This Zelda is cute and sweet, but also challenging enough for adults. It's probably the shortest Zelda game (at least for me), but it's totally worth the price.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
(2005, Video Games - Action/adventure, Rated E, Play it on: Game Boy Advance)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Small characters and big plot add up to huge fun.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap was written by Kimberly Reyes
Parents need to know that Zelda games have always been heavier on plot than violence. Having said that, Link must use swords, bows, bombs, and boomerangs to defend himself, although the gore factor is virtually nonexistent.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the transformation of the evil character featured in this game. Vaati, Link's main nemesis, was once a good guy who eventually turned on his teacher and his people by giving in to the power of evil. This could spark an important discussion with your kids about good and evil. A conversation could start with questions such as: What do you think could make a good person turn bad? How can you stay true to your beliefs? How do our actions in life define us?
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More on The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
What’s the Story?
As an annual festival is set to commence in THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE MINISH CAP, an evil sorcerer named Vaati destroys the Picori sword, which has protected humans from evil. When Zelda confronts Vaati, he turns her into stone. To save her, Link must seek the aid of the Picori, elves who only reveal themselves to innocent children, and accomplish tasks: finding artifacts, opening secret passageways, playing the lottery for figurines with powers that will help him. And, of course, he must face off against Vaati.
The Minish -- or Picori elf -- Ezlo, who looks like a green cap, serves as Link's guide. Link encounters enemies such as beetles, moldworms, and slugs, and fights them in the traditional hack-and-slash, slide-scrolling way. In addition to familiar tools, Link has new gadgets at his disposal including a Gust Jar, which sucks up the air and enemies around Link, and the Cane of Pacci, which can flip objects. He also has new, improved sword and rolling moves.
Is It Any Good?
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE MINISH CAP is a worthy heir to the Zelda legacy, and packs in quite a punch for its pocket-size GBA form. The game demands problem-solving skills: Link must master when to shrink down to Minish size to complete a task and when to return to normal form. In one mission, he must find artifacts of the same color that fuse together to reveal treasures or secrets. The game requires players to concentrate and memorize -- and they won't be able to finish it in one sitting.
It's not just the gameplay that's sophisticated. The story reinvents the mythical student-turning-on-teacher scenario (which kids may recognize from Star Wars) through Vaati and Ezlo's conflict. That Vaati succumbed to the dark side, in part due to his disgust with human egotism, adds a surprising layer of soul and depth to these 2-D characters. This will surely keep inquisitive kids occupied and wanting more Zelda games.
Publisher’s Details
Developer: Nintendo
Released on: 1/11/2005, Price: $29.99
ESRB Rating: E
Released on: 1/11/2005, Price: $29.99
ESRB Rating: E
Our Members Say
See 9 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
SO MUCH FUN!!!
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
It's good...
The Wind Waker is the best out of the cartoon link games (four swords, minish cap), but this one was entertaining. I loved it.
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I rate this title on and give it
awesome game!
This game is a must-have for any Zelda fan. If you've played a Zelda game before, you will easily be able to pick up and play this one. Best of all, it's really fun :)
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I rate this title on and give it
Good puzzles, fun, nothing obnoxious
I played through this entire game myself, and there's really nothing in it at all to worry about. Yes, there's some "violence", but it's all of the most innocuous, totally non-bloody type. It's basic video game stuff, where you swing your sword (or whatever) and the monster your fighting eventually just disappears when you beat it. I don't find that kind of light fantasy combat troublesome at all. As for the rest of the game, there are many puzzles to figure out, which seems better than your typical no-thinking-required videogame. None of it is terribly hard, but it does require some work and some time, and thus not every kid will likely enjoy it. I, personally, thought it was a lot of fun and it's one of the few video games I've ever completely finished.
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