Key Takeaways
- Nintendo supposed The Legend of Zelda collection to be particular person legends with acquainted parts.
- It by no means deliberate for a canon timeline as evidenced by the advanced and retroactive timeline.
- Followers ought to give attention to having fun with every recreation’s deserves as a substitute of making a convoluted timeline.
The Legend of Zelda was a groundbreaking recreation for a lot of causes, chief amongst them its skill to present gamers the sensation of being on an actual journey. Whereas it could appear quaint, and even barren and fundamental, by right now’s requirements, the land of Hyrule packed onto that NES cartridge felt like a complete fantasy world ready to be explored. The story wasn’t greater than a handful of sentences within the instruction guide and primarily served to present a little bit of context so that you can exit and create your individual narratives. This was adopted up by a direct sequel, however after that, the collection has virtually solely segmented its chapters. Only some key parts, corresponding to Hyperlink, Zelda, Ganon, Hyrule, and a few races, enemies, and managers can reappear in numerous varieties.
As a result of there are simply sufficient traces of continuity between video games, followers have been arguing and debating a few true Zelda timeline for many years. Ultimately, Nintendo itself even gave in and launched the Hyrule Historia, full with the whole timeline of occasions as much as that time. Nevertheless, that would solely fulfill followers for a short time now that extra Zelda video games have come out, and there are positive to be extra on the way in which, which have reignited debates about what recreation goes the place and what invalidates what. The reality is, Nintendo by no means wished there to be an official Zelda timeline and it has lengthy since stopped being a enjoyable thought train.
If speculating on the Zelda timeline brings you real happiness, do not let me cease you.
It’s known as The Legend of Zelda for a purpose
Nintendo by no means supposed for it to be related
Whether or not or not it was deliberate that far upfront or not, I consider Nintendo determined to dub this collection with “The Legend of” speaks to its intentions with the franchise. Every recreation, besides when particularly acknowledged to be in any other case, is one other legend utilizing acquainted thematic parts. Hyperlink is the stoic and brave hero, Zelda the clever and selfless ruler, and Ganon the embodiment of greed and lust for energy. How these items work together and play off each other and the world modifications with every entry to present you a contemporary expertise whereas remaining acquainted and cozy like an outdated bedtime story.
The skinny threads that tie a few of these entries collectively point out a retroactive timeline fairly than an intentional one.
If the title wasn’t proof sufficient that Nintendo by no means wished there to be a canon timeline, all we have now to do is take a look at the one it will definitely acknowledged. What firm, Nintendo or in any other case, would ever craft a collection that splits not simply as soon as, however twice into three alternate branches of occasions working parallel to at least one one other? I am not saying advanced timelines cannot be carried out nicely or be attention-grabbing to comply with, however the skinny threads that tie a few of these entries collectively point out a retroactive timeline fairly than an intentional one. I can not say this with absolute certainty, however every thing about how Nintendo operates factors to it placing all of its vitality into creating one of the best particular person Zelda recreation potential and never caring whether or not or not it is smart for the Zora to seem similtaneously the Rito or one thing.
Had Nintendo modified its thoughts in regards to the timeline post-Hyrule Historia and did need to put some significance on the timeline, then why did not it? A number of followers have been stumped attempting to determine when and the way Tears of the Kingdom can match into the present timeline with no assist from Nintendo. In truth, the most recent “replace” to the official Zelda timeline proven off at a Nintendo Dwell occasion in 2024 did not even try to fit Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom into the timeline, however as a substitute sectioned them off into their very own little pocket.
Becoming a sq. peg right into a spherical gap
We’re specializing in the unsuitable issues
Nintendo
I perceive the urge to theorycraft and see what puzzle items slot in a collection like Zelda, however at this level, we’re far past it being a enjoyable dialogue. I might level to the second it was agreed upon that the timeline cut up in three that we moved past connecting dots and commenced twisting logic to pressure some type of cohesion, nevertheless potential. We should always simply be having fun with every recreation by itself deserves, recognizing these acquainted parts or what they’re with out extrapolating wider implications for a convoluted timeline.
For those who do discover some pleasure in attempting to make an entire image utilizing items from 10 completely different puzzles, do not let me inform you how you can really feel. Nevertheless, I might say most of us would get pleasure from a brand new Zelda recreation if we took it for what it was: One potential telling of the legend.
