ZUCast: The Zelda Universe Podcast

Welcome back to the Zelda Universe Podcast. We've shifted our format and our focus to highlight the great work our amazing writers are doing here at ZU. Every episode we'll take a look at different articles and see where they take us. In this episode, Connor and Zara examine some notable features of Echoes of Wisdom, some unique aspects of Link's nicknames, and take a closer look at the nature of light and dark worlds across the series. Introduction 0:00 - 1:14 Medli's Melodies - Hyrule Field (Echoes of Wisdom) by Kayla Dandurand 1:14 - 8:02 Tingle's Maps - Zelda's Bedroom (Echoes of Wisdom) by Stephen Langlais 8:02 - 17:29 Zelda's Study - Agitha's Nicknames for Link (Twilight Princess) by Aren Taylan 17:29 - 29:23 Featured Feature - Venturing Into the Dark by Caitlin Stratford 29:23 - 1:00:58 See you next time! 1:0058 - 1:03:08 If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

In an announcement taking the entire Zelda community by surprise, Nintendo has announced the release of the next mainline Zelda game to be released in two months! The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. The most notable feature of this game is that for the first time ever, this game is letting Princess Zelda herself take center stage. Connor, Shona, and Jeff take some time to discuss what this means for players, the Zelda franchise, and what we expect for this game. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom comes to the Nintendo Switch on Sept. 26 2024 Introduction 0:00 - 3:43 Zelda's the Main Character! 3:43 - 7:27 Playable Zelda, Past and Present 7:27 - 13:45 The Echo mechanic and open-world gameplay 13:45 - 22:33 The game's plot 22:33 - 39.02 Realizing the game was about Zelda 39:02 - 43:24 Who's our Big Bad? 43:24 - 48:33 Final Thoughts 48:33 - 59:22 If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

Sitting in the background of every Zelda title in nearly every scene and event is the emotional driver of every action we view or take; a vital component of what motivates us on our adventures regardless of whether we are aware of it. The musical tunes of the Zelda franchise has been with us from the moment we turned on the very first game, and continue to inspire us in our gameplay, our creative works, and in our everyday lives. Today, we look at those Zelda pieces that have meant the most to us, how that music is used, and in a measure, why. Podcast Hosts: Connor and Cayden Welcome: Crafting Videogame Music 0:00 - 10:29 Segment 1: Favorite Zelda Music 10:29 - 30:47 Segment 1 Follow-up 30:48 - 42:53 Segment 2: Zelda's epic music vs. BotW's ambiance 42:53 - 1:04:50 Segment 2: Follow-up 1:04:50 - 1:19:05 If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

It's official! The Legend of Zelda is finally coming to the big screen. Though the movie itself is likely months, or even years away, that's not going to stop us from discussing, predicting, and sweating over what is likely to come. With such a big topic, we've gathered some of ZU's varied perspectives into the worlds of Zelda, movie-making, and beyond to talk about what we hope for, what we fear, and what is likely to come in Zelda's first theatrical release. Podcast Participants: Connor, Jodie, Amanda, and Cayden Intro 0:00 - 2:26 Zelda's Getting a Movie! 2:27 - 12:41 What the Zelda movie "needs" 12:42 - 20:47 Concerns about adapting Zelda 20:48 - 28:52 What goes into Zelda's plot? 28:53 - 30:37 The Soundtrack 30:38 - 37:08 References we hope they make 37:09 - 38:47 Portraying the Princess 38:48 - 48:44 Unseen events put to screen 48:45 - 53:30 Crazy Predictions 53:31 - 1:03:24 See ya! 1:03:25 - 1:04:29

The end of the year comes the annual celebrations and gift giving that bring friends and families together. For this festive season the Zelda Universe Podcast looks to the real world and appreciate the many Zelda-themed gifts we've received over the years. Then, we turn to the winter months and examine the snowy environments in Zelda. Podcast Hosts: Connor and Matthew Welcome: Hyrule's Environment & Weather 0:00 - 8:54 Segment 1: Zelda Gifts 8:54 - 33:30 Segment 1 Follow-up 33:30 - 43:42 Segment 2: Winter in Hyrule 43:42 - 1:00:02 Segment 2 Follow-up 1:00:02 - 1:08:35 If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

Happy Halloween! In a time where the spooky and the dangerous are celebrated, we turn our attention away from the heroes and villains that dominate the Zelda story and focus more on the legions of baddies that haunt our every step. By the time we've slain our thousandth keese, they seem pretty uneventful, but what would happen if they were in our world? Could you handle swarms of chuchus? What about a Gohma? Today, our Zelda experts look at what it would mean if Zelda monsters were a part of our real lives. Podcast hosts: Connor and Zara Welcome: What Zelda Monsters Do You Like/Hate? 0:00 - 8:27 Segment 1: What Zelda Boss Could You Defeat Yourself? - Jason and Zach 8:28 - 28:05 Segment 1 Follow-up 28:06 - 37:09 Segment 2: Zelda Monsters in our Everyday Lives - Shona and David 37:09 - 52:50 Segment 2 Follow-Up 52:50 - 1:04:13 If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

A happy end of August to you all and happy returns to ZUCast! Our focus on "Tears of the Kingdom" continues with a stronger focus on how its story relates to our other adventures in Hyrule. Our first segment looks at how well the game fulfilled its role as a true "sequel" to a previous Zelda game, while the second looks at its overall placement in the Zelda Timeline. A lot of questions to be asked, and a lot answers that may or may not be given (or make sense). We'd love to hear your theories. SPOILER WARNING: Major and minor gameplay and plot details for "Tears of the Kingdom" are discussed and referenced throughout this episode. Podcast hosts: Connor and Amanda Welcome: How was "Tears of the Kingdom's" Story? 0:00 - 10:52 Segment 1: How well did "Tears of the Kingdom" carry over from "Breath of the Wild?" - Jory and Jason 10:52 - 31:08 Segment 1 Follow-up 31:09 - 43:39 Segment 2: The State of the Zelda Timeline - Mary and Elias 43:40 - 1:04:42 Segment 2 Follow-Up 1:04:43 - 1:17:19 If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

Happy Tears of the Kingdom release! With the game just reaching a month's time in our hands we wanted to discuss what we've enjoyed about the game and what fascinating directions it has taken our adventures. Instead of breaking it up into specific segments and hosts, our contributors instead gathered around our mics for a roundtable discussion. We specifically avoided all plot-relevant discussions, so no spoilers beyond the most general locations and activities you can expect in this game. Participants - Connor, Cody, Elias, Josh Howdy! 0:00 - 3:44 What's it like returning to this Hyrule? 3:45 - 10:07 What general area have you enjoyed exploring the most? 10:08 - 18:31 "Hand"-y new abilities 18:32 - 19:57 A side discussion about death and dying 19:58 - 23:10 Fusion 23:11 - 27:10 Ultrahand and Ridiculous Builds 27:11 - 33:07 Puzzles and Encounters 33:08 - 39:00 Recall 39:01 - 42:32 Ascend 42:33 - 45:27 Exploration 45:28 - 48:36 Shrines 48:37 - 51:16 Thanks for Listening! 51:17 - 53:02 If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

Welcome back to ZUCast! Now back and ready for a new format filled with discussions, banter, and plenty of opinions. We're happy to have you along with us. With this setup we're going to dive into themes and topics that will look at the Zelda franchise in new and interesting angles; creating a forum for our hosts to explore new facets of Hyrule. Each episode will surround a theme, with the segments exploring a question based on that theme. Our segment hosts will discuss and debate while the podcast hosts will tie them all together. Our first foray into this adventure involves multiple adventures. Specifically the times our fearless hero gets himself a sequel. Not every Link simply rides off into the sunset after his adventure is over, and what Nintendo does with those second installments is something we hope to explore. Hosts - Connor and Zach Segment 1: What would you add to Phantom Hourglass to make it feel more like Wind Waker? - Jory and Joshua 6:35 - 23:56 Segment 2: Which single adventure Link deserves another adventure? - Amanda and Elias 36:57 - 53:14 If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

We're back, with our probably-highly-anticipated Breath of the Wild anniversary episode! If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community! Real life tried to stop us, but much like Link when he was drawing the Master Sword, we pushed through the bad times to get this episode to your ears! (Yeah, I got Zelda simile game.) We pulled longtime ZUBCer Peyton, a.k.a. EmperorP, out of the Shrine of Resurrection and gave him a microphone, headphones, and a computer so that he could co-host this episode with everyone's favorite Amanda, Amanda VanHiel. We've also got two glowing appraisals of different aspects of BotW, plus a more critical discussion with the hosts and special guest Cody Davies, our Consulting Producer, ZU Webmaster, and perennial shoveler! To top it all off, a few members of our forum community shared their favorite memories of the game with us, which we are excited to share with you! So! Grab your Sheikah Slate and prepare to immerse yourself in the following Memories of Breath of the Wild: (Timestamps to come…) Why BotW is the Best Open-World Game Ever Presented by Randy [timestamp coming soon]Piece of Heart: The Trial of the Sword Presented by Connor [timestamp coming soon]BotW roundtable discussion Presented by your hosts (Amanda and Peyton) and Cody [timestamp coming soon]スタッフロール (Staff credits) Presented by Eden [timestamp coming soon]"Fortnite memories?" (Bloopers) [timestamp coming soon] You can find Zelda Universe on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). We also have a website, zeldauniverse.net, where you'll find game guides, news, feature articles, and more. You can leave feedback about the ZUCast on ZU's social media, or by email at podcast@zeldauniverse.net or on the Zelda Universe Forums, which you should join so you can be a part of our ongoing complaining session regarding the BotW sequel delay. 😎 Look for another episode from us soon! Hopefully sooner than four months from now…

My computer did not want me to release this episode to you, but I gave it what for! If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community! It's 2022, and we're ringing in the year with a fantastic episode of the ZUCast! Fan-favorite duo Alex and Amanda have returned to host, Shona wraps up her year-long franchise retrospective, and we've even got someone new behind the mic! (Well, I say, "new," but he's actually been around behind the scenes for the podcast's entire current run. And we've heard from him before.) And that's not all, so take a look below to get the full rundown: Zelda History, Part 7 (Finale): 2016-2020 Presented by Shona 0:02:21-0:10:39The Best Zelda(like) Games of 2021! Presented by Randy 0:14:23-0:23:56Piece of Heart: Ocarina of Time Randomizer Presented by Connor 0:32:26-0:40:01The Waterfall of Wishing: Trading Sequences Presented by Joshua 0:42:29-0:50:03ZUBC Credits Club Presented by Eden 0:54:28-0:58:10Amanda and Alex discuss the Cats movie again (Bloopers) 0:58:11-1:00:22 You can find Zelda Universe on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). We also have a website, zeldauniverse.net, where you'll find game guides, news, feature articles, and more. You can leave feedback about the ZUCast on ZU's social media, or by email at podcast@zeldauniverse.net or on the Zelda Universe Forums, which you should join because I said so. The BotW sequel is prooooooooobably going to hit the Switch later this year, and Nintendo's probably got some other surprises in store for us. So whether you're a first-time listener or you've been listening to our podcast since 2008, we hope you'll stick with us for the ride that will be 2022!

Hey, Zelda fans! 2021 has been a rough year for many of you—this has been, like, the longest year for me—and the general lack of Zelda stuff has not made it any easier. Hopefully, the five episodes we put out before this one this year have made it just a little bit more tolerable! If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community! This is actually our twentieth episode since we returned from the dead in 2018! While I had wanted to do a little more for it than what we ended up doing, I did get to co-host this episode with my friend and yours, Elias Thompson, and had a great time doing it. Plus, we have a slate of thought-provoking content, including the return of a segment that we haven't had in a while, as well as a guest segment from former Zelda Universe and Zelda Wiki "tech guy" Justin! So, without further ado, here's the rundown for this episode: Zelda History, Part 6: 2011-2015 Presented by Shona 0:05:49-0:15:46 Hey Listen!: Reflecting on the 35th Anniversary Presented by Brian 0:21:36-0:29:53 An Introduction to Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland Presented by Justin Folvarcik, former ZU DevOps head 0:33:25-0:43:50 What If Zelda Was…an Unpacking Game? Presented by Randy 0:48:56-0:56:13 Episode credits Presented by Eden 1:03:10-1:06:56 Oops! I Crapped My Pants (Bloopers) 1:06:58-1:11:09 Zelda Universe also has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). We also have a website, zeldauniverse.net, which is older than any of those social media sites. You can leave feedback about the ZUCast on said social media sites, in our email inbox at podcast@zeldauniverse.net, or on the Zelda Universe Forums, which again, has been around longer than those social media sites. We're old, is what I think I'm getting at. With the Breath of the Wild sequel (probably) out next year, you can look forward to some particularly awesome episodes from us coming in the near future! As to what else awaits all of us, only time will tell. In the meantime, thanks to all of you for sticking with us for all this time, whether you started with our first episode in 2018 or this one! Happy new year! Special thanks to Joshua Lindquist for putting together the static graphics for this episode!

Good news, everyone! The ZUBC is still alive! We've been away for a bit on account of I started my career back in August like an adult, but we're back in the nick of time or something or whatever. Anyway, cue the shenanigans! If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community! You waited with bated breath for the next installment of ZUCast, and we're here to deliver. We've got Amanda and Cody back in the studio-we-definitely-have to host this shindig, plus the fifth part of Shona's Zelda History retrospective, a Piece of Heart-warming ode to the online Zelda community, a nostalgic look back at Cody's shovel% run at Oracle of Ages during this year's ZUthon charity event, a Dreadful picture of what a Zelda Metroidvania could look like, and of course, your absolute favorite part of every episode, the credits! It's a short but fun-dense episode, and in case you don't like reading paragraphs, here's the rundown in list form: Zelda History, Part 5: 2006-2010 Presented by Shona 02:46-12:30Piece of Heart: ZUthon and Community Presented by Connor 14:35-22:09What If Zelda Was…a Metroidvania? Presented by Randy 25:09-34:04Episode credits Presented by Eden 39:05Bloopers… In addition to the podcast world, you'll also find Zelda Universe elsewhere on teh interwebs: on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). We also have a website, zeldauniverse.net, where this all began. You can leave feedback about the ZUCast on our social media, in our email inbox at podcast@zeldauniverse.net, or on the Zelda Universe Forums. "Please do not swear." We're already putting together our 20th episode! So far, I can promise some new and long-lost voices! As for anything else, you'll just have to wait. You're very good at waiting. Because you're a Zelda fan. And you listen to us. 😎 TTFN!

We're back with our first episode since this year's E3, and we've dedicated a significant portion of it to dissecting Nintendo's E3 Direct and all the juicy stuff we saw! I know it's been a hot minute since then, but some of us are still riding high from that hour or so, so please suck it up! d===(￣▽￣*)b If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community! As mentioned, this month, we've got a lot of stuff related to E3: Randy's finally returned to us to break down and offer his personal opinions on everything we saw during the E3 Direct, Realm and Ann tell us their predictions for the Breath of the Wild sequel based on the E3 teaser trailer, and episode hosts Peyton and Andrew have their own E3 opinions, as well. (So many opinions…) Plus, Shona presents the fourth part of her ongoing franchise history segment, covering the years in which people got excited for a GameCube Zelda, became enraged at what they were actually getting, and then realized that they had overreacted. (Basically, the best time to be a Zelda fan!) And to top it all off, Connor details, rather convincingly, why he believes that no game has yet treated the Master Sword as well as A Link to the Past did. This episode is sure to make your day Zeldarific, which, incidentally, should be a dictionary word. Here's the full rundown for the episode: Zelda History, Part 4: 2001-2005 Presented by Shona 0:02:36-0:13:07Hosty discussion: The early oughts in Zelda Presented by your hosts, Andrew and Peyton 0:13:08-0:25:19A Review of Nintendo's E3 Direct Presented by Randy 0:25:23-0:39:42Hosty discussion: Nintendo's Zelda 35th anniversary "celebrations" Presented by your hosts 0:39:45-0:46:46TheZeldaRealm: Deconstructing the 2021 BotW Sequel Trailer Presented by Realm and TheZeldaAnn 0:46:47-1:06:15Hosty discussion: Possibilities for the BotW sequel Presented by your hosts 1:06:16-1:15:37Piece of Heart: The Master Sword of A Link to the Past Presented by Connor 1:15:39-1:24:00Hosty discussion: Peyton isn't an ALttP fan Presented by your hosts 1:24:02-1:32:58Episode credits Presented by Eden 1:35:00-1:38:27Shenaninanigans (Bloopers) 1:38:29-1:43:05 If you like what you hear today, you're welcome to check out our other media, both social and otherwise: on Facebook and Twitter (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). And it was bound to happen eventually, but we're also officially on TikTok now (@zeldauniverse). LOL! Please also send us feedback. You can do so on our social media, in our email inbox at podcast@zeldauniverse.net, or on the Zelda Universe Forums. Please feed our delicate yet ravenous egos! We also post these things on YouTube, but up until now, the visual component has basically amounted to an hour-long view of our logo, with the occasional visual gag courtesy of our very own Kelly the Editor. I am happy to announce that we are in the process, starting with this episode, of spicing up our YouTube releases a bit! On that note, please join me in giving a warm welcome to the ZUBC's new "graphics peeps," Cayden and Alexandria, who are already working with Kelly to make our YouTube releases easier on the eyes! Finally, it has come to my attention that our presence on Stitcher has been kind of wonky for several months, with new episodes not making it to that service for some unknown reason. We'll try our best to fix this ASAP, but in the meantime, please subscribe elsewhere so you don't miss out! Listen to the episode on YouTube! (coming soon!)

This year's virtual E3 conference is just around the corner, and we're all really excited for whatever Nintendo has in store for us on Tuesday! (If you're listening to this after the Direct, feel free to laugh at our ignorance.) We even brought in a couple of very special guests to talk E3 hype and other stuff, so you'll definitely want to check out this episode of the ZUCast! If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community! Cody and Elias are back to host our pre-E3 ("prE3"?) episode, and because Cody is involved, you can safely expect some shenanigans! Besides shenanigans, Shona continues her ongoing Zelda History segment, looking at what are probably the five most legendary years in the franchise's 35-year history, 1996-2000; Elias trolls all of the timeline theorists with his latest Fake Zelda History factoid; Ann and Realm return to talk about what they want to see in the sequel to Breath of the Wild, particularly with regard to dungeons; and as I alluded to before, the hosts chat with a couple of their kindred spirits about Zelda podcasting, E3, and more! Was all of that in order? No, it was not, but you can see the proper rundown below: Zelda History, Part 3: 1996-2000 Presented by Shona 0:05:48-0:13:38Interview/Roundtable: Andy and Alasyn from Zelda Dungeon's Champions' Cast Presented by the hosts 0:16:51-0:41:36TheZeldaRealm: Dungeons in the Breath of the Wild Sequel Presented by TheZeldaAnn and Realm 0:45:42-1:05:51Fake Zelda History: Where the Zelda Timeline Really Begins Presented by Elias 1:09:58-1:11:26Episode credits Presented by Eden 1:16:01-1:20:22Everyone Makes Mistakes (Bloopers) 1:20:23-1:21:32 Don't forget to follow Zelda Universe on social media for all of the breaking E3 news! You'll find us on Facebook and Twitter (@ZeldaUniverse), as well as Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). And while you're at it, please leave us feedback; without your feedback, we can't tell if we're bringing you good vibes or if we're making your ears bleed! If social media doesn't appeal to you, you can also send us feedback directly at podcast@zeldauniverse.net or in our thread on the ZU Forums. In the words of a greedy raccoon right after you give him your precious gold, "thanks much!" Listen to the episode on YouTube!