The Shield Debate

Well, to be honest I am not too found of the idea using the shield as timeline indicator. Mainly because the shield changs from each game simpy because of artistic reason. Anyway, lately I been thinking that maybe it's not that bad of an idea... Well, it at least worth being discussed.



Firstly, there's the culprit behind all of this, the shield in Wind Waker. It has the classic Zelda shield signature of a triforce and a bird on it. Because of these quotes

Hanging the family shield on the wall as a decoration is another tradition that has been carried
down from those days.

You’ve got the Hero’s Shield! This is the legendary shield said to
have been used by the legendary hero himself.

I would say that the shields in WW and OoT is the same. Just artistic style that differs them. Just the way WW Link doesn't really look like OoT Link. However, The Minish Cap gives other possibilities.



Here, it's just a random shield won in a lottery. It's not a legendary shield or something alike. An interesting fact is that they keep mentioning how tiny the shield is. Which clearly contradicts the Hylian shield in OoT, which was to big for young OoT Link to use properly. And if the TMC shield is the same as the WW shield, based on apperance, then WW Shield might not be the same shield that OoT Link used.
Interestingly, in the WW intro, OoT Link isn't seen having one at all either.

This leads to the conclusion that the shield in WW might not have belonged to the HoT... But in fact Minish Cap Link. Well, undoubtly it had to been the HoT shield at some point, but intent changes. And Minish Cap shows an interesting orgin for the tiny shield too.

Well, that's just my theory though, which fits me fine since I place TMC first anyway.

Either way, wheter you agree or disagree, try keep this discussion about shields in Zelda.

More Shields:
http://nintendo.joystiq.com/2007/06/...elds-of-zelda/

I agree with this. It makes sense.

Wind Waker was a total graphical departure from OOT, so naturally the same objects can and do look differently. Wind Waker has also been a popular graphical starting point for the 2D games due to it's cell shaded appearance. The fact that the shields in WW and MC appear similar is likely a result of the fact that they were released roughly two years apart of each other. Heck, MC Link even looks like WW Link, and we know they are not the same guy.

Also, the Mirror Shield as seen in WW is created in TMC.

Originally Posted by Japanese version of one of the above quotes

The shield being used as a decoration in here is a relic from that time.

I don't have the Japanese tooltip for that quote, so Idk if it says that the shield is TWW Link's. But I'd say since you get that exact kind of shield in TMC it's likely that it's just a normal shield.

Also, the Mirror Shield as seen in WW is created in TMC.

Really? I don't remember where you get the Mirror Shield in TMC. How do you get it in TMC?

Originally Posted by Sign-of-Madness

Really? I don't remember where you get the Mirror Shield in TMC. How do you get it in TMC?

You give Biggoron the normal shield and he chews on it until it turns into a Mirror Shield.

^I don't think I ever got the Mirror Shield in TMC then... I don't remember that AT ALL

In my timeline the brown winged-roman satyr* shield is passed down
to WW Link on the AT and FS/FSA Link on the CT

good thought on the MC Mirror Shield as well...

*it's not a bird on the WW shield...it's a part-goat part-man (roman satyr) with wings

Originally Posted by Sign-of-Madness

Really? I don't remember where you get the Mirror Shield in TMC. How do you get it in TMC?

After you beat the game, go talk to Biggoron. He asks you if he can "nibble" on your shield. If you give it to him, go back some time later and he will give you the Mirror Shield. If an enemy fires a projectile at the shield, the shield will shoot out a laser!

Originally Posted by Beemnorv

After you beat the game, go talk to Biggoron. He asks you if he can "nibble" on your shield. If you give it to him, go back some time later and he will give you the Mirror Shield. If an enemy fires a projectile at the shield, the shield will shoot out a laser!

the problem is: are optional items considered canon?

^I'd say some are, and some aren't.

Some like Fierce Deity Mask are definitely canon. But the Mirror Shield seems like it has no story significance, much like the OoX MS.

Originally Posted by Tyras

the problem is: are optional items considered canon?

Personally, I only consider something canon if it matters to the plot of the game it's in. But, you never know....

How could the shield that supposedly belonged to the HoT be the same one if he left the AT with his shield? Could this mean his equipment just stayed in the AT somehow (like the MS did since it was in TWW)?

Originally Posted by Roc Thul

How could the shield that supposedly belonged to the HoT be the same one if he left the AT with his shield? Could this mean his equipment just stayed in the AT somehow (like the MS did since it was in TWW)?

Well, the shield itself doesn't necessarily have to be the same. I think it's enough if it's just the same model - just not the particular shield that HoT wielded - They sell those shields in shops right?

Besides, as SoM pointed out in the Japanese translation, it might not even be a family relic. Just a relic from 'that' time.

I find it funny how people class post-The Wind Waker elements non-canon so that they can put The Minish Cap first on their timelines, and then the others class pre-The Wind Waker elements as non-canon so that they can put The Minish Cap after The Wind Waker on their timelines!

So childish.

Originally Posted by Potent Col

I find it funny how people class post-The Wind Waker elements non-canon so that they can put The Minish Cap first on their timelines, and then the others class pre-The Wind Waker elements as non-canon so that they can put The Minish Cap after The Wind Waker on their timelines!

So childish.

What are you saying? and what does it have to do with any of this?

Lol, i made this exact same thread about a year ago and got deep into the discussion, you can read it here:

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/...-link-tww.html

I'll just summarize what we decided:

-tMC mirror shield CANNOT BE CANON WITH THE WINDWAKER MIRROR SHIELD because it is not required to finish the game (tMC) and it destroys the canonicity-(real word?)- of the Small shield. It is to be taken as a cameo as most of tMC's "non-original" content.

^ Time for another segment of "Ask an English Major": yes canonicity is a real word.