This is more or less the iconic Zelda theme and honestly one of Kondo's finest pieces of music. I'm being perfectly honest when I say I didn't play the original NES Legend of Zelda until much, much later. So really the "Overworld" theme didn't strike me until A Link to the Past. That was such an important game to me and Deez that we decided to represent both songs here, with a focus on A Link to the Past. I honestly played that game way too much like a lot of SNES games.
A Link to the Past is my favorite Zelda game and it is the game that really sets the standard for me. It's a pretty high standard and only a few other games in the series have met it. I feel like A Link to the Past was one of the first games that really got me interested in the lore and history of Hyrule. It really sucked me into the legend of the Triforce. Exploring Hyrule felt like such a treat, looking in every nook and cranny for that heart piece or that elusive fourth empty bottle. I do miss the days when I had all the time in the world to really explore games that rewarded you for exploration. I know games nowadays do way too much hand-holding, but honestly so many games come out (and I have the money to buy them) that I don't have the time to sit down and search out every single hidden item on my own. That's why I often miss (but realize I could never go back) to the SNES days.
This "Overworld" music is so iconic that when a Zelda game comes out that doesn't use it, or play off of it, it gets a black mark in my book. You have no right calling yourself a "Legend of Zelda" if you aren't using this song somehow. I might make an excuse for you if the game doesn't take place in Hyrule, since I associate this music to exploring Hyrule, but that will only spare you a little bit of ire. I love this song that much.
- TOP
@TOPGamingBlog
I can't remember if A Link to the Past was handed down to me from TOP or if I got it on my own, but it was one of my most cherished SNES cartridges. I played it night and day, trying to get through the Light and Dark Worlds. As I mentioned earlier ... I wasn't very good at this game. As was often the case back then, the only parts I was proficient at were the ones I watched my older brother complete. This meant that after the first castle in the Dark World, I was in trouble. My lack of skill, coupled with the great Light World theme, meant I wasn't spending too much time in the twisted, alternate version of Hyrule if I could help it.
I loved this song so much I would whistle it constantly. I'm not sure if you ever tried to whistle, hum, or sing this tune, but it's not as easy as it might seem. The range from high to low is too wide for my ability which can be embarrassing during a "performance" around other people when my voice cracks. This tune is so damn catchy, that I'd have it stuck in my head for days at a time. There was one point where I was sick of the song because it was looping endlessly in my mind. How awful a child I was, getting sick of the "Light World" theme when just a few years up the road there would be songs so much worse getting stuck in my head. I won't go into details, but let's just say the 90s marked an odd shift in music I liked.
Thankfully, it's now a pleasure to hear this song again. One of the reasons I pre-ordered Skyward Sword was so I could get my hands on the 25th Anniversary music album. It's a great collection, but the first time you listen to it can be aggravating The orchestra is constantly teasing you with hints of this song only to snatch it away right before a crescendo. It does eventually come, and when it does - it's great.
This is my favorite ending music of all time, followed closely by the "End Credits" of Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past. It really reminds me of a day when getting to the end of a game was a bittersweet reward. I really haven't felt this way since the Super Nintendo age. I was sad that the journey had come to an end, but rewarded with some of the best music and images the game had to offer. Nowadays, I'm usually pretty disappointed by the ending and credits of video games. They feel more like an afterthought. I honestly can't think of one ending to a game that really stands out to me since some of the early days of Playstation.
When Deez and I first started talking about Music May, I imagined "To Far Away Times" would make it into the TOP 5 Tracks, but here it rests at #13. It's among the perfect scores, but didn't even make it into the TOP 10. I'm not disappointed, honestly. When I look at what's coming up over the next two weeks, I can safely say the music will outshine "To Far Away Times," but this song does have a special place in my heart. It's a really fitting conclusion to one of the best games I've ever played. I have played and beaten Chrono Trigger more times than I could keep track of, which by my personal rankings makes it a timeless legend.
-TOP
@TOPGamingBlog
It's hard to talk about "To Far Away Times" because it stirs up so many simultaneous emotions. When I hear the intro song for Chrono Trigger, it pumps me up. I can take on the world. There's one thought in my mind: I must destroy evil. This song makes me ... happy? I think so. Maybe sad. All I know is that instead of one thought, all the memories of the game flood into my mind, even if I haven't played in a long time. All the moments, good and bad, joyful and tragic, come rushing back.
This track starts off happy. It's happy because all is right in the world. Lavos has been defeated. The planet is saved. Crono and Marle can enjoy this last night of the Millennial Fair in peace. This track ends sad. Sad because the journey is over. They will never see some of the friends they've made ever again. After a whirlwind adventure like that, how can you go back to a normal life in 1000AD? The quiet transition in "To Far Away Times" reflects this bittersweet notion of a completed journey.
I'm not a big fan of rail-shooters. I'm not a huge fan of flight/space simulators - though I've been known to favor one or two. It's unclear what got me interested in this game, but if I had to guess I'd put the blame on Nintendo Power that I subscribed to from its inauguration until ... 200 issues, at least. I had a huge stack of those things in my bedroom. My mom was always trying to get me to throw them away, but I liked paging through them from time to time. It was the beginning of my video game "collecting" (aka hoarding). At any rate, I bought Star Fox and it was amazing. I really love Star Fox 64 as well, but no game in this series captured my attention as much as the original.
I was amazing at this game. I don't often brag about my skill in video games because overall I believe I'm an "average" player. Mostly due to the fact that I play a wide variety of games and I only play them for a few weeks before I move on to my next game. I rarely devote the time to a game to be truly excellent at it. This wasn't true back in the 90s, particularly the SNES era. I was a legitimate master of many of the SNES games, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Link to the Past, and I proudly admit Star Fox. I was unbelievably good at this game. I fly an Arwing like a boss. I was doing loops, flips, flybys and of course barrel rolls. I was getting perfect kills without taking any damage. I was beating the game with 1-laser (no upgrades) and no wings (I'd break them off on the Corneria stage and never fix them). When I was a young teen, I only got one or two games a year (birthday & Christmas!) so I would make the absolute most of them. It was my Golden Age.
Sometimes I miss those simpler times.
- TOP
@TOPGamingBlog
Between the ages of 6 and 8, it was given that my best friend and I would play Super Nintendo every weekend. Like clockwork, we mashed the buttons in his small room until his mother threw us outside or our eyes could no longer stay open. Star Fox was a staple; we were obsessed with it. At school, we would doodle simplistic Arwings and come up with ideas for new levels. Those crude drawings may have been my first attempts at fanart!
Like many games we've been discussing this month, Star Foxwas a game that I couldn't put down despite my severe lack of ability. I loved playing through Corneria over and over again. It was one of the only levels I could actually beat! Luckily for me, I was treated to one of the most excellent video game songs in history. You could put it on repeat 24/7 and it would never get old.
In 9th grade, I got a new computer with a CD burner in it (Sweet!). Of course, the first mix I ever put together had this song included. During a long field trip to New York City, I rocked out. When "Corneria" came on, I lost it. Head banging, fist pumping, air shredding, and general chaos ensued. A girl (who would go on to be my girlfriend) called me a freak, but I didn't care. It marked an early instance where I wasn't ashamed of being a young gamer. We all know that music can stir any emotion in you. "Corneria" made me feel so good that I was able to ignore my pubescent urge to hide my true, geeky nature.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is undoubtedly my favorite game in its franchise. It's possibly my favorite game for the Super Nintendo (but those are bold words; I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to them). I know I grew up loving Final Fantasyand Final Fantasy IV, but somehow this game felt like my first great epic. I think it really comes down to the ending. That's what seals the deal. The ending of A Link to the Past is possibly the greatest ending to a video game of all time, but it's not something you can recreate by watching it on YouTube. It's really about the journey, and how this music makes you feel as you come to the end of that journey.
I haven't given it too much thought, but in its day A Link to the Past was probably one of the longest, most grueling adventure games I've ever played. The quest to get the Master Sword in order to defeat the wizard Agahnim would only thrust you into a parallel dimension, where an entirely new and almost three-times as long adventure awaited you. This is an amazing realization for an eleven-year-old. When they tried this again in Ocarina of Time, only jumping between two points in time rather than parallel dimensions, I wasn't surprised. I expected it. Though I can't lie (since it's previously published) pulling the Master Sword in Ocarina of Time is truly epic. So when you go through this massive game, which builds up to an ultimate showdown with Ganon over the fate of the world - you really have a great sense of relief and accomplishment. The closing credits are a welcomed breath of relief and hope from all that could have been if you weren't there to guide Link to victory.
I know these judgments were meant to be unbiased, but there's something about the use of music within a game that is tied intimately with what emotional reaction it expects you to feel. Therefore judgment on this song is probably boosted considerably by just how rewarding it feels to sit back and enjoy it after a hard day's Dark World invasion thwarting.
- TOP @TOPGamingBlog
A Link to the Past is my favorite game out of the "Legend of Zelda" series. I'm sure most people would agree, aside from a few who (justifiably) prefer the Nintendo 64 installments. I'm going to level with you, though: when I was a kid, I needed a player's guide to beat this game. Without it, I was pretty helpless. It took me forever to finally reach Ganon and beat him. And when I did, I was presented with one of the most satisfying endings of the era. It felt like the entire weight of Hyrule had been lifted from my little shoulders. The ending and the credits seemed like a personal gift from Kondo Koji.
Unlike the melancholy ending theme of Chrono Trigger, "To Far Away Times," the one we get in A Link to the Past is a mix of Zen serenity, accomplishment and courage. We are shown images of Hyrule at peace, with its people happy to return to their quiet, secluded lives. As the song goes on, it gets more and more regal as the traditional "Hyrule Field" theme is mixed in. It's a song that assures the player: yes, good can triumph over evil. You just proved it! It's a satisfying feeling for anyone who has ever doubted the morality of mankind - or in a less dramatic sense, anyone who has ever doubted their own gaming ability. The ending theme is my favorite piece of work from Kondo Koji, and I suspect that he's pretty proud of it. It's comes across as a statement about the endurance of the human spirit.
Kondo is responsible for some of the most iconic music in gaming, but in my opinion, his track record is roughly 90% unimpressive and 10% absolutely amazing. "Gerudo Valley" is in that 10% and one of the hidden gems tucked away on an otherwise unimpressive soundtrack. Ocarina of Time has a couple songs that are catchy, but this one really grabbed me. The song just gets better and better, too! The original is great, but each new, official, orchestrated re-arrangement I hear blows my mind in new ways.
The first one I heard outside of Ocarina of Time was the Hyrule Symphony version. I've listed it first in the derivative section. Back in 2003, my brother and I were playing Final Fantasy XI together and Deez had found a way to convert MP3s to the game's music format. I switched out the theme to San d'Oria (starting city for those uptight Elvaan) with that song and so whenever I hear the strings, I get slapped with an entirely different nostalgia for an entirely unrelated game. I like it a lot more than the original San d'Oria music. It has such a classical, regal air.
The newest "Gerudo Valley" version that I'm obsessed with is off the 25th Anniversary album. That's the second derivative listed. It makes my brain explode. As I said to my wife and brother about the song, "It fills me with energy. I want to run a grueling ninja training obstacle course marathon through the mountains naked. I'll be dodging bees, thorns, and fighting off bears in unarmed combat. I want this song played at my funeral while someone who sounds like Morgan Freeman (if he doesn't outlive me) narrates all the amazing things I did with my life!" (TOP, early 2013) Make sure you check out that song off the 25th Anniversary (2nd Derivative). You won't be sorry - and if you're like me, it may kick-start your advanced ninja training. (Nudity optional, but recommended.)
- TOP @TOPGamingBlog
I remember the hype for Ocarina of Time quite vividly. I was 11 years old, warming up for a karate lesson, when this (particularly obnoxious) kid in my class burst in, announcing that he had got the game and that it was awesome. What was the greatest part of the new game? "The sun goes up and down; it changes between day and night! It's friggin' sweet!" he exclaimed. I admit, it was a cool feature back in those days ... but is that the best aspect of this game he could find to describe it?
Ocarina of Time is not known for its music. There are a few good songs, but for the most part the soundtrack is quite barren. (Need I mention the absence of the classic Hyrule overworld theme?) "Gerudo Valley" is quite the exception to this statement. It's light and breezy, much like its namesake. The only odd thing is that the valley is very hostile at first. How can those Gerudo women be so ornery with such great tunes flowing through the air all day? I was lucky enough to get the 25th Anniversary Orchestral CD that came with Skyward Sword. If you haven't listened to it, do yourself a favor and find it as soon as you can. Check out their incredible rendition of "Gerudo Valley" listed in our Derivative Tracks below.
There is often friction in a relationship when a gamer and a non-gamer get together. As video games become a more common past-time across the board, I should refine this statement to include that there is also a potential for conflict between a hardcore gamer and a casual gamer. I recently mentioned a few games that got my wife gaming with me, and had a few conversations with my brother on the subject. I decided to write this article explaining some of the strategies I've employed to get my wife on board with my gaming hobby. Hopefully readers can take from it what they deem useful or applicable and turn their personal hobby into a fun (maybe romantic) past-time.
I'd like to make a brief disclaimer that is hopefully evident: I am a man and my experiences are with women. I dated women jealous of video games; ones who felt I played games more than I paid attention to them. I've dated women who played more video games than me. I've been in a wide variety of combinations of gamers and non-gamers. So this is all based on my personal trials and ordeals. I don't want to imply that women are the exclusive target of this article, and subsequently I don't want to imply that women can't love video games more than their men. I know that isn't the case in many circumstances, but again all of this is based on my own collected experiences and written for people hoping to get their reluctant partners into the wide world of gaming.
When my wife and I first started dating, I wasn't playing video games too much. It was a time of my life that I was more interested in going out with friends, drinking and attending social events. Suffice it to say that it was an odd time for me when I was focused on a part of my personality that usually lies dormant. I'm typically much more introverted. I never hid from anyone that I was a gamer and that gaming was my hobby, but it wasn't until a few months later that I started going out less and less and gaming more and more. There was a true adjustment period over the first year or so while we were getting to know each other and it hit a variety of bumps and misunderstandings as all (long-term) relationships must do, particularly in their infancy.
Some of our biggest clashes came from my on-off addiction to the MMORPG, Final Fantasy XI, so when I decided that I would ultimately leave FFXI in order to play Final Fantasy XIV at its launch, I embarked on an epic quest in real life. I unofficially call the year leading up to Final Fantasy XIV as the "Get My Wife Addicted to Final Fantasy XIV" Campaign so that when I was addicted to it, we would be spending time together rather than spending time apart. When you play games together, playing games is no longer time you aren't paying attention to your partner, but time you're spending together. You're bonding while enjoying your hobby! It's brilliant, really. So here are some pointers I wish to share with you.
Relationships forged in battle!
Though results will vary based on the interests and needs of the individual, I think it's safe to assume in many cases this is going to be a long-term strategy. It's not something that will happen over night and it is something that you will have to nurture until it blooms. I've broken the process up into three phases, but individual needs will vary and the phases can overlap quite a bit based on your results and findings. So don't think of these proposed phases as set in stone, but something fluid that will be a give and take as you test the waters of your partner's interests and attitudes.
Phase 1: Know Your Audience
You must know what your partner enjoys in order to appeal to their sensibilities. If they have played games, what games did they play and of those what games did they enjoy the most? If they didn't game, explore what types of books they read or movies they watch. Video games are a form of entertainment, so figure out what entertains your partner in other sources and then start tracking down games that are similar. Do they like Comedies? Dramas? War stories? Fantasy? Romance? Do they like long, twisting and turning stories, or do they enjoy action? These are the types of things you must know or find out before you can start pitching games for them to play. There are so many types of games these days, that it shouldn't be too difficult to start matching up some games with their other interests.
Phase 2: Getting Them to Sit Down and Play
This might be the most frustrating and financially draining part of the process. Consider renting or borrowing games you think might interest your partner, because if you end up choosing incorrectly you're stuck with a game that no one wants to play. However, once you have a general idea of what types of entertainment grab your partner's fancy, start grabbing some games that re-create that experience in video game format. Possibilities here are too many to list and it's all catered to the needs of your partner. Make sure to note every success and failure. Inquire what it is that bothers them, or draws them to a game and try to find more games of that nature. Try a wide variety of game types in this stage! If your partner enjoys reading fantasy novels, you might naturally consider a fantasy RPG, but ultimately that may prove too boring. You can shift to an action RPG with more action and less story, or drop RPG all together and try to find a straightforward action game set in a fantasy world. It all depends on the individual and in this stage I can't really set forth any concrete instructions. This is the trial and error stage and you have to remain vigilant and not get too frustrated.
If you dabble in multiplayer games this is a great opportunity to mix in some of Phase 3, because often just playing together can make a game that is boring alone into something that is extremely fun, or fun to make fun of, once you start playing together.
Phase 3: Game Together
FFXIV may not have been the best game
to focus my strategy on, but we had fun!
This is the ultimate goal. Once you figure out what kind of games your partner enjoys playing, then you need to start finding common ground, or if all else fails compromise. Perhaps your partner enjoys racing games like Mario Kart, or Gran Turismo, but they aren't your thing. This is the transition phase to get them from "racing" to something like Grand Theft Auto. It has racing! Once they get used to shooting up everyone in sight, maybe come to enjoy that sort of thing (in a non-sociopath sort of way) Then you slyly transition that to Halo, or Call of Duty, or where ever you're intending to end up in this long-term campaign. It's all about transitioning and conditioning. One of the things non-gamers or casual gamers have issue with is being intimidated or frustrated with their lack of skill (or interest). So you gradually build them up to the point where they're comfortable playing your favorite games along-side you, and enjoying themselves!
Keep in mind, the ultimate goal isn't to brainwash or convert your partner into your Halo wing-man. You may find your partner will simply never like FPS, just like you don't like racing games (in this hypothetical scenario). This is where you must stick to a common interest, or perhaps on Mondays you hit the tracks of their favorite racing game and Fridays you guys shoot your way through the demon infested Phobos base. I can't tell you what will work best for your relationship, but understand that you might hit impasses that you must work around. You might find games you wouldn't naturally buy or play or enjoy by yourself suddenly become extremely fun and enjoyable - Lego Star Wars (and subsequent Lego games) were that way for me. It's a series we can always turn to for a ton of cooperative fun and laughs.
The ultimate goal is to find games that you enjoy playing together, so that you both have fun and your relationship grows stronger. You certainly don't want your partner to resent all the time you game without them, or to feel left out, or unwelcome. Trust me, gaming with your partner is so much better than gaming against them.
He wishes he could play Halo right now,
but nooo she wants to watch a romantic comedy!
Here's some General Tips to keep in mind while working your way through this process:
When you start this process I'd lean towards cooperative games rather than competitive games. It's certainly open to individual tastes, but I'd say that for relationship building (especially the initial groundwork) it will feel better to accomplish something together (beating a difficult boss with teamwork) than to constantly be trying to out-do the other. Certainly there are competitive games like Mario Party and "Mario" sports games in general that are more about "good fun" than do-or-die "must win" gaming, but I'd advise to explore more co-op unless you notice your partner takes particular ecstasy in kicking your ass at Mario Tennis (in which case you might be worried about your future together). It's certainly something you will have to figure out together.
In the same vein, don't take the games too seriously. When playing co-op nothing kills the spirit of teamwork like getting frustrated if your less experienced partner is slowing things down or holding you back. Remember that you're trying to find what's fun for them, and eventually what's fun for both of you. Remember that it's a long process and not going to be instant gratification (the basis of gaming addiction). You need to go at their pace, and cater to their learning curve. You need to offer help and guidance without being overly critical. If you do play competitively, I'm not saying let them win (yes, I am) but you don't need to bring your A-game to each match. This is all for fun, and to spend time together. No one enjoys losing all the time.
This is part of an ongoing series about my favorite memories
from video games. You can find the original list and table of contents in last
month's post or by clicking here. Please be aware that these posts are going to be full
of spoilers which may ruin the impact of these events on anyone who wishes
to experience them on their own in the future.
#4 - The Master Sword (Ocarina of Time)
I was only seven years old when The Legend of Zelda and I first crossed paths in 1987. I don’t
believe I ever truly owned a copy of the original Nintendo Entertainment System
cartridge, but I sure had a copy on extended loan from a friend at several
points in my childhood. Although I attribute “Final Fantasy” with pushing me
towards writing, I do think The Legend of
Zelda sparked something in me. This game was different from anything I had
ever known. It did not boast a complex story like Final Fantasy would when I played it later on, but it did come
packaged with unrivaled exploration and adventure. What I’m trying to express
is that I grew up with Link, Zelda and Ganon. Their story is a part of me as a
gamer, as a writer, as an explorer and adventurer.
The first copy I truly owned was in Animal Crossing!
Prior to this title, I viewed video games as simple
entertainment, something to turn on and enjoy for a few hours. Legend of Zelda was something more,
though. It wasn’t just monsters on the screen to shoot or stab, or levels to
complete like games I’d played prior. It was like entiring a whole new world
and it was the first time I found something of myself in a game. I enjoy being
thrust into a world without much direction and left to explore and uncover
pieces of the story as I go. As often as I say “I love a game with a good
story” the simplistic approach found in Legend
of Zelda and mirrored in great games such as Metroid (particularly the “Prime” trilogy) and Shadow of the Colossus is something I also greatly admire.
In the original title, the most powerful blade is called “Magic Sword” but many
believe it to be what later titles would call the “Master Sword.” The legend
surrounding the Master Sword would first grow stronger when A Link to the Past was released for
Super Nintendo. In this incarnation Link must face an evil wizard who has
usurped control of Hyrule Castle in an attempt to release the seal that has
locked a god-like being named Ganon in the Dark World. In order to succeed Link
would need to get his hands on the Master Sword, a powerful blade with the
ability to reflect evil magic back at itself. It would require a test of
character and he would brave three dungeons to retrieve three pendants in order
to awaken the sleeping sword. This quest which ends in a symbolic moment of
Link pulling the Master Sword from the stone in the Lost Woods would become an
iconic representation of the Legend of Zelda from that moment on.
The Master Sword of Link to the Past
Link to the Past
is one of my favorite games ever made so it was difficult to believe that
moment in the Lost Woods between a boy and his legendary sword could ever be
trumped. When Ocarina of Time hit
shelves for Nintendo 64 in 1998, Nintendo really outdid themselves. Again we
are taken further into the past of the Hyrule Kingdom. Again Link awakens to
find himself thrust into an adventure he was not quite prepared for and rushes
into danger without a moment’s hesitation. Link’s first dungeon is an attempt
to free the guardian of the Lost Woods, the Great Deku Tree, from an evil curse
that has been laid upon it. Though he releases the curse, the Great Deku Tree
still withers, but not before giving Link the Spiritual Stone of the Forest and
sending him to find Princess Zelda. Anyone who played Link to the Past may realize they are now holding one of the three
stones required to awaken the Master Sword. In an attempt to thwart the evil intentions of
Ganondorf, King of Thieves, Zelda sends Link on a quest to find the other two
spiritual stones so that he may enter the Sacred Realm and protect the sacred
relic, the Triforce, from falling into Ganondorf’s hands.
When I finally stood before the Temple of Time with all
three stones in my possession, I already feel like an accomplished adventurer. I
have met the Goron people of the mountains, and the Zora people of the sea. I
proved myself to them by braving the challenges they put before me and earned
the stones necessary to enter the Sacred Realm. I didn’t know it at the time,
but as I entered the Temple of Time, the gateway to the Sacred Realm, I stood
upon the threshold of one of the greatest moments in gaming history. As I
placed the stones on the altar, a door slides open revealing a large chamber.
Before me is a sword stuck in stone upon a large hexagonal dias. The symbol of
the Triforce is etched into the stone, as well as the dias. This young Link I
command wraps his small hands around the hilt of a sword that is slightly
larger than he is and pulls it free of its stone prison. The Triforce etched on
to the dias begins to glow and then, if that weren’t enough, something
unbelievable happens.
Master Sword in the Temple of Time
Ganondorf is there and he thanks me for opening the door to
the Scared Realm for him. I was a pawn in his plans all along. The screen fades
to white and when vision returns, I’m in a strange glowing chamber. An old man,
Rauru, explains he is one of the Seven Sages (I’d heard of them in Link to the Past!) and I am in the
Temple of Light in the Sacred Realm. He instructs me to take a good look at
myself – I mean, at my Link and I’m astounded to see that I’m not the small boy
from the forest, but a grown man. Pulling the Master Sword from the stone,
opening the door to the Sacred Realm, placed Link in stasis until he was strong
enough to wield the blade and become the Hero of Time. Now, it was time to set
right what he and I had done wrong when we allowed Ganondorf to enter the
Sacred Realm and claim the powers of the Gods.
I felt as if everything I’d done with Young Link was a long prelude
to the real heart of the game. Now I had a goal and a purpose. Ganondorf had
used his powers to destroy and corrupt the land of Hyrule and now seven years
later he would have to face Link on near equal terms. What a great build up,
and a great plot twist. It was an eye opening moment when I realized I had only
scratched the surface of what this game was going to throw at me, and how I was
not going to have to experience the entire game as the pint-sized hero, but as
a full-grown warrior. I was truly blindsided by all this, and it was here that
I realized not only was I now in command of a grown Link armed with the Master
Sword, but I was actually playing the legend that had been built up in the back-story
of Link to the Past. I was witnessing
the King of Thieves, Ganondorf, claim victory over the Triforce and become the
evil monster Ganon that I had fought many times before. I was playing the
origin of it all.
Now I get to play as this guy? AWESOME!
Honestly, what an amazing moment to realize that not only
were you instrumental in creating the villain of every Zelda game you had
already played, but you were playing out the events you had heard as myths and
legends. It is not a wonder to me why Ocarina
of Time stands as one of the most highly acclaimed and influential video
games of all time. In my opinion, it has not been outshone by any other title
in the franchise and I think it would be difficult to do so. Someday I will
build up the Courage to face my fears and play the Master Quest version and then
I will truly be worthy of the title, the Hero of Time.
I recently mentioned Samus Aran taking off her Chozo power suit and revealing herself to be a woman in the original Metroid was #1 on my personal list of Most Memorable Moments in video games. I decided that I'd have to actually publish a more complete list of moments. In order to do each moment justice, however, I decided I'd write an entire article about each one after kicking off with the initial list. So today is the prelude to a 10-week project and should read more or less like a table of contents for things to come. First, I need to lay down a few simple criteria/clarifications.
Point 1 - These are all games I have personally played.
As with any opinion, results may vary. I want to be clear that these are my most memorable moments which is based entirely on my own experiences playing these games at the time that I played them. There may be other scenes in other games that blow these out of the water, but I may not have played them or I may have played them at a time when the moment was ruined by prior knowledge which would lessen the impact.
Point 2 - These are all events scripted into the game.
All player-driven or randomly generated events will be excluded. I wrote an article about my campaign to defeat Ifrit in Final Fantasy XIV which was monumentally memorable, but the challenge and coordinated effort of that struggle was completely player-driven and would vary from person to person. Similarly, I've had many exciting adventures in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that involved multiple dragons showing up to ruin my day, but as they were randomly generated I don't consider it a natural part of the game. My intent is to present scripted events that everyone will experience in roughly the same way.
Point 3 - I had no spoilers or prior knowledge to events listed.
Many of these moments would be ruined by knowing before-hand they were going to happen. So in saying that, I am warning you that the next few weeks of posts will be filled with spoilers about games I played and stuck out in my memory. Your prior knowledge of these events (if you have not yet experienced them) may tarnish the experience for you if you hope to play these games in the near future. The choice is yours, but know that when I played these games I had no idea what was going to happen next and so my opinions were heavily influenced as a result.
Now that I've set down the foundation for these opinions, I present my TOP Ten Most Memorable.
The problem with prequels coming out 10 years after the original story is that you most likely know how they are going to end. I knew Crisis Core would end with Zack Fair's final moments, but how they were going to weave this into the gameplay took me by absolute surprise. The last battle in the game manages to use the game's mechanics to convey a tremendous amount of emotion into a really excellent fighting sequence.
“Metal Gear Solid” is
a franchise that is made up of plot-twist after compounding plot-twist, but
Psycho Mantis was most memorable for using the Playstation itself to mentally unnerve
you and thwart your efforts to defeat him. His displays of psychic prowess
break the proverbial fourth wall and confront the player directly and the
challenge of defeating him required some out-of-the-box thinking and gaming.
Chrono Trigger
opens with a trip to the Millennial Fair which is celebrating the year 1000AD
as well as the Hero’s triumphant defeat of Magus 400 years ago. As soon as you
walk Crono out the front door the game is already conditioning you for the ultimate
showdown with Magus in 600AD and you don’t even know it. The game does a good
job of hyping up this fight and then it delivers in one of the best sequences
in the game topped off with one of the best tracks of battle music as well.
Sora proves without a
doubt he would do anything to reunite with his friends. After learning that his
friend Kairi will remain comatose until her heart is freed from its hiding
place locked within Sora’s own heart, he does what any selfless hero-in-training
would do – stabs himself in the heart with a Keyblade that unlocks all hearts.
He frees Kairi and allows darkness to consume his heart.
Shadow of the Colossus
is a masterpiece and every moment is memorable, but it’s easy to pick out the
first of the sixteen colossi as the poster-colossus to represent the whole
game. Though each of the colossi is a marvel in its own right, Valus sets the
tone and scope of the entire adventure by taking your breath away as you grip
your sword and run up to his enormous legs trying to find some weakness to
bring this giant down.
Final Fantasy IV
is my favorite game to play. I’ve beaten it dozens of times because I love the
story and characters. I want to note that my least favorite characters are
Palom & Porom, but for one short scene they really steal the show. Their
self-sacrifice has me tearing up every single time I live through it. Despite the
twins spending most of their time annoying me with their sibling banter, they
really show a courage and wisdom beyond their years when they step up and give
their lives to free the other characters from a devious trap.
#4 - The Master Sword (The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, Nintendo 64, 1998)
The pivotal moment
in Ocarina of Time is after you gather
the three prerequisite pendants and play the Song of Time before the sword in
the stone. Link pulls the Master Sword free in an unforgettable sequence.
When you step into the shoes of Link as an adult several years into the future, you realize you’ve only scratched the
surface of what this game has in store for you.
In an elaborate attempt to gain access to the world’s only
privately owned and operated airship, the cast of Final Fantasy VI opt to cast Celes as the lead
role in place of the opera starlet Maria, whom the airship owner is planning to kidnap. I expected to step on stage and see a few lines
of text before the scene changed, but what I got was a full
20 minute opera completely composed in 16-bit. It shattered my
perception of video game music, and remains one of the most amazing scenes in
the entire “Final Fantasy” franchise.
#2 - Aerith's Death (Final Fantasy VII, Playstation, 1997)
The villain you’ve been chasing manages to get his hands
on the Black Materia and use it cast a world ending spell known as “Meteor.” In
response, the soft-spoken, kind-hearted token damsel in distress decides to
head off on her own to seek answers and when you finally catch up to her, you
find her peacefully praying on a dais in the middle of the Forgotten City. She looks up at you with hope in her eyes,
and that’s when the villain descends from above and impales her on the end of his
sword. Does this sound upsetting? Believe me, it is. This scene is burned into
my memory.
#1 - Samus Unmasked (Metroid, Nintendo Entertainment System, 1987)
I believe Aerith’s Death (#2) may be slightly more
emotionally traumatizing and shocking, but Samus pulling off her helmet and
revealing she is a woman is my #1 because I was so young when I
experienced it and it was equally unexpected. I was so proud of myself for
beating such a difficult game, and the game itself rewarded me with knowledge
that not many kids had at the time. This moment of revelation is really what kick
started her as a video game phenomenon.
