One thing I'd like to point out is that the colours in the poll results are similar between certain games. Zelda 1 did not take the majority vote in "best dungeons," as some people thought. That's on me, though. The footage didn't show every corresponding game. Here are the full results for you to look at! docs.google.com/forms/d/1mW5VcsI30KMAdK4IT29275gNKUkeukKgRgJtTk0Br-Q/viewanalytics Thank you so much for watching, and here's to 2023!
good luck diversifying your portfolio man, your new subscriber will be with you throughout the journey. if you're looking for a starting point, phantom dust is a unique xbox game, it's a cult classic and is criminally underrated. you could look up games that are spiritual succesors to classics, not only zelda i bet videos breaking down the gameplay mechanics on why its fun or why its a choor or why its hell would do you wonders in fact making your own master class on videogame design might be a sweet treat i guess i better stop, you're probably tired of me spit balling last minute ideas to the back of your head, whatever you make I'm sure it'll be gold.
I'm surprised more people don't hate BotW. The lack of dungeons and enemy types make it my least favorite Zelda game maybe ever. I also beat Ganon right away, so none of the puzzle or exploration rewards after that carried any weight at all. Without dungeons or item rewards, is it really a Zelda game? It's a fun sandbox at least.
@@DevI-vl7gp yeah i get it, they focused a little too much on the open world imo, the dungeons we got needed to last longer, i'd dare say make them a gauntlet to the point normal people need to leave midway and restock on weapons and food, i get hinoxes and lynels are bosses in their own right but we need an optional apex in the wilds who is a challenge if you havent got all 4 champions blessings, 60% of the heart containers, royal and savage armaments, simmered hearty durians, maxed out gear, etc, something that keeps us on ege even with the game almost done,
Its crazy how, if you think about it... The name of the game is strangely metaphorical. "A Link Between Worlds." A fascinating cross between the classic Zelda formula, and the more open-ended Zelda of the future.
By that logic, “A Link to the Past” makes a lot of sense too. Not just for being a prequel to Zelda l & ll, but also a precursor to nearly every predecessor’s formula. Master Sword, bottles, Heart Pieces, they all trace back to this game that now gets distanced further and further in to the past
Over the years as I’ve played and replayed all the Zelda games, I honestly feel link between worlds might be my favorite. The gameplay and dungeon design are absolute top notch
totally agree. i still get so existed every time i replay ALBW. it feels like a ride in all the best ways. even though i know what’s coming, i can’t wait to go again.
One thing you didn’t mentioned is how good the 3D effect is and how it helps on some puzzles/platforming. I was blown away, and it was one of the few games which I always put 3D on max
For anyone who doesn't understand, the OoT and MM remakes ran at 30FPS, which while better than the 20FPS they released with on the N64 and GC, wasn't close to the framerate we got with ALBW.
@@_sparrowhawk Stable 30fps is better than anything that's unstable, unless VRR is supported. But I'll take 60fps over 30 any day, as long as image quality isn't _FFVII Rebirth Performance Mode on PS5_ bad. =P
Man you just hit me with a wall of nostalgia at the beginning Almost wanted to shed a tear just remembering the times I played Ocarina of Time with my Dad
Being apart of late Gen Z meant I grew up on Wii U and 3DS games, so whilst not my first Zelda (that was Wind Waker HD), it was one of the earliest Zelda's I played. Because of that, I think I'm a little biased when I say I really like this game, but I can definitely understand the games faults too.
I really enjoyed playing this one on hero mode. Cannot believe this game is turning a decade old, and playing it now won't be the same as streetpass Dark Link battles were everywhere.
@Liam Triforce whenever I play the footrace minigame in a link between worlds, I travel to Lorule and use the bell. Does that make me a cheater? Edit: Yes, if you do so you still win as long as you make it in time.
I never played a link to the past so I had no sense of nostalgia or familiarity with a link between worlds and I loved it so much. Favorite 2d Zelda fs
I 100% agree with you that ALBW's music is some of the best in the entire series! the mix between nostalgia, remixes and fresh new music is absolutely stunning! I also really love the renting mechanic, it gives the player so much choice in terms of money, dungeon choice and risk (if the items are rented and not bought). Plus Ravio is such a fun and well written character.
I agree. I'm not normally a big fan of 2D Zelda. To me the 3D games are just much more interesting. ALBW is the only 2D Zelda that I like and replay just as much as the big 3D titles.
Link Between Worlds must be the game I've replayed the most. It was my first 3ds game, and the 3ds was my first Nintendo console. I have so many fond memories of this game :) Happy New Year everyone
I like the minor puzzle (hidden path only visible in the dark) in the final dungeon that gets you the red mail. It was a nice touch to put an element from one of the previous dungeons in a place nobody would really expect.
Especially since it's for a very powerful item that is not all that necessary. Plus, the blue mail looks really nice with the level 3 master sword, especially in the final boss cutscene, which makes me think it was almost intentional that it's pretty hard to find.
@@GherkinGarboiit’s because the origins Link’s Awakening was built on a grid system where as Link Between Worlds was built from the ground up with full movement in mind
I've been saying this since that game came out. This is a game I have replayed several times, it feels good just to run around through the world. The first time I played the LA remake I was just kind of baffled that the controls felt so much worse. It felt like you were being unnecessarily refined because they didn't take the effort to fully convert the game out of being a game boy game. Compared to the difference between A Link to the Past's controls and A Link Between World's, it feels awful.
ive always prefered the design principle of balancing open world and sturcture in “sectioned open words”. where at first you have like 3 objectives/temples you can tackle in any order that each only require 1 item, and once you get all 3 another like 4 objectives/temples become available that can all assume you have those first 3 items AND can be more complex to boot. And then a final section of like 2-3 objectives/temples where the designers can use the sandbox to its fullest. so basicly dungeons become available in “sections” that balance both freedom of aproach and structured progression. early dungeon design, mid dungeon design, and late dungeon design.
Fun fact: In A Link to the Past, the ice dungeon is a breeze if you tackle the swamp dungeon and get the red cane first. Then you just jump down whenever you want and use the cane to make a block to put on the switch.
Something I thought about while watching: The little textboxes that pop up of "things you forgot to say" make the video feel a bit unfinished or unpolished, as if there wasn't time to add it in. And unfortunaly it's an annoyance when watching to have to pause the video to read, and also listen while you're talking at the same time. Not blaming you for it, I don't know how your conditions were making this video, but it's something I haven't seen much of before in your videos and a room for improvement! Otherwise, great video as always on one of my favorite games! :))
link between worlds was my first zelda game i actually got to play, i grew up watching my brother play skyward sword and twilight princess but i was never allowed to play them cus they were on “his” wii. when i got a 3ds and discovered link between worlds tho, i was finally able to dive into a series that i’ve loved for my entire life. i’ll always have massive nostalgia for that game
I played this game at an extremely pivitol point in my life so I will always cherish the memories I made playing this game. It also helps that this is quite possibly the best 2d zelda that alot of people will never play
I don't mean to be pedantic... but given this is the internet and some one is bound to be, I wanted to have a conversation about something that bugs me... It's not really a "2D Zelda", is it? I would suggest editing your comment to say "Top Down", but it's really not a big deal. I'll be happy to delete my message if you want me to, too. (Hehe... Tutu! 😅) Edit: After a small conversation with Defesche, I've realized that the term 2D Zelda is a blurry one and that's fine. I think it's because it's capturing and expressing the "dynamic feeling" the player experiences within the game, rather than a "technical mechanic". Edit 2: I also restructured my original comment and added, "I wanted to have a conversation about something that bugs me...", because I think I came across as too sure of myself. I also say, "I don't mean to be pedantic" and "it's really not a big deal", but I feel like I still seemed... Full of myself. 😣
@@paulgiddings3258 I'm sorry, do you have an actual question? Otherwise your comment only serves a shallow, social purpose. I guess, you're one of those people who don't think much, before you talk, huh?
@J. Enantiodromia It's 3D graphics, but 2D gameplay, which is what matters here. There is no Z Axis in this. That's why we call Street Fighter a 2D fighter since its X and Y axis only.
@@AxeMain I mean, I get the street fighter thing, but... There literally are three axis of movement in A link Between Worlds. You can essentially jump in the Z Axis, using the weird wind/leaf/wand-thingy. There's also the see-saw things, buttons that you can hit down with the hammer and send you upwards when they pop. There's the times you have to drop down onto moving platforms, and blocks also move Link in the Z axis while he's stuck to them. Puzzles need to be thought out in three dimensions. Some spots that you stick to the wall are "higher" than others, which is meaning there is a third dimension to puzzles solving, objectively... It's like calling Little Big Planet a 2D side-scroller. I mean, sure I'm just being nit-picky, but I don't know. I just find it weird how easily everyone wants to use the label without properly thinking about it. Just thought I'd see what happens if I do mention it.
this is one of my favorite games in the series, even if the dungeons limit their design to only 1 item they're still incredibly well designed dungeons that are really fun and satisfying to explore and solve
i think often the binary of change and stagnation is false one. you can progress while holding on to the core essential of something. And you can keep the same thing while approaching it from another angle. I think nintendo is often very good at this and recognizes this. Not always, some releases are too samy or experimental, but a lot of their REAL gems keeps this balance of new and respect for tradition in mind. And I think that is something important in games AND in peoples personal lives. being open to change and also honoring your roots.
Never before has a game stopped me in my track like the musicians in Kakariko Village. I remember staying a few days at my parent's house, and before heading to bed, I would pay the musicians to play for a good 30 minutes straight.
A Link Between Worlds is hands down my favorite Zelda game in the franchise and my favorite game of all time. It was the first ever Zelda game I was able to beat, I was around 10-11 years old. So this game also holds some nostalgiac value to me as well. It’s just so charming and the art/design of the game is amazing. I’ve been waiting for you to upload a video on ALBW and you did not disappoint!!
It didn't get much attention in the video, but I really liked the energy meter for item use. In Zelda games up to this point, I was never all that keen on the resource management involved with bombs, arrows, magic, etc, especially since I very much had hoarding habits at the time. If I didn't have to use a limited resource for something I could do with my sword, I almost certainly wouldn't, no matter how inconvenient it was. (Shoutouts to Wind Waker Armos enemies.) The energy meter here, being that it regenerates over time and pretty quickly at that, felt liberating as a result. Being allowed to freely take advantage of all my arsenal at any time, with recklessness as the only real limiting factor, was so fun to me. I have several reasons for considering ALBW my favourite pre-BotW Zelda, but this was a big one for sure.
Link between worlds was my first Zelda game I played. I was honestly surprised just how much I loved it and it was a perfect introduction into the series for me. You talk about how the Lttp memory helps a lot but of course I didn’t have that or any nostalgia and it was still a very fun and amazing experience
It is difficult to overstate how much I love this game, easily being among my top 3 Zelda games. And it's also not that easy to see how much change there is in it, looking like the opposite on a surface level due to its connection to ALttP. However, I much agree that its gameplay-loop is incredibly satisfying. The pace is almost entirely dictated by the player and the world is so deeply thought out in that it gives the player freedom and rewards their creativity in a way that is honestly quite amazing. Though I do agree that the game's biggest weakness is its lack of difficulty. And I think this is something the developers really took to heart when designing BotW, because especially in the beginning, that game never messes around.
How crazy it would be if Liam released the Breath of the Wild retrospective on March 3rd, the day of its release. That officially makes the game six years old.
A Link Between Worlds is my favorite Zelda game. It came out the year i graduated college and I’ll never forget my time with while i was working my first job after school. I love BotW but i truly hope someday we get another game like ALBW but on consoles someday.
i listened to this gaming podcast (the besties) go through the entire zelda catalog in a round robin style tournament discussion to decide the best zelda. On one side was all the 3D Zeldas, and on the other all the 2D. On the 2D side, it came down to this very game facing off against its predecessor. I forget which won, but it really could have gone either way and was the matchup that took the longest to decide. I absolutely adore this game. I took it to pieces; I played it all the way through, I played it to full inventory completion, I learned to speedrun the boss rush dungeon; I played the game as a “nuzlocke”, I played it upside down, I learned the speedrun skips, I clipped through the ice temple, I skipped the hand boss, I *found a glitch myself at like 14* just from messing around in-game because gameplay itself is just so fun. Great game.
Dude, I'll keep watching Top-Lists, Theories etc. it never gets old xD It's insane how I am consuming this kind of content for years and I'm still not tired of it.
Yeah it’s a comfort thing, can’t forget about let’s play’s, and ytps though because the funnies for ytps, plus that’s more UA-cam culture than gaming UA-cam stuff.
A Link Between Worlds is my favorite Zelda game of all time. It cuts a lot of the fat that plagued the traditional 3D Zeldas and gives me a pure adventure to get lost in. I actually jumped into a second playthrough after finishing the first, something I rarely do in modern games.
this is my favourite top down Zelda game of all time and I can not fault much of what you said here, I started playing Zelda with OoT so I understand how people wouldn't like the fact you don't get items in dungeons, main ones anyway, but the core gameplay loop is so satisfying and fun that it really doesn't end up mattering to me in the end Great Video, keep up the good work and if you need to change the format at some point I have faith you'll do well :D
So happy to see Link Between Worlds getting so much love. My absolute favorite Zelda and i was 7 years old when the original dropped. One of the most amazing game franchises ever.
Looking forward to watching this one. Hopefully you can put into words my appreciattipn for this game because I can explain why I love it so much! Artstyle, gameplay, dungeons, it's just something. Happy new year, Liam!
I've made it a tradition to watch the new upload, then listening to them when trying to sleep at night. Idk if it works so well because you structure your story telling so well, or because you're just nice to listen to, but my god thank you for your work!! Always love seeing you pop up in my feed
Hey man, love your videos. They’re a part of my work commute. As much as I love your Zelda videos, coming back has been less about the specific game itself and more about the desire to hear your opinions and feelings on something you’ve played. The Sonic and Mario retrospectives are evidence of that. So don’t feel reluctant to branch out to other games in this video style. Just like your love for games go beyond Zelda titles, so does the audience. I’ll still be listening and I can ensure you that others will be as well! On that note, I’d love to hear your feelings for more Mario and Sonic titles, as well as other games, such as Luigi’s Mansion, Donkey Kong Country, etc.
I'm glad Link Between Worlds was my true first Zelda game. It got me super excited and engaged from day one, and only set me up for the greatness that was to follow.
LBW was the first Zelda game I ever played. I remember when I was younger and couldn't sleep, I would boot up the game and head to the milk bar in kakariko, and just listen to the bard there until I got tired enough to fall asleep. Good memories.
28:00 One thing a link to the past does extremely well is guide you to the correct dungeon. You have the feeling you can go anywhere and do anything, but if you pay attention when exploring, you'll find that almost every dungeon has something in- world that prevents you from reaching it without (at minimum) obtaining the special weapon from the previous dungeon (or otherwise defeating it). For example, if you try to skip dungeon one and go straight to dungeon two, you can't because you need the big hammer to knock down the pegs blocking your progress to across the bridge just south east of Gannon's Temple where the final battle is fought. Try to take the dungeons non-linearly and you'll quickly discover that a similar "road block" (by no means always physical, either) will keep you on task and pursuing linear progression even if it feels like you could go 1,3,6,2,4,5 in actuality, you cannot.
Wow the 30sec mark really grabs why Ocarina was so incredible at the time. We went from the little top down 2d game to a Hyrule that immersed you into the experience like it was reality.
I'm really glad I came across you channel before the year ended. Your 3D Sonic video got me hooked and this one cemented my interest in your style of content. I'm really looking forward to everything you got planned for the new year.
at 31:25 it will be sustainable for as long as it needs to until you make that spyro 3 video lol i loved your review of the first two but now i wanna see the third! spyro is what got me into gaming! love your videos bro!
A Link Between Worlds is my most replayed Zelda game and one of my personal favorites, but until a few months ago I hadn't played it in a while. After recently playing through A Link to the Past for the first time, this game was next on my list and this video reflects a lot of my thoughts. I've always been a huge fan of the items in this game and the way you can use them in the overworld, and the way it lets you route your playthroughs to find the treasures in each dungeon, but coming back after ALTTP, it felt a little too open after seeing how that game handled its linearity. I think I still prefer ALBW but the games feel independent enough that I think both warrant coming back to for their own reasons. Great work as always, your thoughts on this series are always excellent. Looking forward to when you cover Breath of the Wild!
I can't believe it's already been nearly 10 years since it came out, it only feels like 5 at most. I guess it's time for a replay of the game again sometime soon.
Ey Liam, I found your channel recently and I've been binging your Zelda videos while I'm at work. It was a very easy sub, and one of the things that made you stand out in the endless river of video essays is your unabashed passion and optimism for the subject matter that manages to maintain a perfectly healthy level of nostalgia. It stands apart from the great deal of cynical content I've come to accept over the years. Your content might have to change as Zelda does, but I'll be here for it. Also now I have to replay all my Zelda games and it's all your fault.
This is another one of the best 2D games ever made. I like The Minish Cap more, but A Link Between Worlds has so much to offer in terms of pure fun I do miss the entertainment of finding items out in the world, but I like the character of Ravio and his bird friend. I guess that's a fair trade And the story, while a bit of a rehash of A Link to the Past, is simple and sweet Sometimes, I wish I could play these games on a home console because I don't play video games outside; but I always get sucked into them, anyway and I forget that I'm playing on a handheld
Your discussion about change near the end made me realize that may have been a reason you made that Sonic video recently. I'm not sure if anyone else realized that was well, but I am interested to see what you do going forward, regardless of what you cover. Also, the timing of this video was perfect, given New Year's resolutions and all. Well done!
Liam, I just love your videos man. The way you script your thoughts, the findings and arguments you present. Just fantastic. Whatever direction you go, however you modify, I'm there. 👊🏽
my favorite zelda game, ever! i recently went back and beat it on hero mode, and it was the most fun i've had with any video game in a while. thanks for this, liam!
Looked through the comments and I had no idea people loved this game as much as I did. Thanks Liam Triforce, for looking into this under-appreciated masterpiece.
it took me a really long time to buy a 3ds, finally getting one in 2020, and the first game that i played through was a link between worlds. it blew my mind how good it was, and now it sits really high on my list of favorite zelda games, with only majora’s mask and links’s awakening ahead of it
Dude I can't WAIT for your BotW retrospective. You are so excellent at this style of video making and I will always enjoy your content. Keep it up Liam!!
Let me preface this by saying I watched the whole thing and do know that Laim did like this game, so what Inam about to say is more a general rant. But I dunno, am I in the minority for thinking that the “criticisms” Liam mentions near the end are not actually real problems with the game itself, but much more emblematic of differences in priority? I can appreciate quite easily that different people like different things… but I feel discussion goes off the rails the moment needlessly strong words with vastly inappropriate connotations are brought into the discussion (for example, saying the game “suffers” for this or that is quite needlessly overstating the point, IMO). So yeah, to clarify, I appreciate when a game is not someone’s cup of tea, and when they prefer this or that element of the Zelda experience over whatever is prioritized in the topic at hand… but I must confess I am finding myself holding much less patience with exaggerations when discussing these things. I mean, does there have to be a “problem” or “suffering” involved with a good game that just prioritizes different things? The closer a comment someone makes gets to the tired mantra of “good game but not a good Zelda game”, the more my hairs bristle…
Keep doing what your doing Liam! I love the way you talk about video games. You put so much passion and emotions into your content. I have the exact same taste in video games as you and when I watch your videos it makes me revisit feelings I feelt as a child playing some of these games for the first time. Doesnt matter what the subjects are realy, music, reviews you name it. I realy hope you will continue making videos becouse you are realy good at it!
I dont see many people talk about this gem. I remember when this game came out. Was still relatively new to Zelda; going on 3 years at that time. I was basically thrust into this series when it was obvious going through some serious transitions. From discovering Ocarina of Time which had remade for the 3DS, my very first Zelda game that stood the test of time and how enamored i was with the world. To beautifully story-driven Skyward Sword was; my first “New” Zelda title, which I loved at the time but now understood there were pitfalls that muddled the game. And to this, where it still had the “structure” of a Zelda game, but was going through a Transition which will soon become Breath of the Wild. The idea that I could go through the whole map on my own in A Link Between Worlds was mind blowing to me, because I never thought it’ll be possible. But that’s what they did. I really liked the renting system they implemented to counteract the non-linearity of the game, and I find the characters to be extremely charming. The main gimmick of that game also really made for some creative puzzle solving. Oh to experience this game again one more time.
One of my favorite Zelda games. I loved the creative user of game mechanics, the art style and especially the game play. A nice comfy 3DS game to play while its raining outside.
5:57 I mean I get why Majora's Mask won the pie chart for storytelling but HOW does Wind Waker only have 7%? And Link's Awakening is barely visible lmao. Awesome video btw, ALBW is my favorite game in the series and I wish Breath of the Wild held true to it, in that, a 3d re-imagination from the roots of ALBW. But we did not get that, per my sadness. edit: Im with you all the way up to 22:50, I find this to be the most replayable Zelda game in the series but that's just imo. Again amazing video that was a fun watch
I personally never understood the problem with Zelda leaning into its own conventions, because... well, to this day, who else does it like Zelda? The semi open world adventure mixed with simple but satisfying combat, brilliant 2D or 3D puzzle box scenarios, creative fairytale-esque theming, and drenched in polish? I think that's uniquely Zelda. That's why despite BotW being amazing and even revolutionary, by leaning more into its open world identity, it felt a bit less unique to me. Anyway, great analysis! A Link Between Worlds really is brilliant, especially in its dedicated implementation of wall-merging!
i think ALBW is one of the most replayable zelda games. and for me, the changes in dungeon approach aren’t bothersome, they’re actually liberating. beyond the one required item, you can take whatever you want into the dungeon. and even though it’s my favorite franchise by far, i’m not as attached to the “zelda formula” as others seem to be. at this point, there are as many zelda games that DON’T follow the formula as those that do! the “zelda formula” for me, is simply the unique sense of adventure imparted by the gameplay, music, and story. nintendo has shown they can achieve this in a variety of ways. ALTTP will always be great, but it need not be the standard for comparison for the series. love your videos and your honesty, Liam!
One thing I'd like to point out is that the colours in the poll results are similar between certain games. Zelda 1 did not take the majority vote in "best dungeons," as some people thought. That's on me, though. The footage didn't show every corresponding game. Here are the full results for you to look at! docs.google.com/forms/d/1mW5VcsI30KMAdK4IT29275gNKUkeukKgRgJtTk0Br-Q/viewanalytics
Thank you so much for watching, and here's to 2023!
You Should pin this coment so that people can more easily find it.
Looking forward to more content in the future!
good luck diversifying your portfolio man, your new subscriber will be with you throughout the journey.
if you're looking for a starting point, phantom dust is a unique xbox game, it's a cult classic and is criminally underrated.
you could look up games that are spiritual succesors to classics, not only zelda
i bet videos breaking down the gameplay mechanics on why its fun or why its a choor or why its hell would do you wonders
in fact making your own master class on videogame design might be a sweet treat
i guess i better stop, you're probably tired of me spit balling last minute ideas to the back of your head, whatever you make I'm sure it'll be gold.
I'm surprised more people don't hate BotW. The lack of dungeons and enemy types make it my least favorite Zelda game maybe ever. I also beat Ganon right away, so none of the puzzle or exploration rewards after that carried any weight at all. Without dungeons or item rewards, is it really a Zelda game? It's a fun sandbox at least.
@@DevI-vl7gp yeah i get it, they focused a little too much on the open world imo, the dungeons we got needed to last longer, i'd dare say make them a gauntlet to the point normal people need to leave midway and restock on weapons and food, i get hinoxes and lynels are bosses in their own right but we need an optional apex in the wilds who is a challenge if you havent got all 4 champions blessings, 60% of the heart containers, royal and savage armaments, simmered hearty durians, maxed out gear, etc, something that keeps us on ege even with the game almost done,
My drunken rant about how much I hate BoTW isn't featured in the poll. Probably for the best.
Its crazy how, if you think about it... The name of the game is strangely metaphorical. "A Link Between Worlds." A fascinating cross between the classic Zelda formula, and the more open-ended Zelda of the future.
By that logic, “A Link to the Past” makes a lot of sense too. Not just for being a prequel to Zelda l & ll, but also a precursor to nearly every predecessor’s formula. Master Sword, bottles, Heart Pieces, they all trace back to this game that now gets distanced further and further in to the past
Over the years as I’ve played and replayed all the Zelda games, I honestly feel link between worlds might be my favorite. The gameplay and dungeon design are absolute top notch
totally agree. i still get so existed every time i replay ALBW. it feels like a ride in all the best ways. even though i know what’s coming, i can’t wait to go again.
Same here brother
oops excited*. i was too excited to type
It has been mine even after playing the ones after it
Honestly this game and the Oracle games are my all time favorite Zelda games
One thing you didn’t mentioned is how good the 3D effect is and how it helps on some puzzles/platforming. I was blown away, and it was one of the few games which I always put 3D on max
I remember after playing this game back when i was in school, i’d look at walls and a part of my brain would say “merge with that one”
Oh, if only 😆
It's so incredible that they managed to make this game look this beautiful and play so well due to it running at 60 fps *_on the Nintendo 3DS!_*
For anyone who doesn't understand, the OoT and MM remakes ran at 30FPS, which while better than the 20FPS they released with on the N64 and GC, wasn't close to the framerate we got with ALBW.
To be fair, ALTBW is much smaller@@unHolyEvelyn
60FPS is not the goal for every game - they just prioritized it because of the 3D effect. 30FPS looks great on most Switch games.
@@_sparrowhawk
Stable 30fps is better than anything that's unstable, unless VRR is supported.
But I'll take 60fps over 30 any day, as long as image quality isn't _FFVII Rebirth Performance Mode on PS5_ bad. =P
I recently discovered your channel and watched all your Zelda videos, so you picked a perfect time to upload a video on my favorite game of all time!
I like watching your videos, I didn't know you were into Zelda so much. Do you like getting into the lore?
@@DragmireXI Absolutely, that's what I love about it
No way
Man you just hit me with a wall of nostalgia at the beginning
Almost wanted to shed a tear just remembering the times I played Ocarina of Time with my Dad
This game was my first Zelda game ever. It’s also the first video I am ever watching of 2023. I love and appreciate you Liam. Happy new year
Same. Technically, I played Zelda 1 first, but this was the first one I actually beat.
Have you played its predecessor?
Being apart of late Gen Z meant I grew up on Wii U and 3DS games, so whilst not my first Zelda (that was Wind Waker HD), it was one of the earliest Zelda's I played. Because of that, I think I'm a little biased when I say I really like this game, but I can definitely understand the games faults too.
I really enjoyed playing this one on hero mode. Cannot believe this game is turning a decade old, and playing it now won't be the same as streetpass Dark Link battles were everywhere.
Great retrospective, I really owe this game a replay
Damn right Johnny
The perfect way to end the year. Thank you for your content. You have such a outstanding take on the whole franchise.
Thank you!
@Liam Triforce whenever I play the footrace minigame in a link between worlds, I travel to Lorule and use the bell. Does that make me a cheater?
Edit: Yes, if you do so you still win as long as you make it in time.
@@LiamTriforce now you need to cover the Philip CDI games
I never played a link to the past so I had no sense of nostalgia or familiarity with a link between worlds and I loved it so much. Favorite 2d Zelda fs
Same I went back and played link to the past afterward on the switch and I absolutely love A Link Between Worlds
Same here, 2nd favorite 2d Zelda game. My favorite is Spirit Tracks
Completely agree with this statement.
I 100% agree with you that ALBW's music is some of the best in the entire series! the mix between nostalgia, remixes and fresh new music is absolutely stunning! I also really love the renting mechanic, it gives the player so much choice in terms of money, dungeon choice and risk (if the items are rented and not bought). Plus Ravio is such a fun and well written character.
A Link Between Worlds has some of the best game design ever. No cap, it's probably the perfect Zelda experience.
I agree. I'm not normally a big fan of 2D Zelda. To me the 3D games are just much more interesting. ALBW is the only 2D Zelda that I like and replay just as much as the big 3D titles.
Link between world prob the best 2D-3D experience for a Zelda game
Loooong time zelda nerd here a i 100 % agree. A link between worlds was honestly easily tied for my favorite zelda game. Its truly a work of art
Even more perfect than Breath of the Wild's?
@javiervasquez625 botw is a very mid zelda game. It was okay, just didnt really feel like a true zelda game.
Link Between Worlds must be the game I've replayed the most. It was my first 3ds game, and the 3ds was my first Nintendo console. I have so many fond memories of this game :) Happy New Year everyone
fr its the perfect length for replayability and i just never get sick of it
I think often that A Link To The Past still looks new. The artstyle and it's technical implementation are perfect.
I like the minor puzzle (hidden path only visible in the dark) in the final dungeon that gets you the red mail. It was a nice touch to put an element from one of the previous dungeons in a place nobody would really expect.
Especially since it's for a very powerful item that is not all that necessary. Plus, the blue mail looks really nice with the level 3 master sword, especially in the final boss cutscene, which makes me think it was almost intentional that it's pretty hard to find.
I played this after the Link’s Awakening remake and was astonished at how much better this was. The full analog control went such a long way
Really don't know why they haven't ported this to switch.
I wish the Link's Awakening remake had analog control over that grid movement.
@@GherkinGarboiit’s because the origins Link’s Awakening was built on a grid system where as Link Between Worlds was built from the ground up with full movement in mind
@@GherkinGarboi yea it would've been a nice change sigh :(
I've been saying this since that game came out. This is a game I have replayed several times, it feels good just to run around through the world. The first time I played the LA remake I was just kind of baffled that the controls felt so much worse. It felt like you were being unnecessarily refined because they didn't take the effort to fully convert the game out of being a game boy game. Compared to the difference between A Link to the Past's controls and A Link Between World's, it feels awful.
ive always prefered the design principle of balancing open world and sturcture in “sectioned open words”.
where at first you have like 3 objectives/temples you can tackle in any order that each only require 1 item, and once you get all 3 another like 4 objectives/temples become available that can all assume you have those first 3 items AND can be more complex to boot. And then a final section of like 2-3 objectives/temples where the designers can use the sandbox to its fullest.
so basicly dungeons become available in “sections” that balance both freedom of aproach and structured progression. early dungeon design, mid dungeon design, and late dungeon design.
Fun fact: In A Link to the Past, the ice dungeon is a breeze if you tackle the swamp dungeon and get the red cane first. Then you just jump down whenever you want and use the cane to make a block to put on the switch.
Something I thought about while watching: The little textboxes that pop up of "things you forgot to say" make the video feel a bit unfinished or unpolished, as if there wasn't time to add it in. And unfortunaly it's an annoyance when watching to have to pause the video to read, and also listen while you're talking at the same time. Not blaming you for it, I don't know how your conditions were making this video, but it's something I haven't seen much of before in your videos and a room for improvement! Otherwise, great video as always on one of my favorite games! :))
link between worlds was my first zelda game i actually got to play, i grew up watching my brother play skyward sword and twilight princess but i was never allowed to play them cus they were on “his” wii. when i got a 3ds and discovered link between worlds tho, i was finally able to dive into a series that i’ve loved for my entire life. i’ll always have massive nostalgia for that game
I played this game at an extremely pivitol point in my life so I will always cherish the memories I made playing this game. It also helps that this is quite possibly the best 2d zelda that alot of people will never play
I don't mean to be pedantic... but given this is the internet and some one is bound to be, I wanted to have a conversation about something that bugs me...
It's not really a "2D Zelda", is it? I would suggest editing your comment to say "Top Down", but it's really not a big deal.
I'll be happy to delete my message if you want me to, too. (Hehe... Tutu! 😅)
Edit: After a small conversation with Defesche, I've realized that the term 2D Zelda is a blurry one and that's fine. I think it's because it's capturing and expressing the "dynamic feeling" the player experiences within the game, rather than a "technical mechanic".
Edit 2: I also restructured my original comment and added, "I wanted to have a conversation about something that bugs me...", because I think I came across as too sure of myself. I also say, "I don't mean to be pedantic" and "it's really not a big deal", but I feel like I still seemed... Full of myself. 😣
@@j.enantiodromia3940what the fuck
@@paulgiddings3258 I'm sorry, do you have an actual question? Otherwise your comment only serves a shallow, social purpose. I guess, you're one of those people who don't think much, before you talk, huh?
@J. Enantiodromia It's 3D graphics, but 2D gameplay, which is what matters here. There is no Z Axis in this. That's why we call Street Fighter a 2D fighter since its X and Y axis only.
@@AxeMain I mean, I get the street fighter thing, but... There literally are three axis of movement in A link Between Worlds. You can essentially jump in the Z Axis, using the weird wind/leaf/wand-thingy. There's also the see-saw things, buttons that you can hit down with the hammer and send you upwards when they pop. There's the times you have to drop down onto moving platforms, and blocks also move Link in the Z axis while he's stuck to them. Puzzles need to be thought out in three dimensions. Some spots that you stick to the wall are "higher" than others, which is meaning there is a third dimension to puzzles solving, objectively...
It's like calling Little Big Planet a 2D side-scroller. I mean, sure I'm just being nit-picky, but I don't know. I just find it weird how easily everyone wants to use the label without properly thinking about it. Just thought I'd see what happens if I do mention it.
The ending of this game makes me cry literally every time
me and my best friend cosplayed zelda and hilda when we were 15 and it was so fun and cool. this game holds a special place in my heart
The only game in the entire franchise that I actually felt engaged with to 100%.
it's odd to me people like this one less then ALTTP, for me it felt like a true upgrade. its so interesting to see different perspectives!
this is one of my favorite games in the series, even if the dungeons limit their design to only 1 item they're still incredibly well designed dungeons that are really fun and satisfying to explore and solve
i think often the binary of change and stagnation is false one. you can progress while holding on to the core essential of something. And you can keep the same thing while approaching it from another angle.
I think nintendo is often very good at this and recognizes this. Not always, some releases are too samy or experimental, but a lot of their REAL gems keeps this balance of new and respect for tradition in mind.
And I think that is something important in games AND in peoples personal lives. being open to change and also honoring your roots.
Never before has a game stopped me in my track like the musicians in Kakariko Village.
I remember staying a few days at my parent's house, and before heading to bed, I would pay the musicians to play for a good 30 minutes straight.
A Link Between Worlds is hands down my favorite Zelda game in the franchise and my favorite game of all time. It was the first ever Zelda game I was able to beat, I was around 10-11 years old. So this game also holds some nostalgiac value to me as well. It’s just so charming and the art/design of the game is amazing. I’ve been waiting for you to upload a video on ALBW and you did not disappoint!!
It didn't get much attention in the video, but I really liked the energy meter for item use. In Zelda games up to this point, I was never all that keen on the resource management involved with bombs, arrows, magic, etc, especially since I very much had hoarding habits at the time. If I didn't have to use a limited resource for something I could do with my sword, I almost certainly wouldn't, no matter how inconvenient it was. (Shoutouts to Wind Waker Armos enemies.) The energy meter here, being that it regenerates over time and pretty quickly at that, felt liberating as a result. Being allowed to freely take advantage of all my arsenal at any time, with recklessness as the only real limiting factor, was so fun to me.
I have several reasons for considering ALBW my favourite pre-BotW Zelda, but this was a big one for sure.
Love the introduction, it was magic.
Link between worlds was my first Zelda game I played. I was honestly surprised just how much I loved it and it was a perfect introduction into the series for me. You talk about how the Lttp memory helps a lot but of course I didn’t have that or any nostalgia and it was still a very fun and amazing experience
That intro was emotional. Amazing job!
It is difficult to overstate how much I love this game, easily being among my top 3 Zelda games. And it's also not that easy to see how much change there is in it, looking like the opposite on a surface level due to its connection to ALttP. However, I much agree that its gameplay-loop is incredibly satisfying. The pace is almost entirely dictated by the player and the world is so deeply thought out in that it gives the player freedom and rewards their creativity in a way that is honestly quite amazing.
Though I do agree that the game's biggest weakness is its lack of difficulty. And I think this is something the developers really took to heart when designing BotW, because especially in the beginning, that game never messes around.
How crazy it would be if Liam released the Breath of the Wild retrospective on March 3rd, the day of its release. That officially makes the game six years old.
This was like expecting a Scott the woz episode early March after the Christmas special it’s just unrealistic.
A Link Between Worlds is my favorite Zelda game. It came out the year i graduated college and I’ll never forget my time with while i was working my first job after school. I love BotW but i truly hope someday we get another game like ALBW but on consoles someday.
i listened to this gaming podcast (the besties) go through the entire zelda catalog in a round robin style tournament discussion to decide the best zelda. On one side was all the 3D Zeldas, and on the other all the 2D. On the 2D side, it came down to this very game facing off against its predecessor. I forget which won, but it really could have gone either way and was the matchup that took the longest to decide. I absolutely adore this game. I took it to pieces; I played it all the way through, I played it to full inventory completion, I learned to speedrun the boss rush dungeon; I played the game as a “nuzlocke”, I played it upside down, I learned the speedrun skips, I clipped through the ice temple, I skipped the hand boss, I *found a glitch myself at like 14* just from messing around in-game because gameplay itself is just so fun. Great game.
I just got this game a few days ago, and I'm not that far into the game but I can already tell that it's an amazing game.
Dude, I'll keep watching Top-Lists, Theories etc. it never gets old xD It's insane how I am consuming this kind of content for years and I'm still not tired of it.
Yeah it’s a comfort thing, can’t forget about let’s play’s, and ytps though because the funnies for ytps, plus that’s more UA-cam culture than gaming UA-cam stuff.
A Link Between Worlds is my favorite Zelda game of all time. It cuts a lot of the fat that plagued the traditional 3D Zeldas and gives me a pure adventure to get lost in. I actually jumped into a second playthrough after finishing the first, something I rarely do in modern games.
this is my favourite top down Zelda game of all time and I can not fault much of what you said here, I started playing Zelda with OoT so I understand how people wouldn't like the fact you don't get items in dungeons, main ones anyway, but the core gameplay loop is so satisfying and fun that it really doesn't end up mattering to me in the end
Great Video, keep up the good work and if you need to change the format at some point I have faith you'll do well :D
So happy to see Link Between Worlds getting so much love. My absolute favorite Zelda and i was 7 years old when the original dropped. One of the most amazing game franchises ever.
Looking forward to watching this one. Hopefully you can put into words my appreciattipn for this game because I can explain why I love it so much! Artstyle, gameplay, dungeons, it's just something. Happy new year, Liam!
I've made it a tradition to watch the new upload, then listening to them when trying to sleep at night.
Idk if it works so well because you structure your story telling so well, or because you're just nice to listen to, but my god thank you for your work!! Always love seeing you pop up in my feed
Hey man, love your videos. They’re a part of my work commute. As much as I love your Zelda videos, coming back has been less about the specific game itself and more about the desire to hear your opinions and feelings on something you’ve played. The Sonic and Mario retrospectives are evidence of that. So don’t feel reluctant to branch out to other games in this video style. Just like your love for games go
beyond Zelda titles, so does the audience. I’ll still be listening and I can ensure you that others will be as well!
On that note, I’d love to hear your feelings for more Mario and Sonic titles, as well as other games, such as Luigi’s Mansion, Donkey Kong Country, etc.
I'm glad Link Between Worlds was my true first Zelda game. It got me super excited and engaged from day one, and only set me up for the greatness that was to follow.
ALBW was my first Zelda. And it has a warm spot in my heart
i’m so so glad someone finally made a video on it, this is probably my favorite zelda game, if not my favorite game ever!
LBW was the first Zelda game I ever played. I remember when I was younger and couldn't sleep, I would boot up the game and head to the milk bar in kakariko, and just listen to the bard there until I got tired enough to fall asleep. Good memories.
I always cry during your Zelda videos so this is not new but the intro fr had me in tears
This is by far my favorite and my childhood
28:00 One thing a link to the past does extremely well is guide you to the correct dungeon. You have the feeling you can go anywhere and do anything, but if you pay attention when exploring, you'll find that almost every dungeon has something in- world that prevents you from reaching it without (at minimum) obtaining the special weapon from the previous dungeon (or otherwise defeating it).
For example, if you try to skip dungeon one and go straight to dungeon two, you can't because you need the big hammer to knock down the pegs blocking your progress to across the bridge just south east of Gannon's Temple where the final battle is fought. Try to take the dungeons non-linearly and you'll quickly discover that a similar "road block" (by no means always physical, either) will keep you on task and pursuing linear progression even if it feels like you could go 1,3,6,2,4,5 in actuality, you cannot.
Wow the 30sec mark really grabs why Ocarina was so incredible at the time. We went from the little top down 2d game to a Hyrule that immersed you into the experience like it was reality.
I'm really glad I came across you channel before the year ended. Your 3D Sonic video got me hooked and this one cemented my interest in your style of content. I'm really looking forward to everything you got planned for the new year.
Link Between Worlds is in my top five Zelda games. It's one of three I can replay and still have a ton of fun.
at 31:25 it will be sustainable for as long as it needs to until you make that spyro 3 video lol i loved your review of the first two but now i wanna see the third! spyro is what got me into gaming! love your videos bro!
The 3D Mario Video, the 3D Sonic Video, the Minish Cap, now this.....Liam Triforce you've been on damn fire!
A Link Between Worlds is my most replayed Zelda game and one of my personal favorites, but until a few months ago I hadn't played it in a while. After recently playing through A Link to the Past for the first time, this game was next on my list and this video reflects a lot of my thoughts. I've always been a huge fan of the items in this game and the way you can use them in the overworld, and the way it lets you route your playthroughs to find the treasures in each dungeon, but coming back after ALTTP, it felt a little too open after seeing how that game handled its linearity. I think I still prefer ALBW but the games feel independent enough that I think both warrant coming back to for their own reasons.
Great work as always, your thoughts on this series are always excellent. Looking forward to when you cover Breath of the Wild!
Thank you for making this! I grew up on Zelda games and a link between worlds was the first Zelda game I played but almost no one talks about it
Just started getting in to your videos about yesterday. And just my luck you post a fire video about my FAVORITE Zelda game. Keep up the good work!!
I can't believe it's already been nearly 10 years since it came out, it only feels like 5 at most.
I guess it's time for a replay of the game again sometime soon.
Ey Liam, I found your channel recently and I've been binging your Zelda videos while I'm at work. It was a very easy sub, and one of the things that made you stand out in the endless river of video essays is your unabashed passion and optimism for the subject matter that manages to maintain a perfectly healthy level of nostalgia. It stands apart from the great deal of cynical content I've come to accept over the years. Your content might have to change as Zelda does, but I'll be here for it.
Also now I have to replay all my Zelda games and it's all your fault.
This is another one of the best 2D games ever made. I like The Minish Cap more, but A Link Between Worlds has so much to offer in terms of pure fun
I do miss the entertainment of finding items out in the world, but I like the character of Ravio and his bird friend. I guess that's a fair trade
And the story, while a bit of a rehash of A Link to the Past, is simple and sweet
Sometimes, I wish I could play these games on a home console because I don't play video games outside; but I always get sucked into them, anyway and I forget that I'm playing on a handheld
Your discussion about change near the end made me realize that may have been a reason you made that Sonic video recently. I'm not sure if anyone else realized that was well, but I am interested to see what you do going forward, regardless of what you cover. Also, the timing of this video was perfect, given New Year's resolutions and all. Well done!
Liam, I just love your videos man. The way you script your thoughts, the findings and arguments you present. Just fantastic. Whatever direction you go, however you modify, I'm there. 👊🏽
The most beautiful opening in the medium of UA-cam videos I've ever witnessed. Great work!
I LOVE THIS GAME I bought it when it came out, and i have 100 percented it 4 times, 3 times in normal mode and one in Hero mode
my favorite zelda game, ever! i recently went back and beat it on hero mode, and it was the most fun i've had with any video game in a while. thanks for this, liam!
Looked through the comments and I had no idea people loved this game as much as I did. Thanks Liam Triforce, for looking into this under-appreciated masterpiece.
it took me a really long time to buy a 3ds, finally getting one in 2020, and the first game that i played through was a link between worlds. it blew my mind how good it was, and now it sits really high on my list of favorite zelda games, with only majora’s mask and links’s awakening ahead of it
Dude I can't WAIT for your BotW retrospective. You are so excellent at this style of video making and I will always enjoy your content. Keep it up Liam!!
Just found your channel. Love your videos so much. Watched several others all the way through so far. Your my new favorite : )
Just wanna say, HotCyber, you did a phenomenal job on this thumbnail. Can’t stop gawking at it when it passes my recommended
Bro that fkn into dude. That shit went hard. I've played so many, if not all of those games. Shit makes me emotional tbh, God damn
The opening was so long and got me so chill that when you finally spoke, I got startled and went "UGH!!!" and I scared my upstairs neighbor.
Thanks for the video on this game, Liam. Happy New Year!
This was my first Zelda game ever and i enjoyed it a lot
Liam Triforce your videos are some of my favorite to watch after a long day, it’s fun to reflect and wherever your channel goes, it’ll be incredible!
Best and most fair Zelda experience out there. Also the most replayable. Love its freedom and creativity.
My favourite game of all time, this video is gonna be an absolute blast!
21:29 I love this mini game due too the fact on how you learn to play it
Great video as always. On a seperate note Link to the Past is absolutely a timeless classic and easily one of the best entries in the series.
yess. this is one of my favorite zelda games, so happy to see you made a video on it :-)
Awesome way to start the year!
Thanks for the video.
Let me preface this by saying I watched the whole thing and do know that Laim did like this game, so what Inam about to say is more a general rant. But I dunno, am I in the minority for thinking that the “criticisms” Liam mentions near the end are not actually real problems with the game itself, but much more emblematic of differences in priority?
I can appreciate quite easily that different people like different things… but I feel discussion goes off the rails the moment needlessly strong words with vastly inappropriate connotations are brought into the discussion (for example, saying the game “suffers” for this or that is quite needlessly overstating the point, IMO).
So yeah, to clarify, I appreciate when a game is not someone’s cup of tea, and when they prefer this or that element of the Zelda experience over whatever is prioritized in the topic at hand… but I must confess I am finding myself holding much less patience with exaggerations when discussing these things. I mean, does there have to be a “problem” or “suffering” involved with a good game that just prioritizes different things? The closer a comment someone makes gets to the tired mantra of “good game but not a good Zelda game”, the more my hairs bristle…
Keep doing what your doing Liam! I love the way you talk about video games. You put so much passion and emotions into your content. I have the exact same taste in video games as you and when I watch your videos it makes me revisit feelings I feelt as a child playing some of these games for the first time. Doesnt matter what the subjects are realy, music, reviews you name it. I realy hope you will continue making videos becouse you are realy good at it!
I dont see many people talk about this gem. I remember when this game came out. Was still relatively new to Zelda; going on 3 years at that time. I was basically thrust into this series when it was obvious going through some serious transitions. From discovering Ocarina of Time which had remade for the 3DS, my very first Zelda game that stood the test of time and how enamored i was with the world. To beautifully story-driven Skyward Sword was; my first “New” Zelda title, which I loved at the time but now understood there were pitfalls that muddled the game. And to this, where it still had the “structure” of a Zelda game, but was going through a Transition which will soon become Breath of the Wild. The idea that I could go through the whole map on my own in A Link Between Worlds was mind blowing to me, because I never thought it’ll be possible. But that’s what they did. I really liked the renting system they implemented to counteract the non-linearity of the game, and I find the characters to be extremely charming. The main gimmick of that game also really made for some creative puzzle solving. Oh to experience this game again one more time.
Thank You for this video bro! Was questioning myself if I wanted to buy this masterpiece to play for the first time! All the best for this New Year!
This was my first zelda and definitely in my top 3! I’ve been waiting for you to cover it!
So this means we still need to save Marin from being trapped as a seagull forever ?
324 days remaining till
One of my favorite Zelda games.
I loved the creative user of game mechanics, the art style and especially the game play. A nice comfy 3DS game to play while its raining outside.
5:57 I mean I get why Majora's Mask won the pie chart for storytelling but HOW does Wind Waker only have 7%? And Link's Awakening is barely visible lmao. Awesome video btw, ALBW is my favorite game in the series and I wish Breath of the Wild held true to it, in that, a 3d re-imagination from the roots of ALBW. But we did not get that, per my sadness.
edit: Im with you all the way up to 22:50, I find this to be the most replayable Zelda game in the series but that's just imo. Again amazing video that was a fun watch
i really loved how the wallmasters were used during some of the dungeons, i always rly like the concept of utilizing the enemies for puzzle splving :D
I personally never understood the problem with Zelda leaning into its own conventions, because... well, to this day, who else does it like Zelda? The semi open world adventure mixed with simple but satisfying combat, brilliant 2D or 3D puzzle box scenarios, creative fairytale-esque theming, and drenched in polish? I think that's uniquely Zelda. That's why despite BotW being amazing and even revolutionary, by leaning more into its open world identity, it felt a bit less unique to me.
Anyway, great analysis! A Link Between Worlds really is brilliant, especially in its dedicated implementation of wall-merging!
One of my favourite Zelda ever! Period! I love every part of it!
Favorite 2d zelda game and 2nd favorite in the series. Good to see a video on this channel.
i think ALBW is one of the most replayable zelda games. and for me, the changes in dungeon approach aren’t bothersome, they’re actually liberating. beyond the one required item, you can take whatever you want into the dungeon. and even though it’s my favorite franchise by far, i’m not as attached to the “zelda formula” as others seem to be. at this point, there are as many zelda games that DON’T follow the formula as those that do! the “zelda formula” for me, is simply the unique sense of adventure imparted by the gameplay, music, and story. nintendo has shown they can achieve this in a variety of ways. ALTTP will always be great, but it need not be the standard for comparison for the series. love your videos and your honesty, Liam!