My Top 5 Pokemon Spin-Off Games

I hope all of you are enjoying Pokemon Sun and Moon. For the past week I have been playing non-stop and I really love the new path they took with the seventh generation. It really felt similar to playing Red and Blue for the first time. Well except the feature that wild Pokemon can now call for Help during a battle. That feature can burn in the deepest depths of hell.

After 20 Years Pokemon has grown into one of the most successful and biggest franchises in the history of video games. The Mainline games excite young and old and with Pokemon Go the franchise created an unreal hype this past summer. Over the years Pokemon has grown from a simple video game into a multi-genre titan. Movies, TV-Series, Toys and everything else under the sun are created under the brand. However this is first and foremost still a video game blog. That's why I'd like to share my five Pics for the best Pokemon Spin-off games.

While looking into this topic I realized again how many of those games are out there. Pokemon truly has ventured into nearly every genre there is. And so it wasn't easy to narrow the pics down to only five.
The incredible diversity in Spin-Off games just shows the potential of the franchise. When a Fighting Game and a (kind of) Rail Shooter are released under the same brand, and both feel like a natural fit, you truly have a goldmine at hand.

But now don't lets waste any more time. Here are my Top 5 Pokemon Spin-off Games.

5: Pokken Tournament

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When this game was announced I was pretty puzzled. Could this work? Should this work? Well the answer is quite simple. Absolutely!

While the absolute ruler of fighting games on the Wii-U is undoubtedly Super Smash Bros. this game offered fans of more complex fighting games a great alternative. It got quite the deep fighting system with a lot of great combos and offers a high skill cap. It's the perfect game for fans of Tekken or Street Fighter, which want to truly master a game like that.

The selection of Pokemon is great. They managed to include not only the obvious choices, but also freshen things up with several unusual fighters. They even made Chandelure work.

It is a shame that only the Arcade Version of the game got several new characters so far, but I still hope that we'll see them as DLC for the Wii-U Version along the line.

So if you always dreamed of Pile Driving Gardevoir with a Pikachu dressed as a Lucha Libre, then this game is what you have been waiting for. Fans of Tekken and Pokemon got the ultimate Franchise Mix Up. A very good fighting game with some very unusual fighters.

4: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon:

The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series puts you into the shoes of a Pokemon. I was always wondering why it took them so long to release a game like that, but since Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red and Blue we got a steady supply of those games.
They take the well known Pokemon Formula and replace it with a Dungeon Crawler style of gameplay, which is quite refreshing and a great fit for those games.

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After choosing which Pokemon you'd like to play, you're thrust into the world. As newest Member of your respective rescue team your job is it to help other Pokemon, recruit them for your team and explore the dangerous dungeons.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is an entertaining Action Adventure series and it's success over the years is testament to that. It may lack the polish of the main line games, but if you like the Diablo like gameplay then these games are surely worth a buy.

3: Pokemon Trading Card Game

Like I said earlier Pokemon has grown into a multi-million dollar industry of its own over the course of twenty years. There have been some hit and misses, but one of the most successful franchise spin-offs was and is the Pokemon Trading Card Game. After all this years it's still going strong with regular tournaments and so forth.

But for this list I'm not talking about the physical Trading Card Game.

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During, what many consider the height of Pokemon, when Silver and Gold where just around the corner, Nintendo released a GameBoy Color Version of the Trading Card game. And it was brilliant.

It included all of the original 151 Pokemon and a lot of Trainer Cards. And while this number may seem a little bit small in comparison to today’s 801 Pokemin, but it was more than enough to build fun and diverse decks. Combined with the ability to battle your friends via Link battles this created just the same addicting fun as the main line Pokemon Games. It also offered a relative cheap version to play the Trading Card Game without investing hundreds of dollars for booster packs.

I'm sure a true successor with all currently released cards would be a huge success.

2: Pokemon Snap

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I'm still kinda pissed that this game didn't get a successor on the Wii-U. There was no console in history that was better suited for a Snap game, but Nintendo really dropped the ball with this one. Well at least we got the excellent original on the Virtual Console.

By todays standard it may seem a bit lackluster and small, but during it's initial release it was a groundbreaking next step for the Pokemon. After all it was the first time you could see your favorite Pokemon in 3D. Even before the release of Pokemon Stadium.

And what was even better it allowed you to spectate them in their natural habitat. Something that was never truly seen before.

The gameplay itself is easy to grasp, but still a lot of fun. Trying to capture that perfect picture for a better score was a great driving force. It may seem vain, but there have been countless hours spend just to get that perfect picture of a Pokemon. Of course this only seems vain to people, who have never played Snap.

Pokemon Snap, just like my Number One Pic, was released during the high time of Pokemon. The first generation created a never before known worldwide Hype and the second generation was right around the corner to drive it to new unknown heights. Nintendo and Game Freak tried to spread the franchise onto other genres and consoles and thanks to that we got one of the best and most unique N64 games. And of course we also got...

1: Pokemon Stadium 2

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While the first Stadium did lay the groundwork, the second installment perfected it. This is the perfect console Pokemon Game. Yes Colosseum and XD were great in their own right, but Stadium was better. Simply because it did it's own thing and didn't try to emulate the Mainline games. Instead it offered something that wasn't possible on the Handheld. Fully rendered 3D Pokemon Battles.

But these games did so much more.
Once again you could transfer your Pokemon from the Handheld to the Big Screen via the Transfer Pack, but this time you could also use all Pokemon from the second generation. Seeing your hard trained Feraligatr on the Big Screen defeating a Charizard is a feeling you can't describe.

But like I said the 3D Battles in the Stadium, while being the heart piece of the game, weren't everything. You could challenge the difficult to beat Gym Leaders or you could play the Mainline Games on the Big screen. There was even a possibility to run the games at twice or three times their normal speed. Then there was the trainer academy and of course the hidden stars of Pokemon Stadium 2. The Mini Games.

Who needs Mario Party if you have Pokemon Stadium 2. The Mini Game Tournaments are one of the most entertaining things you can play. Period. Even though I suck at them, I love to see the despair on my friends face when I overtake them during the last meters of Tumbling Togepi.

From all the games on this List the Stadium series is most in need, and most deserving of a new installment on the Switch. Make it happen Nintendo.

And that were my Top 5 pics for Pokemon Spin-Off games. What are your thoughts on that topic? What games did or do you enjoy the most? Let me know.

And as always

thanks for reading

The Keys to a successful Switch

When late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced the Nintendo NX in March 2015 he started one of the biggest sources for hype and rumors that I've ever seen. Especially in the last months before the actual reveal of the Switch you couldn't have one day without a new rumor or leak. Now I thought this would slow down after the actual reveal. But Nintendo had other plans. And while I think the reveal was in fact very well done and worked, for what it intended to be, it also left enough spaces open so that the rumors and speculation could continue. This will hopefully end in January, when Nintendo will answer all questions, but until then we'll have to live with our daily Switch rumor/leak.

But there is also one thing that's good about the vague information we have so far. It gives me the possibility to talk about the things the Nintendo Switch needs to do to become a success.

After the commercial failure that was the Wii-U Nintendo needs another successful console to stay relevant. They can't forever life of a dwindling market share of Nintendo faithfuls and need to reclaim lost customers. This can only be done by bringing in both, hardcore and casual gamers. Something the Wii-U failed to do, but the PlayStation 4 manages to pull of perfectly.

With the first trailer Nintendo made a step in the right direction. Instead of the hot mess that was the Wii-Us unveil it was well paced and had a clear message. Everybody instantly got what the NX was about. The Switch is off to a good start. Something that I didn't expect after the months of silence preceding the announcement. I wasn't sure if they could survive the Hype that had build up over the passing months.

After watching the Trailer however my worries were disperse immediately. Nintendo definitely knows what they are doing here.

So after this good start what comes next? Well in my opinion there are four key factors that will decide the success of the Nintendo Switch.

The right Price:

I think this will be the most deciding factor for success with the casual crowd. It is also important for hardcore gamers, but more in the sense of a return of investment, while the Casual gamers only see the Price and don't care much for the specs. So a lower price than the Wii-U is unavoidable if they want the Switch to succeed. If Nintendo truly wants the Switch to be such a social experience, like the promised in the trailer, they have to make sure that enough people can afford it. Video game consoles are still mostly seen as toy by the general public. And even though the Video games industry is massive this hasn't changed in the last couple of years. Because of that the average person isn't willing to invest as much into a console as in, for example, a new phone. A Price Point which you can easily accommodate into a balanced budget will help to get the Switch into a reasonable amount of households in the first year.

Also the Switch will have to prove itself against the X-Box One and the PlayStation 4. It doesn't matter if Nintendo thinks they are in no direct competition because they are. You'll easily can find those consoles for around 300$, so if the Switch wants to stay competitive it can't be allowed to cost more.

While the fact that the Switch serves as both, a portable and a home console, resonates with the casual crowd, it don't think it will be enough. After all they have their mobile phones for gaming on the go. But I also think the promise of being able to play anywhere, without huge limitations, is a great foundation to win back the casual market. A low price point of around 250$, which is also heavily rumored, would help the Switch get a good starting boost. And with that comes a sizable installer base, which will lead to more games and so forth.

So I think the most deciding factor for the initial success of the Switch won't be the Games or Specs or Marketing. It will be the Price. If Nintendo can win the price battle against Microsoft and Sony, if they can get their foot into the door, then I think the Switch will become a success. At least at the start. For it to become a long lasting story of success there are also some other key factors.

Now you're playing with Power:

Now while I think the raw price is more important with the Casual crowd this point is the most deciding factor with the Hardcore gamers. Can the Nintendo Switch truly compete with the X-Box One or the PlayStation 4? I think to have lasting success with the gaming crowd the Nintendo Switch needs to be at least at X-Box One levels of power. Preferably PlayStation 4.

From the initial show off during the Trailer I got a good feeling. Skyrim Remastered running on the Switch was a good sign and yes I know that Bethesda didn't officially announce it for the new console, but that's probably to keep the interest on the other versions of the game, which launched one week after the Switch reveal.

But it showed that the Switch has at least some horse power. The fact that they use a Nvidia Tegra chip is also reassuring. If the truly used the Tegra 2 Chip set with Pascal architecture a power level around the X-Box one is definitely possible.

But why is the Power level so important? Specs don't matter, games do. That is true, but if the Switch can't run X-Box One games then we have the same problem as with the Wii-U. Of course Nintendos failed console amplified the problem because it was extremely complicated to port games onto. A mistake Nintendo has fixed wit the Switch. But even the extremely popular Wii got hardly any games from PS3 or X-Box 360 and if they were heavily gimped. This resulted in poor sales for those ports and the Publisher abandoning the Wii completely in the later stages of its life cycle.

To keep this from happening to the Switch it needs a power level comparable to its competitors. Sony and Microsoft also did show with the PS4 Pro and the Scorpio that they don't intend to end this console generation anytime soon. Instead they will only offer Updates on their existing consoles. And while the games may look better on these upgrades, Sony and Microsoft will make sure that all games will also run on the basic versions of their consoles.

So if the Switch has a similar power level to X-Box One and PlayStation 4 it will get games as long as these two consoles are around.

Keeping their Promise:

The first trailer of the Nintendo Switch promised us that we would be able to play our home console games on the go and everywhere we want to. The Joy Cons will allow us to customize the control scheme and with the Docking Station we can seamless go from handheld into home console mode. So the Switch promises us to play however and wherever we want. This core principle is something that Nintendo needs to get right from the get go. Not like with the Wii, where the promise was only fulfilled when the Wii-Motion + launched.

The biggest catastrophe the Switch could get hit with is a game that only works when the console is docked. In fact it doesn't even need to be so bad. A game where several features are only available in one mode would be a huge problem. Just like with the Wii-U where several games didn't use the second screen at all. Some even by Nintendo. This brought up the question of the screen necessity and opened up a new front of criticism about the specs of the console. And this could also be a problem for the Switch if it happens there.

Why should I buy a console, which is weaker than the competition because of a unique feature, which isn't even used all the time. This is a train of thought that surely will appear in the minds of many people and pose a problem for the Switch. That is why they absolutely need to deliver on their promise from the get go.

A part on this is also a good battery life. At least the same amount as the 3DS should be manageable. If the Switch can't even last a short train trip then it will hardly be used in portable mode, which makes the whole foundation of the console crumble.

Games, Games, Games:

And as a last key factor, which will decide the success of the Switch, it will also need a good selection of launch games and support during its first year. So if the rumors are true and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is delayed till summer a new Mario 3D Game is a must at launch. You need a big flagship title to properly excite people for your console. This coupled with some of the rumored Wii-U Ports would provide a very good launch line up. Also I don't think that Wii-U Owners will then skip the console. Most Wii-U buyers are hardcore Nintendo Fans and a new 3D Mario Title is more enough for most of them to validate the purchase.

The Long Term Support of Games after the initial launch is also secured if Nintendo doesn't gimp the Switch in power, as I explained earlier.

All in all Game is both the most important and least important point. Of course it's the biggest deciding factor for the long term success of the Switch, but it's also completely dependent on the other points. If the specs are to bad there won't be third party support. If the price is too high and the Switch doesn't sell well in the first months, there won't be third party support.

So what are your thoughts about these four key factors? Would you agree? Or are there some factors I have missed?
Let me know what you think.

And as always

thanks for reading

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My Top 5 Games, which deserve a Port for the Nintendo Switch

Several weeks ago Nintendo finally revealed the Switch, but if you thought that the Rumors would stop because of that, oh boy you were wrong. Quite the contrary to be honest. Now that we know the basics of the Switch the rumor mills have been sent into overdrive. Of course it didn't help that Nintendo has still kept many things about the Switch a secret. From its price to its power to the launch line up. The Switch event in January will surely shed some light on that, and I understand that Nintendo wants the Holiday focus firmly on Pokemon Sun and Moon and the Nintendo NES Mini, but you can't really blame the people for craving more information.

In regards of the launch line-up something that is often mentioned are ports of popular Wii-U Games. Or to be more precise enhanced Ports featuring better graphics and more content. And while I as Wii-U owner am not excited about this, but I can see why this is an attractive prospect for Nintendo. It's an easy way of inciting new buyers to get the Switch if they get the Best of Wii-U games next to brand new switch titles. And that is also todays topic. I'd like to present to you my Top 5 Wii-U Games, which should get a enhanced Switch port.

5: Super Mario Maker

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Super Mario Maker is the (near) perfect 2D Mario experience. It's level design toolkit has shown how imaginative the fanbase can be. And also how cruel, unforgiving and sadistic. And after creating a subpar Port for the Nintendo 3DS I think Super Mario Maker: Switch could be the perfect way for Nintendo to redeem themselves. They just have to make it compatible with the Wii-U Version and you already have Millions of unique levels to play. But what should they do to enhance the port?

Well that is simple. Add new things to the toolkit. Different Stage themes like Desert, Snow or Lava World. Add a new graphical style. For example the Style used for the Lost Levels in Super Mario Allstars. Add new enemies and slopes and so forth. It is really simple to enhance this game. Also they could offer these additions to the Wii-U Version as either free or paid DLC. This would ensure that both, the Swith and the Wii-U Version of the game, remain compatible.

I think it's still to early to release another entry into the New Super Mario Bros. series, so this port could help to fill the craving for new 2D Mario games without tiring the fanbase. It's an easy guess and I would be shocked if we didn't see Super Mario Maker in any form or capacity on the Nintendo Switch.

4: Mario Kart 8

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I think this is the rumored port that I'm least excited for. Mario Kart 8 is an excellent game, but I don't think a Port of it would be that great. Rumors suggest that it would contain several new tracks as well as an improved battle mode. I was never the biggest fan of battle mode, so I don't care much about that and new tracks are fine and well, but I'd prefer a complete Mario Kart 9 instead.

But it can't be denied that Mario Kart 8 would be a sure System Seller on the Switch. It has an insane attach rate on the Wii-U after all. Also it wouldn't be to hard to create an enhanced port of the game. I guess they'd add four more cups, bringing the number of cups to sixteen, which is double the amount than in a normal Mario Kart game.

Next to following game I think Mario Kart 8: Enhanced Edition is the safest bet on this whole list.

3: Super Smash Bros.

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Include all DLC characters, stages and costumes and you're done. People would eat this game up. If you want to be extremely generous also add some stages from the 3DS version, the Ice Climbers and a true Single Player Mode.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii-U is one of the greatest video games ever created. It has an insane amount of content and a great battle system. But it also took a long time to create and even cost Sakurai some of his health, so I don't think he and his team are ready to create a new one soon. An enhanced Port of the Wii-U Version would solve this problem and give the Switch one of the biggest games ever created for its launch.

Smash Bros is one of the series that nearly everyone wants to play and getting the most complete one with all DLC and bonus content included would create a big incentive to buy a Nintendo Switch. I think a port of this game is pretty much guaranteed. It's even more likely than Mario Kart 8.

2: Hyrule Warriors

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This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I think this game could really benefit from an enhanced port. Bringing together the content from Wii-U and 3DS alone would create a huge game, but if they include even more characters, for example Fan Favorite Groose, which wouldn't justify a full sequel by themselves, this port would be absolutely jacked full of content. It could also bridge the gap until the Breath of the Wild release, if the rumored delay is true.

Hyrule Warriors isn't a classic Zelda game, but it is the ultimate Zelda fan game. I know several people, who didn't buy a Wii-U and weren't interested in playing the game on the small 3DS Screen. For this people this could be a great incentive to buy the Switch. Especially because they know they'll also get a real Zelda game within the first year.

By combining the content from 3DS and Wii-U as well as adding a handful of new characters and stages they could create an Ultimate Version of the Ultimate Zelda Fan Game.

1: Xenoblade Chronicles X

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Xenoblade is the best game on the Wii-U. It is better than Bayonetta or Mario 3D World or even Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze. The only game hoping to dethrone it is Breath of the Wild.

The World of Mira is one of the best designed alien worlds I have ever experienced. Seeing it in full HD and 60FPS on the Nintendo Switch would be a dream come true.

Xenoblade is the perfect candidate for an enhanced port, because of it's low sales figures on the Wii-U. If the Switch manages to capture some Hardcore Gamers this game could very well be one of the reasons why. A huge, complex RPG may not be a System seller in itself, but it could very well be the tipping point at which many consider buying the system.

Also Mira deserves to be experienced by as much people as possible.

That would be my five suggestions for enhanced ports on the Nintendo Switch. Releasing those over the course of the first year together with several new games would give the System as solid library that satisfies every Nintendo Fan. Oh and before you ask why Splatoon isn't on this list. It's because I really want a true Splatoon 2 including playable Octolings.

So what games would you like to see ported to the Switch? Or are you against remastering and rehashing every remotely successful game from the previous generation? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

Music in Horror Games

Music is a very important, and often overlooked part, of video games. There is no better way to build a specific atmosphere than with a fitting score. And even though our visual trumps our audio memory, it can't be denied that specific tunes have a much deeper emotional impact. There is hardly any Nintendo fan, who won't become excited after hearing the Zelda Main Theme.

Music is an integral part in creating memorable moments. The last stand during a final boss is only half as epic, without the fitting music pushing the player to its limits. A great score doesn't only accompany the level. It tells a story of its own, enhancing your experience in the process. As an example take a listen to Sawmill Thrill from Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

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Even without any pictures you can exactly tell what is going on. The dramatic chase through the Sawmill followed by the calm middle section before heading into the final mayhem. It's perfectly crafted for this specific level and only works there.

In my opinion the music of a game is even more important for its atmosphere than the graphical presentation. And that brings me to the actual theme of todays Thoughtpiece. Music in Horror Games.

As some of you may know I'm a big fan of Horror. And while I prefer the methodical horror of, for example H.P. Lovecraft, which slowly creeps its way towards you, I also appreciate the tenser kind of horrer that a game like Outlast provides.

For a Horror Game to truly work there are many different puzzle pieces that all have to fit together. And the Music is one of the most important. So how does music factor into the atmosphere of a horror game?

Horror Groove:

First let us take a look at actual Music, because the absence of such can also be a strong building block of atmosphere.

The music used for horror games is often a duo of sorts. Slow and sinister chords are broken up by irregular high screaming ones. It creates a dissonance that doesn't sound bad, but makes us feel uneasy. In a recent study scientists revealed that these irregular chords, which they labeled ''non-linear chaotic noise'', is similar to distress cries emitted by children or baby animals, when they are in danger. It triggers a biologically ingrained response in us.

In the study music containing such ''non-linear chaotic noise'' was often linked to feelings such as fear or anxiety by the participants. Researches also found that music clips where the melodies suddenly became higher provoked greater emotional reaction. This is also linked to biological behavior. A scream goes higher when the vocal chords go tenser, which is a likely result if scared to death. If you're interested and want to delve deeper into the topic, then you can do it here.

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Creating a piece of music for the Horror Genre can be quite the challenge. You have to balance the ''non-linear chaotic noise'' with the internal harmony of the piece.

And for Video Games there is another layer. The music can't be to effective. Take a chase scene for example. After some exploration of a dark area, where the music was kept to a minimum, you are spotted by whatever hunts you, and a intense chase scene starts. The previous gameplay has all led up to this. The tension has been building and now it unloads. Now the music has to support this. It needs to scare you, but at the same time push you forwards. It needs to get your blood pumping in fear for your life, but not paralyze you with it.

As an example for such a piece of music just take a listen to the River Twygz Bed from Paper Mario. It's distorted noises create a creepy sound, which makes you feel uncomfortable. 

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Now Paper Mario is a relatively harmless game, but this soundtrack alone made the River Twygz into a threatening area, where you want to spend as little time as possible. And that is exactly what these music aims to achieve. You shouldn't feel safe or at ease, but constantly threatened.

The Music should create the same feeling as the visuals. In a way they should reflect eachother. Through small changes the familiar can turn into something absolutely horrifying. That goes for musical and visual aspects of the game.

The Sound of Silence:

Now let us take a look at the other way of using music in Horror Games. Well that's not entirely true. It's not music, but rather the absence of such. Horror often needs a minimalistic approach. No grand set pieces, but dark and confined environments. The same goes for it's music. While orchestral arrangements can be quite intimidating, they don't have the effect needed for a horror atmosphere. They are simply not capable of creating fear.

Instead a minimalistic approach with no background music can prove to be much more effective. It let's you focus on your surroundings, taking them in and learning to fear them. Sounds can provide relief in a tense situation, and when you hear nothing for several minutes, but the sound of your own footsteps the tension slowly builds to unbearable levels. In that situation anything that breaks the silence is considered a threat. A game which made good use of this was Dead Space. Abort the USS. Ishimura where countless lonely corridors, abandoned rooms and hallways. While you slowly wander them, and dread the next attack of the Necromorphs, you hear nothing but your own heavy footsteps. The lack of music is there to show your loneliness, but you know that your not alone. Distant mechanical noises and air vents, which under other circumstances would be quite normal noises atop a mining ship, suddenly become threatening. Are they normal? Or are the Necromorphs close by?

The lack of music in most areas of the game also increases the impact, when the developers decide to use audio. This creates a jarring shift in tone, which is then often considered as a ''non-linear chaotic noise'', which, as we know, creates feelings of fear and anxiety.

In that regard ambient noises can be used to the same effect. Something that would otherwise be considered normal can become quite menacing under the right conditions. A door opening or closing. The Wind rustling some leaves. All these sounds, or the lack of them, can be used to craft an atmosphere.

It is hard to describe musical atmosphere with words, but I hope you understand what I mean. Music plays an important part in the atmosphere of a video game and even more so in the Horror genre. Used right sounds can make even the most peaceful looking scenery seem threatening. It's a small ledge to balance on, but one worth aiming for.

I hope you enjoyed this small excursion into the world of music. I am by far no expert on this matter, more like a novice if we are generous, but hopefully I managed to get my thoughts across properly.

So what are your thoughts on this subject matter? What sounds or noises make you feel anxious or scared? Let me know in the comments below.

And as always

thanks for reading

My Top 5 Iconic Nintendo Tunes

Music has a huge part in creating iconic gaming memories. Halo would be not as big without it's iconic chorus. Everyone knows the Tetris theme. These pieces of music have become iconic themselves and in the process also made their games larger than life.

It is a shame that many actual video games opt to use fancy songs from famous musicians to promote themselves instead of forging a distinct audio identity.

While visual memories may be stronger in general, you can't argue that hearing a special tune from your childhood can trigger some powerful emotions. But I'm not here to analyze visual and audio memory and tell you which is stronger.

Today I want to introduce you to my selection of the five most iconic Nintendo tunes. This is probably one of the most subjective lists I've done so far. And there is no arguing that everyone has wildly varied memories and experiences, when thinking about this subject.

So just lean back and hopefully enjoy my selection of the Top 5 most iconic Nintendo Tunes.

5: Pokemon Red/Blue Main Theme

No I'm not talking about the Anime Opening, although there is probably no one on earth, who can't sing along to it, but instead I mean the opening tune to the original Gameboy games.

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Next to the Tetris tune this was the defining music of the Gameboy days. It's dramatic start helps to perfectly frame the battle occurring on the screen, before switching over to the actual start screen. The tension lightens up and is replaced by a hopeful tune of adventure. The marching drums in the background are perfect to convey this feeling of a grand journey that is about to start.

It is a simple tune, and given the limited technical tools they had to work with, this is understandable, but because of that simplicity it is so memorable. A trend that will occur more than once on this list.

The Pokemon theme is the perfect tune to start an adventure. It is a positive outlook on the wonders ahead. It motivates you to venture out in the wild and Catch em all. And it is one of the defining tunes of many childhoods.

That's why it's a deserved Number 5 on this list.

4: Donkey Kong Country Opening Theme

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Donkey Kong Country is a groundbreaking game and one of the best Jump'N'Runs to ever exist. And even though I prefer the second installment and have Yoshis Island as my favourite Jump'n'Run of all time, I can't deny that the first Donkey Kong Country changed the game.

The Opening is a testament to this. It starts of with a nostalgic flashback to the original Donkey Kong with Cranky, before our main protagonist drops in and changes everything. The tune that follows encompasses everything that is great about this game. It's full of energy, but still has such a smooth groove to it. The underlying bass line just eases you up, while the screaming E-Guitar makes you headbang at the same time.

David Wise is a genius in capturing the essence of a level or game with his music. The Donkey Kong Country theme captures everything great about the game. The powerful and energetic passages, but also the more somber and darker ambient parts of the game. It is a quint essence of the adventures awaiting you on DK Island.

3: Super Mario Bros. Main Theme

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Ok this was a simple pic. You can't talk about music in Nintendo Games or Games in general and not mention this song. Super Mario Bros. is lauded as one of the most important games of all time so often, and just as often the Music is kinda overlooked. This tune just has it all. It's simplistic and catchy, but it perfectly captures what Mario is all about.

It perfectly accompanies a whimsical adventure battling walking Mushrooms, Turtles and Piranha Plants. (Even though the first Mario game has a pretty dark backstory. Check it out in my Top 5 Darkest Nintendo Games list)

Just whistle this tune in the middle of a group of people and at least one other will join you. Everyone knows this song. I would go as far as to call it the quintessential Video Game tune.

The Super Mario Theme still works today, not only from a nostalgic viewpoint, but because it is a great and timeless classic. It is charming in all the right places and it's upbeat and happy go lucky nature will push you through even the hardest parts of the game.

2: The Legend of Zelda Main Theme

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Koji Kondo is a genius. If there was ever any doubt, just take an extended listen to this tune. It is amazing what he created with the limited technology of the NES. This theme has it all. The promise of grand adventure. The darkness of Ganon on the Horizon. And what is most important, the mystery of an uncharted land ready for exploration.

The melody is simple and easily recognizable. The melancholic start slowly builds until it reaches the tune of hope and adventure we all know and love. To me the theme speaks of hope and Danger. Of Adventure and Exploration. The Tale of a Hero.

The Main theme simply captures everything that is great about the Legend of Zelda. There isn't much more to say about this. It's perfect. It's timeless. So just listen and enjoy.

1: Super Metroid Main Theme

The last metroid is in captivity. The Galaxy is at peace.

©Nintendo

Speaking of tunes that perfectly capture the spirit of their game. Arguably the best game on the SNES and among the top pics for best game of all time Super Metroid is a masterpiece through and through. And it's Main Theme isn't an exception.

At the beginning the music speaks of danger and despair. It sets the tone of a dark space adventure. But then the legendary tune sets in and marks the arrival of Samus Aran. Hope has come. It lifts the whole atmosphere, while still retaining the dark ground tone. The drums are used perfectly in the background to enhance both, the uplifting part of the tune as well as the dark and brooding one.

For me this music tells the tale of Super Metroid perfectly. You are all alone on this dark and dangerous alien planet. Surrounded by strange beasts and hostile creatures. But don't despair. Because you're Samus Aran. In this dark and brooding corridors in the depths of Zebes you're the ray of hope.

It simply conveys everything great about that game. The lonely and dark atmosphere. The Badassery of Samus Aran. This tune serves as your inspiration and your drive to start the adventure and save the Galaxy. It simply doesn't get much better than this.

And that was my selection for the Top 5 Iconic Gaming themes. I realize that this list only includes games from more than twenty years ago, and I think I'll do another list about more modern classics in the future, but for now, what are your favorite gaming tunes? It doesn't matter if from a classic or a more recent game.

Let me know in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

Women in Games

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Women in Video Games is a polarizing topic. Often discussions about it end in claims of misogyny or being a femnazi. All to often, when trying to discuss this topic, it devolves into a shit flinging contest. I think that this is quite a shame, because it deserves better.

Women in Videogames is an interesting topic for many reasons. And while I personally am more a fan of talking about general character building in games, without putting the gender into the equation, today I will, as in the past with these Women in Games post, focus solely on the female side of things.

My main problem with this debate is that all the big players participating, like them or not, are looking at it from a negative angle. I will try to explain this via the example of Rosalina from the Super Mario Galaxy series. Also I'll try to take you to my viewpoint of things, so that you hopefully understand why I don't have a problem with such characters.

Lastly, before we start, let me say that I don't have a problem with sexy characters. I don't think everything is sexiest, everything is racist and everything is misogynistic. I try to look at this Topic from a positive angle, and I hope that you do the same.

The Core Problem:

I think the core problem with the criticism about oversexualization in Video Games stems from this, honestly quite childish, thought that games have to grow up. Well Games have already grown up. Never has the gaming landscape been more diverse. You have a wide arrange of games and genres to choose from. And that is where the problem comes from. The criticism is often generalized between all of these genres, but you can't hold a game like Street Fighter to the same standards than a game like Uncharted. One game strives for realism, while the other clearly doesn't. When taking a look at sexualization in games you have to consider the theme of the game. The way it's portrayed. They frame it's put in. That is something often overlooked, when discussing this topic. So let me explain this with two examples.

At first let's examine the realistic came.

For that we'll take a look at Uncharteds Elena Fisher.

Source:Uncharted 4

Does this look oversexualized to you? Of course not. Just like Nathan isn't.

Source: Uncharted 4

Of course both are beautiful people, but this is a broader phenomena. People like beautiful people as their protagonists. Also you have to realize that Nathan and Elena aren't Avatars for your player. They are their own characters and not a proxy for you to insert yourself into the gameworld.

Games that are build on that idea most of the time offer a character builder, so that you can create your dream hero. No matter how he looks.

I think the simple truth behind beautiful heroes and heroines in any kind of fictional work is that we lust like to see beautiful people. Even if we don't live up to those standards ourselves. In the end they are just fictional characters. Every feature on their bodies has been handcrafted, so it shouldn't devalue how you feel about yourself.

The next argument is that people like Lara Croft or Nathan Drake don't have ordinary bodies. Of course they don't have the body of an ordinary person. Because they aren't ordinary persons. Especially these two spend their lives exploring old ruins, fighting and climbing crumbling stone structures. That's not easy to do, when you are obese. Their lifestyle simply doesn't allow them to be fat.

Never forget that games like Uncharted strive for realism. In games like Overwatch it doesn't matter when a character like Roadhog runs and jumps around effortlessly, but in games like Uncharted it would just seem unbelievable. It would destroy the immersion.

Games not only differ in their genre, but also in the way they try to suck you in.

So in games like Uncharted it absolutely makes sense to have a group of fit and capable people as your protagonists. Anything else would be stupid.

Then what about games like Street Fighter. Because this is clearly sexualized.

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Yes it is, just like this.

Source: Street Fighter 5

You see Street Fighter is a series that doesn't strife for realism. And that is an important factor to consider, when talking about it's sexualization. This games put everything over the top, so of course their characters, male just as female, are over the top as well. It simply fits the mood the game creates.

So is this hurtful? I would say no. First of it's just a videogame and second it's not even a realistic video game. Street Fighter is too far detached from a realistic world.

But, and that is important, everything in this game fits together. Men and Women are pretty sexualized. They don't clash against eachother. And that is why I don't have a problem with Street Fighters characters. Everything in this game is unrealistic. The look and personality of the characters, the physics, etc. The sexuality is woven directly into the core of the game itself, it's theme and frame.

So is the sexualization of women hurtful? Generally no. With characters like Bayonetta, where it is a cornerstone of their personality, I don't see any problem. I also don't have a problem with characters like R. Mika, where the whole game is build as an over the top experience.

And lastly I don't see Characters like Lara Croft and Elena Fisher as sexualized. Yes they are fit and beautiful women, but given their circumstances it makes sense.

That doesn't mean that there aren't hurtful sexualiziations in video game, but they are very few. It's not running rampant, as some people may want you to believe.

So when taking a look at a female character never forget the framing of their game, and never forget that women can have flaws too.

No for the second part of this post, let us take a look at a character from a Nintendo game. And let us take a look at her from a positive and a negative angle.

Princess Rosalina:

Princess Rosalina was introduced to us in 2007 when Super Mario Galaxy released. In that game she took the role of a guide. At least sort of. She watched over the hub world and opened up net areas, when Mario had collected enough power stars. She instantly became a favorite among fans and, while to a lesser extend than Peach, also attracted some criticism. She was just another damsel in distress Princess that needed Mario to save her and her space ship.

Without him she would never get back the Power Stars, which power the Comet Observatory. Of course there is more to it, but for now let us take a look at her from two different angles.

What I want to do now is take a look at different aspects of Rosalina character. Once with a negative mindset and once more with a positive one. So let's start:

Rosalinas Past:

Source: Super Mario Galaxy

Rosalinas backstory is one of the best pieces of Story telling in any Mario game. And I include the RPGs in that statement. It's told over the course of the adventure by Rosalina himself. She reads the Story to her Luma children. All is presented in the style of a childrens book and, to be honest, quite charming.

The Story is that one day a young girl met a lost star child inside a chrashed space ship. The child was looking for his mother, who traveled the stars on a comet. At first the young girl waited with the Luma, but after several years she decided that if the comet wouldn't come, then they had to look for it. Together they fixed the space ship and started their search.

After a while the two of them encountered a comet made of ice and starbits. Lumas mother was nowhere to be found, but the two decided to use this comet as their means of travel from now on.

One night the young girl dreamed of her own mother, and when she awoke her face was wet with tears.

The two searched for a long time, but they couldn't find the Lumas mother. The Star child cried bitter tears, but the little girl said: I'll take care of you. With that a warm spark lit up in the Girls heart.

More time passed and the Girl and the Luma build a house on the comet. It was an awfully big house for only two inhabitants.

Then one day the comet encountered a small planet. And from this planet a Luma emerged. The two Luma started dancing and calling the little Girl Mama. The scene was quite funny to watch and so the Girl started to laugh loudly. At that exact moment many more Luma came forth from the small planet and started dancing around the girl.

After visiting over a hundred comets the girl one day thought to herself if her own planet was still as blue as she remembered. She looked into her fathers telescope and after some searching she found a small blue dot. As she zoomed in, she started to remember things.

She remembered rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she followed her father up the hill to look at the stars...

She remembered how she and her brother would sled down that hill...

She remembered having picnics with her mother on that hill on bright and windy days... And...

The young girl begins to cry, because she feels incredibly homesick. She wants to go home and see her mother, but she knows that she is not there. She isn't out there in the stars either. It's because the girls mother was, from the very beginning, sleeping under the tree on the hill.

More time passed but the sadness of the girl wouldn't go away. That is when the Luma, the first one she met and took in as her child, came to her and said: I will transform into a soaring comet, that can carry you all on this journey.

The Girl watched in amazement as exactly that happened. All of the other Lumas gathered around her and told the Girl that this was their destiny. They would grow up and become Stars, Comets or Planets.

And with that the Girls tears dried up and upon the newly born comet they set out to journey to the girls home planet.

And so the new family of the young Girl continued to grow. She would care for the Star children and once they were ready to leave she would send them out with a smile. And with that the young girl became a Mother of her own.

''But once very hundred years'', she thought to herself, ''I'd like to return home and take a nap in my favorite sleeping nook.''

As you can see Rosalinas Backstory is a deeply emotional tale of a girl coming to terms with the death of her mother and finding a new lease on life. It is a beautiful story of new beginning. So now let us take a look at it.

• Starting with the negative side on things it is a classic tale of a women finding her reason to life in motherhood. It doesn't emancipate the young girl, but rather devalues her into the role a cosmic care taker. It implies that Rosalina isn't capable of dealing with the death of her mother and move on, but instead just becomes a mother of her own. She only finds her peace after accepting this fact. It is not even an active decision, but forced upon her when the Luma danced around Rosalina and called her mother. In the end this tale shows us one thing. You can travel around the galaxy on a comet. You can (probably) experience countless adventures. But you'll only become truly happy, when you become a mother.

• On the positive side of things Rosalinas Backstory is a tale of healing and acceptance. Yes she is a Mother, but she is the Mother of the Stars. It isn't so much a tale about motherhood, but about the strength that a family can provide. The Lumas and Rosalina form a strong bond. And while she clearly misses her old home, which is understandable and never devalued during the story, the company of her family, not her children but her family, is what gives her strength. To me this is a tale of a new start. A tale of letting the past go, without forgetting it.

Rosalinas Present:

Source: Super Mario Galaxy

In Super Mario Galaxy you meet Rosalina during a time of crisis. Bowser has stolen the Power Stars and the Comet Observatory has run out energy because of that. When Mario arrives she asks him to help her. Without the Power Stars they won't be able to travel through the Galaxy and that means Mario is unable to reach the Center of the Universe, where Bowser keeps Peach. Because of that the two form an alliance. Mario will venture out into the different Galaxies and take back the Power Stars and with their help Rosalina will be able to bring Mario to his beloved one. Now let us take a look at this from two angles.

• First of, if we want to look at Marios and Rosalinas relationship from a negative angle, then Rosalina is nothing more than a glorified Damsel in Distress. When you first meet her, the whole Comet Observatory has gone dark. Only through Marios action the light and hope returns. Through the whole adventure she only takes the role of a passive guide. We are told that she is this cosmic caretaker and mother of stars, but without Mario she wouldn't be able to protect her children. In the end Rosalina is nothing more than another damsel in distress without any independence.

• Now let us take a look at her with a positive mindset. On first glance it may seem as if Rosalina is nothing more than a Damsel in Distress, but then this could be applied to any character in any fictional work, who needed help ever. Yes it is true that Rosalina can't get the Power Stars without Marios help. But why is this bad? Mario has spend his life fighting against Bowser and his armies. He is the right man for the job. If you accept the help of someone more capable in a particular field, this doesn't make you weak. I think it makes Rosalina more relatable, that she isn't all powerful, despite being the Mother of the Stars. I wrote it many times before, when talking about Rosalina, but I really like the dynamic relationship between her and Mario. She can't get the Power Stars without him, and he can't travel the Universe without her. Both need eachother to achieve their goals. It doesn't make either of them weak, but instead shows that you'll always can count on your friends to cover your weaknesses. Only together Mario and Rosalina can save the Universe.

Rosalinas Future:

Source: Super Mario 3D World

Now we'll head into speculative territory. What does the future have in store for Rosalina? Well if you take a look at her appearance in Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8 and Smash Bros. I don't think she will go anywhere in the near future. It's clear that she has become an important part of the Mario Universe and is here to stay.

Maybe she'll even get her own game one day. From all Mario Side Characters I think she would be the one most suited for it.

Also I hope Nintendo keeps the same direction with her, than they did during Galaxy. Rosalina is one of the most fleshed out Nintendo Characters. She has clear strength and weaknesses and is a relatable character. Handled right she could be an inspiration for young girls, and a great character that even adult men enjoy playing as.

So in the end I think we should look at Rosalina from a positive angle. She is a great character and she deserves it.

This is a topic that always sparks some heated discussions. I would like to know your stance on all of this, and if we disagree, then please tell me your opinion. Hopefully it can lead to a good discussion. It's not often the case, but I remain optimistic.

And as always

thanks for reading

Lost & Found: Nintendo Switch Anime Opening

Hello and Welcome to todays episode of Lost & Found.

As a child of the 90s I grew up watching lots of cartoons. And while todays offering in that regard is quite excellent, it can't really capture the corniness of those days. Especially the Intros of older cartoon series are always a treat.

And that's why todays Lost and Found is a perfect recreation of those kind of Intros, but with an unexpected main character. Check it out.

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If you enjoyed the video as much as I did, don't forget to check out the creators channel and maybe consider giving them a sub. 

And as always

thanks for reading 

My Top 5 Female Nintendo Characters

Well it has been a long break hasn't it? I hope you all managed to regenerate from excessive Halloween Partys or extensive family dinners. I had both and so it took a while for me. After all I'm not the youngest anymore.

But anyways now that October is gone, and with it all the spooky stuff, we can refocus on other areas of the video game world. And with Nintendo Switch on the horizon and the new Pokemon games launching soon there is enough to talk about in the World of Nintendo. Which is why I will completely ignore these two topics for now and focus on something other this week.

For many Youtuber and Blogger November is their theme month. A time where they dedicate all their output to some specific area. Be it ZeldaMonth, Pokemonth or whatever. But I don't like the idea of dedicating a whole month to one specific topic, so instead I will do four theme weeks in November. This should keep the content on the blog reasonably fresh. Hopefully you'll agree.

As you can read in the title this week I'd like to talk about Women in Videogames... again. I'd like to focus on the positive things again, and because of that here is a list of the Top 5 female Nintendo Characters.

A quick reminder about the ruleset. Only one character per franchise. Also the women needs to actually have a character. So no Pokemon Trainers, even though they are great avatars, but only because they allow for the player to fill them with life. Also the chosen characters don't have to be playable. So without further ado let us jump right in.

5: Captain Syrup:

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Now this pic may surprise you because Syrup is neither a playable Character nor a Hero, but that is exactly why she is on this list. She is a great villain and through her appearances she has managed to build quite the character. Ok to be specific she managed to become a great character in Wario Land: The Shake Dimension. But let us start at the beginning. Captain Syrup was introduced in Mario Land 3: Wario Land as leader of the Black Sugar Gang, a group of pirates, which steal stuff, as pirates often do. When Wario lost his castle and riches (which he stole from Mario) at the end of Mario Land 2, he sets out to rebuild his fortune the only way he knows. Working hard and starting a honest and righteous life?
Of course not. Of course he intends to steal his way back to wealth. He sets his eyes onto the riches of the Black Sugar Gang stashed away at Kitchen Island. He manages to beat the leaders of the gang and finally Syrup and robs her of all her hard stolen money.

Of course she retaliates in the same way during Wario Land 2, but our greedy Anti-Hero manages to get everything back, leaving her broke once more.

And now we head to Wario Land: The Shake Dimension. Here she enlists Wario to save the Shake Dimension and promises and endless Coin Sack as reward. We get to know a completely new Captain Syrup. Flirty and sarcastic she manages to wrap Wario around her finger with ease. And in the end, when the Shake King is beaten, she snatches the endless coin sack away from under Warios nose. Because, as we all know, Heroes don't need payment. With this she proves several things. First and foremost she shows her ability to adapt and learn from her mistakes. After getting beaten in raw power by Wario two times already, she instead outwitted him this time. And while being just as self centered as Wario himself, she gets the spoils in the end, so you can't help but to admire her a little.

I really like her as this kind of untrustworthy guide. With only a few short appearances Nintendo has managed to give her a well developed character. She is a smart and ruthless Pirate leader and quite manipulative. Nintendo needs more good villians like her.

Captain Syrup shows you don't need a dramatic or dark backstory and endless exposition to be a good villain. And that is why she is Number 5 on this list.

4: Palutena

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Another entry that owes her place on that list the most frequent game she appeared in. Palutena is the Goddess of Light and the rightful ruler of Angel Land. While she hardly ever engages in direct combat, she is the one that leads her army to victory against the Underworld and gives Pit the ability to fly. Again she isn't a playable character (outside of Smash Bros), but a very important support character and quite essential for Pits success. Without her he literally couldn't fight with his full potential. This becomes quite evident during the course of Kid Icarus: Uprising, when Palutena falls under the control of the Chaos King. Her missing guidance makes the quest to save her quite hard for Pit.

But the main reason, why she is on this list, is simply her great character and wits. It's quite the shame that Kid Icarus: Uprising is such a hard and fast game (not that there is anything inherently wrong with that), but because of that you'll going to miss a lot of the great conversations between Pit and her. If you are able to multitask, or play on a lower difficulty or simply watch them on Youtube, you'll see what I mean.

Despite her warmhearted nature, she often teases Pit and is quite mischievous. Also her play on words, or rather saying common phrases incorrectly, is quite charming. She manages to be a great guide, without becoming boring and one dimensional in the Process. And although Hades calls her Professor Palutena or ''Know-it-all'' Paluten, she never comes across as such. Her natural charm and warm attitude coupled with her playfulness make her a great and entertaining character. If this serves as the blueprint for the modernization of old property I hope Nintendo digs out some more games from the NES and gives them a sequel on an actual console.

3: Princess Rosalina

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From all the entries on this list Rosalina has the most engaging backstory. At least in my opinion. As a young Girl the later princess of the Stars found a young Luma inside a rusted starship. She took him in and together they rebuild the Starship to search for the Lumas mother. While traveling through the Universe she took even more young Luma under her protection and together their starship grew bigger and bigger. Their Home grew... But after countless of days spend in space, when Rosalina and her Comet Observatory pass her own homeplanet the Princess grows homesick. For a moment she forgets about the Lumas, she took under her protection. She forgets about being a mother to them. For a brief moment she just wants to return home... to her own mother.

But she can't return and finally Rosalina comes to terms with the fact that her mother is dead. She traveled space for hundreds of years. In this dark situation the Luma, which she found on Earth so long ago, comes to her and tells her that no matter what happens her mother will always be part of her, before transforming into a comet. This comet allows Rosalina to visit her home every hundreds of years.

I find her backstory really engaging. It shows how she became the cosmic entity that you met in Mario Galaxy, but it also provides a human side to her that everyone can relate too.

But not only her backstory makes her an engaging female character, but her powers and, yes, lack thereof. You see Rosalina and Mario are dependent on eachother. Neither can succeed without the other. I will delve more into this tomorrow, when I talk about her in detail. But for now let me say that the first Mario Galaxy is often regarded as the best Mario Game and Rosalina is a huge part of that.

Oh and she's also the best character in Super Mario 3D World. Prove me wrong. I dare you!

2: Samus Aran

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One of the first women in video games. A proven ass kicker, badass and overall great character. For years she was the epitome of the silent protagonist, allowing you to take in the great atmosphere of her games. And the only reason, why she is not Number One, is the sole game that broke with that tradition. Yes Other M has been lambasted enough over the last years, but it can't be said enough. This game dealt great damage to the character of Samus Aran. It's gameplay was great, but the Story was all over the place.

But let's not focus on the contradictory and bad characterization in Other M, but the great way they showed us Samus before. The Metriod games, bar Other M, are perfect examples of how you can create a strong character with minimalistic tools. From the groundbreaking reveal that Samus was a Women in Metroid, to the perfect step into the 3D space with Metroid Prime, Samus has evolved as a strong and independent women, without uttering a single word.

Especially during the Prime games Retro did a perfect job in characterizing Samus. Most of the time you spend the game in firs-person perspective, but the short moments, where you see your heroine from a third-person angle, they show her with a confident posture. She never hesitates, she never compromises. Her body language shows Samus as a women, who is in control. Even in the most hostile of environments. And that is the reason, why the people love her. So hopefully they return to that image of Samus Aran, which they were showing the last 24 years before Other M.

She deserves it.

1: Princess Zelda

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Of course it's not Peach.

Zelda hat it quite easy in regards to her competitors because she isn't a single character. But to her defense I have to say that I like nearly each incarnation of Zelda in the last decade. She is a versatile character without limits. From the stoic ruler in Twilight Princess to the tomboyish Pirate in Wind Waker to the young Women following her own Path in Skyward Sword. Each iteration of Zelda has brought something special to the table.

And it doesn't matter that she ends up as damsel in distress at the end of nearly each game. It's a simple truth that there can only be one Hero in a classic story. And while I think Zelda is more than capable of being the Hero of her own story, and I would welcome a spinoff with her as the protagonist, in the end the role of hero falls to Link.

But just like with Rosalina and Mario, Link can't succeed without Zelda. In each and every game the Princess plays a vital role in preparing Link for his final battle with Ganon.  Like I said each Princess Zelda brings something new to the table, and each princess Zelda keeps the franchise fresh. And because Link will most likely always remain a blank slate for the player to reflect upon, the tough duty of carrying the Story of the Zelda series often falls to her. And so far she has carried that weight graciously.

Reducing Princess Zelda, any Princess Zelda, only on her role as damsel in distress doesn't do the character justice. There is so much more to her than that. And that is what we should focus on.

Agree with my choice? What female Nintendo characters do you enjoy the most? Let me know in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading