Music in gaming plays a big part in my enjoyment of a game and I'm sure many others feel the same way. A good soundtrack can really set the mood, and can add to the overall enjoyment of the game. Here are five games that I believe have the best soundtrack that really set a clear atmosphere for the game, and are great pieces of music to listen to outside of their respective games too. 

Persona 5

Persona 5's soundtrack is what the standard of video game soundtracks should be. It is smooth and is similar to house music when you are in a calmer moment of the game, and then it fast and rockish when you're facing a strong enemy in a Palace. The starting theme,Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There, really brings you into the game and makes you want to hear more from this excellent soundtrack. I remember when nearing the end of the first Palace, and Life Will Change started to play and it pumped me up to deal with the final moments in the Palace. This is a game changing soundtrack that other games will have to try to live up to.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3's soundtrack blends traditional Polish music with the sounds of rock, and it is beautiful. The Polish band Percival - who is actually named after a character in the The Witcher books - did most of music for the game and even tours around Poland playing it. Two of the songs that really stood out to me from this game are Fields of Ard Skellig and The Wolven Storm, and they both stood out to me because of the emotions they bring out when you first hear them. Riding through the beautiful environment of Skellige while hearing the sounds of that beautiful tune almost brings you to tears. An amazing soundtrack to such an amazing game.

Final Fantasy X

The Final Fantasy series had to be on this list one way or another because of the timeless music that this series has given us. From the haunting ballad in Final Fantasy VII's One Winged Angel to the soothing tones in Final Fantasy IV's Theme of Love; Final Fantasy is a staple of video game music. With that being said, I believe the Final Fantasy with the best soundtrack is Final Fantasy X. The game's intro starts you with one of the deepest piano ballads ever - called To Zanarkand - and it makes you think I don't even know the characters on the screen yet, but I am connected to them because of the music and atmosphere. The music in Final Fantasy X is timeless and the peak of Final Fantasy's music. Songs like: Yuna's Theme, Suteki Da Ne, Fight With Seymour and A Fleeting Dream all fit the setting they are played in and are beautiful pieces of music you can listen to even when you're not playing the game.

Chrono Trigger 

Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest RPGs ever and has one of the greatest soundtracks I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. The games have the greatest theme I have listened to throughout my time gaming; with its bombastic sounds that get you ready for the long adventure to come, what's not to like? The music in this game is so well done that it was sampled into rap songs, with Secret of the Forest being sampled on Wiz Khalifa's Never Been part II, and Memories of Green being sampled on Hodgy Beats' Memorex CDs. This soundtrack is probably the most catchy and memorable on this list with songs that I have remembered and probably hummed for many years and many more to come.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

I love the Legend of Zelda, so finding one game was an incredibly difficult choice. Zelda games are known for their brilliant soundtracks, for example the original NES Zelda theme being almost as well known as the Super Mario Bros theme. This led me to decide between The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's or The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker's soundtrack, but ultimately Wind Waker took the prize. Wind Waker's soundtrack just has so many songs that I listen to still, even though it has been a while since I have played the game. Songs like the Title theme of the game, Grandma's Theme, Dragon Roost Island and the classic Princess Zelda's Theme make up this amazing soundtrack that will immerse fully within the game.

These are the five soundtracks I think are the best throughout gaming history. Some honorable mentions must go out to: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Journey, DOOM, Halo 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Be sure to check out any of the soundtracks listed and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Video games have come a long way from the 8-bit sprites of the 80s. Games now rival other forms of media in art style, storytelling and music. Video games are as much of an art form as a movie or a piece of music. Here are eight games supporting this thesis and showing the boundaries gaming pushes as a art form.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt  

The Witcher 3 is as beautiful as a game could get. Just peering over the horizon while the sun is setting is just as soothing as looking over a real sunset. Furthermore, the narrative and music are exceptionally good, rivaling other popular high fantasy stories like Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. I remember the first time I played this game back in May 2015, and just riding through Velen for the first time on Roach and taking in the sights and sounds of the world changed the way I looked at gaming. This game made me realize that gaming is art.

Cuphead

Cuphead is one of those games many gamers would look at and think it's a 1930s cartoon. Cuphead is brilliantly designed and stays true to the 1930s cartoon look, even having the strong film grain cartoons and movies of the past used to have. This run and gun, boss rush game is notorious for its hard difficulty but just taking the time to appreciate the art that this indie studio, Studio MDHR, made is enough to make you fall in love with this game.

Bioshock

Bioshock is a game on this list that's artistic for more than its art style. This doesn't mean Bioshock isn't a beautiful game, just going down into the underwater city of Rapture in the first few moments is going to make your jaw drop. But the narrative is what pushes this game into art territory. The game pushes you to think about what is wrong and what is right, and even comments on tyrants and the struggle of power and narcissism. Not a lot of games cover subject matter like this, and Bioshock does it beautifully, to the point where you want to know what is going to happen next in this amazing story. Bioshock is more than a game; it is a piece of art.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

There is one moment in gaming I will never forget and it is the moment at the start of Breath of the Wild, where Link first comes out the Shrine of Resurrection and looks over the horizon of Hyrule for the first time. At this point of my life, I never thought a game would surprise me like that and this moment did to the point of tears. Breath of the Wild isn't a perfect game, but it is art in every aspect of the word. The attention of detail Nintendo did with the landscape of the world, the cartoonish but beautiful graphics all show how gaming is art. 

The Last of Us

The Last of Us shows that video game narratives can be just as compelling and serious as a feature length movie. The Last of Us story of Ellie and Joel as they survive together in a post-apocalyptic world is heart wrenching, addictive and bittersweet. Not to mention that this game is beautiful and dark, which the PS4 remastered port expands upon. This game's story is so beautifully crafted that it's well-known outside of gaming. Even non-gamers know of this title and enjoy Naughty Dog's creation.  

Journey

Journey is one of those games that will impact you immensely in the short time it takes to beat. It isn't hard and doesn't have complicated mechanics, but it uses beautiful visuals and music to tell an emotional tale of a robed individual in the vast desert. Journey's soundtrack was so beautiful that it was nominated for a Grammy in 2013, one of the highest awards in music. If after you play Journey, you still don't think video games are art, you may have to get your head checked out.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker was hated when it was first announced. Nintendo went for more of a cartoony, colorful experience than following the graphics laid out in Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask. But, people came to notice how beautiful this game really was and how fun the game is in general. Nintendo really focused on facial animation in Wind Waker, where Toon Link makes a certain face when he swings a sword or tries to push something that is too heavy for him. Also, the game is gorgeous for its cel shading graphics. This games still looks as good, if not better, than games coming out on the Switch.

Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus is beautiful because of how little it does compared to other games. Other games on this list earn their beauty from a wide arrange of colors and architect. This game does not have any of that, as there are no towns to go to, nothing to really look at and no other quest besides killing all of the Colossi around you. It is similar to Journey, where the game takes you on a emotional roller coaster without really doing much. This is the beauty of gaming: it is able to tug at your heart strings just through gameplay, art style and music alone, without a direct narrative putting it all together. If you are unsure if Shadow of The Colossus is in fact art, please check out the PS4 remastered that just came out recently.

There you have it, eight games symbolizing why video games can be considered art. When it comes down to it, if any other media like movies and music can be considered art, then video games should be as well. 

For an estimated 3 million Americans, epilepsy is a real danger and puts many people at risk for life-threatening seizures. Corey Austen and his younger brother Matt Glasscock are no strangers to the complications of epilepsy. 

On May 31st, 2016, Matt lost his life to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (or "SUDEP.") He had always struggled with seizures most of his life, but the complexities of SUDEP were not merciful and in the end he lost his battle with epilepsy. Four months later, hoping to illuminate the danger of SUDEP, Corey is working with the Epilepsy Foundation to raise funds to research SUDEP, aid families who have lost their loved ones to this condition, and increase the awareness of an otherwise unknown illness. This Friday, Corey, his wife Annie Austen and his friends Denny Dowty and Logan Coursat will be streaming a host of Zelda games for roughly 24 hours (or more) raising as much money as they can. 

When a close friend of mine, Emmie Rodriguez started working on the illustration and graphics side of this event, I felt it was important to get involved and not only bring light to SUDEP, but also to bring gamers together for a noble cause.

A Legend is Born

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most staple games of our generation. The promise of an adventure is what draws players in: you embark on a quest, you perfect your skills as a warrior and you either save the world or the damsel in distress. The Legend of Zelda, unlike its peers, is not only a game, but it is an apparatus by which a story is told. The narrative has always been constructed in a particular way, giving the player the ability to place themselves within the story itself and allowing them to be the hero. 

Growing up, a majority of us spent our formative years playing these games with our siblings; video games were a told by which we could forge bonds with our brothers or sisters, something within itself is sacred and transcendental. For Corey and Matt, The Legend of Zelda was not only a game, it was something that tied their fates together forever. Corey (28) has been playing The Legend of Zelda since he was about 3 or 4. His first Zelda was the original game, and since picked it up he has not looked back since. Matt (23) had been gaming since since he could get his hands on a controller. 

The year was 2006 and Corey was in college with Matt just starting high school. What had set this year apart from the others was the Nintendo Wii. Twilight Princess had been announced, prompting the brothers to search high and low for both the system and the game. Gamestops, Walmarts, Targets, and local shops alike were out of stock of the up-and-coming next generation giant, leaving Corey and Matt disparaged in their search to acquire the system. However, with the help of their father, they found a store willing to give them a call when both were in stock. Matt purchased the Wii, while Corey got a copy of Twilight Princess.

The Zelda series has played a massive role in the brothers lives, forging lasting connections and meaningful memories only siblings could understand. Corey, being around for the forefront of The Legend of Zelda's genesis, began collecting the games at an early age. The most prominent piece of his collection is the ever rare golden cartridge copy of the first game in the series, a testament to the evolution of Zelda and piece of history in and of itself. 

A Turn For the Worst

Corey would drag Matt everywhere, they were pretty much inseparable. Even as they got older, the distance between Kansas City, MO and Colombia, MO was not enough to keep them apart. In April 2016, a month before Matt passed, Corey had purchased tickets for The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses. It was a memorable experience for both brothers: they spent their night at an amazing concert, went out for some late night chow, and talked about life a while before heading home. 

A month later, after returning home from a road-trip, Corey had visited his parents in Booneville. When he got there, his mother had told him that Matt had had a seizure earlier that day and was downstairs sleeping it off. But, when Corey had gone down to check on him, Matt had been laying face down on the floor, breathless and cold. No one had told Matt or his family the creeping danger of SUDEP or how quickly it could take someone; Matt had developed epilepsy at the age of 11 and he would have a seizure almost every six months and they had become progressively worse as he got older. The seizures were getting so bad that Matt would have to take about 5 or 6 pills a day and even missing a dose once would have dire consequences. 

A Trip Down Memory Lane

One of the most potent memories for Corey was when his younger brother and him had been playing Super Smash Brothers when Matt's character suddenly stopped moving. Glancing over, Corey saw that his brothers arms had been curled against his chest and his posture slumped forward, telltale signs of a seizure. These epileptic seizures would leave Matt incredibly fatigued, so he would always take a well needed rest to recuperate from such a draining event. The same illness also prevented him from driving; the fear of having a seizure behind the wheel as well as possibly harming somebody during an attack prevented Matt from getting his driver's license. 

Little did Corey know that Matt, in some way, had managed to live on. Tucked away in Matt's room was an Amiibo, a Twilight Princess Amiibo to be exact. Resting in its circuitry was Matt's [data] ghost, a unique collection of data specific to him and nobody else. Realizing what he had stumbled upon, Corey took it upon himself to save, backup and archive any of Matt's other game data in order to preserve this digital ghost. Then, E3 rolled around. With the announcement of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild came the addition of a special in-game feature: the Wolf Link Amiibo can be used to summon Wolf Link as the hero's companion. Keeping it safe, Corey now stores the Amiibo in a cloche in memoriam to Matt. 

For Corey, this revelation meant that his brother and him could still play this game together, it would be a chance for them to play side by side again like they had growing up. In a letter to Nintendo, Corey told Matt's story and unbeknown to him, they had read it and prepared him a care package. The letter had also been published by ZeldaInformer as well. The note from Nintendo read:

Corey,

Our condolences on your loss. May your brother's legend live on forever. Thank you for sharing your story.

Sincerely,

Your friends at Nintendo

The case came from Corey, but the shirt, lanyard, pin, and coin are just some of what Nintendo sent him.

The package included:

• Shadow Link Backpack
• Shadow Link Hat
• Shadow Link Dog Tags 
• Shadow Link Lanyard 
• Shadow Link Keyring 
• Leather Watch 
• Triforce Lamp
• Legend of Zelda T-Shirt
• Twilight Princess T-Shirt
• Breath of the Wild E3 T-Shirt
• Breath of the Wild E3 Lanyard
• Breath of the Wild E3 Coin
• Breath of the Wild E3 Staff pin

For Charity And For Fun

After hearing about Corey's loss, The Epilepsy Foundation reached out to him and has been helping aid Corey since May in his bereavement in addition to guiding him in setting up the 'Moblins for Matt' charity event this Friday, September 9th, 2016. The primary goals of this stream are to help The Epilepsy Foundation in providing programs and support for the community, aid in the creation of newer treatments and therapies for epilepsy, educate the population at large about seizure awareness, and advocate for the improvement of the rights and regulations for those suffering from epilepsy. With a heightened awareness of SUDEP, families may be able to better prepare themselves for the intricacies of living with epilepsy along with what can be done to prevent SUDEP.

One of the minds behind the Zeldathon Charity has reached out to lend Corey hand, giving tips and helping him prepare his Twitch channel for this Friday's stream. The livestream will start September 9th at 7PM CST. Corey and his friends will be playing games from the Zelda series such as The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and Wind Waker. Without them, none of this would have been possible. Should they reach a high enough goal, they will stream Matt's all time favorite, Twilight Princess. The stream will last roughly 24 hours and they will keep playing through Monday should they get more donations.

Click here for the Moblins for Matt Twitch Channel

For more information, follow Corey on Twitter @MoblinsForMatt and use the hashtag #MoblinsForMatt to spread the word. 

The Facebook event is also a good place to check in for updates as well!

For more information on SUDEP and the SUDEP Institute you can also click here and here. 

Emmie's work can be found on Instagram or her Twitter

Well, I hoped you enjoy my video game full course meal. Drop by the comments below and invite us to your VG Full Course or your favorite video game food! Till next time!

Honorable Mention: Cook Kirby's Soup

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Our apprentice chef was cooking up something delicious in the kitchen in preparation for today's meal. But unfortunately, Kirby got a little bit too excited for his soup. Even Mario will tell you that it was a bit too hot, and he throws fireballs!

Drink: Mana Potion

Every Fantasy RPG known to Mankind + More

Ah, how can we forget the drinks? The almighty Mana Potion, found in fantasy RPGs world wide, provides a refreshing taste to supplement your meal, while providing you with that extra MP to strike your enemies down with a well placed Meteor.

Dessert: The Cake

Portal

Crafted by a state-of-the-art AI known as GLaDOS, this cake was served to those special few who managed to succeed the Test Chambers at the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. It sounds too good to be true, but the taste is vouched for by Doug Rattmann, who says the it's like "a lie".

Entree: The Sandvich

Team Fortress 2

While we were planning to serve the Sandvich, I'm afraid our recovery team were all wiped out by a very hungry Heavy. So unfortunately, we're going to have to skip this until the next meal.

Meat: Well Done Steak

Monster Hunter Series

A staple in the Hunter lifestyle, the Well Done Steak is a delicious addition to our meal. Increasing a Hunter's Stamina and allowing them to keep on fighting, the monster meat is a fine addition that will surely help you survive... I mean enjoy...the rest of your meal (Cause who knows what all these power ups will do to you...).

Fish: Magikarp Sushi with Slowpoke Tails

Pokemon Series

Made from a fish that's abundant in the world and contains both the calmness of the sea and ferociousness of the ocean, the Magikarp Sushi is only known to the truly hungry Trainers who have ventured to Lake of Rage.

Accompanied by Slowpoke Tails, a famous delicacy known to reach a price of 1,000,000 PokeDollars, you would have to be an evil organization to not enjoy these.

Soup: Elixir Soup

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Also recognized as the favorite soup of the Hero of Winds, all other potions pale in comparison to its excellent taste. While it increases both HP and Magic to full, it also wonderfully doubles any traveling warrior's attack strength.

The recipe is known only to a kind and gentle grandmother living in a far away island in the Great Sea -- but the nice lady provided us with two servings for everyone. Isn't she the sweetest?

Hors d'oeuvre: Assorted Shrooms

Mario

To start off today's meal, we have a wonderful plate filled with assorted delicacies from the Mushroom Kingdom. Known to have miraculous effects, including but not limited to growing in size, reviving the dead, super speed, and even growing an entire propeller suit around your body. Just don't eat every colorful mushroom you see -- only those with Toad's seal of approval.

We're all here because we play (or played) video games. And I'm pretty sure that at least once, we've all looked at a video game food and thought: 

"I wonder what the heck that tastes like?"

While we may not be able to bring the flavor to real life, we can honor the delicious foods we've seen in various video games. Get ready for our Video Game Power Up Full Course -- a multi-course arrangement of gaming's most mouth-watering foods.

Let's start our meal, waiter.

“I just don’t understand those, whatchamacallit? Damgummed vidja games you play. They don’t make any blasted sense to me.”

One of my grandparents once told me something not too far removed from that sentence. My cousin and I were sitting down playing my brand-new copy of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on my still shiny, purple Gamecube. (Oh yeah, I am going wayyyy back to 2002.) My cousin and I did our best to explain video games to the bewildered, older person, but our eleven-year-old selves couldn’t convince the grandparent that games were anything other than the preconceptions they held.

You tell those young whippersnappers!

Just fourteen years later, I have met several grandparents and older adults who either play video games with their younger family members or have expressed an interest in the idea. With that in mind, here's a list of somewhat recent titles that might be starting points for grandparents who want to play games with their grandchildren. Who knows? Maybe you will be playing one of these games and it will catch your grandparent’s eye like no Bingo game ever could.

This is a varied list. Some of these games will be more difficult to play than others, and some of these games are aimed more at mature players than others. I've included descriptions with each entry so you have an idea of what the game is before scurrying off to entice your victim loved one to play.

Let’s get started!

Juju 

Available on Steam, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360.

Can two players play at the same time?  Yes 

Control complexity?  Minimal

Juju is an extremely cute platformer ( a game where you navigate obstacles and collect floating, shiny things) starring a pink panda bear and his best friend Peyo, who just so happens to be an anthropomorphic snake. (Because video games okay?) Juju and Peyo get into some trouble and wind up releasing an evil bat that kidnaps Juju’s dad and places some dark magic on Juju’s home forest. It’s up to Juju and Peyo to save the day!

The gameplay is almost as simple as the plot for this one. Players control their choice of the two characters, and their partner controls the other. Players navigate levels filled with obstacles, enemies, and tons of floating, shiny objects to collect! The game goes out of its way to entice newcomers to play. The character of Peyo has skills Juju does not, and he is also less targeted by enemies, allowing his player to simply enjoy the game.

The controls in Juju are also simple. You control your character and have buttons to jump and perform an attack. There are five buttons used at most, making this ideal for all newcomers.

Juju’s novice-friendly design makes it a great choice for either enticing grandparents or younger grandchildren. If you want more information about the game, I actually wrote a review about it here! (Shameless self-promotion for the win!)

Yoshi’s Woolly World  

Available on the WiiU.

Can two players play at the same time?  Yes

Control complexity?  Minimal

Much like the aforementioned Juju, Yoshi’s Woolly World is a platformer where you navigate obstacles, defeat enemies, and collect shiny objects. What separates the two is the degree of difficulty and art style. The world of Woolly (the full title is a mouthful) is presented as living yarn, and yes, it is as adorable as it sounds. The art style makes the game appealing to players of all ages and can bring a smile to the face of the most cynical of players, such as myself.

The cute is strong with this one.

Players have the options of four different controllers for playing this one. You have the option of the Wii U Gamepad, the Wii U Pro Controller, the Wiimote, and the Classic Controller. As with Juju, there are essentially five buttons used in gameplay. When playing with another person, both people can also use different controllers, depending on their preference.  

Woolly is also more difficult than Juju. If Juju’s difficulty was rated at a 1 on a scale from 0-10, Wooly would fall somewhere between a 2 or a 3. Just something to keep in mind for newer players. The game allows two people to play simultaneously, so grandma can help you snag all of those collectibles!

Katamari series

Available on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Can two players play at the same time? Depends on the game from what I can gather. 

Control complexity? Moderate

The Katamari series is an example of simplicity done beautifully. The objective of the game is to roll around large environments and collecting everything into a large ball of, well, everything. There is some story about replacing the stars, but all you need to know is you can collect virtually anything into your giant roving ball of objects. It’s a game that is simple to grasp and enjoy.

Here’s the game in action.

The controls are slightly more demanding than the previous titles mentioned, but they don't take long to become comfortable. The controls are similar to controlling the treads on a tank. If you want to go forward, you move both sticks forward. If you want to turn, you push the stick forward on the side you wish to turn. It's slightly more complicated, but not enough to completely alienate people. You can see more of the controls here.

Guitar Hero and Rock Band  

Available on Playstation 3&4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

Can two players play at the same time? Two and more!

Control complexity? Depends on your difficulty and instrument, but minimal to difficult.

The Guitar Hero and Rock Band series are unique as they can provide an enjoyable experience for newcomers and experts alike. The Rock Band games have modes where you cannot fail, and instead, can simply enjoy the music and your attempts to play it. If your grandparents don’t have the dexterity for the guitar, let them beat the drums to death. If drums aren’t their thing, give them a mic and have them wail to the classics they know and love!

The controls complexity depends on the difficulty you decide to play. Each difficulty adds a new button for the guitar and drums. For singing, it makes some notes harder to hit and adds more difficult pitches and sections. There's a reason these games have become hit party games though. There is a difficulty level for all players to enjoy!

With a large library of songs included with the base game and a huge selection of songs available to download, there’s bound to be some songs your grandparents enjoy. These games can provide an evening of fun for the whole family to enjoy. Before you know it, you’ll have a garage band and participate in the local battle of the bands.

 It may or may not make your grandmother a badass metalhead.

Mario series

Available on the WiiU

Can two players play at the same time? Two and more!

Control complexity? Minimal

Gaming’s most iconic mascot has been the star of countless games that have entranced beginners and veterans alike for years. His newest games are no different. The newest titles on the WiiU are a step up in difficulty from the prior entries on this list, but they also have various modes for beginners and support for more than two players. Now grandma and grandpa both can get in on quashing Bowser’s plans!

 The Mario series is one of the longest-running and most iconic game franchises of all time, yet has managed to retain its charming simplicity throughout all of the years. The controls are simple to learn and easy to master, using six buttons at the most. The challenge comes not from the controls but being precise. However, the series has always been friendly for newcomers and remains welcoming to all.

Super Smash Bros

Available on the Wii U

Can two players play at the same time? Two and more!

Control complexity? Moderate

Now this might be a confusing entry. The Smash series is known for its depth, and the skill displayed by pros at tournaments is mindboggling. The game still remains inviting for newcomers. I have hooked several unbelieving friends with a few rounds of Smash. The game is more complicated and has more controls than some entries here, but it remains a simple one to learn and enjoy.

This is easily the most complex game mentioned here in regards to controls. The game only uses about eight buttons (no matter which of the four controllers you choose to use), but there are multiple uses for many moves tied to these few buttons. Despite that, the game remains a frantic and enjoyable experience, even if you aren't sure exactly what is going on onscreen (which is me when playing most fighting games).

With all of the sheer chaos occurring onscreen, you may not be exactly sure what just happened, but you know it looked awesome and can’t wait to continue playing. The game allows up to eight people to play, and players can customize the amount of zaniness in matches and adjust things accordingly as needed. Just don’t complain when Great-grandma Anita wipes the floor with you.

Madden games

Available on anything. These games are literally available everywhere on every platform.

Can two players play at the same time? Two and more!

Control complexity? Moderate 

Now before you question this choice, hear me out. During some summers, I would visit my cousin, and we generally ending up playing video games. One day my uncle expressed interest in playing. Giddy with excitement, we naturally started him with the worst possible choice, Mass Effect. He called defeat with a few short, but oh so hilarious, minutes.

Next, we tried Call of Duty, he fared a little better, but he could not grasp the concept of operating two joysticks simultaneously. After my cousin met many a death at the hands of his dad’s grenades, we admitted defeat. My uncle then laid his eyes on Madden and being the football fanatic he is, asked to give it a whirl. My cousin and I decided it couldn’t be any worse than the other games, so we gave it a shot. We have regretted it ever since.

My uncle’s knowledge of football outweighed his lack of gaming skills, and he managed to defeat us over and over again. Things got to the point where he was asking us to play him because he wanted to try more advanced tactics.

I mention this story because you never know which games newcomers will do well when first introduced to gaming. If your grandparent has any interest in football, give Madden a shot. The controls are relatively simple, and the commands are usually posted on the screen for quick reference. Plays are assigned to a button so you know which play you are picking. Actions such as running, stiff-arm, and juking are all tied to individual buttons which are usually displayed before the ball is snapped. Each receiver is also assigned a button, so you know which receiver you are throwing the ball to with every play. 

You can also play the game together on the same team to help ease newcomers into the game. It’s a great idea for those who love sports, and an excellent starting point for the world of games.

There are plenty of games grandparents can play with their grandchildren, or can be used to entice your grandparent to give the world of gaming a shot. Star Fox Zero for the WiiU has an invincibility mode for newcomers. Pikmin 3 for the WiiU allows two captains to cooperate and attempt to salvage their spaceship to escape a hostile planet. Rocket League is a more advanced title, but for those who want a challenging and entertaining cooperative experience, look no further. For the truly awesome grandparents, look into Portal 2 for some cooperative, puzzle-solving goodness!

All of these titles I’ve mentioned are barely a drop in the ocean of family/grandparent-friendly games available.  Give these titles a shot, and see what happens. You never know. Maybe your grandparents have mad player skills waiting to be unleashed! After all, I can count the number of times I have beaten my uncle in Madden on one hand. Do not underestimate your opponent!

Do you have any games you play with your grandparents or grandchildren? Let us know in the comments below!

So those are the 10 games that were either hated by fans or largely ignored upon release. It's interesting to note that most of them are Nintendo and PC games. It also seems that most people end up changing their minds or rediscovering these games later in life.

Remasters have certainly helped Grim Fandango, two Zelda games and EarthBound get more attention and love. Maybe the same could happen for Super Mario Sunshine, System Shock 2, and Street Fighter III.

So what games did you initially hate but then changed your mind about? Let us know in the comments!

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

There's a lot of revisionist history to be done with Majora's Mask. Since its 3DS remake, the game has been rightly lauded by almost everyone. But back when it was released in 2000, the same could not be said.

Critics adored the game. Here's what one of them had to say: 

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"The Empire Strikes Back of Nintendo 64...it's the same franchise, but it's more intelligent, darker, and tells a much better storyline."

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And yet gamers were not so happy. The lack of dungeons, Zora eggs and darker story were not so well-received.

Fast-forward 15 years and Majora's Mask is a darling of Nintendo fans. Of course, some people still dislike the game, but the 3DS remaster saw it receive a lot of love from those who previously disliked it. The consensus seems to be that those who wrote it off did so as kids that wanted more of the same, now as adults they could appreciate Majora's Mask for what it was.

More than any other gaming series, Zelda seems to attract initial hatred, then find love in later years, as mentioned with Wind Waker.

Diablo III

This one might be hard to believe, considering how much love Diablo III has, both from fans and critics. Truth be told, however, the game did not have a smooth start.

Even though fans waited 12 very long years from Diablo II to Diablo III, the game was heavily criticized because of story elements that contradicted or retconned earlier events, a lack of atmosphere and end game content, and the mistreatment of a few characters. The gameplay wasn't the issue with Diablo III, it was mostly the story.

In the 3 years since its original release, Diablo III has moved to more platforms and sold over 30 million copies. It also received a huge expansion known as Reaper of Souls, which was much more appreciated by fans. The game continues to grow and the popular opinion has swayed much more to the happy side.

Street Fighter III

The biggest criticism thrown at Street Fighter III was the roster. Subtitled 'The Next Generation', the game introduced an entirely new cast except for Ken and Ryu. It's rather obvious that this wouldn't go down well with fans of the series.

It seems that every new iteration of Street Fighter is initially disliked because of the tweaks to the mechanics that throw die-hard fans off their gameplans. However, they tend to come around to the changes once they've had time to adjust.

On top of the huge roster change, the game was also really difficult in comparison to SF2, which is always a turn-off for new or casual players. On top of that, the game was ridiculed for having poor balancing, which is always the main concern for fans of the series. That being said, SF3 has gone on to become a cult classic.

EarthBound

EarthBound was a Super Nintendo game that released in 1994 to poor critical response and even worse sales. For a long time the game was disregarded in Europe - as opposed to Japan where it was rather well received.

EarthBound was a JRPG that followed Ness and his compadres as they travel the globe searching for melodies that would help them defeat an alien called Giygas. As you can see from the picture above, EarthBound was a very pretty game in its day and offered a ton of charm.

It wasn't until the game was reissued for Wii U Virtual Console in 2013 that opinions vastly changed. Critics reassessed the game when it came to the Wii U and decided it was a timeless classic. The revisionist history was very strong with this one.

Super Mario Sunshine

Ahhh, poor Super Mario Sunshine. This great game tried some new things and was completely lambasted for it. The biggest change, which was also the most hated, was Mario's jetpack: F.L.U.D.D.

F.L.U.D.D., or Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device, is essentially a water jetpack. Mario can use various nozzles for F.L.U.D.D. which allow him to squirt enemies, hover, blast upwards or boost across areas. The jetpack was present for the entire game, and fans were not happy about being forced to use it.

Super Mario Sunshine also introduced a more prominent story than most games in the series, which included Mario being arrested and forced to clean using the water, an evil Mario clone that framed him, Baby Bowser, and even Princess Peach. The game took place entirely on a tropical island, known as Delfino Island, which also frustrated fans who were accustomed to a variety of landscapes, i.e. snow, lava, the desert and more.

Basically, Super Mario Sunshine was disliked for trying new things with the series, but in reality the changes were a welcome take on the tired formula. Sunshine was a beautiful, creative game that deserves a remaster to reach a new audience.

Counter Strike 1.6

Despite being an absolute behemoth in PC gaming, and arguably having the most longevity of any game ever, Counter Strike has seen its share of hatred.

As you may know, the game has had several iterations and sequels through the years. But the most famous, and divisive, was 1.6. This version of the game was initially hated by fans of the series because it tweaked the gunplay and introduced the infamous riot shields.

As is always the case (with the games on this list that is) fans eventually came around to 1.6. It is the most famous iteration of the game and one that nearly everyone prefers to the current Global Offensive.

Grim Fandango

This game wasn't so much hated as it was completely overlooked. Grim Fandango has even been labelled as the "game that killed the adventure genre".

Grim Fandango was highly lauded by critics when it released, but it didn't sell spectacularly, and it came at a time when Lucas Arts wanted to move away from the adventure genre. Over time, the game achieved cult classic status, but it was pretty much impossible to get a copy - that was, until Sony helped fund Double Fine in remastering the game for PlayStation. Grim Fandango can be played on a PS4 or a PS Vita and has finally received the love it deserves.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

The revisionist history of The Legend of Zelda is more prominent than any other series. The series is known for consistently changing gameplay mechanics, art styles and even dimensions, and yet with each iteration there seems to be newborn dislike for the changes.

In the case of Wind Waker, fans immediately voiced their hatred for the new art style. The GameCube game was revealed in 2000 and received a large amount of backlash from fans for its cel-shaded, cartoony art style. What's important to keep in mind is that just a year earlier, Nintendo showed off a tech demo of Zelda that showed photo-realistic graphics and a much more mature take on the series. So when Wind Waker was actually revealed, it was not taken well by fans that were excited at the prospects of the series.

Fast forward 10 years: the game gets re-released on Wii U and is suddenly beloved. Over the years, fans came around to the game, but it was the Wii U version that really changed their minds.

System Shock 2

As the spiritual predecessor to Bioshock and a game that was ahead of its time and very influential to modern FPS games, it may be a surprise that System Shock 2 received little fanfare upon release.

The original System Shock was a game that not too many people played, and yet it received a sequel nonetheless. System Shock 2 sold poorly as well, despite being critically adored. It wasn't until much later, particularly after Bioshock, that people went back and found the game and saw it for what it was worth.

Hindsight is 20/20. Often our favorite games, movies, music, or even people, were not something we initially liked. Some games are disliked by gamers right out of the gate - in some instances, before it even releases. Sometimes the dislike is justified, other times it really isn't.

Nowadays, vitriol can be found in response to absolutely anything. The poisonous nature of the Internet has given everyone a platform to speak their minds. Here's where I should say, "for better or worse", but I think it's painfully clear that it's for the worse, considering the horrible things people say and the animosity found on almost any site. But the state of the Internet is a topic for another day.

The point is that despite how beloved some properties are, you will easily find naysayers. In some cases, the dislike for these games stems from the very-human aversion to change. We always want new things, until we get them. So you will probably notice such a trend in this list.

Almost every game on this list was loved by critics, but not-so-loved by gamers. Needless to say, not every gamer disliked these titles, but a fair share did. A number of these games ended up being adored years later. Fans eventually came to appreciate (or overlook) the changes that they initially opposed.

Are the games you love on this list? Were you one of the ones who hated them at launch? Read on and find out!

It’s interesting what parallels that one can correlate between parenting and gaming after some thought. While there are other parenting skills gaming has influenced and sharpened, I found these the most interesting and important. Now if you’ll excuse me, I probably have some fingerpainted dogs to clean off the walls…

Loving Something that Isn’t Perfect

We all enjoy games, but we know there is no such thing as a perfect game. It is impossible. Every game is flawed in some way. While we may be able to overlook the flaws even the greatest games have, some of gamers even enjoy games that have issues. We know they are far from perfect and they have issues, yet we still love them and hold them dear to our hearts. Now how in the world can that apply to parenting? Rather easily, it turns out.

The most important thing you can do as a parent is love your child. You could provide your child with everything they could ever want or dream of, but without loving them, they would not be content with their life. While there are other important skills tasks you have as a parent, few come close in importance to loving your child.

A parent’s love is dumbfounding, terrifying, and stronger than adamantium. However, children are far from perfect. Hell, kids are basically little adults with no life experience. They will make mistakes, they'll have 'bugs', and they'll frustrate you sometimes. The thing is, no matter what our children may do, we parents will continue to love our children; just like we gamers will continue to cherish our flawed, but enjoyable games.

Organization is Awesome

I tend to be a bit anal with some things. My movie, music, and game collections are all alphabetized. I have also somehow organized my colossal Steam and GOG.com libraries by genre. No easy feat, I assure you.

I have also organized my book collection as well as my shoes, clothes, and my MMO inventories, and our Guild Bank, and you get the idea…. Having games organized allows you to easily find the game you just have a hankering to play, otherwise you are stuck rummaging through a pile of assorted games with no clue as to where that elusive game is! I've learned a thing or two about organizing damn-near everything.

As a parent, being organized is a must for everyday life as well as when you want to go somewhere. Organized clothes ensures you aren’t dressing your child in winter clothes in the heat of summer (you’d be surprised what happens when you aren’t awake yet). Having your child’s toys organized allows you to easily lay hands on that particular toy when they ask, “Where’s my favorite action figure block?!” While it may not always be easy, staying organized is a great skill for parents and gamers alike.

Ignoring the Haters and Dealing with Bullies

Like many people, I have had my fair share dealing with bullies, harassers, and those mean-spirited haters. Thankfully, dealing with people like this will allow me to help my daughter when she encounters these toxic creatures. While I hope and pray she won’t encounter them, it seems an inevitable passage of life we all must face.

We’ve all been there before. Playing our favorite game when someone decides to take it upon themselves and be the ugliest person they can be, usually in the form of sexist, hateful, and derogatory remarks.

Believe it or not, dealing with these people online helps determine how you will deal with similar people in real life. The exposure to meanies and bullies online will help you to deal with future incidents in a positive manner, and help you teach your kids how to rise above the negativity.

Shrugging Off Critics and Their Unwanted Advice

I’m convinced the moment you become a parent you gain an invisible bulls-eye for unwanted advice and criticism. I am all about useful, helpful, and constructive advice, but useless and hyper-critical advice from random strangers or even people you know? No thanks, mate.

Once I was walking towards my daughter with a bag of chips I was snacking on in hand. Someone told me, “Don’t feed that baby chips!” The joys of parenting! Thankfully, due to countless backseat gamers, I know how to shrug off this sort of uninvited backseat parenting.

The above story is probably also familiar to anyone who has ventured into the realm of online multiplayer. How many times have you been minding your own business fulfilling the role of your character only to receive criticism? “Why are you going top with Jinx?!” “Don’t use your abilities yet!” "Don't heal that baddie!" And so it goes.

While some of the things said online might be more akin to harassment and bullying (which we will get to), a lot of it is in a similar camp to the unwanted, not very helpful advice. By being constantly exposed to it, you learn how to deal with, ignore, deflect, or whatever it is you do. The important thing to remember is to not let it get you, either when playing games or parenting.    

A Willingness to Try New Things

As a parent, it can be difficult to get your child to try new things. “It looks gross! I don’t like the way it smells. This place is different!” And so on. Kids can be very picky, especially when it comes to food. Thankfully, my daughter is a miniature vacuum cleaner at the moment and rarely finds something she will not eat. (I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.) As parents, we want to ensure our child experiences things they might not otherwise. Great things can arise when you leave your comfort zone. Variety is the spice of life after all.

Fellow players also know how important trying new things can be. Some of my favorite games include Spec Ops: The Line, To the Moon, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. All three games are drastically different and stretch across multiple genres. Without being willing to try something different from my usual taste, I would have probably never played these amazing games. How many times have we played a game we thought was strange because our friend or a critic we respect recommended it?

By trying new things, we allow ourselves to be open to a wide variety of experiences and whatever may follow. Sure, you can play the same yearly iterations of Madden and Call of Duty, but you miss out on great games such as Brothers, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Transistor, and Bayonetta.

By being a gamer who embraces variety and is willing to try a wide variety of titles, I know the importance of variety and hope my daughter will grow up appreciating variety as well. Hopefully she will never be a picky eater too! 

A Thrifty Gamer is a Thrifty Parent

If you play games, chances are you are a bargain hunter, even if only a small amount. We are always hunting for deals and steals in order to play as many games as possible for as little money as it takes. Steam Sales, Humble Bundles, bargain bins, and yard sales are just some of the tools in our repertoire we use to get those cheap deals! (I even wrote a guide on how to be bargain gamer for consoles.) Many players shop smart, are frugal, and know how to do as much research as they can to find the best deal possible.

Having a child can be quite expensive. Car seats, beds, clothes, diapers, and the many other necessities add up quick. However, being a thrifty gamer absolutely transfers into being a thrifty parent.

I could buy that brand-new Graco carseat for $300 (these things are expensive), or I can get this other one someone returned, in like-new condition, for only $100! I have found myself constantly calculating the cost of individual wipes, diapers, and more in an effort to make the best buy and stretch my funds as much as possible. My constant bargain-hunting for games has allowed me to find great deals on things for my daughter. Stay thrifty my friends! 

Patience is a Virtue

One of the most important qualities you can have as a parent is patience, especially with younger children. Kids are curious and will get into EVERYTHING. It’s just a fact of life. You can turn your back for an instant and turn around to discover your child has fingerpainted animals on all of your walls. While kids will always do things they are not supposed to and they will disobey, we still must remain patient with them.

Anyone who has played any game has had to learn patience. Those of us who grew up playing the frustratingly difficult games of the NES generation know what I mean. Most games require some degree of patience in order to be successful. Players who are fans of notoriously difficult games such as Super Meat Boy and the Souls series, among many others, are well acquainted with our friend patience. Now if you are constantly breaking your controller in frustration, you might want to work on that… 

I have been playing games for my entire life so far with no end in sight. Over the years of playing games, I have learned many things about myself and the way I experience media, as well as what genuinely affects me on an emotional level (among countless other things). I recently discussed the benefits kids acquire from playing games.

Now imagine my surprise when I realized all that time playing games has actually taught me to be a better parent. Crazy, eh?

Believe it or not, there are certain skills you can develop by being a member of the gaming culture at large. While not all of these develop strictly from playing games, per se; they are all interconnected and have developed in some way through the years due to my time with games and the culture. So, how can your game time now possibly translate to being an awesome parent later? Let’s find out!    

1. Victor Sullivan

Uncharted Series

Victor Goddamn Sullivan. Good Ol' Sully. This man is a wonder of the world.

He's a treasure hunter, pilot, con-artist, thief, womanizer, expert marksman, and world-class adventurer. He's robbed graves and cheated death across the globe. He's survived this long by outsmarting his enemies when he can and punching them in the face when he can't. He's a silver fox with a heart of gold and lungs of charcoal. He is...the most interesting man in the world.

I had made a list of most awesome guys, period, he'd still be number one. He is the most lovable, fascinating, kickass characters in any game, of any age. He is the daring deed and swashbuckling adventure, personified. I LOVE this guy.

2. Orca

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

You can slay monsters the size of mountains. You can conquer impossible dungeons. You can find the most legendary weapons in the world. You can even defeat the King of Evil himself.

But as powerful as you may become, you will never beat Orca.

This shirtless, barefoot old fisherman is one of the last sword masters on the Great Sea, and any duel with him is absolutely epic. It's like the fight between Yoda and Count Dooku times five. If you can survive for five minutes in the ring with this man, nothing else will be a problem for you.

That, and he's super nice and wise and stuff. Great guy all around. Just ignore those dead white eyes of his.

3. Big Boss

Metal Gear Series

Yes. Yes he is.

The sad part is I can't fully explain how awesome he is without spoiling the entire series. For those of you who haven't enjoyed the Metal Gear series, here's an idea: this was a guy who, throughout the entire saga, from Metal Gear Solid 1 in 1998 to Metal Gear Solid 4 in 2008, was always mentioned with a measure of fear and respect from everyone who knew him, but was never actually seen. But then, at the very end of 4, after a whole ten years, he finally shows up in person. It's only for about 20 minutes, and in those 20 minutes he makes one hell of an impression.

Without spoilers though, he's the original Legendary Soldier, and he makes Solid Snake look very foolish very quickly. And the eye patch gives him some points too.

4. Captain Blue

Viewtiful Joe series

Contrary to what he appears, this man is neither senile nor a joke character. He's basically what would happen if Zordon decided to get out of his tube, squeeze into Blue Ranger's suit, and take off in the Megazord to fight evil for a while. Then he decides to teach the first kid he meets to put on tights and fight evil too.

What makes him so hilarious and so awesome is that he is completely dead serious about the whole thing: he carries himself like this great superhero while dressed like Commissioner Ultraman up there. There is no trace of hamminess in him, he straight-up teaches you how to do kung fu in slow motion and stuff. It's righteous.

Also he has one of my favorite farewell catchphrases: "May hero-ness be with you".

5. Gouken

Street Fighter Series

This is what Master Roshi would look like if somebody stole his shades and swimsuit magazines.

Look at how ripped that guy is. I mean, nobody has realistic proportions in the Street Fighter series, but among a roster of stacked guys with freakishly large hands and feet this guy is a bearded brick shithouse.

I love how the guy just floats whenever he does stuff. All his animations in Street Fighter IV are so graceful and floaty all the time even when he's smacking dudes across the screen. He'll finish doing some impossible tornado kick straight up into the air, then float down really softly like some giant septuagenarian Peter Pan. Love it.

You ever see those shirts that say "Old Guys Rule" on them? They're absolutely right. Old guys most definitely rule. I've got a soft spot for men who, instead of growing frail and feeble, just keep getting more experienced, more dangerous, and more awesome as time marches on. Men like that are God's tools for smiting the whippersnappers. And I love them.

In real life they're pretty rare and don't last long, but luckily we've got video games to fall back on. Here's the Top 5 list of stout fellows who laugh in the face of old age and keep on kicking ass well past when nature thought they should. Because like fine bourbon, video game characters only improve with age.

Zeruda no Densetsu: Kaze no Takuto by VKliza

VKliza's "samurai" interpretation of The Wind Waker is certainly different, but no less stunning. Though it seems unusual for the Zelda universe, it is somehow not out of place here, and I am surprised the developers at Nintendo have not actually considered something like this before.

Now I really want to play a Zelda game...

Do you have any fan art to add? Made anything yourself? Share with us in the comments below!

King Daphnes - Zelda Wind Waker Fanart by Markdotea

Markdotea fully captures the noble and distinguished air of The King of Red Lions, also known as King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. It is truly a shame he sunk with Hyrule...

Aim for the Faceplate by Laura Bifano

Here's another piece based on a boss battle! This one is based on the battle at Forsaken Fortress with the Helmaroc King. The style is a little different, but it seems excellent for the Helmaroc King's plumage.

Gohma - Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker by Mystic-Forces

Gohma appears in a lot of games, but her appearance in The Wind Waker is one of the more unique ones. This image almost resembles a screenshot from the game it is so well done. I really envy Mystic-Forces' skill.

Great Fairy by Elentori

The Great Fairies in The Wind Waker are certainly more modest than many of the others in previous games, but they are no less attractive. Elentori's work replicates the fairy fountains - and a Great Fairy - quite precisely, and I cannot help but admire.

PUPPET ZELDA: Suspended Animation by Eddy-Shinjuku

The fact that Ganondorf, empowered by Zant, was able to possess Zelda, and use her as his puppet, is beyond disturbing. But this piece truly captures what is weird and unnatural about the whole event.

Princess and her Wolf by Cindy Liu

We could go around for hours on the possible symbolism of this piece, but in the end I still have no clue what it means. Midna did ultimately save Link from the depths of Hyrule castle, but only for her own benefit. Perhaps that is exemplified here?

Zelda Tribute - Argorok by sarrus

Argorok is a pain-in-the-neck boss, but he sure is magnificent looking, especially in this piece by sarrus...in a sort of terrible, terrifying way.

Lament of the Twilight Princess by StellaB

This incredible composition is paired with a poem by AngstOfZant. It's a little long to add here, but both pieces really do fit some of the supposedly romantic aspects of Link and Midna's relationship.

Zelda - Beast Ganon by HeavyMetalHanzo

Ganon! Get down from there, you are going to - well, he and Midna kind of break Hyrule castle in their battle anyways. But I never imagined a giant pig clinging to the top of a castle could be so...epic.

Vs Demise by R-SRaven

Pretty unnatural how much Demise resembles Ganondorf. And it's even more unnatural how Demise transitions from a strange blob of a monster to a humanoid, god-like creature. However, R-SRaven's interpretation of Link's final encounter with Demise brings back fond memories of a dance of blades in the midst of a storm.

Awaiting His Return by Art-Zealot

Art-Zealot's rendition of Link entering the Silent Realm is probably several times more awesome than the actual Silent Realms, which are tedious at best and terrifying at worst. Sword bearing reapers flying towards me, sharpening their blades for the kill? No thank you!

LOZ Skyward Sword: Link VS Ghirahim by moxie2D

Link's fights with Ghirahim were, admittedly, quite the challenge the first time through. Figuring out how to throw off the villainous representation of Demise's sword took some thought. And Ghirahim is both creepy and detestable, making this representation of Link and Ghirahim in combat quite fitting.

Fi by Lewmus

Fi might be an irritating companion, but she surely is a gorgeous representation of both the Goddess and Master Sword. Lewmus captures her grace and ethereal nature excellently in this piece.

Skyward by AMSBT

Skyward is a lovely rendition of Zelda, or, if you prefer, the goddess Hylia. Perhaps it might bring up thoughts of how lazy and naive Link is at the beginning of Skyward Sword, before Zelda is snatched away and he is forced into an increasingly complex quest to save Skyloft and the world below.

Ganon Revived by WesTalbott

If anything manages to portray the epic final battle of Ocarina of Time properly, it's this silk screen print by WesTalbott. Ganon's bestial roar, the clouds emerging from the crumbling ruins of Ganon's Castle...everything seems to be in the right place.

Volvagia: The Subterranean Lava Dragon by Legend-tony980

This interpretation of Volvagia, the goron-eating dragon that Ganondorf attempts to release upon Hyrule, is so spot on I could mistake it for official artwork.

The Six Sages - Ocarina of Time Compilation by KrisCynical

All the heroes of Ocarina of Time were rarely, if ever seen in one place and time, but this piece that throws all the sages and the Hero of Time together surely does them justice. The image is especially nostalgic in that it takes many of the important pieces of the game and places them in one composition.

Sheik - Legend of Zelda by nayuki-chan

What an awesome interpretation of Sheik! We do not get much of an idea how she fights from Ocarina of Time, but Super Smash Bros. gives us a better idea. And from that, this is certainly accurate.

Queen Gohma by Ursula Dorada

Queen Gohma, by Ursula Dorada, really captures the dark and gloomy depths of the Deku Tree and the accursed creature that lurked in there not long before his death. The image brings us right back into that boss room with Queen Gohma herself, looking down on us with that creepy single eye. I am just glad I am not actually in there.

The Skull Kid by JohnnyCago

This piece is especially reminiscent of that last day in Termina, when the festival in Clock Town is due to start. However, in this image the giants who would save the land from the falling moon seem distant, and there is a rather appropriate aura of despair.

Zelda - Majoras Mask by GENZOMAN

This image seems to bring thoughts to the strange powers of the masks in Majora's Mask. Why do they have such power? Why do they even exist at all in this world of Termina? The game does not bother to explain this, but we can certainly sit and wonder while admiring this wonderful piece of art. 

MM: Fierce Deity VS Majora by KurkoBoltsi

Link's final battle with Majora may have been one of the stranger ones in the series, but that did not make it any less epic. Especially if one had traded in all the masks found in-game for the Fierce Deity mask. This piece gives the battle an appropriately dramatic, and otherworldly (it is on the moon, after all) touch.

Majora's Moon by VincentBisschop

What would have happened if Link had not been there to save Termina? Well, we all have a pretty good idea, but this image gives us an excellent visual interpretation of the cataclysm.

Majora's Mask by lychi

All of Link's various forms in Majora's Mask, standing side by side against the evil of the mask itself, seem quite a heroic homage to the darker Zelda game and Link's great courage.

Hilda and Zelda by Ag+

And here is another dual image, this time of Zelda and Hilda. Their juxtaposition of the two brings out the differences between them, namely their color schemes and, to some extent, their very natures.

Ravio and Sheerow by NekoLoveLetter

Here's Ravio and his pet bird, Sheerow! This image, by NekoLoveLetter, is an awfully cute tribute to the shopkeeper who seems to gain so many of Link's rupees. Let us just hope he is not the next Beedle.

Yuga by EternaLegend

I have not had the chance to play through A Link Between Worlds fully, but Yuga still freaks me out a little. His obsession with perfection, and the fact that he turns those "perfect" things into paintings, is a little scary. All that gets captured pretty well in this image.

A LINK BETWEEN WORLDS FAN ART by Phoenixboy

Another piece full of opposites! Much of A Link Between Worlds is about the differing and flipped worlds of Hyrule and Lorule, after all, and this piece is a fitting tribute as such.

Zelda A Link Between Worlds : Link and Ravio - by Kurama-chan

This piece is adorable! Ravio is Link's counterpart, but he's also a resident of Lorule, and thus mirrors his traits in an opposite manner: cowardly instead of courageous. Of course, I do not think we could have finished much of the game without Ravio's help! This piece really speaks to the fact that the two are really opposite sides of the same coin.

Some amazing creativity has been channeled into fan art of peoples' favorite games. The Legend of Zelda series has inspired many pieces, and the Internet is positively brimming with beautiful art in tribute to the games. Here are 30 pieces based on A Link Between Worlds, Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, Twilight Princess and The Wind Waker.

1. Epoch, the Wings of Time

Chrono Trigger

It's pronounced "epic". And it is.

It started off as just a regular, wingless time machine built in the distant future by a mad time-travelling wizard from the ice age. That is already a more bizarre and awesome backstory than most living protagonists get. But then some shenanigans happen, the Epoch gets captured, outfitted with wings and jets before our heroes get it back, and all of a sudden you have the most incredible vehicle in gaming.

It flies, it's got lasers, and it travels backwards and forwards in time whenever you want it to. No other vehicle can top that. But what makes the Epoch truly great is that it's more than just a machine that does cool things; the Epoch is an unfathomable piece of technology that is not only implied to be magic, but to possess a mind of its own.

It never talks or gives any indication of an AI, but it does things when no one is around to pilot it. There's a scene where you wake up in a tent and are told the Epoch is waiting outside, as if it came there on its own. It's a mystery.

Even the other party members treat it like it's alive. When you start it up, the other members call it by name and cheer it on. If you choose one of the endings where you crash it, they mourn its loss. It even has its own theme song when it flies. It's not an object anymore, it's a character as much as the ragtag bunch that rides in it. Like any vehicle of requisite awesomeness, it's gained a semblance of a soul.

Honorable Mentions:

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• The Aurora, from The Saboteur
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• The Warthog, from the Halo series
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• The Arwing, from the Star Fox series
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• The Beluga, from Beyond Good and Evil
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Which ones would you pick? Let me know in the comments.

2. The Deuce (AKA The Druid Plow)

Brutal Legend

Forged from the exploded remains of the primordial fire-beast Ormagoden by the Titans of the Ancient World, and assembled with love by a guy named Eddie, the Deuce is the most hardcore automobile ever to shred the earth under its wheels.

Just look at the thing! It's got twin mini-guns on the front! And hillbilly hot rod flames! And an engine the size of a baby elephant!

And that's just the default loadout: you can give it everything from spiky death-metal armor and an even more ridiculous engine to flamethrowers and heat-seeking rocket launchers.

Imagine: you're tearing across the Brutal Land in all its excessive majesty, with flames pouring out of the side pipes as you hit the nitro boosters, guns blazing - all the while with glorious heavy metal blazing away over it all. Pure nirvana. Wait, no. That's not metal enough - more like pure Valhalla. Shiny and chrome. And screaming.

3. Samus' Gunship

Metroid Prime 3

All of Samus' ships are pretty cool-looking, but the one she's got in Metroid Prime 3 really stands out for the simple fact that you can actually use the thing.

In all the other games the ship is just a save station that sits in one spot and doesn't move. It was nice, but I never felt like my own personal star ship.

So I can tell you how awesome it was when you not only got to fly the thing from planet to planet like a real starship, but you could call it to come get you, make it carry stuff for you, outfit it with new gear and gizmos and stuff, and even call in airstrikes! Finally! That is the kind of stuff that an intergalactic bounty hunter's ship should have always been able to do! It made me finally take pride in it like it was my own. When the ship got attacked in-game, it was like I found out some jerk was keying my car.

That's why killing Hunter Ghor was so great. Nobody hurts my ship and lives.

4. SV-001 Metal Slug

Metal Slug series

See that tank up there? In the game, it's about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. It's a puny little gremlin of a tank that's barely big enough for one person. If that tank went to high school, all the Panzers and Shermans would laugh at it in the locker-room showers.

But once you leap inside and start rolling, you feel like an unstoppable behemoth.

One minute you're a squishy little commando that was dodging bullets and grenades, getting killed in one hit, angrily shoving your lunch money into the quarter slot and screaming at this cheap, addicting game for being cheap and addicting.

Then you find this thing just sitting there, waiting for a driver. You hop in. As you start rolling, you unleash torrents of blue Vulcan hellfire all over the screen. Anything that that fails to kill, you obliterate with 127 mm of explosive whoop-ass. You become a pint-sized apocalypse. It's beautiful.

5. King of Red Lions

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

It's a talking dragon boat. What more do you want?

To this day, I still get a feeling of boundless freedom when I hop in that little red boat and start jetting across the open sea. That's a rare feeling that a lot of games don't try to give you. And NO OTHER game lets you ride in a boat made of magical shape-shifting royalty. King of Red Lions is a guide and friend as well as a stylish mode of transportation. It's like Knight Rider with fairies and bird people!

Quick: what's man's best friend?

A dog? Hell no! Can you ride a dog? Or install a moon roof in a dog? Or drop some giant subwoofers in back? Maybe a disco ball and ocelot fur upholstery? If you can manage that with a dog...I salute you, you crazy person. Your deviance makes the world a better place.

No, if God had intended dogs to be man's best friend, he would not have invented video game vehicles.

Cars, boats, planes; no matter what form your ride takes, they're meant to make you look attractive and compensate for your slow, pudgy virtual meat-legs. Video gaming is a medium that laughs in the face of physics and good taste, so the sky's the limit on how cool the vehicles can be. But these five top them all.

To narrow the scope of this list, I limited it to small, personal vehicles that only seat a few people. Humongous ships like the Normandy don't count. Animal mounts also don't count. On with the show!

These dishes are just a small taste of what video game inspired recipes are out there. Check out Jessa Rittenhouse's article on game-related foods for more ideas. Try browsing free sites like The Geeky Chef, Gourmet Gaming, or The Drunken Moogle. Maybe even check out Fry Scores, a $6.00 cookbook. In any case, you will surely have plenty ideas for your next game-themed party!

Have you tried any game-inspired recipes? What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Skyrim Sweetrolls

Due to the repeated mentions of sweetrolls by Skyrim's guards, I have come to wonder what a sweetroll might really taste like. Well, I guess I do not have to wonder anymore. The Geeky Chef has one of several versions of a sweetroll recipe, and I am pretty eager to try it myself.

World of Warcraft Spicy Mushan Noodles

I am not entirely sure what mushan beasts are. Perhaps they are some strange breed of kodo? Regardless, the food in the Mists of Pandaria expansion (especially as compared to Warlords of Draenor) looks so appetizing that sometimes I wish I could reach through the screen and snatch some food.

These WoW-inspired Spicy Mushan Noodles seem to be based on beef lo mein, though with a bit of a twist. The Gamers Fridge hosts this recipe, as well as a score of other WoW based recipes.

Pokémon Pokepuffs

When Pokémon Amie was added in X and Y, so too were the delicious looking Pokémon treats, "Pokepuffs." Not a day goes by when I play with my Pokémon that I do not want to steal one of them for myself. The Cake is Not a Lie website has provided us with real-life versions of the snacks, though the recipe can be a tad complicated due to all the decorations the Pokepuffs have.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - Grandma's Elixir Soup

Gourmet Gaming's version of Grandma's Elixir Soup may not restore your health or power up your attacks, but it sure looks delicious, much like the in-game version. The soup is fairly simple to make and would make a nice meal on a cold Winter's day.

Minecraft Cake

While Minecraft might be primarily comprised of blocks (and hey, even the cake is a block) that does not mean its food is not worth a try. Gourmet Gaming created a real-life version of the Minecraft cake, though due to the presence of fondant it may be difficult to make. Might be worth making if you are having a Minecraft themed party!

Having a hankering for game-themed food? No problem!

Another writer here at GS recently wrote an article about game-inspired recipes, which made me want to create my own. Here are 5 (more) video game foods you can try at home or make for your next party!

They say "no sympathy for the devil," but not every villain is as devilish as their antagonistic title gives. A look into their backstory can easily shed some light on a heart you didn't think was there. Of course, not every villain has good intentions either, but there are plenty of them out there.

Who are some video game characters that you can't help but to sympathize with?

The Legends of Zelda: Wind Waker

Character: Ganondorf

Ganondorf's story is like a movie. A poor boy who grows up with nothing and seeing there's better out there decides he wants to give his family a better life. 

After living in a desolate dessert living the life as a thief and then seeing the splendor of Hyrule, you really can't blame him for taking the path of evil. Honestly his intentions were nothing but the best but -like with many instances of power- it all went to his head. 

Portal

Character: GLaDOS

We all know GLaDOS as an aggressive-passive-aggressive human-hating robot, but she came from humble beginnings. As we find out in Portal 2, GLaDOS was originally created so Cave Johnson could upload his consciousness to her to avoid moon rock poisoning induced death. Unfortunately, he died before then leaving his assistant Caroline to take his place. 

But I'm not arguing that Caroline is what's making GLaDOS heartless, in fact Caroline is hardly the cause as she is later deleted from the core. I'm arguing that GLaDOS is a robot and is programmed to facilitate tests, no matter how deadly they are to the participant. We really can't fault her for that.

She's just doing her job. 

Final Fantasy X

Character: Seymour

If you really look at Final Fantasy as a franchise, the game really has some serious religious undertones as well as social commentary on the idea of church and state. Good ol Maester Seymour certainly is a perfect individual for such commentary.

However, the commentary isn't just about religion but the idea of "for the greater good." Seymour might seem like a shady character with some ridiculous hair, but his desire to become Sin and kill everyone isn't unwarranted.

As a child he was traumatized with the death of his mother at the hands of Sin and instead getting therapy and aspiring to a real career, young Seymour decided he wanted to grow up and become Sin. Yeah, he forced Yuna into marriage and did a bunch of other things, but he just really wanted to end the suffering of the world. 

Had he dialed back the whole Sin thing and wanting to kill everyone and just left it at ending world suffering. He would have been a perfect candidate for serving in the United Nations. 

Mass Effect

Character: Saren

Saren is certainly a case of "no good deed goes unpunished." Sure, he isn't the best of the best, he's had a pretty shaky track record and that's putting it nicely but that doesn't mean he can't put all that energy into something good. Sadly, it backfired and gave everyone the wrong impression. 

While Saren may have attempted to wipe out humans himself, his fierce sense of duty propelled him into siding with the Reapers in hopes to show that the organics were worth keeping around. Too bad that only caused him to become indoctrinated and a pawn to the Reapers. 

Fallout

Character: The Master

The Master, without a doubt, is gross. However, it is ironic as his gross state goes hand in hand with a seriously gross miscalculation of bettering the world. 

In the game, a host of animal mutants are attacking human survivors leaving the once human The Master frantically searching for the origin of the mutants in hopes to understand them better. Unfortunately, during his research he fell into  a vat of F.E.V..

Whether it was an epiphany prior to falling into the vat or caused after the horrific change, The Master decides to fix the mutant-on-human attacks by turning all the survivors into mutants and create a utopia. 

Obviously he meant well... but it was just a really bad idea. 

Dragon Age 2

Character: Arishok

I still remember when I saw the first advert for Dragon Age. The minute I saw Arishok fighting against Hawke on the stairs after beheading a guy, I knew he was going to be the Big Bad but after the game, he really wasn't anything like I thought he would be. 

I'm not saying he was disappointing, but when they say 'looks may be deceiving', Arishok is a perfect. Sure the guy might be a massive, imposing figure but he's as cuddly as a teddy bear. Well, maybe not exactly, that but he never meant to cause any trouble. I mean the guy didn't even want to come to Kirkwall, let alone stay there, but a shipwreck and a mission to uphold in finding a sacred Qunari artifact leaves him with little choice.

He really is a case of duty-over-everything only to become the subject of blatant racism, a handful of fraudulent misdeeds against his people, and a witness to a host of terrible acts of a corrupt government. Can you really blame him for cutting a guy's head off and eventually taking over a city? He just wanted to go home.

Have you ever heard of the saying "so bad it's good?" Usually the motto has something to do with an idea (or a Sharknado) but have you ever considered this could be used for a person? Specifically, a video game villain?

Is it possible to do bad things but with good intentions? Not getting into psychological and socially acceptable debate, it is possible and some of the so-called video game antagonists over the last few years have proved that to be true.

Here's a list of some of the best villains who really had a good heart. 

There are many other artists and covers out there.

Take a look on YouTube for covers of your favorite Zelda songs, or even covers of other game songs. Chances are, you'll find some incredible artists and awesome covers. Many of them deserve your attention and support. So, if you have the time, take a look on Patreon for your favorite cover artists as well! 

References

Ballard, S. [SamiaAntha]. (2013, January 28).  Midna's Lament - Harp Cover - Legend of Zelda [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

[Camille and Kennerly]. (2012, February 24). ZELDA: Skyward Sword: Ballad of the Goddess (HarpTwins) Camille&Kennerly [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

Davis, T. [Taylor Davis]. (2013, November 21). Song of Time and Song of Storms (Zelda OoT) Violin – Taylor Davis [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

[jam2995 and TheDelRe]. (2011, May 17). Hyrule Field (Twilight Princess) Guitar Cover Feat. TheDelRe [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

Gleason, M. [Smooth McGroove]. (2014, March 10). Legend of Zelda- Dungeon Theme Acapella [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

Graham, M. [Artificial Fear]. (2011, January 22). Dodongo/Volvagia Theme (Metalized) – Artificial Fear [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

[130Grit Sound Studio]. (2015, February 16). The Legend Of Zelda Majora’s Mask- Stone Tower Temple (Cover) [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

Larsson, F. [Freddie25]. (2008, December 28). Wind Waker Unplugged (FreddeGredde) [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

[LittleVMills]. (2015, March 7). Zelda Twilight Princess- Ganondorf Theme “Epic Metal” Cover (little V) [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

[Music by Pedro]. (2014, June 2). Temple of Time (From “Zelda: Ocarina of Time”) Alto Saxophone  Game Cover [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

Rudisill, P. [Patti Rudisill]. (2015, Febraury 24). Clock Town (Majora’s Mask) – violin, flute, oboe, ocarina cover [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

[Sp0ntanius]. (2010, December 1). Song of Healing on Wine Glasses [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

Stirling, L. [Lindsey Stirling]. (2011, November 26). Zelda Medley – Lindsey Stirling [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

[String Player Gamer]. (2014, May 3). Legend of Zelda Ultimate Medley – Mini Mario Orchestra [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

Winter, T. [Tom Winter]. (2015, April 7). Legend of Zelda- Great Fairy Fountain- VGM Acoustic [Video file]. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

Legend of Zelda Ultimate Medley - Mini Mario Orchestra by String Player Gamer

This particular medley covers so many Zelda songs and themes, and does it well. As such it is impossible to compare it to shorter medleys or single song covers. The song is almost 30 minutes long, and not only weaves together individual songs into a narrative but also mashes several together in their own new themes.

Another thing that I love about this cover is the silliness of it; all across the screen can be seen different images of the same man conducting himself with a Wind Waker baton, or playing instruments dressed as Mario. Someone who enjoys making music this much is really worth watching.

The String Player Gamer, or Diwa, (also known as "that dude from the internet who plays violin while wearing a Mario costume") has spent time as a film, commercial and television composer, and wants to make YouTube covers and compositions his full time job. His Patreon page can be found here.

Song of Time and Song of Storms (Zelda OoT) Violin - Taylor Davis by Taylor Davis

Two well known songs from Ocarina of Time, the Song of Time and Song of Storms, are combined into one song by Taylor Davis in this cover. I think it is kind of cool that it starts with the Song of Time, transitions to the Song of Storms, and then heads back to the Song of Time, as if we have been traveling back and forth through time with Link. The composition reminds me a bit of Guru Guru's tale of the "mean kid" who ultimately messed up the Kakariko windmill.

Taylor Davis has done numerous game covers and has her own original album. She will be going on tour soon (this September) across the United States.

Zelda Medley- Lindsey Stirling by Lindsey Stirling

And now, for some medleys! Let us start off with one you might actually know, an arrangement of the Legend of Zelda theme, the Hyrule field theme, Saria's Song, and the Gerudo Valley theme (Ocarina of Time) by Lindsey Stirling. Some of the parts were created first for the violin, her instrument of choice, while others are well suited to it. I never thought the Gerudo Valley theme on a violin would sound appropriate, but somehow it sounds just right here.

Lindsey Stirling has two albums: Shatter Me and Beyond the Veil. She combines celtic, classical, electronica and dance music in her songs. In her free time she does requests from fans and records her own covers of famous television, game and movie themes. She is currently on tour.

The Legend Of Zelda Majora's Mask - Stone Tower Temple (Cover) by 130Grit Sound Studio

The Stone Tower Temple is the last dungeon in Majora's Mask, and has the sort of foreboding theme you would expect out of a place separated from you by a giant chasm.

130Grit Sound Studio's cover recreates the sounds of the wind with someone's voice, which is pretty neat. Overall, the cover remains faithful to the piece, although it does introduce some slightly different sounds to it than were present before.

130Grit Sound Studio is, surprisingly, a music label and recording studio, though the artist featured in the video is the producer for the studio, Andrew Moniz.

Zelda Twilight Princess - Ganondorf Theme "Epic Metal" Cover (little V) by LittleVMills

Ganondorf obviously needs his own final battle metal cover, because so does every other manipulative villain with an epic final battle theme. Admittedly, the final phase of the battle itself in Twilight Princess is a bit disappointing, but given it spans 5 parts I think the theme is fitting.

LittleVMills takes this theme and covers it with various instruments...including a Hello Kitty guitar. Somehow that is completely amazing. The cover itself keeps the ominous feeling of Koji Kondo's original composition alive and well.

There is not much direct information about him out there. He has a Patreon, however, to help support his YouTube career.

ZELDA: Skyward Sword: Ballad of the Goddess (HarpTwins) Camille&Kennerly by Camille and Kennerly

Ballad of the Goddess is Skyward Sword's theme, and is played and sung by different characters throughout the game. Link primarily uses the song to find the sacred flames to strengthen the Goddess Sword.

The neatest part of this video is that there was no editing involved, just two talented harpists playing in one take. Since the instruments involved in this cover are similar to what is used in-game, it is very reminiscent of the Wing Ceremony at the beginning of the game and the cutscene after the end credits.

Camille and Kennerly, referred to also as the Harp Twins, perform on identical electric rock or acoustic harps. They are also actors.

Hyrule Field (Twilight Princess) Guitar Cover Feat. TheDelRe by jam2995

Here is another Twilight Princess cover! For those of you who spent a lot of time in Hyrule field (hunting bugs or whatnot) this may bring back some memories.  The intro is a bit slow, but what is neat about this cover is it seems to be arranged to sound like a typical day in Hyrule field, starting at night and ending in the late day. The replacement of the original instruments with guitars certainly gives the theme an adventurous, “epic” sort of vibe that it rightfully deserves.

TheDelRe and jam2995 feature in this video. They both typically do guitar covers, though information about jam2995 is a little on the scarcer side. TheDelRe is from Suffern, New York, plays both guitar and bass and often remixes, masters and records covers of game music.

Clock Town (Majora's Mask) - violin, flute, oboe, ocarina cover by Patti Rudisill

With the recent release of Majora's Mask 3D, many Zelda fans have been spending time in Clock Town. This cover, performed by Patti Rudisill and Kristin Naigus, combines the Clock Town themes from days 1, 2 and 3. The cover manages to maintain the upbeat nature of the theme.

Patti Rudisill has been featured on country albums, film scores and video game soundtracks, and arranges and composes as well. Kristin Naigus specializes in reed instruments and plays with orchestras around the state of Florida.

Wind Waker Unplugged (FreddeGredde) by Freddie25

The Wind Waker has an unusually whimsical title theme given how bittersweet the ending of the game is. The title theme mixes several different themes from the game, such as the Outset Island theme, Earth God's Lyric, and Wind God's Aria.

Fredrik Larsson, an immensely talented young musician from Sweden, covers the theme, by himself, using lots of different instruments edited together. A guitar, a drum, an accordion...even filled water glasses and spoons are used. If the sheer amount of instruments he seems to be capable of playing is not impressive enough the cover itself is excellent.

Though it was recorded all the way back in 2008 it is still worth listening to and appreciating.

Fredrik Larsson has his own albums now, some of which include original music and others that include covers.

Legend of Zelda - Great Fairy Fountain - VGM Acoustic by Tom Winter

There are so many fairy fountains in the Zelda series that I would have felt like a bit of a failure if I had not included a version of the theme. Tom Winter, a solo acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and composer from the UK, covers the theme in this video. He does not alter much about the theme, which seems to be from Ocarina of Time, but instead sticks to what Koji Kondo composed. The cover is done well, however, and maintains the original warmth of the piece.

Legend of Zelda - Dungeon Theme Acapella by Smooth McGroove

In truth, I am not particularly fond of a cappella music. However, I could not overlook Smooth McGroove’s channel, and when I found this cover of the original Legend of Zelda dungeon music, I was surprised at how appropriate the cover was. His voice seems to work with 8-bit music very well given how he breaks down each sound and part.

Smooth McGroove, also known as Max Gleason, records video game music in a cappella for YouTube. He does take requests, though according to Wikipedia, he prefers to work with older tracks, saying that, “music for video games today serve a more atmospheric role with less of a focus on memorable melodies.” For those who are curious, the cat that popped up in one of the panels is named Charl.

Dodongo/Volvagia Theme (Metalized) - Artificial Fear by Artificial Fear

Have you ever wondered what that battle theme for King Dodongo and Volvagia would sound like with a metal spin on it? Probably not, but now you do not need to. Artificial Fear has taken the theme and made it about 10 times more awesome with some guitars and drums. Mat Graham also threw in a random solo towards the end to crank things up a notch.

Mat Graham (sole band member of Artificial Fear) composes and records his own songs but is mostly known for his arrangements of video game music.

Song of Healing on Wine Glasses by Sp0ntanius

I was not able to dig much up on the artist, Sp0ntanius, but this cover is so cool that I had to include it. Most covers do not use atypical instruments such as wine glasses. Another cover by the same artist actually uses rubber bands to play Ballad of the Goddess.

There are some silly things that happen in this video (such as Sp0ntanius passing glasses or pouring water between different panels) that may distract from the piece. There are also some noises such as water pouring and glasses being moved that are unnecessary. Normally the Song of Healing, from Majora’s Mask, is played on the piano, but surprisingly the use of wine glasses gives the song a more unearthly feel that seems to fit its in-game role of soothing restless souls.

Temple of Time (From "Zelda: Ocarina of Time") Alto Saxophone Game Cover by Music by Pedro

The Temple of Time has featured in a few games, but probably most prominently in Ocarina of Time. I cannot help but feel a sense of awe whenever I step into the echoing halls, especially in Twilight Princess, where the place is utterly massive and full of statues you can control.

Admittedly there is not much variation in the Ocarina of Time Temple of Time theme, as it is a few repeated lines, but I have always liked it for what it is. Pedro covers the theme here on alto saxophone. I am not usually a fan of the saxophone, but that is probably tied to a dislike (and lack of understanding) of jazz music. Despite my concerns about this one, I was impressed. The instrument change does alter the feel of the theme a little, making it a bit reminiscent of the Spirit Temple, as a few commenters noted.

Pedro plays a number of different reed instruments and when not doing game or pop covers and parodies, writes his own original songs.

Midna's Lament - Harp Cover - Legend of Zelda by SamiaAntha

Midna’s Lament (also known as Midna’s Desperate Hour), by itself, is a beautiful piece. The piece plays throughout the period after Zant exposes Midna directly to Lanayru’s light, nearly killing her in the process. You bear Midna to Hyrule castle in hopes that Zelda will be able to save her.

This particular cover, by SamiaAntha, features the harp. Though the piece is usually played with a piano and perhaps a string instrument somewhere in there, the harp seems to fit well for this piece and SamiaAntha recreates the mood perfectly. Due to the nature of the piece, two separate parts were edited together.

Samantha Ballard, also known as SamiaAntha, is a professional harpist from Winnipeg, Canada, and received a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of British Columbia. She makes nerdy music covers, and sometimes writes original music. All the work that goes into making a cover is typically time consuming. To help keep the videos free she has a Patreon page.

From fairly early on in the Zelda series, music has been an integral part of the story, whether it has been something as small as howling stones or as massive as the goddess harp and the ocarina of time. There have certainly been games where music is not as important, but there are rarely spaces without a theme composed for it that sets a tone.

Musical artists of all kinds have recognized this and have attempted to recreate Koji Kondo’s brilliantly composed pieces in their own ways. While searching around the web, I found many, including some I could not use due to a desire to include as many different artists as possible and as many different instruments as I could. Admittedly, I have a large bias towards the console games, and it shows here, though the original Legend of Zelda and a few handheld games do get a small amount of representation later on in the slideshow. I will, however, say that finding covers for certain handheld games was difficult and frustrating, if not impossible.

Here are 15 covers that I picked out that ought to bring back a flood of nostalgia:  

Sometimes, no matter how nice or helpful a character is, you just don't like them. I scoured the Internet for accounts of hatred toward likable video game characters, and some of the comments brought tears to my eyes. You know, the tears you shed when you've laughed so hard that you're actually in physical pain. Here's a countdown of some different types of hatred, courtesy of your fellow netizens.

5. Misguided Hatred: Queen Minnie (Kingdom Hearts)

"Queen Minnie, for being a draconian tyrant and no one calling her on it."

– KrytenKoro

Many Kingdom Hearts characters are disliked for being either ridiculously difficult enemies, or just downright useless allies. However, the claims made by KrytenKoro against Queen Minnie are entirely political.

I myself thought back on my time with the games, looking for evidence to support this harsh accusation, and, unsurprisingly, came up empty-handed. Sorry, Kryten Koro, but you're probably alone on this one. The only evil I see in Minnie is lurking in those big, empty eyes... and I feel that way about all anthropomorphic animals.

4. Poetic Hatred: Tom Nook (Animal Crossing)

"Tom Nook is an Eldritch abomination who exists off of human greed, and has created a pocket dimension where he leads unsuspecting victims to gorge himself."

– burnpsy

This one legitimately sounds like the lore entry of an ancient demon. It's actually kind of romantic how harsh it is. I'm upset the author doesn't hate me, because nobody that does has ever stolen my heart so.

As for this theory on Tom Nook's existence, I agree that this is pretty much canon. Tom basically enslaves the player in their own home and makes them work for a living. Why would anyone ever want to do that? It's not the point of the game or anything.

3. Reverse Hatred: Tingle (Legend of Zelda)

"People are intimidated by his entrepreneurial and capitalistic drive, swanky fashion sense, and how Nintendo somehow doesn't treat him as a villain even though he is a known thief, kidnapper and slave master."

– Earthpainting

Okay, so Tingle has a shady past. He'll overcharge you for maps, steal your force gems, and generally just be a creep, BUT... Nah, I got nothing. I personally think it's cool how they fit so much not-okay into such a little green guy. And look how happy he is about it!

2. Irrevocable Hatred: Princess Peach & Princess Daisy

"DAMMIT, PEACH AND PLUM!"

– my cousin

2-for-1 special! Many years ago, my cousin and I were playing Mario Kart: Double Dash!! when the unexpected happened. Princess Peach and Princess Daisy came out of the blue, tore past my cousin on the final stretch, and stole first place right out of her hands. A hatred like none other was born that day, as it was the last day Daisy was ever Daisy. My cousin promptly renamed her "Plum", with the two princesses becoming a singular malicious entity by the name of "Peach and Plum." To this day she despises absolutely everything about Peach and Plum, and this, I know, will never change.

*WARNING! THIS LAST ONE MAY OFFEND SOME GAMERS*

1. I Hate You Because I Do: Aerith Gainsborough (Final Fantasy)

"**SPOILER**
I was happy when she died
**END SPOILER**
*runs to hide*"

    _XchronoX_ 

I laughed. A lot. I'll just leave it at that.

Ah, enemies, a core part of many adventure and action games. Unavoidably, there are ones that the player base begins to hate, sometimes universally. Sometimes it is just that the enemy is difficult. Sometimes said enemy has an annoying mechanic. Whatever the reason, there are some enemies that are just doomed. The Legend of Zelda series is filled with creatures, and people tend to dislike them for what they do best. Searching threads around the internet, I found 10 most commonly mentioned enemies that people simply cannot stand:

Wizzrobes

The wizzrobe has had many design changes over the years. However, one thing that remains is their tendency to rarely stand still.

Wizzrobes appear in many games in the series, and in many incarnations. A common tactic employed by the creatures is to teleport around and fire off orbs of flame in your direction. The ones in Majora's Mask may create clones of themselves to disorient the player, and there are some in The Wind Waker that are capable of summoning other enemies to aid them. Wizzrobes in The Wind Waker are also guilty of producing strange noises when they appear, or simply laughing at you if you fail to hit them before they finish their spells and disappear.

In the end, if there are many of them in one room they can create a rather hazardous environment to navigate. Getting into sword combat range with them is difficult, if not impossible in certain instances, as some will disappear if you approach, or after they finish casting. Some are simply invulnerable to swords.

Wizzrobes are such a pain that Nintendo has dedicated several mini-boss battles to them

Wind Waker, I'm looking at you. Majora's Mask also has one of these, but Wind Waker's has more of them and can easily get out of hand if you allow the yellow summoner types to keep summoning. Apparently there is a wizzrobe based boss battle in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, but it is hard to say how many have experienced it given Zelda II is both confusing and rather challenging (for most players).

If you see one, get rid of it before it becomes a nuisance. Arrows are usually the best way to eliminate them.

Wallmasters

Wallmasters are the bane of many a Zelda player's existence.

Why, Nintendo? Why did you have to plague us with shadowy, disembodied hands that fall from the ceiling (or fly across the room)? If that is not creepy enough, nearly every Zelda player has experienced this:

Nope nope nope nope nope.

And that brings us to the exact reason wallmasters (and floormasters, in Wind Waker) are so disliked: if they manage to pick you up, they will throw you back to the beginning of the dungeon (or at least a few rooms back). Then you have to run through the dungeon to where you were before, possibly having to solve a few puzzles you would rather not have had to solve again.

Something putting a slight dent in your progress irks people no matter the arena.

Fortunately, they can be killed with the sword, if you are careful enough. And in some games, if you get skilled at the process of luring out wallmasters without getting caught (and then later eliminating them), they are a pretty decent source of rupees.

Avoid them or kill them, but that they are there means you need to always be on the lookout and cannot always just rush into an area. If one catches you by surprise, be more careful in that room next time.

Shadow Insects

Shadow insects are minions of Zant, and hold the "tears of light" that form the light spirits of the land of Hyrule.

Yes, I am aware that shadow insects, or twilit parasites, as they are also known, only feature in Twilight Princess. However, I am also aware of the immense amount of annoyance they cause. If you are not using your senses in Link’s wolf form, all you can see when one scurries by is the electric current running through them.

Perhaps they would not be such an irritation if the game did not force you to hunt down 16 insects per province in three different provinces (Faron, Eldin and Lanayru provinces), if you want to continue. That, and they can be incredibly quick and difficult to catch. If that were not enough, Nintendo decided it was necessary to assault our eyes with the mother of all disgusting bugs:

The Twilit Bloat is the last bug in a series of insects you must hunt down and kill for the tears of light.

My mind is forever scarred.

Shadow Beasts

Shadow beasts are people of the Twilight realm, turned by Zant's foul magic and used as footsoldiers to conquer Hyrule.

Shadow beasts are exclusive to Twilight Princess as well. They tend to show up at the most inconvenient of times, although the little portals they leave behind are useful, once you can transform back and forth between your wolf and human forms.

What makes these creatures aggravating at times is that they come in packs that must all be killed all at once.

Midna is able to counter this with an ability, but the setup of the closed in arena you are trapped in every time you fight the shadow beasts becomes increasingly complicated as the game goes on. If you miss one or two, expect them to emit a horrible shriek and the others to rise from the dead.

Figuring out exactly where you need to stand to kill them all in one attack is trial and error (especially if you are not visually inclined), something that can make a game frustrating.

Redead

Redead are more infamous for their Ocarina of Time incarnation than the Twilight Princess one, pictured above. 

Redead. I hate redead. I must ask: who likes them? Their paralytic screams keep you bound to the spot until they can get close enough to either take a bite out of you and drain your life force, or slice you with a sword. Though the Ocarina of Time versions are far more infamous for their habit of getting close and latching onto you with their entire body, I have decided that the Twilight Princess ones are worse. Those redead, which are more like redead-gibdo, have screams that are nightmare fuel. They also hit like trucks.

The creatures might be slow, but unless you have bomb arrows or some other projectile that allow you to keep your distance, you will have to get up close. That is usually when they start screaming and things go downhill. The Sun's Song is useful in this case, but the stun only lasts for so long.

Being repeatedly paralyzed is no fun.

The whole ordeal tends to lead to frustration and relief, not a feeling of triumph when you finally kill the redead. Most people do not consider redead a challenge (merely a hassle), but if they come in groups of three or more and you get too close they can start to become hazardous to your health.

Peahats

In Wind Waker, peahats are a useful source of golden feathers if you use the grappling hook to steal from them. Otherwise, they are pretty much just there to annoy the heck out of you.

There are a few monsters out there I would pick out as being designed in some Zelda games to merely be an annoyance. The peahat would be one of them. In some games you hardly ever see them unless you approach them, or they cannot attack you. But in The Wind Waker they star prominently, taking it upon themselves to fly into you when they can. This has inevitably caused me to fall into the Great Sea, the abyss, a pit...you name it. 

Admittedly, Wind Waker peahats hardly present any challenge whatsoever. They are pretty easy to dismantle with a deku leaf and a sword, or just the hookshot. Sometimes I forget that they are absurdly light and the deku leaf can blow them away, even mid-flight. But they still get in the way when you need to cross a chasm or otherwise are airborne. And that alone makes them qualify. 

Like Likes

"Mmm, zora tunic! And...wait. Did I just taste a unique item? That is unacceptable!"

Over time, I have learned that being suspicious of rooms solely dedicated to a treasure chest or random piles of rupees lying around is healthy. Why? The potential for a like like to pop up from under the ground or to fall from the ceiling is high. 

And we all know what like likes do best. They have a taste for certain items, namely tunics and shields, and will steal them from you and completely digest them if you are not quick in killing them. Oddly, they do not seem to like unique items, but that would likely present a large issue if the creature consumed the only mirror shield in existence, or for some unfathomable reason is capable of consuming the master sword (unlikely).

Nevertheless, sometimes a like like manages to take your items and digest them.

Often that means you have to teleport out of the dungeon, or wherever you are, and buy them again. This counts doubly for places like the water temple in Ocarina of Time where it is essential that you be able to breathe underwater. Sometimes you do not have the rupees either and have to earn them all back, resulting in a lot of time wasted. Thanks a lot, like likes!

Hookshots can help stun the creatures, but be careful you do not throw yourself right into a like like's gaping maw that way.

Keese

Keese come in an ever-expanding variety, from the regular ones to the ice keese that make our lives so difficult.

Keese. These bat-like enemies are so simple, dispatched by a single arrow, and yet at times they have me on my wit's end. Though the normal ones will just fly into you, which is not too bothersome on its own, fire keese will light you on fire, and burn wooden shields. Thunder keese (exclusive to Skyward Sword) will break shields made of metal and electrocute Link if he attempts to attack them with his sword while they are electrically charged. Ice keese have a tendency to repeatedly freeze you if you do not get rid of them. There are one or two other kinds, including a type that can make it temporarily impossible to draw your sword.

Similarly to like likes, many keese will take away your gear or inhibit your movement or defenses.

The keese alone are mere pests. With other enemies around such as stalfos, however, they present a larger threat in that they may get the chance to destroy your shield, making it harder to defend yourself from the more powerful enemies. If you are on a later dungeon chances are you will also have to exit to get a new shield.

In short, keese are annoying because they like to fly into your face, and occasionally knock you off of ledges. Additionally they may force you to backtrack, possibly grind for rupees, and then make your way back through puzzles you have already done.

Freezards

Freezards are mostly isolated to select parts of the games they feature in, such as the Ice Cavern in Ocarina of Time, and Snowpeak Ruins in Twilight Princess.

We have all been in this position. You are slipping and sliding over the floor, collecting silver rupees to open that gate. You get hit by an ice keese and get frozen. While you are frozen, a freezard silently appears and creeps up behind you...and when you thaw out, summarily freezes you again.

Most freezards can move and will freeze you with their icy breath or on touch, though in Twilight Princess there are some stationary freezards that are split into mini freezards with the ball and chain. Still, dealing with them is a pain when you are most likely already slipping and sliding around the floor, and are more likely to slide into them.

They are not like ice keese, where you can just hit them with an arrow and be done with it. The Twilight Princess mini freezards are especially bothersome as if you are standing on the ice they will chase and swarm around you.

Redead, freezards, it does not matter. Constantly being unable to move is an aggravation.

Admittedly, there are strategies to deal with this, but freezards can be hard to avoid, even harder than redead, as there is no Sun's Song for freezards that pop up unexpectedly. The ones you do see you can hit with fire arrows or the ball and chain.

Beamos

Methods of eliminating beamos have changed from game to game.

 Playing a game of hide-and-seek with a rotating pillar may seem silly, but if you do not have the proper equipment to take out a beamos then sometimes it is necessary. Skyward Sword's beamos are probably the most challenging to defeat, as unless you have a bow, you have to deal with the motion controls and slash in specific directions to bring the top part of the beamos' turret down to your level and stab it.

If you are not ready to take down a beamos, then be ready to run away from  a laser beam and possibly get trapped in a corner. You could lose the turret's interest eventually but usually that is not as easy as it sounds.

Ultimately, being chased around by a laser beam (or multiple laser beams if there is more than one beamos in the room) can slow things down. Usually the designers find a way to put beamos in rather inconvenient spots. Once you have bombs or a bow, however, they are generally easy to take care of and should not give you much of a problem.

Honorable Mention: Cuccos

Cuccos are only your enemies...if you make them your enemies.

I could not help including this one. At one time or another, most of us have made the mistake of attacking an innocent, unsuspecting cucco. But then most of us also found out how truly bloodthirsty and merciless the chicken-like creatures are when provoked. They swarm en masse and will never stop. Ever. Well, at least until you go into a building or dungeon, they will not stop.

The feathery fiends are invulnerable and will destroy you if you let them. Why Hylians keep these creatures as pets I will never understand.

There will always be that one foe that makes us cringe

Almost all adventure games have that obnoxious enemy we do not want to have to face, unless all the creatures are simply generic. Zelda games are no exception. The games are still worth playing, even with countless beasts that make it their mission to make your life as the chosen hero tougher than it already is. If you have to, put the game down and come back later with a fresh mind. A little time away from the game will probably make that annoying enemy seem a little less annoying. 

References

AuronKaizer. (2009). Wizzrobe (The Wind Waker) [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

AuronKaizer. (2010). Redead (Twilight Princess) [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

AuronKaizer. (2011). Like Like (Majora’s Mask) [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

Birdman5589. (2012). Thunder Keese [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

Duochrome. (2009). Beamos (Twilight Princess) [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015. 

Duochrome. (2009) Shadow Beast [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015. 

Duochrome. (2009). Twilit Bloat [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

Triforce 14. (2009). Shadow Insect [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

Triforce 14. (2009). Wallmaster (Ocarina of Time) [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

Triforce 14. (2010). Freezard (Ocarina of Time) [Online image]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

[Untitled image from Hyrule Historia]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

[Untitled image of a Wind Waker peahat]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

[Untitled gif of cuccos in Hyrule Warriors]. Retrieved June 4, 2015. 

[Untitled gif of wallmaster in Ocarina of Time]. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

Part 1: 50 - 41

Part 2: 40 - 31

Part 3: 30 - 21

Part 4: 20 - 11

Part 5: 10 - 1

41.) Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time

Developed and published by Ubisoft

Why should you play it?

Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time had amazing graphics for its time, excellent and tight controls, and a unique time controlling mechanic that allowed players to reverse time up to a certain point. Any fan of wall running, acrobatics, and excellent third-person adventure games should not miss Prince of Persia.

Originally released on PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PC back in 2003, since then there has been a PS3 port.

42.) The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker 

Developed and published by Nintendo

Why should you play it?

Walking in the footsteps of Ocarina of Time in terms of gameplay, Wind Waker had beautiful cel shaded graphics, and returned to the franchises roots with a bit more exploration being involved. An instant classic and must play for any fan of the Legend Of Zelda franchise.

Originally released on the GameCube back in 2003, since then there has been an HD Port for the Wii U.

43.) Super Smash Bros. Melee 

Developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo

Why should you play it?

The second installment of the Super Smash Bros franchise brought more of everything, characters, levels, items, and features. Super Smash Bros Melee is an excellent fighting game for anyone who is an expert at fighting games or is looking to get into fighting games. As well as being a must have party game for anyone with a taste for a little friendly competition.

Originally released on the GameCube back in 2001. Although there has been a Wii sequel and a Wii U sequel, Super Smash Bros Melee has not been ported to current Nintendo consoles.

44.) Metroid Prime 

Developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo

Why should you play it?

Before Metroid Prime, every Metroid game had been a 2-D side-scroller. Metroid Prime brought the franchise into the first person shooter genre, while still holding on to the iconic atmosphere, exploration and general game play of the previous titles. Metroid Prime is also widely recognized as one of the best Metroid games of all time.

Originally released on the GameCube back in 2002, since then it has been ported to the Wii and has a Wii U release on January 29th, 2015

45.) Luigi’s Mansion

Developed and published by Nintendo

Why should you play it?

One of the very few games in the Super Mario franchise where the main character is not Mario. Players take control of Mario’s brother, Luigi who has just won his own mansion. The only problem is that the mansion is filled with ghosts! Luigi’s Mansion featured some refreshing new game play for the franchise, and a great new perspective in the Mario universe.

Originally released on the GameCube back in 2001, since then there has been no ports to current Nintendo consoles.

46.) Beyond Good And Evil

Developed and published by Ubisoft

Why should you play it?

This cult classic third-person adventure game has an amazing story, and a cast of loveable and unique characters. Not to mention the main character is female, which is a rarity in video games.

Released on PS2, PC, Xbox, and Gamecube back in 2003. An HD port has since been released on XBLA and PSN.

47.) Final Fantasy 7 

Developed and published by Square (Now Square Enix)

Why should you play it?

Final Fantasy 7 helped popularize the JRPG genre here in the USA. The game is also widely accepted as one of the best RPG’s of all time, with an amazing cast of characters, a rich and deep story, and ground breaking graphics at the time. Many will say that if you ever want to get into the RPG genre, playing Final Fantasy 7 should be your first choice.

Originally released on the Playstation 1 back in 1997, since then it has been ported to Steam, PSN and is scheduled for a spring 2015 release on the PS4

49.) Diablo 

Developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment

Why should you play it?

Diablo was the pinnacle of classic dungeon crawlers. With its dark and nihilistic world, and unrelenting difficulty, Diablo is a force not to be trifled with. Some might even say that Diablo was quite terrifying, especially when fighting The Butcher for the first time. Very few games have done such an amazing job of turning the main character into the main villain. And delving into the very depths of Hell is well worth the price of admission.

Originally released on the NES back in 1989, since then there has been a PC port and has been made available on Nintendo's virtual console for the Wii, 3DS and Wii U

49.) Diablo 

Developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment

Why should you play it?

Diablo was the pinnacle of classic dungeon crawlers. With its dark and nihilistic world, and unrelenting difficulty, Diablo is a force not to be trifled with. Some might even say that Diablo was quite terrifying, especially when fighting The Butcher for the first time. Very few games have done such an amazing job of turning the main character into the main villain. And delving into the very depths of Hell is well worth the price of admission.

Originally released on PC back in 1996, it was later made available for Mac OS and received a Playstation 1 port.

50.) Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars

Developed by Square (Now Square Enix) and published by Nintendo

Why should you play it?

Super Mario RPG is what would happen if you combined Final Fantasy and Super Mario together and then dumped a bunch of awesome sauce over it. Super Mario RPG brought the popularity of Super Mario to the RPG genre. With a memorable and excellent ensemble cast of characters, some who have never been in another Super Mario game since, and a refreshing new take on the mushroom kingdom.

Originally released on the Super Nintendo back in 1996, you can now purchase this classic on the Wii virtual console.

As time goes on I have noticed that there is a growing number of gamer's out there who have missed out on some truly amazing gaming experiences. Although some old games are getting HD remakes and ports to current and new-gen consoles, there are still plenty of games being left in the sands of time. I highly suggest you play these 50 games anyway you can.

1. Master Sword

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• Featured in nearly every iteration of The Legend of Zelda
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• There's a ton of variations
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Let's be honest, people. While it sees a number of variations, that falls into the rules of this countdown (like the Goddess Sword). There is nothing like the Master Sword, which is deemed as the most nostalgic and important sword in the Zelda stratosphere. It's used to kill Ganon multiple times, it can be found in almost every Zelda game, and it's the main sword in two of the most successful Zelda adventures: A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time. In my eyes, the Master Sword is the clear winner without question.

What are your thoughts on the sword countdown for The Legend of Zelda? Where would you have the swords listed? Are there any you would put on or drop off the list? Let us know in the comments below.

Image credit: Forbes

2. Fierce Deity's Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
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• Also known as the Double Helix Sword
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Whatever you want to call it, the Fierce Deity/Double Helix Sword has been a fan favorite for years. The unique style that reigns different from any other Zelda sword, its incredible power, and importance in Majora's Mask makes it considered by many as the series' best sword overall. Link is stuck with the sword until he removes Fierce Deity's mask, and it requires two hands to wield, so there are some limitations to the sword. But overall, it's hard to argue that it's one of the coolest looking swords in Zelda lore.

Image credit: 405th Infantry Division

3. Four Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords and The Minish Cap
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• Unique ability to create four souls with a similar power
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While the sword may not be the most powerful or attractive, it's one of the deadliest and most useful swords in Zelda history. Not only can it create up to four Link clones, it can repel evil, create time traveling portals, lift curses, and seals evil. It was made famous in the various Four Swords games, but it also had an appearance in The Minish Cap.

Image credit: Deviant Art

4. Great Fairy's Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
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• Not a standard sword (falls under the item/equipment category)
\n

While I wasn't the biggest fan Majora's Mask personally, I'd be damned if I didn't admit it had the best looking swords in the series. Arguably, the Great Fairy's Sword is one of the coolest and most colorful. Not to mention one of the most deadly as it wields four times the attack power of a Kokiri Sword.

An interesting caveat to this sword is unlike many other swords in Zelda adventures, it's not a standard sword. Players must equip it to an item button. To use its spin attack, players must rotate the analog stick on the controller instead of traditionally holding down the button. It's unsure if this was created on purpose or if it was a programming error.

Image credit: Deviant Art

5. Biggoron's Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Oracle of Ages, and Oracle of Seasons
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• Two-handed sword that's an upgrade from the Giant's Knife in OoT
\n

While not a requirement in any edition of Zelda, the jointly-named Biggoron's sword is a blast to slash around with. Requiring two hands to wield, players opt to drop the defense in order to have a stronger offensive attack. The sword is received after completing various tasks in Ocarina of Time, but its downfall is not being able to be used to defeat the final boss.

Image credit: Deviant Art

6. Magical Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
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• Considered to be the original Master Sword
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It's a pretty standard blade that has a blue hue fused with red around the grip. So why is it so high on the list? Because of its important place in Zelda history. Many fans believe this was Nintendo's intention of the ultimate sword before it became the Master Sword in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and various iterations of the series afterwards. It's the ultimate sword in the original and it's the only sword that's used in Zelda II -- it just continues to get upgraded with the RPG-like elements of the adventure game. 

Image credit: GoPixPic

7. Phantom Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
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• Forged by Oshus and Zauz
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Once again, the Phantom Sword has a similar look to the Master Sword, and it's the most powerful sword that Link can receive in Phantom Hourglass. It fends off Phantoms the best and is the tool needed to defeat Bellum. The design slightly edges out the Lokomo, but both swords are very similar in the back-to-back Nintendo DS releases (with Spirit Tracks).

Image credit: Deviant Art

8. Lokomo Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
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• Given by Anjean after receiving the Bow of Light
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It's in similar taste to the Master Sword, but the Lokomo Sword is one of the most handiest swords in Spirit Tracks. After wielding it, Link becomes twice as strong when compared to using the Recruit's Sword. It can also stun Phantoms in the game for Zelda to possess. 

Image credit: Deviant Art

9. Goddess Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
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• Other forms include Goddess Longsword and Goddess Whitesword
\n

The main sword in Skyward Sword has various upgrades throughout the adventure, and we'll include them all in this category. Its blue hue is captivating and attractive, and unleashes a Skyward Strike attack to unveil artifacts around Hylia. It may not be the most powerful sword in the game (that belongs to the True Master Sword), but it is named after it. That's important enough, right? 

Image credit: Zelda Dungeon

10. Phantom Ganon's Sword

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• Featured in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
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• Also known as Beast's Blade
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Kicking off the countdown is a sword that's barely used during the game, but breaks into the list for two reasons. Spoiler alert on the first reason -- it plays a big role in Ganon's Tower, the final dungeon in Wind Waker. Another is the extremely cool design. The cel-shaded nature of WW created some great sword illustrations. Since it's only a temporary sword that's wielded when Phantom Gannon drops it, the Beast's Blade can't go any higher than the entry point.

Image credit: Zeldapedia

Man at Arms recently recreated a real-life Fierce Deity's Sword (also known as the Double Helix Sword) and used it to slice a pumpkin in half. The video and GIFs were so damn awesome that it inspired us to create a list of the ten best swords that players can find in the entire Legend of Zelda series.

This was a fun list to create, and should spark a huge debate over what swords should be ranked where. With an arsenal as huge as the Zelda universe, it was really hard narrowing it down to just 10. But it happened, and here's the result.

Image credit: Zelda Universe

In Gamestop a month ago, I casually perused the walls for unique experiences (while avoiding the stacks of last year's Madden and Call of Duty titles, abandoned like a Christmas puppy that became too much for a family to handle).

But as I've entered into adulthood with its responsibilities, I've grown a little colder. Thoughts like "Why do I even bother coming here?" are frequent as I become more and more jaded with the titles being pumped out on the regular since my childhood; recently released Intellectual Properties masquerading as new and fresh titles only to be a rehash of gameplay and stories originally provided by past greats like God of War or Grand Theft Auto.

A quick glance out the glass window of the small shop to the cold outdoors, whether it be to wish myself back to a time where I could actually be excited about a new release again or to avoid the brazen attempts of the clerk to nail me for a pre-order, reminded me that the holidays were right around the corner. I should be cheery and jolly. Is it possible that I've just simply grown out of being a gamer and evolved into something else?

Song of Time

There was a strong magic in the air, something that really only happens once in your lifetime unless you relive it through other children.

Before heading out of the store I noticed a very special box.

Wrapped up in gold and black stood the Wii U Deluxe Version with Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD. Don't get me wrong, I was brought up on Ocarina of Time. I've played the thing from start to finish countless times while reliving grade school all-nighters: struggling with the infamous Water Temple, trying to get that hard-to-reach Skulltula, which one of the many damsels in distress we'd choose if we were the Hero of Time... It was a special time for my friends and I, discovering courage and puberty and wishing we could make that final blow to Ganon's face. There was a strong magic in the air, something that really only happens once in your lifetime unless you relive it through other children.

Wind Waker was released some time later when I was in high school and despite the hardcore fan's initial distaste in the cel shading art direction, I felt it was a true successor of OoT. There are many moments in this game where the characters directly reference the events of OoT and while it doesn't really have the same feel, it is a fantastic exploratory experience completely on its own. While it doesn't have the same fan clout as OoT, Wind Waker was still a classic to me.

So when present day me (Adult Link?), saw that shiny Wii U with Hyrulian etchings curling down the edges of the GamePad, my Child Link screamed out through the past. Something just awoke in me then, and within 5 minutes I had brought it off the wall, swiped my card and was walking out of the store. 

Triforce of Wisdom

What had I done?

Surely this wasn't a simple impulse buy. I'm a man of research and scrutiny. With the excitement swirling around the Xbox One and the Playstation 4, I still avoided purchasing either. I'm not comfortable buying any game unless there's a sale since if I bought all the games I've been disappointed with recently at full price I'd be needing a shrink and probably a new girlfriend. I've read the reviews. As of the writing of this article, the Wii U library is a little lacking for a "next gen" console that released over a year ago. 

Maybe I'm just a big Zelda fan. Maybe I love collectibles. Maybe I love scaring my roommates away by showing them my made-up language scribbles on my Ipad-esque controller. I like to think otherwise, or at least try.

Unexpected Windfall

I'd been staring at the box on my floor for a while. I began to question that magic in the store and considered sitting on the limited edition Wii U and flipping it for a profit. After all that Pikachu 3DS that released earlier this year was selling for a pretty penny.

I'm not sure why I opened the box but I did.

I plugged that sucker in and loaded it up. I must say, everything from the menu music to the Wii to Wii U transfer process was a delight. Nintendo has an unexplainable quality in their products that have fascinated me ever since I was a kid. And hot damn, look at that Hyrulian design!

Nintendo has fully integrated into the online world and although things like the MiiVerse and WiiTV have been largely overlooked by reviewers, I found that I enjoyed them. The MiiVerse is sort of a social network for Nintendo fans, allowing you to draw stuff on your GamePad and post it to the community. You can also link up the GamePad to your TV to control volume and power settings all with one remote, which is a great quality of life improvement for me. I also feel that while the library needs to stretch it's legs, Nintendo has an impressive lineup for 2014. You can guarantee that Smash Bros will sell consoles as it has done in the past. Until then I've thoroughly enjoyed Wind Waker HD, Rayman Legends, Super Mario 3D World and Wonderful 101 while seriously looking forward to the expansion of the Virtual Console.

I understand that Mario and Zelda and Donkey Kong games are just as formulaic as God of War or Call of Duty or their respective clones. It's all about presentation, though. The PS3 and Xbox 360 lacked the kind of presentation and feel of the Wii U: That family friendly, warm fireplace feel. There's a certain kind of quality to be found in a Nintendo console and I do appreciate a product that does not have a reputation for Red or Yellow Rings of Death. Maybe it's my Child Link reaching out to me, hoping that I can resurrect some of those same feelings I had during my first playthrough of Ocarina of Time.

This holiday season I won't have a bitter taste in my mouth

I will instead choose a simpler path. One without chain lightning, ammo upgrades, or slaughtering alien hordes. I am a thorough believer that based on what I've seen from the NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Wii, and Wii U, Nintendo is capable of continuing of carrying on that special something throughout the ages, just as they always have. The heroes of time. At least, my time.

The latest console generation has kicked off with a bang, with the Xbox One and Playstation 4 exceeding the "one million sales benchmark" in a day. However, the wallflower of a console, the Wii U, remains the diamond in the rough. Granted, Super Mario 3D World launched alongside the Xbox One's launch date,but the commercial response has been underwhelming.

To put it brusquely, Nintendo is threading in dangerous territory. The little profit margins they're earning from the Wii U could result in a devastating déjà vu of the "Sega Dreamcast's life-cycle", A powerhouse with amazing potential. But potential amounts to nothing if Nintendo doesn't tweak their marketing strategies. So, is the Nintendo Wii U still relevant?

Of course! But people don't see that anymore....

In the ongoing console wars, many people are all up in the numbers. Pixels, graphics, RAM, GPU. Sometimes its no longer about the games. Technological advances is at the forefront. The Wii U's power is considered to be a significant letdown in contrast to the Xbox One and PS4. Their First party titles such as Zelda Windwaker HD seem childish and incoherent with what their target markets want.

To hammer the nail in the coffin, Zelda Windwaker HD is just a HD rehash of the 2003 game on the Nintendo Gamecube. And to make matters worst, Nintendo's marketing is piss-poor (apologies for the language). Casual consumers still think the Wii U consists of just the new Gamepad for the original Wii. Such misinformation doesn't exactly help Nintendo. This cavalcade of problems changes user opinion on the console and consumers look elsewhere for companies they meet their needs and wants. In this case, Microsoft and Sony

What they can do to survive

What Nintendo needs to understand that "the times, they are a changin'". The market has shifted drastically. Nintendo consoles used to appeal to the young teenagers. Nintendo was the cool kid on the block in the 16-bit era. Now, teenagers crave for violent, first person shooters that originally targeted adults. Ironically, the teenagers that grew up in the 16-bit era remain faithful to Nintendo's console and first party titles no thanks to brand loyalty. The market shifted into full "reverse". Adults are buying the Nintendo Consoles, not the kids of today's Generation Y. 

Without third-party support for "hardcore games" that appeal to a larger demographic, the Wii U is essentially only useful for playing first party titles. It's hard to justify purchasing a new console only for Nintendo exclusives for casual consumers. Nintendo needs to get support from third party developers and develop more innovative IP's that integrate the Gamepad's unique functionality, something in the same vein of Tearaway on the Ps Vita. A triple-A title that integrates Wii U gamepad technology can act as a glass showcase for third-party developers to see what's achievable on the Wii U unlike its predecessors. This is the hook Nintendo needs to reel in more developers. 

The price drop was a classy move on Nintendo's part and the Wii U has great potential. Sadly, its marketing is a major problem. The lack of commercials for the Wii U shows total disregard for promoting efforts and informing the general public about their new console. Nintendo clearly has the resources from the profits earned from booming 3DS and 2DS sales on the handheld gaming market.

But why aren't they doing anything? Nintendo should add more commercials that promote the Wii U to both Nintendo die-hard fans and hardcore fans of the more "violent" games that are nascent in today's generation. Attracting these target demographics will boost Wii U sales. Nintendo has always been kid friendly but it needs to change.

In conclusion....

To be honest, I'm a diehard Nintendo Fanboy. Nintendo is an amazing company throughout the fiscal years of its lifespan. But Nintendo's Wii U is in deep waters and something needs to be done before the Wii U ends up being the new Dreamcast.

The controller stuck to me like glue, the little discs were innovative and it produced some of the best games of the last twelve years. In addition, I was a clumsy kid and the fact that it's invincible -- unless you throw it forcibly on the ground -- is a good feature. The GameCube produced everything I wanted in a console, and with the new generation on the horizon I think it's due time we revisit. The GameCube is ridiculous, but that's what gives it charm. It's not your all-in-one home entertainment system, there isn't even an option to watch DVD's with it. 

With the arrival of the next-generation everyone is rushing to get their hands on the new consoles, games and accessories. Within the next year or two, most people will have said good-bye to their PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. New, shiny boxes will be sitting proud on console owners shelves next to a thin, glossy HD TV.

Despite all the new and exciting technology, sitting down with a drink, that ‘ugly’ controller and a CRT TV is strangely refreshing. If you haven’t done it recently, I have three reasons which might entice you to consider.

Nostalgia

Nostalgia is cruel to us; it plays with our minds and covers up every inaccuracy and undesirable from our 'favourite childhood games'. We can't replicate it truly, but we can try. Picking up a GameCube this season might just leave you wanting more, then again it might give you a refreshing glimpse into the past. 

Sitting down with that ugly controller in front of an old fat TV has done wonders for me. Sometimes we’re tied up with new technology, and forget that there are old, cheap alternatives that can still give us great entertainment. You'll watch an old film, so why not play an old video game? 

Speedrunning

Speedrunning's been around for over a decade but has managed to stay under the limelight until recently. Since the online streaming service Twitch came around and gained much popularity speedrunners have shared their achievements live more regularly. If you’re unsure of what it even is, speedrunslive gives a pretty good summary on their site:  

“Speedrunning is nothing more than playing a game with the intent of completing it as fast as possible. People speedrun to challenge themselves, to see a game pushed to the limits, and to get extra replay value out of a game." 

A really great way of getting extra replay value out of your games is to dive in and try it. Speedrunning takes dedication, time and skill. The more time you spend practicing, the closer you get to breaking records. Hundreds of hours of gameplay value for about 10% the price of a next-gen console. As well as that, the people behind the communities have set up various events that have raised a lot of money for charity.

Games

The Legend of Zelda, the Wind Waker

Sunshine is a necessary have for anyone who owned a Gamecube. If you were one of those poor souls who never owned a Gamecube, then you won’t regret this pick. As well as all that, if you feel like you might be inclined to trying speedrunning there’s a particularly good community behind SMS.

Super Mario Sunshine

Sunshine is a must have for anyone who owned a Gamecube. If you were one of those poor souls who never owned a Gamecube, then this is a pick you won’t regret. As well as all that, if you feel like you might be inclined to trying speedrunning there’s a particularly good community behind SMS.

Luigi’s Mansion

Luigi’s Mansion is the GameCube’s best-selling launch title. There's a good reason for that; the game is awesome. It has humour, the gameplay is compelling, and we get to play as Luigi. Considering Nintendo dubbed 2013 as the year of Luigi you owe it to yourself and the green clothed plumber to pick this up.

Honourable mentions

• Pikmin 1 and 2 are influential, charismatic and general must-plays. Pikmin 2, released in 2004, arguably made the song "Ai No Uta" a hit in Japan. 
• Billy Hatcher and The Giant Egg, developed by Sonic Team and produced by Sega is a charming game about rolling eggs, definitely something to pick up if you have the chance. The reason it’s an honourable mention is because of the Mac and Windows port it received in 2006. 
• Doshin the Giant was originally released for the 64DD in Japan, but released forGamecube fairly soon after. Possibly one of the most charming, funny and enjoyable games in this list Doshin the Giant is a personal favourite pick.
• Super Smash Bros. Melee. (SSBM) As of 2008, SSBM is the best-selling GameCube title of all time. SSBM still has a competitive scene, which might appeal to the fighting enthusiast out there. 

The Gamecube is and always will be a personal favourite for me. In a time when consoles are becoming increasingly more powerful and are capable of acting more like a home entertainment system than a games console, the GameCube sets us back to the roots of what was. The reason I use it as an example over the PS1/PS2 or Xbox is that it was so bare bones; it played games.