Universe of The Legend of Zelda
Hyrule was created as the original setting for The Legend of Zelda and has remained the main environment for successive games in the series. Inspired by dungeon crawlers, Miyamoto and Tezuka developed a high fantasy world in the form of a 2D map filled with monsters, puzzles and dungeons. Hyrule transitioned to a 3D environment with the development of Ocarina of Time. For Breath of the Wild, released in 2017, Nintendo developed Hyrule into a seamless open world. Since the launch of the original game, the series has been a commercial and critical success and introduced landmark innovations in world design that have influenced numerous developers in the video game industry.
Overview
The Legend of Zelda series is set in a fantasy world that first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda, which was developed and published by Nintendo. The game introduced Hyrule as the series' primary setting and series protagonist Link, a Hylian boy or young man who is the player character.[1] The storyline of each game varies, but follows a common overarching plot that involves Link travelling through Hyrule to rescue Princess Zelda and save the world from evil, which is typically the series' main villain, Ganon. A recurring plot element in the games is Ganon's attempts to obtain the Triforce, a mystical artifact that will enable him to possess ultimate power.[2] Although Link and Zelda have similar appearances in each game, they are different characters who reappear whenever evil threatens the world. Skyward Sword was established as the beginning of the series' history and involves the antagonist Demise cursing the first incarnations of Link and Zelda so their descendants appear in an endless cycle to protect Hyrule from evil.[3][4]
Hyrule
Concept and design
"I went hiking and found a lake. It was quite a surprise for me to stumble upon it. When I traveled around the country without a map, trying to find my way, stumbling on amazing things as I went, I realized how it felt to go on an adventure like this".
Shigeru Miyamoto, on his inspiration for The Legend of Zelda[5]
Japanese video game designer
2D world design
Miyamoto and Tezuka started working on The Legend of Zelda during the development of
The first specifications were drawn up on a whiteboard by Miyamoto and then copied onto a document on 1 February 1985. The document detailed early concepts for items and enemies that would later feature in the game, such as a compass, bows and arrows and a boomerang, and "Hakkai", an early name given to Ganon. This was developed into rough sketches for various items and enemies within the following two weeks. The name for the game had not yet been decided, so the title was simply labelled "Adventure". Long paper was used to create the first land map of Hyrule, which was developed by Tezuka and Miyamoto sitting side by side and drawing together.[10][11] Miyamoto said that the name "Hyrule" seemed like the perfect choice during a discussion to find a name for a high-fantasy region. In Japan, The Legend of Zelda game was released as The Hyrule Fantasy, which was almost chosen as the name for the entire franchise, but was dropped after the first game. Miyamoto said this could have been due to the name being too similar to Final Fantasy, which was released soon afterwards.[12][13]
The original Hyrule map was designed to encourage exploration and discovery, requiring up to several hours to navigate. The map is
The concept of a role-playing game was a new experience for players in the 1980s. The gameplay diverged from the fast-paced games typically found in arcades like Super Mario Bros, by offering players an open world to explore, puzzles to solve and a fantasy story that centres on a protagonist embarking on an adventure to save a princess from an evil villain and bring peace to Hyrule. The new game concept caused concern with Nintendo's management. In 2003, Miyamoto stated in an interview for Superplay magazine: "I remember that we were very nervous, because The Legend Of Zelda was our first game that forced the players to think about what they should do next. We were afraid that gamers would become bored and stressed by the new concept". During the testing phase, players complained about getting lost inside the game's dungeons, but rather than making the game more simplistic, Miyamoto decided to make it more challenging by removing Link's sword at the beginning of the game and forcing players to locate it. He wanted to encourage players to communicate with each other while solving the game's puzzles.[8]
Transition to 3D
Hyrule continued to evolve over the course of successive games. The transition from a 2D to 3D world occurred with the release of
Due to concerns about the limitations of the Nintendo 64, Miyamoto initially conceived the game taking place within a central hub in the confines of Ganon's Castle, similar to Peach's Castle in Super Mario 64.[19] He described Ocarina of Time as a "huge project" due to the fact that it involved making the game environment from 3D polygons and was larger in scale than anything that he had previously worked on.[20] He said that he had approached the game by first focusing on what types of characters he wanted to include, rather than on the story or the game functions.[21] Ocarina of Time was designed with several innovations to help the player navigate the expansive 3D world and interact with the environment. The camera system was designed to integrate with the 3D world of Hyrule, giving the player a sense of perspective and tracking the movements of Link. The game's Z-targeting system was created to provide the player with a simple way to lock on and interact with objects, characters and enemies in the game world. The game also made use of context sensitive controls by using the A button for a range of interactions, such as mounting a horse or opening a treasure chest.[22] These features were landmarks for Nintendo and influenced 3D world development within the games industry.[23]
During development, the staff spent less time on developing the dungeons. According to Miyamoto: "Instead of mapping your way through a maze, I think what's more important is a sense of dread, a sense of pressure, and of course an opportunity for finding secrets and solving puzzles—we should be pursuing an emotional immediacy, the sense that you are really there".
Open air concept
Producer
"In Breath of the Wild, the fact that the world is supported by a coherent physics engine has a major effect on the possible actions. It sounds obvious, but for example, if you push down a rock, it's going to roll according to the slope. We wanted people to be able to feel things in a "realistic" way, to break or move around big objects in the game and believe they could have had the same feeling in real life. This physically lived experience is very important".
Breath of the Wild's open world was inspired by other video games. The game's director
Fujibayashi stated that the layout of Hyrule in
For
Depiction
The Kingdom of Hyrule,
Hyrule was formed by
The Hylian alphabet is a
The universal currency of Hyrule is the rupee. Although it shares its name with the real-world currency, Miyamoto said in an interview that this was not intentional and that he chose the word because it seemed cute and sounded like "rubies".[56] Rupees resemble hexagonal crystals or gems and come in various colors that determine their value.[57] In the manual for the original game, the currency was called rubies,[58] but this was changed to rupees in later games.[56] Subsequent games introduced more colors and sizes for rupees, each denoting a specific value. Generally, green rupees have the least value, while gold and silver rupees have the most.[59]
Hyrulean geography
Although the geography of Hyrule varies from game to game, it typically features several recurring geographical landmarks, which appear in different locations relative to each other depending on the game.[60]
- Death MountainTwilight Princess reveals it is part of the Eldin Mountains, a mountain range in the Eldin Province. The main inhabitants of Death Mountain are the Gorons, a race of rock-eating golems that mine the mountains in search of food; the mountains are littered with caves as a result of their mining activities.[61]
- Ganon's Castle[g] is Ganon's fortress, which has acted as the battleground between him and Link in several games. In Ocarina of Time, when Link travels to the future, it has been built in place of Hyrule Castle.[62]
- Hyrule Castle[h] is the home of Hyrule's royal family, which first appeared in A Link to the Past. It is a symbol of the power of the Hyrulean monarchy and is frequently the main target of Hyrule's enemies, particularly Ganon. It is often a central area that Link visits during his quest.[63]
- Kakariko Village[i] is a village that first appears in A Link to the Past and has since reappeared in Ocarina of Time, Four Swords Adventures, Twilight Princess, A Link Between Worlds, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Kakariko Village is often portrayed as a small, prosperous town that was originally founded by the Sheikah.[64] In Twilight Princess, Shadow Beasts have kidnapped most of the villagers, making the town resemble a ghost town. In Breath of the Wild, the village has survived the Great Calamity and is inhabited by the Sheikah.[65]
- Lake Hylia[j] is the largest freshwater lake in Hyrule. It commonly features collectible items and dungeons. It is often where Link encounters members of the Zora race.[66]
- The Lost Woods
- Spectacle Rock[l] is a location consisting of two large rock formations next to each other that resemble a pair of eyeglasses. It housed the final dungeon in the original game. It is usually associated with Death Mountain, but is located in the Gerudo Highlands in Breath of the Wild. Spectacle Rock also appears in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, and A Link Between Worlds.[69]
- Temple of Time[m] is the temple that houses the Master Sword in several games.[70] It is also used to traverse time, most notably in Ocarina of Time, where it allows the player to travel between the past and future.[70] In some games, it serves as a dungeon.[71]
Objects
Triforce
The Triforce,
Master Sword
The Master Sword,
Other lands and worlds
Hyrule is the main recurring setting of The Legend of Zelda series, but several games are set outside Hyrule in other lands, realms and parallel worlds. The geographical relationship between Hyrule and these other worlds is not clearly defined.[76]
- The Dark World[p] is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in A Link to the Past. It is a darker version of Hyrule, which is referred to as the Light World.[77]
- The Great Sea[q] is the setting of The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass, formed after a deluge flooded Hyrule. Only a few mountaintops are still visible above the water, which form the islands and archipelagos of the Great Sea. Due to the relatively small size of these islands, the large expanses of ocean between each island require the player to use charts to navigate between them.[78]
- HolodrumOracle of Seasons. He is found by Din, who is subsequently captured by the General of Darkness, Onox, causing the four seasons in Holodrum to fall into chaos. Holodrum is protected by a huge tree called a Maku Tree. Link eventually dispels the darkness using a Huge Maku Seed.[77]
- Hytopia[s] is a kingdom that is the main setting of Tri Force Heroes. It is ruled by Princess Styla, who has been cursed to wear a drab jumpsuit.[79]
- Koholint IslandLink's Awakening,which Link washes ashore on after a storm. A giant egg sits atop its highest peak. To escape the island, Link must awaken the Wind Fish. He later discovers that waking the Wind Fish will cause the island to disappear, as it exists in its dreams. Link ultimately escapes the island by waking the Wind Fish but, as a result, it ceases to exist.[77]
- LabrynnaOracle of Ages. In a similar storyline to that of Holodrum, the land of Labrynna is thrown into chaos after Nayru is possessed by the sorceress Veran, causing the flow of time to be disrupted.[77]
- LoruleA Link Between Worlds. It is similar to Hyrule in geography and is ruled by Princess Zelda's Lorulean counterpart, Princess Hilda. Like Hyrule, Lorule originally had its own Triforce, which was the source of various conflicts. However, the Royal Family of Lorule decided to destroy the Triforce in an attempt to put an end to conflict, only to bring calamity to their world as a result.[77]
- New Hyrule[80] is a kingdom founded by Link and Tetra following the events of Phantom Hourglass which appears in Spirit Tracks. New Hyrule is home to the titular Spirit Tracks, magical train tracks created by the Spirits of Good, the guardian deities of the country. The Tracks connect the four sections of the continent and allow for travel by train between them.[81]
- SkyloftSkyward Sword, which were created when the Goddess Hylia used the last of her power to raise what was left of the surviving Hylians along with a plot of land that was still free during the Great War with Demise. Below the clouds lies "the Surface".[82]
- Termina[x] is a parallel world to Hyrule that serves as the main setting of Majora's Mask. Link enters it through a portal deep within the Lost Woods. The land and its citizens are very similar to that of Hyrule. Termina is split into four distinct regions, guarded by four giant deities: the swampy Woodfall, home of the Deku Scrubs, to the south; the icy Snowhead Mountains of the Gorons to the north; Great Bay, home of the Zora to the west; and the undead wastelands of Ikana Canyon to the east. Its capital, Clock Town, lies in the center.[77]
- The Twilight Realm
- The World of the Ocean King is the setting of Phantom Hourglass, which takes place after the events of The Wind Waker. Its world is similar to the Great Sea, with several islands located on the ocean.[77]
- The Depths is the underworld of Tears of the Kingdom, which is a underworld scattered with ruins that mirrors the surface of Hyrule. Only connected to the surface by a handful of chasms spread across Hyrule, the Depths receives very little light, and is henceforth pitch-black until Link activates the many Lightroots all across this underworld.
Characters
Despite most games in the series nominally taking place centuries apart, The Legend of Zelda often features many recurring characters. The
Link is frequently accompanied by a companion in Zelda games, starting with
Races
Since the release of the original game, the series has featured several races. Alongside the Hylian race, which established the land of Hyrule, there are various other prominent races, such as the Gorons, Gerudo, Rito and Zora.[91]
- Ancient Robots are a prehistoric mechanical race that appear in Skyward Sword. Link encounters them in the third area of the game, Lanayru Desert. They were created by the Thunder Dragon Lanayru, but their land eventually became a barren desert while they rusted away. They can be revived using a Timeshift Stone to change the present to the past. Although the designers expressed concern about including advanced technology in Skyward Sword, they decided that they did not look out of place with a "softer" design to resemble ancient clay figures from Japanese history, more befitting of fantasy.[92]
- Dragons are a recurring race that usually appear as benevolent guardians or powerful enemies. In Ocarina of Time, Link must slay Volvagia, a dragon boss in the Fire Temple.[93] In The Wind Waker, the Sky Spirit Valoo acts as the godlike dragon and the patron deity of the Rito tribe.[94] When Link arrives on Dragon Roost Island, he defeats the boss Gohma by damaging Valoo's tail.[95] In Twilight Princess, Link encounters the dragon Argorok, who is the boss of the City in the Sky.[96] In Skyward Sword, Link is aided the three dragons Faron, Eldin and Lanayru, which guard the three regions of the Surface.[97] In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the three dragons Dinraal,[z] Naydra,[aa] and Farosh[ab] can be found in several locations around Hyrule.[98] In Tears of the Kingdom, there is also a fourth dragon, the Light Dragon (白龍, Hakuryū), which is later revealed to be Zelda, who transformed after undergoing the process of draconification to restore the Master Sword.[99][100][101]
- Fairies are magical creatures that appear as small, winged humanoids often obscured by light. They tend to be shy and can be found hiding in many places throughout Hyrule. They are often found at fairy fountains or fairy springs. In most games in the series, fairies will heal Link if he manages to catch one; he can also put them in empty bottles to have them heal him later. If Link dies while he has a bottled fairy in his possession, the fairy will automatically resurrect him. Great fairies are powerful, high ranking fairies that use their magic to enchant Link's items into more powerful versions.[102] In Ocarina of Time, the Kokiri form a symbiotic relationship with their guardian fairies, who act as companions and mentors. One of these is Navi, who serves as Link's sidekick and helps him learn about the world outside Kokiri Forest.[103]
- The crossdress as a female to enter.[109]
- The Gorons
- Hyliansmedieval Europe.[111][41] They were created as the first race of Hyrule by the goddess Hylia. They are born with magic-infused blood, said to be a gift from the goddesses that grants them psychic powers and magical skill. Their long pointed ears are said to allow them to hear messages sent by the gods.[112] Link and Princess Zelda are prominent Hylians. In Skyward Sword, Hylians live on the floating island of Skyloft and are accompanied by bird-like creatures called Loftwings. Hylians are a fairly diverse species, having variations in skin, hair and eye colour. Due to repeated attacks from enemies, such as Ganon, large Hylian armies exist to protect Hyrule.[113]
- The Kokiri[ag] are a pixie-like race who inhabit the Kokiri Forest. They branched off from the Hylians because they wanted to live a more natural life as Hyrule continued to industrialize. They are shielded by the Great Deku Tree, who considers them to be his children, and each receives a small fairy that is their lifelong friend, guardian, and teacher. They do not age once they grow up into kids due to the Deku Tree's power. They are cautious and secretive, believing that they will die if they leave the forest.[114] Link was raised as a Kokiri in Ocarina of Time, but was not born to them, as his Hylian mother entrusted him to the Great Deku Tree when he was an infant.[115]
- The Koroks[ah] are plant-like beings that first appeared in The Wind Waker. They are said to have been transformed from the Kokiri following the Great Flood.[116] They are small creatures with wood-like bodies and masks made from leaves. They are very light, which allows them to travel by using sprouts as propellers. They leave their home, the "Forest Haven", to plant seeds from the Great Deku Tree all over the world, and return once a year to hold a ceremony and obtain more seeds. In Breath of the Wild, Koroks can be found all over Hyrule and their seeds can be traded with Hestu, a large Korok, for weapon inventory slots. Koroks are difficult to find despite being numerous and are best protected in Korok Forest, a hidden location in the Lost Woods.[117]
- The Oocca[ai] are a race of birds with long necks and human-like faces that appear in Twilight Princess. They live in the "City in the Sky",[aj][118] an airborne city that is the seventh dungeon in Twilight Princess. A female Oocca, Ooccoo[ak] can warp the player back to the entrance of the game's dungeons. Ooccoo's son, Ooccoo Jr,[al] warps the player to Ooccoo's location. In Twilight Princess, they are mentioned to be closer to the gods than the Hylians. Some in Hyrule theorize that the Oocca actually evolved into the Hylians, or that they created Hylians and a city in the sky for them to live in.[119] In Twilight Princess, Link reaches the City by launching himself out of an enormous cannon.[120] Ooccoo has also appeared in other Nintendo games, such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Hyrule Warriors.[121]
- Minish, referred to in their native language as Picori,[am] are small humanoid sprites no bigger than a human thumb that live in secret. They are only visible to children and tend to live in forests, but also appear inside of buildings and holes in and around various spots of Hyrule.[122] There are three variations of the Minish, which can be distinguished by their attire: Forest Minish, Town Minish and Mountain Minish. They first appear in The Minish Cap. Most Minish are helpful, and like to hide valuable objects for others to find, although one Picori, Vaati[an] became evil after becoming obsessed with human nature.
- The RitoRevali, the Rito Champion, and Kass, a wandering minstrel who displays the Rito's appreciation of music through song.[123]
- The SheikahImpa. They bear a physical resemblance to Hylians, but are a completely different race, having great technological prowess. Physically, they are extremely capable, able to run and jump better than other races. They are also some of the most potent magic-wielders in Hyrule. The Sheikah have a divinely ordained role to protect the Hyrule Royal Family. Their symbol, the Eye of the Sheikah, which is depicted as a single eye with three triangles above and a teardrop beneath, is commonly seen in the series, even in games where the Sheikah are not present. In Breath of the Wild, examples of the advanced technology created by the Sheikah can be found in the hidden structures around Hyrule and in the Sheikah Slate.[124]
- Twili[aq] are a race that exist in the Twilight Realm and appear in Twilight Princess. The Twili come from a group referred to as the Interlopers, who used extraordinary magic to dominate a war between Hylians for the Triforce and the Sacred Realm. After seeing this, the Golden Goddesses ordered the Light Spirits to seal their magic in the Fused Shadow; the Interlopers were then banished to the Twilight Realm, a dark mirror world of Hyrule, where they adapted and evolved into the Twili. The most prominent members of their race are Midna[ar], the titular Twilight Princess, and Zant,[as] who overthrew her with Ganondorf's help to become king of the Twilight.[125]
- The Zorapiscine humanoids that inhabit Zora's Domain or Lake Hylia. In the original game and Link to the Past, Zora were enemies that attacked Link from the water with projectiles, though the giant Zora King sells Link a pair of flippers in A Link to the Past, allowing him to swim and use the network of whirlpools that link far corners of Hyrule. By Ocarina of Time, their role in most stories had changed to a neutral or friendly race. Zora government is monarchical, either ruled by a king, such as King Dorephan or King Zora De Bon XVI, or queen, such as Queen Oren or Queen Rutela.[au] Two different branches exist: "River Zora" are more violent and can shoot fire, while "Sea Zora" are generally passive. Zora have extraordinarily long lifespans and lay eggs to reproduce. Zora eggs need to be kept in cold, clean water to develop healthily, and every egg from the same clutch must be kept together for them to hatch. Newborn Zora have the appearance of a tadpole.[126]
- The Zonai are an ancient race that appear in Tears of the Kingdom. Initially referenced through various ruins in Breath of the Wild, they are established in Tears of the Kingdom as the tribe that originally founded Hyrule, with Rauru being the first king alongside his wife Sonia. In the game, Zonai technology is prominent across Hyrule in the form of shrines, ruins, Constructs, and other Zonai devices. They also created the Geoglyphs, which Link investigates during the Main Quest "The Dragon's Tears" along with their respective Dragon's Tears in order to learn more about Zelda's disappearance.[127] In the ancient past, they were created around the Dragon's Tears by individuals who viewed the memories within them.[128] In Creating a Champion, the Zonai are described as magic users who worship the Triforce.[129]
Enemies
The appearance of some creatures varies across different titles of the series:
- Armos[av] are animated statues built to guard ancient ruins that come to life and attack when disturbed. They have monstrous appearances and carry a sword and shield. If Link approaches, they will chase after him. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[130]
- BokoblinsDemon King Demise. The game also introduces Technoblins and Cursed Bokoblins, undead Bokoblins that can curse Link. In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Bokoblins are low-level, comical enemies that commonly appear across Hyrule living in camps.[131]
- ChuChus[ax] are jelly-like creatures with squat, translucent bodies, stalk-eyes, and a smiling mouth. They mostly move by bouncing around. ChuChus appear in various colours and some possess specific abilities. Once they are defeated, they will drop ChuChu jelly, which can be used by Link as an ingredient and for upgrading armour.[132]
- Darknuts[ay] are large armored knights armed with swords and shields. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda but are recurring foes that appear in Twilight Princess and other games.[133]
- Deku[az] are wooden plant-like creatures introduced in Ocarina of Time that appear mostly in the overworld and dungeons. Deku are small creatures that have leaves sprouting out from their heads, red glowing eyes and tube-like mouths that can shoot Deku Nuts. They can fly by using large leaves to glide, and some can use the leaves on their head to fly indefinitely after taking off from a Deku Flower. There are four types of Deku depicted in the series: Deku Scrubs, Mad Scrubs, Business Scrubs, and Royal Scrubs.[134]
- Floormasters[ba] and Wallmasters are ghostly manifestations of giant hands that drag adventurers back to the entrance of a dungeon. Floormasters split up into smaller versions when the original is attacked. Wallmasters first appeared in The Legend of Zelda while Floormasters first appeared in Ocarina of Time. Floormasters also appear in The Wind Waker and The Minish Cap.[135]
- Gibdos[bb] are undead creatures wrapped like mummies. They resemble ReDeads in regards to their slow and zombie-like movement; in some games, setting a Gibdo's bandages alight will reveal a Stalfos or a ReDead underneath. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[136]
- Gohma[bc] are recurring boss monsters which typically resemble giant arthropods with a single eye. The eye serves as their weak point. The original Gohma first appeared in The Legend of Zelda game.[137]
- Guardians are large mechanical foes that can blast enemies with a powerful laser from their single eye. They appear in Breath of the Wild. Guardian Stalkers roam Hyrule by moving on their mechanical legs, whilst Guardian Skywatchers use propellers for locomotion. Producer Eiji Aonuma said that they were based on the octoroks that appear in the original game.[138]
- Hinoxogres and have appeared in A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Four Swords Adventures, Phantom Hourglass, A Link Between Worlds, Tri Force Heroes, Breath of the Wild, and most recently Tears of the Kingdom. In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Hinoxs can be either red, blue or black, depending on their strength. They are the largest monster found within the game and will uproot nearby trees to use as weapons against the player if provoked. Stalnox are skeletal versions of Hinox that appear in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.[140]
- Keese[be] are bat monsters that often lurk in dark places such as caves, waiting to dive bomb unwary travelers attempting to bite off chunks of flesh. Some Keese have the ability to pick up elements they fly through and there are fire, ice, cursed, and electric variants. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[130]
- Like Likes[bf] are yellowish cylindrical monsters that can suck in creatures as large as humans and consume items they carry. They are known for swallowing the shields and tunics that Link uses. Like Likes dissolve into a puddle when killed, leaving the stolen items. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[130][135]
- Lizalfoslizards that often attack in pairs and can parry and dodge oncoming attacks. They first appeared in The Adventure of Link. In Breath of the Wild, Lizalfos can throw weapons and dash toward their target.[141]
- Lynels[bh] are large, strong centaur-like creatures with a head of a lion and horns that first appeared in The Legend of Zelda. This creature has multiple variations including red, blue, white, and silver, with each color denoting the Lynel's strength. In Breath of the Wild, Lynels are extremely powerful foes that are resistant to attacks.[142]
- Moblins[bi] are orc-like monsters that serve as Ganon's footsoldiers. In The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link, Moblins resembled bulldogs, but are pig-like in more recent games.[143] They commonly wield spears, swords, bows, or occasionally massive clubs. They are one of the most common enemies in the games and are considered "mighty", but also "dumb".[144][145] They are described as greedy, self-possessed creatures, and the major antagonist will commonly use them as mercenaries or summoned monsters.[146]
- Octoroks[bj] are octopus monsters that have appeared in almost every Legend of Zelda game (except for Twilight Princess). Octoroks produce rocks within their body that they can fire from their snout via compressed air with the force of a musket shot. Some species of Octorok are land-dwelling while others are mostly aquatic. Big Octos are a very large ocean-dwelling breed sometimes known to attack ships. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[130]
- Poes[bk] are lantern-carrying ghosts formed from concentrated hatred toward the living that freely roam graveyards and other haunted locales. They always carry their signature lanterns. In some editions, they can go invisible when Link is doing a certain action or in a certain form. In Tears of the Kingdom, they appear in the Depths as obtainable items and a currency for Bargainer Statues. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[136]
- ReDeads[bl] are undead creatures resembling zombies with dark brown skin and flat mask-like faces that can paralyze enemies with a scream, and cling to them to drain health away.[147] They first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
- Skulltulas[bm] are giant spiders, named for the bony plate in the shape of a human skull that forms their carapace. They are most commonly found in dark places, such as forests, caves, and dungeons but can also sometimes be found in towns at night. Skulltulas and Giant Skulltulas hang from ceiling surfaces, suspended by a strand of silk waiting to drop on unwary prey.[136]
- Stalfos
- Tektites[bo] are cyclopean four-legged insectoid creatures who use their powerful legs to leap upon and attack prey. Blue Tektites can walk on water, and both Blue and Red Tektites can jump up cliffs. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[130]
- Wizzrobes[bp] are magician-like creatures that wear wizard robes and often use fire and ice magic. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[130] Breath of the Wild introduced elemental Wizzrobes, who use various magical rods to summon elemental attacks, elemental enemies and even change the weather accordingly. The regular types are the Fire, Electric and Ice Wizzrobes, but each has a more powerful variant. These are known as Meteo and Thunder Wizzrobes, and Blizzrobes respectively.[148]
Reception
In their January 2010 issue, Nintendo Power listed Hyrule as one of the greatest Nintendo locations, citing the vast number of areas to explore, as well as referencing players' first experiences with the Lost Woods and Death Mountain as highlights of the players' adventures.[149] Steve Watts of GameSpot praised the original game world, commenting that although it is minimalist, it, "conveys the feeling of going on a grand adventure through the wilderness, and the lack of hand-holding that would come to define later Zelda games makes the world feel that much more expansive and mysterious".[150] Yannick LeJacq for Kotaku commented that "Hyrule is one of the most iconic settings in the history of video games. The Legend of Zelda players have been poring over it in one way or another for almost 30 years now".[151]
Polygon's Jeremy Parish remarked on the impact that Hyrule and its centrepiece Hyrule Field had on gamers in Ocarina of Time. He commented: "Open game worlds existed before Ocarina of Time. And in truth, Ocarina's rendition of Hyrule isn't even really all that open. But the game explored the relationship between its environments, the camera's 3D perspective and Link's place in it all to create a realm that felt far more like a real location than the game worlds that had come before it".[152] Destructoid also noted Hyrule's impact in Ocarina of Time, saying "there was nothing else like it before 1998" and continued: "The awesome thing about Hyrule is that I can honestly see a place like it existing in our world. It's not just some fantasy, flashy place like you'd find in the Star Wars universe. It's meant to look like the real world, and Miyamoto achieved that goal in a way no one would have expected without actually seeing it first".[153]
The open world of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild has received praise for its design. Noelle Warner of Destructoid ranked all of the settlements in Breath of the Wild and chose Tarrey Town as the favourite location, because players must build it from the ground up, making it one of the longest side quests in the game.[154] Kate Gray, writing for The Guardian, was impressed by the beauty and large scale of the game world, noting that "the greens of the open plains contrast with the dark black of Death Mountain, which is streaked with orange lava on the distant horizon". She also commented on the "range of quiet, clever techniques designed to help players navigate the environment".[155] Andrew Webster of The Verge responded positively to the grandness of the game's massive open world: "The scale could have been daunting, but the joy of discovery and the satisfaction that comes from finding your own way make it inviting instead".[156]
Senior editor Caty McCarthy of
Influence and legacy
Since the release of the original The Legend of Zelda game, critics have commented on the influence and legacy of The Legend of Zelda universe on the gaming industry. Ozzie Mejia of
In the months following the release of Breath of the Wild in 2017, many video game developers were influenced by its open world design. Alx Preston, creator of Hyper Light Drifter, remarked that "the sense of freedom and experimentation is incredibly inspiring". Adam Saltsman, creator of Canabalt, commented on the consistency of the game environment and the player's ability to experiment. Vlambeer's Rami Ismail said that "no game has done verticality as well as BotW".[168] Sam Byford of The Verge commented on the impact of Breath of the Wild's open world on the video game industry, describing it as a "revolutionary approach to open-world game design". He cited several other subsequent game worlds that bear similarities to Breath of the Wild, including Genshin Impact, Immortals Fenyx Rising and Horizon Forbidden West.[169] Both the miHoYo development team of Genshin Impact and Sam Barlow, creator of Telling Lies have cited Breath of the Wild as a significant source of inspiration.[170][171] Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki also said that he was influenced by Breath of the Wild's open world.[172] Upon its release, Breath of the Wild achieved critical acclaim and was the biggest commercial success of the franchise and one of the best-selling video games, selling 29 million copies on the Nintendo Switch as of December 2022[173] and over 1.6 million copies on the Wii U.[174][175]
Notes
- ^ Japanese: ハイラル, Hepburn: Hairaru
- ^ ハイラル王国, Hairaru Ōkoku
- ^ ディン, Din
- ^ フロル, Faroru
- ^ ネール, Nēru
- ^ デスマウンテン, Desu Maunten
- ^ ガノン城, Ganon-jō
- ^ ハイラル城, Hairaru-jō
- ^ カカリコ村, Kakariko-mura
- ^ ハイリア湖, Hairia-ko
- ^ 迷いの森, Mayoi no Mori
- ^ めがね岩, Megane Iwa
- ^ 時の神殿, Toki no Shinden
- ^ トライフォース, Toraifōsu
- ^ マスターソード, Masutā Sōdo
- ^ 闇の世界, Yami no Sekai
- ^ 大海原, Ōunabara
- ^ ホロドラム, Horodoramu
- ^ ドレース王国, Dorēsu Ōkoku
- ^ コホリント島, Kohorinto-tō
- ^ ラブレンヌ, Raburennu
- ^ ロウラル, Rouraru
- ^ スカイロフト, Sukairofuto
- ^ タルミナ, Tarumina
- ^ 影の世界, Kage no Sekai
- ^ オルドラ, Orudora
- ^ ネルドラ, Nerudora
- ^ フロドラ, Furudora
- ^ ゲルド
- ^ ゴロン
- ^ ダルニア
- ^ ハイリア族, Hairia-zoku
- ^ コキリ族, Kokiri-zoku
- ^ コログ, Korogu
- ^ 天空人, Tenkū-jin, lit. "sky people"
- ^ 天空都市, Tenkū Toshi
- ^ おばちゃん, Oba-chan
- ^ ぼくちゃん, Boku-chan
- Koropokkuru
- ^ グフー, Gufū
- ^ リト
- ^ シーカー, Shīkā
- ^ トワイライトの民, Towairaito no Tami
- ^ ミドナ, Midona
- ^ ザント, Zanto
- ^ ゾーラ, Zōra
- ^ ルテラ, Rutera
- ^ アモス, Amosu
- ^ ボコブリン, Bokoburin
- ^ チュチュ, Chuchu
- ^ タートナック, Tātonakku
- ^ デクナッツ, Dekunattsu
- ^ フロアマスター, Furoamasutā
- ^ ギブド, Gibudo
- ^ ゴーマー, Gōmā
- ^ ヒノックス, Hinokkusu
- ^ キース, Kīsu
- ^ ライクライク, Raikuraiku
- ^ リザルフォス, Rizarufosu
- ^ ライネル, Raineru
- ^ モリブリン, Moriburin
- ^ オクタロック, Okutarokku
- ^ ポウ, Pou
- ^ リーデッド, Rīdeddo
- ^ スタルウォール, Sutaruwōru
- ^ スタルフォス, Sutarufosu
- ^ テクタイト, Tekutaito
- ^ ウィズローブ, Wizurōbu
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Demise: Though this is not the end. My hate... never perishes. It is born anew in a cycle with no end! I will rise again! Those like you... Those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero... They are eternally bound to this curse. An incarnation of my hatred shall ever follow your kind, dooming them to wander a blood-soaked sea of darkness for all time!"
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And I was really happy that we here in Japan could make a medieval tale of sword and sorcery liked by the people of the world.
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Hylian Building Ruins Romanesque
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Mineru: To swallow a secret stone is to become an immortal dragon... one blessed with eternal life.
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Kokiri boy: The Great Deku Tree said that if a Kokiri leaves the woods, he or she will die!
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Shad: The common opinion is that Hyrule was created by the Hylia people, the race closest to the gods, but...truth be told, there's also a theory saying that in ancient times, there was a race even closer to the gods than the Hylia people, and THEY created it. And they, simultaneously with the birth of the Hylia people, created a new capital, a capital that floated in the heavens.
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