WhileThe Legend of Zeldais highly regarded as one of Nintendo’s greatest franchises, not all aspects of the series are universally beloved by fans. It’s an unfortunate truth that you’re likely to find in any beloved game or franchise: certain aspects, like a gameplay mechanic or piece of lore, create controversy within the community. TheZeldafranchise is certainly guilty of this, butno aspect of the series causes quite as much debate among fans as the official series timeline.
Personally, I can’t say that I’ve ever been the biggest fan of theZeldatimeline. While it’s certainly admirable to attempt to connect all the games into a single continuity,its multiple branches and confusing placements have left me feeling agitated by the many inconsistencies that arise. It was only once I learned about theZeldadirector’s true feelings towards the timeline, and how the development team approaches continuity in general, that my feelings about its inclusion began to change.
The Zelda Timeline Always Irritated Me
The Timeline Is Full Of Inconsistencies
What has always frustrated me about theZeldatimeline is its many inconsistencies that make it difficult to follow the series' continuity. For example, according to the officialZeldawebsite,Four Swords Adventuresis set directly afterTwilight Princessin the timeline, despite sharing many similarities of its own version of Hyrule withA Link to the Past, which is in a different branch.TheZeldatimeline is often full of baffling contradictions like this, made worse by the little justification or explanations provided by the games themselves.
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Another frustrating aspect of theZeldatimeline is how the developers themselves take a more relaxed approach to continuity in general. For example, the placement ofBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomremains a mystery, withanewZeldatimeline branchseemingly established, making it unclear whether the games are even a part of the main timeline. This unusual approach that the development team have taken towards theZeldaseries' continuity has only made the timeline more confusing, as it can seem like no game’s placement is ever certain.
TheZeldadevelopment team have also been outspoken about allowing the players to use their imagination and interpret the timeline in their own way, as stated byTOTKdirector Hidemaro Fujibayashi during an interview withFamitsuin 2018.
What makes the lack of consistency so infuriating to me is how it seemingly contradicts theZeldatimeline’s mere existence. The presence of a timeline for the series implies that all games in theZeldafranchise are interconnected under a single continuity and should be treated as such. Yet, when taking this approach, I’m often baffled and frustrated with howthe titles themselves fail to meet that level of consistency or accuracy that’s required. Treating theZeldaseries as one over-arching story can often be a disappointing and unrewarding experience, making the timeline an infuriating aspect of the overall series.
The Zelda Devs Don’t Place Much Importance On The Timeline
Focusing On The Timeline Can Limit Creativity
This frustration I had been experiencing for such a long time made me question the purpose that theZeldatimeline serves for the series. If theZeldadevelopment team wasn’t committed to maintaining a certain level of accuracy or to telling a cohesive overarching narrative across the series' many titles, why create a timeline to begin with? This question continued to play in my mind asI struggled to come to terms with theZeldatimeline and its purpose. That was until recently, when I discovered why the development team continues to take such a cautious approach.
As reported byNintendo Lifein 2023,TOTKdirector Hidemaro Fujibayashi was asked during an interview about how much consideration goes into a game’s placement in the series timeline during development. During his response, Fujibayashi went into great detail about the more reserved approach that the development team takes to theZeldatimeline,and how it can affect the level of creativity in each entry. His full response can be read below:
[We] realized that fans have a great time theorizing and enjoy thinking about where things fit on the timeline. That’s something that the development team recognizes and it considers, but to an extent. And I say, “to an extent” because if we get too into the weeds or too detailed in that placement, it results in kind of creating restraints for our creativity; the process of creating new ideas becomes restricted because we’re so tied up and trying to make this fit into a very specific spot in the timeline. We do consider it, but not to an extent where we feel that our development process feels restricted or constrained.
While this may seem odd at first, there are many examples in which theZeldadevelopers have used this approach to great effect. For example, there’s no doubtMajora’s Maskserves its role wellas a direct sequel toOcarina of Time, adopting its predecessor’s revolutionary mechanics and greater emphasis on narrative. However,what makes the game so memorable is its diversions from theZeldaseries in general, creating a darker and more somber tone, while placing a larger focus on side quests to create an entirely original experience.
It was upon reading this interview, and looking back at multipleZeldagames that I had played before, thatmy perspective on the series changed completely. I began to realize that my view of theZeldatimeline as a strict chronology of events to abide by was not the reason for its existence. Rather, the timeline serves a different purpose as a creative tool for theZeldaseries as a whole.
Zelda Has Always Been About Offering Unique Experiences
Zelda Games Are Best Known For Mixing Old And New Elements Together
A huge reason why theZeldaseries is so beloved is how each subsequent entry often features a fantastic mix of the familiar and unknown. There’s a wide array of gameplay mechanics, collectibles, and characters that you can expect to see going into anyZeldagame. However,what makes the experience so special is seeing how those signature elements are blended together with new ideasto create an adventure that, while familiar, is also wholly unique.
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The reserved approach that the developers take to the timeline is vital in maintaining that balance.Each branch of theZeldatimelinecontains its own themes, atmosphere and mechanics that are shared across the titles occupying said branch. It’s a perfect starting point for the development of a new game, while providing the freedom the developers need to bring new ideas into the mix. The more reserved manner in which theZeldatimeline is used as a creative toolallows each entry to push the series forward in a way that a bigger commitment to continuity would not allow for.
Viewing theZeldatimeline in this context has allowed me to enjoy each game in the series as their own individual experiences. It has encouraged me to appreciate each game for what it is, and the connections it does have with other titles, rather than picking them apart for failing to commit to a larger continuity. I no longer feel the same frustration with theThe Legend of Zeldatimeline that I did for so many years, and that’s all thanks to learning the purpose it plays in the larger franchise as a whole.
Sources:Nintendo,Famitsu,Nintendo Life
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda franchise follows the adventures of Link, an elf-like Hylian, and Princess Zelda as they protect the land of Hyrule from the evil warlord-turned-demon king Ganon. The series is known for its mix of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving elements, often revolving around the collection of the Triforce, a powerful relic left by the goddesses who created Hyrule. Each game features different incarnations of Link and Zelda, maintaining core elements while introducing new characters and settings.
