15 replies to this topic

[FDL]

I've always wondered whether or not the Oracle series has an "official" order of any kind. In particular, I've always wondered if the unlinked Oracle of Ages retaining the dialogue about Link and Impa being sent by Zelda was an indication of it being second, if we're just supposed to assume Link didn't accidentally stumble upon the Triforce and was, for whatever reason, meant to travel to Labrynna via the Triforce, or if it was just a mistake. I'm sure this has been argued about before but I've been thinking about it a bit lately and was wondering what people think about it/what evidence there may be for one game or the other being the intended first game. Overall I think the Oracle games get an unfairly bad rap because of the fact that they're made by Capcom, unlike the Four Sword games the two Oracle games seem to legitimately have some bearing on the main mythos of the series.

[MikePetersSucks]

The Oracle games can go in any order. There's nothing to hint that one sequence of events is more "canon" than the other.

[FDL]

Ostensibly, yeah. But what do you make of Link apparently being considered a messenger of the Princess even in an unlinked game of Oracle of Ages? I think you're probably right, I just wonder what everyone makes of the potential "evidence" for one preceding the other. I'm mainly curious about the aforementioned "messenger" example, but I thought it'd be a better topic overall if I made it a little more broad in what's being discussed.

[MikePetersSucks]

*shrug* Hell if I know. I'd have to see what you're talking about in context.

[KJ Contrarian]

Oracle of Seasons is probably first canon-wise. The Japanese manual for OoS talks of Link going into the "depths" of Hyrule Castle and encountering the Triforce, while the Japanese manual for OoA makes no mention of that and goes straight into the OoA story.

[FDL]

*shrug* Hell if I know. I'd have to see what you're talking about in context.

When you arrive in the grove where Nayru is singing Ralph says something about Link and Impa being the protectors Zelda said she sent for Nayru in a passenger pigeon message.

Edited by FDL, 18 December 2011 - 07:34 PM.

[MikePetersSucks]

Oracle of Seasons is probably first canon-wise. The Japanese manual for OoS talks of Link going into the "depths" of Hyrule Castle and encountering the Triforce, while the Japanese manual for OoA makes no mention of that and goes straight into the OoA story.

That doesn't really mean anything.

When you arrive in the grove where Nayru is singing Ralph says something about Link and Impa being the protectors Zelda said she sent for Nayru in a passenger pigeon message.

Impa may be. Link came with her, so Ralph presumes things. It's not like Ralph is actually "in the know" about anything.

[FDL]

Well the only thing is, he mentions Link's name as though it was in Zelda's message.

[MikePetersSucks]

I'd have to see it, I don't recall. In any case, it's not like Zelda doesn't reguarly have prophetic visions of stuff she doesn't personally initiate.

[SOAP]

She knew Link's name in ALttP even though it seemed like the first time the ever actually met was when he later saves her from the castle dungeon. Could be the same thing and could explain why she knew who Link was even though she still introduces herself to him anyways.

[FDL]

Well Ralph also says they're both supposed to be Hyrule's messengers, but I supposed that could be where confusion is the explanation.

[Showsni]

Seasons first seems to be the more accepted version - it has an earlier serial number, I think. I played Ages first, though... If we could remember the differences it might help us.

Hm, if you play Ages first you get better closure on the Pirate Captain + Ambi storyline, I think - you meet Ambi in Holodrum and she finds her lost love again (who caused her to build the Black Tower in the first place).

The Master Sword's location also differs, but it's less of a plot point in this game.

[Fin]

i prefer to play ages first for ambi/pirate plot, but generally i'm not too bothered about whether or not there's a canon order. i think had flagship given anything concrete saying which occurs first they'd essentially be validating one choice of playing order over the other, which i personally think is generally a stupid thing to do in a medium defined by its interactivity.

[Hooded Warrior]

The story of the Oracle games are so self-contain that it doesn't matter which order that they are played in.

No matter what order you play the games in it ends with Link killing Ganon again.

It seems silly to try to figure out which order to play the Oracle games in.

[FDL]

It's not about which order to play the games in, just if there are any hints at one being intended as "first" over the other.

[Nerushi]

Comparing the intros gives some hints in itself. Seasons has Link ride inland, and during daylight. The first is important, because Ages has Link ride along the coast, which makes sense if he came by boat first before mounting Epona. Ages seem to play out at sunset( admittedly it could be sunrise as well, though the more extreme colors seem to hint at sunset. ) which could be interpreted symbolically to mean it takes place later. Also, Link in Ages seem to react different to Hyrule Castle. There is a spark effect when he sees the Castle, while in Seasons Link seem generally more surprised at seeing Hyrule Castle.
In the end I don't think it means to much, though I do favor Seasons before Ages because of the little things.