Princess Zelda

Princess Zelda
'The Legend of Zelda' character
File:Zelda png.png Princess Zelda, as she appears in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
First game	The Legend of Zelda (1986)
Created by	Shigeru Miyamoto

Princess Zelda (ゼルダ姫, Zeruda-hime) is the name of a fictional character in The Legend of Zelda of video games. The name has applied to every female member of Hyrule's royal family and plays an integral role in Hyrule's history. Though she is the eponymous character, the player controls the main protagonist, Link. Zelda is usually kidnapped or imprisoned by Ganon, also known as Ganondorf. In some games, she appears as one of the sages. In Ocarina of Time and The Minish Cap, she displays other magical powers, such as energy blasts and force fields. Creator Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that her name was inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Development

During the development of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, illustrator Yusuke Nakano tried to portray Zelda as “as if she’s wondering about something”. He drew the illustrations of Zelda with the feelings of “hopelessness and anxiousness”, and tried to avoid associating her with “gloom and doom”.

For the development of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the development team expressed a desire to have the Phantom character that appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass's Wi-Fi battle mode working cooperatively with Link. However, the team questioned why an enemy character would work together with Link, and thought of an idea where a second character would take control of the phantom. Zelda was ultimately chosen since she was "an interesting and appropriate character". Spirit Tracks director Daiki Iwamoto had also expressed an interest to make Zelda "a more integral part of the game" when the development process began. This goal was influenced by a survey Nintendo had looked over revealing that users preferred female characters that were more independent.

Attributes

Like Link, Princess Zelda has multiple incarnations in the series, varying in physical age and assumably disposition. She usually has blue eyes and blonde hair. She wears a tiara and a long gown that is usually pink, purple or white. She is associated with the goddess Nayru and the Triforce of Wisdom. Most iterations of Zelda also have psychic or magical powers, such as teleportation, telepathy and precognition; for example, she can cast spells and create or undo barriers and seals. Her alter egos also have their own abilities. Zelda is usually depicted as a right-handed person, except in the Wii version of Twilight Princess, where the game world is mirrored to the Nintendo GameCube version.

Appearances

Princess Zelda's character design in the original The Legend of Zelda

Princess Zelda appears in most of the The Legend of Zelda games, often as a central focus of Link's quests. To date, she has appeared in every game except The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

In her first appearance in The Legend of Zelda, she is kidnapped by Ganon, the series' main antagonist. She is eventually rescued by Link, and the two of them reunite their respective pieces of the Triforce. Another incarnation appeared in the sequel, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, who is put into an eternal slumber until Link breaks the curse.
Princess Zelda of A Link to the Past is one of seven maidens descended from the seven sages during the Imprisoning War. She is kidnapped, the only of the maidens not sent to the Dark World. On the night of her capture, she appears to Link telepathically, imploring him to hep her. Though rescued by Link, she is eventually sent to the Dark World. She and the six other maidens, after being rescued, assist Link in breaking the seal on Ganon's tower.

The Ocarina of Time incarnation first appears as a child. Suspicious of the Gerudo King Ganondorf, she charges Link with the task of collecting the three spiritual stones in order to break the seal on the door to the Sacred Realm, so as to obtain the Master Sword and use it against Ganondorf. Just before Link pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal, Zelda flees Hyrule Castle with her guardian Impa before Ganondorf can capture either of them. Still in hiding seven years later, she poses as a young Sheikah named Sheik. In this guise she offers Link advice and assistance throughout the remainder of his quest, until she finally reveals her true identity as the Princess Zelda and the Sage of Light. Thus exposed, she is finally captured by Ganondorf. After Link rescues her from Ganondorf Zelda works with Link to escape the destructing Castle, guiding him and using her powers to open sealed gates. When Link defeats Ganon, she and the other six sages are able to seal Ganon away in the Sacred Realm. After this she sends Link back to his own time, seven years earlier. After the credits, we see young Link again approaching the princess in the Hyrule Castle courtyard. Presumably, he relays the adventure to her and she determines a way to stop Ganondorf without opening the Sacred Realm. This same incarnation appears in Majora's Mask, albeit only as a telepathic sort of flashback.

In The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages the Princess, sensing danger in the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna, sends her handmaiden Impa to protect Din, the Oracle of Seasons; and Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. In the full linked game, Zelda eventually comes to personally encourage the people of Holodrum or Labrynna (depending on what order the games are played) and to help defend against her growing sense of foreboding. She is quickly attacked upon her initial entry into the game, and must be rescued by Link. She thereafter spends time in and around Horon Village (Holodrum) or Lynna City (Labrynna) with Impa, until she is again captured, this time by Twinrova. They take the princess to a hidden realm, and it is revealed that they plan to sacrifice her in order to ignite the Flame of Despair and resurrect Ganon once again. Though partially successful, they are interrupted by Link before they can drain all of Zelda's life force, and so she lives. Both Twinrova and the incompletely resurrected Ganon are again defeated by Link, and peace is restored to the land. During the ending credits, she is shown stargazing from a castle balcony, indicating that she returns to Hyrule after the events of the two games.

In Four Swords, Princess Zelda takes Link to the Four Sword Sanctuary, which seals the evil sorcerer Vaati. Sensing that the seal's power is diminishing, she tries to inspect it, but is captured by Vaati himself, who had already escaped, and taken to his Palace of Winds. She is again rescued by Link with the power of the Four Sword. In the prequel Four Swords Adventures she is similarly kidnapped by Vaati. After Link rescues her, it is revealed that Ganon is behind the capture and breaking Vaati's seal. She and the four Links defeat Ganon and escape from Vaati's tower, and she later reunites the four of them. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, yet another prequel, marks the chronologically first incarnation of Princess Zelda thus far, according to Eiji Aonuma. She is turned to stone by Vaati until Link reverses the spell.

Her incarnation in The Wind Waker is unaware of her royal identity, instead living as the pirate captain Tetra. She first appears in the clutches of a giant bird called the Helmaroc King, though she struggles and is dropped at the top of Link's home island of Outset. She then agrees to take Link with her crew in order to help him rescue his younger sister Aryll, whom the Helmaroc King has subsequently mistaken for Tetra. She later crosses paths with Link again while her crew is stealing bombs from Windfall Island, turning a blind eye to his spying on her and consenting for her crew to spend the night relaxing on Windfall, thus allowing Link to beat them to Jabun's Grotto. She also tries to help Link confront Ganon at the forbidden fortress, but they are unsuccessful. At this point, Ganon discovers Tetra's true identity as the Princess Zelda, but is attacked by the dragon Valoo and two Rito warriors before he is able to capture her. Her true identity disclosed, it is determined safest for Zelda to stay in the ancient Hyrule Castle. She is protected there for a time, but Ganon eventually invades and takes her to his Tower, also in Ancient Hyrule. She then assists Link in his final battle against Ganon, using his bow to fire arrows of light. After Ganon's defeat, she and Link set out with her crew to seek new lands. This incarnation is unique in that she continues to live by and identify with her non-royal persona rather than as Princess Zelda. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is the sequel to The Wind Waker, and is therefore the same Princess Zelda. Still the pirate captain Tetra, she is turned to stone and kidnapped by a Ghost Ship during their search, and is again restored by Link's efforts.

Twilight Princess marks the first time the Princess Zelda is depicted as the reigning head of state, though she retains the title of princess. Previously she had been the apparent daughter or heir to the reigning monarch, or at times her precise relation to the throne was unspecified. Her throne has been surrendered, however, to the usurper Twilight King Zant at the opening of the game, in order to save her people from war with Zant's superior forces. She is imprisoned in a tower in Hyrule Castle, and is uniquely unaffected by the Twilight Realm's magic. It is here that she meets Link, transformed into a wolf by the Twilight Realm's power, and his companion Midna. She later gives up her power in order to heal the dying legitimate Twilight Princess, temporarily losing her physical form in the process. Towards the end of the game, she is possessed by Ganondorf and in turn purged by Midna. As Ganondorf charges Link and Zelda, the princess summons the Light Spirits of Hyrule, who grant her the Light Arrows to assist Link in part of his final battle, making this her third participation in a final battle.

Another incarnation appears in Spirit Tracks, which is a sequel taking place one hundred years after Phantom Hourglass. She decides to accompany Link, a railroad engineer, to investigate the disappearance of the railroad tracks that serve as chains locking up an evil force called "Spirit Tracks". She is attacked by Chancellor Cole, who hopes to utilize this evil, and her spirit is separated from her body, with Link being the only one who can see her. In her spirit form she is able to possess Phantom Knights in order to help Link restore the Spirit Tracks. Not counting the CD-i games, this ability marks the first time in the main Legend of Zelda series that Zelda can be controlled.

Alter egos

Sheik

Sheik is a character in Ocarina of Time, and is an alter ego of Zelda. In the game, Zelda passes herself off as a young Sheikah known as Sheik. With voice muffled and face concealed, as well as wearing a form-fitting blue suit, black boots with the red Sheikah eye in the center, the character is essentially unrecognizable as Zelda.

Sheik plays the harp and teaches Link new songs to help him on his quest. When Link arrives at the Temple of Time near the end of the game, Sheik uses the Triforce of Wisdom and reverts to Zelda. It is claimed by the character's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee that Zelda uses her magical skills to change her skin tone, hair length, eye color, and clothing. However, when Link encounters Princess Ruto in the Water Temple, she refers to Sheik as "a man", not realizing that Sheik was Princess Zelda. The only time Sheik's voice is heard, in the scene just before receiving Nocturne of Shadow, it is female (a Gerudo Thief voice file). In the non-canon licensed manga for Ocarina of Time it says that Zelda used the Triforce of Wisdom to actually become male while disguised as Sheik, and sealed away the consciousness of Zelda.

Sheik appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, in which Zelda can change into Sheik as one of her abilities. Sheik's new design in Brawl is based on a model created for consideration in Twilight Princess.

Tetra

Tetra, as depicted in The Wind Waker

Tetra is a young female pirate who, in The Wind Waker and The Phantom Hourglass, causes Link to start his journey. Her mother died a few years before the events of The Wind Waker, and she was left to lead the group of pirates. She is the one whom Ganondorf intended the Helmaroc King to kidnap, instead of Aryll. Initially, she does not like Link, unimpressed by his sadness owing to the kidnapping. Later, however, she notices Link wielding the Master Sword as he advances to slay the Helmaroc King.

She periodically helps Link in his quest, and, later, her true identity is revealed in Hyrule Castle: she is Princess Zelda, the last heiress in the Hylian Royal Family bloodline. Before this, Tetra did not know she was Zelda, yet knew of Hyrule, the legend of the Hero of Time, and the Master Sword, and wore a large piece of the Triforce of Wisdom around her neck as a necklace. When reunited with her ancestor, the King of Hyrule, their Triforce pieces unite, triggering her physical transformation into the fair-skinned, blonde Princess Zelda.

Tetra also appears in Tetra's Trackers, a part of the Japanese version of Four Swords Adventures, as well as Phantom Hourglass, where she is taken by the Ghost Ship, from which Link must rescue her. Link then learns that he must also defeat Bellum to restore her from being transformed into stone.

Relationships

Impa

Main article: Impa

In several games, Zelda has a nursemaid named Impa, a faithful servant who is largely responsible for raising her and cultivating her abilities. In The Legend of Zelda, Impa is her most trusted servant, the one whom she entrusts with the task of finding a hero to defeat Ganon. In The Adventure of Link, it is Impa who brings Link to the North Castle and recounts the story of the ancient curse on the sleeping Zelda. The Impa from Ocarina of Time is a survivor of the mysterious Sheikah race. She protects and cares for Zelda, teaching Zelda and Link the royal tune known as Zelda’s Lullaby, and fleeing the castle with Zelda when Ganondorf threatens the princess in an attempt to obtain the Ocarina of Time. Impa then teaches Zelda the ways of the Sheikah, allowing her to hide in plain sight for seven years, awaiting Link's return. In the end, she rounds out Zelda's group of sages in her role as the Sage of Shadow. In the Oracle games, Impa is an agent operating in Zelda’s interest, sent to the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna to bring the oracles to safety in Hyrule.

Family

Not much is known about Zelda's family; they are rarely mentioned or seen in-game. The king and the prince who were related to the cursed Zelda in The Adventure of Link are never even named; their actions merely provide an explanation for her fate and the Triforce's condition. The return of the king to Hyrule Castle is seen briefly in the A Link to the Past end sequence. In Ocarina of Time, young Zelda briefly mentions her father, and while Ganondorf is seen kneeling before the king, the king is not actually shown.

In The Wind Waker, Tetra's relations include her deceased mother, who was the previous leader of the pirates, and Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, the ancient King of Hyrule.

In The Minish Cap, she has a significant relationship with Daltus, King of Hyrule and her father. When Zelda is turned to stone, he is desperate to find a way to save her, and asks Link's help in doing so. Link's quest at one point involves getting help from the spirit of another royal ancestor, Gustaf.

In other media

Although information is only considered series canon if it comes from the games or instruction booklets (and where there is conflict between the two, the games themselves are the accepted source), or occasionally other Nintendo materials, there are a number of other officially licensed Zelda stories. Many of these explore a possible romantic relationship with Link in greater depth than the actual games. For example, in the Ocarina of Time manga, after Zelda tells Link to retrieve the three spiritual stones, she kisses his cheek saying "Be careful, ok?". Link blushes and dashes off. Also, at the end of the Adult Saga of that manga, when Link has been returned to his original time, Zelda's voice is heard through the master sword saying "Link...I Love you, Link...". Link smiles and later returns to the castle to see Zelda again.

The Legend of Zelda TV series

Main article: The Legend of Zelda (TV series)

A set of Zelda cartoons aired on Fridays from 1989 to 1990 as a part of DiC's The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. The series loosely followed the original NES Zelda, mixing settings and characters from that game with original creations. Zelda is depicted as a woman warrior with a fiery temper who wears more comfortable and practical garb than the Zelda from the game. In addition to running the kingdom part-time for her father, King Harkinian, she often accompanies Link on his adventures and is quite skilled with a bow. The series exemplifies a romantic relationship between the two protagonists. Link is always begging Zelda for a kiss; however, even when she agrees to indulge him, it never occurs. They are interrupted by monsters, or Spryte (a fairy princess with a crush on Link), or any number of unfortunate circumstances such as something making Zelda so mad she no longer wants to kiss Link. It is directly revealed by Ganon that Zelda was indeed in love with Link in one episode, and there is no doubt of their romantic relationship in this series. Thirteen of these cartoon episodes were produced before the cancellation of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. Zelda was voiced by Cyndy Preston in the TV series. In the show, she was wearing a purple sweater, a light blue shirt, pink pants and brown thigh boots.

Captain N: The Game Master

A slightly altered version of this cartoon Zelda (with messier hair and a slightly more revealing version of the same clothing) appeared in assorted episodes in the second season of Captain N: The Game Master. In this crossover fiction, Zelda and Link befriend Kevin Keene and Princess Lana as they all attempt to restore peace to Hyrule. These appearances function as a follow-up to the original Zelda cartoon, however only containing elements from the second Zelda game, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

The Legend of Zelda comic books by Valiant

Featuring characters and settings from the TV series, this comic by Valiant Comics ran for five issues. Although Zelda's feelings for Link are made quite clear, there is another element at play here: her duty to the Triforce, which must come before her own needs and desires. When Link is corrupted by the Triforce of Power in one story, this Zelda briefly possesses his Triforce of Courage, which will not reside with one who uses Power without Wisdom. This comic reflected characters and elements from both the original The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past graphic novel

Created as a serial comic for Nintendo Power magazine by acclaimed manga author Shotaro Ishinomori, and later collected in graphic novel form, this tells an alternate version of the events from A Link to the Past. Zelda calls to Link and he must rescue her, first from Agahnim, and then from imprisonment at Turtle Rock in the Dark World. She is also instrumental in storming Ganon's floating castle and destroying him. Link and Zelda definitely develop a strong connection, but the relationship is ultimately portrayed as tragic. At the end of the story, Zelda has become queen, and Link is head of the Royal Guard and the Knights of Hyrule. This success is bittersweet, as their duties keep them apart, even though they were once so close, sharing an adventure and even coming together in dreams.

Stories from several Zelda games have also been converted to manga format in Japan. These publications greatly expand parts of each game's back-story.

In other games

CD-i games

Main article: CD-i games based on The Legend of Zelda series

Zelda is featured in three games made by a third party for the Phillips CD-i system. In Link: The Faces of Evil, she is kidnapped by Ganon again and has to be rescued. In Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon and Zelda's Adventure, Princess Zelda is the protagonist (both games involve Link's kidnapping). Although the games are noteworthy as the first time Zelda has been a playable character, the series is generally immensely criticized by fans and not recognized by Nintendo as canon. In the first CD-i Zelda games, Zelda is wearing a purple sweater, a light blue shirt, a pink skirt and brown boots.

Super Smash Bros.

The adult form of Zelda from Ocarina of Time also appears as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee. She was first shown in the guise of Sheik, but it was later revealed that Sheik was one of two forms. These forms each have their own unique moves, effectively doubling her repertoire. In the game, both Zelda and Sheik are voiced by Jun Mizusawa. Zelda also appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Like Link, her character design is more subdued than in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and is based on her appearance in Twilight Princess. In an interview, Eiji Aonuma said that character models for Sheik, along with Ganondorf, were submitted for possible use in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and on January 16, 2008, Sheik was confirmed as a returning character in Brawl, again as Zelda's alternate form. An alternate color of Zelda with an appearance similar to that of Super Smash Bros. Melee is also available. Both of these characters have the same Final Smash, which is the light arrow from Twilight Princess, although there are a few differences depending on which character uses it.

Reception

The relationship between Link and Princess Zelda was rated the second best video game romance by the IGN staff. GameDaily ranked Zelda thirty third on their Top 50 Hottest Game Babes on Trial, stating that she "didn't start out as much in the original Legend of Zelda for NES, but, boy, did Zelda mature quickly". Princess Zelda was voted third on a list of the ten greatest female characters conducted by the Official Nintendo Magazine stating that she "is a strong woman who, with her sword and bow and arrow, is capable of holding her own in a fight". Actor Robin Williams named his daughter after Zelda due to his love of the series.

References

• The following games and their instruction manuals: The Legend of Zelda; Zelda II: The Adventure of Link; The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past; The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening; The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time; The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask; The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons; The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords; The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures; The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Books

• Nintendo of America. Official Nintendo Power the Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-05-4.
• Prima Development. Super Smash Bros. Melee: Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games, 2002. ISBN 0-7615-3790-2.

Notes

External links

• Princess Zelda on Zeldapedia, an external wiki