Zelda is childish.

Buy us a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/playstraight
Discussions on games are often about "how they've aged". I want to focus on another question: how we have. What makes the Zelda series special is that it mindfully plays on that process.
All rights go to the respective owners.
Soundtrack for this video: • Zelda is childish | mu...
Inspired by Zelda's OST composers, including Koji Kondo, Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Hajime Wakai.
Music by Jelle Goossens - www.masteringfactory.com/

[@thilo419]

"the lack of graphical fidelity also made it abstract, you had to paint in the world a lot of details with the brush of your childish imagination" thank you for expressing something I experienced myself for a long time but never could put words on in such an accurate way.

[@nimtzart4834]

I have to say, I've been super impressed by your videos from the very start. You analyze aspects of games in a way that really expertly balances analysis and philosophy, and your topics are always so specific that no one is really doing it the same way you are. I'd love to see you get way more recognition, and I hope to keep seeing more videos in the future!

[@playingitstraight]

Thank you! I’ll try to keep it up :)

[@Felipemelazzi]

This is my third video in a row. At this high level of quality in your analysis amd introspections you're get big as a KZbinr. Witnessing you at only 3.6k subscribers feels like finding a rare natural event.

[@FlutterSwag]

Another 'Playing it Straight' video, Another night of staring into the darkness re-examining my life I love your videos so much!!!

[@dougiehockeym8071]

“Childlike wonder” is a feeling I always look for in video games. I didn’t have that connection with Zelda but outer wilds game me that feeling. I always loved space and planets as a kid and it was what I dreamed of.

[@AngelofGrace96]

This was absolutely wonderful to watch. Botw was my first zelda, and I've dived into the series mostly through KZbin playthroughs and learning about the lore, but this video was still somehow nostalgic to me. Absolutely wonderful. Also you're so right that childishness is how zelda was designed to be and that's okay. A long time ago I saw an essay comparing bloodborne to ocarina of time and saying that ocarina was not as good because it signposted its puzzles and 'wasn't difficult enough' and I just walked away feeling like that youtuber fundamentally misunderstood the point of zelda.

[@jonathanzabolio236]

So happy I found your videos right from your channel's start. A lot of video game essays can be somewhat repetitive and almost pointless, but I find your videos really unique and thought provoking. Can't wait to see more of your stuff, and I hope you get way bigger.

[@Zork07]

You just described how growing up with Zelda felt for me. Oot seemed enormous, riding epona through hyrule fields was freedom back then. A feeling that its hard to achieve now at adulthood. But BotW did it for me, not only for the fantastic open world, but mostly for the possibilities that the game offers, you can approach the same situations in a lot of ways and if you are experimental/imaginative enough the game never feels old.

[@antsinmypants4060]

Wow, this was an incredible essay. I became a fan of zelda because a friend let me borrow their copy of botw and learning about it has become a hobby. The way the franchise has evolved as well as the fandom, has made me realize how special it is. Your video made me realize how much I began to care about this game, playing it on days i feel off, or just enjoying it because it's such a comfort. I never played many games, mostly because they're expensive, but as 20 something I really appreciate botw and as I'm playing more games I realize that I need this, something childish to keep me afloat to remember my humanity. Really loved your video, you gained a subscriber today.

[@Nazgul265]

Hope you come back to youtube someday. Your video essays are incredible

[@klibe]

makes 5 of the most high quality video essays i've ever seen leaves refuses to elaborate (if you are reading this thanks for making these amazing videos, ngl the outer wilds ones made me shed a couple tears)

[@rattlethecages]

Same! It’s almost a travesty that someone capable of making such articulate and well thought out and well edited video essays can just disappear. What a shame.

[@quakducc2274]

damn, the few essays you have made are such beautiful works. Sad to see you aren't posting any longer

[@dootris]

I haven't got much to say except thank you for the incredible video! I really enjoyed your take on the subject, and it made me reflect on how I grew up with the Zelda games.

[@aeonixhope8383]

Another great video. I'm glad to see this mindset of 'adults being afraid of being child like' is slowly being remove.

[@anaxyelidae]

just found your channel, really great video. thank you ❤

[@user-cg6ve8wg4g]

BRO PLEASE KEEP DOING VIDEOS YOU'RE A GEM

[@NoshuHyena]

Been a long time since I've cried during a youtube video.

[@SaltySirenFloriduh]

Your voice makes for easy listening. Awesome video 👏🏻

[@marlijnvn3706]

All the feeeeels man, such a great video again! And love the rendition of the music

[@VanGateau]

8:55 This is such a wonderful little piece of writing.

[@impastabowl2328]

This was a very well-made and thought out video...I like the quote at the end, at 25:32 . It encapsulates a lot of my feelings on growing older.

[@Dittachu]

Another beautifully presented video. I have very little I can even think of to add here, but just want to say I really enjoyed it. It will be interesting to see how the sequel takes this feeling of exploration and change, considering it's the first time in the series we will truly be returning to the same place. It's one of my favourite experiences in any games - when a world I have previously explored and grown comfortable in changes, it leaves an even greater impact than just discovering a new place. I feel it would be similar to the examples of returning to a childhood school, but rather than merely seeing the same place from a different perspective, it will be more like returning to a childhood town that has changed and moved on, but you can still find remnants of the past you experienced there. Though considering we don't know yet how big the difference will be in time from BotW to TotK this is mostly conjecture, since very little time could have passed at all.

[@WilliamMark]

This is beautiful. Thank you

[@SeekerOf7ruth]

An excellent video essay that expresses a lot of what we feel deep down with the series. Not sure what else to say that has already been stated well, heh.

[@sven-]

I can't believe this only has 16 comments. What an amazing video

[@GarC170]

2 minute mark not sure those forum posters even realized Links name isn’t Zelda lol

[@leftovernoise]

Another banger as always

[@rattlethecages]

Hey I’ve been trying to get in contact with you in regards to a collaboration with another yt channel for an Outer Wilds video, but your email doesn’t work. How can we correspond?

[@leviwarren6222]

As Lewis would also tell us, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." The value of childhood is in its innocence and potential. Too many in the west inhabit the mind of Peter Pan, refusing to grow up and clinging to childhood, possibly because they refuse to invest their potential. Childhood is of extraordinary value; I believe experiences like The Legend of Zelda allow the mature to re-experience the value of innocence.

[@leviwarren6222]

@@shigermuleye5203 Which is the reason you would hear it from C.S. Lewis.

[@thevoid3062]

Playing it Straight try not to mention the sublime challenge (impossible) Jokes aside, I love your videos!

[@creativeapparatus1111]

Same

[@tat6681]

Muy lindoo

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

will nintendo ever have a madworld x zelda? sadly, no

[@metaltornado3457]

I don't prefer Ocarina of Time over Wind Waker because it's "less childish". I prefer it because I love the adult incarnation of Link. Playing Oot as a preteen and pulling the Master Sword for the first time was an experience I'll never forget. You go from playing a little kid that no one takes seriously to a handsome young man with the kingdom's destiny on your shoulders. This was around the time I got into games like Final Fantasy VII and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and before that I didn't even know video game men could be attractive at all.

[@TheUnstealth]

those polygons 🥵

[@metaltornado3457]

@@TheUnstealth To be fair, it was mostly the official artwork that made Link sexy at the time, not his in-game model. Have you seen the muscles the concept art gave him?

[@crazyjaybe]

Goat hangers???

[@jacksonavino1524]

In what way do you think that Zelda is childish Zelda is a perfect game oh let me guess you played call of duty

[@rattlethecages]

Someone didn’t watch the video