One of my heroes is a video game character. I can say this without hesitation. He's recklessly brave, puts his own life on the line countless times, and puts everyone else before himself. His name is Link, the hero of the Legend of Zelda franchise.
Long ago, there existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden. It was a prosperous land blessed with green forests, tall mountains, and peace. But one day a man of great evil found the golden power and took it for himself. With its strength at his command, he spread darkness across the kingdom. But then, when all hope had died, and the hour of doom seemed at hand, a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere.
If you've never played this game, you're missing out on a beautifully crafted story. You play as Link, a boy destined to save the land of Hyrule from the evil Ganon, who's set on having ultimate power. The story changes a little bit depending on the game. Sometimes, Link knows from the start that he's the hero of legend. Sometimes he figures it out along his journey. But in every situation, he's ready and eager to help.
Wielding the blade of evil's bane, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light. The boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as the Hero of Time. The boy's tale was passed down through generations until it became legend...In the two games I've played, Link has a companion that knows of his destiny and wants to help. In "The Wind Waker", it's a boat...yes, a talking boat that is really the king of Hyrule in disguise. There is an insane amount of ocean you have to sail in that game, so the talking boat is more than practical. In "Twilight Princess", a mysterious creature named Midna tags along with Link, helping him understand the unusual turn of events that has put the people he loves in danger.
But then, a day came when a fell wind began to blow across the kingdom. The great evil that all though had been forever sealed away by the hero once again crept forth from the depths of the earth to resume its dark designs. The people believed that the Hero of Time would again come to save them...but the hero did not appear. Faced by an onslaught of evil, the people could do nothing but appeal to the gods. In their last hour, as doom drew nigh, they left their future in the hands of fate. What became of that kingdom? None remain who know.
The "bad guy" in these games, as I mentioned before, wants absolute power over Hyrule, and usually that means Link is targeted with his worst attacks. The typical flow of the game is that some evil befalls your home, you go after it, realize it's the work of Ganon, learn princess Zelda of Hyrule is in danger, and you must go save her. Why she hasn't learned to save herself yet I fail to understand. Once you save her and defeat Ganon, you win the game, and evil disappears from the land. That is, until Ganon reappears and a hero is needed once again.
This is but one of the legends of which people speak...
Besides the awesome story behind the game, the places in the game are beautiful. The night sky in Wind Waker, the Hyrule castle in Twilight Princess, Lake Hylia, they're all so beautiful. Sometimes you have to stop playing and just take in your surroundings. One of my favorite places is the Sacred Grove, a forest where you find the Master Sword, the sword that all the heroes used before you. You need this sword for the final Ganon battle, where you destroy evil for good. (I always hesitate to use absolutes when talking about this game. Is Ganon really gone for good or just until he reappears?)
Now that I have convinced you of my nerdiness, I leave you with this awesome trailer and a timeline of the games (click on the picture to view larger). Have a good day.
Timeline by Tristan.
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