ZUCast: The Zelda Universe Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to the May edition of the Zelda Universe Podcast. This month, Connor, Camilla, and Zach take a look at music and characters in Age of Calamity and Breath of the Wild before looking at framing at atmosphere in Majora's Mask.

• 0:00 - 1:04 Welcome!
• 1:04 - 11:26 Medli's Melodies: The Warriors' Resolve (Age of Calamity) by Kayla Dandurand
• 11:26 - 23:42 Bomber's Notebook: Buliara (Breath of the Wild) by Caitlyn Drewett
• 23:42 - 35:04 Zelda's Study: The First Day Cycle of Majora's Mask has Special Properties (Majora's Mask) by Aren Taylan
• 35:04 - 1:09:35 Featured Article - How Atmosphere Shapes Every Region in Majora's Mask by Camille Holder
• See you next time! 1:09:35 - 1:10:32

If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

Welcome to a special edition of the Zelda Universe Podcast. With the first direct focused on the Nintendo Switch 2 now upon us, Connor, Ann, Cayden, and Jason come together to discuss the ups, downs, and questions surrounding Nintendo's newest console and its upcoming games. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be released on June 5th, 2025.

• 0:00 – 1:51 Welcome Back!
• 1:51 – 10:10 Switch 2 Announced
• 10:10 – 25:25 Technical Questions
• 25:25 – 29:49 Switch 2’s Upgrades
• 29:49 – 33:54 Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
• 33:54 – 49:15 Pricing Problems
• 49:15 – 54:50 Gamecube NSO
• 54:50 – 1:05:30 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
• 1:05:30 – 1:18:42 Other Game Announcements
• 1:18:42 – 1:19:13 See you next time!

If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

A happy end of August to you all and happy returns to ZUCast! Our focus on "Tears of the Kingdom" continues with a stronger focus on how its story relates to our other adventures in Hyrule. Our first segment looks at how well the game fulfilled its role as a true "sequel" to a previous Zelda game, while the second looks at its overall placement in the Zelda Timeline. A lot of questions to be asked, and a lot answers that may or may not be given (or make sense). We'd love to hear your theories. SPOILER WARNING: Major and minor gameplay and plot details for "Tears of the Kingdom" are discussed and referenced throughout this episode.

• Podcast hosts: Connor and Amanda
• Welcome: How was "Tears of the Kingdom's" Story? 0:00 - 10:52
• Segment 1: How well did "Tears of the Kingdom" carry over from "Breath of the Wild?" - Jory and Jason 10:52 - 31:08
• Segment 1 Follow-up 31:09 - 43:39
• Segment 2: The State of the Zelda Timeline - Mary and Elias 43:40 - 1:04:42
• Segment 2 Follow-Up 1:04:43 - 1:17:19

If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

Happy Tears of the Kingdom release! With the game just reaching a month's time in our hands we wanted to discuss what we've enjoyed about the game and what fascinating directions it has taken our adventures. Instead of breaking it up into specific segments and hosts, our contributors instead gathered around our mics for a roundtable discussion. We specifically avoided all plot-relevant discussions, so no spoilers beyond the most general locations and activities you can expect in this game.

• Participants - Connor, Cody, Elias, Josh
• Howdy! 0:00 - 3:44
• What's it like returning to this Hyrule? 3:45 - 10:07
• What general area have you enjoyed exploring the most? 10:08 - 18:31
• "Hand"-y new abilities 18:32 - 19:57
• A side discussion about death and dying 19:58 - 23:10
• Fusion 23:11 - 27:10
• Ultrahand and Ridiculous Builds 27:11 - 33:07
• Puzzles and Encounters 33:08 - 39:00
• Recall 39:01 - 42:32
• Ascend 42:33 - 45:27
• Exploration 45:28 - 48:36
• Shrines 48:37 - 51:16
• Thanks for Listening! 51:17 - 53:02

If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

Welcome back to ZUCast! Now back and ready for a new format filled with discussions, banter, and plenty of opinions. We're happy to have you along with us.

With this setup we're going to dive into themes and topics that will look at the Zelda franchise in new and interesting angles; creating a forum for our hosts to explore new facets of Hyrule. Each episode will surround a theme, with the segments exploring a question based on that theme. Our segment hosts will discuss and debate while the podcast hosts will tie them all together.

Our first foray into this adventure involves multiple adventures. Specifically the times our fearless hero gets himself a sequel. Not every Link simply rides off into the sunset after his adventure is over, and what Nintendo does with those second installments is something we hope to explore.

• Hosts - Connor and Zach
• Segment 1: What would you add to Phantom Hourglass to make it feel more like Wind Waker? - Jory and Joshua 6:35 - 23:56
• Segment 2: Which single adventure Link deserves another adventure? - Amanda and Elias 36:57 - 53:14

If you found us through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda– and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

We're back, with our probably-highly-anticipated Breath of the Wild anniversary episode!

If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

Real life tried to stop us, but much like Link when he was drawing the Master Sword, we pushed through the bad times to get this episode to your ears! (Yeah, I got Zelda simile game.) We pulled longtime ZUBCer Peyton, a.k.a. EmperorP, out of the Shrine of Resurrection and gave him a microphone, headphones, and a computer so that he could co-host this episode with everyone's favorite Amanda, Amanda VanHiel. We've also got two glowing appraisals of different aspects of BotW, plus a more critical discussion with the hosts and special guest Cody Davies, our Consulting Producer, ZU Webmaster, and perennial shoveler! To top it all off, a few members of our forum community shared their favorite memories of the game with us, which we are excited to share with you!

So! Grab your Sheikah Slate and prepare to immerse yourself in the following Memories of Breath of the Wild: (Timestamps to come…)

• Why BotW is the Best Open-World Game Ever Presented by Randy [timestamp coming soon]
• Piece of Heart: The Trial of the Sword Presented by Connor [timestamp coming soon]
• BotW roundtable discussion Presented by your hosts (Amanda and Peyton) and Cody [timestamp coming soon]
• スタッフロール (Staff credits) Presented by Eden [timestamp coming soon]
• "Fortnite memories?" (Bloopers) [timestamp coming soon]

You can find Zelda Universe on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). We also have a website, zeldauniverse.net, where you'll find game guides, news, feature articles, and more. You can leave feedback about the ZUCast on ZU's social media, or by email at podcast@zeldauniverse.net or on the Zelda Universe Forums, which you should join so you can be a part of our ongoing complaining session regarding the BotW sequel delay. 😎

Look for another episode from us soon! Hopefully sooner than four months from now…

My computer did not want me to release this episode to you, but I gave it what for!

If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

It's 2022, and we're ringing in the year with a fantastic episode of the ZUCast! Fan-favorite duo Alex and Amanda have returned to host, Shona wraps up her year-long franchise retrospective, and we've even got someone new behind the mic! (Well, I say, "new," but he's actually been around behind the scenes for the podcast's entire current run. And we've heard from him before.) And that's not all, so take a look below to get the full rundown:

• Zelda History, Part 7 (Finale): 2016-2020 Presented by Shona 0:02:21-0:10:39
• The Best Zelda(like) Games of 2021! Presented by Randy 0:14:23-0:23:56
• Piece of Heart: Ocarina of Time Randomizer Presented by Connor 0:32:26-0:40:01
• The Waterfall of Wishing: Trading Sequences Presented by Joshua 0:42:29-0:50:03
• ZUBC Credits Club Presented by Eden 0:54:28-0:58:10
• Amanda and Alex discuss the Cats movie again (Bloopers) 0:58:11-1:00:22

You can find Zelda Universe on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). We also have a website, zeldauniverse.net, where you'll find game guides, news, feature articles, and more. You can leave feedback about the ZUCast on ZU's social media, or by email at podcast@zeldauniverse.net or on the Zelda Universe Forums, which you should join because I said so.

The BotW sequel is prooooooooobably going to hit the Switch later this year, and Nintendo's probably got some other surprises in store for us. So whether you're a first-time listener or you've been listening to our podcast since 2008, we hope you'll stick with us for the ride that will be 2022!

Hey, Zelda fans! 2021 has been a rough year for many of you—this has been, like, the longest year for me—and the general lack of Zelda stuff has not made it any easier. Hopefully, the five episodes we put out before this one this year have made it just a little bit more tolerable!

If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

This is actually our twentieth episode since we returned from the dead in 2018! While I had wanted to do a little more for it than what we ended up doing, I did get to co-host this episode with my friend and yours, Elias Thompson, and had a great time doing it. Plus, we have a slate of thought-provoking content, including the return of a segment that we haven't had in a while, as well as a guest segment from former Zelda Universe and Zelda Wiki "tech guy" Justin! So, without further ado, here's the rundown for this episode:

• Zelda History, Part 6: 2011-2015 Presented by Shona 0:05:49-0:15:46
• Hey Listen!: Reflecting on the 35th Anniversary Presented by Brian 0:21:36-0:29:53
• An Introduction to Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland Presented by Justin Folvarcik, former ZU DevOps head 0:33:25-0:43:50
• What If Zelda Was…an Unpacking Game? Presented by Randy 0:48:56-0:56:13
• Episode credits Presented by Eden 1:03:10-1:06:56
• Oops! I Crapped My Pants (Bloopers) 1:06:58-1:11:09

Zelda Universe also has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). We also have a website, zeldauniverse.net, which is older than any of those social media sites. You can leave feedback about the ZUCast on said social media sites, in our email inbox at podcast@zeldauniverse.net, or on the Zelda Universe Forums, which again, has been around longer than those social media sites. We're old, is what I think I'm getting at.

With the Breath of the Wild sequel (probably) out next year, you can look forward to some particularly awesome episodes from us coming in the near future! As to what else awaits all of us, only time will tell. In the meantime, thanks to all of you for sticking with us for all this time, whether you started with our first episode in 2018 or this one! Happy new year!

Special thanks to Joshua Lindquist for putting together the static graphics for this episode!

Good news, everyone! The ZUBC is still alive! We've been away for a bit on account of I started my career back in August like an adult, but we're back in the nick of time or something or whatever. Anyway, cue the shenanigans!

If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

You waited with bated breath for the next installment of ZUCast, and we're here to deliver. We've got Amanda and Cody back in the studio-we-definitely-have to host this shindig, plus the fifth part of Shona's Zelda History retrospective, a Piece of Heart-warming ode to the online Zelda community, a nostalgic look back at Cody's shovel% run at Oracle of Ages during this year's ZUthon charity event, a Dreadful picture of what a Zelda Metroidvania could look like, and of course, your absolute favorite part of every episode, the credits!

It's a short but fun-dense episode, and in case you don't like reading paragraphs, here's the rundown in list form:

• Zelda History, Part 5: 2006-2010 Presented by Shona 02:46-12:30
• Piece of Heart: ZUthon and Community Presented by Connor 14:35-22:09
• What If Zelda Was…a Metroidvania? Presented by Randy 25:09-34:04
• Episode credits Presented by Eden 39:05
• Bloopers…

In addition to the podcast world, you'll also find Zelda Universe elsewhere on teh interwebs: on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). We also have a website, zeldauniverse.net, where this all began. You can leave feedback about the ZUCast on our social media, in our email inbox at podcast@zeldauniverse.net, or on the Zelda Universe Forums. "Please do not swear."

We're already putting together our 20th episode! So far, I can promise some new and long-lost voices! As for anything else, you'll just have to wait. You're very good at waiting. Because you're a Zelda fan. And you listen to us. 😎 TTFN!

We're back with our first episode since this year's E3, and we've dedicated a significant portion of it to dissecting Nintendo's E3 Direct and all the juicy stuff we saw! I know it's been a hot minute since then, but some of us are still riding high from that hour or so, so please suck it up! d===(￣▽￣*)b

If you found us through Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcatcher, then I encourage you to check out our website, zeldauniverse.net; we publish Legend of Zelda- and Nintendo-related news, exclusive editorial content and features, game guides, and more. You can also subscribe to ZeldaUniverseTV on YouTube and Twitch, or join our large, welcoming forum community!

As mentioned, this month, we've got a lot of stuff related to E3: Randy's finally returned to us to break down and offer his personal opinions on everything we saw during the E3 Direct, Realm and Ann tell us their predictions for the Breath of the Wild sequel based on the E3 teaser trailer, and episode hosts Peyton and Andrew have their own E3 opinions, as well. (So many opinions…) Plus, Shona presents the fourth part of her ongoing franchise history segment, covering the years in which people got excited for a GameCube Zelda, became enraged at what they were actually getting, and then realized that they had overreacted. (Basically, the best time to be a Zelda fan!) And to top it all off, Connor details, rather convincingly, why he believes that no game has yet treated the Master Sword as well as A Link to the Past did. This episode is sure to make your day Zeldarific, which, incidentally, should be a dictionary word.

Here's the full rundown for the episode:

• Zelda History, Part 4: 2001-2005 Presented by Shona 0:02:36-0:13:07
• Hosty discussion: The early oughts in Zelda Presented by your hosts, Andrew and Peyton 0:13:08-0:25:19
• A Review of Nintendo's E3 Direct Presented by Randy 0:25:23-0:39:42
• Hosty discussion: Nintendo's Zelda 35th anniversary "celebrations" Presented by your hosts 0:39:45-0:46:46
• TheZeldaRealm: Deconstructing the 2021 BotW Sequel Trailer Presented by Realm and TheZeldaAnn 0:46:47-1:06:15
• Hosty discussion: Possibilities for the BotW sequel Presented by your hosts 1:06:16-1:15:37
• Piece of Heart: The Master Sword of A Link to the Past Presented by Connor 1:15:39-1:24:00
• Hosty discussion: Peyton isn't an ALttP fan Presented by your hosts 1:24:02-1:32:58
• Episode credits Presented by Eden 1:35:00-1:38:27
• Shenaninanigans (Bloopers) 1:38:29-1:43:05

If you like what you hear today, you're welcome to check out our other media, both social and otherwise: on Facebook and Twitter (@ZeldaUniverse), and Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch (@ZeldaUniverseTV). And it was bound to happen eventually, but we're also officially on TikTok now (@zeldauniverse). LOL! Please also send us feedback. You can do so on our social media, in our email inbox at podcast@zeldauniverse.net, or on the Zelda Universe Forums. Please feed our delicate yet ravenous egos!

We also post these things on YouTube, but up until now, the visual component has basically amounted to an hour-long view of our logo, with the occasional visual gag courtesy of our very own Kelly the Editor. I am happy to announce that we are in the process, starting with this episode, of spicing up our YouTube releases a bit! On that note, please join me in giving a warm welcome to the ZUBC's new "graphics peeps," Cayden and Alexandria, who are already working with Kelly to make our YouTube releases easier on the eyes!

Finally, it has come to my attention that our presence on Stitcher has been kind of wonky for several months, with new episodes not making it to that service for some unknown reason. We'll try our best to fix this ASAP, but in the meantime, please subscribe elsewhere so you don't miss out!

Listen to the episode on YouTube! (coming soon!)