Link's Awakening Review

First released on the original Game Boy, but was re-released as Link's Awakening DX in the late 90's on the Game Boy Color. One of the few games not set in Hyrule, Link gets shipwrecked on the Island of Koholint.


Koholint Island is not what it seems and our hero Link is faced with a new challenge; to save the Legendary Windfish. Your first mission is to search for Link's defining emblem, the sword. Once found the infamous Wise Old Owl appears and instructs you to look for eight instruments of the Sirens. Where else are the instruments to be found, but in eight perilous Dungeons, each with their own ingenious puzzles and demonic bosses. The bosses happen to be nightmare creatures, that possess a desire to rule the World that the Windfish guards. 


Many fans will drool at the thought of what epic ballad will be formed from all eight instruments of the Sirens and their purpose. The ballad, breaks the egg in which the Windfish lives opening up another dungeon for Link to face his greatest fears. Within dwells not only the Windfish but the final nightmare creature that transforms into Link's past enemies, one of which is Ganon. Once the heroic Link faces his fears he must face the final form of the creature; Dethl. Dethl is a one eyed shadow with wandering tentacles and not easily defeated. 


However, once defeated Link must play the ballad again and he and the Windfish awaken together leaving behind the wonderful, and myserious Island of Koholint. The Windfish explains it was all his own dream, but it could only be one the greatest and most challenging tests for Link, to prepare him for his destiny. 


Nintendo outdid themselves with Link's Awakening. Although there were many references to Characters seen in the other Zelda series, this one still made a bold statement in creativity and originality. The mystery made the Island seem vaster than it was and there were endless side quests to face that kept the gamer begging for more. It was more than a taster for what was to come in the Legend of Zelda series. 

Badgeritis

A hidden war has existed for the same reason for 30 years. It exists because of threat of disease and, in some minds, to end suffering. I would like to say it's a war on TB (tubercle bacillus); however, over the past 30 years a mass culling of badgers has been the governments solution to preventing Bovine TB. The disease carrying badgers have been found to spread TB to cattle. This matters to the UK public because it costs the UK Budget around £100m a year.

A general consensus of people when asked 'what do you think of when you think of badgers?' of course they responded, 'black and white?' 'little fat things?' However, many would reply, 'scrappy and vicious'. Badgers have unfortunately culminated an ignorant image of simply being little creatures to avoid like the plague. In this instance they certainly should be avoided because of their plague. But it is easy to forget that they too suffer the burden of the disease. TB is a terrible disease that I would not wish on my worst enemy. TB affects organs and because it is so difficult to treat, TB kills almost 50% of it's victims

Between 1975 and 1982 4,000 Badger Setts were gassed with a powder that releases hydrogen cyanide. It seemed a brash and bold decision, but was considered the most 'humane' method of culling. In fact it seemed to possess a military efficiency, and disposed of 10,000 badgers out of the 30,000 that have been culled to date.

The debate raged over the term humane. A humane death would insist on a quick and thorough death. Equally, the fact that many of these badgers were suffering from the terrible pain of TB, it can be considered the kindest option. However, a study that coincided with the gas culling campaign proved that the concentration of gas used was not enough to end the badgers' lives quickly without causing some kind of suffering. The Culling operatives thus conceded to using more brutal methods of cages and traps, and finally shooting the badgers to death.

Our interpretation of humane has always seemed obscure and normally can be sourced to which option is the cheapest option. However, it would be foolish for me to be so defensive of the badgers' plight without defending the plight of the bovine farmer. They suffer great losses of cattle from bovine TB and their panicked retort to supporting badger culling can only be assumed as a natural response. This is expected when the government speaks of humane culling and scientific research as the most effective form of culling.

"I do believe this is a science-led policy," said Professor Bob Watson, Ms Spelman's chief scientific adviser.

But how can we deny that it appears more of a thuggish, trial and error procedure.Trial and error in the sense that the Department for the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Fisheries and Food need to find a balance with culling efficiently and also preventing public uproar. Saying that it is a "..science-led policy," patronises the publics intelligence. It is political and economical practice that drives this attempt to prevent Bovine TB.

If the main aim is to find a more humane method of culling then surely the injectable vaccines that have proven long-term effectiveness are the simple answer. The government should subsidise the farmers expenses on vaccination and more training should be given towards biosecurity.

We must move beyond this primitive fear of infected badgers. You could compare the Government and Media's scaremongering with ancient Folklore:

'Should one hear a badger call, And then an ullot cry, Make thy peace with God, good soul, For thou shall shortly die. So, according to this bit of folklore, if you hear a badger call, then hear an "Ullot" (an owl) hoot, you are not long for this world!' 

Badger culling is not necessary in a time of such technological sophistication, especially when the medical solutions can be employed so effectively; without excuse I might add. Too many people associate the disease with badgers. It is important to disenfranchise the two and remember the war is on TB. Badgers are a shy and night dwelling animal, with a distinctive unpredictability about them. They live a peaceful life, so let's leave them to it.

Jobseeker's Allowance or Patience?

If you are part of the rising percentage of people in the UK stuck in unemployment limbo, well then don't worry, it could be worse, you could be living in Merthyr Tydfil. If you want a job, I suggest you DON'T live in Merthyr Tydfil. The National Office for Statistics found that for every unfilled job in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, there were 32.7 claimants.

Compare that to the South East of England where for every unfilled job there are 6 applicants desperately trying to find the job of their dreams...or just that job that will get you lots and lots of money...or will just have to do for now...or the job in between jobs...or...am I boring you yet?

What ever happened to finding the job that made you leap out of bed every morning. The job that gave life meaning. The job that gave the employee a sense of purpose and fulfillment and inspired him or her to move mountains; to change not only their lives but also the lives of others.

I'm sure by now your taking the usual British stance of sarcastic wretching and condescending head shaking ("he's living in a dreamworld, poor boy"). To be honest I don't blame you. Ideology is dead in the modern world. In this mad, preaching writer's opinion, ideology is a myth created by historians to romanticise ancient civilisations as they cruised to greatness. Ancient civilisations that were fathered by great philosophers on a notion of cultural, economical, political and technological improvement.

Modern day culture is dominated by the mainstream school of thought: "just go with the flow". Even acts of "anarchy" are still dominated by a conformist mindset. The riots for instance; if you were to look back on riots in ancient history you would see a romanticised collection of images and stories that portray the collapse of an empire or maybe the fall of tyranny.

It is hard to tell glorious tales of courage and selflessness without conceding that our generation's riots only caused a bigger rift between the classes and seemed to have failed to initiate any sense of change.

We can only hope, as a generation, that in the future a writer with the same shakespearean prowess of Socrates, Virgil, or William himself, will save us with some sweet words of victory and bravery, so that we may be pinned among the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest Civilisations to have ever lived.

I will, however, fall in line with the legions of British wretchers and condescending 'headshakers' that have formed our generation of cynics and, dare I say, 'non-believers'. We lack 'risk-takers'. Brave knights to inspire us. Instead we cling onto the belief that we are sophisticated for being realists.

But who can blame The Jobseeker. The Jobseeker is on an endless quest to find the job of their dreams in a world that condenses opportunity. The variety of career paths is saturated into a small list of service jobs that demands a shadow of the Jobseeker's capabilities.

In short the Society we live in does not offer enough to the 'Seeker'. Many extremely well qualified applicants are missing out on careers that would fulfill their potential and provide them with job satisfaction. Job satisfaction gives the employee a sense of empowerment and will be the main reason for increased worker production. More needs to be done to help Seekers find their ultimate career path. If we continue to fail these Jobseekers we will breed contempt within the citadel walls. Contempt and cynicism will encourage laziness within citizens which will inevitably lead to the fate of all empires: Destruction.