GENRE
	Adventure
	DEVELOPER
	Flagship
	PUBLISHER
	Nintendo
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	CONNECTIVITY
	No
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When Zelda: The Minish Cap was first announced with artwork of Link sporting a talking bird-hat, my reaction was of delighted anticipation of the new elements this title might bring to the classic series. Now, having completed the game, I can say I was not disappointed - Zelda: The Minish Cap contains delightful new elements while remaining faithful to series conventions.

visuals

The visual elements in Minish Cap give the game a nice depth of realism. Vibrant colors and a distinct palette to each dungeon and area of Hyrule provide rich visual variety as well as distinction of location. Link is beautifully animated for every action, as are many of the other NPCs, notably: bosses and other enemies.

Although the visual design in Minish Cap follows the tradition of its 2D predecessors, where this game shines is in attention to detail. Each Minish residence is naturally tied to its larger environment (a Minish house within a library book is long and narrow inside, for example). Shadows of overhead clouds move along the ground on Hyrule field, you can see the different varieties of fruits, vegetables and baked goods for sale in the Hyrule Town market square, and the mess hall of Melari's Mines contains all the chairs, plates and utensils that the miners and smiths would need to sit and eat together.

audio

Musically, many classic Zelda themes are used plus some new favorites, both of which work together seamlessly. For a Game Boy Advance title neither variety nor quality of music was compromised. Whether it's the chilly jingle of bells in the frozen Temple of Droplets theme or the falling of tiny Minish hammers in Melari's Mines, there is close attention paid to detail in sound that breathes life into each area. Sound effects are also great: the squawking of Ezlo a is memorable addition to the tiny voices of the Picori and the diabolical chuckle of Vaati. As with music, the game has a delightful mix of classic sounds and new ones.

gameplay

New gameplay elements that Minish Cap brings to the table are subtle, yet strong additions. First, the talking hat, Ezlo. Before playing I was unsure as to how a talking hat would function in a Zelda game, but the developers have used this device well. In terms of gameplay, Link can "talk" to Ezlo at any time (similar to Navi and The King of Red Lions) about what needs to be done next. Upon encountering a new plot development, Ezlo will talk to Link about its potential impact on their quest, offering direction for less experienced gamers and colorful content in the way of character and plot development for the rest of us.

In addition to Ezlo, the newest and most notable characters are the Picori or 'Minish' (as humans call them) around whom the quest centers. All NPCs are in character, but the Minish are wonderfully believable in both environment and dialogue. They fit into the Hyrule tradition as nicely as Ezlo, following such races as the Deku and Goron (both of which make appearances in the game). And they're so darned cute! The ability to shrink Link to the mouse-sized world of the Minish doubles the explorable areas in Hyrule as worlds of both normal and giant sizes (when shrunk) coexist. The Minish world is seamlessly woven into normal-sized Hyrule, with most aspects of puzzle-sloving (world map and in dungeons) requiring Link to adventure at both scales to progress in the game.

The other most notable addition to the Zelda universe affecting gameplay is the fusing of Kinstones. A small twist on an old notion of matching the right object to the right character, Kinstones take matching to a new level. There are different Kinstone colors relating to rarity, ranging from the most common fusions with townsfolk (which usually produce rupees), to the most individualized fusions with inanimate gatekeepers, ghosts and clouds. Collecting Kinstones exceeds the enjoyablility of collecting rupees, and approaches the satisfaction finding, say, dungeon keys.

Having mentioned the new, The Minish Cap retains many elements from past installments of the series, much to the delight of a Zelda fan such as myself. Octoroks and Tektites roam the land alongside Moblins and other past enemies. Besides Link, Zelda and The King of Hyrule, Malon and Talon are back with their dairy ranch as well as the hurried postman and cucco sieve, Anju, to name a few. Classic tools and weapons return with some fun new additions like the Gust Jar and Mole Mitts. The recent Four Sword is back, as is (with appreciation) the teleporting Ocarina, for while the maps are not exceedingly expansive, they are rather maze-like. It can take awhile to get from point A to B on foot. The classic Zelda foe of the power-corrupted evil wizard returns in the form of Vaati, the soured apprentice.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

Typically, Link as a character is fairly shallow. Few cues exist in past Zeldas to develop him: in Ocarina of Time Link shudders at a bad dream and in Wind Waker, reacts in surprise (among others) through facial and body expression. Minish Cap portrays one of the most believably human Links we have yet seen due in large extent to the ongoing "interaction" with his wearable companion, Ezlo. For example, (joining popular RPG convention) Link can rest in select beds along his adventure, and in the simple act of waking Ezlo upon his own awakening, Link's gentle nature is seen. In a series were the hero slashes his sword at most everything that moves this a small but refreshing reminder that Link remains gentle and compassionate by nature, thrown by necessity into a hostile world.

Beyond furthering Link, Ezlo stands as his own character, providing wit and comic relief that keeps the game lighthearted. I literally laughed out loud at some of the wry observations this older, more seasoned character makes in interacting with his companion, our younger, greener Link.

My only complaints with this game were three: first, the postman often getting in my way in running around Hyrule Town was a minor annoyance. Second and more seriously, even with Ezlo's help key steps needed to progress in the game were at times aggravatingly ambiguous. While I appreciate a puzzle solving challenge or good riddle, when clues become too thin the player is left running around aimlessly, wasting time without getting any closer to the solution. Third, to some the game will be too short. I, however, think the length worked well with the story. With too many dungeons the story becomes secondary, eclipsed by disproportionate amounts of time spent solving puzzles in them (not the case here). As with character development in Link, Minish Cap has a good sense of story pacing that is stronger for the length and dungeons it contains.

Overall The Minish Cap is a strong Zelda title. Classic Zelda elements with new and innovative ones, a good plot and characters, humor, all add up to a great experience. Length of the game makes for a smooth, believable story, and gives replay value. This, the first new Zelda title on GBA is a must-play for fans (old and new) of the ongoing Zelda epic.

8.0/10