Games - The Legend of Zelda series

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	Games - The Legend of Zelda series

The Legend of Zelda series (often shortened to just Zelda or "LoZ"), first published on February 21, 1986 by Nintendo, is a series of video games created by the celebrated game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. In Japan the series is known as ゼルダの伝説 (Zeruda no Densetsu), often shortened to just ゼル伝 (Zeru-Den). The games are primarily set in a fantasy world, in the Kingdom of Hyrule, although some have been set in different countries or other equally fantastic worlds. The gameplay consists of a mixture of action, adventure, role-playing, and puzzle-solving, occasionally with minor platform elements. The series is known for its beautiful and inspiring settings, creative gameplay, stirring original music, and high overall production values. It is widely considered one of the most influential video game franchises ever created. It also claimed the #1 spot on G4's 100 Greatest Games of All Time. As of September 2005, the Legend of Zelda series has sold 47 million units.

Overview

The Legend of Zelda games feature a boy named Link as their central character and protagonist. Link is frequently called upon to rescue Princess Zelda, for whom the series is named. The main antagonist in the series is a powerful dark wizard known as Ganon or Ganondorf. The action usually, but not always, occurs in the mythical land of Hyrule. In story terms, the earlier games did not deviate much from the standard "save the princess" theme, but later installments have diversified their plot somewhat and added twists and turns to the tale. One Zelda game, Link’s Awakening, did not feature Zelda at all (although she was briefly mentioned), and in Majora’s Mask, she was only seen in a flashback.

Another important element in the series is a divine relic known as the Triforce, left behind by the three goddesses who created Hyrule. It consists of three golden equilateral triangles, one for each goddess: the Triforce of Power (Din), the Triforce of Wisdom (Nayru/ネール), and the Triforce of Courage (Farore/フロル). Each piece will bestow its divine essence on the one who possesses it; typically Ganon has the Triforce of Power, Zelda has the Triforce of Wisdom, and Link has or must obtain the Triforce of Courage. If the three pieces of the Triforce are united, it will grant the deepest wishes of that person so long as they live.

The fantasy world of Hyrule includes many different climates and types of terrain, and is home to many different races and tribes of monsters and sentient beings. There are significant geographical differences from game to game, but several distinctive features recur from the first, such as the Lost Woods and Death Mountain, including Spectacle Rock near the summit. Lake Hylia is another common landmark, although it was not formally introduced until the third game.

The Zelda games feature a mixture of complex puzzles, strategic action gameplay, and exploration. This formula has remained fairly constant throughout the series, with further refinements and additions featured in each new game, and has made the Zelda franchise one of Nintendo's most successful game series, along with the likes of Mario
, Metroid
, and Pokémon
.

The Legend of Zelda was principally inspired by Miyamoto's explorations as a young boy in the hillsides surrounding his childhood home in Kyoto, where he ventured into forests with secluded lakes, caves, and rural villages. According to Miyamoto, one of his most memorable experiences was the discovery of a cave entrance in the middle of the woods. After some hesitation, he apprehensively entered the cave, and explored its depths with the aid of a lantern. This memory has clearly influenced Miyamoto's work, and cave exploration is a major element of most Zelda games. Other than Miyamoto's childhood, Norse and Japanese mythology have played a large role influencing the series, as well as Medieval European culture. Miyamoto has referred to the creation of the Zelda games as an attempt to bring to life a "miniature garden" for players to play with in every version of the game.

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