As fans ofThe Legend of Zeldawait to see what the series has in store, many might be looking to find a similar experience elsewhere. Players won’t have any difficulty when it comes to finding said experience, with a multitude of titles that can offer thatsame sense of adventure and explorationthat makesZeldasuch a beloved franchise. In fact, there’s one indie title on the horizon from critically-acclaimed studio Yacht Club Games that fans should keep an eye on, as it looks to offer an experience akin to classicZeldatitles.
On the surface,Mina the Hollowercan easily be misconstrued as a simpleZelda-like. As players follow Mina on her quest to reignite the Spark Generators on Tenebrous Isle, the game never hides its clear inspirations from classic 8-bit titles, including the likes ofZelda. Yet, when looking deeper,it becomes clear thatMinais a far more ambitious project than first thought, with a myriad of fresh ideas that set the game apart and offer an entirely unique experience as a result.
Mina The Hollower Is A Tribute To Classic Zelda
Mina’s Presentation And Gameplay Oozes Nostalgia
Mina the Holloweris most reminiscent of classicZeldatitles. This is immediately communicated through the game’s stunning 8-bit art style, using bold and contrasting colorsthat makeMinafeel like a long-lost Game Boy Color title. More specifically, the designs of many characters, items and landscapes seem heavily inspired by theiconic design ofLink’s Awakening, using square and simplistic textures to add toMina’s overall charm and nostalgic feel.
Yacht Club Games revealed thatLink’s Awakeningserved as inspiration for the development ofMina the Holloweron the game’sKickstarterpage, alongsideCastlevaniaandBloodborne.
Mina’s connection to theZeldaseries becomes even more apparent when focusing on the gameplay. For example, not only does the game have players control Mina from the same top-down perspective as other 2DZeldatitles, but it also adopts a similar item progression system, with a slew of sidearms and trinkets that will prove useful in going up against enemies.Mina’s adoption of the classicZeldaformula in gameplay lends to the variety and experimentationthat the title seems to possess.
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Moreover, unlike other titles that may take inspiration from theZeldaseries,Minaseems to demonstrate a core understanding of what makes the Nintendo series so beloved to begin with. When watching the game in action,Minashowcases that sense of adventure and discovery that’s at the center of theZeldaseries through its blend of gameplay and presentation. Rather than the inspiration being purely surface-level,Minaexpertly uses signature aspects of theZeldaseries to create its own luxurious world that’s irresistible to explore, giving it the potential to be an amazing tribute to the beloved franchise.
How Mina Looks To Expand On The Classic Zelda Formula
Mina Showcases A Huge Amount Of Originality
That being said, classifyingMina the Holloweras a simple tribute to classicZeldawould undermine the huge levels of creativity that this game contains. For example, whileMinamay adopt a similar art style toLink’s Awakening, the game’s setting could not be more different, depicting Tenebrous Isle as this daunting and intimidating landscape.Mina’s gothic inspirations are very apparent,helping to construct this haunting yet beautiful world that’s begging to be explored, while starkly contrasting the bright and joyful settings that aremore typical of theZeldaseries.
That’s not even mentioning the more elaborate and unconventional gameplay mechanics thatMinaintroduces. The game places huge emphasis on its RPG elements, having the player collect bones to level up Mina, adding to that sense of progression. Meanwhile, arguably the most interesting mechanic introduced inMinais the burrow ability, which allows the player to briefly traverse below the surface.It’s an unconventional move that adds a level of strategy to traversal and combat, giving the game this unique momentum while adding to Mina’s already versatile moveset.
Minalooks to introduce a myriad of new ideas in order to create a wildly inventive and original experience.
It’s abundantly clear that Yacht Club Games’s adoption of classicZeldaseries staples is merely a foundation for the studio to build upon withMina. While the game never shies away from its influences,Minalooks to introduce a myriad of new ideas in order to create a wildly inventive and original experience.This seamless blend of old and new givesMinathe potential to be a fantastic title forZeldafans to dive into, giving them that familiarity they might be looking for while providing something wholly unique in the process.
Why Mina Should Be On Zelda Fans' Radar
Yacht Club’s Reputation Is A Good Sign For Mina
There are many reasons whyMina the Hollowershould be on everyZeldafan’s radar. IfMina’s homage to classicZeldatitles wasn’t already convincing enough,Yacht Club Games’s involvement serves as huge reassurance for how the game will turn out. As the studio behind the immensely successfulShovel Knightandits multitude of expansions and spin-offs, Yacht Club Games has repeatedly demonstrated a determined sense of commitment to creating engaging and challenging retro adventures, andMinawill likely be no exception to this.
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Unfortunately,it’s still unclear when players will be able to experience everythingMinahas to offer. Yacht Club Games’s upcoming indie title has yet to be given a release date, asMinaremains under active development. However, not all hope is lost, as themost recent trailerforMinain 2024 revealed that the studio is currently focusing on polishing and refining the game, meaninga full release could happen in the near future.
While the 2024 trailer serves as the most recent public update forMina the Hollower, Yacht Club Games provides consistent updates to backers of the Kickstarter campaign, which likely provide more substantial information about the game’s progress.
There’s no doubt thatMina the Holloweris one of the most exciting indie titles currently in development. The game’s loving tribute to 8-bit action-adventure titles is blended together with hugely creative ideas that giveMinathe potential to become yet another major success in Yacht Club Games’s catalog. It’s a title everyLegend of Zeldafan should keep an eye on, as it looks to provide the same sense of exploration and discovery as the beloved Nintendo franchise, while offering something completely original in the process.
