Zelda Timeline

Legend of Zelda Timeline theory is perhaps the object of greatest debate amongst fans of the series. Nintendo's unconventional formula of "Gameplay first, Story Later" has arguably produced some of the greatest games of all time, but it has also resulted in an incoherent chronology - full of loose ends, contradictions, and general confusion. Fortunately, this has motivated fans to do all they can to sift, sort, and organize the Legend of Zelda canon.

Overview
Since the days of Pong, videogame storylines have endured an amazing evolution, moving from simple "slay the dragon" conflict, through "save the princess" heroism, and into wonderfully deep epics. Early installments of the Legend of Zelda series emerged at a very interesting point of this process; a point where the market was divided between casual platformers and plot-focused RPGs.

Zelda found a niche market somewhere in the middle. This is reflected in the storyline of such games as The Adventure of Link and A Link to the Past, which are simple and yet inspiring. Over the years, Nintendo has kept to this trend. Developers often focus foremost on gameplay and theme, and generally only decide on a definite storyline close to the completion of development. Resulting games are well-connected to the overall Legend of Zelda universe - and consider elements of games past - but do not often present immediate or obvious chronological connections.

In the early stages, this worked wonderfully. The first five Legend of Zelda releases were easily understood and organized. In 1998, the timeline had room even for the content of the Legend of Zelda television show and manga, as well as the mistakes of NoA, which would later be considered non-canonical.

Unfortunately, as time went on the sheer amount of information being introduced into the Legend of Zelda canon made a complete understanding less possible. Games such as The Wind Waker and Four Swords Adventures seemed to strain the connection between older games, and many fans began to wonder whether the Four Swords series had a place in the timeline at all.

English fans of the series wanting to learn more of the timeline began to discuss the concept on the Internet, slowly reaching conclusions on those issues which could be resolved and falling into bitter debate on those which could not. They continue to argue, as they eagerly await the release of Twilight Princess and Phantom Hourglass.

Timeline News (Spoilers)

 * By November 19th (TP's release date)theorist were becoming increasingly worried that the game would not be compatable with current timeline theory, seeming far to deficeint in tWW/OOT connection, and far to liberal with conections to the FS series.
 * On November 21st, Gametrailer's released a lackluster take on the Timeline, which quickly fell under the ridicule of most theorists.

Timeline Principles
Timeline theory is often accused of being a collection of irrelevant fan-fiction with no real truth to it. In actuality, a large part of our timeline knowledge is strictly canon; a good deal more consists of simple, well supported inferences based on this canon and the intentions of Zelda's creators. These principles are held to be true by almost all Timeline theorists. We can combine all this information and conceive four timeline "arcs"


 * OoT/MM - TP - TWW/PH
 * TMC - FS/FSA
 * ALttP/LA - LoZ/AoL
 * OoS/OoA

Beyond that, all timeline theory is an attempt to combine these arcs and achieve a final chronology.

Time and the Timeline
Understanding the Legend's Timeline may require an understanding of the Legend's concept of time itself. Essentially, time is sequence; first, second, third, and fourth. A very basic concept at first glance, but one that takes on a whole new dimension when "fourth" comes between "first" and "second" and stops "third" from ever occurring.

In four games, the precise nature of time has never remained constant. OOT contains atleast two very different mechanics, which theorists often find irreconsiable (and down right strange). OoA's mechanics only begin to make sence when one sacrifices logic to storyline completely, and MM's Goddess of Time throws all to heck by drawing questions of omnipotency into the debate.

Generally, it is not an issue most theorist need worry over, and shod only be explored by those with a strangely deep interest in the OOT/MM connection.

Common Points of Debate
Beyond these simple arcs, the amount of helpful canon begins to decrease. At this point, disagreements inevitably arise between various theorists who have naturally formed differing interpretations of the small amount of "truth" they have to work with.

Four Swords Related Arguments
Nintendo went out on a rather interesting tangent when they expanded the multiplayer mini-game featured in 2002's ALttP GBA release. The styles and storylines of the Four Swords games were so different from the conventional Zelda that, at first, many theorists did not accept them as a true part of the storyline. Nintendo has since confirmed their place, but the controversy continues.

Where is FS placed in relation to OoT and FSA?

For obvious reasons, FS has many stylistic elements that mirror those of TWW (the principal Zelda of the generation) and ALttP (with which it shares a cartridge). Despite this, the game contains no story elements whatsoever that would enable a theorist to place it in the timeline.

Aonuma temporarily solved this problem in a 2004 GamePro interview (prior to the release of FSA and TMC) when he stated that Nintendo was "thinking of [this game] as the oldest tale in the Zelda Timeline". This was a simple and concrete answer, which was, of course, too good to be true.

When FSA was released later that year a dilemma was created. It was both chronologically after OoT AND (apparently) the direct sequel to FS. If FS occurred only a few short years before FSA, and featured the same incarnation of Link, then it would have to occur later in the timeline, after OoT, thus making Aonuma's previous statement incorrect.

Theorists are now forced to decide what is truer; a possibly outdated expression of developer intent, or their own logical conclusions.

Where is TMC placed in relation to OoT?

The FS argument became doubly conflicted with the release of TMC, which was a very obvious prequel to FS. Theorists maintaining that FS was an "older" tale then OoT now placed TMC at the very beginning of their timeline, those theorists in opposition to this cited TMC images showing a flooded world and that facts that Humans (in general) were the dominant race of TMC, and that were it truly prior to OoT, would have been much more Hylian focused.

In the end, arguers were again stuck debating principles. What was more important: A developer's quote or contrary canonical evidence?

Is FSA the prequel to ALttP?

Perhaps one of the most controversial debates is that of FSA ' s placement and its connections to other games, such as FS. Though it is not stated outright that FSA is a direct sequel to FS, FSA ' s backstory retells the events of FS and its backstory as if they were directly related, though some retain skepticism over this (partly due to the aforementioned Aonuma interview).

Of more importance, however, is its alleged connection to ALttP. Supporters of this connection cite similarities between the geography of both games, common themes such as rescuing the maidens, the role of the Knights of Hyrule, the appearance of the Dark World, and the presence of a Dark Mirror (speculated to be the Magic Mirror used to teleport back from the Dark World in ALttP), and Ganon's Magic Trident. Ganon also makes an appearance here, meaning this game must take place after OoT, and by association, so could FS (if indeed it is FSA's prequel). These all lend themselves to suggesting a link between the Four Sword arc and the pre-OoT games.

On the other hand, there are those who claim there are problems with the connection. For instance, in the end, Ganon is sealed in the Four Sword, a condition not present in any other Zelda game. This situation lends itself to speculation so as to lead into ALttP, such as claims that the Four Sword Shrine is somehow connected with the Sacred Realm. However, that would mean FSA also had something to do with Ganon's acquisition of the Triforce pre-ALttP, which has led some to suggest FSA may be the Seal War, part of the Seal War, or simply another major event in between (such as the "demon war" spoken of in the Japanese version of ALttP), depending on one's view on OoT as the Seal War. Of course, any theory has to take into account the as-of-yet-undepicted escape of Ganon from the Four Sword seal in order to explain his reappearance in Hyrule, so all speculation is balanced on an even keel. Despite all this, some have ceased to bother trying to figure out the connection, and have opted to leave the gap open as a plot-hole, until a future Four Swords game clears things up.

Hand Held Related Arguments
Non-console Zelda games have never garnered the attention or prestige of their home based cousins. Miyamoto himself has lamented that LA, OoS and OoA lack any grand connection to the timeline as a whole. Theses games are not only difficult to place, but also somewhat irrelevant. Still, in the meticulous world of timeline theorists, no detail goes unargued.

Is LA the sequel to the Oracles?

When a full Oracle Series Linked Game is completed, the credits end with a shot of Link sailing away from the land in a one-man sailboat. The opening LA scene showcases Link battling a storm in a similar boat. Most fans are quick to correlate these events and conclude that LA is the sequel to the Oracle Series.

More traditional theorists argue that LA was at release, is now, and will always be the sequel to ALttP. To support this claim, they use quotes from the Oracle games to show that that Link has never met Zelda and, therefore, cannot be ALttP Link. The argument continues that LA directly references ALttP with its backstory and boss battles, and must contain the same Link.

At this point, Oracle-LA supporters must either reject their theory or sever the traditional ALttP-LA connection. This is rare, as such a theorist must hold that LA ' s manual has been "retconned" and is no longer perfect canon.

Can there be a perfect Oracle placement?

For a particular spot in the timeline to possibly accommodate the Oracle series, it must only meet 2 conditions: Ganon must be dead, and the Triforce must be whole in Hyrule. This occurs at least twice in the series.

OoX may occur shortly after AoL. Both involve an enemy effort to resurrect a dead Ganon and AoL ends with the reuniting of the Triforce.

OoX may occur shortly after ALttP. They share stylistic elements, similar items, and ALttP easily meets the "Dead Ganon, Whole Triforce" condition.

OoX may even occur shortly after TWW, as it too ends with a dead Antagonist and a whole Triforce. This idea, however, has little support amongst theorists as it requires speculation on the Triforce's resting place post TWW.

At the moment, there is no "perfect" place for the Oracles, and most theorists are happy to let it be ambiguously "sometime after ALttP".

OoT/MM Related Arguments
Time travel is a principle element of Fifth Generation Zelda, factoring in 3 of its 4 games. In developing the game mechanics for OoT, MM, and OoA, Nintendo was far more considered with making the mechanics fun and interesting than being scientifically sound (or even consistent).

Attempts to logic out the uncanny mechanics of Time in the Zelda series have been moderately successful, but the various implications of these conclusions have made the OoT/MM connection the most hotly (and most commonly) debated timeline topic.

ALttP/TWW Related Arguments
Both ALttP and TWW can be placed, with little doubt, a number of centuries after OoT, but there is hardly any direct connection between the games themselves. Which comes first? How can both relationships be preserved? What has been changed by the release of FSA? This is the staging ground for the most brutal, least productive debate in the timeline. A controversy that most theorists have given up on. Is the answer even out there?

Popular Timelines
Despite all the hoopla, most Zelda fans only have a passing interest in the timeline. They care not for the endless debates, and wonder only after the final product, or, in this case, products:

Zelda Universe Lines
A large majority of ZU theorists (and other users with a general interest) support a universal Single timeline.

The United Wisemen's Theory

OoT/MM - TP - TWW/PH - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/(KnS)/LA - (OoS/OoA) - LoZ/AoL - (OoS/OoA)

NOTE: One of the remaining points of debate regarding placement is the placement of the Oracle games. By and large, the Wise Men have agreed that the Oracle games should be placed after LA, but some newly-scrutinized storyline cues have brought its placement back into question.

The Late-Placed TWW Theory

OoT/MM - TP - ALttP/Oracles/Link's Awakening - TWW/PH - LoZAoL

The Late-Placed TWW theory draws largely from TWW as the most recent reflection of the developer's ideas. The placement of the FS trilogy is not yet decided.

silver arrow's split / single Ganon theory

TMC - OoT/MM - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA/KnS - OoS/OoA - LoZ/AoL/ZG&W

TMC - OoT - TP - TWW/PH

Legends Alliance Lines
The theorists of the Legends Alliance forums are by far the web's most diverse. They are renowned for their near universal acceptance of Kodai No Sekiban and their strong belief that FSA cannot be AlttP ' s prequel. A few of the unique theories that can be seen in those parts include:

Late FSA theories

"Child" Line: (TMC) - OoT/MM - ALttP/(LA)/KnS - OoS/OoA(/LA) - (TMC) - FS/FSA - LoZ-AoL

"Adult" Line: TMC - OoT - TP - TWW/PH

GameFAQs Lines
The GameFAQs Twilight Princess board is arguably the host for more timeline discussion then any other internet forum. A long history of debate has resulted in a wide variety of opinions among the users, including support of the Wisemen's theory and animosity towards the general idea of a perfect timeline. The two theories listed in the board's timeline FAQ are:

Darken Poltergeist's (DP) Theory

"Child" Line: (TMC) - OoT/MM - (TMC) - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - (OoA)/(OoS) - LoZ/AoL - (OoA)/(OoS)

"Adult" Line: (TMC) - OoT - TP - TWW/PH

Note: TMC's and OoA/OoS's placements are, according to the creator of this theory, too ambiguous to have a definite place, hence the parentheses.

The TripleEspresso9/Impossible II (TEI) Theory

"Child" Line: TMC - FS - OoT/MM

"Adult" Line: TMC - FS - OoT - TP - TWW/PH - ALttP/LA - OoA/OoS - LoZ/AoL

Other Theories
Other, unique theories gathered from across the web or added to the wiki.