Well, here's my entry for WINZEN_TWEEN 's meme contest. I thought I'd do something out of the normal for me, so I chose to use Zelda. Har har.
If you're unfamiliar with the meme: http://www.surprisedpatrick.com/ . Patrick's face just always cracks me up XD I debated where exactly to put Patrick forever it seems, but I decided it was just funniest to me to have him back in the Master Sword area, like he'd just been chillin' back there then "Wha?!" Enjoy 
So, I'm certain this will not turn out this way. I filled this out based soley on what games I like best, not what I think will win. I decided to post it in case anyone wonders what my game taste is. Anyway, take a look and laugh at how badly this will be busted:
I did not pick a winner (though in my heart I think I know which one I'll vote for...but it doesn't matter, because neither of those will make it that far lol). Picking between ALttP and SMG was bad enough.
Aaand, I'm going back to playing the Master Quest now. Let's have fun in the tourney, peeps!
EDIT: Erm, I feel the need to clarify something: I have SS over Ocarina of Time. This decision is pretty much coming down to a difference of, oh, one one-thousandth of a point. If SS wasn't here, I'd have Ocarina taking it all (as seen above, I'm even currently playing it for the millionth time)
!!!!!KINDA SORTA SPOILERS FOR SKYWARD SWORD!!!!!
I decided to take pictures of my Zelda save files:
Now, some of those files have so much time on them from either: screwing around for fun, allowing others to screw around for fun, or because I left it paused for over day or so (especially that Twilight Princess one), but yeeeah... That doesn't include the ones I've deleted, either. I think I'm going to print this out and hang it up to try and remind myself to avoid temptation and work on my backlog.
Lol, j/k. I'm gonna go play more Master Quest.
So, the very most awesome Dplayer97 had a lovely idea and was kind enough to let me in on it. You can see his post for this here: http://www.ign.com/blogs/dplayer97/2013/07/26/calling-all-zelda-fans/ . I'm going to repost the questionaire he typed up here:
"If you love The Legend of Zelda a lot and want to meet some cool people try out! But please note:
You should be serious about the group and Zelda.
If you're only on Myign like once a month or not a lot there may be some problem's because we may have some scheduled group conversations
After you've realized those requirements please answer the following questions:
What if your first Zelda game?
What is your favorite Zelda game?
Why do you like Zelda and Why do you want to join this group?
Thank you and results will be posted next Friday!"
So there we are I suppose this could be thought of as a bookclub getting together to discuss and chat, but, y'know, no books. Well, Hyrule Historia I guess. And now I'm rambling. Feel free to answer here or directly at Dplayer97's blog
Oh! Wait! I've wanted to post this for a while:
Does that not crack you up? I just imagine him stomping along like that, muttering swear words about Ganon, yet there's something there that makes me think words like, "Golly" would come out of his mouth simultaneously. "That gosh darn Ganon...I betcha by golly I sure show him a thing or two! ...I'mma shank his ***** ass, boy howdy!" Such depth of character. It's art, really.
All right, I'm done.
In honor of the 3rd Anniversary of MyIGN, I was tagged by Anthony for the honor of participating in JoseOmatic's resurrection of this old blog series 
So here it is! Most of you will know, my list will probably be more limited than most of yours...heh.
Here are the rules:
I know this is cliche, but the Genesis was my older cousin's. This was the standout
Yes! I actually own a PlayStation! ...This is why. Heh. My dad played Gran Turismo (and I watched) constantly, though. And I also want to give a shoutout to Captain Blasto--awesome game!
I almost went with SMB2, but I played it more often in the All-Stars SNES version. Shockingly, I did play SMB more than Zelda back then
I didn't get a GameBoy right when they came out (I was kinda too little, anyway), but I found this later Shout out to Mario Land 2.
It was hard to pass up A Link to the Past (and I felt All-Stars would be too cheaty lol). But I played this game all the time, a lot with my dad. It was constantly in my system til the N64 came out.
Again, hard decision. The N64 is almost my favorite console. I did spend more time with Mario than Link here, but that was beginning to change. I think it was because when I was little and still needed help sometimes in games, my dad liked Mario better so I could get him to play that lol. This game is just too fun to run around and play in, and it just...amazed my little heart when I first played it. Shoutouts to two runners up: Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye.
God bless, I sure do love Mario, don't I? Don't worry, the balance of power was about to shift. I actually didn't play this 'til I got my DS, since I again passed over the GBA originally.
You think I'm kidding? I'm not. I freakin' love playing this game. I was very angry about Mario Sunshine and the fact that Wind Waker wasn't Ocarina of Time 2, though I've grown to love it for what it is, and Wind Waker is easily my #2 pick here. I got Twilight Princess for the Wii, so Baseball FTW.
This is another really hard one. Why Inside Story over Partners In Time? Fawful. Also big shoutouts to Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, New Super Mario Bros, Super Princess Peach, and Kirby Mass Attack. Lots of love here, I know XD
I like the red on the selects cover..*ahem* Anyway, this was an excruciating decison because the Wii is my favorite console and I would like to give this honor to some of my favorite games of all time that appear here. Even though I played TP on the Wii, it was technically intended for the GameCube, and since I want to make sure I'm completely fair... Runner Up:
(Shh, I just wanted to post two pictures, teehee). Runners up are Super Mario Galaxy 2 & 1.
I feel this is sort of cheating, but I just have to go with this. The visuals are so good, and the aiming with the gyroscope is so fun. Runner up is easily mah boi Pit in Kid Icarus Uprising.
Just a hunch 
Until the all-new Zelda comes out, that is.
So there is my list. What can I say? I know what I like and I stick with it--playing the same stuff since I was two, and still loving it
So, I mentioned to the lovely LunaStark that I had been introduced to My Little Pony by my little cousin, and she then introduced me the My Little Pony pony maker. Mmmyeah I can't stop. It's worse than Wii Miis you guise...
Cute little Skyward Sword Zelda and Link ponies:
And the rugged Twilight look:
Oh no! It's Ganonpony!
There just is no hope for me and this obsession, is there? Kthnxbi.
Made at: http://www.hubworld.com/my-little-pony/shows/friendship-is-magic/games/mlpfim-ponymaker
Dear Santa Claus,
How have you been? Did you have a nice Summer? How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171075774462?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Please send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated to buy on eBay, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties?
Bonus points if you know where the letter is paraphrased from
But, yeah, super cereal, I want that...
I was tagged by BlackArachnid41 for this lovely project Bluexusion has put together. It's a retrospective of music I've been into for my entire life. These are the rules:
I have to admit, this is a little hard for me to organize. Once I like something, I usually always like it, even if it becomes only for nostalgia at some point. I'm very picky (about everything ever, including music lol), but once something is "in" with me, I'm like the Mafia--it's with me for life. In short, I still like listening to the stuff I liked when I was little. That being said, there are sort of tiers to what I like, and I'll try to point that out as I go along. I just wanted to make it clear I still enjoy everything I list. That way, I won't have to list it in each "era", just the new additions.
That being established, I have another rule. As with actors, at lot of times, with singers, I have to like them as a person. There are several people's music I enjoy that I may not condone their personal behavior, but the people that are my very favorites, I also tend to like as personalities as well/like the lives they lead. If I don't "like" someone, I have a hard time enjoying their work. Okay, enough of my weird rules: Let's get started.
The first song I loved was the theme for "Rawhide". Not kidding. I screamed whenever I was in my carseat, and this was all my mother could sing to get me to be quiet. This lasted all the way into the booster seat. I've always been...special. XD
My mother and her father always loved Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and various other people that you hear now mostly at Christmas lol. That is where my love for them started, as well my love of classic film, televsion, and just general lifestyle. These are my very favorites to this day. Everything else is below them. Rio Bravo and My Rifle, My Pony, and Me performed by Dean in Rio Bravo (with John Wayne and Ricky Nelson) started it all for me. Quick note: John Wayne is the center of everything lol.
My first band, and first CD I owned, was Ace of Base.
I also loved Paula Abdul. I even dressed up as her in her harem outfit from the Crazy Cool video one Halloween.
I loved Shania Twain. I sang her for a talent show once. But this is an example of someone that has disappointed me in their personal life, and her later music was terrible 
.
Various other things that I enjoyed:
So, yeah. I love the Spice Girls. I still love the Spice Girls, particularly Geri Halliwell (I keep up with her solo career). They kinda changed my world. This was a glorious time for me. And coming from the complete opposite of a feminist, I can gladly say: Girl Power because I believed in that so much. Geri explains it well in her biography. Geri was so vintage in her style but so loud and so herself. It was fun to be the age I was and see this unfold. It sounds dumb, but I do think they helped me be the girl I am. Once in a while, I'll still run a streak of hot pink through my hair. Not because I'm punk or emo or whatever, I'm certainly not...but because the Spice Girls did it, and I used to do it back then, too. They were important to me, and I still like to look back on those times fondly. And no, I never liked N*Sync or Backstreet. Again: Girl Power!
I also enjoyed every single song from Shania Twain's Come On Over, as did everyone else at the time lol. Speaking of which, I also still loved some country back then, all of which, I'll cover now. This can go back to even before I was born, but the era of what I like ended here. These people aren't popular anymore for the most part, and I no longer listen to the genre because I don't like the new people. I used to go to NASCAR races, too, *GASP* until Earnhardt died. I loved hating him, and racing, like the music, also changed aftewards. Rather than a long list of songs, I'll just list an artist I like and one example song.
Also, of course, I loved me some pop. Here's a couple before the Spice Girls, most during, and some after:
I love Bond movies. I particularly enjoyed them in "this era". My favorite themes (of all time, including now):
So, my beloved Spice Girls broke up (but reunited). After that, I really got back into my love of Frank Sinatra, Dino, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Sammy Davis, Elvis, Ricky Nelson. They are, like I said, my top tier. Here's some of my favorites from my most treasured collection of songs I love. These are the singers I would actually argue are the greatest to ever live. I admit I have some music I'm not all that proud of on here lol, but these...these are shinning examples of true singers and/or personalities. These are people that I truly like and admire (unlike some others I've listed or will list). My very favorites:
Dean Martin -
Frank Sinatra -
Elvis Presely -
Ricky Nelson -
So those are my truest loves. Then I got a job at a makeup store for a little while and reignited my pop fascination. Some of these are older than "now", especially in the pop world, but they were played a lot at the store. Also, I like picking out songs to put with games, particularly Zelda. Weird hobby, I know, but it's fun. So the pop that now resides in a secret playlist on my iPod.
Pink -
Lady Gaga -
Ke$ha -
Adele -
And let's close it out with various other pop/rock:
I also love my videogame music, but that could be an entire blog in and of itself.
She will always be one of my idols. Always!
So I have really odd taste, hm? Well what else is new lol. I'm supposed to tag 3 people, but...I don't know who has been tagged and who hasn't, nor do I know who wants to be tagged. If you read this and want to partcipate, please do it
And...I regret nothing! XD
Dplayer97 came up with this awesome tag to write about whatever you feel are your hardest fought/proudest moments in your gaming history, and he was kind enough to tag me. The rules are: 1) Tag one other person, 2) List the achievements in ascending difficulty ("easiest" to hardest). SPOILERS to follow.
Mine aren't too much I suppose. Lots of moments in games have frustrated me, but these are probably my most memorable at the very least...or the ones that got me killed the most...or just things I'm proud of. I also had a lot memorable ones when I was little when I was proud of myself for doing something on my own (like simply beating Super Mario Bros. or Zelda), but they aren't anything special outside of my age. These are the ones...these are the ones.
#5 Twilight Princess: Beating All Phases of Ganondorf with No Damage
Bitch. (And yeah, I used the fishing rod a bit. It's too funny not to do it.)
#4 Super Mario Galaxy 2: Boo Moon Galaxy Green Star 1
Sometimes, when you replay a game, there is one level that makes you not want to play it again or that you dread. Hello this level. It's just so hard to land on it. It's random. It's luck. It doesn't make any sense. I want to cry. (not me playing above)
#3: Super Mario Galaxy 2: Melty Monster Galaxy Green Star 3
I just...ugh. At least I could listen to the music all day. Which I wound up having to. And, I had like a bazillion star bits by the end of it. (not me playing above)
#2: GoldenEye N64: The Control Room (00 Agent)
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I hate you, Natalya. I hate you so much. I remember how incredibly hard this was. And if you kept her alive, you still had to survive the barrage at the end. My dad, uncle, and I worked at this so much. And we all celebrated like children when it was over.
#1 Skyward Sword: Lanayru Boss Rush: Hero Mode
This is the person I saw most often in Skyward Sword, other than Link. Again, good thing I love the Lanayru music here, cos I was here a lot. But I did it. I beat the boss rush on Hero Mode (with the iron shield). This is my proudest moment. I know people have videos of "No shield six hearts #yoloswag!", but I don't even care. I got hit. I used a shield. And I loved hating every grueling second.
I'm tagging....Devinator22
My good buddy Dplayer97 invited me to co-run Zelda Weeks with him here on IGN to celebrate the release of Wind Waker HD and A Link Between Worlds.
Every week, there will be at least one post from one of us. Sometimes we'll each make a post in the same week. We'll make some Top 10 Lists, discuss the series, and do some other random super fun time things.
Two Zeldas coming out you guys! Two! We're excited, and we have to have an outlet for our excitment or we'll bust. I hope everyone that reads our blogs will enjoy them and bask in the Zelda glory
I'm so excited to be kicking off Zelda Weeks! First up we have my:
First off: There will be spoilers (and I'll note if I capped a picture myself). This list is terribly hard for me. I wound up using things from only my three favorite games, too--completely unintentionally. I based this list off of what I have the most fun playing, what sort of things I enjoy seeing about the story contained within the dungeon, as well as the overall design. ...It's mostly just the ones I like cos they're fun for me to play. This list is also not set in stone. There are also some dungeons not on here that may have incredible bosses or a great puzzle, but I had to stop at 10. Again, this isn't really concrete, and I'm not speaking "criticially"; I rarely do. It's all, purely, about what I enjoy.
10: Fire Temple, Ocarina of Time
The music is awesome, and I like Link in red. Oh? A serious reason? What, those aren't good enough? Pft. I tend to always like the "Power" themed areas of Zelda games. Guess I'm evil. I like the overall feel, and I just enjoy navigating the place. Volvagia is also a fun fight. I'm also a sucker for the Gorons, and what Ganondorf has threatened them with makes for a great threat to work against.
9: Goron Mines, Twilight Princess
Well I think that picture says it all. And I also already said I like the Gorons and the Power/Fire stuff anyway. This temple is fun and straightforward. I like meeting the various elders, and you get the bow nice and early. Also: throwing a Goron around like a ragdoll and Link roughhousing = pretty much the best thing ever (not cos of the shirtless scene beforehand...definintely not...stop looking at me...). This one is also particularly special to me. When I first played Twilight Princess, I'd been on a very long Zelda dryspell. It was in this temple that I decided, "Wow...I really like this game. I think I like it better than Ocarina..." Thanks, Goron Mines.
8: Ganon's Castle, Ocarina of Time
I snapped this picture my last playthrough. Gah, love it, blurriness aside.
I love the tradition of playing through little bits of the past areas in the final dungeon. I love how Ganondorf taunts Link to him beforehand. I love how Ganondorf has his back to Link while he talks. I love how Link effs him up so bad he has to hurl. Yup. My favorite part about this dungeon is in between the battle of Ganondorf and Ganon; the timed part where you run with Zelda. Everything is good here.
7: Hyrule Castle, Twilight Princess
Cos the party don't start til I walk in... I took this picture too from my playthrough. I have way too many pictures llike this, Link struttin around like that... Just look at that...badass.
I really like final dungeons and firey stuff, don't I? And, hey, sexy armor I put on cos...I already said I like Link in red, didn't I? Yes, I realize I have the stupidest reasoning on the planet for my lists. Anyway, the way the music builds here just says it all. Even getting into the castle is fun, with the rainy mood weather and lack of music outside. Once again I love the little bits from previous dungeons (except those friggin' falling blocks; stuff like that makes me edgy, plus Link is awkward to maneuver in tight spaces as a wolf...but I still love it). It's just an intense build up of "GrrrraaaaAHHHH I'M GONNA KICK GANONDORF'S HUGE ASS!" Then you walk into the throne room, and Link gasps when he sees Zelda lifeless, and he just glares at Ganondorf and is all like, "Time's up mother******, get off that throne; Link's here to throw you out." Yes I like to think of him speaking in third person sometimes. ...*ahem* I really need to not play Twilight Princess for a while...(Lmao, just kidding, I'm just about to head to Snowpeak! Wooo!)
6: Earth Temple, Skyward Sword
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I think I'm a pyromaniac, cos danged if I don't really like these fire dungeons... There is just so much fun stuff here. Riding the eyeball thingy is great, the use of bombs is awesome, cutting down the bridge, having to navigate the little lava river and figure out how to use your bombs to make a path and cut the rope, then there's his Fabulousness Demon Lord Ghirahim (I'm indulging him with his full title) waiting for Link, who has to then pull an Indiana Jones, while Fi informs him some chains hold Zelda's aura and it appears she was chained up there at one point...wow man. Nice dungeon. Also: Mogmas are fun.
5: Lanayru Mining Facility, Skyward Sword
It never ends!!! This dungeon never ends. I really enjoy it, though. The time shift aspect is so neat, and the little ride at the end is awesome. The puzzles and the puzzle of simply navigating it is fun. It makes you think a bit and plan, and I enjoy that. There are also a lot of varying sections to it, which is good to break it up...because it goes on forever. I also like the music. Which is good, because it seems like you listen to it for forever.
4: Arbiter's Grounds, Twilight Princess
I snapped this little ditty the other day. Just look at that shiz.
I love everything here. I love navigating the area in front of the temple, like cowboys and Indians or a Navy Seal. I love the music, and I love how the area is set off from Hyrule proper, like it's just so sinister it has to be all by itself. The enemies in the actual dungeon are awesome and really get stepped up on the "whoa" scale (at least theoretically/at first glance...then they're just fun to fight). This dungeon also requires some thinking in it to get through. There is so much to do and it seems huge, but it never feels like you're retreading or are trapped. It also nets Link the spinner, which is a fun item that looks like Captain America's shield. Yes it does. I just feel like a boss going through this place. And the cutscene I'm treated to at the end...shizzle gets real. It's like the climax of the game, structuraly speaking. This dungeon is particularly special to me. Remember how I said the Goron Mines made me realize how much I liked this game? I fell in love at the Arbiter's Grounds. I realized when I was playing through this that this is just the greatest thing I'd ever played. I can't call it Link and myself's "special place", because I'd say we're more like Roz and Frasier...Joannie and Fonzi...(God I need help), but if we had one, it'd be here. With the Gibdos. Shootin' them with bomb arrows. Good times.
3: Temple of Time, Twilight Princess
Apparently every screencap i take, Link is in the armor. I regret nothing.
This. Was. So. Cool. This temple was so creative and so jaw-dropping to see come to life when I first saw it. "Ahhhh oh my gaaaa...." was pretty much my reaction. That Nintendo. Just leave it to them, I swear. The music is catchy, and as far as eye-ball bosses go, this one is my favorite. The scenery is great, and the puzzles are fun. And who can forget Statue Buddy? What, you guys didn't name the statue you lead around? I also like slashing down two or three lizalfos with a few hits and doing the twirly thing. Such a bau5. I know there is a proper name for them, but I call them "little spinner sonsab*tches" (those things that spin on a track with the spikes) because apparently I am a magnent to them, and it just gets to the point that it's funny how often I run into them. Even getting hit is fun here! Especially when you get to go back through and murder them with Statue Buddy!
2: Sky Keep, Skyward Sword
Capped this from my first playthrough. Link praying proved to be apropos. Srsly. ANOTHER robort pirate skeleton?! Eff this.
Like I said, I like the final dungeons. I like this one for all the same reasons, like playing little sections based on previous parts of the game and all that. But this one is the best in my ever-humble opinion. Unlocking it is even epic. The shifting of the rooms is a huge pain, and I love it. It's a big dungeon with a lot to do, and honest to goodness, you should have seen my face when I encountered yet another robo-skele-pirate. I had not mastered the first one at the time, now this dude? Nope. The added challenge of figuring out the rooms and the freedom to do it as I see fit is amazing. And the "courage" section? Ha. Omg. Just kill me. It's so fun. It's just fighting and letting nothing stop you and proving how good you've gotten since trying to practice with the 1:1 controls in the sparring hall after coming off Twilight Princess and quickly realizing that style ain't gonna cut it here. Now look at you. Fighting Electroskully Blackbeard. You boss, you. And the importance of the "item" you earn here and the importance of the actual, physical dungeon and the cutscene upon beating it is amazing. Big doin's, as they say.
Time for Number One!!! What did I choose? Well, I warn you, I know some of you may flip the table on this one--so "Cock your pistol, cos you ain't gonna believe this nohow!" (anyone familiar with I Love Lucy will get that...and I am just all over the place at this point). Here it is:
1: The Entire Overworld, Skyward Sword
Anyone still here? Anyway...Every time you hit an area on the Surface, every time you want to get to a major dungeon, every objective you have...you have to go through an "unlocking dungeon". I love that! The entire overworld functions as a huge dungeon. I love seeking out a side or mini-dungeon and enjoying the thrill of discovering a cave as much as the next guy, but I really enjoyed the concept of the side dungeon being made mandatory. I like facing so much action all the time, learning the lay of the Surface and mastering it. It's like, "I'm gonna kill everything in sight real quick so I can think for a minuet". That's awesome! It really makes me feel like I'm there and puts me in Link's head and seems realistic in this particular situation. There is nothing better in all of Hyrule to me than just doing absolutely nothing but riding around on Epona in what is, in my opinion, the best Hyrule Field to date in Twilight Princess. I do that constantly, and nothing can top it. It's fun to relax and not have anything particular to do unless I happen to want to get into something. But the concept of an infested Surface world works for this particular game, and I enjoyed it. Riding around like the boss at ease in Twilight Princess fits that game, and the action-packed overworld fits Skyward Sword. And each aspect of the action-packed overworld is fun to play through. Except the tadtones. They can talk to Mr. Hat (bonus points if you know that Mr. Hat would tell them to go to hell and die). My favorite part is Link losing all his weaponry and having to track it down and go at it with his wits and Bond-style it up. Just Link and his grit.
Bam. I had to do it.
If you're really mad at my #1 selection, I will give mentions to:
City in the Sky, Twilight Princess
Good puzzles, intriguing setting, awesome boss.
Water Temple, Ocarina of Time 3D
I like the challenge...I will stipulate, I mean the 3D version. Because the original version...pft, hahahaha.
Ancient Cistern, Skyward Sword
I always get stuck at least once, no matter how often I play. Friggin' thing. But it's still fun, with lots of interesting areas and a fantastic boss.
Sandship, Skyward Sword
Just plain fun with the awesome timeshift-based puzzles. I love running as the boat sinks, as well as using the bow. I also love the cutscene for the flame afterwards, where Fi nearly hits Link and then he makes this little stern face at her and kinda shoves the sword forward a bit at her. Ha.
So there we are! I hope you enjoyed my choices, even if you vehemently disagree. Feel free to share your favorite, and check out Dplayer97's list:
http://www.ign.com/blogs/dplayer97/2013/09/09/zelda-weeks-1-my-top-10-dungeons/
(Possible Dream Team Spoiler)
Well, Nintendo has finally done something to make me question just what the heck is going on over there. I never thought I'd say this, but this just makes no sense. I just cannot for life of me figure out the decision process on this one.
I have scoured the internet and can't find a legit one. Great move, Ninty--make a character I just adore in one of the best games I've played in a long time, then don't make a plushie of him. Who is running the merchandising department over there? I really don't know what's going on at Nintendo, but this really makes me question what the future holds for them. I really hope they can correct course soon, otherwise they should just hand this generation to PS4 and go the way of Sega and release multi-platform Mario and Zelda games. Maybe that would be for the best. Wake up, Nintendo. Sad, sad days.
I was lucky enough to get to purchase my second Wii U, so I've been playing Wind Waker HD the last few days. I've been playing it just in small bits so far, but it's like an entirely new game to me because I haven't played it since it came out. It looks just absolutely stunning.
Aiming with the gyroscope is just awesome. As a motion control worshipper and Wiimote enthusiast, I really like this. It's basically just what they did with Ocarina 3D, which gets no complaints from me. I find I tend to play with the gamepad instead of the Pro Controller. I have a phobia about rechargable remotes and tend to just sit and think about them running out on me, and my console is too far away to have the Pro Controller plugged in.
Outside of that weirdness, I am trying to acclimate to the gamepad. I was annoyed with the seperate nunchuck and Wiimote at launch of the Wii because I was coming off the N64 and Gamecube (probably moreso my N64...). I have had a similar experience with the gamepad, so I'm trying it out.
That being said, if I do use the Pro Controller, the gamepad still displays my map for me and you can still interact with it. I think this is just absolutely awesome and gives me high hopes for what I hope they do with the Wiimote/Gamepad/Pro Controller for the next Zelda. The game also plays wonderfully on just the gamepad alone. Everything here is perfect.
The sailing is so much better than I remember. And of course the game is charming and wonderful and blah blah what do you expect me to say; of course I'm going to like it. But I like it even moreso than I did back in the day. So since I obviously rate it "My heart was just filled with rainbows", I'll share this: Best moment from me so far: I forgot how to sit something down when you pick it up, and spent 10 minuets trying to get the centipede thing to land on the switch in the first dungeon by throwing it. I did it, but then realized I am a moron. Erm, I mean, I demonstrated I'm a super good shot and can do cray-cray shiz like that with my mad skillz. #realOG
The download of Historia. *kisses gamepad* It works really well. You can zoom in and experience the book just brilliantly. And unfortunatley another hour of my time was dedicated to Hyrulean history. I say unfortunately because I know Hyrulean history better than the back of my hand so it was totally unnecessary. Still, totes worth it cos that book is perfect.
Now, in honor of the pictograph, here's some snappies of my new Wii U:
I was so excited I couldn't even finish unwrapping it and just used my other Wii U's cables lol (Actually I just wanted to keep it safe until it made it downstairs). I think Nintendo should give me a little medal or something, personally, but I'm not demanding it. Just throwing it out there for consideration. Also: the update was WAY faster than launch day.
And this is my Zelda hardware. My 3DS with my pretty Link cover, my shiney new gamepad, my reservation card for the hard copy at Target (I won't redeem it; I just buy the cards for collectables--I bought the hard copy from Gamestop for the Ganon figure, of course), and the leaflets that came with the new Wii U. Yup, I have two golden Wiimote as well (two copies of Skyward Sword). Like, maybe just a little medal for me, Nintendo? Anyway, other than the pretty gamepad, I think the real story here is that mad sexy Gamecube cover I have there.
There we have it. I'm loving life. If Amazon would send my dang collector's edition guide, that is.
Also, shoutout to http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOvNOhe58uKZ11mAEDc0Zig , ShotgunHoward's YouTube channel. Check it out, they have great stuff.
Stayed tuned for more Zelda weeks, and be sure to visit Dplayer97's blog
My Collector's Edition Wind Waker guide arrived via FedEx yesterday! ...to the local post office! But, the mailman brought it today!
These Collector's Edition guides are really, really nice and I highly recommend them for collectors or just anyone that likes to have a guide handy. The Skyward Sword guide was...um...terribly written, but still beautifully put together and laid out very well. The revamped edition coming out in the box set of Collector's Editions is redone and expanded by 100 pages, since there was so much incorrect info (or bad strategies) or missing information. I would certainly pick that up, even if like me you have the original and had to resort to something like this:
Like, seriously. The girl didn't even list some of the crystals, then put an extra one on the map. So I drew my own map and made my own list. Because I have a problem. Particularly with being obsessed with Skyward Sword. ...Great, now I wanna play Skyward Sword. But that's not the point here! And besides, this is like the only time I've done something like that...
Oh...this? This is just my chart for Phantom Hourglass ship parts....I thought I said we were moving on?
So pretty! It's packaged just like all the previous guides are. It's a lovely color for the game. I always save the back insert, but I wasn't expecting to find this on the reverse side of it:
Awesome! I didn't know that came with it! I haven't done it just yet, but I will. To be honest, I may not use it since I like to have my book by me; makes me feel more legit, like I'm really adventuring along with little Toon Link and using a guide...I already admitted I had problems, let's not retread. This is an awesome option for (I assume) your smartphone or tablet if that's what you prefer to use, or if you just want to look up a particular thing, or if you don't want to risk messing up your guide. I actually may use it for the piece of heart search tool, since that is primarly what I use a guide for (before I go into an area, I scout my map for how many heart pieces I need to look for, and, in Skyward Sword's case, Goddess Cubes; I just like knowing how many are there, not necessarily how to find them).
The map! I love getting these cloth maps. They just seem so legit. And now I've used "legit" twice, and I apologize. It's quite a bit smaller than the Skyward Sword map, and considerably smaller than the Twilight Princess map, but it is nonetheless fabulous and I think it's size fits the game and Toon Link. All three of the cloth maps mimick the ones in the game, and this one is no exception. It's perfect.
The layout of the guide is really, really good. For all its faults, I like the layout of the Skyward Sword guide (I found Twilight Princess informative, but busy and hard to read); this one seems to be pretty similar to Skyward Sword's layout.That being said, it dwarfs the Skyward Sword guide. The introductory section is enormous, and there is a huge reference part in the back. You can see on the edge of the second picture that this guide, unlike the Skyward Sword guide, has no pretty backing on the hardback, but it is at least the same color as the outside, unlike the others' plain white.
Here's a comparison of the varying shades of blue of (from L to R) Phantom Hourglass, Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword. If you're interested. I hope someone is interested, because of the simple fact it occurred to me to compare them this way. Aaand we're back to me having a problem.
And here it is, in its home between Historia and Phantom Hourglass. It looked to me at first to be closest in size to the Twilight Princess guide. Though Wind Waker is the second largest guide, it's more in line with Phantom Hourglass. Here are the page counts for comparison: Twilight Princess 448, Wind Waker 352, Phantom Hourglass 336, Spirit Tracks 320, Skyward Sword 272 (who hired the girl that wrote that guide, srsly).
Hm? That sexy poster of Link in my shelve on the bottom? Oh, that's nothing, just my sexy poster of Link.
And I feel like we're getting back into "I have a problem" territory, so I'll end this.
Yes, one of these Zelda Weeks, I will make another Top Howevermany list. Until that day, I got a pretty something:
Oh wait, that's two pretty somethings! I've wanted that Toon Link backpack for a while but only just now got ahold of one. His expression is just priceless. I look at him and I picture him saying, "You think this is a game?". And my first Link Between Worlds poster!!! It's a cardboardish store display. The lil' hero looks so cute and happy. I can't wait for this game. Maybe it was a bad idea to go ahead and get a poster, though. Maybe I won't like the game...
I also discovered (thanks to ShotgunHoward and Clinta13) that the US is getting the Limited Edition 3DS XL! After buying a second Wii U for the Zelda Gamepad, I'm more than happy to have to buy the Zelda 3DS XL. I'm not even being sarcastic. I'm flippin' estatic.
So yeah. Just take it all, Nintendo.
And to top it all off, I actually am excited to buy something non-Zelda related:
![IMG_3827[1]](http://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/write.ign.com/81126/2013/10/IMG_382711-300x225.jpg)
Yayomg! Egg nog already! Mix that shizzle with coffee. Because I don't like coffee enough already.
So let's see...I guess that's really all I have. Oh wait:
This is a really schmexy picture of Link. That's all. Just wanted to share that. Cos ALBW is uber adorable, like a little bunny, and I'm excited for that adventure. This...this though. You can't top this. It's blurry and everything, and it still doesn't even matter. God dang look at that! It's the shoulders and the eyebrows, I think, and the slightly cocky head-tilt. And I'm making just absolutely everyone uncomfortable.
Posts like this make me think only one thing: No regrets.
Of course there's gonna be Zelda in this blog, I just figured I'd get the ball rolling with a screengrab I took. *sigh* This game...
Name: Jennifer
Nickname: Most of my family calls me Jen, and my friends have always called me Jen-Jen. My little cousin used to call me "Gee-fer" or "Gee-nee" when he was first learning to talk, so he still uses that sometimes even though he just turned 13 lol.
From: Tennessee
Reason Behind Username: I was just signing up in a hurry, honestly. I figured my love for gaming was already apparent by virtue of being on the site, so I used my other passion
Pet Peeves: I'm a clean freak, so anything that goes against that bothers me. Also, people that smack their gum or any other sound like that.
Gaming Background: I started playing my uncle's NES when I was about two. I got one of my own not long before the SNES came out. I was completely in love with Mario and Zelda games and anything to do with either franchise. I loved to play pretend anything pertinent to the two series, and made up my own stories to play out. I was absolutely obsessed with the Super Mario Bros. Super Show, which included the Zelda cartoon. Which was awesome.
I got the SNES at launch as a surprise. I played and beat the previous Mario and Zelda games with help, and I think I became hooked beyond words with Super Mario World. There was something about seeing the map all laid out like that and reading the story after beating each castle that made me play compulsively to get to the next part. I was dedicated before, but not even being in kindergarten yet, I could only do so much. I still played SMW a lot with my dad, but I could accomplish most things on my own finally. Then all the other SNES games that I bought and rented, like Link to the Past and all the silly ones I rented for fun.
By the N64, my other uncle subbed to Nintendo Power and kept me updated. I was out of school sick for a couple weeks when it launched, but my mom rented me one on launch day (which was possible back in those days). I think I nearly cried when Mario jumped out that pipe. I played alone. For hours. Hey, I had a bad cold anyway, what else was I gonna do? When it came time to take the N64 back to the game store, that Friday, my mom and dad took me to WalMart to buy my own.
Oh Lordy...so much glory. I played in GoldenEye tournments eventually (and won some), made lots of new friends at school to talk games with, played with my uncles and cousins and dad. That thing was so perfect. I loaned it to my older cousin who got it stolen. *heart attack*. So, I got a second N64. Then they made a pink one, and I bought it. So I've bought 3 N64's. I still play them, too. There are so many perfect games there that I loved, and to finally be able to behold the glory of Epona. Tears, my friends. Tears.
Oh, and I bought a PS1 to play SpiceWorld and Tomorrow Never Dies, and my dad played so much Gran Turismo on it. He said he couldn't do Mario any more since it was "all crazy" lol. That was the extent of my foray away from Nintendo. Anywho...
I, of course, was more than ready for the 'Cube. I was aware of the fact I was getting it for Christmas, as I kept my aunt company as she waiting in line at launch for it at WalMart. I got it and Luigi's Mansion (and Wave Race). Then I got Mario Sunshine.
"Well," I thought to myself, "I've seen the stuff they're working on for Zelda. It's going to be amazing!" Well turns out Twilight Princess wasn't next up. It was Wind Waker and while it was wonderful, I was mad that it wasn't Twilight Princess. So I only rented it and played it once. It's in my Top 5 Zelda games, but at the time my excitement had been tempered cos dang it I wanted Ocarina 2. That's not poor lil' Toon Link's fault, though, and his game was fabulous. Mario, on the other hand, turned right around after Sunshine and game me Double Dash, which I also didn't like when I was so looking forward to it. Wtf, Mario. He made up for it with Mario Baseball, and Melee made me feel better about it all. And what the heck, Kirby?
Then I heard of the "Revolution". "Yeah, I'm guarding my heart this time, Nintendo..." I said to them. I also heard Twilight Princess was coming out for it, so I never did play it on the GameCube. Cos I had bad feelings toward my Cube, though I used it a lot for Mario Baseball, Melee, and Mario Parties. I didn't get my Wii until Christmas of 2007, my first time ever waiting past launch for a console (other than the NES, but only cos I wasn't born when it launched; still no excuse, I know). Then I got my Wii. There are no words.
So it was basically the best thing ever. I also love my DS/3DS to pieces, and I play so many Wii games on my Wii U. Nintendo has made me a very happy girl.
Top 5 Games:
My variety astounds you, no? What can I say? I know what I like.
Systems I Currently Own:
Favorite Genre: Action/Adventure. Zelda and 3D Mario games are my absolute favorites, so this is probably pretty obvious.
Favorite System: As is probably obvious, the Wii. I really should say Wii U, though, because it does everything the Wii does plus all the new stuff. If I could just get rid of any interaction with the outside world on it, then it would be perfect.
Favorite Series: Toss up between Angry Birds and Call of Duty. Lulz. Okay for realz:
Favorite Game Story: This is tough. I'd like to say the overarching Zelda story, except I don't feel like that's really the point of the series, more like a loose tie-in. I probably enjoy the one in Skyward Sword the most if I had to pick between it and Twilight Princess.
Favorite Gameplay: Skyward Sword. 1:1 Motion Controls make me happy all over.
Favorite World: Nothing beats riding Epona through Hyrule Field.
Favorite Mulitplayer: Brawl, Mario Kart, and GoldenEye. NintendoLand has also been fun.
Favorite Game Everyone Should Play: Twilight Princess on the Wii. It's got easier motion controls, and the normal "Zelda world" is there. Everyone should play it. And love it. Love it so much.
Gaming Addiction: Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and Ocarina 3D. I play those suckers over and over again.
Video Game Crush:
Oh my goodness. Oh my dayum.
The muscles. The grr expression.
I can't even.
Also: Crossbow Training is amazing and don't even say otherwise.
Hobbies: Outside of videogames/writing about them, I love vintage stuff. I like watching old mvoies and shows, and listening to old music. I also like to, as weird as it sounds, decorate and fix stuff up pretty around the house. I am also a shopaholic.
Favorite Foods: I love Italian stuff, then Mexican. I also like good ol' fashioned meat and potatoes. Also ice cream anything.
Favorite Drinks: Coffee! So much coffee. Also Rockstar. More than anything though, I drink skim milk. If I'm at a resturant or want a "coke" (we call all sodas "coke" in the south), I drink Sprite.
Favorite Color: Pink, Gold, Red, Grey, Black, White
Favorite TV Shows:
Favorite Movies:
Favorite Music:
Tagging: Dplayer97 and ShotgunHoward
So I suppose that's it. Thanks for reading all that!
My Dearest Link's Crossbow Training,
I love you. And not just cos of the coverart.
Don't look directly at the biceps, lest ye be mesmorized.
Okay so maybe a little cos of the biceps. But other than that, I think you're very clever, fun to play, and fill a couple gaps within the Zelda series.
I, for one, don't find myself missing multiplayer in Zelda. I actually actively do not want it incorporated. But if multiplayer was to be done, you are how they should do it. The path of the hero is a lonely one, and I don't need, you know, like, other people gettin' all up in my business. Link and I are busy, okay? Go play somewhere else. *Shudder* People... Anyway, Aonuma actually wanted to make a sequel to you, and I wish he had. I do like sharing Zelda with more casual friends and family in some capacity, and we can take turns here. That doesn't interfer with the story or the overall "feeling", but others still get to play competitively. Personally, I could have seen a follow up to you set before the events of Skyward Sword where four people could play together and choose to be either Link, Zelda, Groose, or Fledge/Pipit/Other 3rd tier character in the Knight Academy, with archery and sword events. Anyway, the point of my saying that is to say that if Nintendo wants mulitplayer in Zelda, please no online junk, no Miiverse; you are the way to do it.
Another gap--and one I actually feel--is that I cannot really replay levels in a Zelda game without replaying the entire game. I really can't just pick up and play a Zelda game for giggles. Maybe that's just me though. I get sucked in and I play for hours... determined... steely resolve takes over, the weight of Hyrule, nay, the world, on our shoulders, and I must help Link in his quest...nothing can stop us on--okay I so I have a problem. Point is: I can decide to have a little target practice with Link, again, just for giggles. Oh, and what gigles there are.
Giant stalfos! Activate rapid-fire-machine-gun crossbow! Ha, sucka!
Aside from the smooth and non-invasive introduction of mulitplayer and casual play, you are just really fun to play and very well put-together. There is a whole lot to see in you with a variety of different levels from Twilight Princess. And more of Twilight Princess? Why, yes thank you, I'll have some of that.
Here's my money Nintendo. Yeah, all of it. Just go ahead and take it. This is all I need.
For if something can be truly Zelda, then surely this be...truly Zelda.
I don't know. I just wanted to say something other than "ZOMG EPONA YAYZ!!!"
The various levels are pretty and fun, but they're also switched up. Each section sort of operates like a classic Mario game with World 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. Each stage has Link practicing a different position or skill: Target Practice, Defender, and Ranger. Freakin' Ranger. The target practice is pretty much straight forward.
Gorons are always so nice, letting Link blast them this way. Good people, those Gorons.
Salt of the Earth, you know?
The Defender stages have Link stationary and being assailed by waves of enemies that he has to keep from hitting him (which costs points--cos you're a points-based game). This mode is fun, especially when I get the machine-gun style upgrade and take out "mini-bosses" of the area that require multiple, quick hits.
But kargaroks, srsly...eff kargaroks.
The ranger mode... oh the ranger mode. Best. Mode. Ever. It actually operates--now stay with me on this--similarly to Kid Icarus Uprising's land mode--wait, I said stay with me! It's kinda like that in that the farther Link points his crossbow of doom to the left or right, the camera moves in that direction. It's very intuitive, smooth, and easy to control. And so very much fun. Link is sort of always the Batman of Hyrule, the "enforcer", and this ranger mode kinda makes that very clear.
"Ah, being evil I see...*BOOM* Not today, sir. Not today. Not in my Hyrule.
*sound of crossbow being reloaded*"
Clearly, I really love you, game. I think sometimes people treat you like a joke, and I have no idea why. You were just $20, but I would have bought you for full price. You're very well done with a lot to see and do, and you give us another way to get into Hyrule. The execution and style fit Link perfectly and make sense in the context of Twilight Princess. You have some humor, some challenge, great design that works perfectly, and are outright fun to play. And the zapper you come with is actually pretty darn cool (even though you don't have to use it). No complaints from me. You're like the Zelda version of Mario Kart, and I'm all about that.
Plus...you know...biceps.
Lovingly yours, my sweet Crossbow Traning,
Jenn xoxo
Yes. I am seriously making a blog post just for this. This is just...everything here is so awesomely brilliant. I can not wait for November 22nd.
The music in the Zelda series never disappoints me (but then again, what in the Zelda series does disappoint me?). So, for the Zelda Weeks celebration Dplayer97 was nice enough to ask me to participate in with him, I thought I'd list some of my favorites.
I tried to come up with some "rules" for my list, but I really couldn't. My favorites were too varied in category to limit myself. Hence why I have a Top 35. I couldn't stop myself at 5 or 10. The only thing I'm not including is the little jingles like opening a chest and things. For songs that are recurring, I have picked my favorite version.
I based these pretty much solely on what I think is pretty and what I enjoy listening to; the ones that make me want to turn up the speakers. Some of them are also here probably partly because I enjoy the feelings and memories they stir, not necessarily because they are superior creations.
This list isn't really something where each number is set in stone. It's sort of general ranking, so it's not so much that number "whatever" is absolutely better than number "whichever"; more like they're pretty much even. This was a dilly of a project, ranking all these, and I certainly couldn't do it definitively.
I'm also aware I'm not drawing from every game in the series. I felt like it would be cheap to include the main Zelda theme, because it would obviously be #1. I would save that for a list of "Greatest Game Music of All Time...Of All Time". So to save you looking for that particular theme, it's not here. Now, let's dive into it:
Seriously, does anyone not do a little dance or clap when they hear that?
Wow, it took a whopping two entries before Twilight Princess showed up. Those that know me aren't surprised by that. You may also know I really loved this dungeon and that it stirred a love in me for this game. When I first heard this, I felt like shiz was serious and Link was finally figuring out what he was out to really do here. Plus I love Gorons.
Okay, so I know I said I wasn't going to include the theme...but this little variation is so sweet!
And I'm sure no one is surprised to see Skyward Sword show up quickly on my list. I love listening to this. I just love it. Having it play in the background is perfect for what you're doing in this area. And that's someting Skyward Sword does excellently.
Yes. Yes this list will have a lot of Twilight Princess (just in case we haven't met before and you didn't already figure that). This temple is so fun in actual execution and in the "vibe" it gives. This music fits it all perfectly.
If you missed 35-31, have a look here: http://www.ign.com/blogs/mrsdeanmartin/2013/11/18/zelda-weeks-top-songs-35-31
Moving forward... Ah! It looks like we have just a bit of variety from our last entry.
I think the entire premise of the Twilight Realm is awesome. Everything about it is cool. This theme is disjointed and creepy. It has sounds like sound almost like moaning or calling, despair. There's something here that makes me feel the entire story of the Twili; it's hopelessness but acceptance and giving the sense that something is wrong somehow. I'm not an emo kid, but dang if that doesn't get to me. Finally getting into the Twilight Realm and hearing this--very cool.
This is incredibly epic, and while I generally tried to stay away from very old, classic tunes, I can't leave this out. I think what I like best about this is the fact that it's a change from the main theme for sure. It's darker and more impending. However, the reason I love it so, it's still got a determined quality. Our little hero is still gonna make it! Bunny or not! Dark or world or light! For Hyruuuuuuule!!!! Am I getting carried away?
On a different note (Ha, get it? Note? Cos it's a music blog? ...Nothing? Okay.), the town theme (and it's variations) are jaunty little numbers. They're so catchy, and I love how Spirit Tracks uses the flute/wind sounds to carry the theme of the game in the music. It's not a cutsey song, it's not overdone, it's just kinda perfect. It's fun to listen to and goes very well with the game.
I love it when Nintendo does these little numbers with a countrfied tinge (like Puzzle Plank from Mario Galaxy 2). This song fits so well with the story and feeling of the game. The quiet little dip in it is just right. It's another one from Spirit Tracks that is just flat fun to listen to, and there's a very epic quality to it.
I know I said no main theme, and this is the second variation I've included, but c'mon. I would have been killed if I hadn't included this. And rightly so. In all fairness, I think I maybe should have put Spirit Tracks above it, but...I mean, listen to that; there' s a reason it's a classic.
