The Ultimate Guide to Link's Legendary Adventures in The Legend of Zelda Franchise

The term "canon" is familiar to any fan of pop culture, including movies, TV shows, and video games. A canon event is a significant plot point that triggers all subsequent events, a central idea in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. In the world of video games, especially long-standing franchises, canon events are quite common. In the iconic adventure series The Legend of Zelda by Nintendo, this concept has been consistently present since its inception in the 1980s.

Similar to how Peter Parker's uncle always dies in every Spider-Man timeline, The Legend of Zelda series tends to incorporate key narrative elements in each installment. Specifically, the series' protagonist Link undergoes familiar experiences in most of the games, which may evoke a sense of déjà vu for players who have played multiple entries. Here are some recurring sequences found in almost every game in The Legend of Zelda series.

Link Is Forced Out of Bed

Link Finds the Master Sword

The most entertaining recurring element in The Legend of Zelda games is how, in almost every installment, Link is rudely awakened from a deep slumber at the start of the game. It doesn't matter if it's Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild, poor Link never gets a good night's rest before someone barges into his room and drags him out of bed. Each game presents this scene in a different way, sometimes showing Link enthusiastically springing into action, while other times portraying him as annoyed by the disturbance. It's quite comical that the protagonist, who just wanted a peaceful sleep, ends up being the one responsible for saving the world in these epic adventures.

Iconic weapons or gear are associated with popular characters. Kratos wields the Blades of Chaos, Cloud possesses the Buster Sword, and Link wields the revered Master Sword. This blade, present throughout the franchise since its inception, possesses the power to vanquish evil and eradicate dark creatures. In the latter part of the games, Link often acquires this sword after surmounting obstacles or pivotal moments in the story. Usually, it is located in a dense forested area, like the Lost Woods in Breath of the Wild. However, its placement can vary, such as being found in the Temple of Time during Ocarina of Time.

Link Loses a Loved One

Speaking of Spider-Man earlier, most superheroes tend to have a tragic origin story, where a loved one's death serves as a catalyst for the hero's pursuit of justice. In a similar vein, Link also shares this theme with superhero narratives by frequently experiencing the loss of a family member or dear friend in major installments, which motivates him to embark on his quest. For instance, in Ocarina of Time, the Great Deku Tree passes away, while in A Link to the Past, his uncle is killed in combat. Although not always involving death, these moments can still be deeply traumatic. In the beginning of Majora's Mask, Link's loyal companion, Epona, is stolen by the Skull Kid.

Link Is The Symbol of Courage

Throughout the entirety of The Legend of Zelda franchise, the Link character symbolizes courage. Connected to the ancient power of the Triforce, Link embodies pure goodness and unwavering determination, serving as a shining example of bravery. Following the classic narrative archetype of being "the chosen one", every version of Link discovers that they embody the Triforce of Courage. They are the driving force in defeating the dark creatures that threaten Hyrule.