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Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

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Zelda: Profile Of A Princess

1-Dec-2009 The life of a legend...

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She lends her name to one of the best game series of all time but until now you haven't been able to play as Princess Zelda in Link's excellent adventures. That'll all change next week when The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is launched in the UK. So in the build up the release of Spirit Tracks, what better time to look back at the life of a legend...

Twilight Princess (GameCube and Wii, 2006)

What is it about people thinking that kidnapping princesses is the answer to taking over the world? After all, it's not like you see Princess Anne being snatched off her horse by maniacal villains hoping to conquer the planet. But then, we doubt she's capable of firing arrows of light, giving sage advice on magical power or commanding the Triforce of Wisdom, which probably goes some way to explain why she's been left alone so far.

Princess Zelda, however... well, she's not so lucky. As one of the most important characters in the whole of the Zelda series, her constant plight is well documented, even though the identities of the people out to get her - Ganondorf, Vaati, Zant and more - change constantly. Of course, she's not nearly as helpless as she makes out but still, you can't expect a member of the Hylian royal family to just go around saving herself now, can you?

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
That said, Zelda has changed a great deal over the years and become more than just your average princess in distress (yes, Princess Peach, we're looking at you). Initially portrayed as little more than the guardian of the Triforce of Wisdom, she's grown into a strong woman who, while still susceptible to the clutches of evil, can hold her own in a fight (or, at least, help Link out during one), keep many secrets in her quest to keep Hyrule safe from the clutches of evil and has even taken to wielding a sword in Twilight Princess.

Yes, so her aim with a bow could probably use a bit of work (which anyone who's played through to the end of Ocarina Of Time, Wind Waker or Twilight Princess will know this) and she spends more time hiding, running and dishing out cryptic advice than she does fighting, but when push comes to shove, she always manages to help out in the end.

A Damsel In Distress
Of course, the important thing to remember across the whole series of games is that Zelda can't possibly be just one girl. Her age across the games, not to mention her background stories, vary greatly and put her as everything from the traditional hallowed member of the Hylian royal bloodline to a childhood friend of Link and even a distant descendant of the 'original' princess.

Does that mean it's tradition for Hylian princesses to be called Zelda? Perhaps, especially since, unlike Link, it's impossible to make the character your own by giving her a unique name. One thing's for sure though, you can always tell her when she pops up. Long blonde hair? A white and purple dress adorned with Triforce symbols? Yep, that's definitely Zelda alright.

The only question we still want to see answered is of a rather more personal nature, however. Are Link and her an item? It's unlikely, given her royal history, but there's certainly more than enough suggestion that each generation of Zelda eventually develops feelings for the Hero of Time. Heck, she even goes so far as to kiss him during the secret ending of the Oracles games! Not surprisingly, Nintendo (and, more specifically, Legend Of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma) has never openly admitted it but still, we'd like to hope there's at least something going on between them. Call it the rumour mongering celebrity journalist in all of us.

Tetra in Wind Waker (GameCube, 2003)

Alter Ego A-Go-Go
Because Zelda's a boy in a girl's body...
Leader of Hyrule, elegant princess... and a complete tomboy? You wouldn't think it to look at her, but Zelda's not the kind of girl to just sit back and let the boys have all the fun. What's more, she'll go that extra mile to make sure she doesn't have to. And yes, that includes dressing up like a boy and pretending to be someone else - namely, Shiek, the blonde-haired Sheikah who pops up during Link's travels in Ocarina Of Time.

How she achieves such a transformation is never made clear (magic, perhaps?) but it's a good enough disguise to hide her from Ganondorf. Plus, Shiek's extra abilities came in more than handy when Zelda popped up in Super Smash Bros. Melee on the GameCube. The disguises don't stop there though. Anyone who's played Wind Waker will know that Tetra, leader of the pirate gang who helps Link save his sister, is also Zelda in disguise. True, she's not actually aware of her lineage until later in the game but... well, maybe it's such a good disguise that it even fooled her, eh?

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii, 2008)

Up For A Fight
We've played as Zelda before
She may be making her first appearance as a playable character in the Zelda adventure series but we've played as the Princess before! She made her first appearance as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee for GameCube. There, as with Brawl, she could take on two forms - that of Sheikh and herself. In the brilliant Brawl she turns up in her Twilight Princess robes and fires her light arrows.

Zelda is one of the most recognisable female characters in Nintendo history but who is your favourite? Click here to find out!

Tom East

Screenshots

The Legend Of Zelda (NES, 1986)	Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link (NES, 1988)	Link To The Past Art (SNES, 1992)
Link To The Past (SNES, 1992)	Ocarina Of Time (N64, 1998)	Majora Mask (N64, 2000)
Oracle Of Ages/Seasons (Game Boy Color, 2001)	Oracle Of Ages/Seasons (Game Boy Color, 2001)	Four Swords (GBA, 2003)
Wind Waker (GameCube, 2003)	Minish Cap (GBA, 2004)	Tetra in Phantom Hourglass (DS, 2007)
Spirit Tracks (DS, 2009)	Spirit Tracks Art (DS, 2009)