10 Biggest Traditions in The Legend of Zelda Games

Summary

• Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf are reincarnations, with each game being a new chapter in their endless cycle haunted by Demise’s curse
• Dungeons are a significant tradition in Zelda games, challenging players with distinct and unique themes in each one.
• The Master Sword and Hylian Shield are iconic equipment for Link, with heart containers representing his progression as he collects them.

Shigeru Miyamoto, besides being one of the minds behind the creation of Mario, was also responsible for conceiving The Legend of Zelda, one of the best franchises ever produced by Nintendo. In this epic Action-Adventure, players generally control Link on a journey to save the Kingdom of Hyrule from the forces of evil, with many gameplay elements influencing the development of other games.

Additionally, throughout all these games, several details have been marked by their presence in most releases, becoming the biggest traditions of The Legend of Zelda titles, whether through core gameplay mechanics or even some narrative references. Thus, whenever a new game is announced, fans can expect most of these elements to be present in Link’s journey.

10

Broken Pots

Link Can Cause Havoc By Entering A House And Smashing Its Pots

A lighter tradition of The Legend of Zelda, yet still present in most games, is that Link often has to smash pots wherever possible, whether to gather a few rupees for buying a new item or to look for hearts to replenish health. In several titles, it is even possible to barge into an NPC’s house in search of pots to break.

This tradition is so significant in the series that certain games, such as Ocarina of Time, include lines from NPCs commenting on Link’s habit of breaking pots or even encouraging the character to do so. Thus, it remains a minor gameplay element but appears in the great majority of the franchise’s titles.

9

Dungeons

This Gameplay Segment Is One Of The Biggest Traditions Of The Legend Of Zelda

Ever since it was conceived on the NES, one of the greatest traditions always present in The Legend of Zelda has been the dungeons, challenges placed in Link’s path to prove his power and worth as a hero. Even if a game features many of them, each one is built with a distinct and unique theme.

Although the more recent Nintendo Switch titles have somewhat set this aspect aside, choosing simpler and not-so-complex challenges, there are still several dungeons in The Legend of Zelda that are iconic to the franchise. Hence, with each new installment in the series, fans look forward to seeing how the developer will use creativity to challenge the hero on his journey.

8

Master Sword And The Hylian Shield

They Are The Two Most Iconic Pieces Of Equipment For Link In The Games

While the character can wield different weapons during the adventure, bows, boomerangs, and bombs, the most recognizable gear for Link are the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield. In most official artwork, the character is shown with these two items, which have become part of his look, even though the shield does not appear in every game.

However, the Master Sword is nearly a trademark of the franchise, and the moment Link first discovers this blade is one of the most iconic scenes in each title, besides being one of the biggest traditions of The Legend of Zelda. The epic tone of these moments, combined with each title’s context – such as in Breath of the Wild – makes everything more striking.

7

A Silent Hero

Link Is Not Someone Of Many Words

Silent protagonists are a tradition in many games, and Link, in The Legend of Zelda, is another character who fits this pattern. Throughout his appearances in mainline games, spinoffs, or even special cameos in other titles, he was never particularly vocal. Nonetheless, in games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, it is possible to select some dialogue options that shed light on the character’s personality.

However, even if these dialogue choices exist, Link does not have any actual lines, only groans and shouts when fighting enemies. On the other hand, Nintendo compensated for his silence by making him very expressive, which reveals more about his nature without requiring him to speak.

6

Music

Whether As A Mechanic Or A Soundtrack, It Is A Strong Element In The Zelda Games

One of the biggest traditions in The Legend of Zelda has always been the attention given to each game’s soundtrack, resulting in many iconic songs throughout the franchise. The main theme, for instance, is only one among several standout melodies in the series, showcasing the epic tone of every adventure.

Yet this tradition is not tied solely to soundtrack quality, because in many of Link’s reincarnations, the character also demonstrated skill with various musical instruments. In several games, such as Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker, music served as a core mechanic, enabling the character to perform different melodies and progress in the game.

5

Strong Focus On Exploration

The Legend Of Zelda Games Has Always Provided A Lot Of Freedom To Players

Although some games in the franchise feature a more linear progression, one of the greatest traditions in The Legend of Zelda has always involved the freedom players have in exploring. The environments usually encourage this with their design, especially dungeons, concealing secrets and other items in various locations to discover during gameplay.

However, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom elevated the concept of exploration to a whole new level in the franchise, creating vast open worlds for players to explore at will. Both games implemented a successful non-linear approach to the map, with a design that sparks curiosity about different areas of the world.

4

Heart Containers

They Represent The Character’s Progression

The Legend of Zelda never used a level-based progression system or a skill tree to convey how Link evolves, so a way to represent that, apart from the new equipment he obtains, has always been through Heart Containers. These items are found in dungeons or during map exploration and, over time, expand the protagonist’s health points.

This has also been one of the biggest traditions of the franchise, present in practically every mainline entry. Although Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom slightly changed this formula, the logic for boosting both HP and Stamina remains similar, requiring the character to collect Spirit Orbs and later exchange them at Goddess Statues dotted around the map.

3

Epic Boss Battles

Many Of These Encounters Are Memorable In The Legend Of Zelda

In addition to the other challenges Link faces in his journey, the adventure would not exist without battles against varied bosses. Many of these fights are remembered by players as some of the best in The Legend of Zelda, whether for the enemy’s difficulty or the unique mechanics and design.

Moreover, Nintendo has consistently presented these clashes in an epic manner, whether through the soundtrack or the buildup to these bosses, creating a clear difference between them and regular enemies. This approach is why clashes against Ghirahim, Koloktos, or even Colgera in Tears of the Kingdom resonate so strongly with players.

2

The Triforce

It Is Part Of The Mythology Of Hyrule And A Franchise Tradition

Just as Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf are fated to meet, another aspect of the series’ mythology that appears in nearly every The Legend of Zelda installment is the Triforce. This artifact symbolizes balance in the world and frequently drives the conflicts in the games, as villains strive to claim it for total control.

The Triforce has a simple yet iconic design and is used as one of The Legend of Zelda’s main logos, appearing on many covers. Furthermore, the fact that it can only be fully obtained by Link in some games adds to the mystique surrounding this item.

1

The Characters Are Reincarnations

Link, Zelda, And Ganondorf Are Variations Of The Same Character

Even though Link, Zelda, and, most of the time, Ganondorf are recurring characters and one of the biggest traditions of The Legend of Zelda, they almost never are the same individuals from previous games. That is because in Skyward Sword, the title that begins the entire series timeline, it is explained that Demise, the villain, casts a curse so his hatred would remain with them forever.

So each game is a new chapter in this endless cycle, where descendants of the princess Zelda and those who carry Link’s heroic spirit remain haunted by Demise’s curse, which manifests as Ganondorf. Even if in one game or another certain facts are altered, players generally follow the story of these destinies clashing in the game.