A Year in Hyrule

I know it's been months since I logged in.

My original project has been thwarted when I acquired a full time job — my goal now is to play as many games that I've wanted to play as I can.  Basically, things which are past Majora's Mask. I'm especially keen on Twilight Princess.

Currently I'm working my way through Minish Cap, which is actually super fun.  I was going to do Phantom Hourglass, but my copy has decided it does not work work.

So that's what's up.  Project has changed but spirit of project remains the same.

Your regularly scheduled Legend of Zelda programming was interrupted by the fact that the Seattle Seahawks won the Superbowl today.  Yay, hometown sports!

I'm reconsidering my decision to play all the games in order.  It was a big part of my decision to do this but I'm wondering whether that's going to actually be possible. I mean, of course it's possible, I have a timeline, it's obviously possible... But I mean, physically possible.

I'm losing access to a TV soonish (it belongs to my former partner, who'd like to have it at his new place, which is totally fine given that it's his TV) and will as such have a good deal of difficulty in doing such things as... playing games on the Wii, Gamecube, NES, SNES or N64. 

So, we'll see — I might just have to go through them as I go through them.  Many are available for the handheld systems, although I pretty much refuse to play them on the handheld consoles, given that it's just... It's not what I set out to do.

Currently, since I've still got a bunch of stuff in my living room, I'm unable to continue playing Skyward Sword. I'm at this frustrated position where I could start playing Minish Cap (the next in line) until I can finish Skyward Sword but I don't know.

I have like no hours at my job next week. While this is both upsetting and disruptive (I mean, I’ve just gotta pay my rent, no big deal right?), I feel that it’s appropriate to take up my rightful position as full time Hero of Time starting next Sunday.

At my work, we've had in this pair of earrings for about three months.  The moment we got them in, for some reason (I don't know why, really, perhaps because they resemble the "wings" on the Hyrule Royal Crest) they struck me almost instantly as Legend of Zelda inspired.

Today, they finally hit the clearance rack and I snapped them up for $3.50.

Coworker: So, you're playing all the way through Legend of Zelda?

Me: Yep!

Coworker: Which one?

The thought struck me when I was in the Sealed Temple.

The music was so perfectly implemented and well composed that it just was part of the environment, rather than some music I was listening to while I played the game. And I realized that it's been that way throughout Skyward Sword - spot on with the audio at all times, so far.

And it's not just the music - it's the lack of music, in some places. That's harder - you have to be damn good at creating a soundscape that doesn't feel dead or empty, and sounds like the place you're in "should" sound. Skyward Sword pulls this off extremely well. Not only do the segments where there is no music sound right, the sound effects themselves are quite good. Some are quite realistic, others are a little whimsical, but they all make sense.

This game is fun, though. I can already say I enjoy the game mechanics, I enjoy the plot line (thus far) and I enjoy the take on the previously determined "canon" that occurs (so far). And honestly, as much of a dork as I feel like swinging that Wii controller around, it's SO FUCKING SATISFYING to cut down weeds, break pots, throw stuff, and raise my sword up in the goddamn air to be a legendary hero.

I've taken the plunge to the surface to find Zelda, and am now exploring what seems to be a crater in the ground, or a pit mine, or something. Fi helped me figure that she's in this temple-looking place (surprise?) and now I've just got to figure how to get in there.