Minish Cap, Massive Fun
| Platform | Presentation | Controls | Variety | Audio | Depth | Value & Fun | OVERALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy Advance | 9.00 | 10.00 | 8.50 | 9.50 | 9.00 | 9.50 | 9.19 |
| Presentation | 9.00 |
| Not only is every vivid and clear, but the animations are as smooth as can be seen on the GBA, and the sprites particularly detailed especially when compared to Link to the Past. One hindrance to the graphics is the fact that a particularly difficult enemy -- a large knight -- is somewhat glitched in its sprite; the knight's sword and shield will switch hands when he turns from certain sides to another. | |
| Controls | 10.00 |
| Take the fluidity of Link to the Past and throw in the ability to roll in order to get around faster and basically you're done. The weapon mechanics, though, are from the previous handheld incarnations of Link's Awakening and the Oracle games in which you assign an item to the A-button and an item to the B-button. With this style, the use of the shield because artful, although less functional. Ultimately, you never feel out-of-control, nor cheated by poor collision detection. | |
| Variety | 8.50 |
| The content of the Minish Cap is the sum total of all the previous Zelda incarnations. Enemies from all previous Zelda games from the classic Moblins to the more recent villain Vaati. Characters from the various Zeldas are back, including Malon and Talon, along with the Mailman. New items make appearances and feel fresh an unique, along with useful, such as the wand that flips items (and some enemies) upside down. The game is disappointingly short, though, consisting of retrieving four elemental stones over a fairly small map. Kinstone fusing could help alleviate this, as there are 99 possible kinstone fusions that are difficult to achieve. Each time there's a fusion, something new opens up or appears. There are also mystery shells which can be used to collect trophies a la Super Smash Bros. Melee. | |
| Audio | 9.50 |
| Classic tracks from all Zeldas, along with new but fitting music, and short clips heard when you speak to main characters makes for great audio. | |
| Depth | 9.00 |
| You can't just run headfirst into battle and win. Enemies will take some tactics and figuring out to properly dispose of. There is also kinstone fusing to unlock items and rupees to help off-set the difficulty. The knight enemies are a challenge to beat, but it's too bad about the previously mentioned sprite mix-up. A really nice feature is that your hat, who actually acts as your guide, tells you what you're supposed to do next each time you start the game, and you can get that reference by pressing Select. | |
| Value & Fun | 9.50 |
| Despite the short length of the game, you can be sure to get several runs through the game as the Link to the Past style action with many enemies, along with actually fun puzzles in the vein of the GBC games makes for what had the potential to be the absolute best Zelda game to date, had it not been for the content supply (or lack-thereof). | |
| Overall | 9.19 |
| This is an excellent game and a worthy entry into the great franchise that is Zelda. Had it not been for the length, it would have rivalled Link to the Past for my choice as the best Zelda game to date; as it is, it simply falls into the realm of the average outstanding Zelda game. | |
Posted by Ellyoda Tue, 03 Jan 2006 00:00:00
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