So, I found myself with a bit of extra time on my hands lately. You know how it goes, one project wraps up and suddenly you’re staring at the wall wondering what to do with your evenings. My usual routine felt stale, and I was itching to do something, anything, just to make my brain cells fire in a different pattern for a change. I wasn’t looking for another big commitment, just a little something to tinker with.
And that’s when the weirdest idea popped into my head. Cody Rhodes. And The Legend of Zelda. Yeah, I know, sounds like a fever dream, right? But the thought just sort of lodged itself in there and wouldn’t leave. I’m a fan of both, in very different ways, and my brain, in its infinite wisdom, decided they needed to meet. Don’t ask me why, these things just happen when you’re trying to avoid doing chores, I guess.
Figuring Out What to Actually Do
My first thought was, what kind of monstrosity am I even trying to create here? I tossed a few ideas around in my head.
- Maybe some kind of fan art? Like, Cody as a Hylian Champion? Seemed a bit much for a quick project.
- A custom action figure? Definitely biting off more than I could chew. Too much sculpting, too much painting. My patience isn’t what it used to be.
- Then it hit me: pixel art. Something small, manageable. I used to mess around with that stuff ages ago.
So, pixel art it was. Cody Rhodes, but make him fit into a classic Zelda-style world. The “American Nightmare” in Hyrule. The absurdity alone made me chuckle, so I figured, why not? I grabbed my old tablet and fired up Aseprite, which I hadn’t touched in a good while.
Getting Down to Brass Tacks (and Pixels)
I started by trying to get a basic sprite down. The first big hurdle was his look. Cody’s got a very distinct appearance, the blonde hair, the suit, the tattoos. Trying to translate that into a tiny grid of pixels without it looking like a mess was tougher than I thought. That neck tattoo? Nightmare fuel in 16×16. I spent a good hour just trying to get a head shape that didn’t look like a potato.
Then I had to decide on the Zelda aesthetic. Link to the Past? Minish Cap? Wind Waker? I leaned towards the Super Nintendo era, that classic top-down look. It felt right for this kind of silly crossover. I sketched out a few poses. Obviously, I had to try his “WOAHHH!” entrance pose. That was a must.
Another thing was the gear. Does he get a Master Sword? Or does he just bring a steel chair to a Ganon fight? I decided to keep it simple, maybe him in his ring attire, but with a slightly more adventurous vibe. Perhaps a simple tunic over his wrestling gear, dyed in his signature colors. I played around with making a little Cross Rhodes animation, just a few frames. That took way longer than I’m willing to admit. Each pixel placement felt like a monumental decision. My eyes were definitely feeling it after a couple of hours staring at that screen.
What I Ended Up With
So, after a few evenings of fiddling, what did I actually make? Well, I’ve got a decent little sprite of Cody Rhodes, Zelda-style. He’s got his blonde hair, a hint of his “Kingdom” tattoo on his chest (the neck one was a lost cause at this scale), and he’s standing there, looking vaguely heroic, or at least ready for a promo.
I even managed a super short, janky walk cycle animation. It’s not going to win any awards, that’s for sure. It’s rough, it’s a bit silly, but you know what? It was fun. It was a good way to just switch off and do something utterly pointless but strangely satisfying. It’s not like I’m going to make a whole fan game out of it. Or maybe I will, who knows? Stranger things have happened.
For now, he just lives on my hard drive, a testament to a weird idea and a few free evenings. Kept me out of trouble, I suppose. Now I’m wondering who’s next. Maybe Ganondorf in a WWE ring? The possibilities are endless and equally ridiculous.
