81 replies to this topic

[Vazor]

I almost vomited blood when I saw that title. Then I realized that you were talking about the character rather than the franchise. At that point, I merely vomited vomit.

Well, I've got to say, if Zelda wasn't all of the above, then would the games be at all interesting?

Great Deku Tree: Listen Link...you have been chosen to...um...water my meadow.

Link: What?

GDT: Well, it's getting a little dry, and well...

Navi: I thought you said he needed to fight evil!

GDT: Well...as it turns out, the princess took care of all that. She's competant, who knew?

Link: *cries*

Mido: See! Now you're a servant-fairyless boy! *laughs maniacally*

[Husse]

*lets steam slooooowly escape from ears*

ZELDA, while not a favorite of mine, does NOT suck!

She's a very smart 10-YEAR OLD GIRL for being able to tell Ganondorf's intentions when everyone else thought he was the bee's knees, and so what if her plan sucked. For that matter, she knows some magic, but Ganondorf is the King of powerful black magic and even he couldn't solve his problems. She's a gifted chick who's very nice but just isn't all that competent in battle or whatnot. Don't knock the namesake of the series! Honestly!

In that vein, think of all the stupid mistakes Link makes. If Zelda's an oxnart, Link would have to be a REAL moron. It's just the way things go in a Zelda game. There has to be a crisis, doesn't there? That requires someone on the good side screwing up.

[Husse]

Yeah, she's not perfect. Go figure. That's why the kingdom has problems, and that's why the game is a game. Actually, if you want to compare her to Princess Peach or Krystal or something, Zelda is a very smart cookie. Nintendo princesses have never been the geniuses of the games.

[Koji]

It's hard to have a Damsel In Distress game when the Damsel can bench 230 and takes karate. You can have fun Zelda games without Zelda (MM was a maginificent game in my opinion). But saving the princess is part of what makes Link a hero. So, if you want a princess that can fend for herself - go buy a CD-i and Zelda's Adventure. Have fun. When you're ready to play some REAL Zelda - I'm sure Link will be there and Zelda will be in the highest room of the tallest tower waiting for you.

P.S. Vazor - I'd like to take a moment to say, I love you.

[Hana-Nezumi]

Haven't you noticed? Nintendo is making Zelda more independent. (Wait, didn't I already go through this before? Oh well...) In MM, she gave him the song that Link would have had a tough time saving Termina without. In OoT, she was the only one (beside Link and the Deku Tree) who knew Ganondorf's evil intentions, and she still believed in her visions when noone else believed her. And let's not forget Sheik and Tetra. In fact, Zelda was pretty helpful from the very beginning. In LoZ, Zelda managed to split up the Triforce of Wisdom into 8 peices and hide them all deep inside labarynths before Ganon could capture her. In essence, if she wouldn't have had the skills to do that, Ganon would have easily took the ToW. In WW, she helps link in the end battle with Ganon. Something we have to keep in mind is that Hyrule is a medieval-like world. Back then women weren't really highly thought of. Zelda would have been trained as an elegant princess rather than someone with great fighting skills like Link who grew up out in the forest instead of in a castle. It's not like she can practice "capture prevention" when she doesn't even know she's going to be captured. The point is, no matter the circumstaces, Zelda always tries her best to help, and that's all that matters.

[Mystic Kitsune]

^What he said.

Um although personally, im pretty sure she could do WAY better.

[D~N]

yes, altough she dopes a poor job of defending herself, at least we didn't have to save her in TWW until the end. And also, TP will have us saving some guy (read it: guy) this time (colin, was his name?) but i do think zelda is trying her best...after all, she is a ten year old girl...what choice does she have...even at age 17 or so in OoT, she still lacks in comparison to ganon.

but zelda really has to catch up on her "not get captured lessons, version 2; evil villian edition."

[Mordaunt]

TWW was like a Disney Movie...cause...it was...

shutting up now.

[Hana-Nezumi]

Yes it was, in the fact that both Disney movies and TWW are incredibly awesome. XP

[Hero of Slime]

Nintendo is making Zelda more independent.

What about in FSA? While escaping from Vaati's tower she makes Link do every thing and she won't ever jump. Plus in the Capcom games Zelda is just as helpless as she was in the first game.

[Hana-Nezumi]

Well, she's independent in the 3D games anyways. The 2D games don't have a deep enough story to go beyond "damsel in distress". That's the main aspect of the gameplay in the 2D games. If you took it away, it just wouldn't be the same.

[Hero of Slime]

The 2D games out number the 3D games. Just like how the games where Zelda is helpless out number the games where she is brave.

[Nevermind]

I don't think it has anything to do with her not sticking up for herself.

I think she is strong. It's just that Ganon is much stronger.

She needed him to be half-dead by Link's sword before she could hold him with her magic. That and she needed the help of the Sages.

[Husse]

Yes it was, in the fact that both Disney movies and TWW are incredibly awesome. XP

WOO-HOO! You rock!

I think she is strong. It's just that Ganon is much stronger.

My point exactly. Quit HARPING on Zelda, she's working with what she has! A 10-YEAR OLD PRINCESS does not need to be the butt-kicking main character of a game. That's a cliche' in itself, "All women are awesome and can do everything as well as men."

[Nevermind]

I dunno, maybe cos neither your brother nor sister have any kind of magical power to assist them.

So 1. Ganon has magic, Zelda tries to get a whack on him...OOP! He blocked it with his magic.

2. Let's try and get Zelda to use magic against him instead. Uh-oh! Ganon's magic is too strong! He blocked it! Oh poop!

[Kairu Hakubi]

I've never really liked teh princess(es) myself. She/they sure does have cool alter-egos though. You can't tell me hiding out as a sheikah wasn't cool, or having her true self hidden from her and being a cool tomboy ganguro pirate queen wasn't cool. .. still, one gets the feeling from OoT that it was all a huge gigantic mistake of fate because Zelda was such a dummy and her dad wouldn't believe her.. and Link followed along blindly. So really, the guy I'm mad at is the king. He's responsible for the problems in OoT and WW.. yep. Bad king. best impeach him.

[Husse]

Yes, it's GOOD that the King died for both dramatic effect, so Link won't have a talking boat anymore, and, well he was a d***.

[Koji]

You guys are complaining abotu Zelda being helpless or defending her and saying she isn't. I say that she is helpless (horribly so) but that if she wasn't, you wouldn't have a game to play. Besides, think about how the Triforce split and how it reflects character. Ganon got Power, so now he's powerful enough to control the world. Link got Courage, so now, while fairly week himself (in the beginning) he has the courage to face the power of Ganon. But even that wouldn't be enough without a sufficient (and legendary weapon) - the Master Sword (and no offense to the Master Sword, but I'd rather take the Biggoron sword). Zelda got Wisdom, so that she knows that Link has enough courage to face the power of Ganon and how he has to do it. And unless that ToW is giving some amazing knowledge on how to opperate some awesome weaponry, she's still really helpless in the fighting area.

Bottomline: I like it the way it is - Link courageous, Zelda weak, and Ganon arrogantly powerful.

[Husse]

Oh yeah. I agree with you totally. We ain't ALL against ye. 'Cept I STILL don't think Zelda's completely helpless, she's just...a girl! I mean, c'mon! You expect that little thing to go jumping around ripping people apart like Kratos? Please.

[Hana-Nezumi]

Shadow Link, I think you have the wrong idea about Zelda's visions. You keep saying "With all her visions she should be able to take care of herself," but that is not the case. Zelda is not an all-knowing psychic. She isn't having visions all the time. The only example we have of one is the vision she tells Link about in the castle courtyard. You'll probably think I'm a dork, but I'm going to give an example from That's So Raven. Raven can't control her visions, they just happen radomly, and sometimes the visions aren't exactly what they seem. This often leads to Raven getting into more trouble than if she hadn't had the vision, just like how Zelda got Link to open the Door of Time and accidently let Ganondorf in. What I mean is Zelda's visions aren't always perfect.

[Vazor]

You'll probably think I'm a dork, but I'm going to give an example from That's So Raven.

You really like getting people confused about your gender don't you?

Anyway, I've got to agree with Toast on the part about her not controlling her visions. In fact, in OoT, I'm pretty sure she only had one.

[Hero of Legend]

This kind of discussion is exactly why I joined this forum... (Yay, first post!)

First, I dunno why people are always bashing Zelda. She is the most important character other than Link and Ganon.

As for your argument "Zelda only gets captured in every game! Why doesn't she use her powers to defend herself? And why doesn't she help Link?" Well, TWW gives the answer to that question.

You cannot defeat me with a blade that does not sparkle with the power to repel evil!

And we all know what happened after that... (Link was defeated… And rescued by Zelda!) So there you have it. Without the MS or Light Arrows you don't stand a chance against Ganondorf. Since Zelda never have had those weapons I think we have the answer to why she always gets kidnapped, no?

And who can say that Zelda wasn't helpful in TWW? Aside from helping Link several times during the course of the game, she shot Light Arrows at Ganondorf during the final battle. The game itself says that Link could not have defeated him without Zelda.

But the truth is that Zelda isn't a "fighter". She doesn't have great magic powers in every game. Instead she helps Link in other ways (which are equally important). With that said, let's look at the other games...

LoZ: Zelda split the ToW and hid it from Ganon. She also sent Impa to find a Hero. Her actions made it possible for Link to defeat Ganon. Hell, Link would not have started his adventure if it wasn't for Zelda.

AoL: Zelda was asleep during the course of this game. There wasn't much she could do (except make out with Link when he awakened her. Now that is a reward! ) However, she did stop the evil magician from learning the location of the ToC. Therefore she played a crucial part in this game as well.

ALttP: What did Zelda do in this game? Well, for starters she was the one who started Link's adventure (Again). In terms of "action" she was the one who led the escape from Hyrule Castle. She also gave Link advice throughout the whole game. Of course, breaking Ganon's barrier is a feat as well.

LA: Zelda wasn't in this game. However, it could be argued that Marin is Link's dream version of Zelda. And as you know, Marin played an important role in the game.

OoT: This game speaks for itself. Once again it was Zelda who REALLY started Link's adventure. She then proved useful as Sheik. And why are people arguing that her role in the battle with Ganon is unimportant? You say that Link had already defeated Ganon when Zelda used her power to hold him? Bah. That's BS. Nintendo would not have put it there if it wasn't important. Remember that Ganon got up the first time? Zelda definitely made a difference. And the MS didn't glow until after she shot Ganon...

But yes, Zelda made a mistake when she told Link to open the way to the SR. But who is most responsible? Zelda, who told Link to do it? Or Link, who actually DID it? However, Zelda was NOT stupid when she revealed herself to Link. She had to do that. It was Ganondorf who was smart. He says so himself.

MM: Zelda gave Link the OoT and taught him the Song of Time. Link would have been killed if she had not done that. Link owns Zelda his life. Enough said.

OoA/OoS: Zelda risked her life in order to help Link. That is pretty good. She gave him a useful ring when they first met, she acted as a "healer" during the game, and the game says that she is very important to the people of the world by giving them hope.

FS: This game lacks a storyline. However, Zelda still proves herself useful by taking Link to the FS Sanctuary.

TWW: I already covered this one.

FSA: This is Zelda's game. Yes, she does get kidnapped at the beginning of the game. But you HAVE to make a difference between plot and storyline. The game would be kinda empty if Link didn't have to rescue the maidens. (BTW, why is Zelda always being held in the last dungeon? The answer is simple: Ganon knows that he must try to make sure that she doesn't escape.) But Zelda has a very important role in this game. Without her Link would never have been able to defeat Shadow Link. And the fact that SHE defeated Ganon (Link only weakened him) is rather important as well...

TMC: Zelda "only" gave Link his shield before she was turned to stone in this game. But I think that the fact that she restored Hyrule at the end of the game makes up for that...

And have you noticed that Nintendo has given Zelda a more important role in every game since LoZ? They have also come up with a variety of ways to implement Zelda’s kidnapping. However, I hope that TP will break this tradition. IMO it would be awesome if Zelda came on her own to help Link during the final battle…

In conclusion, I think you argument is empty.

That was my rant. Carry on.