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With a job like this, it’s sometimes hard to stop your own life bleeding into every word you write. Any successful writer, from novelist to critic, will tell you that you have to put a part of yourself into your work to make it real; the only challenge is drawing the line between who you are as a person and who you are as a writer. A loss of distinction between the two can lead to your writing abilities being tied to your well being, causing you to plunge into chronic writer’s block whenever something irks you. And I can get irked up to four times a day.
However, it can also work in the opposite direction and when you’re suddenly overcome with a blissful optimism for life your writing potential suddenly skyrockets. (I’d discuss which status I’m in currently at the moment but the fact that I’m writing this a week before its deadline, as opposed to three hours after, should tell all.) With your creativity finally uncorked, your writing gains a positivity and lift that it’s always lacked. You feel like a Free Bird; as if words could sprout wings and take you far away from your situation.
That freedom can definitely be found throughout this week’s content as preconceived notions are abandoned and the team put their own ideas forward on everything from diversity to mythology. James shares his most-desired additions to the Smash Bros. franchise in our new Top Ten column, Kevin does a double and discusses why StarFox Adventures and the original Animal Crossing were both sublime efforts and one of our newest writers, Katharine Byrne, takes us on a lycanthropic tour of Ōkami‘s mythology. Even Nester joins in with his own take on The Legend of Zelda and we round out the week on another gravity-defying voyage with the second episode of our Airship Travelogues podcast.
We hope you’ll feel practically airborne as you enjoy this week’s content and we suspect the sensation will become an even bigger deal towards the end of the year. Not only does Link’s latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword take place largely in a floating town in the sky but an entire race of dazzling crimson birds serve as a primary method of transport throughout the game. After the isolating oceans of Wind Waker and the encroaching darkness of Twilight Princes, we expect that the feeling of complete freedom is going to truly refreshing. Just like this week’s issue.
Enjoy,
Adam
Send all your favourite Wario-centric lolcatz to nintendojo.mailbag@gmail.com.
Issue 61: Free Bird
Defending Dinosaur Planet by Kevin Knezevic
“And the reason that I think Tricky is awesome is because…” (You’ll have to read the article to find out.)
Top Ten: New Challengers Approaching by James Stank
Launching a new column on all top things, James discusses his top selections to join Smash Bros.
Dojo-Show-Go! Episode 154 by Matthew Ward
Noah, James and Adam go all Oprah as they give every listener in the audience a free hour-long podcast.
The Legend of Zelda, Nester Style by Nester64x
Our resident superz hardcorez gamer tells the Zelda story like it is, not the hozer way.
The Hidden Mythology of Ōkami by Katharine Byrne
Our newest staffer throws a modern-day Lupercalia to teach us about the wolfy ways of Ōkami.
My Two Bells by Kevin Knezevic
Not content with defending StarFox Adventures on GameCube, Kevin pipes up for Animal Crossing, too.
Airship Travelogues Episode 002 by Matthew Ward
Sail off into the sunset with the return of our new podcast as Mark and Noah talk to Andre Segers.
Additional features in this issue…
Tuesday
- Industry Chatter by Andrew Hsieh
Thursday
- Now Playing by Smith Stuart
Saturday
- Week: End Game: On by Mel Turnquist
Sunday
- Weekly News Roundup by Dustin Grissom
Coming Up Next Week…
Issue 62: Star(s of Gaming) Wars
“Luke!” “Yes, Darth Vader?” “I am… very impressed by your use of parenthesis pun in that issue title!”
