Retro Gamer

Retro Gamer is the only magazine in the UK that’s fully dedicated to the halcyon days of classic gaming. If you’ve ever fondly blasted away at the Bydo Empire in R-Type, swung Bowser by the tail in Super Mario 64, or navigated all 20 levels of Matthew Smith’s Manic Miner, then this is the magazine for you. Created by a dedicated team of experts, Retro Gamer’s mission is to deliver constantly engaging and passionately written articles that cover a wide range of subjects. We offer our readership in-depth looks at classic games and franchises, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the software houses from yesteryear, and one-on-one exclusive interviews with industry veterans such as Archer Maclean and Hideo Kojima. Stylish, entertaining and beautifully presented, Retro Gamer is the ultimate guide to videogaming’s rich and diverse history.

THE RETROBATES • WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ZELDA GAME?

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SO LONG AND FAREWELL • E3 hits the rocks as Nintendo shutters shops

IN MEMORIAM

A day in the life

Passive gaming nostalgia

Patrick Nevian • We speak to the pianist behind a new collection of piano-themed Chris Huelsbeck classics

NEWS SEPTEMBER 2006

THE LATEST NEWS FROM SEPTEMBER 2006

THIS MONTH IN…

CHARTS SEPTEMBER 2006

Spatter • TRY THE TRICKY TRICYCLE

THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO THE LEGEND OF ZELDA • FOR DECADES THE LEGEND OF ZELDA HAS BEEN A NAME SYNONYMOUS WITH QUALITY IN THE ACTION ADVENTURE GENRE AND ONE OF NINTENDO'S MOST POPULAR SERIES. WE TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE QUALITIES THAT MAKE LINK'S ADVENTURES SO TIMELESS

INTERVIEWEES

WORLD OF WONDER • HYRULE IS ALWAYS UNIQUELY SUITED TO THE ZELDA GAMES THAT TAKE PLACE THERE - BUT THAT’S BECAUSE OF NINTENDO'S UNUSUAL APPROACH TO CRAFTING THE LOCATION. WE TALK TO JEREMY HARVEY ABOUT WHAT MAKES ZELDA'S SETTING SUCH A JOY TO DISCOVER

Q&A NICOLAS CANNASSE • EVOLAND’S CREATOR OPENS UP ON ZELDA’S OPEN WORLDS

INTRIGUING INHABITANTS • WHAT IS A WORLD WITHOUT THE PEOPLE IN IT? LIL GATOR GAME DEVELOPERS SCOTT SULCHER AND CONNOR PATRICK QUINN DISCUSS THE FAMILIAR AND ECCENTRIC CHARACTERS THAT INHABIT HYRULE AND HOW THEY MAKE THE LEGEND OF ZELDA'S STORIES AND QUESTS MEMORABLE

HYRULE’S INHABITANTS • THE RACES YOU’LL ENCOUNTER IN HYRULE’S HISTORY

DUNGEON DELVING • NO GAMES DO DUNGEONS QUITE LIKE DUNGEONS IN ZELDA, OFTEN THE GAMES’ HIGHLIGHTS THAT CHALLENGE YOU WITH EXPLORATION, PUZZLES AND COMBAT IN PERFECT BALANCE. BLOSSOM TALES DEVELOPER ROB MAHER DISCUSSES THE RECIPE BEHIND THE ZELDA SERIES’ UNIQUE DUNGEON DESIGNS

BRAVE NEW WORLD • HOW NINTENDO INTRODUCED ZELDA’S 3D DUNGEONS

ICONIC ARSENAL • BOMBS AND BOWS, BOOMERANGS AND BIG SWORDS - LINK’S WEAPONRY ALLOWS HIM TO THRIVE IN ENCOUNTERS WITH HIS MANY FOES, BUT NINTENDO HAS ALWAYS ENSURED THAT THE EQUIPMENT HE GATHERS HAS SIGNIFICANCE FAR BEYOND ITS OBVIOUS APPLICATION IN COMBAT

TAKE THESE • FIVE ITEMS THAT USUALLY PROVE KEY TO LINK’S SUCCESS

Q&A MELOS HAN-TANI • THE CREATOR OF ANODYNE DISCUSSES LINK’S WEAPONRY

BEASTLY BOSSES • SAVING THE WORLD ISN'T AN EASY TASK, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING AN ENEMY 20 TIMES YOUR SIZE. BOSS BATTLES PUNCTUATE THE ACTION IN ZELDA GAMES, PROVIDING TESTS OF SKILL AND DRAMATIC MOMENTS THAT SERVE TO ADVANCE THE PLOT

GREATEST GUARDIANS • SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE MAJOR MONSTERS LINK HAS FOUGHT

MAGICAL MELODIES • THE LEGEND OF ZELDA DOESN'T JUST CONTAIN SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE MUSIC IN VIDEOGAMES, AS WANDERSONG AND CHICORY DEVELOPER GREG LOBANOV DISCUSSES HOW MUSIC HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE GAMEPLAY AND NARRATIVE IN BELOVED ENTRIES IN THE SERIES

GREG LOBANOV • HOW ZELDA HAS INSPIRED GREG’S GAMES

ZELDA'S GREATEST SOUND TRACKS • MUSIC TO TRANSPORT YOU...