FIRST SCREENSHOTS OF ZELDA 64: GAIDEN RELEASED!

It looks like our thirst for more Zelda will soon be quenched, and the screenshots on this page are the first of peeks at what will be part of an expanded Zelda experience. Zelda 64: Gaiden seems to fill in gaps and exploit those "plot hooks" that Miyamoto talked about a couple years ago. Notice Link can ride young Epona, and equip more than one mask! The graphical detail has been improved and Zelda 64: Gaiden will take advantage of the Ram Expansion pack from what I've heard. There seems to also be a new meter added to the screen that looks representative of the position of the sun or moon. To me this indicates that certain tasks or puzzles will be related to "Time of Day" circumstances. How these relationships will be made is anyone's guess at this point. The question on everyone's mind is, WILL THE TRIFORCE BE IN ZELDA 64: GAIDEN? Hell, it very well could be. Why do I say this? If you remember way back in December of last year when I said that for the only way for the Triforce to be in the game was if Link could somehow change the events prior to him breaking the seal to the Sacred Realm, and allowing Ganon to get the Triforce of Power. Well from what I can tell Zelda 64: Gaiden does that very thing, expanding upon the period of Link's youth and freeing the plot for potential "alterations" Suppose Link could defeat Gannondorf when he was a kid? He could then have free access to the Master Sword, Sacred Realm, and the Triforce. Then of course, the Triforce on the Quest Status would "fill in." So maybe I wasn't just whistling Dixie back in December, and there will be some way to obtain the Triforce. It seems that Zelda 64: Gaiden expands Hyrule's boundaries, and may give him access to the clouded over areas on his map or maybe beyond. What this will do to the overall series of events in relationship to the other Zelda games is anyone's guess. This game may also clear up the Owl/Rauru mystery and shed some light on just what sage the Owl was a reincarnation of. This game may also bring us the infamous "Unicorn Fountain" and maybe the eerie "Blue Fairy" Who knows? Only time will tell for sure.

According to Nintendo Zelda 64: Gaiden will be released in Japan sometime in March, there is no set American Release date yet, so this one could be far off but we'll just have to wait and see. If I get more screenshots I'll post them if I can.

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