25 years of Zelda: An in-depth look at the greatest video game franchise ever
As I sit down to write a feature that I’m sure will be simultaneously received as a decent piece of gaming “journalism” and a terrible rant perpetrated by none other than the king of Nintendo fanboys himself, I can’t help but feel as though much of what will be said in response to this is rather unimportant. Not to downplay the significance of feedback, because the vastness with which I appreciate it should never go unnoticed by all of you, but in light of the subject I’m going to be writing about from the true depths of my being, I ask if you all could forgo judgement and angry comments in lieu of positive discussion or civil disagreement.
That being said, I really think that someone bringing this subject to bear is long overdue, and while I’m certain I’m not the first to do it, I do hope that I can add a worthwhile two cents to the conversation, and get even more people talking. After all, video games are an art, and whether tradition-friendly die-hards want to agree with me or not, it is safe to say that the The Legend of Zelda stands high and mighty as the king of all this artistic benevolence.
The meaning that Zelda games hold to those who play them is generally misinterpreted- or misunderstood- by those who are not part of this “in” crowd. It is a cultural phenomena that doesn’t share much in common with other modern gaming fads- nay, any fascination from any artistic media- because it is the combination of thousands of hours of work, hundreds of people, brilliant soundtracks, vast landscapes, flawless game design, and so much more that all comes together in a more seamless and immersive way than has ever been seen before. It is, for those that understand and open themselves up to it, unlike anything you could possibly experience elsewhere. An almost spiritual, or in some cases near-religious, experience that millions of people share whenever another one of these games is released.
But what does it really mean to play a Zelda game?
I imagine that the meaning changes from person to person, and I would be more than happy to hear about others’ views on this, but I think the centralized meaning to a Zelda game is one of authenticity. It’s an entire world that, no matter how childish (in the case of 2003’s Wind Waker), how technologically inhibited (Ocarina of Time, 1998), or how old (The Legend of Zelda, 1986) things may seem, feels absolutely and unconditionally real. Every action, every battle, every line of dialogue, and every enemy is part of a living, breathing place that bleeds beyond the game and into our imaginations; and it is that immature psyche we all have which assists in taking us there. To someone that is part of this “in” crowd, rarely, if ever, does something capture heart and mind in such a pure way. In short, this is what The Legend of Zelda series is about.
But of course, there is quite a bit more to a franchise that’s entering its 25th year on the market than just feeling authentic and immersive. There are elements, big and small, the contribute to the overall “magic” of the game. Many people have come to call such things the “Nintendo difference”, but frankly I prefer to think of it as more of the “Zelda” difference. Other Nintendo games have their own feelings, and they’re all great, but the feeling that Zelda brings is a step above, beyond, and away from Nintendo’s other titles, and it all starts with the underlying meaning behind each and every game in the franchise.
