The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure fantasy video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo. It follows the adventures of a character named Link, who must save the land of Hyrule from the evil Ganon, a sorcerous warlord who has the ability to transform into a boar-like demon. The Legend of Zelda also has a spinoff based on the Dynasty Warriors franchise called Hyrule Warriors. One of the characters, Tingle, has his own series of games called the Tingle series.
The Legend of Zelda games were a personal favorite of Robin Williams, who even named his daughter, Zelda Williams, after Princess Zelda, the series' namesake and occasional damsel in distress.
References to Christianity
Earlier The Legend of Zelda titles, generally the two NES and, to some extent, the SNES release A Link to the Past, contain Christian connotations. Several Crosses can be seen in the first two releases on the NES: On a shield, on a book of magic, and a standalone cross relic. Additionally, promotional artwork for the SNES has the main character kneeling in front of a Crucifix with an unnamed person on it. Also in the SNES version there is a Church "sanctuary" as well as one puzzle which requires a prayer to advance to the next location. After the SNES, the Zelda series began further developing its own lore and iconography.
The 1989 The Legend of Zelda cartoon also featured the cross on a shield.
Games
Main series
- The Legend of Zelda (NES)
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo 64)
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (Game Boy Color)
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (Game Boy Color)
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (Game Boy Advance)
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GameCube)
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance)
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube/Wii)
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS)
- The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Nintendo DS)
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (Nintendo 3DS)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U)
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo 3DS)
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (Nintendo 3DS)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (Nintendo 3DS)
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (Wii U)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U/Nintendo Switch)
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Nintendo Switch)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Nintendo Switch)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch)