The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

is a Legend of Zelda game for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. Like its handheld predecessors for the Game Boy Color, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, it was not developed by Nintendo, but instead by Flagship, with Nintendo overseeing the development process. The Minish Cap is the first original Zelda adventure to be released for a handheld Game Boy platform since the Oracle games in 2001 (a multiplayer-only game, Four Swords, was included with the 2003 GBA release of A Link to the Past).

The game is based around the idea of a magical 'cap' called Ezlo that Link can use to shrink to the size of the Picori (who call themselves the Minish), a race of thumb size people that live in Hyrule. The Minish Cap is artistically very reminiscent of its predecessors The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker as it features the same cartoon-inspired visuals. Link, as well as several other characters in the game, strongly resemble characters in The Wind Waker, although some character's visuals take their cue from the Nintendo 64 titles The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

Gameplay

Screenshot of gameplay

The Minish Cap features a number of enhancements that benefit from the more powerful Game Boy Advance platform and draws heavily on the gameplay of previous Zelda titles. In the overworld and in dungeons, the game replaces the traditional item interface with pictures associating items or actions with buttons on the Game Boy handheld, similarly to the item interface in 3D titles like Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker. Enemies include familiar creatures from the Zelda universe, such as the Keatons. Link can also perform special actions, triggered by the L and R buttons. With the R button, Link can, for example roll while running; a move also inspired by 3D Zelda games.

Figurines

The Minish Cap also features a figurine-based sidequest, similar to that in The Wind Waker. The player can collect Mysterious Shells, which sometimes appear when defeating enemies and can also be found or bought in different locations throughout the world. These can then be used in a gashapon-like machine in Hyrule Town to obtain figurines of characters, enemies or locations that Link has encountered in the course of the main quest. New figurines only become available once Link has met or killed the subject of that figurine. Each figurine has a short description revealing information about the game, that particular enemy's weaknesses, or the series in general. The probability to win a previously uncollected figurine from the machine can be increased by spending more shells at once, with an increase of 1% per shell. There are a total of 136 unique figurines for Link to collect.

Kinstones

Link (right) digs in his Kinstone Bag for a piece that will match the one held by the Picori (left).

Kinstones are special artifacts which Link can find throughout his quest. Kinstone pieces are fragments of a complete medallion. In order to successfully form a complete Kinstone, two pieces of the same color and with complementary notches must be used.

After completing the first dungeon, Link receives a Kinstone Bag. This allows him to collect and store the pieces he finds or receives. The most common variety of Kinstone piece is green, with blue being slightly rarer and red considerably rare. There are also special gold pieces that are used to make fusions that advance the story. These are the only required fusions; the others are completely optional and are not needed to finish the game.

Throughout the game world there are characters holding Kinstone pieces waiting for a matching piece to fuse with. They are identified by thought bubbles appearing above their heads when Link approaches; the symbol in the thought bubble gives an indication of what sort of special event the fusion will result in.

Different kinds of Kinstones

For example, fusing Kinstones can reveal a secret passageway in a different area, or make a treasure chest appear. Green Kinstones are, with few exceptions, minor things such as golden enemies and treasure chests due to this color's abundance, while the rarer red and blue Kinstones often produce unique results, such as beanstalks and Pieces of Heart, inspiring characters to perform a certain task or sell a certain item, and so forth.

Main items

Many items are needed to perform different tasks and solve puzzles, and can sometimes be used as weapons, in addition to Link's sword, shield, bow, bombs and boomerang. The following are descriptions of the main items found in The Minish Cap.

; Gust Jar: A magic jar which can suck in air. Link can use it to bring objects closer to him and suck in enemies. The longer the player holds the button, the stronger it will get. Could be used to propel Link while he is on floating objects. The jar has resemblences to Half-Life 2's Gravity gun. (see tractor beam for specification).:; Grip Ring: This ring allows the wearer to climb cliff faces and certain walls.:; Cane of Pacci: A magic staff used to flip objects over and to allow Link to jump very high out of some small holes.:; Pegasus Boots: Magic boots which grant the bearer the ability to run at very high speed. Link can learn to hold his sword in front of him while charging forward.:; Mole Mitts: Clawed gloves which Link uses to dig through soft earth and walls. They can also be used to pick up rocks and bushes. Could be used to dig a hole in the ground (occasionally exposes kinstones):; Ocarina of Wind: A magical ocarina that takes Link to any Wind Crest he has activated.:; Power Bracelets: These bracelets grant the wearer tremendous strength, even when Minish-sized.:; Flippers: These feet-fins allow the wearer the ability to swim in the water.:; Flame Lantern: A lantern found in numerous Zelda games, this item is used to illuminate dark locations as well as to melt ice and burn bushes and grass.:; Roc's Cape: A cape allowing Link to jump to dodge attacks and avoid traps. He can also learn to thrust down to enemies with his sword while jumping. Unfortunately, it does not allow holding the charged sword while performing a jump, as used to be possible in Oracle of Seasons.:; Magical Boomerang: A boomerang that can guided in a specific direction when thrown, rather than moving only straight-ahead.:; Light Arrows: These arrows are charged with the power of light and do extra damage against evil beings.:; Mirror Shield: This shield with a reflective surface allows the user to reflect certain attacks back at the enemy.:; Four Sword: When Link fuses the elements into his blade, he can create clones of himself (equal to the number of elements infused) when he stands on magic tiles. When all 4 elements are infused, it becomes the Four Sword.

Skills

In addition to special items, The Minish Cap introduces eight Sword Techniques, similar to skills in many RPG games (and also Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, where Link could learn the Upthrust and Downthrust techniques), which Link himself can learn from sword masters and use in combat. For each skill he learns, Link receives a Tiger Scroll describing the technique from the trainer. Players can review all Sword Techniques they have learned on an interface screen. Furthermore, Link can master more powerful versions of some of these techniques later in the game.

Wind Crests

Wind Crests are magical stones that Link can make use of. Much like the magic medallion slabs in A Link to the Past, Link can touch these stones to make them crumble and thus grant him the ability to use their remains as warp points that he can fly to by obtaining and using the Ocarina of Wind.

Bosses

Big Green Chuchu: Found in Deepwood Shrine, and fought in a regular room (Guards the Earth Element) (Big only because the player is Minish sized). It can be defeated if players suck it with the gust jar, then slash at it when it's stunned.
Gleerok: Found in Cave of Flames, in a room with a small lava pit in it (Guards the Fire Element). He can be defeated if players use the Cane of Pacci on him to stun him, then walk across its neck and slash at its body.
Mazaal: Found in Fortress of Winds, in a room containing a pedestal that disappears at the beginning (Guards the Ocarina of Wind). Players can defeat it by shooting its hands to stun them, then hitting them with the sword. Then players must use the Minish portal to become tiny. Then they must enter the mouth and hit the pillar with the face on it. Note: Mazaal resembles Gohdan from The Wind Waker and Bongo-Bongo from Ocarina of Time and could be derived from Andross from Star Fox.
Big Octorok: Found in Temple of Droplets, in a room that changes climate (Guards the Water Element) (Big only because the player is Minish sized). Players can defeat him by deflecting his rocks back at him with the shield. When he becomes icy, they must light his tail on fire with the lantern.
Gyorg Pair: Found in Palace of Winds, in the skies (Guards the Wind Element). Players can defeat the big Gyorg by using the magic tiles to clone themselves, then hitting the eyes when they open. They can defeat the small one by hitting his single eye.
Vaati: (3 forms) Found in Dark Hyrule Castle, and is fought in several different locations (Final Boss). He can be defeated if players hit the eyes that are surrounding him, and then hit him with the sword. Players may have to first use the gust jar on the eyes. His second form can be defeated if players hit his eyes until they find four red eyes. When they find them, the player has to clone himself with the magic tiles, and then hit the red eyes. His final form can be defeated if players flip his arms over with the Cane of Pacci. Then they must shrink and enter the arms, and hit the red eye with their sword until the arm is gone. Once his arms are destroyed, players must clone themselves, and then hit the energy balls at him when his eyes turn blue. He can then be damaged with the sword.

Mini-Bosses

Madderpillar: Commonly found in dungeons, and sometimes employs gimmicks like icy floors. Hitting it on the nose makes its end vulnerable.
Big Blue Chuchu: Similar to Big Green Chuchu, but is electrified, and invulnerable until he ceases his electric aura.
Green Chuchu also reappears.
Black Knight: The strongest Darknut, that only appears in Dark Hyrule Castle, accompanied by two weaker Darknuts. Also has the best defense, and is more resistant to bombs than "regular" and "Red" Darknuts.

Story

The mystical creature Ezlo helps Link find his way through the most dangerous parts of Hyrule kingdom in The Minish Cap.

Long ago when Hyrule was about to be defeated, the Picori, who call themselves the Minish, came with a sword and a light force to save Hyrule. Every 100 years the Picori return to Hyrule, to provide humans with magical gifts.

The coming of the Picori is celebrated in Hyrule with a large fair and a sword fighting tournament called the Picori Festival. On one such day, Princess Zelda and her childhood friend Link, grandson of Smith the royal blacksmith, decide to visit Hyrule town to join the festivities. These are short-lived however, as the winner of the tournament, the unknown stranger Vaati, is in fact a powerful sorcerer who breaks the Picori Blade and turns Zelda to stone.

In Hyrule Castle the king of Hyrule and his counselor Potho are desperate to bring Zelda back home. They place all their hopes in the tiny Picori who had been invaluable allies, and send Link to seek the legendary beings' help. It is an old belief in Hyrule that the Picori show themselves more willingly to children.

On his way to Minish Woods, home of the Minish, Link rescues Ezlo, a strange being resembling a green cap with a bird head, who joins him in his quest and can make Link shrink to the size of the Minish themselves through a ritual he can perform on Minish altars. Link then meets the Forest Minish elder Gentari, who tells him that to restore power in the magic sword broken by Vaati, he must find four elemental artifacts and imbue the blade with their essence. He directs Link and Elzo to Melari on Mt. Crenel, as Melari is the only one who can fix the broken sword. When Link meets Melari he gives the sword to him and goes on to a human mine for the second element. When he comes back Melari tells him about the elemental sanctuary found in Hyrule Castle. Only after he fuses the four elements can he face Vaati and defeat him.

It is later revealed that both Ezlo and Vaati were once Minish, Ezlo being a renowned sage and craftsman and Vaati his apprentice. Vaati eventually became corrupted by the madness and egotism of men and took a magic hat Ezlo had made for the humans in Hyrule. The hat granted the bearer any wishes, and Vaati chose to become a powerful sorcerer. He then turned his old master, who had tried to stop him, into a hat. Devoured by his desire for power, Vaati took a twisted, vile appearance and set out to search for the mystic Light Force of Hyrule, which would make him even stronger.

When Link completes the Picori blade (A.K.A. the Four sword), Vaati turns Hyrule Castle into Dark Hyrule Castle - the final dungeon in the game. Link gets to Vaati just before he drains Zelda of all the Light Force (which would kill her), the Wind Sorcerer states that he already has enough power to defeat Link. Link fights Vaati in two different forms, the first being a larger form of himself and the second being a large sphere with an eye, and prevails. He frees Zelda from her curse as the castle is collapsing, and then he and the Princess go to the elemental shrine to avoid being crushed. Vaati was waiting there for Link, and faces him one more time. His final form is like his previous form but with arms, and seeming to be indestructible at first. Link managed to defeat the evil Minish again. Vaati disappears, after saying that he is confused as to how Link beat him, claiming he has the power of a god. Ezlo floats off of Link's head and is returned to his original form. He finds the cap of wishes he created and gives it to Zelda, since she has a pure heart, saying "Let your wishes come true!" The cursed people are cured and the castle is turned back to normal. The doorway to the Minish world is closing and Ezlo states he must go. He says he enjoyed his time with Link, and in return provides him with a cap, saying, "I have never seen you with a cap until now, it fits you, little hero." He shrinks down and goes through the doorway, just as it vanishes.

The Minish Cap game reveals some background information about the story in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords.

The Minish

The Minish themselves are a gnome-like race of people who traveled from their land to Hyrule. The relative size of a Minish is about the size of a human's thumb. Despite this, they possess magical abilities to forge and make magical items, and they purposely tend to leave them where humans can find them. It is said that the Minish will only show themselves to children. There are also various types of Minish living in Hyrule which the next sections will explain.

; Forest MinishThese types of Minish live in the fields and forests. They like to leave Rupees and other various items hidden in the grass for adventurers to find. Minish Village is the highest concentration of Minish in the entire land of Hyrule and is solely populated by Forest Minish. They don't hate humans, but instead like to keep their distance away from them and help them from afar. They tend to wear red caps.

; Town MinishThese Minish love humans so much that they live near or in the cities of Hyrule. Town Minish do various things for the humans, including making shoes for Rem, baking goods for Wheaton and Pita, cleaning, sorting books in the Hyrule Library, etc. They have a good relationship with the Forest Minish and are visited often by them. Their clothing is different from Forest Minish where they mainly have blue caps instead of red.

; Mountain MinishThese Minish are a special type of Minish that live solely in the mountains. Their primary jobs are mining and smithing items. Mountain Minish tend to sing a special song, called the Ting Tong Song, while working, but this is a privilege given to Minish who are accepted as full-fledged Mountain Minish. Their caps tend to be orange colored.

Critical reaction

*2005 Gamespot Best of 2005 - GBA Game of the Year
*2005 Gamespy Editor's Choice
*2005 Gamespy GBA Game of the Year
*2005 Gamespy GBA Adventure of the Year
*Included on Game Informer's "Top 50 Games of 2005" list
*2005 Nintendo Power GBA Game of the Year (readers and writers)
*2005 Nintendo Power Best Adventure Game (readers)
*5 Out of 5 [X-Play, G4]
*Named 24th best game ever to appear on a Nintendo console by Nintendo Power.
*Also named 2nd best GBA game ever by Nintendo Power (behind only Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow).
**Ezlo was placed #5 on the "Top 10 Heroes of 2005" list
**Ezlo won best New Character in Nintendo Power's 2005 awards (readers).
* 89% Game Ratio