2What Makes a Zelda Game Th ere are many thing that defi ne a Zelda game but there is no outline of rules that say a Zelda game must have these things in order to be considered a true Zelda experience If that were the case then Nintendo would break its own rules oft en But here are many elements that appear in almost every Zelda game The Characters and World Link Th e star the hero and the character everyone thinks is named Zelda Despite being the main character the game is not named aft er him which has caused confusion since the release of the 8 This book is not authorized sponsored endorsed or licensed by Nintendo of America Inc and other company names and or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identifi cation purposes only
The Legendary World of Zelda original Zelda 30 years ago He’s a skilled warrior problem solver and frequently a skilled musician He is oft en represented as an orphan without family but sometimes he does have a caretaker in the form of an uncle grandmother or some other family member or friend He is rarely seen without his green tunic and hat sword and shield He represents the Triforce of Courage and has never had a voice outside of the grunts and shouts that accompany combat and movement His name is meant to represent a connection between the player and the world He is the link that connects the player to the game His name however can be chosen by the player Whatever name players enter in the beginning the game is the one non-player characters will use when referring to him Zelda Zelda is the focus of Link’s journey He must save Zelda In the early games Zelda was not much more than a damsel This book is not authorized sponsored endorsed or licensed by Nintendo of America Inc and other company names and or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identifi cation purposes only 9
The Legendary World of Zelda in distress As the storytelling of the games consoles and technology improved however she has become more than just a woman waiting for her hero While Link has basically worn his famous green outfi t since the beginning Zelda’s look has changed quite a bit over the years She oft en wears a crown and a pink dress but in Th e Legend of Zelda Th e Wind Waker she was actually a pirate princess and didn’t look like royalty at all In Th e Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Zelda adopts a secret identity and helps Link throughout the game without him realizing who she is until the end Shigeru Miyamoto has said that he borrowed Zelda’s name from the wife of author F Scott Fitzgerald Zelda Fitzgerald She represents the Triforce of Wisdom Ganon Sometimes his name is Ganon sometimes his name is Ganondorf sometimes he is a pig beast sometimes he is a 10 This book is not authorized sponsored endorsed or licensed by Nintendo of America Inc and other company names and or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identifi cation purposes only
The Legendary World of Zelda human that turns into a giant pig beast He’s not the villain in every Zelda game but he usually is even if that isn’t clear until the very end He represents the Triforce of Power and stealing Zelda is always part of the process toward acquiring the Triforce His form changes from game to game but he usually wears dark clothes and has red hair Even when he takes on his pig beast form he usually retains his red hair His characterization and voice in the games is usually limited to threats against Link or talking about his plans Oft en he is the only male of the Gerudo tribe of women In addition to his Ganon or Ganondorf name on at least one occasion he had the last name Dragmire He is also sometimes referred to as Great King of Evil or the Dark Lord Epona Link’s faithful horse Epona has appeared in many Zelda adventures In her fi rst appearance in Ocarina of Time Link This book is not authorized sponsored endorsed or licensed by Nintendo of America Inc and other company names and or trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective companies and are used for identifi cation purposes only 11
