Why is The Legend of Zelda Series So Popular?

We all known him as that little guy in the green tunic who spends his free time cutting grass and rolling around to get to his destination. Link from The Legend of Zelda series is one of the most known characters in the video game industry. With over 16 games, the Hero of Hyrule is a staple in pop culture and will continue to be so as long as Nintendo keeps making stunning and engaging games for the franchise.

This first game came out in 1986. A funky looking 8-bit elf showed up on the screen and video games haven’t been the same since. But what made this game so successful over the years? Why is it still so popular over the years?

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. The first game came out on two of the most popular consoles of the era. According to quora.com, Famicom and Nintendo were the leaders in install base and the two biggest video game markets in Japan and the US. They pushed for the game so much, that it was pretty much a given that people were going to buy the game.

2. For the first time ever, players were able to SAVE THEIR PROGRESS. For the NES you had to hold the Reset button (I would freak out if I ever had to do that. I’d feel like I was losing progress). Now you wouldn’t have to spend countless hours going back through the game if you died. I’m sure those who died often, like me, were extremely grateful for this new feature.

3. The Legend of Zelda was the first to introduce free-roaming non linear gameplay. The game encouraged players to shy away from the plot and go out and explore. You also couldn’t just go to a dungeon and fight. You had to THINK about what you’re doing. This puzzle concept has progressed throughout the series. The statue puzzle from Twilight Princess and the water temple from Ocarina of Time are noted as some of the most difficult and frustrating puzzles in the franchise to date.

4. It was visually stunning. OK, so it was for the 1980s. But what’s so great about the visuals is that they continue to progress. I think that’s what Shigeru Miyamoto, the god of Nintendo, was looking for when he started this series. He wanted a game that could be replayable and just as engaging as the first time. One of the best descriptions I could find about this game comes from Kasuto.net: “One thing that makes the fantasy world of Hyrule so easy and appealing to believe is that it is basically a perfect world; the land of Hyrule is not today’s world controlled by money and greed, but a paradise controlled by magic and nature, friendship and love, honor and justice. Hyrule is not only a world that one can believe; it is a world that one wants to believe. This world does not seem like a pseudo-world created for a video game; it is realistic and easy to believe, and is real in the mind of the gamer.”

5. The games continue to be innovative. They are willing to take some risks and let Link explore new territories. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Popular games that Majora’s Mask and A Link Between World received some major overhaul and were re-released on the 3DS. Then Nintendo collaborated with Dynasty Warriors to create a game fans didn’t even know they wanted until the E3 trailer was shown. Nintendo knows that gamers have a high nostalgia value and will continue to use that to release more Zelda games.IGN released a brief but great video about Link’s progression that I find quite enjoyable.

The Legend of Zelda began as just another cartridge to put into the console. Now, Link and the rest of the characters have lived up to that legend and will continue to touch the hearts of many a gamer for decades to come.

See you next week!