Past Present Future: Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda was first introduced in Japan in 1986 and later in the United States (1987). Considering the game play of 1987 it was quite astonishing. It provided an interesting variety of puzzles, adventures and action play which had not previously been seen in games. There are a lot of specialists in the gaming business that look at this game as leading the future of today’s games.

The Legend of Zelda is an intense fantasy, action-adventure computer game series that was invented by game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and developed and published by Nintendo. During the game you are taken on an adventure that includes a combination of action, adventure, puzzle solving, and role-playing.

The Legend of Zelda series has sold over 52 million copies since the game was first released. The Legend of Zelda still remains as one of the best selling games worldwide. The series consists of fourteen official games on all of Nintendo’s main consoles, as well as many spin-offs.

The Legend of Zelda games feature a mixture of puzzles, strategic action, adventure/battle gameplay, and exploration. These elements have remained constant throughout the series, but with refinements and additions featured in each new game. The player is frequently rewarded for solving puzzles or exploring areas. Most Zelda games involve locating and exploring dungeons, in which puzzles are solved and enemies fought, then defeating the dungeon’s boss. Each dungeon usually has one major item inside, which is usually essential for solving many of the puzzles in that dungeon and often plays a crucial role in defeating that dungeon’s boss. Some items are consistent and appear many times throughout the series, while others are unique to a single game. The series also consists of stealth game play, where the player must avoid enemies while proceeding through a level, as well as racing elements.

The Legend of Zelda series has an extremely deep story that includes hours of game play. Not only does it have an in depth story it also has a strong back story.

The central character is Link, who is also the main playable character. Link is often in charge of saving Princess Zelda. Link’s main task is to save Princess Zelda from the evil Ganon who takes Princess Zelda into his evil hands. As you seek to save Princess Zelda you have to collect the broken pieces of the Triforce that are scattered throughout Hyrule. The story of Link has transformed over the years and been told in a different way for every generation. Who knows what the new generation will bring?

Game inventors have had to reinvent The Legend of Zelda over and over. The game is now available on the NES and Wii. When Nintendo first introduced the Famicom (NES) in 1983 it had the most effective hardware available although gaming wise they were single screen, arcade style diversions. There was no gaming company that used new technology to provide gamers with the gaming experience that a console could. It was Donkey Kong inventor Shigeru Miyamoto who helped design The Legend of Zelda.

It is amazing to look back over history and see how far The Legend of Zelda has evolved. There is even a 3D platforming version of Link, in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. In Ocarina of Time the story delves more deeply into the legendary Triforce and how it came to exist. Ganondorf is part of the game again, seizing complete power through strength, deception, and the 3rd of the Triforce that is Power. This time Hyrule needs saving and the story starts with the central character Link.

Pricess Zelda has powerful magical gifts including the gift of prophesy. As the game series advanced, Zelda was in the position of knowing the future but not being able to change it. In Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Zelda is a young girl who wants to save the world and joins up with Link, but does not succeed in saving the world. During act two of the game, Zelda is depicted as seven years older and has the disguise of the warrior Sheik. Princess Zelda provides Link with cryptic clues and shows off her flexible battle skills.

In The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Link can obtain a magical suit of golden armor that prevents him from receiving damage. The problem exists that when he wears it, the money in his wallet gets gradually less, each time he is hit he loses more money. When his Rupees eventually run out, the armor gets heavier and this makes his moves slow and difficult.

The Legend Of Zelda games are a legend in themselves. There is also a new adult Zelda that was inspired by the adult part of Ocarina of Time. The Legend Of Zelda offers gamers a wide flexibility of game play with the ability to build larger worlds the more you play. As well as being a great game The Legend of Zelda is well known for its use of music. Kōji Kondō created the music for most of the series and has been noted as being the greatest legend of the video game audio industry. The Legend of Zelda was also made into a cartoon and a comic. There are a few CD-i games and LCD games. There are a few Legend of Zelda games that never got released due to a variety of reasons.

In the future Link could have the capability to travel to all kinds of places. Maybe Princess Zelda will die and be sent to heaven where Link joins her and their adventures continue flying through clouds and swimming through oceans. Perhaps all the bad guys can be sent to hell and you have the opportunity of playing as evil Ganon trying to make his way to heaven, but being put through battles with demons. Link’s weapons could be transformed. Instead of a bow there could be modernly designed pistols. The Lens of Truth could be a designer pair of sunglasses and his horse a top designer sports car that is fueled by water. Young Link could get a brand new pair of Rollerblades. Perhaps there could even be a baby Link with nappies that fire out his poop. There are endless possibilities for the future of The Legend of Zelda. Long live the legend!

Look out for lots more ‘Past Present Future’ articles in the near future.

- Yiazmat