99 Fun Facts About Legend of Zelda

What set the original game's North American cartridge apart on the shelf?

It was gold-colored, and the box had a small window cut into it so the metallic cartridge showed through.

The original Legend of Zelda was built alongside which other Nintendo game, by a team that deliberately kept the two designs apart?

Super Mario Bros. shared the team and the timeframe; they deliberately gave Zelda the non-linear structure and Mario the linear one.

Who is the recurring arch-villain of The Legend of Zelda series?

Ganon first appeared as a porcine monster in the 1986 original; his humanoid Ganondorf form was not seen in the flesh until Ocarina of Time in 1998.

In Skyward Sword, what are the bird-like creatures called that carry the Hylians of the floating island through the sky?

Loftwings include Link's own rare crimson one, stolen early in the game to stop him competing in a ceremonial race.

In the original NES Legend of Zelda, how many fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom must Link gather to rescue Zelda?

Eight fragments collected open a ninth and final dungeon, where the last battle with Ganon takes place.

Link's horse, his ride across Hyrule, goes by what name?

Epona debuted in Ocarina of Time, raised at Lon Lon Ranch and summoned with Epona's Song; she returned in Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess, and via amiibo in Breath of the Wild.

The very first Legend of Zelda was released in Japan in February 1986 on which system?

Famicom Disk System's disk format is why the Japanese original had a save feature; the later cartridge version needed a battery to match it.

Who is one of the co-creators of The Legend of Zelda series?

The Legend of Zelda series was co-created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka.

In The Legend of Zelda, which of these is NOT one of the three virtues represented by the Triforce's pieces?

Spirit is the odd one out: the pieces are Power, Wisdom and Courage, for the goddesses Din, Nayru and Farore; the first game had only two, and Zelda II introduced the third.

Link's pointed ears mark him as a member of which elf-like race?

The race takes its name from the goddess Hylia, and most of Hyrule's royal family are Hylians too.

Which company's Flagship studio developed the two linked 2001 Zelda games for the Game Boy Color?

Capcom's subsidiary Flagship, under Yoshiki Okamoto, developed Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages; a planned third interlinked game was cut before the 2001 release.

In A Link Between Worlds, the sorcerer Yuga escapes with Princess Zelda into which parallel world?

Lorule is a decayed mirror of Hyrule whose own Triforce was destroyed, and its princess Hilda is Zelda's counterpart.

"The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask" primarily takes place in which parallel world?

Unlike most games in the series, "Majora's Mask" is set in Termina, a parallel world facing destruction from a falling moon.

In "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," Link often transforms into what animal form?

In "Twilight Princess," Link transforms into a wolf when he enters areas shrouded in Twilight, gaining enhanced senses.

Which weapon, the strongest in Ocarina of Time, is the reward at the end of a ten-item trading sequence?

The Biggoron Sword, forged by the giant Goron Biggoron once Link returns the Claim Check, outdamages the Master Sword but is two-handed, so Link cannot raise a shield while wielding it.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword on the Wii was built around which control scheme, later made optional in its HD remaster?

Motion controls with the Wii Remote Plus drove the sword; the HD remaster added a second scheme using the right analog stick instead.

In Ocarina of Time's creation myth, which goddess cultivated the red earth with her flaming arms?

Din, the goddess of power, is described by the Great Deku Tree as creating the red earth with her strong flaming arms; Nayru gave law and Farore produced all life.

How many in-game days does Link have to stop the moon crashing in Majora's Mask before resetting time?

"Majora's Mask" features a unique time system where Link must prevent the moon from crashing within a 72-hour (three-day) cycle by playing the Song of Time.

In Twilight Princess, what does Link use to summon his horse instead of an instrument?

Wolf Link howls the tune from a patch of 'horse grass'; in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask the same song is played on the ocarina.

What was the Blade of Evil's Bane originally called when forged by Hylia?

Before being reforged into the Master Sword, the blade was known as the Goddess Sword, created by the goddess Hylia.

Which game introduced the ability for Link to travel between the Light World and the Dark World?

"A Link to the Past" was groundbreaking for introducing two distinct, interconnected worlds for Link to explore, the Light World and the Dark World.

Which recurring octopus-like enemy, dating back to the first game, spits rocks at Link?

They come in land and water varieties, and the tentacled Bokoblin-scale ones in Breath of the Wild will happily swallow bombs.

Which pirate captain, dropped into Outset Island's forest by a giant bird, is an incarnation of Princess Zelda?

Tetra, captain of a pirate crew, is revealed beneath Hyrule Castle to be the royal heir and takes Zelda's form; her crew and the talking boat, the King of Red Lions, are Link's allies.

In "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," what is the name of the region inhabited by the Goron tribe?

The Gorons, a rock-eating race, primarily reside on and around Death Mountain in "Ocarina of Time" and other games.

Which species is known for its fish-like appearance and ability to live underwater?

The Zora are an aquatic, humanoid race resembling fish, often serving as guardians of bodies of water like Zora's Domain.

The series' recurring villain, in humanoid form, originally led which race of desert nomads?

The Gerudo are the desert tribe Ganondorf led: by series lore a single male is born to them every hundred years and becomes their king.

In Majora's Mask, what curse does Skull Kid put on Link at the very start of the game?

He is stuck in that form until he recovers his ocarina and gets back through the Clock Tower doors, three days later.

In Breath of the Wild, what limits how long Link can climb, swim or glide?

Cooking the right meals temporarily extends it, and the paraglider was almost cut for giving the player too much mobility.

In which Nintendo DS game does Link travel between towns by driving a steam train?

Spirit Tracks (2009) puts Link at the controls of the Spirit Train: he sets speed and direction, switches junctions and blows the whistle to clear animals off the line.

Who is the imp-like member of the Twili who joins forces with Link in Twilight Princess?

Midna, the Twilight Princess of the title, was cursed into imp form by the usurper who seized her throne; her true humanoid form appears only in the ending.

What are the chicken-like birds that swarm Link if he keeps attacking one?

Cuccos are Hyrule's chickens; strike one repeatedly and, from A Link to the Past onward, a flock swoops in to punish Link, a gag kept through Breath of the Wild.

In Ocarina of Time, which item lets Link bounce Twinrova's fire and ice attacks back at them?

The Mirror Shield, found in the Spirit Temple, absorbs Twinrova's fire and ice beams and fires them back; the twin Gerudo witches Koume and Kotake raised Ganondorf.

In Majora's Mask, what does Link use to track Clock Town residents' daily schedules?

The Bombers' Notebook, given by the Bombers gang in Clock Town, logs 20 characters' needs across the three-day cycle, from an invisible soldier needing medicine to a separated engaged couple.

What is the floating town Link calls home in Skyward Sword?

Skyloft is the island town above the clouds where Link and Zelda attend the Knight Academy; Zelda's fall to the surface is what sends Link down after her.

Which console was "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" originally released on?

"Ocarina of Time" was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998 and is widely considered one of the most influential video games of all time.

In Ocarina of Time, which fairy does the Great Deku Tree assign to guide Link?

Navi is the fairy the Great Deku Tree sends to Link, who alone among the Kokiri had none; her 'Hey! Listen!' prompts became a running joke.

In Skyward Sword, what is the name of the humanoid spirit that inhabits Link's sword?

She speaks in probabilities and percentages, and her farewell when the sword is sealed away is one of the series' quieter moments.

In A Link Between Worlds, what item gives Link the ability to merge into walls as a painting?

Merging also lets him slip through cracks between Hyrule and its parallel world, and the camera swings to a side view while he is flat.

Which mysterious travelling collector pressures Link into recovering the item Skull Kid stole from him?

The Happy Mask Salesman demands Majora's Mask back within three days; he also runs the Happy Mask Shop in Ocarina of Time's Castle Town, whose wares include the Bunny Hood.

How many directors led the development of Ocarina of Time?

Five directors shared Ocarina of Time: Toru Osawa, Yoichi Yamada, Eiji Aonuma, Yoshiaki Koizumi and Toshio Iwawaki, with Shigeru Miyamoto producing.

In Breath of the Wild, what are the four giant animal-shaped machines Link must reclaim called?

The four Divine Beasts, Vah Ruta (elephant), Vah Medoh (bird), Vah Rudania (lizard) and Vah Naboris (camel), each play as one extended puzzle rather than a conventional dungeon.

Of the two linked Game Boy Color games of 2001, which focuses on puzzles over action?

Oracle of Ages centres on puzzles and time travel between past and present in Labrynna, while Oracle of Seasons is the action-heavy half set in Holodrum; a password system links the two.

In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which new ability lets Link combine items into unique weapons or tools?

The 'Fuse' ability in "Tears of the Kingdom" allows Link to combine weapons, shields, and arrows with other materials to enhance their power, durability, or add special effects.

In Majora's Mask, which fairy does Skull Kid accidentally leave behind, forcing her to guide Link?

Her brother Tael stays with Skull Kid, and reuniting the two is what first sends Link into Clock Town.

Which game gives Link a talking companion named Ezlo, who can shrink him to tiny size?

In "The Minish Cap," Link is accompanied by Ezlo, a sentient, talking cap who grants Link the ability to shrink in size.

In Link's Awakening, Link is stranded on Koholint Island, which is guarded by what whale-like deity?

The Wind Fish sleeps in the egg atop Mt. Tamaranch; waking it takes the eight Instruments of the Sirens from eight dungeons, and doing so makes Koholint vanish as a dream.

Which game features Link sailing across a vast ocean known as the Great Sea?

"The Wind Waker" is set on the Great Sea, a flooded Hyrule, where Link sails between islands on his boat, the King of Red Lions.

What early name did Nintendo's original design document give to the series' main villain?

Hakkai, after the pig demon of Journey to the West, was the villain's name in the earliest planning documents; the pig-like Ganon of the 1986 game kept that heritage.

In Breath of the Wild, what ancient technology created the Guardians and Shrines?

The Sheikah Slate and other advanced devices in "Breath of the Wild" are products of the ancient Sheikah civilization.

Princess Zelda was named after a real American novelist, socialite and painter with which surname?

Zelda Fitzgerald's name struck Miyamoto as 'pleasant and significant'; the princess has carried it through every incarnation since 1986.

Takashi Tezuka modeled Link's look on which Disney character?

Peter Pan, Disney's green-clad boy with pointed ears, was Tezuka's model for Link; the green tunic and cap made the tiny NES sprite instantly recognisable.

Which orchestral piece did Koji Kondo first plan to use as the NES game's title theme?

Ravel's Boléro was Kondo's intended title theme until, late in development, it proved to be under copyright; he wrote the overworld theme that replaced it in a single day.

In one French-language release, the Master Sword was renamed after which legendary blade?

Excalibur was the French name given to the Master Sword in A Link to the Past; the series' sword-in-a-pedestal imagery already echoed King Arthur, so translators made it explicit.

Link's steed shares its name with a fertility goddess from which mythology?

The goddess was a protector of horses, which makes the borrowing a neat fit for a mare who answers a whistled tune.

Miyamoto's boyhood explorations around which Japanese town inspired the series?

Sonobe, a rural town in Kyoto Prefecture, was Miyamoto's childhood home; he has described finding a cave in its woods and exploring it by lantern, the template for every dungeon.

What RPG-style feature did the 1987 NES sequel have that no later canonical entry used?

Experience points let Zelda II's Link level up attack, magic and life, a system no later canonical Zelda reused; the magic meter it introduced did stick around.

What is the tougher replay mode unlocked after finishing the original NES game called?

The Second Quest, known in Japan as Ura Zelda ('hidden Zelda'), starts after the ending or by naming a file ZELDA; it rearranges secrets and uses entirely new dungeon layouts.

Tezuka wanted Link's Awakening's island to feel like which American TV series?

Twin Peaks was Tezuka's model: he asked that Koholint's islanders be written as 'suspicious types', giving the island a small-town strangeness later games kept.

In Link's Awakening, which girl finds the shipwrecked Link and takes him to her father?

Finish the game without losing a life and she appears flying after the credits, a quiet reward for a perfect run.

In the SNES entry, which wizard seizes Hyrule after the king is murdered?

Agahnim, the priest-wizard who seized Hyrule in A Link to the Past, is a front for Ganon sealed in the Dark World; the game opens with Link's uncle setting off to stop him.

In 1992 the SNES Zelda was the third best-selling US game, behind Street Fighter II and?

It later spent more than five straight years at number one on Nintendo Power's Super NES chart.

In Ocarina of Time, the Sage of Light disguises himself as which owl?

Kaepora Gaebora, the giant owl who meets Link outside Kokiri Forest, is the Sage of Light Rauru in disguise; his long-winded advice ends with a yes/no prompt many players answered wrongly.

In Ocarina of Time, who is the daughter of Talon, the owner of Lon Lon Ranch?

The ranch sits in the middle of Hyrule Field and is famous for its horses and milk, which is where Link first meets his future mare.

Zelda's mysterious alter ego in the N64 original goes by what name?

Sheik, a surviving member of the Sheikah clan, was a disguise convincing enough that fans long debated whether the princess had literally changed gender for it.

How many masks are there in Majora's Mask in total?

There are 24 masks: 20 ordinary ones plus the Deku, Goron and Zora transformation masks and the Fierce Deity's Mask; Ocarina of Time had confined masks to one optional sidequest.

Majora's Mask and which other game are the only two that require the N64 Expansion Pak?

Donkey Kong 64 shipped bundled with the Expansion Pak; Majora's Mask needed the extra 4MB of RAM to track a whole town's schedules across its repeating three days.

Under what working title was Majora's Mask developed?

The Japanese word means 'side story', a fair label for a sequel that left Hyrule entirely and reused its predecessor's engine.

On the Great Sea, which giant bird carries Link's sister Aryll to the Forsaken Fortress?

The Helmaroc King, a masked giant bird serving Ganondorf, snatches long-eared girls like Aryll for the Forsaken Fortress and later drops Link into the sea; Link fights it there.

In Phantom Hourglass, which captain ferries Link around in search of his pirate friend?

His steamship bears his own name, and his descendant turns up running a trading post in the later DS train game.

In the DS train game, which Demon King is sealed beneath the Tower of Spirits?

Malladus, the Demon King, was bound by the Spirits of Good beneath the Tower of Spirits; the Spirit Tracks themselves are the seal's chains, so their vanishing is the first sign of trouble.

Which usurper king of the Twili invades Hyrule Castle in Twilight Princess?

Zant, the usurper who seized the Twilight Realm's throne, borrows his power from Ganondorf; mid-game he embeds a shadow crystal that locks Link in wolf form until the Master Sword breaks it.

Why was the Wii version of Twilight Princess mirrored compared with the GameCube one?

Everything in the west on GameCube sits in the east on Wii, so the two versions' maps are exact reflections of each other.

Majora's Mask's signature wedding sidequest pairs the innkeeper Anju with which character?

Kafei, Anju's fiancé, was turned into a child by Skull Kid and had his Sun's Mask stolen; reuniting the couple before the moon falls takes almost the entire final three-day cycle.

Which self-proclaimed Demon Lord hounds Link throughout Skyward Sword?

Ghirahim, a flamboyant sword spirit who styles himself Demon Lord, works to free his sealed master and, after the Triforce destroys it in the present, drags Zelda into the past to resurrect it.

In Skyward Sword, what is the name of the Demon King that the goddess Hylia sealed away?

Demise, the Demon King, was sealed by Hylia; his dying curse that his hatred will be reborn to plague the hero and the goddess's blood is the series' origin story for Ganon.

Which festival sword champion shatters the Picori Blade, releasing monsters across Hyrule?

Vaati, a Minish sorcerer disguised as the festival's sword champion, shatters the Picori Blade at the ceremony; The Minish Cap is a prequel explaining his origin and the Four Sword's.

Four Swords Adventures' third mode, 'Navi Trackers', was exclusive to which regions?

Japan and Korea were the only regions whose Four Swords Adventures included Navi Trackers, a stamp-collecting race mode notable for a fully voiced Tingle, years before Breath of the Wild's voice acting.

Tri Force Heroes is set in which fashion-obsessed kingdom?

Hytopia is the fashion-mad kingdom whose Princess Styla was cursed into an unremovable brown jumpsuit; the outfits Link collects there grant real gameplay abilities.

Which merchant rents Link his items in A Link Between Worlds?

Ravio, a rabbit-hooded merchant who moves into Link's house, rents out items like the bow and hookshot; die and every rented item flies straight back to him.

In Oracle of Seasons, which villain kidnaps Din, the Oracle?

Link must gather the eight Essences of Nature before he can storm the kidnapper's castle in Holodrum.

Which Breath of the Wild Champion is the archer of the bird-like Rito?

Revali, the Rito Champion who piloted Vah Medoh, gives Link Revali's Gale, an updraft that launches the paraglider skyward; he is easily the most arrogant of the four.

In Breath of the Wild, how many hearts must Link have to pull the Master Sword free?

Link needs 13 hearts or the sword's trial drains him; Zelda hid the blade in Korok Forest under the Great Deku Tree's protection before sealing herself away with the Calamity.

Roughly how many copies had Breath of the Wild sold by March 2025?

About 34.5 million combined Switch and Wii U copies by March 2025 made Breath of the Wild the series' best-seller to that date; in March 2017 it even outsold the Switch console itself in the US.

In Tears of the Kingdom, which first queen of Hyrule does Zelda meet in the distant past?

Sonia, Rauru's wife and Hyrule's first queen, teaches Zelda about Recall; Ganondorf murders her to steal her secret stone, the act that turns him into the Demon King.

What is the vast underground region introduced in Tears of the Kingdom called?

The Depths lie beneath all of Hyrule and mirror the surface map: each lightroot below sits directly under a surface shrine, a correspondence many players never noticed.

In Echoes of Wisdom, which fairy accompanies Zelda and provides her magic rod?

Tri, a small glowing fairy-like being, gives Zelda the Tri Rod, which copies objects and enemies as 'echoes', since the princess mostly cannot attack directly herself.

In Echoes of Wisdom, the fake demon king Zelda defeats was created by which primal evil?

Null, the primal evil behind the rifts, created the impostor Ganon; it lived in the void before the world was made and devoured any life that appeared so it could remain alone.

In Hyrule Warriors, which sorceress loves the hero's spirit and is corrupted by Ganondorf?

Cia, guardian of the Triforce's balance, let Ganondorf's spirit twist her love for the hero; her purged light became Lana, a separate sorceress who fights for Link.

Cadence of Hyrule is an official crossover with which rhythm roguelike?

Crypt of the NecroDancer's developer Brace Yourself Games made Cadence of Hyrule, a rare case of Nintendo lending the series to an indie studio; moving on the beat is the default, with a fixed-beat option.

In the 1989 cartoon, Link's 'Excuse me, Princess' line came from which comedian's routine?

Steve Martin's 'Well, excuuuse me!' catchphrase inspired Link's line; the cartoon ran as the Friday installment of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, replacing the usual Mario episode.

The infamous CD-i Zelda games grew out of a failed CD-ROM add-on for which console?

Nintendo never acknowledged the three games in its timeline, but their cutscenes have enjoyed a long afterlife as internet memes.

Which studio developed the first two CD-i Zelda games, Faces of Evil and Wand of Gamelon?

Animation Magic, a Russian-American studio, made both; they shipped the same day in October 1993, three years before Viridis delivered the third game, Zelda's Adventure.

The 1990s 'BS Zelda' games were broadcast to which Super Famicom add-on?

Satellaview, a satellite-modem add-on, received BS Zelda no Densetsu in 1995 in timed weekly broadcasts with live SoundLink voice narration and streamed audio.

Who was announced in 2023 as director of the live-action Legend of Zelda film?

Wes Ball, director of the Maze Runner films and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, was named in November 2023, with Sony co-financing and distributing the film.

What surname did Ganondorf get in an English manual, reconfirmed by Nintendo in 2017?

Dragmire appears as Ganondorf's surname in the A Link to the Past manual, which also called his beast form 'Mandrag Ganon'; Nintendo repeated the surname in 2017.

Ganondorf's tentative N64 model was based on which actor?

Christopher Lambert, the Highlander star, was the model for Ganondorf's provisional Ocarina of Time design; script director Toru Osawa wanted him to have admirable qualities, like Raoh from Fist of the North Star.

Link was a playable guest exclusively in the GameCube version of which fighting game?

Soulcalibur II (2003) gave each console its own guest: Link on GameCube, Spawn on Xbox and Tekken's Heihachi on PlayStation 2.

Retro Studios' cancelled DS pitch mixing Zelda with tactical RPG play was called what?

Heroes of Hyrule was Retro Studios' 2004 pitch for a DS tactical RPG, revealed publicly in 2022; Nintendo rejected it and Retro's Wii pitch about the Master Sword's origins.

The cancelled third Game Boy Color Oracle game was titled Mystical Seed of what?

Courage was the third planned Mystical Seed, beside Power and Wisdom; linking three games by password proved too fiddly, so Miyamoto suggested cutting the trilogy to the two that shipped.