In this episode (that you should take seriously), The Lore Research Lab's resident fumbler of the English language presents a comedic take on explaining The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Possessing references to previous Breath of the Wild episodes, this has a clear goal (explaining the game poorly), but how poor of an explanation will this be? Will this be more succinct than intended? Listen to find out!

Timestamps:

00:29 - Introduction to The Parody Series

09:34 - Explaining Breath of the Wild

> 10:04 - The "Basic" Premise

> 14:30 - Characters + Entities

> 39:55 - Cultural Groups

> 44:29 - Geography

> 50:03 - Enemies

> 54:57 - Mysterious Stuff + Miscellaneous Details

> 59:05 - Sidequests

> 1:03:02 - Shrines & More

> 1:16:26 - A Site of Ruin

1:21:51 - Concluding Notes

Links/Resources: 

- The most Accurate Map of Hyrule

- How to make Breath of the Wild Dishes

Aonuma, Eiji. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, translated by Michael Gombos et al. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2013.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Complete Official Guide Expanded Edition, edited by Maura Sutton, et al. Piggyback Interactive Limited, 2017.

Kayama, Naoyuki et al. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own game and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D is an interesting yet dark addition to the Legend of Zelda canon, a game that functions differently compared to other games within the canon, along with its status as a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. What is there to know about this game? How does it fit within the master Legend of Zelda timeline? How and what does this game do differently in respect to other games? You can find out these details in this informative take that deconstructs the world of Majora's Mask!

Timestamps:

00:23 - Preliminary Details

> 04:34 - Basic Premise

08:20 - Story Beats + Gameplay

08:42 - Brief notes on Gameplay

23:09 - Story Beats

47:46 - Characters, Cultural Groups and Other Entities

> 48:22 - Characters

> 55:38 - Cultural Groups

> 58:21 - Villainous Entities

1:02:32 - The Sidequests

> 1:05:03 - Minor Ones

> 1:07:44 - Major Ones

1:29:21 - The Music

> 1:31:38 - List of Songs

> 1:37:22 - The Music of Majora's Mask

1:55:17 - Masks & Items

> 1:56:00 - The Masks

> 2:06:33 - Items

2:09:45 - Conclusion

> 2:10:00 - Placing Majora's Mask in the Legend of Zelda Timeline

> 2:23:34 - Concluding Thoughts

Links/Resources:

- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

- Majora's Mask Information

> Characters

> Masks

> Items

> Songs

> List of Sidequests

>> Anju and Kafei Sidequest

>> Protecting Romani Ranch Sidequest

> Majora's Mask Game Walkthrough

> Bosses

> "The Music of Majora's Mask"

>> Clock Town Day 1 Theme

>> Clock Town Day 2 Theme

>> Clock Town Day 3 Theme

>> The Final Hours

Aonuma, Eiji. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, translated by Michael Gombos et al. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2013.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own game and is solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

A brief episode discussing some more updates on Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, along with a reaction to new footage (that came out of nowhere) released on Pokémon Legends: Arceus; listen to this series of ramblings for some fun analyses on what we can expect from these upcoming Pokémon games!

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon Legends: Arceus "Mysterious Footage restored!"

> Hisuian Zorua and Zoroark Video

- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: Other updates

- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Main Website)

- Zorua (Pokémon)

- The Arc Phone

New gameplay footage has been released on Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, along with some new footage for Pokémon Legends: Arceus! This episode provides some updates as per the newly released footage (BDSP), along with a reaction to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, concluding with an analysis of the same footage. 

Timestamps:

00:04 - Episode Breakdown

01:21 - Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Updates

19:57 - Reacting to Pokémon Legends: Arceus New Gameplay Footage

27:08 - Analyzing the Pokémon Legends: Arceus New Gameplay Footage

51:58 - Updates from The Lab

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Gameplay Footage

- Pokémon Legends: Arceus Gameplay Footage 

“Pokédex: All 482+8 Pokémon & Post-Story Guide – Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version.” Edited by Lawrence Neves. Prima Games, 2006.

(Creator's Note: Sorry for any random background noises or muffled audio. Please listen to the end for some housekeeping updates!)

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword provides players with an ancient world belonging to an era of myth. Link must explore the world of The Surface, venturing through three vast, principal regions known as Faron, Eldin, and Lanayru. Across his travels, and as the primeval demon known as Demise’s awakening becomes imminent, Link is expected to be tested through trials in the Silent Realm, meant to aid him in strengthening both his sword and his will as the chosen hero. This second part discusses what the implications are of the Silent Realms; a series of mini theories that tie into the worldbuilding of Skyward Sword, along with lore and history connections to two other prominent Legend of Zelda games.

Timestamps:

00:21 - Other Notes about the Silent Realms

04:55 - Theory Discussion

Topics:

- Spirit Realm Significance (Connections to the Goddesses + Hylia, the hero's role, importance of song)

- Guardians + Trials for the Hero

- Connections to other games 

- Origins for the Hero

Links/Resources:

- Silent Realm + Soundtrack (listed below)

> Collected Tear Vessel

> Spirit Vessel (Completed)

> Farore's Silent Realm

> Nayru's Silent Realm

> Din's Silent Realm

> Guardians Awaken

- Earth Guardians, Sky Guardians, Watchers

Aonuma, Eiji. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, translated by Michael Gombos et al. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2013.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Complete Official Guide Expanded Edition, edited by Maura Sutton, et al. Piggyback Interactive Limited, 2017.

Kayama, Naoyuki et al. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

(Creator's Note: Sorry for any background noise. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own game and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword provides players with an ancient world belonging to an era of myth. Link must explore the world of The Surface, venturing through three vast, principal regions known as Faron, Eldin, and Lanayru. Across his travels, and as the primeval demon known as Demise’s awakening becomes imminent, Link is expected to be tested through trials in the Silent Realm, meant to aid him in strengthening both his sword and his will as the chosen hero. This first part of the episode provides a breakdown of preliminary information and a comedic take on what the Silent Realm trials are, what Link is expected to do within them, and the end result of said trials.

Timestamps:

00:33 - Skyward Sword Housekeeping

> 03:57 - The Basic Premise (Recap)

> 06:24 - The Role of the Sword (Myth)

> 12:24 - Before the Silent Realms

19:05 - Exploring the Silent Realms

> 20:36 - Know your Geography

> 23:55 - The Trials

Links/Resources:

- Maps

> Faron Woods

 > Eldin Volcano

> Lanayru Desert (Present)

> Lanayru Desert (Past)

- Silent Realm + Soundtrack (listed below)

> Collected Tear Vessel

> Spirit Vessel (Completed)

> Farore's Silent Realm

> Nayru's Silent Realm

> Din's Silent Realm

> Guardians Awaken

- Earth Guardians, Sky Guardians, Watchers

Aonuma, Eiji. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, translated by Michael Gombos et al. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2013.

(Creator's Note: Sorry for any background noise. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own game and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

A revamped version of the monumental 2011 release, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD brightens up the visuals from the original version, added some new features, but what kind of changes were implemented for this divisive game? What else is there to know about the game? What is the nature of gameplay? Does it correct the issues from the original game, and is it a game worth getting? You can find out that information here and more in this review of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD!

Timestamps:

00:34 - Preliminary Details

03:16 - Skyward Sword's Premise

06:24 - The Development of Skyward Sword (2011)

> 06:47 - Disclaimer on Development

> 09:22 - The Development Process (Directors and Producers, Controls)

> 12:58 - The Scenario (Origins, Overworld Development)

> 17:29 - Brief Discussion on Gameplay Mechanics

> 20:30 - The Soundtrack of Skyward Sword (Composers, Thematic Elements)

24:21 - Characters + Cultural Groups

> 25:50 - Characters

> 36:46 - Cultural Groups

43:22 - The Sky and the Surface (Skyward Sword's Geography)

59:58 - Comparing Gameplay (2011 v. 2021)

> 1:00:25 - Skyward Sword Controls + Gameplay Mechanics (2011)

> 1:06:52 - Skyward Sword HD Controls + Gameplay Mechanics

1:16:53 - The Debate on Skyward Sword

1:23:57 - Conclusion

Links/Resources:

- Skyward Sword (2011) Development 

(NOTE: Any information not cited here can be found in the Footnotes section of the Development Page.)

> Iwata Asks: Motion Controls 

> Iwata Asks: Script and Direction 

> Iwata Asks: The Transformation System

> Skyward Sword Art Inspiration

- Skyward Sword Characters

Aonuma, Eiji. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, translated by Michael Gombos et al. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2013.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

(Creator's Note: Sorry for any random background noises or muffled sounds. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own game and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Pokémon appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and forms; one important determinant of these characteristics is what is known as a “Type”, giving Pokémon unique attributes based on the Type’s element, power, and so on. With 18 types in total, there are many to review; in the fifth installment of this miniseries known as “Pokémon Rants”, The Lab’s verbally fumbling founder tackles “Electric Types”, the Pokémon that constitute this typing, an analysis that includes technical information, design analyses, and other thoughts on what it means to be a Electric Type Pokémon.

Timestamps:

00:26 - Type Overview + Background

06:45 - Technical Information

21:32 - Appearances + Moves

> 21:44 - Pure Electric Types

> 27:22 - Primary Electric Types

> 32:23 - Secondary Electric Types

> 36:32 - Electric Type Moves

40:56 - Atypical Case Studies + Concluding Thoughts

> 42:08 - The Pikachu Copycat Phenomena

> 47:08 - Atypical Case Studies

Links/Resources:

- Electric (Type)

- Type

- Move

- Ability

“Pokédex: All 482+8 Pokémon & Post-Story Guide – Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version.” Edited by Lawrence Neves. Prima Games, 2006.

“Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex.” Edited by Michael G. Ryan and Lawrence Neves. Bellevue: The Pokémon Company International, 2009.

(Creator's Note: I recommend that you listen to the rants in order for continuity purposes (so things make sense), but this is optional. Sorry for any muffled audio, cuts, and random background noises. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from the cited guidebooks and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

What does it mean when a game passively tells its story, and conversely, what does it mean when a game actively tells its story? How does this impact gameplay, and what are key differences between the two formats? How is world building affected in this process? Using The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity as case studies, these questions can be answered! This third and final part concludes with how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity world builds, a comparison between The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and finally, discussing what this all means in the context of world building and storytelling.

Timestamps:

00:01 - Introduction to Part 3 (3)

00:59 - How Age of Calamity World Builds

> 04:56 - Discussing Characters

> 32:57 - Discussing the Soundtrack

> 41:50 - Discussing World Building

> 1:01:22 - World Building Miscellaneous Topics (+ Non-Canon Topics)

1:17:04 - Comparing the Games

1:47:27 - Conclusion

Links/Resources:

- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Nintendo Official Website)

- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Wiki)

- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wiki)

- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Soundtrack (With Timestamps)

- Zelda's Lullaby

- Hyrule Interactive Map

- Tapestry 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Complete Official Guide Expanded Edition, edited by Maura Sutton, et al. Piggyback Interactive Limited, 2017.

Kayama, Naoyuki et al. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

(Creator's Note: Listen to the episodes in order for the sake of continuity, context, and general explanation. Sorry for any random background noises. I also apologize if things sound repetitive in this episode. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from the cited guidebooks and video games, which are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

What does it mean when a game passively tells its story, and conversely, what does it mean when a game actively tells its story? How does this impact gameplay, and what are key differences between the two formats? How is world building affected in this process? Using The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity as case studies, these questions can be answered! This third part focuses on deconstructing the story of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.

Timestamps: 

00:05 - Introduction to Part 3 (2)

01:45 - Framework for Deconstruction

05:39 - Deconstruction of the Story

Links/Resources:

- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Nintendo Official Website)

- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Wiki)

- Hyrule Interactive Map

- Tapestry 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Complete Official Guide Expanded Edition, edited by Maura Sutton, et al. Piggyback Interactive Limited, 2017.

Kayama, Naoyuki et al. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

(Creator's Note: Listen to the episodes in order for the sake of continuity, context, and general explanation. Sorry for any random background noises. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from the cited guidebooks and video games, which are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)