat the bosses throughout the Light and Dark Worlds. I remember getting stuck and crying to my Mom about how Agahnim took Zelda through a wall—“a wall Mom, how did he even do that!?”—and that meant the game was too hard. (Please note that I was only single-digit years old at this point so crying and underdeveloped resilience is allowed.) She patiently reminded me that the game wouldn’t let me be in an area that I wasn’t ready for and that whatever tool I needed to overcome this obstacle was already in my possession. Through trial and error as well as some teary eyes, I finally *nearly 30-year-old spoiler alert* cut the middle curtain and went on my way to saving Hyrule. My Mom’s wise guidance was true for every following game in the series. That is, until Breath of the Wild. Its open world allows for countless paths to get from A to B or from A to G and then back to E while going through Q, I, L, P, and X. There was no longer a sole or even correct way to play through a Legend of Zelda game, which totally changed the way fellow players talked about their progress with one another. That realization hit me while discussing a certain shrine in Zora’s Domain with my then-coworkers a few weeks after its release. The four of us had played through the Ne’ez Yohma Shrine (“Pushing Power”) and we quickly learned how differently we had completed the “massive Plinko machine from another world” as David called it in the Top Ten Shrines episode from Season 1 of Another Zelda Podcast. My solution was very similar to Polygon’s, mostly utilizing Statis to move the orb and only using Cryonis to block holes and stop the orb as it rolled down the ramp. Another engineer did it more like the video below, launching the orb from its pedestal with a bomb, hoping that he didn’t overshoot the entire ramp, and controlling it with Statis the rest of the way. The designers were better at following the intended solution, using Cryonis to guide the orb up and over the blocks peppered along the slope of the ramp. My coworkers and I laughed as we analyzed the how and why behind our varying solutions, and this novel joy was refreshing and significant. My ah ha! moments after solving puzzles and completing tasks were now accompanied with fun musings of “I wonder how else people have done this” or “Was this designed with a primary solution in mind?” Of course I still have a deep affinity for A Link to the Past and the subsequent Legend of Zelda games that I played, despite playing through them in basically the same way and order as everyone else. This new dimension of gameplay has deepened my adoration for the entire Legend of Zelda series and I, for one, welcome our new open world overlords. Share in the comments below if you had a similar experience to me and my coworkers while playing and discussing Breath of the Wild!.

S6 E2 | David is joined by new cast member, Kady Roberts, to talk about some of their favorite vendors in Breath of the Wild. HOST: David Geisler CAST: Kady Roberts WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

by Ryan Kuhn Ryan proposes what kind of beer each region in Breath of the Wild would enjoy. It’s Ryan writing a blog again, so that must mean something beer related is coming… Well, you are right–I am going to teach you about beer in Zelda. I am going to look into the different regions within Breath of the Wild and determine a beer style based on the people, the environment, and pure speculation. We are going to crash the brew caves and homemade bars to find what people are brewing whenever Link randomly walks into their houses. Hope you ate some carbs and are ready for another bar crawl of beer in Breath of the Wild! Akkala Taking this the alphabetical route, we will start with Akkala. Here is where we get the Tech Center and all of the Ancient Gear from a robot that can't seem to figure out who Link is. So, let's think of a beer that is old school in style with a new upgrade: steam beer. This beer is a take on a lager, but it is different enough to give traditional lager a new feel. The most common steam beer in our world is Anchor Brewery’s Steam® Beer–yes, they coined the term–where they took the style from miners trying to make beer on their roofs, and they succeeded. For the homebrewers in Akkala, they can make their beer with less effort and better technology but can still ferment on their roofs if they want. In our world, a popular steam beer is the California Common, but let's call this world’s version the “Akkala Common.” This beer has plenty of flavor from the different malts and a slight mintiness from the hops. Akkala Common will leave you refreshed and ready for more, almost as much as the Brewthers-in-Law did with their version. Central Hyrule This used to be a region of prosperity and different sections that served the castle to the north, and there is a beer style, barrel aged, that fits what once was a bustling area. Barrel-aged beer isn't a super common home style, but it fits perfectly here. Before the Calamity, no one would have thought that anything bad would happen that close to the castle, so they made their beer ready to last after aging a few years in barrels. What could go wrong? Well, as Link runs around escaping the Guardians in the area, he may happen to find a barrel of beer that has aged longer than originally planned. This now super smooth stout comes out almost as molasses since it has aged 100 years. There will be plenty of flavor in a beer everyone could enjoy. Eldin I am going to toot my own horn here; I think that I made the right beer style for this region: the Goron Spice Ale. This is a beer that pairs perfectly with any rock steak. It is a sweet malt-forward beer that then comes up with a nice spice kick of serrano and poblano peppers. This is a beer that a Goron and Hylian can enjoy together, but don’t take my word for it: check out this episode of Brewthers-in-Law to hear what the rest of the AZP family thought. Faron In the Faron region, there is plenty of green growing in this area. With the climate in the area mimicking the West Coast of the U.S., I feel the style of beer would be similar. If you don't know the style, West Coast beers (mainly IPAs) have a feel of citrus and pine (I am sure pine trees grow in this area with all of the other trees). A West Coast IPA is a very distinct beer that could have a juice quality, but to make itself stand out more (like a West Coast IPA would), Faron’s beer would add other flavors–and a lot of them. If you want an example of this, look for Stone IPA out of San Diego (or check out this episode of Brewthers-in-Law). Gerudo We all know the Noble Pursuit is the drink of choice for those relaxing in the desert, but what are we homebrewing? I feel a lager or kolsch would be the easy answer, and I am sure there are plenty made there to drink cold and to refresh those in the desert. But what else could the Gerudo make? The answer is the beer cocktail. Yes, I am going to take it all and make it into one drink. By taking a lager and adding it to the Noble Pursuit, you get all of it in one. This is only a drink locals know to combine and most definitely won’t share it with either voe or vai outside of Gerudo Town. Think a Beer-a-Rita with a whole beer sitting in your margarita but still way better. Hebra Yes, it is cold, and, yes, a cold beer sounds horrible, but let a homebrewed beer change your mind. A Rito out there has a stout that will warm your soul that they made in their own roost. Not just any stout, though–a very strong stout. A stout that, after a few, you don’t even feel the cold (not because you are too cold but because the beer is too strong). This stout tastes of coffee and chocolate and, though served cold, warms the feathers. Take it from the Rito–they know how to handle the cold here. Lanayru From the cold mountain to the flowing river, from the Rito to their predecessors the Zora (weird, I know), we have a drastic change in the style of beer. The Zora have a culture and style of seclusion from Hyrule but are still supportive (depending on your Zelda game). The hops grown in this area are very different from the rest of Hyrule and give a similar style to another set of hops grown in our world. New Zealand hops have a style of their own that you either love or hate. Lanayru is similar; not many Hylians have a taste for this pilsner found brewed in many Zora homes, but, hey, it is their loss. Necluda In the final region, I am going to toot the horn of my “brew”ther-in-law, Mike, who made Koko’s Specialty coming out of Kakariko Village. This beer style is made with smoked honey and simple malt base, and it is a beer that you have to learn from Koko herself, along with all the other recipes she has. If you don’t believe me, listen to our podcast to hear everyone’s reaction. Beer comes in many ways and styles, and there is one made for each person out there–you just have to find the right region. I hope you learned of new styles and maybe something that piqued your interest. No matter where you live, you can find a style that works for you. If you have any thoughts or questions on beer, you can check out our Brewthers-in-Law podcast, or you can reach out to me on Twitter @rambokuhn or find me on TikTok @WiseOldOwlsBrew to find and talk anything beer, Zelda, or fun. Cheers!

David unboxes the new Breath of the Wild Collector’s Bundle and compares it to the previous Collector’s Box. HOSTS: David Geisler THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S5 E19 | David sits down to watch the February 8th Nintendo Direct, and reacts to the Tears of the Kingdom trailer that was shown. HOSTS: David Geisler View the official trailer here: THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2022 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S6 E1 | Dan and Matt, from the Fan Fix-tion podcast join David to pitch ideas for Zelda spin-off games! HOST: David Geisler CAST: Dan McCoy GUEST: Matt McQueen WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2022 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

by David Lopez Do you like The Legend of Zelda? Do you like American football? See the two combined in this creative exploration of football in Hyrule! This is a fun blog that attempts to mix two of my biggest passions in life–football and Zelda. To give you background on myself, by day, I manage and oversee the creation of digital content at a local newspaper in Southern California. By night, I save Hyrule. My first memory is of sitting on my dad's lap as a little boy and watching baseball with him. My love of sports at a young age grew quickly, and before I knew it, I was watching any sport that the four-letter sports network would broadcast. I mean anything (darts at 10 p.m.? I’d watch it). Before I knew it, I was obsessed with all sports, from football to fútbol (my father was born and raised in Mexico City, so “soccer” if that’s a more familiar word for you) and everything in between. When I was 9 years old, a Nintendo 64 came into our house. I thought Mario was fun, but I’d get bored quickly. However, I couldn’t put the controller down when Ocarina of Time came into our house. The way it tells stories and progresses you through the game left such an impact on me that it was hard for me as a little boy to understand that I enjoyed it as much as watching and playing sports. The Zelda franchise was the first activity in my life that challenged my love of sports, and I realized I could enjoy sports and playing video games. I was free of the idea that there was only one thing that should define you–you shouldn’t give your life to just that one thing. I don’t know… maybe that’s not a profound realization, but it felt massive as a little kid to understand life is never about just one interest. With a certain football game in February on the horizon, I pitched the idea to AZP editor Celeste about breaking down what football in the Zelda franchise might look like. Below is an attempt to formulate a football team from my favorite Zelda game. All players and locations take place in the Ocarina of Time world. I had a lot of fun developing character backstories and why they might play football. Enjoy! Stadium Kingdom of the Goddess stadium is located on the edge of Lake Hylia. The stadium features a newly constructed dam, which allows Zoras to attend games and cheer for their favorite Hylian football team. The beverage of choice at the stadium is Lon Lon Milk. One of Talon’s greatest joys in life is watching the Force–this land’s football team–play every Sunday. He was so desperate to have his milk in the stadium that he guaranteed enough milk for every supporter to have five bottles a game. The workload on the ranch went through the roof at this time and is a big part of the reason Ingo went mad in the Adult Timeline. It’s also why Malon gives away cows for winning races at the farm; it’s just easier if fans can bring their own milk to the games. Head Coach – Child Zelda She’s the natural leader of Hyrule. Zelda has a knack for game planning against her opponents and being able to understand how her play calls affect time and space on the football field. Being such a young head coach isn’t an issue for Zelda. Despite laughter from some guards at her play calls, her royal lineage commands the respect of her team. She’s the Sean McVay of this league, young and innovative. Offensive Coordinator - Happy Mask Salesman This decision feels like a slam dunk to me. Anyone who is able to effectively run a pyramid scheme is a brilliant strategist. The Happy Mask Salesman is no exception. He runs an offense that is centered around a selfless and thoughtful quarterback. If the salesman needs his quarterback to throw for 400 yards, he will. If he needs him to hand off 40 times and run 10 times himself, he will. Whatever is needed, the quarterback must be disciplined enough to follow instructions and not take matters into their own hands. Defensive Coordinator - Impa Rushing out of Hyrule Castle Town, Impa shares an example of her ability to protect royalty. On Sunday she trades in protecting Zelda for protecting the endzone. You better bring a good kicker when you come to Hyrule because trips to the endzone are going to be few and far between. Special Teams Coordinator - Lake Scientist Everyone knows a special teams coordinator who’s just a little out there. They don’t see the game the same way as the rest of us. They probably get all excited for fried frog eyeballs. With an obsession for fitness, the Lake Scientist ensures all his special team players are able to dive at least 10 feet inside his lab (he says it’s to make sure his players can effectively cover the whole field on kickoffs and punts). Quarterback (QB) - Adult Link He’s everything you’d ever want in a quarterback. As a man of few words, he motivates his teammates by example. While his pregame speeches are non-existent, the team has no choice but to follow him after the way he prepares in the film room and on the practice field. Ocarina of Time Link is also one of the best athletes in the game. With Golden Gauntlets equipped, he can throw the ball 80 yards downfield and run through any would-be tacklers. He’s the ultimate dual-threat quarterback. Running Back (RB) - Running Man This is a pretty obvious choice. In the open field, the running man can’t be stopped. Although he can’t be caught, he doesn’t have the greatest hands. Fumbling is an issue with him if a defense can get to him in the backfield, but if he can get to the outside with his bunny ears on, you’ll never catch him… ever. In fact, he might only be available for one play. On more than one occasion, he has disappeared into Hyrule Field to enjoy a run across the land looking for the next racer to defeat. Wide Receiver (WR) 1 - Buyer The buyer has some of the quickest moves in all of football. His quick-twitch muscle fiber makes him a nightmare for opposing cornerbacks to deal with. Instead of asking Link to sell him something by pressing C, he’s always begging Link to throw him the ball (perhaps in a Zelda football video game he asks him to throw him by pressing C). WR 2 - Medicine Shop Owner He always struck me as a tall man who would make great target for a quarterback. He may be nice enough to let you use the hallway out of his shop in Kakariko Village, but don’t get it twisted–when he puts a helmet on, he’s a bad man. Slot Receivers - Twin Jugglers (Images' Sources: Red Juggler and Blue Juggler; Zelda Fandom Wiki) They may not be able to reach Princess Zelda, but they’re able to find the endzone. These two slot receivers are a menace to opposing defenses. Their ability to understand what the other is going to do in any particular play makes them even more terrifying. They can both run option routes and space the field perfectly without communicating. In fact, Link doesn’t even give them route assignments on pass plays; he just lets them improvise and get open. Center (C) - Death Mountain Trail Guard No one passes unless the princess approves. With his Keaton mask equipped, he understands that none of the defensive players are capable of presenting a note to access the quarterback. He is the brains of the offensive line and is able to direct the offensive line’s blocking schemes. Offensive Lineman (OL) - Bazaar Owner, Treasure Chest Shop Manager, and/or Bazaar Sidekick The shop owner has the biggest hands I’ve ever seen. His ability to lock up defensive linemen with his massive hands makes him the ideal candidate to protect Link or open up running lanes for the Running Man. He also has tree-trunk legs that make him the perfect candidate for an offensive lineman. OL 2 - Darunia He’ll do whatever it takes to protect his sworn brother. His pregame snack in the locker room is an enormous boulder. Darunia doesn’t need a pregame speech to get going–he just plays “Saria’s Song” on repeat to get his juices flowing. Defensive Lineman (DL) - Link (Goron) It’s not fair that Hyrule can have Gorons on their team, but they can, and they do. Darunia and Link lead the league in sacks and tackles for loss every season. When they get rolling into the backfield, they can’t be stopped. DL 2 - Jiro, Saburo, and/or Shiro (Images' Sources: Jiro, Saburo, and Shiro; Zelda Fandom Wiki) The construction workers have a motor that’s never ending. They may not be the fastest defensive linemen, but they never stop running. Now that I’ve made them football players, the lack of progress around Kakariko Village in Link’s childhood makes sense. They’re not concerned with building the town; they’re training for Sunday. DL 3 - Bean Seller All those beans make a man grow big, strong, and, most importantly, wide. Except for Link–Link buys his bean inventory to make sure the seller stays happy and motivated on game days. Linebacker (LB) - Nabooru and Two Gerudo Warriors (Images' Sources: Nabooru, Gerudo Warriors; Zelda Fandom Wiki) Having a trio of warriors is any defensive coordinator’s dream come true. They’re the smartest warriors. They understand where they need to be on the field to be sure to punish any offensive player foolish enough to run across the middle. Cornerback (CB) - Saria Saria is short and fast. She loves Link like a brother and understands her assignment on the football field is to give the ball back to Link and the offense without surrendering any points. Link keeps his Fairy Ocarina on the sideline to communicate with her how the offense is planning to attack their defense. CB 2 - Mido No matter how hard you try, you can’t get around him. He proves his ability to stick to wide receivers like glue when Link tries to access the Deku Tree without a sword and shield. What this Kokiri lacks in size he makes up for in speed and instinct. Safety (S) - Man on Roof He likes to survey the field from afar. He’ll be able to identify where the play is progressing and attack accordingly. S - Phonogram Man When Link knows they’re about to play a big game, he makes the locker room DJ play the “Song of Storms” to ensure his best safety is in the proper mindset. Link needs a blood boiling, well-draining, hard-hitting, angry safety. Kicker (K) - Graveyard Boy He spends so much time imitating Dampe that his right leg becomes freakishly strong. He’s been known to hit 50-yard field goals with ease. Punter (P) - Master Craftsman’s Son Punters spend most of their time alone. They just show up to punt and then disappear. It’s a perfect job for Kakariko Village’s lonely soul. Long Snapper (LS) - Shooting Gallery Owner He owns a shooting gallery, which means he must have a good aim. He’s very accurate at snapping long distances, and as a big man, he’s also able to effectively block oncoming rushers. Zelda Franchise Opponents Skyloft Loftwings (Skyword Sword) In a nod to the late Mike Leach, the Loftwings run the air raid offense. Running backs need not apply. Windfall Islands Red Lions (The Wind Waker) The Red Lions run a methodical offense. Their offense is centered around underneath routes, a strong running game, and maintaining time of possession. Remember the Triforce pieces hunt? That’s brief compared to an 80-yard touchdown drive. Termina Giants (Majora’s Mask) The Giants use their size advantage to control the line of scrimmage and manage their run-first offense. You can find me on Twitter @LayoutLopez and let me know what you think of the OoT roster, my mascots, and descriptions from other Zelda games. What changes would you make? Let me know if there are any other rosters I can construct for other sports: bowling, soccer, field hockey–anything goes! Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy that big football game coming up.

An elementary school classroom brings a Zelda-like adventure book to life. by Kevin Goodwin All photos were taken and provided by the author. I always make it a point to read my 2nd grade class My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett. This is a classic adventure book series from about 80 years ago about a boy going on a journey to save a dragon from terrible animals and their travels back to the boy’s home. You could connect these books to lots of things before and after they were written. They are wonderful little books that I would recommend to anyone. You might be asking, “What does this have to do with The Legend of Zelda?” Every time I have read the books to a class, someone always makes a connection to Zelda, and my ears always perk up at the mention of that. The books really do have a sense of the games in them, or maybe it's more like the games have a connection to the books. Either way, the main character makes his way through the story with a series of seemingly random items (chewing gum, toothpaste, ribbons, lollipops, etc.), and he encounters lots and lots of problems that need to be overcome with each of these items. This always reminds me of Link needing to use certain dungeon items to overcome obstacles and enemies. The character in the book also has a knack for keeping an insane amount of things in a single knapsack, much like how Link can seemingly store endless amounts of items in his bottomless pockets. My kids recently put a lot of work into turning the book into a stop-motion movie. They did everything from making scripts, building the characters, filming the animation, recording their voices, and helping with editing. Please feel free to watch it, and we hope you enjoy it. It is always good to take a story like this or a story like Zelda and let it help you use your imagination to create something new. Can you think of any other literary works that have connections to The Legend of Zelda?

S1 E24 | Alex Sheehan joins David to discuss some of the biggest game changers in the history of Zelda. ▶️Direct Download iTunes | Google Play | YouTube Get early access with Patreon CAST: David Geisler and Alex Sheehan Season 1 | Episode 24

S2 E01 | Season 2 begins as David and Kate talk about some of their favorite opening areas! ▶️Direct Download iTunes | Google Play | YouTube Get early access with Patreon CAST: David Geisler and Kate May Season 2 | Episode 01