THE RINGER

Episode written by Bob Forward

For many years I have remembered the strange Legend of Zelda cartoon show from the SMB show, but sadly, never actually remembered anything about it. Now, finally, I have seen the long lost episodes of one of the great shows of my youth. Well, the episodes are long lost to me, anyways. Watching this first episode sure brings back memories, and also freakish similarities.. For some reason I seem to think that the Link in the show is a lot like myself. However completely different from the Link from the games at the same time. This first episode is the pioneer of many of Links now well known traits, like the phrase "Well excuuuuuuse me, Princess" was coined in this very episode. As was Links sex-driven deeds.. That didn't make it past the show..

This storyline is simply this, instead of there being a land of Hyrule, it is now a simple town. If that's not bad enough, the town is pretty dead too. So Ganon is of course trying to take over this underpopulated town for god knows why, and to do so, he needs the two Triforces; the Triforce of Wisdom, currently in the hands of Zelda and under guard of Link, and the Triforce of Power, that is floating in the hands of Ganon in the other dimension.  

So that is pretty much the story line. Links job is to protect Hyrule, Zelda and the Triforce from Ganon. Although, in the show, Link is more interested in finding out what Zelda's tonsils taste like. In this episode, Link wakes up bright and early, Triforce right next to his bed. During a scene where Link leans out of the window to look down Zelda's cleavage while she's on the terrace ("Lookin' good, Princess, 'specially from this angle!"),  Moblins sneak into Links room and attack him. The fight is pretty much one sided. This event inspires Ganon with the thought that he should get the Triforce himself. Disguising himself as an amateur magician, Ganon heads for a magician competition in Hyrule. A long story short, some while later, Ganon grabs the Triforce while Link is fighting one of his home made dragons. The chase is on after Ganon heads home with the Triforce. Thanks to Zelda performing a physically impossible two-body launch from a giant plant, Zelda and Link were flying high above Hyrule, chasing after Ganon. A quick fight at the 'secret' entrance to the other dimension results in Link having the Triforce back as Ganon gets blasted back into his the other dimension. You'd think the episode would end there, but Link still wants some Zelda. Lucky they were fighting back to back, tied together with Links belt, after a short list of demands for being untied, consisting of a kiss, Zelda agrees. Just before she finally (15 minutes is awhile!) kisses him, they are interrupted by Sprite (Navi), who, magically opens the belt and lets Link and Zelda fall apart.   

It is very funny to see Link in such a different manner, it's almost more realistic. Overall, I found the show to be very good and funny, even today. Link is one hell of a character and I think that Ganon was depicted well also. The only real problem I have with it is the size of Hyrule. Who would want to rule that?

Nice animation, very funny script and one hell of a change of Links character traits pull it all together to make a good well rounded show. I enjoyed it more than when I first saw it.

I give it 9.5/10.

Bad points: Hyrule      

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Written by Nick M                         

Special Thanks to Bickman2k from the GameFAQ's NES Message Board         

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