BakeFynn
2022
Picked up Lone Fungus a few months ago but finally decided to play it after the most recent update added an ending. I very much enjoyed my time with it. The movement was the best part, I've seen a lot of people comparing it to this metroidvania or that metroidvania (usually Hollow Knight), but I think it really stands on its own in terms of gameplay, especially towards the end. Some of the bosses were not my favorite, and I thought more of them could have incorporated more of your moveset, but there are a few really good fights in the mix. I appreciate its non-linearity, though I did get stumped a few times in terms of where to go next. This was usually my own fault. The inclusion of a map with pins is very helpful in that regard, accurately taking notes as you go can be a great time saver, and I was only frustrated with retracing my steps a couple times. I would easily recommend it to anyone who enjoys 2D platformers. It is a super impressive game on its own, and even more impressive that it is a solo dev. I may revisit it once it officially gets a 1.0 release to go for some optional content and maybe some of the other endings.
There's an interesting discussion to be had about beloved, long-running franchises such as The Legend of Zelda. The Minish Cap is, of course, beloved. It was basically born to be. It is a "Zelda" game. That title alone merits recognition. If you were to Google "Best GBA Games", it would likely be the first suggested result. It would at least be towards the top of every click bait "Top 25" list you would find ("Top 10" isn't eye-catching enough anymore).
In the greater world of game releases, it is a champion. It bears the "Zelda" mark, it is not easily forgotten. But, when compared to other games within that brand, it is lost in the noise. It has to compete with franchise-defining classics (such as the original The Legend of Zelda) and modern reimaginings of the formula (such as the recent Breath of the Wild). On the other extreme, it has to complete with genre-defiers (such as Zelda II: The Adventure of Link) and strange, unique experiences like that of Majora's Mask. It sits in a position that is so unique, and so fascinating to me. A position only a select few games sit in. Games privileged enough to be born into franchises that time will never forget, that are glossed over possibly because they fit their respective formulas TOO well. They become a number in a long list of entries in the longest running franchises. To see other examples: look to some of the later "New Super Mario Bros." titles, or some of the Pokémon games not quite old enough to be truly "nostalgic" yet. Titles that are better than the rest, that can't quite compete with the best.
I fell in love with The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap because of this strange situation.
The Minish Cap is, to me, Zelda. Not redefined, but refined. It follows the formula and it follows it well. It has a memorable world with fun overworld traversal, great dungeons and a variety of cute items. When I am in the mood to play a "Zelda game", The Minish Cap ticks every box on the checklist. It scratches the itch perfectly.
The things it does to tweak the formula, namely its size-changing mechanic, are welcomed additions. I love being able to switch between Picori Sized Link and Regular Sized Link, especially in moments where I had to deal with enemies using that mechanic. The late game bosses require it, but there are other cute examples. One dungeon has robots that can either be battled and destroyed as Regular Sized Link, or simply climbed into and disabled as Picori Sized Link. One of my favorite parts of the game is the first boss, a normally-sized Chuchu that Link is forced to fight while pocket-sized, turning a cannon-fodder enemy into a challenge to overcome.
I also adore Ezlo (Link's talking hat) as a companion. One thing I miss from the GBA era is games giving you a sort of recap of what you were doing every time you boot them up. It's present here, with Ezlo giving you a reminder of your objective when you load in. It was also done really well in the Gen 3 Pokémon remakes, with a journal reminding you of your most recent accomplishments. For handheld games especially, it's nice to be given a little extra help in reorienting yourself when you return to the game.
All of this is to say that I loved my time with The Minish Cap. Other than the recent Link's Awakening remake, it had been a while since I'd played a classic Zelda game and now I am ready and willing to burn through a few more. Being on a cheaper, more accessible handheld like the GBA, I wouldn't be surprised if this was many people's first introduction to the Zelda formula. I'm sure it got them hooked, as it did me. It was absolutely delightful to play, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves this kind of adventure game. I recognize it is sort of a middle child in the history of Zelda, but it must not be forgotten. It is well worth the time it takes to play.
In the greater world of game releases, it is a champion. It bears the "Zelda" mark, it is not easily forgotten. But, when compared to other games within that brand, it is lost in the noise. It has to compete with franchise-defining classics (such as the original The Legend of Zelda) and modern reimaginings of the formula (such as the recent Breath of the Wild). On the other extreme, it has to complete with genre-defiers (such as Zelda II: The Adventure of Link) and strange, unique experiences like that of Majora's Mask. It sits in a position that is so unique, and so fascinating to me. A position only a select few games sit in. Games privileged enough to be born into franchises that time will never forget, that are glossed over possibly because they fit their respective formulas TOO well. They become a number in a long list of entries in the longest running franchises. To see other examples: look to some of the later "New Super Mario Bros." titles, or some of the Pokémon games not quite old enough to be truly "nostalgic" yet. Titles that are better than the rest, that can't quite compete with the best.
I fell in love with The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap because of this strange situation.
The Minish Cap is, to me, Zelda. Not redefined, but refined. It follows the formula and it follows it well. It has a memorable world with fun overworld traversal, great dungeons and a variety of cute items. When I am in the mood to play a "Zelda game", The Minish Cap ticks every box on the checklist. It scratches the itch perfectly.
The things it does to tweak the formula, namely its size-changing mechanic, are welcomed additions. I love being able to switch between Picori Sized Link and Regular Sized Link, especially in moments where I had to deal with enemies using that mechanic. The late game bosses require it, but there are other cute examples. One dungeon has robots that can either be battled and destroyed as Regular Sized Link, or simply climbed into and disabled as Picori Sized Link. One of my favorite parts of the game is the first boss, a normally-sized Chuchu that Link is forced to fight while pocket-sized, turning a cannon-fodder enemy into a challenge to overcome.
I also adore Ezlo (Link's talking hat) as a companion. One thing I miss from the GBA era is games giving you a sort of recap of what you were doing every time you boot them up. It's present here, with Ezlo giving you a reminder of your objective when you load in. It was also done really well in the Gen 3 Pokémon remakes, with a journal reminding you of your most recent accomplishments. For handheld games especially, it's nice to be given a little extra help in reorienting yourself when you return to the game.
All of this is to say that I loved my time with The Minish Cap. Other than the recent Link's Awakening remake, it had been a while since I'd played a classic Zelda game and now I am ready and willing to burn through a few more. Being on a cheaper, more accessible handheld like the GBA, I wouldn't be surprised if this was many people's first introduction to the Zelda formula. I'm sure it got them hooked, as it did me. It was absolutely delightful to play, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves this kind of adventure game. I recognize it is sort of a middle child in the history of Zelda, but it must not be forgotten. It is well worth the time it takes to play.