Minish Cap Origin

Lore & Background

Centuries before the present story, the Picori (Minish) bestowed a young hero with the Picori Blade and the Light Force to trap Hyrule's evils in a chest. Legends stated that every 100 years, a door would open allowing the Picori to return. In this timeline, the Minish Cap takes place between Skyward Sword and Four Swords, making it the second story in that sequence. The narrative reveals that Ezlo was once a Minish sage who created the Mage's Cap to grant wishes until his apprentice Vaati stole it. Fascinated by evil, Vaati used the cap's power to trap Ezlo inside it and sought the Light Force, which is passed down through Hyrule's princesses. This history establishes the creation of the Four Sword and the curse that defines Vaati's character.

In Their Own Story

At the Picori Festival, sword-fighting champion Vaati destroys the Picori Blade and opens the sealed chest, releasing monsters across Hyrule. Finding no Light Force, he turns Princess Zelda to stone and leaves. King Daltus orders Link to find the Minish, as only children can see them, to reforge the blade. In Minish Woods, Link meets Ezlo, who grants him the ability to shrink to Minish size. Link must retrieve four magic stones called the Four Elements to restore the Picori Blade into the Four Sword. As Link progresses, Vaati brainwashes King Daltus and takes control of Hyrule Castle. After Link infuses the elements into the blade, he learns the Light Force resides in Zelda. Vaati siphons this power from her, transforming into a demonic form at the castle. Link confronts and vanquishes Vaati, restoring Ezlo to his sage form. Finally, Zelda uses the Mage's Cap to undo all damage, destroying the cap in the process before Ezlo departs through the Minish door.

Reader's Guide

The gameplay centers on exploring an overworld and completing dungeons while acquiring new items like the Mole Mitts for digging, the Gust Jar for sucking up objects, and the Cane of Pacci to flip items. A core mechanic involves shrinking Link via portals to access small areas inaccessible at normal size; conversely, normal obstacles like puddles become impassable barriers when tiny. Players can collect broken Kinstone fragments and match them with others to progress or win prizes. The story begins in Hyrule Town, where the perspective shifts as Link shrinks, turning the city into a dungeon-like environment. Link must gather the Four Elements from various regions to reforge the Picori Blade. After restoring Zelda, the final confrontation takes place in Dark Hyrule Castle against Vaati, who has absorbed the Light Force.

Did You Know?

• The game was released in Europe before North America to serve as a 'killer app' for the Nintendo DS launch, whereas Nintendo of America delayed it to avoid cannibalizing the new handheld market.
• A special promotion included only 25,000 limited edition Triforce Game Boy Advance SP consoles, which were matte gold with a stamped Triforce logo.
• The Gust Jar was inspired by a gourd from the novel Journey to the West that can suck up anything.
• GameSpot named The Minish Cap the 2005 Game Boy Advance Game of the Year, while IGN ranked it as the 20th best GBA game.
• Link's shrinking ability is an extension of the Gnat Hat function found in Four Swords, allowing him to shrink into a gnat-sized form.