8 Zelda Timelines That Deserve Their Own Games

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Summary

  • Many aspects of the Zelda storyline are left unexplored, such as New Hyrule’s founding after The Great Flood.
  • The era of the Interloper War introduced in Twilight Princess shows potential for further detailing in future titles.
  • The era of the First Great Calamity, preceding Breath of the Wild, holds significant narrative potential that could be further explored.

Because The Legend of Zelda series often has a repeating plot structure with multiple intertwining storylines, some aspects of its overall narrative seem neglected after just one or two games. As a result, fans must piece together the tale of this well-known fantasy action RPG and establish a consistent timeline until Nintendo provides more details in future releases.

The storylines in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” branch off in various directions, and the series’ long history and complex timeline have given rise to numerous untapped narrative possibilities. These could benefit from further exploration in future games.

1. The Era Where New Hyrule Is Founded

A Multi-Game Narrative Comes To A Sudden & Unexplained Conclusion

In the realm of video game storytelling, few conflicts have been as extensively delved into as the catastrophic Great Flooding of Hyrule within the acclaimed The Legend of Zelda series. The first glimpse of this event was in 2002’s The Wind Waker, with its sequels, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, further expanding on the story. This devastating flood led to the emergence of the Great Sea and the submerging of Hyrule beneath the surging waves.

Between the occurrences in 2007’s Nintendo DS game Phantom Hourglass and its 2009 sequel Spirit Tracks, it is established that New Hyrule was founded following the unearthing of a land safeguarded by Good Spirits. This change in events, presumably to alter the gameplay of Spirit Tracks from the sailing emphasis in The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass, presents an intriguing yet under-elucidated aspect of The Legend of Zelda lore that has been overlooked for years.

2. The Era Where Hyrule Is Defended By The Hero Of Men

The Game Boy Advance’s Original & Unique Spin On The Formula

Even though it was a late release for the Game Boy Advance within the Zelda series and was only playable on a handheld console, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap stands out as one of the console’s finest games and a strong addition to the esteemed franchise. By evoking the ambiance and essence of a traditional Zelda game, The Minish Cap serves as an introduction to the prequel of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures by narrating the story of the tiny Picori people and their role in granting the legendary Picori Blade to the “Hero of Men.

This story stands out for two reasons: firstly, it features the seldom-mentioned Picori people, who are known from “The Minish Cap” game. Secondly, it holds a significant position within the “Legend of Zelda” timeline, being the initial tale since Hyrule’s kingdom was established. The story of the Hero of Men and their protection of this new realm serves as a prelude to the connected narrative of “The Minish Cap”, but despite this, the events involving the Hero of Men remain an unexplored aspect in the past 20 years since the game’s launch.

3. The Multiple Incarnations Of The Imprisoning War

A Confusingly Termed Conflict That Occurs In Multiple Titles

Despite briefly mentioning the events of the Imprisoning War in the preamble text of “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” for a swift transition into gameplay, it’s clear that this significant chapter in Hyrule’s history warrants more extensive exposition. The introduction reveals how the Seven Sages were tasked with sealing the kingdom’s link to the Dark Realm during the tumultuous Imprisoning War, providing fans of the series with a limited yet crucial perspective on this era.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but notice the intriguing reappearance of the term “Imprisoning War” in the upcoming 2023 release of “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.” This conflict between Ganondorf and the mysterious Zonai race appears to set the stage for the struggles depicted both in “Breath of the Wild” and the latest game. However, given the soft-reboot nature of Nintendo’s current “The Legend of Zelda” series on Switch, it seems almost coincidental that this particular war name resurfaces once more.

4. The Era Of The Interloper War

A Gothic Conflict That Is Explained But Left Unexplored

In contrast to the usual storyline in “The Legend of Zelda” series where a main villain causes havoc for personal gain, the events of the Interloper War appear relatively peaceful. This conflict, as depicted in “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess,” occurs after “Skyward Sword.” The war revolves around the Triforce, but interestingly, it’s the people of Hyrule who are causing chaos this time, searching for a way into the Sacred Realm where the Triforce is hidden.

Despite being skilled in dark magic, a group known as the Interlopers tried to seize power over the Sacred Realm. Their attempts were met with swift punishment, as they were exiled to the Twilight Realm for their misdeeds. Given the destructive nature of conflict, the early stage of development in the world during the Interloper War, and the fact that it’s only extensively referenced in “Twilight Princess,” this war could greatly benefit from more detailed exploration in future games.

5. The Era Of The First Great Calamity

The Successful Skirmish That Predates Breath Of The Wild’s Opening

Launching “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” saw both the Nintendo Switch and Wii U hosting what’s arguably one of the most renowned, yet narratively contrasting games in the illustrious fantasy action-RPG series from Nintendo. The storyline of “Breath of the Wild” revolves around Link’s resurrection following his defeat, shedding light on the recurring themes in the “Legend of Zelda” series, and its narrative structure. Two Great Calamities serve as the backdrop for the game’s central conflict in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

In the storyline of Breath of the Wild, the main action unfolds after the Second Great Catastrophe, during which Ganon seized control over the Guardian forces of the Hylian army and emerged victorious in the kingdom. However, the original Great Catastrophe, a crucial event that occurred 10,000 years before the events depicted in the 2017 game, is narrated to the player in the early stages of the game by Impa. This ancient catastrophe offers insights into the colossal power wielded by the Guardians and portrays a time when Ganon was defeated, but also highlights an era where the recurring themes of life, death, and rebirth in The Legend of Zelda series were intentionally addressed.

6. The Era Where Link Becomes “The Hero’s Shade”

A Depressing Ending For One Of Nintendo’s Greatest Heroes

Drawing inspiration from the storyline of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” where Link battles Ganondorf and is returned to his youth, we find ourselves in the “Child Era” of the Zelda timeline, a period filled with some of the darker tales in the series. During this era, the events of the Interloper War unfold, and the Link from “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” encounters a skeletal figure named “The Hero’s Shade.” Interestingly, this spectral figure is later revealed to be the Hero of Time, who originated from Nintendo’s celebrated 1999 N64 game.

The Hero’s Shade teaches players seven unique sword skills, but the specific journey of this centuries-old hero spanning from Ocarina of Time to Twilight Princess is not fully explained beyond a few hints. Given the significance of Ocarina of Time in video game lore and Young Link’s appearances in games like Super Smash Bros. Melee, it’s surprising that such a central character remains enveloped in mystery.

7. The Era Where Demise & Hylia Fight For Triforce

The Conflict That Incited The Zelda Series’ Cyclical Narrative

In the initial scenes of 2011’s “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword”, we find ourselves at one of the earliest points in the game’s timeline, witnessing an extraordinary conflict – a battle between Demise and the goddess Hylia. This significant event is unusual because it remains largely unclear within the “Zelda” universe.

In the opening scene of Skyward Sword, the past battles of this era were depicted in a watercolor cutscene. Despite this, the recurring nature of conflicts in The Legend of Zelda kept things unclear. Given its status as one of the earliest conflicts in Nintendo’s popular series and Demise being a major source of antagonists throughout the franchise, it remains equally intriguing that this conflict has remained shrouded in mystery and unexplored.

8. The Era Of Conflict between Null & The Three Goddesses

A Contemporary Yet Existential Look At The Zelda Universe’s First Moments

2024’s “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” is impressively thought-provoking, as it raises questions that echo back to the earliest days of the Zelda universe. The game continues the delightful art style crafted by Grezzo, which was first introduced in “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” from 2019. Notably, it unveils Null as its main antagonist – a timeless threat that poses an existential risk to the entire Zelda franchise. In many ways, “Echoes of Wisdom” broadens the narrative more than most titles in the series that are often more grounded in realism.

Before “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” introduced the catastrophe known as Demise, Null – an ancient menace that had been hostile towards the Golden Goddesses in the Zelda series – was the most antiquated danger to Hyrule. The mere existence of Null raises more questions than its brief encounter could answer. Consequently, although it was first revealed contemporary to us, the era from which Null originates, reminiscent of Genesis, offers abundant opportunities for further storytelling and exploration.

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2025-02-14 15:42