I have re-read all of the posts, played half-way through TP and WW again, read through many text dumps and I will now attempt to bring the topic back to its focus with what I view to be the main arguments for and against the following statement:
"The Triforce is not a part of the events of Twilight Princess"Similarities and differences to the Triforce in previous games are crucial to both arguments, so I shall start by stating what I believe to be facts from each game:
LoZ - ToW in pieces and assembled. ToW needed to fight ToP. ToP dropped on defeat.
AoL - ToC hidden in palace. ToC gifted upon completion of trials. Triforce assembled to break spell.
ALttP - Triforce as one entity. Triforce kept in a seperate room. Capable of granting wishes.
LA - Triforce not in game
OoT - Triforce split when grabbed by unworthy. Favoured piece remains with claimant (ToP), other two are bestowed upon chosen ones.
MM - Triforce not in game
OoX - Triforce complete, sends Link on quests.
MC - Triforce not in game, however there is a hereditory Life force
WW - ToP with Ganondorf from OoT. ToW in two pieces, one piece with KoRL, one piece with Zelda bloodline. ToC in pieces and assembled. Triforce assembled and grants KoRL's wish, then disappears.
PH - Triforce not in game
FS/FSA - I have not played these
TP - subject of debate
Against:1)
Glowing hands - Similarity argument. The only previous games to include this feature are WW and OoT. In these games the characters are known to be in possession of their respective Triforce pieces.
Counterpoint - Midna does not gain a crest when she is in possession of "everything (Zelda) had to offer"
2)
"Power of the Goddesses" - Similarity argument. Previous games (WW) have likened the Triforce to the "Power of the Goddesses".
Counterpoint - this statement is heavily emphasized in TP but the source of the power is never mentioned. The importance of this is discussed in For 1) below.
3)
These powers are the same as previous games - Similarity argument. Ganondorf's powers are enhanced, Link has the ability to overcome any challange, and Zelda has sage-like awareness and healing powers.
Counterpoint - these are the same powers of any Link and Zelda, regardless of Triforce ownership. It is only the enhancement of Ganondorf's powers that has any exclusive similarity to the Triforce.
For:1)
the Triforce is not mentioned - this cannot be overlooked or downplayed. If the same statement as above were made about ALttP, OoT, WW, etc. that statement could be proved incorrect from sources within each of those respective games. However, the arguments against this statement for TP rely on sources from other games in the Zelda universe. This distinction should, at the very least, open our minds.
Counterpoint - the omitance of the word "Triforce" could have been to maintain focus of the story on the Twili.
2)
Ganondorf's power fades before he dies - Difference point. Ganondorf's power abandons him
before his death, and since the Triforce is affectively inaminate (ALttP) it could not leave Ganondorf of its own volition. This can only be attributed to an action by the Goddesses, an action they have not taken in previous games. Therefore it can be concluded (not proven) that these powers are direct blessings of the Goddesses as opposed to moving the triforce pieces around the cosmos to achieve the same result, an action that would require more effort.
Counterpoint - there is no previous example of a character dying whilst being host to a triforce piece, therefore the affect of this can only be speculated. Also, as mentioned, it can be argued that the Goddesses bestow and remove the triforce pieces at will.
3)
"You who possess the crest of the Goddesses", Sages quote - note the word "crest", usually associated with 'chosen one'. This was a prime opportunity to mention the Triforce but the game didn't.
Counterpoint - the direct translation of the Japanase text may shed more light on this quote.
4)
the "divine prank" - the Goddesses give Ganondorf his power during his execution. The mortal wound obtained shows that he would have broken free if he were previously capable. The power is either a direct blessing or the ToP has been teleported into his body.
Counterpoint - Ganondorf could have obtained the ToP previously and not had full use until he sustained the mortal wound, similar to the Ganon transformation in OoT.
Counter-counterpoint - the ToW would have gone to the pre-TP Zelda and the ToC to a different hero as the execution scene is in the past, and although no time reference is given it is generally accepted as being far enough in the past to predate TP-Link & Zelda's births. Therefore an explanation must be given as to where they got their triforce pieces. Whilst Zelda could have had hers passed down, Link's piece remains a mystery. Also, the following quote is from Zelda to Link: "Like you, I have been
granted special powers by the Goddesses". Note the word 'granted', not 'passed down'.
I believe I have summarized the main points of both arguments. Neither argument is conclusive, however I think I have shown that there are only two possibilities:
1 - The Goddesses give their direct blessings to the characters in the game
2 - The Goddesses give the triforce pieces directly to the characters in the game
When presented like this, I subscribe to the former as the latter just seems like an odd way for the Goddesses to achieve the same result,
and the only previous example of this type of bestowment was when the Triforce was touched by an imbalanced character (OoT).
Edited by Marty, 26 May 2008 - 02:41 PM.
