Princess Zelda

Last updated
Princess Zelda
The Legend of Zelda character
Link to the Past Zelda.png
First appearance The Legend of Zelda (1986)
Created by Shigeru Miyamoto
Portrayed byDiane Burns ( Zelda's Adventure )
Voiced by
In-universe information
Alias
Race Hylian
Origin Hyrule

Princess Zelda [lower-alpha 5] is a character in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto for the original 1986 game The Legend of Zelda . As one of the central characters in the series, she has appeared in the majority of the games in various incarnations. Zelda is the elf-like Hylian princess of the kingdom of Hyrule, an associate of the series protagonist Link, and bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom.

Contents

Zelda's role has often been that of a damsel in distress or donor who assists Link. In many games, she is captured by the antagonist Ganon, necessitating Link to come to her rescue. In several games she is one of the Sages whose heroism is essential to defeating Ganon; in others, like Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker , she adopts alternative personas to take a more active role in the story. In Skyward Sword , she is established as the mortal reincarnation of the goddess Hylia, which gives her incarnations a range of magical powers.

Zelda has been described as one of the most recognisable princesses in video gaming. She has appeared in branded merchandise, comics and manga, and an animated television series. In addition to The Legend of Zelda series, she has appeared as a playable character in a number of spin-off games and other game series, including Hyrule Warriors , Cadence of Hyrule and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity . She also appears as a playable character in the Super Smash Bros. series. Critics have responded positively to her development into a strong female character and have listed her as one of the greatest female video game characters of all time.

Concept and creation

Characterisation

According to Shigeru Miyamoto, co-creator of The Legend of Zelda series, Princess Zelda's name was inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald, an American novelist, dancer, and socialite, as well as the wife of fellow novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. Miyamoto had decided to name the first game "The Legend of X", but did not know what the X would stand for. He said that a public relations planner had suggested the name when proposing an illustrated story for the game involving the rescue of a princess who was defined as an eternal beauty. [1] Miyamoto explained: "I couldn't really get behind the book idea but I really liked the name Zelda. I asked him if I could use it, and he said that would be fine. And that's where the title The Legend of Zelda was born." [2]

Zelda was established as a princess in the first game, with few details given about the Royal Family of Hyrule until later games. She is a princess in most games except in Skyward Sword , which takes place before the founding of Hyrule Kingdom. Like Link, there are multiple incarnations of Princess Zelda in the series who are all connected by The Legend of Zelda timeline, which spans thousands of years of fictional history. Each version of Princess Zelda is a descendant of the first who founded the royal line and Hyrule. [3] The instruction booklet for Zelda II: The Adventure of Link establishes that Zelda's name reoccurs because the prince of the kingdom orders that "every female child born into the royal household shall be given the name Zelda". [4]

Zelda's identity was concealed as Sheik in Ocarina of Time SheikZelda.png
Zelda's identity was concealed as Sheik in Ocarina of Time

In Ocarina of Time , Zelda's role was expanded by giving her an alter ego as a surviving member of the Sheikah clan named Sheik (シーク, Shīku). To hide from Ganondorf and protect the Triforce of Wisdom, she disguises herself as a ninja warrior. During the game, she acts as a guide and helps Link on his quest to defeat Ganondorf until near the end of the game when she reveals herself to be Zelda. [5] Sheik's gender was the subject of debate, with some fans believing that Zelda transforms herself into a male character in Ocarina of Time. Nintendo senior product marketing manager Bill Trinen responded that Sheik is a woman: "simply Zelda in a different outfit". [6] In 2016, Miyamoto revealed in an interview that the development team had considered the possibility of producing a spin-off game with Sheik as the protagonist. [7] A game starring Sheik was reported to be in development at Retro Studios but was eventually cancelled. [8]

Zelda appears as a pirate named Tetra in The Wind Waker TetraZelda.png
Zelda appears as a pirate named Tetra in The Wind Waker

Another alter ego of Zelda named Tetra (テトラ, Tetora) was introduced in The Wind Waker and its Nintendo DS sequel, Phantom Hourglass . Like Sheik, she plays a major role in the storyline as a young pirate captain who helps Link to find his sister, Aryll. In this incarnation, Zelda is unaware of her royal bloodline until the end of the game. [9] Her true identity is revealed when the Triforce of Wisdom is restored, which results in her physical transformation to her princess form. [3] The Phantom Hourglass follows on from The Wind Waker with Link and Tetra exploring the sea. Tetra is captured on a ghost ship, and Link must defeat the monster Bellum to save her. [10] In a 2011 interview with GamesRadar+ , series producer Eiji Aonuma commented on the possibility of Tetra reappearing within the Zelda series: "Personally, I really like the character, but the director on the DS games after that, Mr. Iwamoto, said he didn't really like her, so he didn't want to use her". [11]

Zelda was given a more active role in Spirit Tracks by adventuring alongside Link in spirit form, which made a sharp contrast to her damsel in distress role in earlier installments. Aonuma explained that this decision reflected the desires of fans and developers alike. A survey conducted in the United States signified consumers preferred more independent female characters, including Zelda's alter-egos Sheik and Tetra. Director, Daiki Iwamoto, also expressed an interest in making Zelda "a more integral part of the game" during the game's development. [12]

The character's significance within the mythology of the series was expanded further in Skyward Sword, where Zelda is established as the mortal reincarnation of the goddess Hylia, a recurring deity worshipped by the Hylians that appears in statue form. [9] Aonuma said that his team had been looking at how to portray Zelda more as the title character rather than just a princess to be rescued and wanted to give her an active role in the story. He also said that by establishing a connection between Zelda and Link, it helps the player to be better immersed in the adventure. [11]

Aonuma said that for Breath of the Wild , Zelda was designed to be "complex and multifaceted". [13] He said that he wanted players to "explore and see these different sides of Zelda, different emotions that she evokes". [14] During development, the team briefly considered giving Zelda the lead role as female protagonist. [15] Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi said that in Tears of the Kingdom her character development is a key aspect of the narrative: "She's going through growth, experiencing things, and ultimately figuring out what kind of a person she's going to be." [16] In 2023, Aonuma said that Nintendo was open to giving Zelda a starring role in the future if it best served the gameplay. [17]

Character design

Zelda was depicted in promotional artwork for the original The Legend of Zelda video game as a princess wearing a pink gown. Fc zelda.jpg
Zelda was depicted in promotional artwork for the original The Legend of Zelda video game as a princess wearing a pink gown.

Official artwork created for the original game depicted the character dressed in a long pink gown wearing a necklace and tiara. [18] Artwork for Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was similar and depicted her with red hair. [19] For the development of A Link to the Past , Zelda was originally designed wearing a sci-fi themed outfit to correspond with an early multi-world game concept, but this was eventually scrapped. [20] For Ocarina of Time her royal dress was designed with a tabard featuring the Sheikah coat of arms and the Hyrule royal family crest. [21]

In the anime-inspired video game The Wind Waker, Tetra's hair was designed as a swirl to mimic the wind and smoke in the game. Her alter ego contrasts with Zelda's traditional appearance in the game as princess wearing long hair and royal dress. [22]

During the development of Twilight Princess illustrator Yusuke Nakano tried to portray the princess as a pensive character, "as if she's wondering about something". He drew illustrations of Zelda with feelings of "hopelessness and anxiousness", but tried to avoid depicting her and Link "too full of gloom and doom". [23]

In Skyward Sword Zelda was presented as a student of the Knight Academy instead of her usual role as princess. The designers wanted her to look like a "typical village girl" and aimed to "establish her as a heroine". They removed the royal ornamentation from her head and designed her wearing sky blue and a red dress. They also created Zelda in her goddess form, in which she was designed, "dressed simply, and in white". [24]

For the release of Breath of the Wild, a variety of concept art was considered for Zelda's character design. Fujibayashi commented that Zelda's character was the most difficult to define because while the planners had approached her by thinking about what kind of person she is, the designers took a different approach and considered how Zelda's design could make players feel. The team was so concerned that they repeatedly made refinements to her design until the end of development. [25] Alongside various dress designs, Zelda's image was updated to include outfits that showed her ready for combat, including the final blue blouse and pants that complemented Link's primary outfit. [26] Fujibayashi said that Zelda's shorter hairstyle in Tears of the Kingdom was designed to make her feel more realistic, due to being actively mobile while restoring the kingdom after Breath of the Wild. [27]

Portrayal

Patricia Summersett provides Princess Zelda's English voice in Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Tears of the Kingdom. Patricia Summersett (41147117451).jpg
Patricia Summersett provides Princess Zelda's English voice in Breath of the Wild , Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Tears of the Kingdom .

Princess Zelda has been voiced by several voice actors, including Bonnie Jean Wilbur in Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, [28] Brandy Kopp in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Stephanie Martone in Cadence of Hyrule . [29] She is voiced by Canadian-American actress Patricia Summersett in Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity , and Tears of the Kingdom. [29] Zelda has also been voiced by several Japanese actors, including Jun Mizusawa (Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Super Smash Bros. Melee ), [30] Hikari Tachibana ( Four Swords Adventures , The Wind Waker, Hyrule Warriors ), [31] Akane Omae (Spirit Tracks), [32] Ayumi Fujimura ( A Link Between Worlds and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate), [33] Saori Seto (Hyrule Warriors) [34] and Yū Shimamura (Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Tears of the Kingdom). [35] In Zelda's Adventure , she was portrayed by a receptionist at the Viridis Corporation named Diane Burns. [36]

Characteristics

Zelda is a princess and member of the royal family of Hyrule. [3] In the early games, her role is the damsel in distress for Link to save after she is kidnapped by the series main antagonist, Ganon. [37] She bears the characteristic traits of the Hylians, [3] having elfin features including pointy ears. [38] Throughout the series her age has ranged from a child to a young adult who is typically aged 16 or 17 years. [39]

Within the fictional mythology of the series, the first Zelda is the mortal reincarnation of the goddess Hylia. In Skyward Sword, this incarnation of Zelda establishes Hyrule and the bloodline of the Royal Family of Hyrule. Each subsequent incarnation is a direct descendant and possesses the blood of the goddess. [3] Zelda is also associated with Nayru, one of the three Golden Goddesses who create the world in the creation myth of the series. Like Link and Ganon, she is the bearer of one of three components of the Triforce named the Triforce of Wisdom, which gives her the inherent qualities of intelligence and wisdom. In the first game, the Triforce of Wisdom is split into fragments, necessitating Link to retrieve it in order to defeat Ganon. In later games, it manifests itself within Zelda, giving her the ability to conjure light arrows. [40] Most iterations of Zelda have magical powers, such as teleportation, precognition, and the ability to heal. [41]

Throughout the series, Zelda has wielded various weapons. In Twilight Princess she is depicted holding a sword and also fights with a sword in Hyrule Warriors. She is also skilled in the use of a bow, which she uses to shoot light arrows at enemies, such as Ganondorf. [42] In addition to using the Twilight Bow in Twilight Princess, Zelda's signature weapon is the Bow of Light, a recurring legendary weapon in the series. [43]

Relationships

In the mythology of the series, Zelda's role is directly connected to the other two main characters, Link and Ganon. The trio represent the three virtues of the Triforce, a mysterious artifact and prominent icon that is positioned at the heart of the series, with Link embodying Courage, Ganon representing Power, and Zelda possessing Wisdom. [44] Zelda's relationship with Link is ambiguous, with some games, such as Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Ocarina of Time and Spirit Tracks hinting at the possibility of a romantic relationship between the two characters. Skyward Sword placed greater emphasis on a romantic relationship in its storyline, illustrated by Nintendo releasing an official "Romance Trailer" for the game. Aonuma explained that originally he planned to cut out any elements of romance from the game but decided to keep it in: "it wasn't that we wanted to create a romance between Link and Zelda as much as we wanted the player to feel like this is a person who's very important to me, who I need to find". [45]

Appearances

The Legend of Zelda series

Princess Zelda has appeared in most of The Legend of Zelda games, but there have been several games where she does not make an appearance, such as Link's Awakening (1993), [46] Majora's Mask (2000), where she only appears in a flashback, [47] and Tri Force Heroes (2015). [48] Due to being the titular character, it is a common misconception amongst non-players that Zelda is the protagonist of the series, when she is almost always a non-playable character. [49]

Zelda made her debut in the original The Legend of Zelda (1986), where she is kidnapped by Ganon, who seeks to steal the Triforce of Wisdom. Before her capture, she scatters the eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom across the land and sends her nursemaid Impa to find Link, who eventually rescues her. [50] She returns in the sequel, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987), where Link discovers that she has been cursed into an eternal slumber and can only be revived by the Triforce of Courage. [50] Link breaks the curse by retrieving the Triforce and use its power to awaken her. [51] Zelda rewards Link with a kiss at the end of the game. [45] In A Link to the Past (1991), Zelda is one of seven maidens descended from sages who sealed away Ganon during the Imprisoning War, a battle fought against Ganon's army. [51] After being kidnapped by the dark wizard Agahnim, she telepathically pleads with Link to rescue her. After, she and the other maidens assist Link in breaking the seal on Ganon's tower so that Link may defeat the villain. [52] Zelda initially appears as a child and later as an adult in Ocarina of Time (1998). Suspicious of Ganondorf's intentions, she sends Link on his quest to open the door to the Sacred Realm to obtain the Master Sword and Triforce. When Ganondorf reveals his wicked intentions, Zelda flees Hyrule Castle and goes into hiding, giving Link the Ocarina of Time. Seven years later, she poses as a mysterious Sheikah named Sheik and guides him on his quest to save Hyrule's Sages from Ganondorf. [52]

In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages (2001), Zelda only appears after inputting a secret code that is obtained upon completion. [53] After sensing danger in the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna, she sends her handmaiden Impa to protect Din and Nayru, the Oracle of Seasons and Ages, respectively. In the full linked game, Zelda is captured by Twinrova, who plans to sacrifice her in order to resurrect Ganon, but Link intervenes and defeats him in the final boss battle. [54] Four Swords (2002) presents Princess Zelda as one of many descendants protecting the seal on the Four Sword. While taking Link to the Four Sword Sanctuary, which seals the evil sorcerer Vaati, she senses the seal's power is diminishing and is captured by Vaati, who takes her to his Palace of Winds to marry her. She is again rescued by Link and they seal Vaati away. [52] Zelda's incarnation in The Wind Waker (2002) is unaware of her royal identity and lives as the pirate captain Tetra. [9] When Link's younger sister Aryll is kidnapped by the Helmaroc King, she agrees to help him explore the islands with her pirate crew. [50] Ganondorf discovers Tetra's true identity when the Triforce of Wisdom is repaired. [55] In the final boss battle against Ganondorf, she assists Link by using his bow to shoot arrows of light. [56] In Four Swords Adventures (2004), Zelda fears Vaati's return and attempts to reseal him. While doing so, Dark Link captures Zelda and her six maidens. To save them, Link uses the Four Sword but accidentally frees Vaati. [57] After Link rescues Zelda, Ganon is revealed to be behind the plan. Following Vaati's defeat, Zelda helps Link to defeat Ganon by giving him the Magic Bow. [58]

In The Minish Cap (2004), Zelda is petrified by Vaati, who shatters the Picori Blade and breaks the seal, allowing evil to spread across Hyrule. Link is tasked with saving Zelda by restoring the Picori Blade. [59] Twilight Princess (2006) centers around the Twilight King Zant's invasion of Hyrule, where Zelda is forced to surrender. When Link is transformed into a wolf by the Twilight Realm's power, he and his companion Midna work together to free Hyrule by first defeating Zant and then Ganondorf. [60] Zelda appears as one of the game's bosses, having been possessed by Ganondorf's dark magic. [61] In the final boss battle, she accompanies Link on horseback and helps him in combat by stunning Ganondorf with Light Arrows. [62] Phantom Hourglass (2007) continues Zelda's storyline as Tetra. When she is turned to stone and kidnapped by a Ghost Ship, Link jumps overboard and is rescued by a fairy named Ciela. In order to save Tetra, he must sail with Ciela and a sea captain named Linebeck to find the guardians of Power, Wisdom, and Courage. [63] In Spirit Tracks (2009) Zelda meets Link at his graduation ceremony as a railroad engineer. After being attacked by villainous Chancellor Cole, her spirit is separated from her body and she accompanies Link on his quest. [64] Spirit Tracks features Zelda as a playable cooperative character. In her spirit form, she can possess Phantom Knights and perform various tasks to help Link restore the Spirit Tracks. [65]

Though not a princess in Skyward Sword (2011), Zelda is presented as the reincarnation of the goddess Hylia and a close childhood friend to Link. When she is spirited away in a tornado conjured by the demon lord Ghirahim, Link travels to the Surface and reunites with her after opening the Gate of Time. Ghirahim drags Zelda to the past and uses her power to release the antagonist Demise to change past events. After Link defeats Demise in battle, he and Zelda remain on the Surface to establish Hyrule Kingdom. [66] In A Link Between Worlds (2013), Zelda entrusts the Pendant of Courage to Link when the sorcerer Yuga begins capturing the descendants of the Seven Sages. After Yuga turns Zelda into a painting and casts her into the dying world of Lorule, Link follows him into Lorule to rescue Zelda and the sages. [52] Princess Hilda of Lorule conspires with Yuga to steal the Triforce of Wisdom and Triforce of Courage to save her own kingdom, but eventually makes amends by returning Link and Zelda to Hyrule, where they use the Triforce to restore Lorule. [67]

In the backstory of Breath of the Wild (2017), Zelda's story is revealed in a series of Link's memories. When Calamity Ganon attacks Hyrule using ancient Sheikah machinery, Zelda awakens her sacred power while protecting Link, sending him to the Shrine of Resurrection and sealing Calamity Ganon and herself in Hyrule Castle. After a century, she awakens Link and in the final battle, gives him the Bow of Light to defeat Dark Beast Ganon. [68] [69] In the sequel, Tears of the Kingdom (2023), Zelda and Link accidentally awaken Ganondorf beneath Hyrule Castle, where she consequently falls into an abyss and disappears into the distant past. In the time of the Zonai, she meets Hyrule's first king Rauru and his wife Sonia, who help her to use her sacred power to restore the decayed Master Sword. Aware of Ganondorf's threat, she sacrifices herself by swallowing a Secret Stone, transforming into the Light Dragon, which provides her with the immortality to return the Master Sword to Link. [70] After Ganondorf's defeat, she is transformed back into a Hylian by the power of time and light. [71]

Spin-off games

Zelda appears in three CD-i games based on The Legend of Zelda series, which were developed out of an agreement between Philips and Nintendo to use Zelda characters on the CD-i console. In Link: The Faces of Evil (1993), she is kidnapped by Ganon and has to be rescued by Link. [72] In Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993) and Zelda's Adventure (1994), Princess Zelda is the protagonist and must save Link. [73] [74] Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon is noteworthy as the first time that Zelda appeared as a playable character. [75] Having been developed with little input from Nintendo, the games have been criticised for their poor story, gameplay and animation and are not recognised by Nintendo as canon. [76]

Zelda is a playable character in Hyrule Warriors (2014) and, according to the game's producer Yosuke Hayashi, was designed to be a stronger character with the feeling of a ruler. [77] Her weapons include a rapier, baton and also the Dominion Rod, which was made available as downloadable content. Sheik is also a playable character and wields daggers and a harp. [78] In addition to her Hyrule Warriors incarnation, Tetra and Toon Zelda (her incarnation from Spirit Tracks) appear in Hyrule Warriors Legends [79] and were added to Hyrule Warriors as downloadable content. [80] [81]

In the rhythm game Cadence of Hyrule , which was released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch, players can choose to play through the game as either Link or Zelda. The game is a crossover between Crypt of the NecroDancer and The Legend of Zelda series. Zelda has a magical shield to protect her and can use Link's weapons, such as the hookshot and boomerang. [82]

A spiritual successor to Hyrule Warriors, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity , was released in 2020 and designed as a prequel to Breath of the Wild. Princess Zelda is one of several characters from Breath of the Wild that appears as a playable character and fights using the Sheikah Slate and a bow. [78]

Other game series

Zelda was introduced in the Super Smash Bros. series as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee and has appeared in every subsequent game. In Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl , Zelda possesses the ability to transform into Sheik. In Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate , they are separate characters. [5] In Melee her design was based on her Ocarina of Time incarnation, while in Brawl it was based on her appearance in Twilight Princess. The Twilight Princess incarnation of Zelda returned in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. [83] In Ultimate, Sheik's design took inspiration from the Sheikah Set in Breath of the Wild and her final smash is the Sheikah Dance. [84] Zelda's design is based on her appearance in A Link Between Worlds and her final smash is the Triforce of Wisdom. [85]

Television series

A set of The Legend of Zelda cartoons aired from 1989 to 1990 as a part of DiC's The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. It was loosely based on the original game and centres on Link, Zelda, Ganon and a fairy named Spryte, and also features Zelda's father, King Harkinian. Thirteen episodes were produced before the cancellation of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. Although Zelda is sometimes captured by Ganon, she is depicted as a smart, resourceful character. The series also emphasises a romantic relationship between Link and Zelda, in which Link is always begging Zelda for a kiss. [86] Zelda was voiced by Cyndy Preston in the TV series. [87] Writer Phil Harnage thought that Zelda's characterisation was ahead of its time and a role model for girls. He said that rather than being a Disney Princess, Zelda was an "action hero in her own right". Preston said that she portrayed Zelda as an independent woman: "She didn't need a hero to save her, and that was so cool". [88] Zelda and Link also appear in season 2 of Captain N: The Game Master. [89]

Comics and manga

Shortly after the release of the first game, a companion manga book was published by Wanpaku Comics in September 1986. "The Hyrule Fantasy" manga was released in Japan and follows the same plot as the game with an expanded role for Zelda. [90] In 1986, a Choose Your Own Adventure style of manga was published, The Legend of Zelda: The Mirage Castle. Published entirely in Japanese, the manga features playing as Zelda and some scrapped concepts, including Zelda's father named King Graham II. [91] Zelda also appears in a similar manga book published in 1992, The Legend of Zelda: The Triforce of the Gods, which is based on A Link to the Past. [92] A comic series published in the early 1990s by Valiant Comics was based on the adventures of Zelda and Link. Like The Legend of Zelda animated television series, which was being aired around the same time, it involves Link attempting to get a kiss from Zelda. [93] A serial comic by manga author Shotaro Ishinomori was originally published in 1992 in Nintendo Power magazine and later collected in graphic novel form. It was based on The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and tells an alternate version of the events. It was reprinted as a single volume in 2015 by Viz Media. Other manga adaptations of The Legend of Zelda games have also been published, including Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time, The Minish Cap and Phantom Hourglass, which are illustrated by Akira Himekawa. [94]

Gamebooks

Alongside Link, Zelda appears in several Nintendo gamebooks. The Crystal Trap and The Shadow Prince were published in 1992, which were written in the style of Choose Your Own Adventure books. The Crystal Trap focuses on Zelda freeing Link from the trap, while The Shadow Prince involves Link saving Zelda. [95]

Merchandise

Zelda has been reproduced in the form of figurines and plush toys. [96] [97] Various amiibo have been released since 2014 depicting her in several incarnations. Two amiibo of Zelda and Sheik were released for the Super Smash Bros. series in 2014 and 2015. Several amiibo of Zelda have been released for the Zelda series, including the Wind Waker incarnation, the Breath of the Wild incarnation and Zelda and loftwing from Skyward Sword. [98] In November 2023, an amiibo for Tears of the Kingdom depicting Zelda holding the Master Sword was released. [99]

Reception and legacy

Critics and gamers consider Zelda to be a significant video game character in popular culture. The book Female Action Heroes described Zelda as "perhaps one of the most well-known princesses in video game history", though acknowledged that her role in the games was to serve as a damsel in distress. [100] In 2009, she was voted the third greatest female character in games on Nintendo systems by the Official Nintendo Magazine , which appreciated her as "a strong woman who, with her sword and bow and arrow, is capable of holding her own in a fight". [101] In 2016, Digital Spy ranked her as one of the "most iconic female game characters of all time". [102] In 2018, readers of Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition voted her as one of the top video game characters of all time. [103] Readers of the Japanese publication Famitsu chose her as their favourite Tears of the Kingdom character in 2023. [104] Alex Huebner of iMore said that she is a "badass", illustrated by her various alter egos as a fighter in disguise, a pirate leader and a goddess. [105] Ozzie Mejia, writing for Shacknews , chose Zelda as one of the best characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, emphasising her increased speed and dash attack with additional knockback. He also praised her character development within the Zelda series for developing from a passive princess to a strong heroine. [106] Eric Ravenscraft of Wired commented that despite not being the playable character in the mainline series, Zelda is often the driving force behind the story as the embodiment of wisdom and light, and opined that Link is "simply the sword Zelda wields". [107]

Zelda's character development in Ocarina of Time was praised by Richard George and Audrey Drake of IGN , who commented that it was the first time in the series that she was given more depth. They particularly enjoyed seeing her develop from a carefree child to the warrior Sheik as a result of the game's time shifts. [108] Maddy Myers writing for The Mary Sue considered Zelda and Sheik to be two halves of a flawed, complex character, but felt that the game "doesn't seem to respect her much". [109] The Wind Waker was a highlight for Chad Concelmo of Destructoid , who commented on its rare gaming moment of creating a plot reveal in which the pirate Tetra is revealed to be Zelda, which was considered particularly rewarding due to the notoriously repetitive nature of the Zelda series. [55] Tetra was recognised by The Guardian as one of 30 "interesting female game characters", with the comment, "Tetra demands respect and gets it". [110] When reviewing Spirit Tracks, Abbie Stone of GamesRadar praised Zelda's role as a ghost that can possess enemies, as it places her in the position of co-lead throughout the game, and opined that this proves "action and femininity aren't mutually exclusive". [111] Oli Welsh of Eurogamer commented that for most of the game she fulfils a similar role to Navi or Midna by providing hints and comments, but praised the close romance between her and Link that replaces her usual position as a distant ideal. [112] Tom Mc Shea writing for GameSpot focused on the "endearing rapport" between Zelda and Link in the story of Skyward Sword, noting that rather than being a damsel in distress, Zelda is presented as Link's equal and that both characters must make a sacrifice. [113] Jonathan Holmes writing for Destructoid highlighted a particular scene in Skyward Sword in which Zelda communicates her love for Link through her eyes and body language, describing it as "beautiful" and opined that Nintendo had made it an unforgettable moment. [114]

Zelda's updated design, character development and prominent story arc in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild received widespread praise from critics. Zelda (character).png
Zelda's updated design, character development and prominent story arc in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild received widespread praise from critics.

Speaking for Nintendo Life , Alex Olney appreciated the human traits and flaws displayed by Zelda in Breath of the Wild and considered this to be her best incarnation, citing the pressure of her responsibilities, her determination to protect her kingdom and Link, her strength and power, and her ability to match Calamity Ganon and restrain him for 100 years. [115] Gita Jackson writing for Kotaku considered her blue adventuring outfit to be a "cool departure from the norm" of the traditionally pink Hylian princess and illustrated her prominent story arc within the game. [116] Madeline Carpou of The Mary Sue listed her Breath of the Wild incarnation as one of the most inspiring female characters in video games, stating that although she is "a living representation of the people's salvation" and struggles under the pressure of expectation, she refuses to give up on her responsibilities. [117] Laura Dale of Syfy expressed delight at having the ability to play as Zelda throughout the entirety of Cadence of Hyrule, despite not being an official Zelda title. She said that exploring dungeons and fighting enemies as Zelda felt "absolutely awesome" and was made more enjoyable for a female gamer due to having something in common with the hero. [82] Patricia Hernandez writing for Polygon said that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity had transformed Zelda into a "total badass" and a capable fighter, which was particularly welcome after seeing her lamenting her inability to contribute more to the fight against Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild. [118]

Steve Watts of GameSpot felt that the story in Tears of the Kingdom belongs to Zelda, not only because she is the focus of the main quest line, but also because the mystery of discovering her location slowly unravels throughout the game and leads to an "incredible, stirring revelation". [119] He also praised the game for inverting the story trope of Link being the prophesied hero and making Zelda the strategist who makes him the hero by helping him in the distant past, thereby being the author of the prophecy. [120] Zelda's story in Tears of the Kingdom was particularly praised by Matthew Byrd of Den of Geek , who described it as an "emotional and engaging arc", highlighting her sacrifice for those she loves and her memorable reveal as the Light Dragon. He praised her altruism for being dependable and aspirational, saying that it "doesn’t feel like some cheap emotional ploy designed to drum up sympathy". [121]

Analysis

In Destructoid, Timothy Monbleau wrote that while Zelda was mostly a plot device and a player goal in the first three Zelda games, Yoshiaki Koizumi's involvement in writing Link's Awakening caused a fundamental shift in the series by producing stronger storylines. He opined that by giving the female character Marin a more intimate relationship with Link, Koizumi effectively impacted Zelda's role in subsequent games by giving her a more active role in the narrative. [122] Brendan Main for The Escapist magazine commented that Zelda's alter-ego Sheik in Ocarina of Time broke the conventions of the character's role because "Sheik is everything Zelda is not". He commented that while Zelda's elegance and femininity had restricted her to being a captive, Sheik's ambiguous gender gave the character freedom, but noted that once Zelda is revealed to be Sheik, she is immediately returned to a captive again. [123] Zelda's evolution from the "princess in peril" was noted by Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer who commented that in most games she is simply a goal for the player to acquire, but in more recent titles she has grown into a more fleshed-out character. [14] Jason Guisao of Game Informer said that although Zelda has the potential to be equal to Link, "Nintendo is attached to tired scenarios where she is captured or immobilized". He opined that she had been sidelined in Breath of the Wild and should instead be leading a new era of fully integrated co-operative play. [49] Jacob Kastrenakes for The Verge opined that switching Link's and Zelda's roles could be possible without requiring Link to be absent, but highlighted that Aonuma confirmed that this idea had been rejected because, "if we have Princess Zelda as the main character who fights, then what is Link going to do?" [124] Sara Gitkos of iMore opined that Zelda deserves her own game due to being "a scholar, a leader, and a fierce princess who takes charge of her own destiny", but noted that this would be difficult because her role is so embedded within the lore of the series that the entire concept would need to be changed. [125] Jay Castello writing for Polygon described the ending of Tears of the Kingdom as a tragedy for perpetuating the status quo of Zelda's repetitive role in the series, commenting that the gendered elements "appear to skate by simply because this has been going on so long that mentioning them feels blasé". [126] Heather Wald of GamesRadar+ highlighted that Tears of the Kingdom had reignited the longstanding debate about the possibility of Zelda becoming a playable character in the series: "It speaks to just how much demand there is to have the opportunity to be Zelda in a mainline adventure". [127]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zelda, Sheik
  2. Zelda, Tetra
  3. 1 2 Tetra
  4. Toon Zelda
  5. Japanese: ゼルダ姫, Hepburn: Zeruda-Hime

Related Research Articles

<i>The Legend of Zelda</i> Video game series

The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flagship, Vanpool, and Grezzo. The gameplay incorporates action-adventure and elements of action RPG games.

Universe of <i>The Legend of Zelda</i> Fictional universe

The Legend of Zelda is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the Legend of Zelda series consists of various lands, the most predominant being Hyrule. The franchise is set within a fantasy world reminiscent of medieval Europe which consists of several recurring locations, races and creatures. The most prominent race in the series are the Hylians, a humanoid race with elfin features identifiable by their long, pointed ears. The series' lore contains a creation myth, several fictional alphabets, the most prominent being Hylian, and a fictional universal currency, the rupee. Most games in The Legend of Zelda series follow a similar storyline, which involves the protagonist Link battling monsters to save Princess Zelda and defeat a villain, which is often the series' main antagonist, Ganon. Nintendo developed the series' lore into a timeline that spans thousands of years across its history.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time</i> 1998 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998 and in PAL regions the following month. Ocarina of Time is the first game in The Legend of Zelda series with 3D graphics.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</i> 1991 video game

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in The Legend of Zelda series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker</i> 2002 video game

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in The Legend of Zelda series, it was released in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 24, 2003, and in Europe on May 2, 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triforce</span> Fictional artifact in The Legend of Zelda series

The Triforce is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game franchise. It first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda video game (1986) and has appeared in every subsequent game in the series. It consists of three equilateral triangles that are joined to form a large equilateral triangle. In the fictional history of the series, it represents the essence of the Golden Goddesses named Din, Nayru and Farore who create Hyrule. Imbued with divine power, it is capable of granting any wish to anyone who possesses it.

Link (<i>The Legend of Zelda</i>) Protagonist in The Legend of Zelda

Link is a character and the protagonist of Nintendo's video game franchise The Legend of Zelda. He was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Link was introduced as the hero of the original The Legend of Zelda video game in 1986 and has appeared in a total of 20 entries in the series, as well as a number of spin-offs. Common elements in the series include Link travelling through Hyrule whilst exploring dungeons, battling creatures, and solving puzzles until he eventually defeats the series' primary antagonist, Ganon, and saves Princess Zelda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganon</span> Video game character

Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game series and franchise, as well as the final boss in many Zelda titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as Ganondorf. A massive and malevolent pig-like creature, Ganon first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda game in 1986, while his alter ego, Ganondorf, was introduced in Ocarina of Time. He has since appeared in the majority of the games in the series in various forms. He is the archenemy of the protagonist Link and Princess Zelda of Hyrule and originally the leader of the Gerudo, a race of humanoid desert nomads before becoming the ruler of his demon army.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures</i> 2004 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the eleventh installment in The Legend of Zelda series. It was released in 2004 in Japan on March 18, and in North America on June 7. In 2005, the game was released in Europe on January 7, and in Australia on April 7. The Game Boy Advance handheld game console can be used as a controller when using the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable bundled with the game in North America and Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Master Sword</span> Fictional weapon

The Master Sword is a fictional divine magic sword in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. It is also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", the "Sword that Seals the Darkness" and the "Sacred Sword". It was introduced in the 1991 action-adventure video game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and has since appeared in most other games in the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midna</span> Fictional character

Midna is a fictional character in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series, introduced as one of the main protagonists in Twilight Princess. She is a member of the magic-wielding Twili who joins forces with Link to prevent the kingdom of Hyrule from being enveloped by a corrupted parallel dimension known as the Twilight Realm. While Midna appears as an imp-like creature in the majority of Twilight Princess, her actual form is humanoid. She was designed by Yusuke Nakano and voiced by Akiko Kōmoto. Midna also appears as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors, and makes minor appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword</i> 2011 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July 2021.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild</i> 2017 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent Calamity Ganon from destroying the world. Players explore the open world of Hyrule while they collect items and complete objectives such as puzzles or side quests. Breath of the Wild's world is unstructured and encourages exploration and experimentation; the story can be completed in a nonlinear fashion.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds</i> 2013 video game

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a 2013 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is the 17th in The Legend of Zelda series and is a sequel to the 1991 title The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Announced in April 2013, A Link Between Worlds was released in Australia, Europe, and North America in November, and in Japan a month later.

<i>Hyrule Warriors</i> 2014 video game

Hyrule Warriors is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda with the gameplay of Koei's Dynasty Warriors series. Hyrule Warriors was released in Japan in August 2014, and worldwide the following month. It became one of the best-selling games on the Wii U. An updated port, Hyrule Warriors Legends, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan in January 2016 and worldwide in March of the same year. A second enhanced port, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. A successor, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, was released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in November 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urbosa</span> Character in The Legend of Zelda game series

Urbosa is a fictional character from Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. She first appeared as one of the major characters in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where she is the leader of the Gerudo and one of the four Champions who helped Princess Zelda and Link protect Hyrule from Calamity Ganon, losing her life in the process. She also appears in the hack-and-slash video game Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity as a playable character.

<i>Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity</i> 2020 video game

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, released in Japan as Zelda Musou: Apocalyptic Record of The Calamity, is a 2020 hack-and-slash game developed by Omega Force and published by Koei Tecmo in Japan and by Nintendo internationally for the Nintendo Switch. Like the original Hyrule Warriors (2014), Age of Calamity is a crossover that mixes the world and characters of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series with the gameplay of Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors series, and acts as a spin-off prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017).

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom</i> 2023 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a 2023 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The player controls Link as he searches for Princess Zelda and fights to prevent Ganondorf from destroying Hyrule. Tears of the Kingdom retains the open-world gameplay and setting of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild (2017), and features new environs including the sky, an area composed of floating islands, and an expansive cavern beneath Hyrule known as the Depths. The player has access to various devices that aid combat or exploration, and which can be used to construct vehicles.

Sidon (<i>The Legend of Zelda</i>) Character in The Legend of Zelda game series

Prince Sidon is a fictional character in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. He first appeared as a major character in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He reappears as a playable character in the hack-and-slash video game Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Sidon is the prince and eventual king of the amphibious Zora and younger brother of Mipha, one of the four Champions who helped Princess Zelda and Link fight Calamity Ganon. In Breath of the Wild, Sidon helps Link to reach Divine Beast Vah Ruta so he can defeat Waterblight Ganon and free it from Ganon's control. Since his debut, Sidon has received overwhelmingly positive reception from both fans and critics. He was designed by Yuko Miyakawa, who gave him grey skin and a hammerhead shark motif, though his skin was changed both due to blending issues and to match his skin color with Mipha's. Due to his personality, he has achieved a large fan following and has also been the subject of fan art and Internet memes on social media. He and Link have also been interpreted as a couple, with their ship name being "Sidlink," such that him being in a relationship with a female Zora named Yona in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom receiving a negative reaction from some shippers.

References

  1. Greenbaum, Aaron (2022-10-31). "Why The Legend of Zelda Isn't Named After Link". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  2. Hyrule Historia. Nintendo. 14 April 2020. p. 2. ISBN   9781506721385. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Greenbaum, Aaron (2023-01-12). "The Legend of Zelda: How Every Version of Zelda Is Related". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  4. Parkin, Jeffrey (2023-03-08). "The Zelda timeline doesn't matter". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  5. 1 2 "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Character Profiles: Sheik". Shacknews. 2018-12-11. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  6. DanielleRiendeau (2014-08-05). "Zelda fans debate Sheik's gender, but here's Nintendo's final word". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  7. "Interview Miyamoto : "Un équilibre difficile à trouver"". Gamekult (in French). 18 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  8. Skrebels, Joe (2022-09-05). "New Details on Cancelled Zelda Sheik Game Seemingly Emerge: 'It Was an Experiment Gone Wrong'". IGN . Archived from the original on 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  9. 1 2 3 Huebner, Alex (2021-02-13). "Zelda has a lot of alter egos — here are all of them, and their backstories". iMore. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  10. "Review: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)". Nintendo Life. 2007-11-23. Archived from the original on 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  11. 1 2 Gudmundson, Carolyn (2011-11-09). "Zelda, past and future: An interview with Koji Kondo and Eiji Aonuma". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  12. Totilo, Stephen (2009-11-25). "Zelda Developer Was Stumped By New Zelda Game's Puzzles". Kotaku . Gawker Media. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  13. Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (2017-01-19). "Zelda's "complex and multifaceted" in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, so don't read too much into the trailer". VG247. Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  14. 1 2 Hilliard, Kyle. "Everything We Know About Princess Zelda In Breath Of The Wild". Game Informer . Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  15. Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (2016-06-14). "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Zelda once under consideration as main character". VG247. Archived from the original on 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  16. Pulliam-Moore, Charles (2023-05-12). "A conversation with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's creative leads". The Verge . Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  17. Bailey, Dustin (2023-05-12). "Will Princess Zelda ever be playable? Nintendo says it would take a "particular" gameplay idea". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  18. The Legend Of Zelda Art And Artifacts. Nintendo. 17 February 2017. p. 11.
  19. Aonuma, Eiji; Himekawa, Akira (2020-04-14). The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia. Dark Horse Comics. p. 104. ISBN   978-1-5067-2138-5. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  20. Sahdev, Ishaan (2019-06-26). "Zelda Wouldn't Be Great Without Its Wild 2D Experiments". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  21. Aonuma, Eiji; Himekawa, Akira (2020-04-14). The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia. Dark Horse Comics. p. 146. ISBN   978-1-5067-2138-5. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  22. Aonuma, Eiji; Himekawa, Akira (2020-04-14). The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia. Dark Horse Comics. p. 155. ISBN   978-1-5067-2138-5. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  23. "Inside Zelda part 3". Nintendo Power . Vol. 194. Nintendo. 2005. Archived from the original on 2010-05-02. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  24. Hyrule Historia. Nintendo. 14 April 2020. pp. 10–11. ISBN   9781506721385. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  25. Hernandez, Patricia (14 March 2017). "At First, Nintendo Couldn't Agree On How To Depict Zelda In Breath of the Wild". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  26. Frank, Allegra (2017-03-14). "Check out Breath of the Wild's Link and Zelda transition from weird to wonderful". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  27. "革命の、その先の冒険。『ゼルダの伝説 ティアーズ オブ ザ キングダム』 開発者インタビュー – ページ 3". Nintendo DREAM WEB (in Japanese). 2023-10-26. Archived from the original on 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  28. "This Week in Games - AI Voice-Scraping Can't End Soon Enough". Anime News Network. 2023-10-23. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  29. 1 2 "Princess Zelda Voices (Legend of Zelda)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 2021-12-23. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  30. "Jun MIZUSAWA - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  31. "Hikari TACHIBANA - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  32. "Akane OMAE - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  33. "Ayumi FUJIMURA - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  34. "Saori SETO - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  35. "Yu SHIMAMURA - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  36. Wright, Stephen T. (1 May 2023). "The Worst Zelda Game Ever Has Been Ported To Game Boy". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  37. "The Memory Card .84: A royal assist". Destructoid. 2011-03-31. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  38. Cryer, Hirun (2023-11-09). "The Zelda community agrees this Hunger Games and Euphoria actor should play the titular princess". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  39. Greenbaum, Aaron (2022-08-04). "The Legend of Zelda: How Old Are Link and Zelda Supposed to Be?". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  40. "Legend Of Zelda: 10 Facts You Didn't Know About The Triforce Of Wisdom". TheGamer. 2019-08-29. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  41. "The Legend Of Zelda: 20 Wild Details About Zelda's Anatomy". ScreenRant. 2019-01-07. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  42. "10 Things Even Diehard Fans Didn't Know About Princess Zelda". Game Rant. 2020-10-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  43. "The Legend of Zelda: The 15 Most Powerful Bows In Breath of The Wild, Ranked". TheGamer. 2020-04-16. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  44. Plunkett, Luke (2011-07-21). "The Real History of the Triforce". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  45. 1 2 Byrd, Matthew (2021-07-15). "Is Skyward Sword the Only Link and Zelda Romance Story?". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  46. Webster, Andrew (2019-09-19). "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is like a brand-new Zelda adventure on Switch". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  47. Dring, Chris (2015-02-16). "The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask review – definitive take on one of Nintendo's best". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  48. Hilliard, Kyle (2015-10-23). "The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes Preview - You Won't Be Saving Zelda Or Playing Two-Player Co-Op". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  49. 1 2 Guisao, Jason. "The Legend Of Zelda: The Princess Deserves Her Own Game". Game Informer . Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  50. 1 2 3 Alexander, Cristina (2023-08-25). "How to Play The Legend of Zelda Games in Chronological Order". IGN . Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  51. 1 2 Mackey, Bob (2013-11-22). "The Legend of Zelda Timeline". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  52. 1 2 3 4 Needleman, Ariel (2017-07-04). "Ranking The Different Versions Of Princess Zelda From Worst To Best". TheGamer. Archived from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  53. "Legend Of Zelda Games That Don't Actually Have Zelda In Them". Screen Rant . 2021-11-21. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  54. "The Oracle Games Were Some Of Zelda's Finest Hours". TheGamer. 2019-09-20. Archived from the original on 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  55. 1 2 Concelmo, Chad (2007-08-30). "The Memory Card .14: The legend of Tetra". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  56. Harmon, O'Dell. "Moments: Wind Waker's Last Battle". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  57. "15 years later, Four Swords Adventures is still the best multiplayer Zelda game". Destructoid. 2019-06-07. Archived from the original on 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  58. "Legend Of Zelda: Every Version Of Ganon Ranked By Power". TheGamer. 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2022-05-29. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  59. Crites, Jacob (2011-12-19). "Review: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (3DS eShop / GBA)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  60. Crossley, Rob (1 March 2016). "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  61. Fahey, Mike (2015-12-17). "New Zelda Statue Captures The Princess In Her Most Disturbing Moment". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2024-01-06. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  62. "Zelda: Every Twilight Princess Boss, Ranked By Difficulty". Comic Book Resources . 2022-01-27. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  63. Miller, Zachary (5 October 2007). "The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Review - Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  64. Stone, Abbie (2021-06-24). "Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks was a flawed series entry that shined a long-overdue spotlight on its title character". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  65. Welsh, Oli (2009-12-08). "Page 2 | The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  66. "'Skyward Sword' Ending Explained: And So 'The Legend of Zelda' Begins". Collider. 2021-07-20. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  67. McEvoy, Sophie (2023-02-23). "The Legend Of Zelda: 6 Villains Who Weren't Always Evil". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  68. Carpenter, Nicole (2023-05-11). "Do I need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  69. Lambie, Ryan (2017-04-11). "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Spoilers - Where Next for the Series?". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  70. Watts, Steve (25 May 2023). "Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Inverts One Of The Oldest Story Tropes". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  71. Marks, Tom (2023-05-23). "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Ending Explained". IGN . Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  72. "IGN Presents the History of Zelda". IGN . 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  73. "Zelda: The Wand Of Gamelon: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. 2017-09-26. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  74. Alexander, Cristina (2023-05-01). "Zelda's Infamous CDi Game Turned Into Much Better-Looking Game Boy Game". IGN. Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  75. "First Legend of Zelda videogame to make Princess Zelda a playable character". Guinness World Records. 10 October 1993. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  76. "The Legend of Zelda 35th anniversary retrospective: A windy adventure". iMore. 2021-02-02. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  77. Pitcher, Jenna (2014-06-25). "Watch Princess Zelda kick some serious ass in this Hyrule Warriors trailer". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  78. 1 2 Greenbaum, Aaron (2023-05-08). "The Strange History of Legend of Zelda Games That Let You Play as Zelda". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  79. Hussain, Tamoor (June 10, 2015). "Hyrule Warriors Announced for 3DS With New Characters". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  80. "Hyrule Warriors Footage Shows Toon Zelda's Moves, Plus The Sand Rod In Action". Siliconera. 2016-09-02. Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  81. "Hyrule Warriors Footage Features Tetra And The King of Hyrule Wii U Gameplay". Siliconera. 2016-01-22. Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  82. 1 2 Dale, Laura (2019-06-27). "Cadence of Hyrule shows it's time for a playable Princess Zelda". Syfy Wire . Archived from the original on 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  83. "Nintendo calls Princess Zelda back to fight in the next Super Smash Bros". VentureBeat. 2013-12-26. Archived from the original on 2023-11-11. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  84. Green, Jake (2020-01-17). "Super Smash Bros Ultimate Character - Every Fighter in Smash Bros Ultimate". USgamer. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  85. "E3 2018: All Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Character Changes That We Know Of (So Far)". GameSpot. 2018-06-13. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  86. "The Legend of Zelda Animated Series: A Very Strange History". Den of Geek . 2018-04-06. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  87. "Cynthia Preston (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  88. Carpenter, Nicole (2023-01-11). "'Excuuuuse me, Princess!': An oral history of The Legend of Zelda cartoon". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  89. "The Adaptation: The disasterpiece that was Captain N". Destructoid. 2017-07-15. Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  90. McClain, K.J. (2017-08-21). "Video: Take a Detailed Look at the Original "Legend of Zelda" Manga". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  91. Gray, Kate (2022-01-28). "Random: Check Out This 1986 Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Book Where You Play As Zelda". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  92. Hagues, Alana (2022-05-23). "Random: The Final Zelda Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Book Has Been Uncovered". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  93. Carpenter, Nicole (2023-03-28). "Remember the time when Link turned into Ganon in The Legend of Zelda?". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  94. McWhertor, Michael (2015-01-26). "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past comic returns to print after more than 20 years". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  95. Hilliard, Kyle (2017-05-01). Legendary World of Zelda. Triumph Books. ISBN   978-1-63319-818-0.
  96. Campbell, Evan (2014-04-01). "$350 Limited Edition Zelda Statue Announced". IGN . Archived from the original on 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  97. Liu, Stephanie (2023-06-06). "Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Plushes Will Reappear". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  98. Macy, Seth G. (2023-05-11). "Here's Every Legend of Zelda Amiibo". IGN . Archived from the original on 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  99. Doolan, Liam (2023-11-03). "Reminder: The New Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom amiibo Are Now Available". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  100. Knight, Gladys L. (2010). Female Action Heroes: A Guide to Women in Comics, Video Games, Film, and Television. ABC-CLIO. p. 62. ISBN   978-0-313-37612-2.
  101. "Leading Ladies". Official Nintendo Magazine. 2009-09-12. Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  102. Loveridge, Sam (2016-08-08). "Most iconic female game characters of all time, ranked". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  103. Marchiafava, Jeff (February 16, 2011). "Guinness Names Top 50 Video Game Characters Of All Time". Game Informer . Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  104. Doolan, Liam (2023-10-29). "Zelda Voted 'Favourite' Tears Of The Kingdom Character In Recent Famitsu Survey". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  105. Huebner, Alex (2021-02-13). "All of Zelda's alter egos and their back stories". iMore. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  106. Mejia, Ozzie (19 November 2018). "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Character Profiles: Zelda". Shacknews . Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  107. Ravenscraft, Eric. "What We Want Out of a 'Legend of Zelda' Movie". Wired . ISSN   1059-1028. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  108. Drake, Richard George and Audrey (2011-04-30). "Hyrule Times: The Impact of Ocarina of Time". IGN . Archived from the original on 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  109. Myers, Maddy (2015-11-18). "I Love Linkle. But Linkle Is Not Enough". The Mary Sue . Archived from the original on 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  110. "Beyond Lara Croft: 30 truly interesting female game characters – part one". The Guardian . 2016-01-25. Archived from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  111. Stone, Abbie (2021-06-24). "Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks was a flawed series entry that shined a long-overdue spotlight on its title character". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  112. Welsh, Oli (2009-12-08). "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  113. Mc Shea, Tom. "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  114. Holmes, Jonathan. "Review: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  115. Olney, Alex (2017-03-22). "Video: Here's Four Solid Reasons Zelda: Breath of the Wild has the Best Princess Zelda to Date". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  116. Jackson, Gita (2017-03-24). "Princess Zelda's Breath of the Wild Outfit Helps Tell Her Story". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  117. Carpou, Madeline (2022-05-17). "10 of the Most Inspiring Women in Video Games". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  118. Hernandez, Patricia (2020-11-20). "Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a must-play for Zelda fans". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  119. Watts, Steve (11 May 2023). "The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  120. Watts, Steve (25 May 2023). "Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Inverts One Of The Oldest Story Tropes". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  121. Byrd, Matthew (2023-05-17). "Princess Zelda Is the Real Star of Tears of the Kingdom". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  122. Monbleau, Timothy (2023-05-13). "Link's big date in Link's Awakening marked a sea change in the franchise". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  123. Main, Brendan (2009-10-06). "Dude Looks Like a Lady". The Escapist. Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  124. Kastrenakes, Jacob (2016-06-14). "Nintendo offers really stupid reasons why you can't play as a woman in The Legend of Zelda". The Verge . Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  125. Gitkos, Sara (2021-02-18). "The Legend of Zelda: Why she should be the hero". iMore. Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  126. Castello, Jay (2023-07-22). "Tears of the Kingdom's ending is its own kind of tragedy". Polygon . Archived from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  127. Wald, Heather (2023-04-14). "We only need to know one thing after the final Tears of the Kingdom trailer - can we play as Zelda?". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-18.