Summary
One of the most beloved franchises in video games,The Legend Of Zeldahas a deep history and a rich cast of characters, be they heroes,villains, or extras. Many of them have attracted their own following over the years, prompting everything from cosplay to memes, to the extent that they are the video gaming equivalent of real-world celebrities.
Characters as vibrant as these can attract devoted followers and strong opinions, and more than one can be the subject of intense debate as to their respective merits (or lack thereof). There are several examples, so here is a guide to the most high-profile characters inthe manyZeldagameswho polarize opinion.
“Hey! Listen!” is a phrase that a lot of people wereveryfamiliar with, provided they owned aNintendo 64from the late 1990s onwards. It was the calling card of Navi, Link’s trusty companion as he traversed across the many dungeons and landscapes of Hyrule. The fairy sprite was effectively a taskmaster and tip-giver, directing the player and giving prompts when it was unclear where to go next.
But there were occasions when, having already done the thing or gone to the place, she would keep piping up anyway. Several times. In a short space of time. Whether Link wanted her to or not. Fans saw her as charmingly persistent or ingratiating, and her unmistakable call has since gone viral, even turning up on lo-fi tracks.
Like Navi, Beedle can be recognized through sound alone. His greetings, reactions and goodbyes are utterly unique. Beedle first popped up inThe Wind Waker, selling his wares. He was doing something right, as he made a strong enough impression on fans to stay in the game’s universe and had the honour of appearing in recent blockbustersBreath Of The WildandTears Of The Kingdom.
Beedle is a friendly soul, perhaps to the point of seeming like a bit of an oddball, reacting with over-the-top excitement whenever Link shows up to buy some arrows or sell him a beetle (his portable shopfront in the most recentZeldagames resembles the insect), and his high-pitched exclamations can be heard all the way across Hyrule.
If polarizingZeldafans were an Olympic sport, Tingle would walk away with the gold. The small green fellow first up popped inMajora’s Maskas a humble map merchant and has been embedded in the franchise ever since. There is some debate over what exactly Tingle is but he appears to be somewhere between a human and a fairy.
Known for his catchphrase “Kooloo-Limpah!” as well as occasionally dangling from a red balloon, Tingle may have his share of detractors but he also has major staying power, appearing in severalZeldatitles since his debut, including his own spin-off games and the amusingly-namedRipened Tingle’s Balloon Trip Of Love.
7Skull Kid
The Creepy Wood Dweller And Iconic Foe
Skull Kid’s introduction seemed harmless enough, as he was one of several creatures who popped up inOcarina Of Time’s notorious Lost Woods. Little did players know at the time that he would go on to become the malevolent antagonist in one of the all-time greatest Zelda games.
Under the influence of Majora’s Mask, he becomes a powerful sorcerer and attempts to crash the moon into Terminus, thereby ending the world. Unlikethe persistent nemesis Ganondorf, Skull Kid only got one shot at being the bad guy. His inherent creepiness (his head shake and rattle is still an unsettling sight to this day) meant that some players were glad to be rid of him, while others remembered him as a worthy, unforgettable foe.
Zant started out strong inTwilight Princess; a dramatic entrance where he usurps the Hyrulian throne and banishes not one but two princesses. He has an army of nasty underlings and a cool outfit. The primary antagonist in the game, he is the subject of much hype and world-building in the run-up to a much-anticipated boss battle near the game’s climax.
And that’s where things largely start to go downhill. Zant runs through many guises over the course of the fight, only to turn into a slapstick clown who is easily beaten and whose goofy demeanour is at odds with the fearsome figure seen earlier in the game. What could have been aZeldavillain for the ages is instead a huge disappointment.
5Ooccoo (And Son)
Kill It! Kill It With Fire!
It’s unclear what the design team at Nintendo was thinking when it concocted Ooccoo, as the creature has an unsettling form which still defies description years afterTwilight Princess’s release. The bird-thing resembles nightmare fuel but is a valuable ally for Link, and was the face behind a valuable mechanic in the game; the ability to save in-dungeon rather than having to start from scratch.
Handy ally or disturbing entity? The jury is still out. As is the case for obscure Zelda characters, Ooccoo (and her even more odd-looking offspring Ooccoo Jr.) made cameos in other games, popping up as a trophy and sticker inSuper Smash Bros. Brawland also an image in thePicrossseries.
The Sinister And Manipulative Vendor of Terminus
The Mask Salesman seems alright at first, running a stand in Hyrule Town inOcarina Of Timeand enlisting Link in a cheerful side quest to deliver masks. By the time he pops up inMajora’s Mask, things are very different and he is re-positioned as an important but devious figure who uses Links to do his bidding.
One of the things that made him so uncomfortable to watch was his abrupt switch in mood when it was clear he wasn’t getting his way. The first sign of this was inOcarina Of Timebut then in the sequel he would bounce between politeness, rage and malice within seconds. He is remembered as one of the most distinctive characters in the series, and one of the most unnerving.
3Ruto
The Precocious Princess And Romantic Complication
Princess of the Zoras and Sage Of Water, Ruto earns her polarizing status mainly through one key section inOcarina Of Time; the frustrating rescue mission in Lord Jabu Jabu’s belly. A young Link must carry her through one intestinal setting after another, all while battling off creepy jellyfish and navigating treacherous landscapes. Her trademark: “Hmph!” as she is flung to safety by the hero is another memorable audio clip from the game.
Never one to waste time, she is also enamored with her savior after she is rescued and, despite her young years, declares the two of them to be engaged. The celebrity engagement doesn’t appear to last, however, and by the time adult Link travels through time to Hyrule 7 years later, Ruto says her duties as a sage prevent her from bringing things to fruition.
Like a video game that gets patched with an update only to display the same characteristics that made it annoying in the first place,Skyward Sword’s Fi is essentially Navi with a modern twist. The living embodiment ofThe Master Sword, she shares many of the same traits as her predecessor; she guides Link, can offer tips when needed and is his companion for almost the entire game.
And like Navi, Fi has more than a touch of persistence about her, offering assistance even when none is required or the task she set has been completed. When playing the game it almost feels like if Link stands still, Fi will suddenly appear and ask if he needs help with that. While she is vital to the game and has exquisite character design, she is not regarded as the best companion.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
WHERE TO PLAY
This direct sequel to the original The Legend of Zelda is famed for taking the series in a new direction, while also introducing elements that would become standard in future Zelda games. In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Link must seek the Triforce of Courage and awaken Princess Zelda from a sleeping spell. Meanwhile, Ganon’s minions are trying to resurrect their master. Zelda II uses a side-scrolling view and overworld map, and features role-playing aspects that are unique to the series.
It’s not just the characters who are polarizing -Zelda 2still crates fierce debate to this day, due to its increased difficulty and esoteric gameplay. Some see it as a robust challenge which sets the tone for future action RPGs, others write it off as a well-intentioned but ultimately frustrating experiment. But it’s not without its moments, including one character in particular.
While Link is exploring the town of Ruto, he encounters a solitary villager who says: “I Am Error.” What at first appears to be a bug in the game is, so legend has it, an intentional glitch left in by a programmer as an in-joke among the development team. Error enjoys his own meme status and is synonymous with the game, though he is of no use whatsoever to the hero.
