7 Fun Facts About the Legend of Zelda Series

The Legend of Zelda has a long, rich history in gaming. The original for the Nintendo Entertainment System was released in 1987. The video game series has been highly acclaimed and extremely popular. There are many well known Zelda facts like starting the game with three hearts, the Triforce, and Link's lack of verbal skills. Through the years of playing Zelda games, I have discovered some interesting fun facts about our Hero from Hyrule.

Zelda Fact Number 1
Link is left handed, although some of the games have him alternating which hand his sword is in. In the Wind Waker, Link's statue reads his manual preference is left. In the Adventures of Link, the game booklet describes him as having "a magical sword in his left hand and a magical shield in his right." In the Wii version of Twilight Princess, Link is right handed. This happened because the directions are flipped from the Gamecube version.

Zelda Fact Number 2
The release of the games aren't in chronological order. Hundreds and hundreds of years are covered in the Zelda video games. The original adventure isn't the first in the timeline. Although fans have speculated which came first. Theories range from the Minish Cap or Ocarina of Time being "first." There is an official timeline, but it has never been released to the public. In 2006, Nintendo revealed there are two parallel Zelda universes. The lines split at the end of Ocarina of Time, creating a "child timeline" and an "adult timeline." Wind Waker follows the adult timeline and is followed by Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.

Zelda Fact Number 3
In a few of the Zelda games domesticated animals will attack Link. If you hit Cucco (chickens) enough with your sword, an entire flock will swoop down and peck you in a Link to the Past. If you're not careful and don't run away, they can kill you. In the Wind Waker, if you provoke certain pigs in the game, they will attack and kill you. It's always a good idea to to nice to the animals in the Zelda games.

Zelda Fact Number 4
In a Link to the Past, there is a hidden room named the "Chris Houihan room." After you acquire the Pegasus Boots, you can perform a series of fast dashes and gain entry to the room. The very un-Hyrulian name of Chris Houihan is actually the winner of a Nintendo Power magazine content. The prize was getting a your name in the next Zelda game.

Zelda Fact Number 5
The series is named after author F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife. Creator Shigeru Miyamoto liked how the name Zelda sounded "pleasant and significant." Comedian Robin Williams named his daughter Zelda after the video game.

Zelda Fact Number 6
The phrase "Keep it a secret to everybody," first appears in the original game when Link finds Moblins willing to give him some rupees. The phrase has been referenced in other Zelda titles in different ways. In a Link to the Past it is said by the man in the desert. In Ocarina, Link can bribe the Hyrule castle guard as long as he "keeps it a secret to everybody." In Majora's Mask, Kafei asks Link to keep their conversation a secret. In Twilight Princess, the Goron on a balcony in Center Castle Town says it to Link.

Zelda Fact Number 7
Phantom Hourglass is the first game in the series that does not introduce a new item. It is also the first 3D Zelda game where Link does not play an instrument. Twilight Princess is the first game that does not include octoroks.

The Legend of Zelda games are full of interesting little facts and tidbits. Some of them are well known, others take careful play through of all the games to notice. As even the older Zelda titles continue to be played and new ones are released, there will always be a wealth of little things that can be discovered.

Sources:

Personal Experience

http://www.thehylia.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1173582355&archive=&start_from=&ucat=19&

http://www.zeldawiki.org/Main_Page