Title Screen
The Title Screen,(LA | OoT | MM | OoS | OoA | TWWHD | SS | BotW | TotK | LCT | MNPTP | HWAoC)[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][name references needed] also known as the Title Display,(TLoZ)[14] is a recurring interface in The Legend of Zelda series, visible upon starting up the game and when quitting. It usually displays the game's title logo and copyright date with a looping intro. Pressing the START button or an equivalent input takes the player to the File-Selection Screen.
Overview
The Legend of Zelda
A waterfall flows between two cliffs under a pink sky in the NES version, or a yellow sky in the GBA version. After 9 seconds, the sky fades to night and the intro rises in, surrounded by vines.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
MANY YEARS AGO, PRINCE DARKNESS "GANNON" STOLE ONE OF THE TRIFORCE WITH POWER.
PRINCESS ZELDA HAD ONE OF THE TRIFORCE WITH WISDOM. SHE DIVIDED IT INTO "8" UNITS TO HIDE IT FROM GANNON BEFORE SHE WAS CAPTURED.
GO FIND THE "8" UNITS "LINK" TO SAVE HER.
-NES version
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
LONG AGO, GANON, PRINCE OF DARKNESS, STOLE THE TRIFORCE OF POWER.
PRINCESS ZELDA OF HYRULE BROKE THE TRIFORCE OF WISDOM INTO EIGHT PIECES AND HID THEM FROM GANON BEFORE SHE WAS KIDNAPPED BY GANON'S MINIONS.
LINK, YOU MUST FIND THE PIECES AND SAVE ZELDA.
-GBA version
After the text, a list of all Items in the game scrolls up.
| HEART | CONTAINER HEART |
| FAIRY | CLOCK |
| RUPY [sic] | 5 RUPIES [sic] |
| LIFE POTION | 2ND POTION |
| LETTER | FOOD |
| SWORD | WHITE SWORD |
| MAGICAL SWORD | MAGICAL SHIELD |
| BOOMERANG | MAGICAL BOOMERANG |
| BOMB | BOW |
| ARROW | SILVER ARROW |
| BLUE CANDLE | RED CANDLE |
| BLUE RING | RED RING |
| POWER BRACELET | RECORDER |
| RAFT | STEPLADDER |
| MAGICAL ROD | BOOK OF MAGIC |
| KEY | MAGICAL KEY |
| MAP | COMPASS |
| TRIFORCE | |
At about 1:20 after all the items have passed, Link holds up a comically large sign saying "PLEASE LOOK UP THE MANUAL FOR DETAILS." Finally it loops back to the beginning.
The Adventure of Link
A sword is stuck in the ground on a cliffside at night, with a view to the sea. A single meteor descends at 0:04. The title logo rises up in the background at 0:09 and holds. The intro starts to scroll up at 0:43.
AFTER GANON WAS DESTROYED, IMPA TOLD LINK A SLEEPING SPELL WAS CAST ON PRINCESS ZELDA. SHE WILL WAKE ONLY WITH THE POWER OF NO.3 TRIFORCE SEALED IN A PALACE IN HYRULE. TO BREAK THE SEAL, CRYSTALS MUST BE PLACED IN STATUES IN 6 WELL GUARDED PALACES. LINK SET OUT ON HIS MOST ADVENTURESOME QUEST YET... ©1987 NINTENDO
-NES version
AFTER GANON WAS DESTROYED, IMPA TOLD LINK A SLEEPING SPELL WAS CAST ON PRINCESS ZELDA. SHE WILL WAKE ONLY WITH THE POWER OF THE THIRD TRIFORCE SEALED IN A PALACE IN HYRULE. TO BREAK THE SEAL, CRYSTALS MUST BE PLACED IN STATUES IN 6 WELL GUARDED PALACES. LINK SET OUT ON HIS MOST ADVENTURESOME QUEST YET... ©1987-2004 NINTENDO
-GBA version
The title logo then rises once again and the loop repeats.
A Link to the Past
In the SNES version, "Nintendo Presents" appears on a black background to the sound of a Rupee being collected. The text disappears and the three pieces of the Triforce enter from their respective edges, rotating in 3D until they converge and form the complete Triforce. The title logo appears in front of it, and the Master Sword strikes downward through the "Z" as the screen flashes rapidly. A background appears, showing a castle standing in a lake with trees and a mountain in the distance. After several seconds, a cutscene telling of the Seal of Seven Maidens is shown, which then loops back to the Title Screen when it's finished.
In the Game Boy Advance version, the Title Screen appears after the combined File-Selection Screen for A Link to the Past & Four Swords. The "Nintendo Presents" text is omitted, the screen does not flash, and the prologue cutscene is not shown until the player begins the game for the first time.
Link's Awakening
Upon startup, an anime-artstyle cutscene plays of Link sailing back to Hyrule in his small boat, as he had been shown leaving for training in distant lands in the ending cutscene of the Linked Game. Unfortunately, he's now encountered inclement weather, and his boat is struck by lightning. Fade to white, and cut to Marin walking on the beach, now in the in-engine artstyle. She stops in her tracks when she sees Link offscreen, and runs forwards. She steps slowly the last few meters, looks down at him, and shakes him. Then as the music speeds up, pan upwards to the Wind Fish's Egg atop its mountain (surrounded by a cloudy sky in the DX and Nintendo Switch versions) where the title logo appears. The upbeat title music loops 3 times as the title logo sparkles, and then the cutscene repeats from the beginning again.
Ocarina of Time
The Nintendo 64 logo is briefly shown before the Title Screen fades in. Link rides Epona across Hyrule Field at dawn, seen at first from a distance, then with various sweeping camera angles. The title logo appears with flames behind it. Link and Epona take a brief break by Zora River, and then the camera flies into the entrance to Kokiri Forest with a lens flare effect. One of a set of three cutscenes then plays before the Title Screen repeats.
- Nabooru is attacked by Twinrova in the Spirit Temple as Link watches
- Sheik appears in Death Mountain Crater and walks towards Link
- Ganondorf rides his horse through flames
Majora's Mask
The Nintendo 64 logo is briefly shown, then fades to a black background. The title logo will appear instantly at any point when a button is pressed during the following scenes. Majora's Mask appears in the distance and begins moving closer to the screen, with a noticeable motion-blur effect. It appears to fly through the screen and then back into the distance. The Happy Mask Salesman is then seen reaching for the Mask, and he lets out a laugh before the screen fades to black again.
The screen fades back in to a close-up of Clock Tower, as the Clock Town music begins. The camera zooms out, showing the Carpenters preparing for the carnival as Link sits atop a scaffold. Several more scenes from around Clock Town show the residents going about their lives; each scene appears to get later in the day. The scene finally returns to Clock Tower during the pitch-black night, and the music turns ominous as the camera pans upward, showing the Skull Kid atop the tower and the Moon just above him. The title logo fades in, if it had not already appeared. After several seconds, the Title Screen restarts from the beginning.
Oracle of Seasons
The Nintendo and Capcom logos are briefly shown, then fade to a white background, whose aspect ratio changes to widescreen for the anime-artstyle cutscene. Link rides a horse across a grassy plain, slowly approaching the camera. Another camera angle of Link riding his horse is shown, and then a pan up a still image of Link on his horse. A shot of the horse rearing up at the point of a cliff overlooking a Hyrule Castle in the daytime is shown, then fade to white and transition to an in-engine cutscene of Link slowly and hesitantly walking towards the three pieces of the Triforce hovering over pedestals at the end of the room. As Link draws nearer to them, they react to his presence and fly upwards, surrounding him in a ball of red light and picking him up. A distortion effect happens over the screen, and Link disappears. Then, the camera pans up over the Maku Tree to a view of a blue sky with cirrus clouds, where the title logo appears.
If START is pressed at any time in that cutscene, it skips straight to the title logo over the blue sky. The music then loops two and a half times before abruptly cutting back to the Nintendo and Capcom logos.
Oracle of Ages
The Nintendo and Capcom logos are briefly shown, then fade to a white background, whose aspect ratio changes to widescreen for the anime-artstyle cutscene. Under an enormous sunrise over the ocean with seagulls flying in the distance, Link rides a horse along a beach or clifftop. A brief shot is shown of riding towards the camera, then a narrow closeup of Link's eyes, and then a pan up a still image of Link on his horse. A shot of the horse rearing up at the point of a cliff overlooking a Hyrule Castle at dawn is shown, then fade to white and transition to an in-engine cutscene of Link slowly and hesitantly walking towards the three pieces of the Triforce hovering over pedestals at the end of the room. As Link draws nearer to them, they react to his presence and fly upwards, surrounding him in a ball of blue light and picking him up. A distortion effect happens over the screen, and Link disappears. Then, the camera pans up over the Maku Tree to a view of an orange sky with cirrus clouds, where the title logo appears.
If START is pressed at any time in that cutscene, it skips straight to the title logo over the orange sky. The music then loops two and a half times before abruptly cutting back to the Nintendo and Capcom logos.
Four Swords
The 25th Anniversary logo is briefly shown, then a long cutscene takes place.
Zelda's Lullaby plays. The fog clears in the Four Sword Sanctuary as Zelda and Link arrive.
ZELDA: "We have arrived. That is the sacred blade I spoke of, the Four Sword. Sealed away in its forged steel is Vaati, the wind mage. Lately I have been sensing weakness in the seal. It worries me. That is why we have come here..."
Link steps closer to her
ZELDA: "Be careful. It is said that the body of one who touches this blade will be shattered to pieces... It has mysterious powers... Legends say that when mighty Vaati attacked, a hero arose and saved the people from destruction. They go on to say that by using this sword, the one was as four, and the four combined their strength! Let's check the seal... Step back a moment."
Zelda approaches but the Four Sword tilts on its pedestal and she is surprised. The sky darkens, and Vaati laughs as he grabs Zelda. Camera pan up to Vaati as the music switches to his theme.
VAATI: "Hoh hoh hoh hoh! Have you some business with me? So, you noticed that the seal was weakening?"
Vaati descends
ZELDA: "How rude! Release me!"
VAATI: "Eh? I sensed a great power approaching, so I hid myself. But my, what a lovely catch. Surely you must be some noble maiden. My name is Vaati. I am the great wind mage! The seal is broken... so I shall rage yet again! Hoh hoh hoh! And what a gift awaits my return! I shall make you my bride! Onward we go, to my palace of winds! Hoh hoh hoh!
Vaati knocks Link unconscious by crashing into him and flies away.
ZELDA: "EEEEEEK! Help me!"
Fade to black. Fade back in as three fairies descend.
FAIRIES: "Open your eyes... Young hero..."
Link wakes up
BLUE FAIRY: "The Princess Zelda has been carried off to Vaati's Palace. Hurry! You must go to her..."
YELLOW FAIRY: "But you cannot go alone..."
GREEN FAIRY: "You have need of the Four Sword..."
BLUE FAIRY: "Draw out the blade..."
Link walks to the pedestal and picks up the Four Sword to the sound of the Secret Jingle. As he holds it up, the background fades to white, and Link quadruplicates. The background fades back in.
BLUE FAIRY: "No matter how mighty the enemy, with the power of four, you can defeat it..."
YELLOW FAIRY: "The Great Fairies ahead know the path to his palace..."
GREEN FAIRY: "If the Great Fairies acknowledge your abilities, they will show you the way."
BLUE FAIRY: "If you are able to gather many Rupees along the path to the Great Fairies, they will likely acknowledge your courage..."
YELLOW FAIRY: "Please rescue the princess..."
The Four Links walk away, the three fairies fly away.
The Four Sword and the title logo appear. If START is pressed any time in that cutscene, it skips straight to the logo. The title theme loops slightly under four times, and the cutscene restarts.
The Wind Waker
Four Swords Adventures
The Minish Cap
The Nintendo and Capcom logos are briefly shown. On a forested background, the Four Sword and title logo appear. It sits in silence for over a minute before suddenly looping back to the beginning.
Twilight Princess
In a scene taking place around sunset, Link and Epona are seen from a distance, standing at the north end of the Bridge of Eldin. The camera cuts to a closer shot as Epona neighs, and the two take off, galloping across the Bridge. The title theme song begins with vocal notes recalling the original The Legend of Zelda theme, then grows into an orchestral arrangement as Link and Epona are shown traversing Hyrule Field in the Eldin Province from various dramatic camera angles, with Hyrule Castle visible at times in the distant background. They gallop past the camera as the music reaches a crescendo, and as the camera pans to follow them, Wolf Link is instead seen at the edge of a cliff, looking out toward the blanket of Twilight that covers the land. Wolf Link howls and the title logo appears, if the player had not already pressed a button to make it appear sooner.
After a few seconds, the Title Screen fades to black and a trailer video is shown, highlighting some of the early storyline moments, including Zant's assault on Hyrule Castle, Link's life in Ordona Province, and his transformation into a Wolf and subsequent capture. A montage of short gameplay clips follows, and the trailer concludes with the scene of Link obtaining the Master Sword. The Title Screen then restarts from the beginning. This trailer is absent from Twilight Princess HD.
Phantom Hourglass
Spirit Tracks
Skyward Sword
A Link Between Worlds
The Title Screen of A Link Between Worlds begins similarly to A Link to the Past, though featuring more advanced graphics and an orchestrated version of the same theme song. Three pieces of the Triforce appear onscreen, each rotating until they form the complete Triforce. A spark of light flies onto the screen and around the Triforce, casting a "shadow" that is actually the inverted Triforce of Lorule. The title logo slides into place, and an in-game location appears in the background at a slight isometric angle and gradually scrolls around. This scene is actually the location of the latest saved game; if no saves exist, then the area around Link's House is shown.
Once the music completes, the Title Screen fades to black and begins to tell the game's prologue, seemingly describing the events of A Link to the Past while animations in the style of a pop-up book are shown on the upper screen. Once this story concludes, the Title Screen is restarted.
Tri Force Heroes
The theme song to Tri Force Heroes begin to play just as the game completes loading, and the title logo appears and flashes once. The Title Screen otherwise remains static until the complete theme song is heard. After one and a half minutes, the Title Screen begins to zoom out and is shown to actually be the cover of a storybook. This book opens up and flips through several pages before reading the game's prologue, with simple animations on the upper screen. Once the story has completed, the Title Screen restarts.
Breath of the Wild
A silent montage of promotional art.
Tears of the Kingdom
Other Appearances
Link's Crossbow Training
Hyrule Warriors
My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess
On the upper screen is a still frame from the Twilight Princess title screen, depicting Wolf Link howling at the twilight. On the lower screen are the buttons for How To Play, Picross, Mega Picross, and Micross. To the right are smaller buttons for Miiverse and Settings, and along the bottom is the instruction for how to return to the HOME Menu.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Cadence of Hyrule
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
Trivia
- Version 1.0 of Ocarina of Time is one of eleven games that feature an error in the Nintendo 64 logo; several faces have incorrect colors.[15] This was fixed in version 1.1 and all subsequent releases.
Nomenclature
 Names in Other Regions  | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Names | |
 Dutch | Titelscherm (ALBW)[16] | |
 FrenchCA | ||
 FrenchEU | Écran titre (ALBW)[16] | |
 German | Titelbildschirm (ALBW)[16] | |
 Italian | Schermo del titolo (ALBW)[16] | |
 PortugueseEU | ||
 Russian | ||
 SpanishLA | ||
 SpanishEU | Pantalla del título (ALBW) | |
| 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 Title Display of the Famicom Disk System version of The Legend of Zelda
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The Title Display of the Famicom cartridge version of The Legend of Zelda
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The Title Screen of the Super Famicom version of A Link to the Past
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The Title Screen of the A Link to the Past in the A Link to the Past & Four Swords version
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The Title Screen of A Link to the Past & Four Swords
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The Title Screen of the Master Quest version of Ocarina of Time
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The Japanese Title Screen of The Wind Waker
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The Japanese Title Screen of Four Swords Adventures
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The Japanese Title Screen of The Minish Cap
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The Title Screen during Master Mode from Breath of the Wild
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The Title Screen from BS The Legend of Zelda
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The Title Screen of Link's Crossbow Training
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The Title Screen of My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess
References
- ↑ "Title Screen" (Link's Awakening manual, pg. 6)
- ↑ "TITLE SCREEN" (Link's Awakening DX manual, pg. 8)
- ↑ "Title Screen" (Ocarina of Time manual, pg. 9)
- ↑ "Title Screen" (Majora's Mask manual, pg. 8)
- ↑ "Press START during the opening movie to go to the Title Screen." (Oracle of Seasons manual, pg. 12)
- ↑ "Press START during the opening movie to go to the Title Screen." (Oracle of Ages manual, pg. 12)
- ↑ "To Title Screen" — Game Over (The Wind Waker HD)
- ↑ "TITLE SCREEN" (Skyward Sword manual, pg. 3)
- ↑ "Title Screen" (Link's Crossbow Training manual, pg. 4)
- ↑ "Title Screen" (My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess manual, pg. 8 (Title Screen))
- ↑ "Return to Title Screen" — System (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ "To Title Screen" — System (Tears of the Kingdom)
- ↑ "To Title Screen" — System (Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity)
- ↑ "Title Display" (The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 11)
- ↑ The Mistake Rare Left in Banjo-Kazooie for Switch Online, @Snooplax on YouTube, Uploaded October 8, 2021
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 A Link Between Worlds manual, pg. 4
- ↑ "Pantalla de título" (Skyward Sword manual, pg. 23)
- ↑ "Pantalla de Título" (Link's Crossbow Training manual, pg. 24)
- ↑ "Начальный экран" (Skyward Sword manual, Russian localization, pg. 4)
- ↑ "L'écran titre" (Skyward Sword manual, pg. 13)
- ↑ "Écran titre" (Link's Crossbow Training manual, pg. 14)