Majora’s Mask, Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time: A Timeline of The Legend of Zelda Saga

This May 12th marks the official launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Highly anticipated sequel to the now cult. breath of the wild, the game marks the 22nd title in a saga that has rarely disappointed. The opportunity for Tech&Co to take stock of the chronology of Link’s adventures and the most significant moments of the saga.

Trace the chronology of the events of The legend of Zeldayou have to practice some back and forth – the first game was certainly published in 1986, but it’s with the legend of zelda sword skyward that we discover the genesis of the series. Here is, in image, the chronology of the games following the narration:

Although skyward sword it was disappointing in some respects, making it nonetheless decisive in the narrative. According to the events that occurred in the game. ocarina of time, the games form three alternate realities, one of which concludes with… the first game released, The legend of Zelda (1986).

Apart from this path breath of the wild debate about their integration in these different realities. The complete chronology was published in 2011 in the official book. the story of hyrule.

Almost all the episodes use the same elements, in different forms: the kingdom of Hyrule, the antagonist Ganondorf, Princess Zelda, the legendary sword, the Triforce, as well as a large number of enemies and allies, such as the Moblins, the Gorons, the Zora or even the Great Fairies. Likewise, the vast and puzzle-filled dungeons almost consistently take pride of place.

Note: This non-exhaustive list is arranged according to the chronology of the narrative, and the dates indicated are for the Japanese release.

Entry in Legend: Ocarina of Time (1998, Nintendo 64)

Considered by many players to be the best game in the series – if not one of the best games of all time, ocarina of time It remains the highest rated title in the entire saga, with a score of 99 (out of 100) on Metacritic. A seminal episode, it definitely elevates Link’s adventures to the greatest of video games.

The story of Ocarina of Time is in fourth position narratively since the beginning of the saga. It is about preventing Ganondorf from taking over the Triforce and therefore the kingdom through a series of initiation missions carried out by Link.

It is at the end where the very particular chronology of the different episodes is divided: depending on the events of the end, Link’s character can take three different paths. We find in particular in ocarina of time the much-loved character of Sheik, who is actually a Princess Zelda costume. It is also the first appearance of Epona, Link’s mare, and that of the legendary Lost Woods melody, composed by Koji Kondo -who will carry all the original Zelda soundtracks-.

A dark and unmarked universe, an off-center storytelling: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask It is one of the most memorable episodes of the saga, with which, however, it has (almost) no relationship. Neither Zelda nor Ganondorf appear in Majora’s Mask.

The title innovates with its chronology: three days to save the world of Termina from a malevolent and gigantic moon that threatens to collapse, the mechanics of the masks and the particularly disturbing character of certain characters.

First episode released on the Wii, twilight princess stands out with a darker and deeper universe than the previous ones, in particular embodied by a visually adult Link. In these respects, it is also considered very similar to ocarina of time.

Here, the protagonist travels between the light and the twilight that threatens Hyrule. in the characteristics of twilight princess, Link has the ability to shapeshift into a wolf. Midna’s character, the Twilight Princess, is also very well received, as are the creepy Agents of Twilight.

Many followers will have been impressed with the cartoons of Wind Waker, but also for its melodies and its world that looks bigger. In fact, for the first time, Link travels aboard a ship.

In addition to a controlled narration and some more than endearing characters (Tetra, Arielle, Grandma), the fact of exploring the islands and gradually completing your sea map offers a feeling of freedom unmatched until now. New to the game, the Wand of Wind, which allows Link to control certain elements of the game (sunrise, wind, tornadoes) is a success in terms of gameplay.

The Foundations: The Legend of Zelda (1986 on NES and Famicom)

The already essential saga began in 1986, under the name The legend of Zelda. The title appears on two consoles: the Famicom and the NES. Everything that will make up the legend of the game is already present: the melodies, the narration, which has changed little to date, and above all, the exploration of the dungeons and their mythical bosses.

It is also one of the first open world games, a criterion that will forever change the future of video games. Since that date, the Nintendo recipe remains, with a few exceptions, unchanged. And works.

Out of category: Link: Faces of Evil (1993, CD-I)

Impossible to offer an anthology of the best Zelda without mentioning what, against its will, has probably become the most hated title in the universe of the saga. If published under the Nintendo brand, the game was actually created by Philips who tried their hand at gaming consoles for a period.

Improbable graphics, non-existent handling or, even worse, dubbing bordering on parody made this first work in a no less hated trilogy a true marketing disaster, widely mocked on the web. The French youtuber Joueur du Grenier, known for his videos dedicated to video games, has also dedicated some episodes to this trilogy.

With undeniable success and countless players who have placed him at the top of the podium, breath of the wild marks the definitive turning point of the series in theopen world. New mechanics are then integrated into the game, which is undergoing an unprecedented modernization in the history of the saga.

breath of the wild it is also, unsurprisingly, the best-selling Zelda game of all time, with over 30 million units sold. There is no doubt that the same fate will be in store for him. Tears of the Kingdom,

The game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is scheduled for May 12, exclusively on Nintendo Switch.