The original screenshots for Zelda for Nintendo's state of the art console, known as the GameCube, showed a realistic looking adult Link and Ganon dueling. People raved about how great the game looked from what few screenshots were released to the public. However, nobody was prepared for what they were about to see at Spaceworld 2001. Mr. Miyamoto, Zelda's creator, showed us a clip of the new Zelda, but it wasn't the same game everybody expected; the new Zelda looked like a cartoon. A shocked audience gazed at the clip which showed a child Link jumping and grabbing ahold of a chandelier while a gang of moblins in pursuit ran in mid air before plummeting ala Wiley E. Coyote. People grumbled about the new Zelda and accused it of being too childish. Some people already had formed the opinon that Nintendo is just for little kids, and this was like adding fuel to the fire. However, after assessing the change, not only did I accept the new Zelda, but I started to like it better than the original concept. Yes, you heard me right. And no, I haven't lost my mind. I said better. Before you send the people in the white coats after me, let me defend my position.

First of all, Miyamoto has an impressive track record. He designed Super Mario Bros., which was a smash hit back in the day. Who didn't love that game back then? Heck, many people, including myself, still consider it to be a great game. Then there is The Legend of Zelda, another all time great. On some recent top 100 video games of all time lists, Super Mario Bros. and Zelda have been near the top, proving they still have an impact on the gaming world even today. And this is just for starters, as Mario and Zelda games got many sequels, all of which are nothing short of outstanding.(Okay, some people don't like Majora's Mask, but still...) With this in mind, it's difficult to fathom that Miyamoto will suddenly make a game that is horrible. This guy made some of the best video games ever. The new Zelda will be just as good. Have a little faith people.

Now, take a really close look at the new Link. Look familiar? He should. Look at the two images below and tell me they don't bare resemblence to each other.

Yeah, the new GC Link does look cartoonish and goofy looking, but so did the original and A Link to the Past Links. Did anyone care? No. They are great games that were hailed by everyone after they were released. Nintendo seems to be going back to their roots. This looks like textbook, old school Zelda to me. How can you NOT be excited about this game? People also whined about the bit where the moblins ran in mid-air for a bit before falling after Link leaped and grabbed the chandelier. I got news for you people; this is nothing new. In A Link to the Past, which many people hail as the greatest Zelda game and rightfully so, it's possible to knock soldiers into bottomless pits and they run in mid air for a second much in the same vein as the moblins in the video clip. It's like people have forgotten about the Zelda games prior to the N64 era, or they have never played them at all. An article in the Hyrule Times on IGN Insider(insider.ign.com) says basically the same thing. They said "players familiar with the 3D Zelda games by far outnumber those who played the games on the NES, SNES, or even Game Boy. Almost everyone remembers details from Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask, but the older Zelda titles have either faded from your memory -- or you never played them to begin with."

The new GC Zelda also looks like it's more fun to play than the original GC Zelda. It showed Link exploring, which is something Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask lacks, sneaking around enemies, and using brain instead of brawn to thwart the moblins at the end. This game seems to have more depth, as opposed to the mindless walk up to an enemy, lock on to it with Z targeting, then defeat it with a certain weapon.

Maybe I am a Nintendo fanboy and maybe I am crazy, but I actually like what they've done to the new Zelda game. I really think once people get over the superficial, they will realize it could be a potentially good game. Besides, this is The Legend of Zelda. Since when has any Legend of Zelda game been bad, not counting the CGI versions?(Okay, you could make a case for Majora's Mask, but you get the point.) If you are still skeptical, then play The Legend of Zelda for the NES or A Link to the Past for SNES and you will know what I've been talking about.