The fact that the Picori are the ones hiding items in the tall grass for you to find implies that they've always been helping Link from the shadows, since the very first game. It warms my heart.
@@jacobblake7439theyre still around... Minshi Woods? You can still find various things in grass and pots. They were even planned for BOTW but cut before the final product. If anything it's inconclusive whether they're around anymore, but the fact that they were planned makes me think they're still around.
@@jarlwhiterun7478 i think of it in terms of priority. would i rather have a link’s awakening remake style minish cap or another game boy color remake (oracle games!!). i agree that minish cap doesn’t need an overhaul, as it’s visual style is unique and suited to the feel of the game. sadly, nintendo fans have to think practically about what we want most because it’s unlikely we’ll get it. so in an either/or scenario, i would advocate for a port/up-res.
@@MrKevosmin definitely reminds me of when I had all the time in the world to sink into a zelda game. Windwaker is gives me the same feels lol, even with botw I played that game for 200 hours but I know If I was still a kid I would have sunk even more time into it.
As the first (and as of now only) Zelda game I finished, I have a deep appreciation for Minish cap, the visuals are so charming, and I love Ezlo, the side quests, the exploration when you're small, and Vaati being a breath of fresh air of a villain.
@@leeartlee915 Well, because I played Minish cap as the Second in the timeline, I didn't have acess to skyward sword and the other 3d games, I played other 2d games but never finished them.
It is such a great game! It's sad that people don't appreciate how holesome it is and how sweet the intention of the Minish is. It's kinda like a feel-good game to me
@@st0ny242 Really? What makes you say that? I think the reason people like the Zelda series in general is its child like take on the King Arthur mythos.
@@leeartlee915 What do you mean exactly? I have played Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, which I found a bit too childish to enjoy as an adult, A Link To The Past which I find really hard and a bit dark too, and Majora's Mask/Oot/Twilight Princess which are all pretty gloomy if you get into the lore even just a bit. Especially Ocarina of Time, I enjoyed it so much the first time but now that I know about the cruel things that are hinted at in the subtext, it has lost its magic. Botw also isn't short of drama. In Minish Cap, the villain story seems so harmless. I don't know if I'm missing the subtext there, but MC is so relaxing and easy to me
While I've always seen Skyward Sword as the most underrated Zelda game, Minish Cap has always been the most underappreciated in my opinion. The Minish Cap manga was actually the first I ever purchased, and is still the best, if only for the Vaati and Ezlo bonus panels.
Bruh have you read the Twilight Princess SERIES of Manga ? They fucking let the OG mangakas write a long series on Twilight Princess. Something like 10 volumes have come out. ITS STILL NOT OVER. Yeah i'm trying to say that one is the best. By FAR. Go read that.
@@Crit-Multiplier advice? My man, I'm not giving life lessons, I'm giving a recommendation on a relatively unknown piece of manga which I am very passionate about. Im really sorry that my happiness about being able to share it, annoys you. Must be fucking sad being like that, tho.
The Minish Cap is my favorite Zelda game and it’s great to see so much love for the game, it truly deserves it. One of the things I think that makes Minish Cap so fun is the way the Overworld is built almost like a Metroidvannia. Areas are sectioned off in chunks and as you discover the necessary items, they slowly being available, unlocking new pathways. It’s a very satisfyingly designed world
Oh good it’s not just me that has this one as their favorite. It’s literally the best. It’s not even nostalgia I played this for the first time a couple months ago and I have played many 2d and 3d Zelda’s. It has aged so perfectly
@@joelsytairo6338Botw is the only Zelda game that rivals it for me, artstyle, overworld, progression, all elements that I loved most in Minish cap, Im curious how I will think about it in after 10more years, but yeah, Minish Cap and Botw are so far at the top of Zelda games for me that no others can even come close to compare.
@@Phantasmen I love the kinstones. It adds so much depth to how you interact with the world and the characters and it’s such a little thing but it adds so much. That’s one of the complaints I’ll hear about the game is the kinstones and I still find it pretty wild that people don’t like it
Man, speaking of subtext. I love this game and kind of rehearing that the Picori are the ones who actually hide rupees in the grass is just another dash of quick pain in Breath of the Wild. There's no rupees in the grass. We can only hope that they're hiding and not just gone. Thanks for making these wonderful reviews Liam, they never fail to bring a real and tangible feeling behind why I've spent my whole life loving video games in general, but Zelda being that touchstone and grounding of childhood wonder being turned into a future.
The Minish Cap was among my first games ever, and was the one that really stuck with me throughout my entire childhood. I must have replayed it over a hundred times, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it shaped a lot of my creative and emotional views today, even if sometimes subconsciously. I'm really glad to hear you had a great time with the game and love it, despite its length, simplicity, and gacha. The music of the game is a big thing for me, too. It's difficult comparing it to the soundtracks of other Zelda games, but I still absolutely love how it can create simple, yet palpably emotional pieces. And its graphics are among my favorite in gaming to date, with some of the most gorgeous pixel art ever. Even if, nowadays, I can't be confident saying it's my favorite Zelda game, I can be very confident in saying I absolutely love it and what it's done for me
Something really cool I found out about the roll attack is that if you time and space it well and press the sword button a second time after hitting an enemy Link will do a follow-up spin attack without needing to charge it for a stupid amount of damage. Landing the thing isn't always easy but learning this secret move is really fun and satisfying!
The most underrated zelda game, I loved it so much I went through the pain of 100%ing it. I’d love kinstones to be in botw 2. A console version of this would have been so cool
@@leargamma4912 Thank you, it was awful to 100% that game, and as bad as the Kinstones were, spending shells for 100% trophy completion made me want to chuck my GBA SP into a river.
To touch on the kinstones, some of the fusions are linked to a random npc, and this can change if the npc is blocked off through the story. So you can play the game twice and fuse kinstones with a different set of npcs.
That swell of the Minish Village music at about 39 minutes really hit me with the nostalgia. I think Minish Cap is the Zelda game I've replayed the most out of all of them partly because the gba sp is so easy to carry around and partly because I always found its spritework, music, and compact yet simple game design so charming. It's kind of a bummer to hear it had the least amount of sales. On the other hand, hearing that the Minish are likely based on koropokkuru is fascinating! I've heard of them through Final Fantasy, but I never knew they were originally an Ainu creation. This video was a lovely surprise telling the strengths and weaknesses of MC, and even had some interesting facts to boot. Thank you so much for sharing!
God I love the minish cap it’s one of my favorite Zelda games hell games ever made That final dungeon and ending hit me so hard about how much I loved this story
Being so late in the GBA library, I felt it opened up the possibility to use sprite art and the sound font as great as it did. To me, the charming chibi of familiar faces, the reuse of familiar iconic tunes and noteworthy new ones, and its willingness to create its own mythos than shoehorn Ganon make it the ultimate love letter to all the Zeldas that came before it
I just finished the first dungeon and I was BLOWN AWAY lol but seriously, the music, the puzzle design, the fact that I got stumped by the first dungeon for the PERFECT amount of time before I remembered that middle door in that incredibly cool spinning barrel. I’m really impressed so far
This was an unexpected gem for my childhood. I can’t recall how I came into possession of it, but this game was such a fresh take on the Zelda formula, and I never saw it coming!
This was a very great video. This game deserves more love. I tend to replay this game whenever I'm in the mood to revisit the GBA, alongside Metorid Fusion. I always hated how short this game felt, but I never played it on the go, so I never played it as intended. The kinstones were my favorite mechanic from the game. It reinforced the importance of talking to every NPC, it truly made the world feel alive.
This is the lastest zelda game I played. I love how vast and full of secrets its little overworld is and I think is an underrated game. It's a game where backtracking and exploration are rewarded unlike most zelda games.
Going into this video, I was a bit saddened that it didn’t have as long of a discussion as previous retrospectives. I always enjoy your personal spin on viewing these games and I end up taking a heartfelt message from each of your works you produce. As I was watching this video, I was doing just that the entire time, but once I had reached your closing thoughts on the game and how that reflects the progress of content on your channel, I realized that was not how I should approach this. Whether it’s big or small, a two hour video or one just under an hour, your work should be appreciated for what it is and what it achieves through looking at this series. You are making phenomenal content that has influenced mine- and I’m sure many more people’s lives through everything you make. This has also helped me to realize that not everything I make needs to be a masterpiece, and I can find enjoyment and fulfillment through the small, simple works as well. Thank you once again for providing a new perspective to me through your retrospective.
As someone who is just not very good at actually playing Zelda games, this one charmed me over again and again as I worked out how to shrink down and return to normal size on the world map and dungeons. Something about having to take care while small and seeing things in a new light is just magical (and the scenes themselves were artistically inspiring). Its just a shame more people do not give this a chance.
You continue to be one of the best writers on the platform. You touch on elements and themes I've felt playing these games but have never been able to adequately put into words. Thank you, and keep up the good work, sir.
I wished you had talked about the buildup to the final battle in your video. The stakes of the world at hand, as well as the looming threat of Zelda's demise at the hands of Vaati while ascending Dark Hyrule Castle is one of the most intense experiences I have ever had in Zelda history. The atmosphere is so palpable and rich, especially as you fight the three Darknuts before the final bell rings.
I'm intrigued by your methods of dealing with Darknuts in this game. My method was to just block their attacks with the shield, which causes most of them to stagger and leaves them open to attack. A few are immune to this method, but can instead be staggered with bombs if I recall.
My guy, you released this at the PERFECT TIME. I just finished up with all of your Zelda videos last night, and then you drop Minish Cap on me! Thanks man
The minish cap was the first Zelda game I played. I fell in love with it and the whole series. 10 years later memories of this game still warm my heart
It’s my favorite. Best game in so many ways. In my opinion it is breathtakingly gorgeous and the items and mechanics are so good. People complain about the linear dungeons but I don’t really see this. If anything this just makes it very friendly to newcomers. The over world is the best in any 2d Zelda the kinstone mechanic is so cool and adds so much depth to how you interact with the world and npcs. The overworld is a perfect middle ground to the overly restrictive and tight OW of links awakening and the vast and sometimes barren world of a link to the past
I first experienced Legend of Zelda after borrowing Minish Cap from a friend. By the time I gave it back, I had nearly 100%ed it. Makes me wish I could go back to that copy and play it all over again…
The Minish Cap was one of my very first - if not the first - video games, and I must say I spent countless hours finishing the main story and trying to get that damned heart from the figurines. I always loved that game, but I could'nt remember why. Thanks for reminding me of it, and putting the words that brought back my memories of such a great game. You made me miss this time, when life was simple enough to believe tiny creatures from a video game could live in my backyard. Thank you!
David Jr. is terrifying. It's like the PacMan ghosts, Inky Blinky Pinky and Clyde. One of these is not like the other, one of these is a serial killer.
I love that Nintendo (or Capcom I guess?) had the idea of connecting Minish Cap to the 4 Swords games by essentially making the Minish Sword the Predecessor to the Four Sword, by having the "split into 4" mechanic be a part of Minish Cap itself, which later on would evolve into a constant split... It's a nice detail that connects the timeline nicely (Also, details like the Room where you charge the sword again looking close to the one in 4 swords shows the thought put behind these games).
Minish Cap, along with the GBA Link to the past, was the first ever game I ever played with my late Grandmother, and is one of my most nostalgic games. It holds a special place in my heart, and also contains my favorite song in the series, the Elemental Sanctuary.
I really loved Minish Cap growing up, it was the second Zelda game I ever tried after Ocarina. Such a beautiful looking game with whimsical characters and story. Capcom did an excellent job in my opinion
I beat this game for the first time two years ago and i must say that this game surprised me with how fun it is and how smooth it plays all these years later! This game really held up, but im also hoping for a remake one day :)
A little surprised the item upgrades weren’t touched upon some more. The remote bombs were first introduced in this game and I absolutely adore how useful and broken they are! They’re the perfect weapon for dark nut eradication! And while more an aesthetic choice than a practical one, I love the mirror shield implementation that reflects back a laser at your assailants!
Yeah, TMC is ripe with secret item upgrades. The magical boomerang, remote bombs, mirror shield and of course the light arrows all felt especially special in this game.
The Minish Cap has, and will always be, my absolute favorite handheld Zelda. I adore the art, concept, puzzles, and unique items. What a wonderful game.
39:03 LOL that's what they say in the english version? In german they talk seemingly gibberish but its just normal backwards. Instead of "Hello there!" it's "Ereht olleh!" ^^
Holding B to charge your sword and then clinking it against the wall--I believe it makes a different sound if it hits a bombable wall. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I just really like the engine. It is really solid and feels clean. Behavior is consistent. Hitboxes and mechanics are tight. The pixel art is really well done too. Sound design too.
I have a soft spot for Minish Cap because it's one of the first zelda games I completed, and was the catylyst for my absolute love of "Tiny person in Big Person world" aesthetic that's nowhere near used enough, games like Bug Fables and Grounded, shows like The Borrowers, just tiny creatures jury rigging tools and weapons out of stuff like thimbles, thumbtacks and sewing needles,
Have you seen Arthur and the Minimoys? If not, you should, it's exactly that kind of things. There's books too. (Be carreful tho, there is two versions of the film, the original one, and a remanied one made by the USA and UK distributor. You should watch the original).
just wanna give props to the artist of the thumbnail here, the style is identical and if the shaping was slightly more rounded on Link I'd not even be able to tell this wasn't official)
The most painful thing about 100%ing this game isn't the random/obscure fusions. It's that some fusions can be permanently missed and locked away if you don't perform them at a certain time. Then there's the figurine collection, which is just as painful due to how many shells you'll need to farm just to have a hope of grtting every figurine.
The director of Hyrule Warriors saying that he felt like he done everything possible in the first game while Vaati is just absent of the game was a crime
The Minish Cap is definitely one of my most favorite games. I get some of the music stuck in my head from time to time, and it’s always some nice nostalgia.
It's also the most animated gba game out there, the way link's hair move when running, the cartoon like stretch when he's in a cart and its going really fast.
I'm so happy to see you cover the minish cap!! This was the first zelda game I played as a kid and it made me want to play my mom's copies of ocarina, majora, and my favorite game twilight princess. If it weren't for this little title I never would've fallen in love with a series that means so much to me and I'm really happy to see such a good coverage of it. Your closing message was really impactful too, and I'm going to be carrying it with me as I continue to create in the future. Thanks man :^)
Minish Cap has been my first Zelda Game and until this day, i take my Gameboy from time to time and just play it for a couple days. It's a bit like a comfort zone where you can just dive in and have a nice time exploring and enjoying the beautiful music.
This game has my favorite atmosphere and vibe of all of the top-down Legend of Zelda games. Games, movies, and books that include the ability to see their world through a different lens specifically by shrinking down have always fascinated me.
The first Zelda game I played was ALTTP. I fell in love with the saga with OOT, it was also the first entry I managed to finish on my own. That said, the Minish Cap holds a special place on my heart. It touched all the right buttons for me... The simple aesthetic, the approachable gameplay, the casual "pick up and leave" vibe of everything in it. And Vaati is in my eyes the most compelling and interesting antagonist the series has presented us. It always warms my heart when picking up the Master Sword in other games that my mind wanders to the Minish people and their gifting of the Picori Blade.
Yknow this is the only zelda other than botw that ive completely finished. Im not really into the zelda formula and this game hasnt changed that. But i do love hearing people talk about it. And boy no one talks about it better than mr. Triforce himself. Thanks for the awesome upload liam, love your vids
You said that Minish Cap borrowed concepts and tools from Four Swords. But it's a bit more complicated than that, as development on both began around the same time; with Minish Cap's development starting slightly before Four Swords but releasing several months ago.
This Zelda passed me by as a kid, which is funny because I adore the WW art style and I had a GBA that I played religiously. I'd love to try it sometime soon.
this was the first and only game i 100% without using a single walkthrough or guide. i died a lot during my first playthrough, i didn't know about the silver arrows, so missed that side quest, and it took me forever to work out how to beat big octorok. (regular sized octorok, but you fight it as a minish sized person in the temple of droplets). just like it was mentioned in this video, i played this game in small bursts during secondary school, and as such, i think i got a lot more enjoyment out of playing it, than i would trying to beat the entire game in one session. the end game side quests like the figurines and kin stones, where what i spent most of my school lunch times on. the figurines, i would be constantly soft resetting for the right rng, but the reward of getting the last piece of heart and the sound test was sooooooo worth it!
Wonderful video! I was so happy to see that others also remember The Minish Cap just as fondly as I do. It's a small adventure with big heart and full of charm. I remember playing this game as a kid and being so enchanted by the Minish that I drew them for a middle school art project and my teacher gave me glowing praise for the illustrations of the different regional Minish. Also, I love this version of Vaati the most and desperately want him to return in a modern Zelda game. Thank you for another great video!
I love how Liam almost exclusively uploads retrospectives on the specific games that impacted me personally as a child. Best creator to watch when you’re feeling down, be it sickness, mental health struggles, ect.
Best part of this video is that when he references the release of the Nintendo DS, he goes out of his way to show a clip of Luigi dropping that baby penguin off a cliff. For me, that's how I know deep thought was put into this ❤️
Along with video game historian, this is my other favorite channel that I just love to listen to talk about video games I love. Thanks so much for all the hard work! Always looking forward to your videos.
The game boy advance was my favorite handheld ever. I loved the Windwaker artstyle from the jump. I was SO happy this game got made, and I adore it. Four Swords was SO awesome for my friend group!
Awesome video. Minish Cap and the Oracle games are underappreciated, but they are sincerely some of the most intricately designed and clever games in the series. I'm really hoping they get remastered on the Switch at some point.
This game was the beginning for me playing other zelda games and it was also the beginning of falling in love with the whole series. Despite the hype of the other 2D Zelda Games like OoA, OoS, Link to the past or even older games and so on or even the 3D Zelda games. It's got a special place in my heart because it was my first video game which I ever had played. It took me month to play it through (bacause back than I didn't know that walkthrough exist). My friends also played the game and it loved that so much sharing the solutions if I or one of my friends stuck in a riddle. It reminds me how close and simple friendships were back then (or in childhood in general). Back then I couldn't afford a game cube, so playing video games on a Gameboy with such graphic at that time feel very special to me. I know that games like Botw or TotK are so wonderful with their setting and game play, but no Zelda game (or even other games) have this kind of emotional impact on me like Minishcap. Besides all the bad things which I unfortunately experienced in my childhood playing this game still one of the best parts of my childhood memory.
8:18 when I was a kid I didnt knew where to progress. I searched the whole map at this point. After a while I lent the game to a friend and he finished the game in like 4 weeks or something. I was mind blown how he had done it so fast. Anyway, he showed me how to progress there and I was mind blown and felt stupid at the same time.
ill be real, you genuinely hit the spot on that. left me reflecting on myself and my life with hope. this game meant so much to me growing up. glad you brought back the memories
26:47 the Magic Bommerang is literally my favorite item in the game. It hits and stuns almost every enemy and is so useful. I always had my sword on B and my boomerang on A
"It can be difficult to continuously meet the unrealistic expectations of an audience spoiled by greatness." (43:19) Shit. What a great quote regarding The Zelda franchise. Wow.
This game is by far my favourite in the Zelda franchise, with it's vibrant colours and creative items. Randomizer lets some of the item uses open even more and find creative ways to use them in you current situation. For example, in mountains you can blow up the dust with bombs, if you don't have gust jar yet.
I have distinct childhood memories emulating this game on my old galaxy during lunch when I was in love with Toon Link as a character thanks to art design and personality but didn't have the means to play Windwaker yet. This was one of the first zelda's I played to completion and definitely got me wanting to do the same with other entries hoping to capture that joy again. Love seeing others appreciate this gem in the series
I have been at 2:25 replaying it over and over and laughing. "Sometimes the littlest things can leave a big impact" while link is set on fire and falls in a pit
This is one of the most nostalgic Zelda games for me, next to Ocarina of Time, and Wind Waker. I remember after Scouts, my parents picked me up and surprised me with a copy, since then it's my most beloved title on the GBA. After recently replaying it as a randomizer, I realized its compact world makes it a blast when going through it, especially since you have the option to turn off Kinstones if you want to.
The minish cap is my favorite Zelda game, and I will never stop to encourage my friends to play it. Your video made me think of it in a more philosophical way. I want to be a minish for my friends. Generous, discreet, curious, and just genuinely friendly without any expectation in return. I love these little guys.
The Minish cap was the very first LoZ game I ever played and made me fall in love with this series. To this day it still holds its place in my top 3 favorite LoZ games
I absolutely love this game, the way the world itself is like a ever evolving dungeon. That being said - my only gripe is the small number of main dungeons. If this had even 6 essences to collect, and the world was slightly more expanded to accommodate, it really could be top tier Zelda.
I can't believe I've never made the connection between the Minish and Koropokkuru despite this being my favorite 2D Zelda and having a little familiarity with the legend from playing some Megami Tensei games. That segment of the video was fascinating
Thank you for the effort you place in our videos. When I can visibly see and hear the passion of a true Zelda fan, I can't help but appreciate it. You see the art for what it is and love it. So thank you. I always look forward to seeing the next video and where this channel will go!
I found Minish Cap to be incredibly fun for the most part. I was on a great streak of fun fusions for several hours two night ago, but it was a hellish grind toward the end. I was sick of the figurines and looking for the last few kinstone pieces, so I just went ahead into the castle without them.
The gachapon heart piece is what put an end to my minish cap playthrough. I tended toward 100%ing my zelda playthroughs and I was never gonna finish this task so it kinda took the wind out of my sails and I just stopped there, right before the final dungeon. All in all, I think Minish cap's style is wonderfully charming and the exploration in it is solid, but having played through all the capcom games in retrospect via the virtual console, I find that I just like the Oracle games a lot more. The thing that makes those games unique left me with a greater sense of wonder, and honestly even though I don't like Season's focus on combat all that much, finishing my joint playthrough with the much stronger (imo) oracle of ages meant the whole experience had a lasting positive impact on me.
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nintendo should make a new toon link game
Hey Liam I just beet resident evil 4
@@chipchap3703 lettuce turnip the beet
dude, I love love the banner image of the channel, it's aesthetic is perfect. kudos to the designer
Hi.
The fact that the Picori are the ones hiding items in the tall grass for you to find implies that they've always been helping Link from the shadows, since the very first game. It warms my heart.
No longer in the 2 mew ones though!
@@jacobblake7439theyre still around... Minshi Woods? You can still find various things in grass and pots. They were even planned for BOTW but cut before the final product. If anything it's inconclusive whether they're around anymore, but the fact that they were planned makes me think they're still around.
Yeah the Town Minish are so darn cute.
The Minish Cap is incredibly underrated. A very great 2D Zelda that deserves its own remake.
I would love to see a direct sequel of it as well!! Unspeakably amazing Zelda entry to say the least.
Huh, I don’t think it really needs a remake personally. GBA games hold up pretty well. A simple up rez and port would do fine, imo.
A Links Awakening style remake would rule and I hope it happens.
@@leeartlee915 people like you make me laugh. You'd be getting a new game, modernized. You could also, wait for it, still play the original!
@@jarlwhiterun7478 i think of it in terms of priority. would i rather have a link’s awakening remake style minish cap or another game boy color remake (oracle games!!). i agree that minish cap doesn’t need an overhaul, as it’s visual style is unique and suited to the feel of the game. sadly, nintendo fans have to think practically about what we want most because it’s unlikely we’ll get it. so in an either/or scenario, i would advocate for a port/up-res.
Minish cap is easily my favorite portable zelda, so much charmed packed into that little cartridge. Definitely underrated
That part!! It’s so nostalgic for me somehow
@@MrKevosmin definitely reminds me of when I had all the time in the world to sink into a zelda game. Windwaker is gives me the same feels lol, even with botw I played that game for 200 hours but I know If I was still a kid I would have sunk even more time into it.
As the first (and as of now only) Zelda game I finished, I have a deep appreciation for Minish cap, the visuals are so charming, and I love Ezlo, the side quests, the exploration when you're small, and Vaati being a breath of fresh air of a villain.
Super interesting. Any reason why that’s the case (that it’s the only Zelda game you’ve completed)?
@@leeartlee915 Well, because I played Minish cap as the Second in the timeline, I didn't have acess to skyward sword and the other 3d games, I played other 2d games but never finished them.
It is such a great game! It's sad that people don't appreciate how holesome it is and how sweet the intention of the Minish is. It's kinda like a feel-good game to me
@@st0ny242 Really? What makes you say that? I think the reason people like the Zelda series in general is its child like take on the King Arthur mythos.
@@leeartlee915 What do you mean exactly? I have played Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, which I found a bit too childish to enjoy as an adult, A Link To The Past which I find really hard and a bit dark too, and Majora's Mask/Oot/Twilight Princess which are all pretty gloomy if you get into the lore even just a bit. Especially Ocarina of Time, I enjoyed it so much the first time but now that I know about the cruel things that are hinted at in the subtext, it has lost its magic. Botw also isn't short of drama. In Minish Cap, the villain story seems so harmless. I don't know if I'm missing the subtext there, but MC is so relaxing and easy to me
While I've always seen Skyward Sword as the most underrated Zelda game, Minish Cap has always been the most underappreciated in my opinion. The Minish Cap manga was actually the first I ever purchased, and is still the best, if only for the Vaati and Ezlo bonus panels.
Bruh have you read the Twilight Princess SERIES of Manga ?
They fucking let the OG mangakas write a long series on Twilight Princess. Something like 10 volumes have come out. ITS STILL NOT OVER.
Yeah i'm trying to say that one is the best. By FAR. Go read that.
@@willychonkers9360 try to be less annoying and people might actually listen to your advice.
@@Crit-Multiplier advice? My man, I'm not giving life lessons, I'm giving a recommendation on a relatively unknown piece of manga which I am very passionate about. Im really sorry that my happiness about being able to share it, annoys you.
Must be fucking sad being like that, tho.
Yess, Skyward Sword fans always have Good taste. 😁
@@willychonkers9360 dude yes I love the twilight princess manga it adds so much depth to story it's crazy and I can wait for the next one to come out
Thanks for giving me the chance to draw the thumbnail for this video! It was super fun trying to draw in the Minish Cap style! 💚
You're art is fantastic! 🎨🖌️
I legit couldn't tell it was fan art. I thought it was official art from a promotion, magazine, or guide.
Great job!
@@hadesKIU Same here. I was wondering if it was really a commissioned piece, and I'm glad it was.
Could've fooled me that it wasn't official. Take pride.
It looks amazing. Great job
babe wake up, new liam triforce essay
This.
Just this 😂
"Who the hell are you talking about dude?"
🥳🥳🥳
@Ramen protip: dont tell people that, no one has ever seen someone say that and thought anything good lol
I'm awake did I miss it??
The Minish Cap is my favorite Zelda game and it’s great to see so much love for the game, it truly deserves it. One of the things I think that makes Minish Cap so fun is the way the Overworld is built almost like a Metroidvannia. Areas are sectioned off in chunks and as you discover the necessary items, they slowly being available, unlocking new pathways. It’s a very satisfyingly designed world
Oh good it’s not just me that has this one as their favorite. It’s literally the best. It’s not even nostalgia I played this for the first time a couple months ago and I have played many 2d and 3d Zelda’s. It has aged so perfectly
@@joelsytairo6338Botw is the only Zelda game that rivals it for me, artstyle, overworld, progression, all elements that I loved most in Minish cap, Im curious how I will think about it in after 10more years, but yeah, Minish Cap and Botw are so far at the top of Zelda games for me that no others can even come close to compare.
@@Phantasmen I love the kinstones. It adds so much depth to how you interact with the world and the characters and it’s such a little thing but it adds so much. That’s one of the complaints I’ll hear about the game is the kinstones and I still find it pretty wild that people don’t like it
Man, speaking of subtext. I love this game and kind of rehearing that the Picori are the ones who actually hide rupees in the grass is just another dash of quick pain in Breath of the Wild. There's no rupees in the grass. We can only hope that they're hiding and not just gone. Thanks for making these wonderful reviews Liam, they never fail to bring a real and tangible feeling behind why I've spent my whole life loving video games in general, but Zelda being that touchstone and grounding of childhood wonder being turned into a future.
you know that it is mentioned in the game that minishes hide stuff in the grass right?
@@oa2459 Picori are the names that are also used for the Minish. So yes, quite aware.
You can't beat a retrospective by Liam Triforce.
Facts
Facts
You truly cannot.
I raise you....
TWO retrospectives by Liam.
Difficult challenge but I was able to beat off to this retrospective
The Minish Cap was among my first games ever, and was the one that really stuck with me throughout my entire childhood. I must have replayed it over a hundred times, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it shaped a lot of my creative and emotional views today, even if sometimes subconsciously. I'm really glad to hear you had a great time with the game and love it, despite its length, simplicity, and gacha.
The music of the game is a big thing for me, too. It's difficult comparing it to the soundtracks of other Zelda games, but I still absolutely love how it can create simple, yet palpably emotional pieces. And its graphics are among my favorite in gaming to date, with some of the most gorgeous pixel art ever. Even if, nowadays, I can't be confident saying it's my favorite Zelda game, I can be very confident in saying I absolutely love it and what it's done for me
Something really cool I found out about the roll attack is that if you time and space it well and press the sword button a second time after hitting an enemy Link will do a follow-up spin attack without needing to charge it for a stupid amount of damage. Landing the thing isn't always easy but learning this secret move is really fun and satisfying!
It's not a secret move. U have to get a scroll to unlock the move from one of the combat teachers throughout the game.
@@michaelmeyer4682 They never tell you about the bonus spin attack after the roll attack though. That's the secret move, not the standard roll attack.
Love the secret extra moves in this game. The quick attack after the roll is cool too (mentioned in the Swordman newsletter).
Minish Cap is the most underrated game in the series by a quarter mile. I really love how its a smaller experience but so dense and full of charm
Man I love Minish cap! I recently revisited the game again after many years and it still holds true. Great video as always Liam!
The most underrated zelda game, I loved it so much I went through the pain of 100%ing it. I’d love kinstones to be in botw 2. A console version of this would have been so cool
MC was the first Zelda game- maybe the first game, period- that I beat 100%
If kinstones return in another zelda game, I am not buying it, period. sorry, it is padding designed to make the game last longer.
@@leargamma4912
I got down to one fusion on one of my files and I could never find the last one. Must've missed it somewhere.
@@leargamma4912 Thank you, it was awful to 100% that game, and as bad as the Kinstones were, spending shells for 100% trophy completion made me want to chuck my GBA SP into a river.
@@Draezeth same, I still have my 100% file that I got back to on my GBA!
To touch on the kinstones, some of the fusions are linked to a random npc, and this can change if the npc is blocked off through the story. So you can play the game twice and fuse kinstones with a different set of npcs.
That swell of the Minish Village music at about 39 minutes really hit me with the nostalgia. I think Minish Cap is the Zelda game I've replayed the most out of all of them partly because the gba sp is so easy to carry around and partly because I always found its spritework, music, and compact yet simple game design so charming. It's kind of a bummer to hear it had the least amount of sales.
On the other hand, hearing that the Minish are likely based on koropokkuru is fascinating! I've heard of them through Final Fantasy, but I never knew they were originally an Ainu creation. This video was a lovely surprise telling the strengths and weaknesses of MC, and even had some interesting facts to boot. Thank you so much for sharing!
God I love the minish cap it’s one of my favorite Zelda games hell games ever made
That final dungeon and ending hit me so hard about how much I loved this story
Bro my mom beat up for playing this game she said it was the devil’s manufacturing
Man, this game still looks SO GOOD! One of the most charming Zelda titles out there.
Being so late in the GBA library, I felt it opened up the possibility to use sprite art and the sound font as great as it did. To me, the charming chibi of familiar faces, the reuse of familiar iconic tunes and noteworthy new ones, and its willingness to create its own mythos than shoehorn Ganon make it the ultimate love letter to all the Zeldas that came before it
I just finished the first dungeon and I was BLOWN AWAY lol but seriously, the music, the puzzle design, the fact that I got stumped by the first dungeon for the PERFECT amount of time before I remembered that middle door in that incredibly cool spinning barrel. I’m really impressed so far
This was an unexpected gem for my childhood. I can’t recall how I came into possession of it, but this game was such a fresh take on the Zelda formula, and I never saw it coming!
This was a very great video. This game deserves more love. I tend to replay this game whenever I'm in the mood to revisit the GBA, alongside Metorid Fusion. I always hated how short this game felt, but I never played it on the go, so I never played it as intended. The kinstones were my favorite mechanic from the game. It reinforced the importance of talking to every NPC, it truly made the world feel alive.
This is the lastest zelda game I played. I love how vast and full of secrets its little overworld is and I think is an underrated game. It's a game where backtracking and exploration are rewarded unlike most zelda games.
Minish Cap is such a timeless classic with so much charm. And the artstyle is GORGEOUS.
Going into this video, I was a bit saddened that it didn’t have as long of a discussion as previous retrospectives. I always enjoy your personal spin on viewing these games and I end up taking a heartfelt message from each of your works you produce. As I was watching this video, I was doing just that the entire time, but once I had reached your closing thoughts on the game and how that reflects the progress of content on your channel, I realized that was not how I should approach this. Whether it’s big or small, a two hour video or one just under an hour, your work should be appreciated for what it is and what it achieves through looking at this series. You are making phenomenal content that has influenced mine- and I’m sure many more people’s lives through everything you make. This has also helped me to realize that not everything I make needs to be a masterpiece, and I can find enjoyment and fulfillment through the small, simple works as well. Thank you once again for providing a new perspective to me through your retrospective.
As someone who is just not very good at actually playing Zelda games, this one charmed me over again and again as I worked out how to shrink down and return to normal size on the world map and dungeons. Something about having to take care while small and seeing things in a new light is just magical (and the scenes themselves were artistically inspiring). Its just a shame more people do not give this a chance.
You continue to be one of the best writers on the platform. You touch on elements and themes I've felt playing these games but have never been able to adequately put into words. Thank you, and keep up the good work, sir.
I wished you had talked about the buildup to the final battle in your video. The stakes of the world at hand, as well as the looming threat of Zelda's demise at the hands of Vaati while ascending Dark Hyrule Castle is one of the most intense experiences I have ever had in Zelda history. The atmosphere is so palpable and rich, especially as you fight the three Darknuts before the final bell rings.
I'm intrigued by your methods of dealing with Darknuts in this game. My method was to just block their attacks with the shield, which causes most of them to stagger and leaves them open to attack. A few are immune to this method, but can instead be staggered with bombs if I recall.
My guy, you released this at the PERFECT TIME. I just finished up with all of your Zelda videos last night, and then you drop Minish Cap on me! Thanks man
same
The minish cap was the first Zelda game I played. I fell in love with it and the whole series. 10 years later memories of this game still warm my heart
It’s my favorite. Best game in so many ways. In my opinion it is breathtakingly gorgeous and the items and mechanics are so good. People complain about the linear dungeons but I don’t really see this. If anything this just makes it very friendly to newcomers. The over world is the best in any 2d Zelda the kinstone mechanic is so cool and adds so much depth to how you interact with the world and npcs. The overworld is a perfect middle ground to the overly restrictive and tight OW of links awakening and the vast and sometimes barren world of a link to the past
I first experienced Legend of Zelda after borrowing Minish Cap from a friend. By the time I gave it back, I had nearly 100%ed it. Makes me wish I could go back to that copy and play it all over again…
The Minish Cap was one of my very first - if not the first - video games, and I must say I spent countless hours finishing the main story and trying to get that damned heart from the figurines. I always loved that game, but I could'nt remember why. Thanks for reminding me of it, and putting the words that brought back my memories of such a great game. You made me miss this time, when life was simple enough to believe tiny creatures from a video game could live in my backyard. Thank you!
David Jr. is terrifying.
It's like the PacMan ghosts, Inky Blinky Pinky and Clyde. One of these is not like the other, one of these is a serial killer.
I love that Nintendo (or Capcom I guess?) had the idea of connecting Minish Cap to the 4 Swords games by essentially making the Minish Sword the Predecessor to the Four Sword, by having the "split into 4" mechanic be a part of Minish Cap itself, which later on would evolve into a constant split... It's a nice detail that connects the timeline nicely (Also, details like the Room where you charge the sword again looking close to the one in 4 swords shows the thought put behind these games).
Minish Cap, along with the GBA Link to the past, was the first ever game I ever played with my late Grandmother, and is one of my most nostalgic games. It holds a special place in my heart, and also contains my favorite song in the series, the Elemental Sanctuary.
I really loved Minish Cap growing up, it was the second Zelda game I ever tried after Ocarina.
Such a beautiful looking game with whimsical characters and story. Capcom did an excellent job in my opinion
I beat this game for the first time two years ago and i must say that this game surprised me with how fun it is and how smooth it plays all these years later! This game really held up, but im also hoping for a remake one day :)
A little surprised the item upgrades weren’t touched upon some more. The remote bombs were first introduced in this game and I absolutely adore how useful and broken they are!
They’re the perfect weapon for dark nut eradication!
And while more an aesthetic choice than a practical one, I love the mirror shield implementation that reflects back a laser at your assailants!
Yeah, TMC is ripe with secret item upgrades. The magical boomerang, remote bombs, mirror shield and of course the light arrows all felt especially special in this game.
The Minish Cap has, and will always be, my absolute favorite handheld Zelda. I adore the art, concept, puzzles, and unique items. What a wonderful game.
39:03 LOL that's what they say in the english version? In german they talk seemingly gibberish but its just normal backwards. Instead of "Hello there!" it's "Ereht olleh!" ^^
Holding B to charge your sword and then clinking it against the wall--I believe it makes a different sound if it hits a bombable wall. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I just really like the engine. It is really solid and feels clean. Behavior is consistent. Hitboxes and mechanics are tight. The pixel art is really well done too. Sound design too.
Found this channel like 3 days ago, my man you are great at this, instantly fell in love with this channel entirely
I have a soft spot for Minish Cap because it's one of the first zelda games I completed, and was the catylyst for my absolute love of "Tiny person in Big Person world" aesthetic that's nowhere near used enough, games like Bug Fables and Grounded, shows like The Borrowers, just tiny creatures jury rigging tools and weapons out of stuff like thimbles, thumbtacks and sewing needles,
Have you seen Arthur and the Minimoys? If not, you should, it's exactly that kind of things.
There's books too.
(Be carreful tho, there is two versions of the film, the original one, and a remanied one made by the USA and UK distributor. You should watch the original).
just wanna give props to the artist of the thumbnail here, the style is identical and if the shaping was slightly more rounded on Link I'd not even be able to tell this wasn't official)
The most painful thing about 100%ing this game isn't the random/obscure fusions. It's that some fusions can be permanently missed and locked away if you don't perform them at a certain time. Then there's the figurine collection, which is just as painful due to how many shells you'll need to farm just to have a hope of grtting every figurine.
The director of Hyrule Warriors saying that he felt like he done everything possible in the first game while Vaati is just absent of the game was a crime
The Minish Cap is definitely one of my most favorite games. I get some of the music stuck in my head from time to time, and it’s always some nice nostalgia.
It's also the most animated gba game out there, the way link's hair move when running, the cartoon like stretch when he's in a cart and its going really fast.
I'm so happy to see you cover the minish cap!! This was the first zelda game I played as a kid and it made me want to play my mom's copies of ocarina, majora, and my favorite game twilight princess. If it weren't for this little title I never would've fallen in love with a series that means so much to me and I'm really happy to see such a good coverage of it. Your closing message was really impactful too, and I'm going to be carrying it with me as I continue to create in the future. Thanks man :^)
I have played through this game 3 times and this video taught me so much. I really need to do some more exploring I knew like 3 of these secrets
Minish Cap has been my first Zelda Game and until this day, i take my Gameboy from time to time and just play it for a couple days.
It's a bit like a comfort zone where you can just dive in and have a nice time exploring and enjoying the beautiful music.
This game has my favorite atmosphere and vibe of all of the top-down Legend of Zelda games. Games, movies, and books that include the ability to see their world through a different lens specifically by shrinking down have always fascinated me.
The first Zelda game I played was ALTTP. I fell in love with the saga with OOT, it was also the first entry I managed to finish on my own. That said, the Minish Cap holds a special place on my heart. It touched all the right buttons for me... The simple aesthetic, the approachable gameplay, the casual "pick up and leave" vibe of everything in it. And Vaati is in my eyes the most compelling and interesting antagonist the series has presented us. It always warms my heart when picking up the Master Sword in other games that my mind wanders to the Minish people and their gifting of the Picori Blade.
I admire that you find things that highly frustrate me and explain them so positively.
I got to the second area finally. Now I can’t start up the mountain as a vine is not grown. Thinking I need an item to make it grow.
Yknow this is the only zelda other than botw that ive completely finished. Im not really into the zelda formula and this game hasnt changed that. But i do love hearing people talk about it. And boy no one talks about it better than mr. Triforce himself. Thanks for the awesome upload liam, love your vids
You said that Minish Cap borrowed concepts and tools from Four Swords.
But it's a bit more complicated than that, as development on both began around the same time; with Minish Cap's development starting slightly before Four Swords but releasing several months ago.
Minish Cap was the first Zelda game I played, so it'll always have a piece of my heart.
This Zelda passed me by as a kid, which is funny because I adore the WW art style and I had a GBA that I played religiously. I'd love to try it sometime soon.
this was the first and only game i 100% without using a single walkthrough or guide.
i died a lot during my first playthrough, i didn't know about the silver arrows, so missed that side quest, and it took me forever to work out how to beat big octorok. (regular sized octorok, but you fight it as a minish sized person in the temple of droplets).
just like it was mentioned in this video, i played this game in small bursts during secondary school, and as such, i think i got a lot more enjoyment out of playing it, than i would trying to beat the entire game in one session.
the end game side quests like the figurines and kin stones, where what i spent most of my school lunch times on. the figurines, i would be constantly soft resetting for the right rng, but the reward of getting the last piece of heart and the sound test was sooooooo worth it!
Wonderful video! I was so happy to see that others also remember The Minish Cap just as fondly as I do. It's a small adventure with big heart and full of charm. I remember playing this game as a kid and being so enchanted by the Minish that I drew them for a middle school art project and my teacher gave me glowing praise for the illustrations of the different regional Minish. Also, I love this version of Vaati the most and desperately want him to return in a modern Zelda game. Thank you for another great video!
I love how Liam almost exclusively uploads retrospectives on the specific games that impacted me personally as a child. Best creator to watch when you’re feeling down, be it sickness, mental health struggles, ect.
Best part of this video is that when he references the release of the Nintendo DS, he goes out of his way to show a clip of Luigi dropping that baby penguin off a cliff. For me, that's how I know deep thought was put into this ❤️
Along with video game historian, this is my other favorite channel that I just love to listen to talk about video games I love. Thanks so much for all the hard work! Always looking forward to your videos.
The game boy advance was my favorite handheld ever. I loved the Windwaker artstyle from the jump. I was SO happy this game got made, and I adore it. Four Swords was SO awesome for my friend group!
Awesome video. Minish Cap and the Oracle games are underappreciated, but they are sincerely some of the most intricately designed and clever games in the series. I'm really hoping they get remastered on the Switch at some point.
This game was the beginning for me playing other zelda games and it was also the beginning of falling in love with the whole series. Despite the hype of the other 2D Zelda Games like OoA, OoS, Link to the past or even older games and so on or even the 3D Zelda games. It's got a special place in my heart because it was my first video game which I ever had played. It took me month to play it through (bacause back than I didn't know that walkthrough exist). My friends also played the game and it loved that so much sharing the solutions if I or one of my friends stuck in a riddle. It reminds me how close and simple friendships were back then (or in childhood in general).
Back then I couldn't afford a game cube, so playing video games on a Gameboy with such graphic at that time feel very special to me. I know that games like Botw or TotK are so wonderful with their setting and game play, but no Zelda game (or even other games) have this kind of emotional impact on me like Minishcap. Besides all the bad things which I unfortunately experienced in my childhood playing this game still one of the best parts of my childhood memory.
8:18 when I was a kid I didnt knew where to progress. I searched the whole map at this point. After a while I lent the game to a friend and he finished the game in like 4 weeks or something. I was mind blown how he had done it so fast. Anyway, he showed me how to progress there and I was mind blown and felt stupid at the same time.
ill be real, you genuinely hit the spot on that. left me reflecting on myself and my life with hope. this game meant so much to me growing up. glad you brought back the memories
I've never played this game and I'm excited to learn about it.
This was the first game I ever 100% completed. I have so much love for this game it’s unreal, it’s such an underappreciated game.
26:47 the Magic Bommerang is literally my favorite item in the game. It hits and stuns almost every enemy and is so useful. I always had my sword on B and my boomerang on A
"It can be difficult to continuously meet the unrealistic expectations of an audience spoiled by greatness." (43:19)
Shit. What a great quote regarding The Zelda franchise. Wow.
This game is by far my favourite in the Zelda franchise, with it's vibrant colours and creative items. Randomizer lets some of the item uses open even more and find creative ways to use them in you current situation. For example, in mountains you can blow up the dust with bombs, if you don't have gust jar yet.
It's great to see Minish Cap get love. It's an underrated gem, and my favorite 2D Zelda.
I have distinct childhood memories emulating this game on my old galaxy during lunch when I was in love with Toon Link as a character thanks to art design and personality but didn't have the means to play Windwaker yet. This was one of the first zelda's I played to completion and definitely got me wanting to do the same with other entries hoping to capture that joy again. Love seeing others appreciate this gem in the series
Minish Cap was an exceptional addition to the LOZ series that I was lucky enough to play in my youth.
I have been at 2:25 replaying it over and over and laughing. "Sometimes the littlest things can leave a big impact" while link is set on fire and falls in a pit
The kinstone system encourages players to not disregard every NPC
This is one of the most nostalgic Zelda games for me, next to Ocarina of Time, and Wind Waker. I remember after Scouts, my parents picked me up and surprised me with a copy, since then it's my most beloved title on the GBA. After recently replaying it as a randomizer, I realized its compact world makes it a blast when going through it, especially since you have the option to turn off Kinstones if you want to.
The minish cap is my favorite Zelda game, and I will never stop to encourage my friends to play it. Your video made me think of it in a more
philosophical way. I want to be a minish for my friends. Generous, discreet, curious, and just genuinely friendly without any expectation in return. I love these little guys.
The Minish cap was the very first LoZ game I ever played and made me fall in love with this series. To this day it still holds its place in my top 3 favorite LoZ games
I've played this game for over 15 years and I never knew you could use the pegasus boots to go through the darknuts... Wow.
The Minish Cap was a game I loved deeply. And watching this reminded me of some things I had previously forgotten. TYSM!!!
I can’t comprehend what just happened.
I just BEAT the Minish cap 2 days ago.
TODAY you post a video on that game.
My mind is blown.
THANK YOU LIAM
The final bosses in this game were so memorable. Some of the best of the series IMO!
44:21 its so cute that link sleeps with him. Its too wholesome 😭😭😭
I absolutely love this game, the way the world itself is like a ever evolving dungeon. That being said - my only gripe is the small number of main dungeons. If this had even 6 essences to collect, and the world was slightly more expanded to accommodate, it really could be top tier Zelda.
Liam: Travel through Summer, Autumn, and Winter in Oracle of Seasons!
Spring: Am I a joke to you?
I can't believe I've never made the connection between the Minish and Koropokkuru despite this being my favorite 2D Zelda and having a little familiarity with the legend from playing some Megami Tensei games. That segment of the video was fascinating
Thank you for the effort you place in our videos. When I can visibly see and hear the passion of a true Zelda fan, I can't help but appreciate it. You see the art for what it is and love it. So thank you. I always look forward to seeing the next video and where this channel will go!
Thank you for covering this. I somehow have only played this game and Phantom hour glass and I loved this game so much. All I did for about a week.
I found Minish Cap to be incredibly fun for the most part. I was on a great streak of fun fusions for several hours two night ago, but it was a hellish grind toward the end. I was sick of the figurines and looking for the last few kinstone pieces, so I just went ahead into the castle without them.
I just got finished binging the other Zelda retrospectives and now this comes out. Keep kicking ass dude!
minish cap is my absolute favorite zelda game of all time, i love it so much, great video.❤
The gachapon heart piece is what put an end to my minish cap playthrough. I tended toward 100%ing my zelda playthroughs and I was never gonna finish this task so it kinda took the wind out of my sails and I just stopped there, right before the final dungeon.
All in all, I think Minish cap's style is wonderfully charming and the exploration in it is solid, but having played through all the capcom games in retrospect via the virtual console, I find that I just like the Oracle games a lot more. The thing that makes those games unique left me with a greater sense of wonder, and honestly even though I don't like Season's focus on combat all that much, finishing my joint playthrough with the much stronger (imo) oracle of ages meant the whole experience had a lasting positive impact on me.
Genuinely my favorite Zelda game.