A few days ago, we told you that an official Zelda art book containing the definitive timeline for the series would be released. Well, with the book out in Japan, that timeline has been officially revealed. All the historic events and videogames have been reconciled, with various splits into alternative universes. It's pretty crazy.
The existence of an official "timeline" has been a source of frantic debate among gamers. Some have claimed no such thing exists, and even among those that do, there has always been arguments over the sequence of events. No matter what happens, nobody can ever seem to agree.
One would think that this timeline will put an end to one of the oddest gamer controversies around, but something tells me that many still won't be satisfied.
In any case, you can view the chart (as seen on Zelda Universe) below. Don't read if you never want to know, obviously!
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Contest:
10:00 AM on 12.23.2011 | 
Oooooh!
The Sacred Realm is a Lie!
Why can't they just be self contained stories
No way man, we need a game that explains Majora's Mask origins. I can't die happy unless such a game is made.
So, they should continue the series with a new 'A New World' story, since Hyrule is supposedly reborn according to the timeline.
However, I think this will take away from the magic of future games. It almost feels like they have to explicitly say where every game fits now when releasing it. I think they should have waited (like they planned to).
@J03
As another commenter brilliantly brought up - it's not that you "don't finish OoT". It's when you actually go INTO the future (1), you leave the "present" (2) behind to fail. When you come BACK from the future at the end of OoT, you actually come into a DIFFERENT past (3).
If you recall, at the end, you come back into the child era with having never met Zelda (or gathered for instance, the Goron's Ruby, as a child).
Just let each game be their own thing, you know? "Old legends passed down through the ages" so various details have gotten altered through countless retellings, or something.
Good one, Jimbo! You almost got us this time. Making up crazy names for all the different ages in Zelda's history was a nice touch, but you slipped up by being too dead-fucking-serious in your writing.
Basically this whole scene.
Ganon's resurrections are explained in Skyward Sword.
Very interesting. I'm a little tingly all over.
We weren't thinking 4th dimensionally.
It's impossible otherwise.
So basically I'm more interested in a retcon list
I was trying to be subtle, like shadow2398, but okay.
I'm about to rock your world!
There are... check this out... people who played the games for the first time in the past few years who LOVE them. I know, right? I was surprised too!
Link to the Past is one of the most polished games of all time. Many industry greats can attest to this. Your youth is showing.
Haha, me too. I loved that game. The rest always felt like there was too much "fluff" between exciting areas, Link's Awakening was just like BAM GO! I guess the "small" scale of the gameboy forced them to condense the world, which might be why I liked it *shrugs*
All I know is I've beaten just about every Zelda game and I was fine with them being (what I thought were) self contained adventures.
I don't really care either way. I play Zelda for the overall gameplay experience, the story (while not bad) is just kind of secondary to me.
"Oh goody, the GOOD Zelda titles (LttP, LA, and AoL)"
***BZZZZZZZZZZZT***
***Trolling post invalidated***
***Reattempt required***
Now my question is if they'll make some "Crisis on Infinite Hyrules" and tie those three timelines back together in some future game. Could be something to think about, considering that they "supposedly" want to take Zelda in a new direction.
Who plays Zelda for story anyway?
Response: "Well, excuuuuuse me, Princess!"
They could easily make a Zelda game where Link travels between those 3 dimensions and somehow combines them. Even make it so each has a different visual style.
Like Spiderman, but good.
But seriously...when do we reach a timeline where Zelda games no longer require gimmicky touchscreen or motion controls?
Ehhhhhh? Huh?
I, personally, find it pretty easy to follow.