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 at least 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 theorists need worry over, and should 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 relevance, but the controversy continues.

Many theorists beleive that at least one of the three games in the FS trilogy should be placed at the begning of the timeline, before even Ocarina of Time, while others insist that OoT will always come first. Creator quotes seem to support the former, while small bits of canonical trivia support the latter.

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

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. These games--the Oracles titles, specifically--are not only difficult to place, but also somewhat irrelevant. Still, in the meticulous world of timeline theorists, no detail goes unargued.

It is common for experienced theorist to devoutly insist that LA is, was, and will always be A Link to the Past's first sequel. 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

NOTE: 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

The Miyamoto Order Theory


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

NOTE: The Miyamoto Order Theory stems from Miyamoto's heavy involvement in the making of TP, possibly designed to cater to one of the most recent timeline-related comments by Miyamoto about the older titles--in short, that LoZ/AoL comes prior to ALttP.

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, their insistance that no games can occur between OoT/MM and AlttP, and their refusal to place any game which features hyrule post tWW. A few of the unique theories that can be seen in those parts include:

Jumbie/Arturo (JA) line


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


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

LA theorists have published a series of articles which can be found at Zelda Legends

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 - TP - (TMC) - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - (OoA)/(OoS) - LoZ/AoL - (OoA)/(OoS)


 * "Adult" Line: (TMC) - OoT - 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.