Editing The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

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'''''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap''''' is the twelfth game of ''[[The Legend of Zelda (series)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' series. It was released for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in 2004 in Japan and Europe and in North America and Australia the following year, 2005. The game stars [[Link]] and a talking hat named [[Ezlo]], who must save [[Hyrule]] and [[Princess Zelda]] from the evil wind sorcerer [[Vaati]] while taking advantage of [[Portal (The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap)|portal]]s along the way to shrink to the size of the [[Minish]] people. The game is a prequel to ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords]]'', as it revolves around the backstory of Vaati and the creation of the [[Four Sword]].

==Gameplay==

''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' is a two-dimensional game that retains the core gameplay from earlier ''The Legend of Zelda'' installments. It is mostly comparable to its prequel, ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords'', which is also for the Game Boy Advance. Like the other games, ''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' is viewed from a top-down perspective, and has a closer view to the ground than earlier games, allowing for more visual detail. The game takes place within [[Hyrule]], and has an [[overworld]] with a variety of environments, most of it being a field; other environments include a forest, a canyon, a swamp, a lake, the clouds, and a graveyard. There are a few [[dungeon]]s, each with a unique item that is required to defeat the boss and for progressing into the overworld.

Some of the gameplay features are from the three-dimensional ''The Legend of Zelda'' games, namely ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]''. Several of the [[Hylian]] characters debuted in said game. Up to two items can be equipped and assigned to either the A or B button respectively. The item interface is at the top-right corner, and it shows an icon of the item over the button. This makes it similar to the three-dimensional ''The Legend of Zelda'' games, although earlier handheld games also have items assigned to the A and B buttons. Pressing the R button makes Link perform a [[roll]], a move which originated from ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time''. The combat system is enhanced from previous handheld installments, as Link can learn new sword techniques from the [[Blade Brothers]].

The game has a unique mechanic where Link and Ezlo can enter a [[Portal (The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap)|portal]] to shrink to the size of the Minish race. By using the portal again, Link and Ezlo return to their normal size. When Link is Minish size, he has little visibility from the overworld, so his current location is represented by his head within a speech bubble-like icon. It reflects the direction that Link is facing or moving in. At this size, large patches of grass become walls for Link, puddles become large bodies of water, and he can fall into cracks in the ground. The [[Four Elements]] and the [[White Sword]] are another unique mechanic. The Four Elements can each be infused with the White Sword. As Link infuses more with his sword, he can make more temporary copies of himself from glowing floor panels. These duplicates are required for some puzzles in later parts of the game, such as to push large [[block]]s or to step on a few switches simultaneously.

==Characters==

{|class="wikitable"

!Sprite

|[[Link]]

|The main hero and playable character, Link goes on an adventure to stop Vaati from retrieving the Light Force.

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|align=center|[[File:Ezlo TMC sprite.png]][[File:Ezlo Minish form TMC sprite.png]]

|[[Smith]]

|The grandfather of Link and a renowned swordsman in Hyrule.

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|[[Biggoron]]

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|align=center|[[File:Din TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Farore TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Gina TMC sprite.png]]

|[[Gina]]

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|align=center|[[File:Joel TMC sprite.png]]

|[[Joel]]

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|align=center|[[File:Nayru TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Pina TMC sprite.png]]

|[[Pina]]

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|[[Vassal]]s

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|align=center|[[File:Acro-Bandit TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Beetle TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Bow Moblin TMC sprite.png]] [[File:Bow Moblin blue TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:ChuChu TMC sprite.png]] [[File:ChuChu red TMC sprite.png]] [[File:ChuChu blue TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Eyegore Statue TMC sprite.png]]

|[[Eyegore Statue]]

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|align=center|[[File:Golden Tektite TMC sprite.png]]

|[[Golden Tektite]]

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|align=center|[[File:Moldworm TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Rock ChuChu TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Rollobite TMC sprite.png]]

|[[Rollobite]]

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|align=center|[[File:Spear Moblin TMC sprite.png]] [[File:Spear Moblin blue TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Spiked Beetle TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Spiny ChuChu TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Stalfos red TMC sprite.png]] [[File:Stalfos blue TMC sprite.png]]

|[[Stalfos]]

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|align=center|[[File:Fire Bar TMC sprite.png]]

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|align=center|[[File:Spike Roller TMC sprite.png]]

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|[[Big Blue Chuchu]]

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|align=center|[[File:TMC Darknut red.png]]

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|Gleerok is a fiery reptile and the second boss, who is fought in the Cave of Flames. To attack Gleerok, Link must stun it with the Cane of Pacci, walk across its neck, and slash at its body with his sword.

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|Mazaal is a large statue fought in the Fortress of Winds and the third boss. To attack Mazaal, Link must shoot [[Arrow]]s at its hands, stunning it, and then strike it with his sword. Afterward, Link must enter a portal to become Minish size, then enter Mazaal's mouth and strike the pillar depicting a face.  

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|[[Big Octorok]]

|Big Octorok is a regular Octorok fought by Link while Minish-sized. It is the fourth boss, fought in the Temple of Droplets. To attack, Link must use his shield to deflect the rocks spit by Big Octorok back at it. Later in the battle, Big Octorok becomes icy, and Link can attack it by using the Flame Lantern to put Big Octorok's tail on fire.

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|[[Gyorg Pair]]

|A pair of large manta rays acting as the fifth boss in the game. To defeat the large, red Gyorg, Link must use the magic tiles to create three clones of himself and then hit the large, red Gyorg's eyes when they open. The small, light blue Gyorg can be defeated by striking its single eye.

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|style="text-align:center"|[[File:Vaati Reborn TMC sprite.png]]

|Vaati Reborn is the first form of Vaati. To attack him, Link must hit the surrounding eyes to expose Vaati Reborn's red eye, which Link must repeatedly slash at with his sword. Later in the battle, Vaati Reborn sends out black spheres to protect the eyes from damage, and Link must suck them up with the Gust Jar.  

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|style="text-align:center"|[[File:Vaati Transfigured TMC sprite.png]]

|Vaati Transfigured is the second form of Vaati. Link must slash at Vaati Transfigured's eyes until it exposes four red eyes. To attack the boss, Link must use the glowing tiles to create three clones of himself and then strike Vaati Transfigured's red eyes.  

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|style="text-align:center"|[[File:Vaati's Wrath TMC sprite.png]]

|The third and final form of Vaati. When Link defeats this form, Vaati's Wrath is defeated altogether. To defeat him, Link must use the Cane of Pacci to flip over Vaati's Wrath's arms. Link must then shrink himself from a portal to enter the arms and strike the red eye until the arm is destroyed. After destroying both of Vaati's Wrath's arms, Link must create three clones of himself and then hit energy balls at Vaati's Wrath when his eyes turn blue. By doing so, Vaati's Wrath becomes vulnerable to Link's sword attack.

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!Description

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|[[Boomerang]]

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|[[Bomb]]

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|[[Broken Picori Blade]]

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|[[Cane of Pacci]]

|The Cane of Pacci sends out a yellow beam capable of flipping certain objects, such as vase portals. The beam can also be fired into a small hole, which Link can launch himself from.

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|[[Carlov Medal]]

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|[[Flame Lantern]]

|The item is used to illuminate dark areas, melt ice and burn bushes and grass.

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|[[Flippers]]

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|[[Four Elements]]<br>([[Earth Element|Earth]], [[Fire Element|Fire]], [[Water Element|Water]], [[Wind Element|Wind]])

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|[[Four Sword]]

|When all Four Elements are infused into the White Sword, it becomes the Four Sword. If there are three glowing floor tiles, Link can create up to three clones of himself from them.  

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|[[Graveyard Key]]

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|[[Grip Ring]]

|This ring allows Link to climb cliff faces and certain walls.

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|[[Gust Jar]]

|The Gust Jar sucks in nearby items and certain enemies, which can be fired as projectiles. The Gust Jar's suction is required to be used on some objects, such as to steer a [[lilypad]], or on a [[mushroom]] so that Link can be flung across a body of water or a pit.

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|[[Jabber Nut]]

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|[[Light Arrow]]

|These arrows are charged with the power of light and deal more damage to enemies than regular arrows.

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|[[Lon Lon Ranch key]]

|The key to Talon and Malon's house. Link must retrieve it so they can unlock their house.

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|When throwing this boomerang, Link can guide it to move in a specific direction instead of a straight line.

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|[[Map of Hyrule]]

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|[[Mirror Shield]]

|The shield has a reflective surface, allowing Link to deflect certain attacks back at an enemy.

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|[[Mole Mitts]]

|Clawed gloves allowing Link to dig through dirt barriers and dig a hole in the ground. It also allows him to pick up rocks and bushes.

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|[[Ocarina of Wind]]

|An ocarina that takes Link to any [[Wind Crest]] he has activated.

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|[[Pegasus Boots]]

|These allow Link to charge forward at high speed. He can also learn to hold his sword in front while charging forward.

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|These bracelets make Link stronger, enabling him to lift heavy objects, even at Minish size.

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|[[Remote Bomb]]

|These Bombs only explode at Link's command. Link can obtain Remote Bombs by talking to Belari and swapping his regular Bombs for them and vice versa.

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|[[Roc's Cape]]

|A cape allowing Link to jump in midair to dodge hazards, pits, and enemy attacks. Link can learn a Sword Technique to thrust down to enemies with his sword while jumping.

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|[[Small Shield]]

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|[[Smith's Sword]]

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|[[Swordsman Newsletter]]

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|[[Tiger Scroll]]

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|[[Tingle Trophy]]

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|[[Wake-Up Mushroom]]

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|[[White Sword]]

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{|class=wikitable

!width=10%|Name

!Description

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|[[Big Key]]

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|[[Compass]]

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|[[Dungeon Map]]

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|[[Heart]]

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|[[Heart Container]]

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|[[Joy Butterfly]]

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|[[Kinstone piece]]

|The Kinstone pieces obtained by Link are always the left half of a Kinstone. Many Kinstone pieces vary by shape and color (either red, blue, or green). If a thought bubble is over a character, they have a Kinstone piece, always being the right half of one. If Link has a corresponding Kinstone piece, he and a character can connect the two pieces to form a whole Kinstone. This causes something good to happen in the overworld, such as a treasure chest appearing or a hidden area becoming accessible. Most Kinstone fusions are optional, although fusing [[Golden Kinstone]]s is required.

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|[[Piece of Heart]]

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|[[Rupee]]

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|[[Small Key]]

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|style="text-align:center"|[[File:Mt Crenel Mineral Water TMC sprite.png]]

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|style="text-align:center"|[[File:Empty bottle TMC sprite.png]]

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|[[Kinstone Bag]]

|A bag where Link stores his collected Kinstone pieces.

*[[Minish Woods]]

*[[Mount Crenel]]

*[[Royal Valley]]

*[[Trilby Highlands]]

''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' is the first game of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series to be released in Europe before North America. In Europe, the game was released for the holiday season, in November 2004. In North America, the game was released in January 2005, rumored to be because of the [[Nintendo DS]]'s launch,<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/14/minish-cap-site-launches Minish Cap Site Launches] on IGN. Published September 14, 2004.</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930115440/http://uk.gamespot.com/gba/action/thelegendofzeldatheminishcap/news.html?sid=6106627&mode=recent "Zelda: Minish Cap to hit Europe before US]". GameSpot (archived). Posted September 3, 2004.</ref> but sources at Nintendo vaguely mentioned "more" was being added in the North American version.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/19/wait-for-us-minish-cap "Wait" for US Minish Cap] on IGN. Published October 19, 2004.</ref>

==Reception==

''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' has been met with critical acclaim, with an average review score of 9/10. The most common criticism of the game is its short length, as stated in both the GameSpot and Eurogamer reviews.

!colspan="4" style="font-size:120%; text-align:center; background-color:gold;"|Reviews

|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"

In March 2007, the game was ranked 20th on IGN's "Top 25 Game Boy Advance games".<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/top-25-game-boy-advance-games-of-all-time Top 25 Game Boy Advance Games of All Time]. IGN. Published March 16, 2007.</ref> In Februrary 2009, the game was ranked 47th in Official Nintendo Magazine's "100 Greatest Nintendo Games" feature.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090225040521/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7258 100 Best Nintendo Games: Part 3] - Official Nintendo Magazine (Wayback Machine)</ref>

===Sales===

==Trivia==

[[File:TMC Nayru has no house screenshot.png|thumb|220px|The Oracle that is last is not given a house to live in, in this case, Nayru.]]

==External links==

==References==

{{Games}}

[[Category:The Legend of Zelda series]]