Saving

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Saving
The Tri Force Hero Statue
Main appearance(s)	The Legend of Zelda The Adventure of Link A Link to the Past Link's Awakening Ocarina of Time Majora's Mask Oracle of Seasons Oracle of Ages Four Swords The Wind Waker Four Swords Adventures The Minish Cap Twilight Princess Phantom Hourglass Spirit Tracks Skyward Sword A Link Between Worlds Tri Force Heroes Breath of the Wild Tears of the Kingdom
Other appearance(s)	Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love
Purpose(s)	Recording progress

Saving a game in progress via a built-in battery was one of the most unique features from The Legend of Zelda, and a save function has since been in every The Legend of Zelda game to date. In most cases, the save function can be accessed at anytime during gameplay from the start menu. In addition to retaining the game data, the save function allowed for the player to name the protagonist of the story.

Overview

The Legend of Zelda

The option to save from The Legend of Zelda appears after losing all Life energy. This same menu can also be accessed by pressing Up on the Control Pad and the A Button simultaneously on the second controller while the game is paused (doing so will warp Link back to the starting screen).

Link's Awakening

Link's Awakening included a save system similar to that of the first The Legend of Zelda title. There were three save files, in which a player could enter their choice of name. The player could access the save menu by pressing A, B, Start, and Select Buttons, or by death in-game.

Oracle of Ages

Saving can be accessed from the Essence Screen in Oracle of Ages, or by pressing the start and select (or plus and minus) buttons at the same time. Three save files are also available for use in the game.

Majora's Mask

Link quicksaving at an Owl Statue in Majora's Mask

Majora's Mask deviated from the standard saving system immensely. The ability to save from anywhere and anytime during gameplay had been removed.

In Majora's Mask, the player can save the game by playing the "Song of Time" to return to the start of the First Day. Players can also quicksave at Owl Statues, a temporary save that allows players to save their progress partway through the three-day cycle or just before entering a dungeon. In the Japanese version of the Nintendo 64 release (and its Virtual Console release), Owl Statues cannot be used to quicksave; this function was added in the international release of the Nintendo 64 release (at the expense of the game having two save files rather than three), and was also added to the Japanese release of Majora's Mask in Collector's Edition.

In Majora's Mask 3D, the "Song of Time" no longer saves the game. Instead, Owl Statues permanently save the game; additionally, Quill Statues were added, which allow saving like Owl Statues but cannot be warped to with the "Song of Soaring". The game also has three save files, like the original Japanese release.

Four Swords Adventures

Four Swords Adventures saving system departed from the typical manner of The Legend of Zelda series. Saving was automatically done upon the completion of a level throughout the game.

Twilight Princess

Saving in Twilight Princess is performed using the Save button from the Collection Screen. An option to Save Link's progress will also be given after certain events, such as clearing a Dungeon. Twilight Princess introduces the ability to save Link's progress to any of the three Quest Logs at will, rather than having to copy a Quest Log beforehand. This ability was removed from subsequent games but returns in Twilight Princess HD.

Skyward Sword

Saving in Skyward Sword works similarly to Majora's Mask, using Bird Statues scattered throughout the map; however, these saves are permanent, rather than the temporary save states of the Owl Statues. Because this is the one and only way to save in Skyward Sword, the Bird Statues are much more numerous than Owl Statues were in Majora's Mask, with some even found in dungeons. Once the credits finish, the option to create a Hero Mode file is offered, but this will save over the existing file.

In Skyward Sword HD, the player can choose which of the three files to save onto, as opposed to saving over the file that the game started on. This allows the creation of a Hero Mode file without deleting the existing progress. Also, an Autosave function is added.

A Link Between Worlds

In A Link Between Worlds, Link can save by using Weather Vanes. Once a sleeping Weather Vane is found, Link must talk to it in order to wake it up. Weather Vanes can be found in both Hyrule and Lorule. They are also seen flapping their wings and moving around in a panicked manner after Link has completed a large task, or has spent a considerable amount of time doing things since his last save, trying to indicate that now may be the time to save.

Tri Force Heroes

In Tri Force Heroes, saving is performed at a statue in the center of Hytopia Village, referred to as the Tri Force Hero Statue. The raised sword atop the Statue will shimmer when Link saves his journey's progress, similarly to a charged Skyward Strike. If Link proceeds to the Castle without saving first, then the Bearded Baron, who is standing nearby, will implore Link to "give thanks" to the statue.

Link's progress is also saved automatically at the conclusion of each Level, whether the Links successfully complete the Level, lose all health, fail the Drablands Challenge, or are disconnected from a multiplayer game. If a Link intentionally leaves the game, he will simply return to Hytopia Castle without having his progress saved. Automatic saving also occurs after each completed battle in the Coliseum and after each completed Zone in the Den of Trials.

Tri Force Heroes is the only canon game in the series that does not allow for multiple save files.

Breath of the Wild

In Breath of the Wild, Link can Save by using the Save button in the System screen. Link's progress is also periodically recorded by Autosaves after performing certain actions (such as receiving an item from a Treasure Chest or resting at a Campfire), approaching certain locations (such as Ancient Shrines or Stables) or every five minutes.

In Normal Mode, Link is allowed to utilize one Save file and up to five Autosave files while in Master Mode Link is resticted to using one Save file and one Autosave file.

Other Appearances

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland

Non-Canon Information

In Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, the game can be saved by accessing a Tingle Tuner-like device found within Tingle's house. There are three save files which can be selected at the start of the game, with Tingle holding up the respective number of fingers for the file icon.

Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love

Non-Canon Information

In Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love, Tingle has the ability to save his game in one of three files by accessing a save point, and tapping on a three-dimensional spinning pig. Unlike the previous Tingle Series installment, the player can choose to save the game to any of the three files while playing. Once the game is completed, the file image icons will replace the three images of Tingle with the likes of Kakashi, Buriki, and Lion, respectively.

Nomenclature

Names in Other Regions
Language	Names
This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery

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  The file selection screen from A Link to the Past

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  A Quill Statue for Link to save in-game from Majora's Mask 3D

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  A Bird Statue for Link to save in-game from Skyward Sword

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  Link saving by using a Weather Vane from A Link Between Worlds

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  A Weather Vane encouraging Link to save from A Link Between Worlds