EG Analysis: The Legend of Zelda
There is something magical about the Zelda franchise. Something about the series inspires child-like wonderment within all of us. How is this possible? Inspiration inspires inspiration. Rumor has it that Miyamoto was playing in the backyard of his house when he got the inpiration to create a game based on puzzle solving and exploration.
Legend of Zelda has some severe fandom. Is it earned fandom? Is the devoted following justified somehow? I say “yes” and “no.”
Let’s take a look at the original title. The Legend of Zelda was a classic for many reasons. First, it was pure in its presentation. Boiled down, Zelda is all about the puzzles and exploration. The first title gives you no direction. It forces you to explore the world and find the answers yourself. Once you find the dungeons, you are presented with clever puzzles for your to rack your brain with. It was the first of its kind. It touched the lives of many young gamers who would put the title on a pedestal and use it as the watermark for future games of the same type.
The problem is that the sequel couldn’t keep up with heavy reputation and, for the most part, all the sequels pale in comparison for some fans. As for me, it wasn’t until Link to the Past that I truly saw how wonderful Legend of Zelda truly was.
The magic of Link to the Past wasn’t necessarily just the exploration for me. What made it so special were the little secret and surprises that you would unlock in the world. It delivered the sheer joy and excitement of discovery. When I was a child, there was something invigorating about finding something unique or special like a hidden pathway.
I feel that the successful titles of the series followed this pattern of search and discovery. Next on my favorites list is Wind Waker, Miyamoto’s answer to the return to form of his original vision. Remember, it has been said that the original idea for Zelda was to cater to the curious child in all of us. Apparently, Miyamoto felt that Link was getting too “mature” and “adult.” In response, Miyamoto turned Link into child again. The visuals were more cartoon-like and the emphasis was on exploring and discovering the secrets of the sea. The reception was cold.
Wind Waker wasn’t embraced like its predecessors, because it wasn’t the epic Link they had grown to love in Ocarina of Time. By the time the series hit the N64, Link had been morphed into a darker, less innocent, epic figure. This view of Link has been solidified in the collective minds of most fans I would think. Can you blame them? At the end of Ocarina, there was an epic stand off between Link and Monster Gannon in a ring of fire. I must admit that it was one of the most awesome and epic moments in video game history for me. However, this is far from Miyamoto’s original vision of a Link with more childlike innocence and wonderment.
The Legend of Zelda has now become a series focused things that didn’t really add to the magic essence of the older titles. For instance, the interplay of light and dark. Admittedly, this was present in Link to the Past, but it wasn’t the focus of the gameplay. It was present in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. This focus of duality always seemed forced to me and really created banality in the series. Who cares if there is a dark world? I don’t.
Notice that I didn’t mention the dungeons as a contributing factor in Zelda’s greatness. It’s because I feel it isn’t. The formula really took flight in Link to the Past. Find a special weapon or tool. Use said weapon or tool to traverse and solve puzzles in a dungeon. Find the boss and defeat that boss with said weapon or tool. It got old really fast, because the formula was copied and installed in every iteration of the series. This formula isn’t what made Legend of Zelda so special. Unfortunately, I feel like I am a minority in this opinion.
A new Zelda game had recently been announced. Furthermore, it was promised that a new twist would be added to spice up the series. I sigh, disappointed at the news, since I know it will not be a return to form. I wish for a new Zelda game that plays to its true strengths: seeking and discovering. I hope the next title brings us the magic of uncovering secrets and exploring the unexplored. I hope that it makes us feel same joy and wonderment of being a curious child like the older titles made us feel.
I don’t mind the epic Link. However, he’s not the Link I grew to love. The Legend of Zelda deserves a devoted following but not for the reasons that the newer titles gives us. It’s not the dungeons. It’s not the battles. It’s not the light or the dark. It’s the thrill of discovery. It’s the adventure of exploring lands unknown and facing the danger that comes from it. I can only hope that explorer Link returns rather the epic one. I cross my fingers until then.
-jj
That’s a very interesting point about Zelda being great for its puzzle solving and exploration. Like you my Zelda experience has been limited to the original, it’s sequel, A Link to the Past, a bit of Ocarina, and Wind Waker (my favorite). I didn’t consciously avoid the others, I just didn’t own the system they were on (I played Ocarina on a borrowed N64). But I did notice Wind Waker, in addition to having an art style I adored, was more about the thrill of exploration and discovery than Ocarina was.
What’s funny is that it seems like the entire genre of sandbox games is built on this premise yet they don’t deliver nearly the fun that the Zelda games did. Maybe that’s because those games, like the GTAs and Fallouts, tend to be darker – yes there’s a big world for the player to explore but the characters aren’t exactly the sort of people into exploring for the sake of exploring, nor is it an environment that invites child-like exploration (more narrative or power-gamer exploration).
I’m glad you agree on Wind Waker. It was such a great title. It retained the magic of Zelda that newer titles in the series haven’t.
As for Fallout, it did have the curious wanderer/wonderer aspect to it I felt. Half my fun was just simply exploring the Wasteland and seeing what craziness I would discover. However, the same joy in Zelda can’t be duplicated in something like Fallout. I would think it be because of the dark nature. But it still has its explorer charm of its own.
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