Game Review: The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)

Written by: Jens

Nintendo's second most popular character, Zelda, has been, since her first appearance on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), a true legend. The latest sage, The Minish Cap, is not going to drive away fans from the Zelda game we're all waiting for... the (for now) nameless Legend Of Zelda for GameCube.

You might have seen pictures or videos of The Minish Cap. This game is all about going mini! If we compare it with Link to the Past, we see this one has bad things, but good things, as well. There's a new possibility of unlocking mini, non-story related activities: for example, the use of Kinstones. You can do this with almost every NPC you meet in the game. The point is this: throughout the game you find half round stones, each a different color and shape. If you meet someone and find a stone that is the same as the one of the other person has, something good happens. Also, a lot of new weapons appear in this game, such as a weapon that can suck enemies in and spit them out at other enemies.

First of all, the story has a very original concept: Zelda gets turned into stone by a magician and the only people who can help her are small people (who many people think of as a myth): the Minish. But if they are to help you, you first must acquire four elemental stones (these stones also help you to perform tricks, such as cloning yourself). In the story, you meet a hat. This hat helps you to shrink and fly in tornados. This hat also has an entire background story (on how he became a hat). I'm not going to explain that (I don't want to spoil the plot!), so you'll actually be surprised by the story instead of thinking: "Oh yeah, Jens said that would happen!"

The graphics automatically show the more experienced Zelda players that it has to be around the same moment as Four Swords, because it... it's the same. Yet because most of the people didn't even get the chance to play four swords, because... erm... maybe because they didn't have 3 friends with a GBA? This does gives them a chance to admire its graphics. And they certainly are pretty. Look more realistic and less squarish than Link To The Past.

The music is only really different in a different zone (and there aren't many of them), causing you to easily become bored of it. And so I'm not going to tell you a lot about that.

Now, let's check out its X-Factor- *angry eyes in his direction*- I mean... Fun Factor! This game is A LOT shorter then LTTP, but does contain more humor and more fun, as it is easier to progress instead of staying at one place, trying to kill all the bees or whatever.

So, here's how I rate the game:

Story: 9/10

Graphics: 9/10

Sounds: 6/10

X- ... erm... Fun Factor: 9/10

Gameplay: 8/10

To bring an average of... *Types numbers into calculator*... 8.2!

A high score, but it deserves it! So go play it! Stop reading! Go play!