The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom arrived on May 12, 2023, after an agonizing six-year wait. Before its release, eager gamers expertly dissected each and every trailer, still, and leak to gobble up as much information as possible. 6m102u

Despite their best efforts to suss out further details, a few persisting mysteries continue to stymie the curious. Questions about the altered world and Breath of the Wild‘s connections to Tears of the Kingdom have already been answered, and at long last, gamers finally have an answer for the odd appearance of Link’s right arm, which appears to have undergone a pretty significant change, sporting darkened skin and an odd, stylized pattern encroaching up his arm and onto his chest.

Why does Link’s arm look like that in Tears of the Kingdom? 575c1v

When the credits rolled on 2017’s Breath of the Wild, Link generally sported the same appearance he does in Tears of the Kingdom. His hair was a bit shorter, sure, and his outfit was far less tattered, but overall the longstanding protagonist looked a lot like he usually does — earnest, blonde, and decked out with whatever array of weapons gamers decided to saddle him with.

In Tears of the Kingdom, however, Link’s right arm is damaged early in the game, resulting in an altered appearance. At the outset of the game, Link and Zelda are exploring lengthy labyrinthian tunnels beneath Hyrule Castle. Zelda believes that the catacombs hold answers to the mysterious Zonai, a race from the heavens who helped the Hylians defeat the Demon King centuries ago before vanishing with little trace.  After disturbing the mummified remains of the Demon King, Ganon, the evil once again awakens when a glowing stone falls out of a light-imbued right arm that clutches the Demon King’s chest.

In a flood of miasmic gloom, the newly awakened Ganon attacks Zelda, but Link naturally steps in to save his princess. The poisonous gloom ravages the Master Sword and Link’s arm, leaving him nearly dead, and the blade corrupted by evil. After Link and Zelda are separated, he wakes with his power much diminished in the care of the long dead Zonai Sage, Rauru. The ancient being bequeaths his arm (the same one that was holding Ganon) to the hero, allowing him to tap into the mysterious powers of the Zonai.

We all had one friend growing up who was absolutely full of crap. You know the guy, you’d be on the bus to school and he would tell you he had a code to unlock MegaMan in Super Mario, undoubtedly from his uncle who worked for Nintendo. Well, today I’m here to tell you that your friend wasn’t some ordinary elementary school kid, he was a time traveler from the near future here to warn you of the awesomeness that is Super Maro Bros. Crossover 2.0. Adding on to the already stellar idea of having a pixel perfect remake of Super Mario Bros with a host of other NES stars, Jay “Exploding Rabbit” Pavlina is upping the ante yet again by bringing in new characters, sprites, and music from the SNES and Game Boy games. To put it simply, there is zero excuse to miss this free title.  You can follow up the updates and play last year’s version on the game’s page while we wait for the release. Can it be the future now? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE1K9yNDNA8

I can see four player questing in your future. Why, you ask? Nintendo has launched The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition on its handheld eShop. It’s available for free until February 20, 2012. Those who purchased a 3DS can it on there, though it’s also available for DSi owners as a thank you gift from the gaming giant. While Four Swords Adventure was originally created as a Game Boy Advance and GameCube multiplayer game, Anniversary comes with a brand new single player component and to be honest, that’s the part which interests me the most.

Nintendo has scheduled a very busy holiday season, with some big 3DS games (including two Mario outings) and the very much anticipated release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Though, that’s not all they’re up to. The gaming giant will also be bringing forth a new system update for their 3DS device, which will enable 3D video capture. Read on to find out about all of the digital goodness coming this holiday season from Nintendo, as well as a look at their plans for 2012.

This November, a new system update for the portable Nintendo 3DS system will enable owners to capture 3D video footage. People will be able to record and view moments from birthday parties, soccer games and holiday events, or create their own original 3D productions and show them to others in 3D, all without the need for special glasses. The system update will also provide new experiences for people who have conquered all the Street challenges in Street Mii Plaza. The update is just one of the many elements of Nintendo’s strong holiday season lineup that features two Mario games – one platformer and one racer – for Nintendo 3DS. The season also sees the arrival of the largest game-development project in Nintendo history: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Wii system. “The 2011 holiday season offers up multiple must-have Nintendo games for both experienced players and newcomers,” said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. “Shoppers know they can count on Nintendo to offer amazing entertainment experiences at an unbeatable value.” The first appearance by Mario on a new Nintendo system is always cause for celebration. This fall, Nintendo is giving fans two big reasons to celebrate. On Nov. 13, Nintendo will release the Super Mario 3D Land game for Nintendo 3DS. In this first-ever true 3D Mario platforming adventure, players can scout levels and find secrets before they play using the built-in gyro sensor feature of the Nintendo 3DS system. The game will feature propeller blocks and will have Street functionality. Mario Kart 7 will be available Dec. 4 and will include a new optional first-person driving mode that is controlled using the gyro sensor. The game also introduces new playable characters like Lakitu and Metal Mario, and a tricks system like the one in Mario Kart Wii. Both games are essential to the game libraries of Mario fans, and more details about them will be announced in the future. A Legendary Holiday Season Nintendo is pulling out all the stops in honor of the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword launches Nov. 20 and represents one of the deepest and richest experiences ever produced by Nintendo. More than 100 staff have been working for five years to produce the epic story, which includes a new approach to game play and more than 100 minutes of cinematic cut scenes. The game also will feature a boss challenge mode and, for players who need assistance, optional hint movies to help them along. In honor of the 25th anniversary, Nintendo is offering a free classic game for a limited time. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition will be available to between Sept. 28, 2011, and Feb. 20, 2012. Fans can the Nintendo DSiWare version of the game using their Nintendo DSi or Nintendo DSi XL systems, or by accessing the Nintendo eShop with a Nintendo 3DS system (wireless broadband Internet access is required for ). The game allows up to four players who have ed the game to play cooperatively and has also been enhanced with a new single-player mode. Unlike the original, all multiplayer game play is handled wirelessly. Once players finish the main quest, they will unlock new stages and abilities to expand the game’s replay value. Fans of Nintendo’s able games will be getting a special Zelda treat as well. Between Oct. 3, 2011, and Feb. 20, 2012, select retailers will carry limited-edition cards highlighting the series’ 25th anniversary. The Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card, which is used in the Nintendo eShop of the Nintendo 3DS system, features an image of Link battling Ganon. The Nintendo Points Card, which can be used in the Wii Shop Channel or Nintendo DSi Shop, shows Link flying high in a scene from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. In other game news, families can look forward to making fun holiday memories with new games like Fortune Street (Dec. 5) for the Wii console and Fossil Fighters: Champions (Nov. 14) for the Nintendo DS family of systems. Third-party publishers are also adding to the roster of great games headed for Nintendo systems between now and the end of the year, including Just Dance® 3 (Oct. 7) for the Wii console from Ubisoft, Go Vacation (Oct. 11) for the Wii console from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure (Oct. 16) for the Wii and Nintendo 3DS systems from Activision Publishing, Zumba® Fitness 2 (Nov. 15) for the Wii console from Majesco Entertainment and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Nov. 15) for the Wii and Nintendo 3DS systems published by SEGA. For more information and to see a listing of third-party games for Nintendo systems, visit http://www.nintendo.ca. Looking Ahead to 2012 Beyond the holiday season, Nintendo is already making plans for 2012. Nintendo is revealing a previously unannounced 3D Mario tennis game for the Nintendo 3DS system. Mario Tennis (name not final) will launch in 2012 and more details will be announced later. Also in 2012, Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to enjoy a new 3D installment in the Animal Crossing franchise. This version will include a number of options not available in previous versions. These include the ability to become the head of the village and boost its development, a way to install certain items in the village to make its characteristics more personalized for each player, and the ability to view homes of other players who are tagged through Street connections. In 2012, Nintendo 3DS fans will also see the arrival of new games in the Luigi’s Mansion and Paper Mario franchises. In one final bit of news, the development team for Kid Icarus: Uprising for Nintendo 3DS has determined that more time is needed to complete the game. As a result, the game will now launch in 2012. Nintendo is also in the process of developing 3D Kid Icarus animations with critically acclaimed Japanese anime production houses. These animations will be made available free of charge via the Nintendo Video service to Nintendo 3DS owners worldwide. that Wii and Nintendo 3DS feature s that let adults manage the content their children can access.

The new Comic-Con trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword hits the right notes as it gives us more of a look into the colourful new world that has been created for Link’s latest adventure. Within its visceral confines is footage from different parts of the game, showing off some pretty and well-animated action sequences inside of dungeons, as well as a look at the game’s school setting. We also get a brief glimpse at a strange new squirrel/bird mixture and Link skydiving, which both look really interesting. It’s been said that the game’s structure will be different from its predecessors, showing Link and Zelda as students at the same boarding school. Not the type of school we’re regularly used to, of course, as this one has competitions involving large flying birds that the students can master and ride. You’ll see footage of a race between our green-clad elven hero and one of his classmates, which is apparently a big part of the early portion of the game. With that, we’ll see mechanics that we’ve never had implemented into this franchise in previous outings. It’s certainly an interesting new take on the classic franchise (one of my personal favourites), as you’ll have principals and teachers who will interact with you, as well as townspeople who will become involved like they did in Majora’s Mask. Nintendo is taking this one in a much more colourful direction and it looks really nice. The world seems vibrant and engaging. This is a must play on day one for me.

During their press conference at E3, this morning, Nintendo announced that they will be giving DSi owners a very nice gift. That would be the GameCube/Game Boy Advance combo title, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures – a multiplayer title that was popular several years ago. It’s not known exactly how they will be porting it to the DSi, though it’s expected that the GameCube game will take up the top screen, while the Game Boy Advance screen will be the bottom one. Stay tuned for more news.

Kirby Wii now has an E3 trailer. Yes, the previously unannounced title which had its logo shown at Nintendo’s press conference finale slide, is now revealed and confirmed. Officially, that is. HAL Laboratory, who developed Kirby’s incredible last outing, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, are at the helm once again – and rightfully so. The studio revealed that our titular pink hero will be ed by three of his ‘friends’ (Meta Knight, King Dedede and Waddle Dee,) for this adventure. All four will be playable characters, with the ability to have four-player co-op. If you watch the trailer, you’ll see Kirby and his friends platform through various unique and creative worlds, using a bevy of different abilities to defeat their foes. Look closely and you’ll notice that Kirby wears a Link hat at one time, allowing him to use a gigantic sword. Look for the game this fall.

Could Nintendo have an HD Zelda game in the works for the Wii U? It’s certainly a possibility after the company showed a brief glimpse of beautiful real-time footage of one at the end of its Wii U reveal montage. A possibility that we certainly hope will end up being becoming a reality. The shown footage featured a very detailed looking Link fighting a gigantic and hairy spider boss. Both of them looked amazing on the Wii U touchscreen controller, with incredible amounts of detail. Let’s hope it wasn’t just a tease. The more Zelda, the better. I doubt many would disagree with that statement. Plus, who wouldn’t want some HD Zelda?

A new trailer and screenshots have become public for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Each show a much more colourful visual palette and style than we saw with Twilight Princess, though there are some darker section that feature a return to the series’ more realistic looking style. Both types of screens look great, and so does the gameplay footage contained within the trailer. You can see Link dueling with an albino boss, watch him run from a lava monster and see him soar into the air on weird looking large bird creatures. Needless to say, it’s done its job by making me incredibly excited for this next outing with the hero of Hyrule. Especially since Nintendo confirmed that the Skyward Sword and the Master Sword are one and the same. Its holiday season release date can’t come soon enough. Check out the trailer and a gallery of screenshots below:

For some people, the mythos of “sequels suck” is often used because the original game is so deeply beloved to them. And there are some notable exceptions, such as the original Doom being better than Doom 3 and Halo: Combat Evolved is leaps and bounds better than Halo 2. However, every now and again there are sequels that are better than the original and We Got This Covered takes a look at some of the most noteworthy sequels.

Gears of War 2 1rup

There’s nothing really wrong with the original Gears of War (except for the non-existent story) but Gears of War 2 just stepped things up in the sequel. This wasn’t a case of a shooter getting worse like the way that Tomorrow Never Dies was worse than Goldeneye 007, instead this game added better team AI, good online play and some awesome cut-scenes (I’m talking about everything with Cole Train, baby!).

Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow 1i3s3p

Pandora Tomorrow had big shoes to fill since the original Splinter Cell was so revolutionary in of lighting and combat. But the game somehow managed to deliver a great story, better graphics and some fun online multi-player. In fact, the multi-player was one of the biggest selling points of the game (since online play for consoles was at its advent). Pandora Tomorrow gave Sam tougher situations and the moves to take down his enemies, and that’s why this game is better than the original.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 593h6m

Now here me out on this one, cause most people seem to consider this the weaker game compared to The Legend of Zelda. However, Zelda II gave us Dark Link, an RPG based system of leveling up health and your sword and Link also got magic spells to help him on his journey. So while it was considerably more difficult than the original, Zelda II pushed the series into a different direction and forced the series to become what it is today.

Half Life 2 3m5o67

Half Life was one of those games that proved that Valve was a power to be reckoned with and Half Life 2 showed gamers that they know how to make FPS into an art form. The physics engine alone made Half Life 2 stand out amongst scripted deaths like in Call of Duty or Halo and it also meant that the game felt more realistic than other FPS of the time. Beyond that, it’s the one game that I can fully state is better than the original.

Star Fox 64 6i5e

So Star Fox 64 is pretty much a remake of the original Star Fox and they sure did a great job bringing this game into 3-D for the Nintendo 64. The game featured hectic dog fights and 3-D goodness that Star Fox would be known as one of the best games to come from the Nintendo 64’s lifespan. Plus, the multi-player split screen (which the choice of being an Arwing, Landmaster or a character on foot with a blaster) was crazy fun.

Mortal Kombat II 3u6524

Mortal Kombat was one of those games that really stepped over some boundaries with video games since it had excessive violence, but the sequel blew the original out of the water. More characters and cooler fatalities and it even made Reptile a playable character. And to top all of that off, they introduced the best MK villain of all time; Shao Kahn.

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil 146z5o

I’m going to be honest; I hated the original Turok. I thought the controls were sloppy and it felt boring for the most part. And that might be why I was so surprised with Turok 2, since it completely changed my perspective on the series and mythology of Turok. I think it’s safe to say that Turok 2 was a step up since they added new weapons, gave it a better story and made the graphics look crisp and clean for the N64. Also, I have to give a shout out to the cerebral bore as one of the best weapons of all time. So there you have it. Proof that not all sequels suck. Do you agree? Have any other sequels that you thought were better than the originals? Let us know in the comments.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata presented a new trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword at a at GDC in San Francisco today. Nintendo still insists that the game will be released some time this year, after the re-release of Ocarina of Time on the 3Ds this June. In addition to a whole bunch of direction-specific slashing, the new trailer shows a few little details from the game, including a new sword and a meter marked by a shield, which could indicate that blocking will be limited in this game. I know that doubting Miyamoto-San and the Zelda series is blasphemy, but I’m skeptical.  A new Zelda game is always exciting news and the trailer is very pretty, but the game seems to rely on the Wii-control gimmick far more than I would like. Between that and the game’s less-than-stellar showing at E3 last year, the burden is definitely on Nintendo to prove that the game, and the console, are still relevant. Your thoughts?

With a video game franchise that has been around for about two decades; there are obviously going to be some events and characters that come off as…odd. The Legend of Zelda franchise is no exception to this rule and through the years Zelda fans have seen some strange things. So, We Got This Covered has made a list of the oddest moments in the Zelda series so far (with the exception of the irritating fairy wannabe: Tingle).

Branded as the thief! 23v2m

Stealing is wrong and when we steal in real life, we mostly just feel the moral anguish that comes with such thievery. However, in Link’s Awakening, when using a five fingered discount, Link will then be referred to be everyone as a “THIEF”. The comical nickname will follow you throughout the game and even the Wind Fish will call you THIEF. It’s strange, but it’s a lesson to be learned for all the thieves of the world.

Revenge of the chickens 6bc2o

You don’t have to be a member of PETA to know that you shouldn’t hit chickens with your sword whenever you feel like it. It’s a bit childish to mess with farm animals and there’s no real upside to hurting those poor feathered fellows. But, as every Zelda fan knows, the chickens can only take so much and they’ll attack you once they’ve been hurt too much.

Darunia Dances…alot 183v2g

I didn’t know what to think of this scene from Ocarina of Time when I was a kid. I wanted to play a normal adventure game, then I was subjected to a minute long cut scene where a large rock monster ( a Goron) danced around exclaiming “that beat is hot!”. Needless to say I was bemused, and the moment stuck out as one of the oddest in Zelda history.

“I am Error” 151m10

We all know this guy and I’m still weirded out by “Error” and his statement. On the whole; the inhabitants of Zelda II: the Adventure of Link were all strange. Some healed Link’s wounds by inviting him into their house, some old men gave him magic spells and others just said that they knew nothing! Apparently “Error” plays a larger role later in the game, but that is one hell of an introduction to live down since the guy comes off as a programming glitch.

The life and death of Dampé 123661

Dampé seems like he’s a nice enough guy but he’s not without his odd attributes. First, he just happens to be the ugliest looking inhabitant in all of Hyrule (with the exception of the witch sisters; Twinrova), secondly, he lives in a graveyard and digs in the soil looking for prizes and lastly he challenges you to a race while he’s a ghost. Yes, the ghost of Dampé, halo and all, challenges you to a race and apparently enjoys the hookshot a great deal. Either way, Dampé continues his strange existence by being weird looking and spending his time in a graveyard playing with toys.

Turning into…a rabbit? 3p602t

This only happens in A Link to the Past when Link goes into the dark world without the aid of the Moon Pearl, but it’s still a strange occurrence to find out that the hero of Hyrule’s alternate form is nothing more than a pink bunny. Link might be tough in one universe, but in another he’s as harmless as a rabbit.

The whole crazy timeline 6y3r61

This one just takes the cake and runs away with it since the timeline for the Zelda video games is so disted and convoluted. Fans of the series are confused about what game takes place where, the developers keep throwing prequels and alternate dimensions our way and even Zelda creator, Miyamoto has given different reports on the timeline and where certain games take place. It’s enough to give a fan boy a head ache.