15 Unforgettable Moments From "The Legend Of Zelda"
The Legend of Zelda franchise has presented players with some of the most iconic and unforgettable moments in gaming history.
There are plenty of events that made their mark on both the games and the people who play them, and as a die-hard fan of the series, looking back on them is an adventure in itself. So let's dive right into the 15 Most Memorable Moments From The Legend of Zelda.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
15."It's Dangerous To Go Alone. Take This." — The Legend of Zelda
This line is spoken by an old man Link encounters at the start of his journey. Seeing our hero completely unharmed, he gives Link his first sword, allowing him to fight Ganon's forces as he ventures through Hyrule and reclaims the Triforce. The old man's quote has since become one of the most famous in all of gaming, and it has been referenced throughout pop culture.
14.Leaving Kokiri Forest — Ocarina of Time
13.The Call to Adventure — A Link to the Past
This game wastes no time getting to the good part. Hearing Zelda calling him in his dreams, Link goes out into the rain to save her while his uncle is away. But after sneaking into Hyrule Castle, Link finds his uncle near death, having just fought Agahnim's forces. After inheriting his sword and shield, our hero sets off on his adventure to rescue the Princess and save Hyrule.
12.Sheik Reveals the Truth
Throughout his journey as an adult, Link encounters the mysterious warrior, Sheik, who guides him on his journey to find the Six Sages and defeat Ganondorf. But after Link clears all the temples and gains their power, Link meets Sheik at the Temple of Time. There, he reveals himself to be the seventh Sage, Princess Zelda herself, and fans never saw her the same way again.
11.The Island Vanishes — Link's Awakening
The big twist surrounding this game is that everything on Koholint Island, the land Link finds himself shipwrecked on, is a dream created by the Wind Fish. After defeating the Nightmares and waking the Wind Fish, we see everything and everyone Link encountered through his journey vanish. It's one of the most heartbreaking endings in gaming history, but we still get to see Marin fulfill her dream and become a seagull.
10.Fi's Goodbye — Skyward Sword
Though Fi isn't the most beloved of Link's companions, she still had the most tear-jerking sendoff. After Link succeeds in sealing away Demise, Fi requests that the Hero lay the Master Sword to rest, along with her spirit. Link reluctantly does so, but Fi still has time to share how much she enjoyed their time together in a stunning display of emotion.
9.Midna Reborn — Twilight Princess
8.Meeting the Mask Salesman — Majora's Mask
After Link gets turned into a Deku Scrub by the Skull Kid, our hero follows him into the backwards land of Termina. But before he can walk out into this strange, new world, Link encounters the Happy Mask Salesman, who greets him with this immortal line: "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" This eccentric traveler requests that Link reclaim the mask that the Skull Kid stole from him, officially setting Link on his journey to defeat Majora's Mask and save Termina.
7.The Death of Hyrule — Wind Waker
After Link succeeds in killing Ganondorf, the spirit of King Daphnes laments his failures and how he has been bound to his Hyrule with the Demon King. Though he and his realm share a tragic end, as it's all washed away by the Great Sea, the king still offers a glimmer of hope as he tells Link and Zelda to create their own world above.
6.Link's Vision — Twilight Princess
5.The Final Battle — Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda series has had some legendary final boss fights, but the one from Ocarina of Time usurps them all. Wielding the Master Sword and the power of the Six Sages, Link scales up Ganon's Castle and confronts the King of Evil himself. But after beating Ganondorg escaping the crumbling castle, you end up face-to-face with him again as the Dark Beast, Ganon, making it a true battle for the ages.
4.Moonfall — Majora's Mask
3.Entering the Wild — Breath of the Wild
2.Opening a Chest — Various
1.Link Claims the Master Sword — Ocarina of Time
The Hero of Hyrule has taken the Master Sword many times throughout the series, but the moment he claimed it in Ocarina of Time had arguably the most impact. Though Link did prove himself to be the Hero of Time by taking the sword, he inadvertently opened the gates to the Triforce for Ganondorf, allowing him to rise to power and take over Hyrule. Link was also forced to spend seven years in slumber while the rest of the kingdom suffered Ganon's wrath, only to wake up a full-grown adult. This moment marked a new chapter in both this game and the Zelda franchise as a whole.