A Link Between Words

This is the second of two episodes where we will analyze the music of the series. Check out the timestamps below for specific topics. 00:00: Introductions00:29: Baseball02:56: Unsolicited Political Commentary05:33: The Need for Two Episodes06:38: Fi’s Theme07:50: Shane Sings08:34: How Zelda Creates Variations on Its Themes12:14: The Absence of Music14:26: More Tracks We Missed15:56: Oath to Order18:16: The Dark World Theme20:17: Ikana Valley22:56: The Flute Boy from A Link to the Past and Emotional Weight in Zelda Scores26:39: The Song of Time and the Relationship Between Limitations and Creativity32:06: Link’s Instruments32:56: The Wind Waker Baton39:38: The Ocarina and Other Wind Instruments56:57: Bongos57:50: Guitar1:02:05: Link’s Other Instruments1:05:16: The Problematic Treasure Chest Minigame Girl from Majora’s Mask1:09:11: Minigame Music1:17:42: Battle Music1:19:27: Woodfall Temple Music1:20:58: Ganondorf Battle Music in Ocarina of Time1:22:15: Ganondorf Battle Music in Twilight Princess1:26:43: Colgera Theme1:27:20: An Apology to Skyward Sword1:28:14: Boss and Mini-boss Battle Themes1:35:00: House/Shop/Town Themes1:36:24: Clock Town1:46:00: The Astral Observatory1:53:39: Kakariko Village1:59:27: Hyrule Castle Town in Ocarina of Time 2:02:27: Hateno Village2:04:49: Outset and Windfall Islands2:05:32: Tarrey Town2:06:11: Other Hyrule Castle Town Themes2:08:16: Spoiled Boston Sports Fan2:09:27: Hyrule Castle Courtyard in Ocarina of Time 2:12:13: Inside a House and Shop Themes2:14:51 Zora’s Domain 2:16:18: Dragon Roost Island and Rito Village2:21:33: Goron City2:26:17: Seinfeld Tangent2:28:37: A PSA for the Arts2:30:30: Incidental Music2:43:16: Wrapping Up2:44:43: Honey and Darling and High School Boy Insecurities2:49:52: Outro and Future Release Schedule

This is the first of two episodes where we will analyze the music of the series. Check out the timestamps below for specific topics. 00:00: Introductions00:29: Comedians, Sitcoms, Good Friday, and the Sox03:59: Music is Integral to Zelda06:22: History of the Zelda Theme07:19: Loading Screens in A Link Between Worlds and A Link to the Past08:27: Zelda, Classical Music, and Film Scores11:25: The Genius of Koji Kondo and Spaghetti Westerns19:02: Overworld Themes42:38: Dungeon Themes1:05:36: Zelda’s Lullaby1:12:38: Ganondorf’s Theme1:13:00: Shane’s Crush on Din1:14:45 Song of Storms1:19:00: Link’s Theme1:20:18: Character and Race Themes 1:48:20: Outro

In this episode, we will analyze the chronology of the history of Hyrule. Special guests include Brady's wife Emily and their dog Wren.00:00: Introductions00:37: The Nietzsche Ball Bros03:02: Special Guests Emily and Wren04:15: Emily’s Personal History with Zelda11:30: Introducing Wren13:36: History and Controversy of the Timeline17:42: Brady’s Take on the Timeline20:11 Two Timelines, Not Three21:27: The Chronology of Nintendo’s Flagship Titles 24:15: Avatar: The Last Air Bender and Star Wars25:58: Skyward Sword’s Impact on the Timeline 27:35: The Minish Cap30:13: The Curse of Demise31:58: The Credibility of the Timeline34:08: Four Swords37:43: Ocarina of Time39:49: Timeline Split41:48: Hyrulean Satire43:44: Gary Gulman45:54: Child Timeline46:12: Majora’s Mask50:30: Twilight Princess52:25: Four Swords Adventures53:37: How Many Links?54:31: Who’s Taking Care of the Master Sword?55:45: Dampé the Gravedigger and Babu Frik 56:59: Adult Timeline57:57: The Wind Waker58:38: Emily’s Coughing Fit1:00:12: Seals in The Wind Waker1:01:46: Emily’s Coughing Returns1:02:19: Religion in Hyrule1:04:04: The Implications of The Wind Waker’s Ending and Shane’s Pizza1:06:55: Phantom Hourglass1:08:20: Spirit Tracks1:08:57: The Races of Hyrule in and Wrap Up of the Adult Timeline1:16:49: The Downfall Timeline1:17:13: The Imprisoning War and A Link to the Past1:18:20: Link’s Awakening1:19:05: Oracle of Ages and Oracles of Seasons1:22:43: A Link Between Worlds1:22:35: Triforce Heroes1:25:48: Echoes of Wisdom1:27:03: The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II:  the Adventure of Link1:33:33: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom1:33:24: Reincarnation in Zelda1:32:52: The Legend of Laelaps1:35:30: Wrap Up1:37:04: Outro

This is the second of two episodes where we will analyze the dungeons, puzzles, and items in the series. 00:00: Introductions01:32: Juggling Brothers Cosplay and Thus Spoke Zarathustra07:18: Items Introduction08:16: Traversal Items15:30: An Ode to the Boomerang16:37: Gust Items and Tangents19:10: Tools21:20: The Mirror Shield23:12: Puzzles and Switches24:32: Roc’s Cape/Feather and Jumping26:35: Classic Puzzle and Dungeon Design30:15 Other Traversal Items31:45: Items with Multiple Uses are Best35:18: Twilight Princess’ Temple of Time38:04: Bombs44:38: Bow and Arrow45:31: Hookshot48:33: Magic52:14: Some Wind Waker Love54:23: Masks and other Magic Items57:16: Swords and Shields1:08:22: Shane’s Grievances with Breath of the Wild1:12:18: Breath of the Wild Puzzles1:17:52: Memorable Puzzles1:23:25: Little Women and Shane’s Full Name1:26:30: Back to Memorable Puzzles1:41:54: Dungeon Order in Ocarina of Time1:44:21: Other Tools1:51:03: Musical Instruments1:53:19: Fishing Rod1:54:58: Use of Space in Ikana Canyon2:05:31: Memorable Boss Fights2:09:24: Shane Loves the Megaton Hammer2:12:47: Brady Loves the Hookshot2:13:47: Outros

This is the first of two episodes where we will analyze the dungeons, puzzles, and items in the series. 00:00: Introductions03:37: Dungeons are Zelda06:24: Memorable Leadups to Dungeons08:38: City in the Sky Tangents13:11: Other Memorable Leadups to Dungeons18:47: Dungeons Fitting into the Narrative21:03: Constraints Inspire Innovation23:10: Preludes to Dungeons and Dungeons as Organic Spaces30:01: First Dungeons37:24: How Zelda Approaches Dungeons38:54: What Makes a Great Zelda Dungeon1:08:35: Divine Beasts1:10:30: Catholic Tangent1:11:39: “Bad” Zelda Dungeon Qualities1:15:07: Dungeons as an Experience1:19:24: Dungeons Are Not Just Puzzles1:22:25: Items and Dungeon Design1:29:05: Some Brief Final Dungeon Analysis1:38:35: Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks Development Choices1:45:33: 2D vs. 3D Dungeons1:51:58: Our Favorite Dungeons1:56:18: Shrines in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom2:00:08: Forest, Fire, and Water Trifecta2:01:40: Pivotal Dungeons2:03:54: Outro

Our first episode of our first podcast ever! In this episode, we will introduce ourselves, the show, and why we love this video game franchise.00:00: Introductions02:00: What Zelda Means to Us08:01: Boston Sports Fans09:18 More Personal Histories18:01: Video Games as Art19:44: Cultural Inspirations in Zelda21:00: Shane’s College Essay23:18: Brady’s Examples of What Zelda Means to Him24:04: Music and Sound Effects36:30 Zelda is Relatable40:36: Zelda Stays Fresh42:49: The World of Hyrule54:27: Rhode Islanders 55:35: Remasters56:39: Fantasy and Puzzles1:03:32: There’s Beer in the Fridge!1:03:48: Outro

A Link between Words is a podcast run by two guys who love the legend of Zelda video game franchise. Co-hosts Shane Watterson and Brady Conley leave no pot intact in their discussion and analysis of all things in the series. Episodes range from general topics and themes to deep dives into specific titles. If you just can’t get enough Zelda, then crack a beer with us and give us a listen.