LETTER OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2000

You know, every once in a while I get a letter that really impresses me, and this is definitely one of them. What "Katt Monroe" has said here really paints a vivid picture of what it is to not just play a video game, but experience it, sharing a connection with the character and becoming a part of their world. I too, like her wanted so much for a gaming adventure to come along that I had read about in novels and only seen in my imagination or built with my LEGO's. To take a sword in hand and fight an epic battle. Final Fantasy VII and Zelda 64 brought many of those visions into reality. The Ocarina of Time is a culmination of the most fantastic journeys of our own human mythology and a child's magical fairytale. Surely as the Next-Generation of Zelda on Nintendo's coming system will embark on the greatest experience ever known to the saga. Imagine galloping atop a Stallion whose main flows in the wind across endless plains and dense forests inhabited by all sorts of life. Link emerges the woodland to look far across the horision down into a misty valley in the morning fog as the sun just rises over the distant mountain, to see a Great White Castle, and upon a balcony of a turret, a fair blonde-haired Zelda, whose flowing hair tosses in the gentle breeze as she gazes wistfully toward the rolling hills of Hyrule, waiting for her heroic knight to come home. Indeed, the adventure has only just begun. Katt, never lose this illumination of life, please! I see so many people grow older and become just totally detached from the things that brought them happiness when they were young. So many people either deny, repress, or otherwise ignore their imagination when they enter adolesensce and their dreams are lost to a machinelike society designed to shape individuals into a regime of self-denial and conformity. Great letter, Katt, congradulations on Letter of the Month.

When I read that there article about girls playin' Z64, I couldn't help but slap a big old grin on my face. 'cause I knew, I just knew, that there's about a zillion other girls out there who love to KICK BUTT!!!

Way back when I was just a little ol' kid spendin' my afternoons reading a *gasp* book instead of sittin' out on the lawn playin' with *gag* dolls like "normal girls" were s'possed to, I heard about a wonderful aspect of technology. It was called the "Super Nintendo", and all the little guys at school were yapping about it. Intregued, I asked for one for Christmas. To my utter dismay, I recieved a Sega Genesis instead, along with Sonic2. I made the best of it, however, and soon fell in love with the spiky little dude and his fox companion.

But my thirst for video games was not at all quenched. It was something new! An adventure! Saving the world! And most of all, kicking enemy butt! I longed for something more. Something mroe chalenging. A more elaborate plot. Something that would remind me of the novels that I read with such hunger.

Years later, my brother recieved an N64 for Christmas, along with SF64. I was skeptical at first. And, though it pains me to admit it, I refused to so much as look at the machine for about half a year. Somehow, I managed to content myself with Sonic and Ecco.

The day finally came when I decided to give SF64 a try. The controller felt weird in my hands. Its shape confused me. I couldn't even hold it right at first, it was so different from the Sega paddles I was used to. But, finally, I figured it out. And that's when it hit me.

This was what I had longed for for years. This was the gaming I wanted. The characters were still way too fuzzy and cute, but it was different this time. The plot was pretty advanced. The graphics were better than any I had ever seen. And the sound, glorious sound! Oh, but most of all.... I could KICK SERIOUS BUTT!

I passed the game long before my brother did. And then... it got old. The rush was dulling. The plot was getting old. The butt kicking was still good, but now I had mastered the game, there weren't any more challenges.

My thirst returned. I longed for something different. Not sci-fi, but something... different. Something.... medival. Something like.. I don't know. Lord of the Rings, maybe. Redwall, maybe, but.. with humans. Or something of the sort. I needed magic. I needed swordfighting. I needed.... something more than what I was used to. And so... I waited.

One day, my brother brought Zelda 64 home from the rental shop. I was again skeptical. What was this? Probably another flop of a game, like Mario64. I ignored it.

But as I watched the tv screen from the corner of my eye, over the cover of my copy of Lord of the Rings... I noticed something. Zelda64 was... different. Like something I had never seen. Sure, Link reminded me vaguely of Legolas, but there was... something else about him. It was more.. real.

The time came when I recieved my own copy of Z64. The characters became even more real to me, and the plot intregued me. i began to regret that i had spent my earlier days pretending to be a blue hedgehog. Ganondorf was more evil to me than any other character I had ever seen. More evil than Robotnic. More evil than Andross. Perhaps... more evil than Sauron. My hatred for him drove me to finish the game quickly, but thoroughly, enjoying every moment of it.

At the end scene with Ganon, as I watched Link valiantly swing his sword and deal the Foul One the final blow, I couldn't help but smile. The Hero of Time had achieved his goal. I had achieved my goal. And in it, found a game that could not be outdone.

The bloodlust I had experianced was gone, to be replaced with a love for more. For great plot, for great characters. Yet... I couldn't help wish that the blood which flowed from Ganon's body was red, the colour of a true living, breathing creature, rather than the cold green of this enemy. It made his demise seem... less real.

The end of the game.... bothered me slightly. But only slightly. It seemed rushed. Undone. There were loose ties... yet, I cried when Zelda asked for the Ocarina back, and when Link returned his mighty sword to the pedistal... I was filled with sorrow for him. He had busted his butt saving Hyrule, and had gotten nothing out of it. Yet.... it seemed real. Like what would have actually happened.

My love for Z64 has not died, and never will. The same thing goes for my love of battle. To be Link, to be a hero in a medival world.... 'tis all I've ever wanted. And though I'm a girl, who says that I can't kick butt better than any guy?

Link, of all characters, is my favourite and always will be. For his courage, his willingness to do battle with the enemys, and the knowledge when I go through a slightly disturbing level that "Link would do it, even if he was scared" has led me to believe that this is the best game in history, and always will be.

If 'twas all written down, all the games, in their timeline order, I believe that Zelda would be a great novel... bested by none.

Alas, I am sorry that this letter is so long. If you choose to put it on your site (I doubt it, tho'), I do not mind if you shorten it. 'twould make sense, after all my rambling...

After all that seriousness, I have one lightly immature thing to say: Link is SUCH a hottie! Gods, if only he were real.... *sigh* 'tis such a pity.=)

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