Ok, this is for all those Zelda fans out there. The type that consider timeline theories even though Nintendo said that one doesn't exist.
To start, let me say that up until a certain epiphany I had a very, very hard time enjoy Twilight Princess's story. I had no emotional attachments to the characters. I disliked Midna, I didn't care less about whether or not Ilia got her memory back, and I had no personal beef with Zant. And this is all because of one thing...
If the usual BS was used to rationalize Link being there was used, fine. But the horse? Epona? What are the fucking odds that two seperate heroes would have the same looking horse with the same name that responded to the same song? I can suspend disbelief with the whole "reincarnation" thing only so much, guys, I mean come ON. Plus, Link had no back story. How did he come to live in this village? How did he meet Epona? How did he know that song would soothe her? How is he so damn good with a sword, better than any other Link to date even before he met the Hero's Shade? Where the fuck did he get the Triforce of Courage?
Another issue I had with the game (though it wasn't as big of one) was its difficulty. It was the easiest Zelda game I ever played. I looked back after I beat it with an extreme "meh" (though I will admit, if someone who had never played a Zelda game before picked that up, say a casual Wii owner, they'd have some trouble). That troubled me, since the previous two 3D Zelda games, Wind Waker and Majora's Mask, would sometimes at least give me a hard time.
But then, the epiphany. The reason this Zelda game was so easier... This Link has done this before. I've played a game with this Link. Two games, in fact. Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. It's the same Link. The Hero of Twilight is also the Hero of Time. I believe that after Majora's Mask, Link returned to Hyrule with Epona and settled down in Ordon after a while. He even created a tree house somewhat similar to what he lived in all the way back in Kokiri Forest. It also explains how he got that Triforce piece.
Now, when trying to think of how to explain my theory more fully, I came up with an idea. Here's a bunch of counter-arguments I would expect from hard-core Zelda fans and what my responses would be. I fully realize some are bullshiting it and are complete leaps of faith, but hey, who doesn't do that for a story they really enjoy? Look at Star Wars fans. We do that all the time!
So... and remember, these are stretches, but I stand by them because it's the only way I can enjoy Twilight Princess as much as I feel I should...
OK, two final things. These are even more of a stretch then the ones so far, so just bear with me. They're at least something to think about.
Now, I sumbit this to you, the Escapists, to either look at with curiousity and comment, or ignore. I took the risk, so could you at least consider reading it? Pleease?
And yeah, there's a good chance I'm wrong. But I'm gonna go with thinking this way, so I can finally enjoy Twilight Princess as much as I always felt I should. It isn't my favorite Zelda game now (that title belongs to Majora's Mask, followed closely by Wind Waker) but I finally love the game.
To start, let me say that up until a certain epiphany I had a very, very hard time enjoy Twilight Princess's story. I had no emotional attachments to the characters. I disliked Midna, I didn't care less about whether or not Ilia got her memory back, and I had no personal beef with Zant. And this is all because of one thing...
If the usual BS was used to rationalize Link being there was used, fine. But the horse? Epona? What are the fucking odds that two seperate heroes would have the same looking horse with the same name that responded to the same song? I can suspend disbelief with the whole "reincarnation" thing only so much, guys, I mean come ON. Plus, Link had no back story. How did he come to live in this village? How did he meet Epona? How did he know that song would soothe her? How is he so damn good with a sword, better than any other Link to date even before he met the Hero's Shade? Where the fuck did he get the Triforce of Courage?
Another issue I had with the game (though it wasn't as big of one) was its difficulty. It was the easiest Zelda game I ever played. I looked back after I beat it with an extreme "meh" (though I will admit, if someone who had never played a Zelda game before picked that up, say a casual Wii owner, they'd have some trouble). That troubled me, since the previous two 3D Zelda games, Wind Waker and Majora's Mask, would sometimes at least give me a hard time.
But then, the epiphany. The reason this Zelda game was so easier... This Link has done this before. I've played a game with this Link. Two games, in fact. Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. It's the same Link. The Hero of Twilight is also the Hero of Time. I believe that after Majora's Mask, Link returned to Hyrule with Epona and settled down in Ordon after a while. He even created a tree house somewhat similar to what he lived in all the way back in Kokiri Forest. It also explains how he got that Triforce piece.
Now, when trying to think of how to explain my theory more fully, I came up with an idea. Here's a bunch of counter-arguments I would expect from hard-core Zelda fans and what my responses would be. I fully realize some are bullshiting it and are complete leaps of faith, but hey, who doesn't do that for a story they really enjoy? Look at Star Wars fans. We do that all the time!
So... and remember, these are stretches, but I stand by them because it's the only way I can enjoy Twilight Princess as much as I feel I should...
Think about it. During Majora's Mask, Link was fucking with the space time continuum. A lot. Who's to say this didn't cause some sort of flux in the path between worlds? Maybe three days passed in Termina while over a millenia passed in Hyrule. Upon returning to Hyrule, Link realized this, and so he decided to settle down in a new home, away from Hyrule (little did he know, he was right up the path from what used to be Hyrule Castle Town and the Temple of Time!)
He probably got rid of everything other than the Ocarina, and then hid the Ocarina somewhere far out of the way. Considering he now knew the its potential power, he probably wanted to make sure no one messed with time the way he had. Either that, or he caught whatever Samus Aran catches at the end of every mission.
*sneeze* Oh, shit, there goes my Charge Beam...
*sneeze* Oh, shit, there goes my Charge Beam...
After years of non-use, his magic power probably faded. As for why he didn't get it back, my guess is that the source of personal magic of that type in the world were the Great Fairies. There was only one Great Fairy left in Hyrule by the time Link returned, and even normal fairies are very rare. Ganondorf probably killed the rest before he was finally apprehended and banished to the Twilight Realm. And the Great Fairy's Tears? Why do you think she's crying? She's mourning over the loss of her kin.
Because, even during the very end of OOT, the world didn't know what he had done. Link was sent back before the events of OOT. Probably to the moment before he met Zelda. He went to Zelda, tattled on Ganondorf, people got shit done, and then Link went off to find Navi and wound up in Termina. Ganondorf didn't even lay his eyes on him. He was just known as "that one kid that pointed out that Ganondorf was a dick. How did we not see this?" It's likely even the Light Spirits didn't know of his identity. Only the Goddesses did.
I've always thought this was bullshit, even before I came up with this whole insane idea. When did the Hero of Time wear that armor? Use that shield, that sword? And what the fuck would be up with him talking? Bullshit! Me? I believe that this is his father. Rember why Link was brought to the Kokiri Forest? A mother trying to hide her son from a war. Who's to say heroism doesn't run in his family? Maybe Link's father was a hero in whatever war took place before OOT. Maybe his death, though heroic, is what pushed his mother to hide Link. Plus, it could explain why both of them are left handed! It's genetics!
OK, two final things. These are even more of a stretch then the ones so far, so just bear with me. They're at least something to think about.
Ok, name two Link's from two Zelda games (that aren't obviously connected, such as Zelda 1 and 2, OOT and MM, WW and PH). Capcom games, Four Swords, and the upcoming Spirit Tracks games not withstanding, have you seen any two Links from seperate Zelda's that look as similar as this
to this?
Other than an obvious improvement in graphics and art style, TP's Link is basically a carbon copy of OOT's Link. The hair, the earrings, the eyes, the height, even the voice. They're so similar that it's just begging for the comparison between the two. Which is why I stopped comparing and just decided to say they're the same.
to this?
Other than an obvious improvement in graphics and art style, TP's Link is basically a carbon copy of OOT's Link. The hair, the earrings, the eyes, the height, even the voice. They're so similar that it's just begging for the comparison between the two. Which is why I stopped comparing and just decided to say they're the same.
Ever since Brawl was announced, the two versions of Link were advertised as Wind Waker's Link and Twilight Princess's Link. The TP Link had everything TP had. The Wind-Fairy inhabited boomerang, the clawshot, the same type of bombs, the same type of bow... everything. Except for Midna. Where was Midna? Nowhere! But, there was someone taking her place.
Watch this video at the 53 second mark. Who appears during one of Twilight Princess Link's taunts?
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Navi the fairy. The Hero of Time's fairy companion. Yes, it was probably just a nod to what is considered the best Zelda game. But still, considering everything else, it's quite curious.
Watch this video at the 53 second mark. Who appears during one of Twilight Princess Link's taunts?
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Navi the fairy. The Hero of Time's fairy companion. Yes, it was probably just a nod to what is considered the best Zelda game. But still, considering everything else, it's quite curious.
Now, I sumbit this to you, the Escapists, to either look at with curiousity and comment, or ignore. I took the risk, so could you at least consider reading it? Pleease?
And yeah, there's a good chance I'm wrong. But I'm gonna go with thinking this way, so I can finally enjoy Twilight Princess as much as I always felt I should. It isn't my favorite Zelda game now (that title belongs to Majora's Mask, followed closely by Wind Waker) but I finally love the game.
