Correction to the Zelda Timeline!

I was looking through some old posts I had made regarding the Zelda timeline, particularly as it related to the timeline presented in Hyrule Historia (due out January 29, 2013 for those of you who are interested in buying it in English!).  As I skimmed through these, I realized that I had made an error.

First, though, let’s recognize that there are indeed three distinct timelines discussed in the upcoming book:

BEFORE THE SPLIT:  Skyward Sword -> Minish Cap -> Four Swords -> Ocarina of Time

TIMELINE 1: Ocarina of Time ->  A Link to the Past -> Oracles of Ages & Seasons -> Link’s Awakening -> The Legend of Zelda -> Adventure of Link

TIMELINE 2: Ocarina of Time -> The Wind Waker -> Phantom Hourglass -> Spirit Tracks

TIMELINE 3: Ocarina of Time -> Majora’s Mask -> Twilight Princess -> Four Swords Adventures

The error that I made, though, was in relation to what caused these timelines.  Here is what seems to be the proper explanation:

When Link draws the Master Sword as a child, he is transported (in the interest of keeping things simple) to the “future.”  Thus, in his own contemporary time, he is not present to defeat Ganondorf.  This, apparently, eventually leads to the “Imprisoning War” that eventually leaves Ganon in what becomes the Dark World, having been sealed there by the Seven Sages.  From this point, we get Timeline 1, which consists of all of the 2D games.

Once Link defeats Ganon in the future, he departs, returning to his childhood.  Thus, when Ganon returns eventually in this post-apocalyptic future, no one is there to stop him and eventually the people plea to the gods to have Hyrule sealed below the seas, thus leading to Timeline 2.

Finally, the “new past” that Link returns to and warns Zelda of Ganon’s evil (thus leading to him being eventually sealed in the Twilight Realm) is what leads to Timeline 3.

Hopefully this clears things up a bit!  Of course, everything will be much clearer once this book hits press in English this coming January!

“Hyrule Historia” Coming January 29, 2013!

When fans of the Legend of Zelda series found out that Japanese gamers would have the fortune of having a source book that gave very specific details regarding the series’ elusive timeline, many were outraged.  While efforts were made to translate the book so fans could know about the information contained therein, people wanted nothing more than to have a copy for themselves so that they could actually hold it and read it.  Also, debates regarding the book’s canon status were had and many people felt that the timeline was not canon.  This, however, seems to just be a convenient way for them to say it was unimportant so they would not have to worry about it.

Regardless, there is some good news - The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia is coming to North America on January 29, 2013 according to Amazon!

While it is possible that this date is simply a best estimate, it certainly is a good sign!  I, for one, am really looking forward to it!

So, if you are a fan of the series and want to have this awesome collector’s piece to enjoy, head on over to Amazon and reserve your copy today!

“The Gaming Goddess” Podcast – Season 1, Episode 2: ‘Hyrule Historia’

Another week and another podcast!

This week’s podcast covers an assortment of things, including the recent announcement of a 2012 release window for “Guild Wars 2,” a quick talk about my preview of “Warlock: Master of the Arcane” that’s over on Anjel Syndicate, and as the name implies an in-depth talk about the official Legend of Zelda timeline released in Japan by Nintendo in their Hyrule Historia art book.

Music in this week’s podcast comes from Zelda Reorchestrated.

The total running time this week is 28:25.

The audio should be vastly improved this week as well.  The one thing you’ll easily notice is a static sound when an “S” (or “Soft C”) sound is spoken, but since recording this I’ve already corrected that by adding more padding to the microphone to reduce its sensitivity.

Enjoy, and pay attention to the end in case you want to contribute something for the next one of these!

You may download this podcast directly from my personal web-storage here.

“Hyrule Historia” Presents an Official Zelda Timeline!

Ever since “The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker” was released on the GameCube fans have been speculating on when the games in the series take place.  Some have supported a linear timeline and say that it could all work with each other, but Nintendo threw a wrench in it all by saying that the timeline split when Link traveled through time in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.”  Then, as if that wasn’t complicated enough, Eiji Aonuma said earlier this year that there was only one timeline for the series (although he did not elaborate on what he meant, though many took that to mean the timeline was indeed linear).

Well, most of that is all out the window now, as yesterday an official art book was published by Nintendo called Hyrule Historia.

The book features official artwork, sketches, maps, mock-ups, and other works of art from the various games in the series in honor of the series’ 25th anniversary (1986-2011).  But, accompanying this artwork are stories and explanations as well as some lore about the series.

Yet, it gets even more interesting than that: Hyrule Historia presents readers with a timeline on the series, despite the very fact that Nintendo executives have claimed time and time again that such a timeline would likely never be made public.  And, what’s more, this timeline isn’t merely split into two, but instead has THREE timelines.

Time timeline apparently goes like this:

BEFORE THE SPLIT:  Skyward Sword -> Minish Cap -> Four Swords -> Ocarina of Time

TIMELINE 1: Ocarina of Time -> The Wind Waker -> Phantom Hourglass -> Spirit Tracks

TIMELINE 2: Ocarina of Time -> Majora’s Mask -> Twilight Princess -> Four Swords Adventures

TIMELINE 3: Ocarina of Time ->  A Link to the Past -> Oracles of Ages & Seasons -> Link’s Awakening -> The Legend of Zelda -> Adventure of Link

According to the book (or rather, early unofficial translations by fans), this split happens the moment Link draws the Master Sword in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.”  When he takes the sword and travels into the future he vanishes from the initial timeline, creating the split towards Timeline 1 where the hero did not return to save Hyrule from Ganon.  When Link defeats Ganon in the future, he is sent back to the “past” by the adult Zelda and, in the past, Link and Zelda plot to have Ganon executed (and due to that failure sealed away) by the Sages, thus resulting in Timeline 2.  Finally, the timeline that leads into “A Link to the Past” is the one that Link departs from when Zelda sends him back into the past, creating Timeline 3.

Of course, there is something to be said about reading this all for yourself, and while the book is so far exclusively available in Japan, it is likely that in 2012 the book will be released overseas.  Until then, now there’s a lot more to speculate on and discuss!

SOURCES: Nintendo World Report, The BS Zelda Homepage, & The Zelda Dungeon