It’s funny how memories work. I cannot remember the first time I rode a bike or my first day of school. I cannot remember the first time I saw snow or even my first holiday. But I do remember the first magical moment that I found The Legend of Zelda, or rather it found me. It sounds like the start of a cheesy movie but the excitement and awe that I felt that day is something that I will never forget.
So, what makes The Legend of Zelda series so Hylia damn loveable? With every shifting story, ever-changing scenery and beautiful pieces of compositions, a world unravels in front of you, full of danger and mystery that you thirst to master.
It is no secret that Miyamoto originally based our hero on another green-tunic-wearing, elf-eared fairy-boy and it’s easy to see why! Visually comparing, Link and Walt Disney’s Peter Pan could be long-distance cousins. This has been explored by numerous fans of the series, but for me, it’s not so much the design but the message that projects from these two characters. It is a strong sensation that brings child-like-wonder into our lives and fills us with determination to push ourselves with every cunning and decisive step.
This is where it begins for most fans of the series, myself included. As a child with a sense of wonderment — as well as fulfilling needs that are not quite understood at an age where everything is an adventure and perhaps a lot more appreciated when adulthood is reached — reality seemed dull.
When I was a child, my brother played a lot of video games. Me, being the sister, was forced into the back-seat spectator role, desperately wanting to explore the worlds that I was never allowed to be a part of, but I will always remember the day that he received The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It was 2003 and my nine-year-old self inquisitively watched as my brother unwrapped a limited edition Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time bonus disc bundle for the GameCube. We only knew of The Legend of Zelda through the characters on Super Smash Bros. Melee but, as Zelda/Sheik was always my chosen player, I was already eager to see what the game had to offer, and as soon as the start screen appeared, I was hooked.
My brother, on the other hand, not so much. He just couldn’t get it and didn’t want to put the time nor effort into understanding it. After passing through the stage of obtaining the Kokiri Sword, I remember him getting obviously annoyed at the opening chapter of the Great Deku Tree and just giving up when trying to overcome Queen Gohma.
The game was passed down to me like a legendary sword and, with an ever-growing-obsession, I fell in love with everything about it. It was my game, a game that felt like it was made just for me to master. A game where I could fall into an unexplored fantasy land and solve every obstacle that was thrown my way.
I remember the first moment that Link left Kokiri Forest and stepped into the sunlight of Hyrule Field. After a bitter-sweet goodbye with Saria and the demise of the Deku Tree, it was like somersaulting into a breath of fresh air. That atmosphere, added with the adrenaline-pumping, joyful composition of Hyrule Field, filled me with such determination and, more importantly, a deeper understanding that behind every dark cloud is a ray of light.
To me, that day has always been an important chapter in my life as it started my love for all things Zelda related and led me to this moment: writing about my favorite things that bring joy and passion into my existence. I was so proud of myself, knowing that I had beat the level that my brother could not, and so excited for what the rest of the game would bring — and it did not disappoint.
I think I speak on behalf of all video game players when I say that it is a truly soul-destroying feeling when you come to the end of a game and leave behind all the characters you’ve met, the challenges you’ve faced and the places you’ve visited behind. But with The Legend of Zelda series, that never really happens. I have lost count with the number of hours spent replaying the same Zelda games over and over, and can, hand on my heart, say that I have never once been bored. In fact, I don’t think there will ever be a time where I don’t get excited over a chapter of the Zelda timeline, old and new. They are all masterpieces and hold a special place in my heart.
