Pikmin: The Importance of Being Part of a Diverse “Body”
The Pikmin series features some of the most unique protagonists in all of gaming… taken individually, these tiny beings appear relatively weak and helpless, and at first glance the world […]
Mega Man: Balancing Free Will and an Optimal Path
My original console gaming experiences were pretty linear affairs… games like Super Mario Brothers simply took me from one level to the next, while Zelda gave me a rudimentary feeling […]
The Reveal of Samus Aran: The Answer We Didn’t Know We Needed
In the early days of video games, strong female protagonists were virtually non-existent… so the “helmet removal” reveal of Samus Aran at the end of the first Metroid game on […]
StarFox 64: “Do a Barrel Roll”!
When a supporting character in a video game gives us instructions it is typically designed to be helpful, acting as in-game representative of the game developer to give us clues […]
Dr. Mario’s Secret: Overcoming Evil With Good
While most of Mario’s gaming adventures are designed around demonstrating his physical acrobatics, in his exploits as “Dr. Mario” he gets to show off his more cerebral side by carefully […]
Kirby and the Importance of What We Choose to “Consume”
Kirby is one of the most identifiable characters in all of gaming, but it is his very unique method of learning new skills in his games that makes him truly […]
The Legend of Zelda: Discovering the Answers to Our Prayers In Someone Else’s “Side Quest”
“Fetch quests” in role-playing games are a pretty standard part of the experience, and the Legend of Zelda is no exception. Sure, there is an evil warlord trying to take […]
Legend of Zelda: Recharging our Sword by Taking the Time to Heal
Link’s iconic “Sword Beam” attack from the first “Legend of Zelda” on the NES was a powerful, game-changing ability, but it carried a specific requirement for its’ usage… Link had […]
Breath of the Wild: Content Beyond the Endgame
When we finally reach the end of a Legend of Zelda title, typically all that remains for us to do is to passively watch a few last cutscenes and enjoy […]
The Legend of Zelda: Working in Mysterious Ways
Over my years of adventures with the Legend of Zelda series I have found that there are parts or each game that don’t make a whole lot of sense, and […]
Finding God in Video Games 