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The Legend of Zelda (universe): Difference between revisions
doesn't the mixed nature of that shot make it specifically _bad_ for illustrating the series to those who need it explained/
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Each of the ''Zelda'' games, for the most part, are set in a fantasy land named {{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule}}, which had been created by a trio of goddesses that subsequently left behind embodiments of their power in a three-triangle artifact called the {{s|zeldawiki|Triforce}}, a great evil - most often a demonic being named Ganon, or alternatively a powerful humanoid sorcerer named [[Ganondorf]], depending on the game - threatens the land, and the only hope is for a young boy or man garbed in green, [[Link]], in cooperation with a princess named [[Zelda]], to go on an adventurous quest across Hyrule to smite the evil, most often with a blessed blade in an altar named the [[Master Sword]]. There is almost always some sort of variation to a given installment's narrative that ties both into the story and the gameplay; in some games there is a parallel world that Link must explore, while the world may be mostly covered in ocean in other games. Link himself may undertake his quest under a different set of circumstances each game, such as in ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess}}'' when he can transform into a wolf and receive assistance from an imp-like creature named [[Midna]], or ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap}}'', where a talking hat he acquires allows him to shrink and grow back in size at will. Even Zelda's backstory, role, and relevance can vary between games, such as whether she is a classic damsel-in-distress or a capable ally of Link, but very rarely is any sort of romance between her and Link even implied. | Each of the ''Zelda'' games, for the most part, are set in a fantasy land named {{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule}}, which had been created by a trio of goddesses that subsequently left behind embodiments of their power in a three-triangle artifact called the {{s|zeldawiki|Triforce}}, a great evil - most often a demonic being named Ganon, or alternatively a powerful humanoid sorcerer named [[Ganondorf]], depending on the game - threatens the land, and the only hope is for a young boy or man garbed in green, [[Link]], in cooperation with a princess named [[Zelda]], to go on an adventurous quest across Hyrule to smite the evil, most often with a blessed blade in an altar named the [[Master Sword]]. There is almost always some sort of variation to a given installment's narrative that ties both into the story and the gameplay; in some games there is a parallel world that Link must explore, while the world may be mostly covered in ocean in other games. Link himself may undertake his quest under a different set of circumstances each game, such as in ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess}}'' when he can transform into a wolf and receive assistance from an imp-like creature named [[Midna]], or ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap}}'', where a talking hat he acquires allows him to shrink and grow back in size at will. Even Zelda's backstory, role, and relevance can vary between games, such as whether she is a classic damsel-in-distress or a capable ally of Link, but very rarely is any sort of romance between her and Link even implied. | ||
Besides instances where some games are direct sequels and continuations to each other, there is usually no relevance in continuity between any of the seemingly independent portrayals of Hyrule. But this did not stop fans from speculating wildly on how all of the titles could be ordered in a chronological timeline that assumes Hyrule in all of these games is, in fact, the same world in different stages of its history, and that the reappearances of Link and related characters represent different individuals that are unwitting reincarnations of eras and Links from the past. But due to contradictions between games that arise when trying to place them all in a linear timeline, estimates were made that the Zelda chronology branched off into separate directions. On the 25th anniversary of the franchise, Nintendo posted an official timeline for the series that affirmed that there were, in fact, three separate timeline branches, and explained which games belong to which branch. The official ordering of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series is explained below: | Besides instances where some games are direct sequels and continuations to each other, there is usually no relevance in continuity between any of the seemingly independent portrayals of Hyrule. But this did not stop fans from speculating wildly on how all of the titles could be ordered in a chronological timeline that assumes Hyrule in all of these games is, in fact, the same world in different stages of its history, and that the reappearances of Link and related characters represent different individuals that are unwitting reincarnations of eras and Links from the past. But due to contradictions between games that arise when trying to place them all in a linear timeline, estimates were made that the Zelda chronology branched off into separate directions. On the 25th anniversary of the franchise, Nintendo posted an official timeline for the series that affirmed that there were, in fact, three separate timeline branches, and explained which games belong to which branch. The official ordering of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series is explained below: | ||