Why I keep returning over and over to The Legend of Zelda

Throughout our lives, we discover things that truly touch us — items and ideas that spark our imaginations, drive our passions, and inspire us on a level beyond mere interest. They open our minds to possibilities we had never before conceived. Whether it’s a person, a movement, or a creative work, these gleaming stars in an otherwise mundane world make life a joy to live and, in some cases, make it worth living in the first place.

The Legend of Zelda is a series that has gained a following spanning countries, cultures, and age groups. For reasons unique to each person, these would-be adventurers took a step into the land of Hyrule, and forever after always had a home there. From art and stories to just revisiting familiar tales time and again, these newly immigrated Hylians create for themselves a love affair that lasts years, even decades.

But why do they do it? Not every Zelda title is necessarily a masterwork. Certain decisions or design choices — even sometimes entire games! — suffer extensively, even deserving criticism. Controversies have affected many, and novices to even the most diehard fans have had periods of questioning and frustration. What keeps them coming back? Why do they find this world and this franchise so magical and endearing? Why Zelda?

Harsh beginnings

I like to brag that I literally grew up with The Legend of Zelda. Not only has it always in my life, the original game was released in North America on the Nintendo Entertainment System a week after I was born. I don’t know when our family bought an NES or who the system was even originally purchased for, but from my earliest days I remember that grey box and a small collection of game cartridges. Two in particular stood out: Unlike the rest, which were encased in the same grey as the system, these two games sparkled with a peculiar gold tint. Emblazoned on their golden surfaces lay a shield and then a sword. Their titles: The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link respectively. I still have those games, and even after all these years, their luster has yet to fade.

The two that started it all. For the series, and for myself.

I wasn’t the first to play them though. My first memories of those games are of my older brother playing them. It occurs to me that I rarely saw him play past the first couple of dungeons of either game. That shouldn’t surprise anyone who is familiar with the NES titles. The sheer difficulty of these games is enough to discourage anyone from taking up a controller again. The maps are large for their time (and still difficult to smoothly navigate), and the enemies are absolutely merciless.

By the time I could play these games for myself, I was immediately overwhelmed. The Legend of Zelda left me lost and confused no matter how many times I tried to get from point A to point B. Meanwhile, The Adventure of Link killed me more times than my five-year-old self knew how to count. Well do I remember my frustration, bordering on tears, as I struggled to get through a single dungeon. Yet I kept trying. They were sporadic, childish attempts, but, for a young, inexperienced boy, fighting on in the face of failure was unusual. There was just something about the games that kept bringing me back.

An opening world

As Nintendo went Super, A Link to the Past quickly captured my imagination. The music, the story, the adventure: All of it combined to create an experience that has never left me. I was constantly in awe, my passion was ignited, and most importantly my skills had improved to the point where I was actually able to finish the game: the first game I ever beat on my own. More than any in-game event, watching the credits roll was a defining moment in my life with The Legend of Zelda. The satisfaction of having finally saved Hyrule and the passionate tones of Zelda’s signature theme was everything I could have asked for.

After a hiatus to Koholint Island (a game that means much more to me now than it did then), the N64 arrived, and with it Ocarina of Time. The sheer size of Hyrule was awe-inspiring, the monsters there still terrify me, and the people I found there have stayed with me ever since. Plenty has been said regarding Ocarina of Time’s exceptional quality as a game — and to be sure that quality improved the experience — but its timing in my life was more than fitting.

A Link to the Past gave me a reason to come to Zelda. Ocarina of time gave me a reason to stay.

When I started playing, I was eleven. Link’s actual age in Ocarina of Time is somewhat up for debate, but in my eyes Link was my age. His child form was the perfect avatar to fulfill my childlike desire for adventure, and his adult form seemed to embody everything I wanted to be when I got older: strong, enduring, and brave. As I solved every puzzle, righted every wrong, and defeated every fiend, it was me both at the controller and on the screen. As I experienced the tense terror of facing the monstrous Ganon, and the serene peace of reuniting with Zelda at journey’s end, I knew that I had found a home in Hyrule.

Different styles, same Zelda

After another trip (this time to Holodrum and Labrynna), I anxiously awaited Nintendo’s return to Hyrule. Then the trailer for Wind Waker dropped, and the outrage over the young Internet was immediate and loud. I have written elsewhere how the cel-shaded graphics fit into Zelda’s persona much more than one would believe, but at the time I recognized what a big risk Nintendo was taking. I was still excited, and, since there wasn’t anything I could do about it anyway), I just trusted that it would turn out alright. It didn’t take long to realize that Nintendo was right on the money.

every time i come to a new zelda game, i find so much to love and keep me coming back.

Perhaps it’s my personal bias, but, when it comes to Zelda, Nintendo always seems to get it right. When Four Swords Adventures came out, I played it as much as I could despite having little opportunity to use the multiplayer.  When Spirit Tracks came along, the criticisms and ridicule were loud, but it only took a single playthrough for me to enjoy this game as much as any of the others. That is not to say that each game is beyond reproach. The Water Temple still drives me crazy, sailing is still the best time to go make a sandwich, and the NES titles still give me grief. I’ve faced many of the same issues that the rest of the community has in terms of these games’ flaws. Yet despite their flaws, there is just something there that moves me to overlook them.

A world all its own

Really, the more I play any game in the series, the less I see graphics or gameplay mechanics and the more I see what matters to me most in this franchise. Through every game, there’s a feeling that I can only describe as familiarity. The locations change, the tones differ, and characters are almost never the same, but the overall atmosphere remains constant throughout the series. Considering the range of tones this series has gone through — from the cheerful graphics of Phantom Hourglass to the dark tones of Twilight Princess — it’s impressive how the true feeling of the Zelda games has never been lost or redefined.

I think that’s why Skyward Sword is my personal favorite in the series. There’s a presence there that just speaks to me. The gameplay certainly has its flaws, but I will always come back to this Link and Zelda before all others. The characters are immediately endearing, the story is beautifully crafted, and the overall tone is exactly what defines The Legend of Zelda series. A princess, driven by duty and love. A chosen hero able to overcome all odds to save the day. A mystical force that is both a guardian and a treasure. And an enduring message that despite darkness and difficulty, the righteous and pure of heart will always overcome.

Why Zelda?

So, why have I stayed with The Legend of Zelda all these years? Because its stories and themes speak to me on a personal level. At its core, the tales may be simple, but the way they have been told have repeatedly fill me with wonder, and I anxiously await the next time I can return. Every new legend is a chance to not only challenge myself but to come back to a world I love. Hyrule has become a second home to me. A place where I can see old friends, remind myself that there is light in my world, and find potential — even heroic potential — in myself.

It’s a beautiful series, and one I hope to remain with for years to come.