In 1966, Nintendo made a toy which was an extendable contraption designed to pick up things from a distance. It was named – The Ultra Hand. Just in case you were wondering where the name for Link’s new power in TotK likely comes from.
This is what it looked like.
by tehsax
39 Comments
naynaythewonderhorse
Likely? No, absolutely.
DinkleDonkerAAA
This is the same franchise that has an item called the power glove it’s 100% intentional
RockD79
Gunpei invented the first grabber.
DarthScruf
Gluben grabber is what my dad called them
13zath13
There was also a weird commercial for the Wii grilling game based on the Ultra hand
I think it was called Ultra Hand Grill Off
chocotripchip
Only the English version of the game uses that name for the ability though, this was probably Nintendo of America thinking they were being funny.
VidE27
It is not an exaggeration to say that without this contraption Nintendo won’t be where it is today.
thechickenpriest
That exact toy is also used in Splatoon 3 by the girl Harmony who runs the locker decoration store, which is designed to look like a toy store.
I love how Nintendo knows how to make fun callbacks. Little Easter eggs for you to discover. It’s like when you find out how they came up with the name Mario.
chunk337
I actually own one of thse
waetherman
That’s some good lore. I just started playing TOTK and thought the name was a little weird. Still not sure whether I like the game though.
mytavance
Back in the day there was a Wii game with this that you got for being with club Nintendo. That was fun as hell for 30 mins.
Anomalous_90
No way! Will this cause life to lag around me when I use it too?
GreenBasterd69
Now Presenting: LOG!
Melchiah_III
Can Ultrahand let me pick up stuff while I’m riding a horse, please?
Hangmanned
I recall a lot of people calling it out when they revealed Link’s abilities, really nice reference.
44problems
Weren’t there games that used this in WarioWare too?
Realshow
I wish I could get one of these, it actually looks like a great novelty.
Alaraasakk
oh, thought that ultrahand sounded awful, it doesn’t feel zelda or nintendo of nowadays at all and sounds wannabe cool, something that japanese marvel would use lol
but the name being from 60s explains that perfectly, maybe I should hate it just a little bit less
dekuweku
Designed by Game Boy , Game & Watch lead designer and the head of R&D 1 Gunpei Yokoi.
RIP.
pinkedu
Interesting! Probably unrelated, but I’m also thinking how Link’s name makes so much sense with this game since he’s linking/connecting stuff all the time in TotK lol
zenith654
Wasn’t there a game with this in Nintendo Land too?
UrPokemon
I genuinely thought it was because it was a “master” level artifact but unrelated to the master sword so they called it “ultra”.
This makes more sense though.
Babel1027
The guy who invented this toy, is also responsible for Metroid and the gameboy and a number of Nintendo products. Nintendo is STILL a toy company.
jameslosey
So that’s the link
siltanator
Let’s not forget the predecessor from Twilight Princess.
The rod of domination.
Silence9999
Very cool. I remember my grandparents having one in their basement in the 80s. Never knew Nintendo made it.
dray_mingala
This makes me so happy. I new about Ultrahand and grill off but that was good archived memory. So happy they named it that in Totk 😉
jw13
Reminds me of the “1000 Fold Arms” in Paper Mario Origami King.
The-Foxineer
Extremely common Gunpei Yokoi W
Ecto_Phasm
Don’t submit fandom links.
MurderIsRelevant
Looks like the tool in Link’s Awakening.
Guitarbox
Umm helloo?? The amount of times I imagined this product and wished I had it at that moment??
darthcoder
Still blows my mind nintendo is like 130 years old.
Carter0108
It can be seen in Mark Kart 8 holding up the raised section of Mario Kart Circuit GBA.
ShhImTheRealDeadpool
Ultra Hand is my tether grab on a Waluigi Smash Bros movekit.
Professor_Poptart
One of the microgames in the original Warioware uses the Ultra Hand.
ColdFusion363
I think it’s amazing that Nintendo is commemorating their past as a toy company. And there is a lot more to dig in. Like Nintendo used to make instant rice cookers, a taxi company….or when Nintendo used to but really briefly operate love hotels.
ExactResolution1399
NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THAT I DINT KNOW WHAT IM SUPPOSED TO DO?…..
39 Comments
Likely? No, absolutely.
This is the same franchise that has an item called the power glove it’s 100% intentional
Gunpei invented the first grabber.
Gluben grabber is what my dad called them
There was also a weird commercial for the Wii grilling game based on the Ultra hand
I think it was called Ultra Hand Grill Off
Only the English version of the game uses that name for the ability though, this was probably Nintendo of America thinking they were being funny.
It is not an exaggeration to say that without this contraption Nintendo won’t be where it is today.
That exact toy is also used in Splatoon 3 by the girl Harmony who runs the locker decoration store, which is designed to look like a toy store.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuBTjEl1uyf3bHNkc89jBxQPE6kPCg10g4Cg&usqp=CAU
I love how Nintendo knows how to make fun callbacks. Little Easter eggs for you to discover. It’s like when you find out how they came up with the name Mario.
I actually own one of thse
That’s some good lore. I just started playing TOTK and thought the name was a little weird. Still not sure whether I like the game though.
Back in the day there was a Wii game with this that you got for being with club Nintendo. That was fun as hell for 30 mins.
No way! Will this cause life to lag around me when I use it too?
Now Presenting: LOG!
Can Ultrahand let me pick up stuff while I’m riding a horse, please?
I recall a lot of people calling it out when they revealed Link’s abilities, really nice reference.
Weren’t there games that used this in WarioWare too?
I wish I could get one of these, it actually looks like a great novelty.
oh, thought that ultrahand sounded awful, it doesn’t feel zelda or nintendo of nowadays at all and sounds wannabe cool, something that japanese marvel would use lol
but the name being from 60s explains that perfectly, maybe I should hate it just a little bit less
Designed by Game Boy , Game & Watch lead designer and the head of R&D 1 Gunpei Yokoi.
RIP.
Interesting! Probably unrelated, but I’m also thinking how Link’s name makes so much sense with this game since he’s linking/connecting stuff all the time in TotK lol
Wasn’t there a game with this in Nintendo Land too?
I genuinely thought it was because it was a “master” level artifact but unrelated to the master sword so they called it “ultra”.
This makes more sense though.
The guy who invented this toy, is also responsible for Metroid and the gameboy and a number of Nintendo products. Nintendo is STILL a toy company.
So that’s the link
Let’s not forget the predecessor from Twilight Princess.
The rod of domination.
Very cool. I remember my grandparents having one in their basement in the 80s. Never knew Nintendo made it.
This makes me so happy. I new about Ultrahand and grill off but that was good archived memory. So happy they named it that in Totk 😉
Reminds me of the “1000 Fold Arms” in Paper Mario Origami King.
Extremely common Gunpei Yokoi W
Don’t submit fandom links.
Looks like the tool in Link’s Awakening.
Umm helloo?? The amount of times I imagined this product and wished I had it at that moment??
Still blows my mind nintendo is like 130 years old.
It can be seen in Mark Kart 8 holding up the raised section of Mario Kart Circuit GBA.
Ultra Hand is my tether grab on a Waluigi Smash Bros movekit.
One of the microgames in the original Warioware uses the Ultra Hand.
I think it’s amazing that Nintendo is commemorating their past as a toy company. And there is a lot more to dig in. Like Nintendo used to make instant rice cookers, a taxi company….or when Nintendo used to but really briefly operate love hotels.
NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THAT I DINT KNOW WHAT IM SUPPOSED TO DO?…..