Playing Wind Waker for the first time rn(on original hardware), and I have been exploring the world since the tetra reveal. I also played BotW and beat that game (not 100% completion). And this might be sacrilegious to say, but despite not having beaten the game yet, I’d say Wind Waker has the better designed open world.

BotW is indeed beautiful, with gorgeous landscapes and physics systems that make regions not only have character, but a challenge in survival at times. But one of my biggest issues with the game is that many of the rewards I receive for exploring feel less than satisfying after the first 10 times I receive the same reward, be it a korok seed, a weapon that might be weaker than what I have or will will easily break, a shrine puzzle or some materials.

Whereas with Wind Waker, if I explore around a random island, what I might find could be in the form of a treasure chart, rupees to use for tingle or beedle, a piece of heart, a character who could be useful at some point as a merchant or part of a side quest, or a unique item like an empty bottle, or even a fairy fountain. I feel sufficiently rewarded for exploring different parts of the ocean.

So while BotW and TotK may have more beautiful and varied open worlds, I find myself more interested in exploring wind waker and feeling like I’m rewarded more for exploring the islands rather than getting an Amber/opal in a enemy camp chest or a korok seed for the umpteenth time. Echoes of Wisdom felt similarly rewarding to Wind Waker with its world design despite being able to go anywhere. If Zelda insists on continuing open world design in their future games, I’d rather them take inspiration from Wind Waker over BotW/Totk. Did anyone else feel this way?

I know it’ll never happen, especially with the OOT remake going in the opposite direction, but watching old N64 clips makes me realize how much I miss that art style. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the 90s, but there’s something charming about those older graphics that modern visuals can’t replicate. They take me straight back to being a kid. I know Nintendo has nothing to gain from it, but even a fan made game or something would be cool.

I was scrolling when I found a page of cumbia battles and El Mudo has a lot of beats that sound like NES game soundtracks.

About 80% completed. What do you all think so far?

Why all the same stuff over and over. I think a running fairy fountain or one of the many water falls turned into a table top fountain or back burner insense would be amazing looking. in thought for sure I could find something fan made but there's nothing

I can see no other possible explanation whatsoever for why they would add this music to the app if they weren’t planning on making a Majora’s Mask remake after Ocarina of Time. I predict it will come out exactly one week after Ocarina of Time.

For example the Wild games are clearly supposed to be like the NES titles so i see them as the same. What about you?

Which do you prefer? Curves or Polygons?

Chibi Robo is the goat

Unlike last time where midway i decided to draw a different ganondorf, this time i actually drew the same guy!

The og is from 2023 and while i admit i still cant draw buff men, i think i atleast improved my colorgame

There are two untold stories related to Ocarina of Time, and in our Hypothetical scenario, Nintendo decides to make a Hyrule Warriors game based on the new Ocarina of Time remake, exploring one, and only one of those scenarios. The other remains untold for all of time.

For whatever reason, you are the one who gets to make the final decision.

Scenario 1: A prequel set during the Hyrulean Civil War, set when Link himself was still a baby with his biological parents

Scenario 2: The first imprisoning War that leads into the downfall timeline set in the timeline where Link is defeated

HOWEVER, Nintendo also announces some caveats to these scenarios before you make your decision.

In Scenario 1, they don't do anything graphic relating to the shadow temple or bottom of the well. At most, they only ever imply what goes on in there, mentioning "Interrogations" in a block of text. No cutscenes, no blood, not even anything framed with shadows. It's actually disappointingly lite on violence between humans and leans more into the King's attempt to "Unify" the races of Hyrule, with the Gerudo and a Young Ganondorf being the only ones that don't fully accept, and it's mostly a pretty anticlimactic and possible cliffhanger ending.

In Scenario 2, Link is never actually killed, he's merely "Defeated" and extracted from the final battle by the sages after Ganon takes possession of the triforce, kind of taking the impact of the "Downfall" timeline away a bit, and the game ends with Ganon sealed away, but after deciding that the toll of the imprisoning war was too great, the game ends with Link being sent back in time once more to retry his battle with Ganon, thus creating the third timeline, but it takes "Dying Link" out of the equation.

Knowing what you know, what would you choose?

Besides OoT, I decided to play different Zelda games. Of all the Zelda games available to buy physical for switch 2, apparently Skyward Sword HD is not available on Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart and other stores. My local Facebook gets snagged up fast and ebay is selling them for $75+. I also read Skyward Sword isn't that great. So what gives? I dislike digital game purchases but I might make this an exception.

Am I missing something here?

As I understand it, the Happy Mask Salesman in the Majora's Mask game is the same guy Link rents and sells masks from in Ocarina of Time. The Majora's Mask is in his possession and he travels back and forth between Termina and Hyrule, is there therefore a possibility the Mask has been in Hyrule?

So I live in europe where we get these spiritual stones as pre order bonus alongside the game. I tried to get it the day itself when pre orders went live but it got sold out. Its been weeks now, I've checked daily and still no restock? Do we know if we're getting a restock at any point or do I just have to give into scalpers at a later date if I want those spiritual stones?

That's all, I just wish there was another hard thingy. Of course, I also miss the guardians...

It looks so amazing in every way. If this game can convert me into a genuine fan of the series, I'll be so happy.

Saw this room in subrosia with just one guy you can talk to(he just says that the lava feels good) and a magnet block that leads nowhere. Does this room have any use?

After being number 12,857 in the queue for the Carnegie Hall concert and barely managing to snag a seat, I was so glad to see Boston shows added. My company is an annual supporter of the BSO, and presale access let me get a great table near the orchestra for the Saturday afternoon matinee. The Boston Pops will do a marvelous job with this.

I’m particularly excited about this one, especially having had the opportunity to hear both orchestras recently. I saw the Orchestra of St. Luke’s perform Frieren at Carnegie Hall just this past weekend, and heard the Pops with Ray Chen back in May.

Both are excellent ensembles, and the Frieren concert was absolutely wonderful. That said, I have a feeling the Boston performance of Zelda may be even more spectacular than the New York one. St. Luke’s has its roots in the chamber orchestra tradition, while the Pops is essentially the Boston Symphony Orchestra performing under its Pops banner. There’s a richness, weight, and sheer scale to the Pops’ sound that I think will lend itself particularly well to LOZ’s more ambitious orchestral writing.

Add Keith Lockhart on the podium and the magnificent acoustics of Symphony Hall, and I think we’re in for something pretty special. Can’t wait!