That’s not to say that adults cannot enjoy the more family-oriented games as well. Games such as Super Smash Bros. Melee for the GameCube, in which up to four players choose characters from a variety of Nintendo games and go head-to-head in combat, are wildly popular amongst adults as well as children, and have even spawned a number of clubs across the US. Square-Enix’s Final Fantasy series, acclaimed for its ground-breaking graphics, beautiful music scores by composer Nobuo Uematsu, and excellent storylines, is rated T for teens and is also a top-seller, with adults making up, if not a majority, then at least a good chunk of its fan base. The Legend of Zelda series, which I’ve been rediscovering lately with Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker, is a signature series of Nintendo dating back to the early days of NES and continues to be a favorite amongst gamers new and old for its wonderful feeling of adventure and exploration.

As an avid game player, anime fan, and an adult, I’ve frequently been asked if my interests do not seem childish, or even told straight out by others that “anime and video games are for children.” (Sidenote: are children such unintelligent entities that an adult should be ashamed to enjoy things that children enjoy as well?) All I can say is, take a good look at what’s out there before you judge. Both games and anime have evolved at a remarkable pace in the past ten years, and continue to improve each year as the fan base rapidly expands. At the rate the game industry has grown, it would have been industrial suicide to cater only to that minority of the population, children, and the market has grown to accommodate people of all ages. And for those of you who have told me that, as an adult, I’m too old to be enjoying video games… well, what’s the point in being grown up if I have to force myself to give up things I still love and enjoy?

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to return to Hyrule and rescue Princess Zelda. Again.