Nintendo just revealed their half assed Zelda timeline

[Wrath2X]

The Zelda series starts with a simple progression. The first four games in the timeline, from earliest to latest are:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
2. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
3. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
4. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Here's where things get complicated, because Ocarina deals with a leap in time and technically only spells out one of those timelines with its ending. However, if these reports are to be believed, Nintendo has generated three scenarios based on Ocarina of Time.

The first, which we'll call Timeline A, assumes Link actually fails to stop Ganon. How or why this is a logical storyline path is a bit lost on us, because the game resolves that battle, but regardless, here are the games that follow Timeline A:

5-A. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
6-A. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages
7-A. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
8-A. The Legend of Zelda
9-A. The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventures of Link

So there's that - many games based on an odd presumption. Regardless, the next path, Timeline B, works from the presented ending of Ocarina of Time, featuring Link returning to live through his childhood. As we all know, Majora's Mask picks up shortly after Ocarina's ending, leading to these games:

5-B. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
6-B. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
7-B. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

One more timeline for you. This one starts with Ganon's defeat in the Ocarina of Time era, and progresses from there - from the time that Link advanced and eventually left so he could be a child once again. Here are the games in Timeline C:

5-C. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
6-C. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
7-C. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

http://wii.ign.com/articles/121/1215301p1.html

[Eel O'Brian]

oh god, people will use this stuff in online arguments and be deadly serious about it

i can hardly wait to laugh at them

[Tasty]

Pretty brilliant, I have to say. Makes sense to me.

[Trent Dole]

 

[Tasty]

Pretty brilliant, I have to say. Makes sense to me.

Oh come on! The failure timeline was wedged for the games they couldn't explain where they came from 

Well TBH it's pretty clear they were playing hard and loose with the story in the games until that point. Just a limit of the technology. OoT is where they got serious and I think that shows pretty well.

Any inconsistencies are probably because of the bastard third party Oracle children / the Four Swords games, but even then there's nothing too bad.

With the timeline, people hear "we've had a timeline in mind for these games" and think "they thought up and mapped out every single game on the timlines 25 years ago!!" Which obviously isn't the case. But since OoT, it's obvious they've been thinking about where new games fit in.

[Reb]

Fucking nerds, they're just separate games.

[Timber]

In which of these alternate timelines is Nintendo still releasing exciting Zelda games?

[Stoney Mason]

File this under no normal person gives a shit.

[Don Flamenco]

[AdmiralViscen]

Why do they keep trying to squeeze in shittier andshittier games as TEH FIRST ZELDA

[archie4208]

good, one less thing for people to obsess over

maybe they'll finally graduate to porn

What if they graduate to Zelda porn?  :'(

[Steve Youngblood]

Well TBH it's pretty clear they were playing hard and loose with the story in the games until that point. Just a limit of the technology. OoT is where they got serious and I think that shows pretty well.

Granted, I've mainly stuck to the main console outings and haven't played Skyward Sword, but it doesn't show pretty well to me. Obviously, there were clear references in Wind Waker to Ocarina, but it honestly felt closer to fan service than careful attention to detail in regards to world building and a consistent narrative. I didn't get any hints of good continuity from Twilight Princess. I'm sure they were there somewhere and I didn't notice, but I don't really care one way or another.

[bork]

This is not a game series where people should be trying to concoct a timeline.  It's the same Link/Zelda/Ganon story retold in most of the games.  Why do people care about this?

[Sho Nuff]

Seriously who gives a shit about this

Or the Zelda story in general

You get the boomerang, get the hookshot, kill Ganon the end

[bork]

They should do a Mario timeline next:

Mario is a little baby and rides on a dinosaur.
Mario chases a big ape.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Mario has a dream.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Mario rides in a go-kart.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.

[Don Flamenco]

Seriously who gives a shit about this

Or the Zelda story in general

You get the boomerang, get the hookshot, kill Ganon the end

fuck, thanks for spoiling OOT for me.  now I can't play it because EVERYTHING IS RUINNNNED  :'(

[cool breeze]

I feel like anyone who thinks this makes sense hasn't played a Zelda game before. 

The "Legend of Zelda" is better as a singular story, retold uniquely in each game.  It's like people would rather it be more a star wars prequel than a grimm tale or something. 

The only sequels or timeline occur after each new entry; MM, PH/ST, Zelda 2, and games like that.

and the best part is how they haphazardly throw in two co-op party game that were designed as fanservice.  surprised link's crossbow training wasn't included. 

[benjipwns]

Not Mama but it IS from GAF according to GIS:

How is Yoshi's Island after the earlier games? 

[demi]

Seriously who gives a shit about this

Or the Zelda story in general

You get the boomerang, get the hookshot, kill Ganon the end

fuck, thanks for spoiling OOT for me.  now I can't play it because EVERYTHING IS RUINNNNED  :'(

He was talking about LTTP

[benjipwns]

found it, holy shit i'd forgotten how insane it is, because it actually tries to account for the various party games and stuff

Oh, so you would just leave out Mario Teaches Typing and Mario Is Missing and all that valuable plot information? Typical.

[Don Flamenco]

I love how people are disappointed in Nintendo's version.  They only did this because of dumb fan pressure and their version is no worse than anyone else's version.  They made an action adventure game for the NES, it was popular and fun, they kept making them. then they stopped being fun, but they kept being popular, so they kept making them some more because money.  there's your fucking timeline, zeldatwats. 

[Joe Molotov]

found it, holy shit i'd forgotten how insane it is, because it actually tries to account for the various party games and stuff

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=22495344&postcount=306

That's only a "snippet".

[Bebpo]

I kind of liked how Wind Waker was sort of related to "a" Zelda story by being about a past link and having the ghost of hyrule castle.  Gave the story some nice emotional power and connection to the series.

In general I don't think every game should be related, but sometimes connecting a game to the Zelda-universe adds a little something.  Or in Skyward Sword it just makes you sigh.

[cool breeze]

Wind Waker was like Turn A Gundam, only slightly more specific about connecting to OoT.  But things don't fit past that.

[Flannel Boy]

Fucking nerds, they're just the same game over and over again.

fixed

[Tasty]

found it, holy shit i'd forgotten how insane it is, because it actually tries to account for the various party games and stuff

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=22495344&postcount=306

Got nothing on Amir0x's.

Wind Waker was like Turn A Gundam, only slightly more specific about connecting to OoT.  But things don't fit past that.

Sure they do. It just doesn't fit your "every game is a new legend screw the timelines!!!  " agenda. Like the scene in TP where they try to execute Ganondorf.

[maxy]

what is zelda?

[cool breeze]

Sure they do. It just doesn't fit your "every game is a new legend screw the timelines!!!  " agenda. Like the scene in TP where they try to execute Ganondorf.

snap, an agenda? we're getting into big boy talk

Turn A Gundam is a Gundam series set far into the future of any and every Gundam universe (there are several).  The only specificity to which game precedes Wind Waker is the mention of "the hero of time;" remove "time" and there's nothing keeping it from being a sequel to any other Zelda game.

All I'm saying is that the timeline is inane to people who actually play these games.  The timeline theories reek of kids too embarrassed to admit they played the same children's game over and over.  I'm fine with that.  Zelda is my favorite game series and I'm fine with that.  It's not an agenda; it's "stop embarrassing me, Zelda fanthings." The sadness of knowing people are trying to legitimize Zelda's story  :'(

[Bebpo]

Wind Waker was like Turn A Gundam, only slightly more specific about connecting to OoT.  But things don't fit past that.

That sounds about right.

[Cerveza mas fina]

what is zelda?

Game series that was relevant in the 90's.

[Steve Youngblood]

All I'm saying is that the timeline is inane to people who actually play these games.  The timeline theories reek of kids too embarrassed to admit they played the same children's game over and over.  I'm fine with that.  Zelda is my favorite game series and I'm fine with that.  It's not an agenda; it's "stop embarrassing me, Zelda fanthings." The sadness of knowing people are trying to legitimize Zelda's story  :'(

For the most part, I agree that it's silly, but mainly after a certain point. I don't necessarily think a momentary suspension of disbelief into wondering if the various titles might somehow fit together is altogether absurd. "Hey, I like the games, and it's neat to think that Nintendo might have an overarching narrative playing out via this silly franchise I like!" Yeah, I can see that.

However, I agree that past that arbitrary point I've not defined, it boils down into nonsense. Whether good continuity is arguably there or not (and I would say it's not), clearly, familiarity with the narratives of the other games is of minimal importance to enjoying any title in the series. Even the new titles that are putting a modicum of effort into connecting things feel more like fanservice callbacks rather than furthering of a plot of any significance. "I feel sorry for the young ones playing this as their first Zelda game. They're totally not going to understand the significance of killing Ganon(dorf) in this game without the proper context of having killed him in the previous six games."

[Tasty]

Sure they do. It just doesn't fit your "every game is a new legend screw the timelines!!!  " agenda. Like the scene in TP where they try to execute Ganondorf.

snap, an agenda? we're getting into big boy talk

Turn A Gundam is a Gundam series set far into the future of any and every Gundam universe (there are several).  The only specificity to which game precedes Wind Waker is the mention of "the hero of time;" remove "time" and there's nothing keeping it from being a sequel to any other Zelda game.

All I'm saying is that the timeline is inane to people who actually play these games.  The timeline theories reek of kids too embarrassed to admit they played the same children's game over and over.  I'm fine with that.  Zelda is my favorite game series and I'm fine with that.  It's not an agenda; it's "stop embarrassing me, Zelda fanthings." The sadness of knowing people are trying to legitimize Zelda's story  :'(

Those people are annoying but people who keep claiming there isn't any real connection, when the developers themselves have been saying for years there is one, are just as annoying. They released the official timeline, it's real. Let's move on. Saying it doesn't exist is just silly at this point.

[Timber]

It's totally fake though. Shame you can't see that.

[cool breeze]

Fine.  I'll accept that there is a timeline if we can agree that Nintendo couldn't care less about adhering to it.

[Great Rumbler]

There's no timeline, just a lot of justifications for things that don't logically fit.

[Flannel Boy]

There's no timeline, just a lot of justifications for things that don't logically fit.

Zelda is the new bible.

[Flannel Boy]

How many Navis can dance on the head of a pin?

[Steve Youngblood]

Those people are annoying but people who keep claiming there isn't any real connection, when the developers themselves have been saying for years there is one, are just as annoying. They released the official timeline, it's real. Let's move on. Saying it doesn't exist is just silly at this point.

I could be wrong, but I don't think many people would care to argue that there is literally no canonical timeline in place if the company in charge of these things says there is one. However, I think some might be seeking to argue that any attempt to do such a thing -- be it from Nintendo or from fans -- is fairly non-sensical.

If I were to argue that Episodes I - III of Star Wars don't exist, I'm not literally attempting to convince you that Lucas never made the films.

[Momo]

Next up : crazy shit like Konami coming up with a Galaga timeline that includes dig dug

[Steve Youngblood]

Next up : crazy shit like Konami coming up with a Galaga timeline that includes dig dug

That's just stupid, Momo. Why would Konami release a timeline that has a Namco game in it? Think!

But if we want to conjecture where Castlevania fits in? I've got a notebook somewhere that I think will explain things clearly. Hold on.

[magus]

Next up : crazy shit like Konami coming up with a Galaga timeline that includes dig dug

dig dug has already a timeline! it goes into mr.drillers

and beside's dig dug is a namco game

[MCD]

Waiting for James Bond timeline.

[recursivelyenumerable]

So are these three totally independent branches or is there like some meta-verse continuity that has them interacting in some way?

[recursivelyenumerable]

See, I don't care about the Zelda timeline per se except that I've sort of gotten hooked on the online arguments about it, so you could say I meta-care about it.

[Don Flamenco]

The AVGN episode on this is good. 

Linearists and Splitists

[Owl-faced Wizard]

I just been watching a Majora's Mask speedrun on the tubes.
I really hope they do go ahead and rehash it for 3DS, it's such a great game but it needs better graphix.  Way too much collecting shit tho.

[Tasty]

a thread about the zelda timeline has reached two pages on the bore

I am surprised as much as anyone.

[Don Flamenco]

we can still save this.

Zelda II = 8-bit Dark Souls.  Discuss.

[Momo]

a thread about the zelda timeline has reached two pages on the bore

It's a tragedy.

Next up Namco to put a timeline to Bomberman

[Trent Dole]

They should do a Mario timeline next:

Mario is a little baby and rides on a dinosaur.
Mario chases a big ape.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Mario has a dream.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Mario rides in a go-kart.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.
Bower kidnaps the princess.

You need to fit in six more 'Mario rides in a go-kart's there man. 

[bork]

The AVGN episode on this is good. 

Linearists and Splitists

Link?

Zelda?

[Great Rumbler]

The AVGN episode on this is good. 

Linearists and Splitists

Link?

Zelda?

Ganon?

[Tasty]

Triple combo!

The AVGN episode on this is good. 

Linearists and Splitists

Link?

[Don Flamenco]

seriously Zelda 2 is fucking awesome.  I like it so much more now than I did as a kid, now that I can play it.  The knight guys put up a fun fight, though it's a pain in the ass when they keeeeeepp  blocking.  I was serious about the dark souls comparison too-- get your ass handed to you or lose too much life to do well later if you don't pay attention even to the easy blobs, it's scary as hell to go to a new place, gotta manage your health and magic like crazy...I get the exact same feeling from the game as dark souls.

[Positive Touch]

the game has serious flaws but its way underrated.  the dungeon designs are good and theres more focus than zelda 1.  i never played battle of olympus but i hear it plays the same but does it better.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I want to talk more about the Dig Dug timeline, and how awesome it is that Dig Dug is CANONICALLY Mr. Driller's father

[brob]

^yeah. wolfenstein timeline is fantastic too. Zelda can eat a dick.

[Owl-faced Wizard]

I want to talk more about the Dig Dug timeline, and how awesome it is that Dig Dug is CANONICALLY Mr. Driller's father

To round off the Dig Dug talk, I discovered Baraduke recently and really like that game. Mr. Driller's mother is a beast.

[cool breeze]

^yeah. wolfenstein timeline is fantastic too. Zelda can eat a dick.

I remember back in primary school or middle school or something my friend and I created a wolfenstein/duke nukem timeline where BJ was Duke's dad.  Duke's mom was an ace fighter pilot and there was an entire scenario where she flies towards a zeppelin with BJ riding a motorcycle on the wings, and she makes a sharp right and he ramps off the tilted wing.  and then he kicks the shit out of some Nazi.  but the crashing zeppelin hits the plane, so BJ dives out to save his wife, who is pregnant, btw, and gives birth during freefall.  Then suddenly mecha-Hitler kills both BJ and his a wife, but Duke takes BJ's rocket launcher and uses it to kill mecha-Hitler.  And then he rocket jumps to land safely.  This was before we realized id and 3D realms were different.

 

[Tasty]

^yeah. wolfenstein timeline is fantastic too. Zelda can eat a dick.

I remember back in primary school or middle school or something my friend and I created a wolfenstein/duke nukem timeline where BJ was Duke's dad.  Duke's mom was an ace fighter pilot and there was an entire scenario where she flies towards a zeppelin with BJ riding a motorcycle on the wings, and she makes a sharp right and he ramps off the tilted wing.  and then he kicks the shit out of some Nazi.  but the crashing zeppelin hits the plane, so BJ dives out to save his wife, who is pregnant, btw, and gives birth during freefall.  Then suddenly mecha-Hitler kills both BJ and his a wife, but Duke takes BJ's rocket launcher and uses it to kill mecha-Hitler.  And then he rocket jumps to land safely.  This was before we realized id and 3D realms were different.

Dunno about all that but Wolfenstein is a prequel to Commander Keen.