Zelda: Wind Breaker

As I'm sure everyone else's holiday was, mine was hectic and I tried to fit too much into too little of a time period. But, amidst all of the chaos, I was able to play through The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS. I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but this is the first Zelda game I have played and beaten in a long time, the last being Twilight Princess. I know, I know, I'm ashamed of myself too, considering I really see myself as a big fan of the franchise. I was really impressed with Link Between Worlds, even thought it did kind of seem like a master quest version of A Link to the Past (not like that would be a bad thing). Playing through, I could only think of one word: legacy.

The trunk of a Subaru Legacy. You're welcome.

The Legend of Zelda series has been around for over 25 years, giving us a lifetime of memorable games that litter most of today's gamers childhoods. It has given us great action, real emotion and a bar to which all action games should be set. I'm also pretty certain that almost everyone in their twenties has the Water Temple from Ocarina of Time memorized. It hasn't always been instant classics for the franchise. Any of the thirteen people that bought a 3DO may have had to sit through The Wand of Gamelon, Faces of Evil, or Zelda's Adventure. Blech. Even though these games weren't exactly award winning or even enjoyable, they didn't even stain the legacy that is the Zelda series.

What…I don't even…WHAT IS THIS?!

The culture of gaming is split into many different points of view. Some see it as something to be done casually. Some see it as an art form. Some see it as an industry strictly for children. And of course, there are many who see it as a way of life. Whatever your reason for playing, a fact that is undeniable is that there are games that will always be remembered throughout the years: Zelda, Mario, Sonic…I could go on for hours listing all of the great games that I grew up with and what they mean to me but that would take too long and would bore pretty much all of you. The point I am trying to make is that there is a reason for their significance; their impact on the gaming industry.

If this was in your childhood, I'm very, very sorry

Of course, it's not all about mascots. Great design and playability make games what they are. Now, I want to say that a great story makes a great game, but consider this: a human princess, who rules over a kingdom of mushroom people, is kidnapped by a dinosaur. Her only hope is an Italian plumber with an unexplained hatred of turtles. Yeah…story may not be so important. Anyways, what I'm saying is that gaming has been around for a long time and will be around for a whole lot longer thanks to games like Zelda. I'm glad I was able to experience another title.