I’m actually writing this update in the past. Yes, today is at least three days ago, and as I write this all you can see on the homepage or the forums is a MySQL error. I’d tell you about how the site will be back soon and how you shouldn’t worry, but I can’t. Because by the time you read this it will be back and you will have stopped worrying or wondering. The long and short of it is that our host is run by a bunch of monkeys, resetting all our passwords because of a Gordon Brown-style leak, and because I don’t live at home or have my computer any more, the passwords that they sent through the comical Royal Mail during the busiest postal season just before a weekend will not be with me for a few days.

Which means that you probably already know that Smash Bros Dojo has confirmed that the Zelda-themed Melee stage Temple will appear in SSB Brawl, along with a host of other classic stages which may or may not include Great Bay, so there’s no real need to bother telling you from all the way back here in the past as you are all the way over there in the future. What were the lotto numbers?

Monday edit: Hello. I still haven’t received my new passwords, and my hosts have just received the second snarkiest email I’ve ever sent. I still have FTP access so I’ve removed the login box from this frontpage, meaning the site now works but all the interactive pages are broken for the next few days. I’d just like to apologise to everyone who tried to access the site over the weekend and everyone still trying to access the forums and role play. I hope to have this sorted out as soon as possible.

Dark Link fanboys rejoice! Today’s update on the official Smash Bros site contained an overview of the colour change feature in the upcoming Super Smash Bros: Brawl. Included in the examples was a screenshot of previously rumoured Dark Link.

Well, he certainly looks… dark! Head to the official site to see more alternate costumes for more characters, including Zelda!

The golden Zelda-themed DS package for the US market, which we reported on a few weeks ago, was officially announced by Nintendo today. The package will include the DS and a copy of Phantom Hourglass, perfect for those holding out on buying a DS until they can play Zelda on it. It will be released on Black Friday, which I am assured means much more to you Americans than it does to a Scot such as myself.

The picture above seems to show the DS with a much more subtle shade of gold than the original, poor quality picture does. It seems much nicer, and less tacky, in my opinion. I would buy it, had I not learned my lesson about buying an extra, special edition handheld when my friend sat on my Zelda GBA. Excuse me while I mourn.

What more can I say? Link’s Crossbow Training is now out in America, packaged alongside the Wii Zapper. So all you trigger-happy Zelda fans can finally get your fix.

Also, today is notably the first anniversary of the Wii’s release in the States, and, as a result, also the anniversary of the release of Twilight Princess. Was that really a year ago? I think it’s about time to start nagging Nintendo about the next Zelda game!

According to the Official Nintendo Magazine in the UK, Eiji Aonuma states that he has an interest in remaking A Link to the Past. Although it really doesn’t sound that official, it would be interesting to see the 2D Zelda remade in 3D wouldn’t it?

Eiji Aonuma was interviewed in the latest issue of Official Nintendo Magazine (UK):

“Ocarina of Time was the first title I worked on, and I was continuously tackling challenges every day during its development, so I think this is the title I feel I impacted the most. I believe that experience made me what I am now. I always think about what we couldn’t do and what didn’t work well in the previous game when we start a new title, but there’s no game that I would want to actually change as such. I have to say though, the first Zelda game that I played and felt potential in was Link to the Past. I’m actually very interested in what it would be like if we remade that title as a 3D game”. (source)

A Link to the Past is my personal favorite Zelda, and I’d love to see a remake of this game. Then again, I believe that game developers shouldn’t try to remake great titles of the past, but focus on new innovative titles for the future.

Phantom Hourglass - Characters

I’ve uploaded our PH Character guide, with profiles and art of the six main characters in the game. Also, you’ll now find random quotes in the sidebar of any PH page. There were far more to choose from than in the average Zelda game, partly a testament to the title’s humour (surprising considering it’s one of the loosest translations in years), but also to the ingenuity of Linebeck, a phenomenal character who is credited with at least two thirds of the quotes selected.

This marks the end of content updates from me for at least two weeks as I’m moving to London and won’t have access to my computer for a while. There may be a PH review in the interim, but that depends if I get bored enough to type one out with a Wii remote.

Guide to Hyrule - Races

Phantom Hourglass has introduced two new races to the Zelda universe, the Anouki and Cobble, so I’ve added entries on both to the Guide.

You might have noticed (yet another) login box on this page. I decided to use a banner position to save on screen estate as the old one was far too big. Now when you login, in addition to having your inbox status, you’ll have links straight to new Forum and Role Play posts and your current life bar. Soon, the site will require a ZEI account to post comments on news stories in an effort to remove comment spam, so there’s never been a better time to sign up for an account!

Phantom Hourglass - Artwork

We’ve just found a bunch of high-res Phantom Hourglass artwork in the most unlikely of places, so we’ve uploaded it all.

Nintendo have released the European boxart for the awfully-titled Link’s Crossbow Training. Fairly plain, but okay for a pack-in.

The game page will be updated next week.

Oracle of Ages
Oracle of Seasons

More fresh paint, this time on the Oracle sections, with dramatically improved packaging, PNGed items and Lightboxed galleries.