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/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!

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/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 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/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!

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/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!

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/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!

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/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!

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/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!

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 [email protected] 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 0:02:21-0:10:39
• The Best Zelda(like) Games of 2021! Presented by Randy 0:14:23-0:23:56
• Piece of Heart: Ocarina of Time Randomizer Presented by Connor 0:32:26-0:40:01
• The Waterfall of Wishing: Trading Sequences Presented by Joshua 0:42:29-0:50:03
• ZUBC Credits Club Presented by Eden 0:54:28-0:58:10
• Amanda 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected], 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!