In The Legend of Zelda, the titular character, Zelda, is best known as the princess of Hyrule. However, this isn’t the only identity she’s had throughout the series. When she’s forced into hiding, Zelda has to assume a new identity for her safety, and doing so often allows her to be more directly useful during Link’s journey.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Legend of Zelda games.]
As the princess of Hyrule, Zelda is more than once forced to go into hiding as Ganondorf takes over the land. Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time in particular have Zelda take on the identities of Tetra and Sheik, respectively, and she’s able to be a more active part of the games’ stories because of it. The Legend of Zelda makes Link the hero, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have hands-on help from Zelda, who deserves to take part in saving her people instead of having a role that leaves her watching and waiting for Link to do all the work.
The Legend Of Zelda Needs To Make More Use Of Zelda’s Strength
Zelda is shown to be a wise and just leader, even making the decision to surrender in Twilight Princess for the sake of sparing as many lives as she could. In that game she also uses the power of the Light Arrows and restores Midna’s strength. Furthermore, Zelda proves that she’s able to hold her own as a fighter and as a spy, since she spent time keeping track of Ganondorf’s movements in Ocarina of Time and watching Link as Sheik. With multiple examples of Zelda’s strength and ability to be independent, it can be considered a shame that she ends up as a captive or in need of rescuing from Link in many games.
Future Zelda Games Should Let Zelda Explore New Roles
Even in more recent games, such as Breath of the Wild, Zelda is shown as smart and strong, but those traits are put to limited use. Players see her primarily in memories until late in the game, and the trailer for Tears of the Kingdom shows her falling into darkness while in a cave, so it seems like she might be put in a position where her presence isn’t a big part of the game once again. Before the founding of Hyrule, Skyward Sword introduces Zelda as the mortal incarnation of the goddess Hylia, but such an important purpose doesn’t manage to give her a more active role in Link’s journey.
Zelda’s presence might not always be seen, but her role as part of the Hyrule Royal Family makes her a critical part of the lore of The Legend of Zelda. Over the years, she’s been given a couple chances to take on roles unrelated to being a princess or queen, and maybe it’s time for Nintendo to lean more into that stronger, capable side of Zelda. Allowing Zelda to step away from the throne and help Link in more active ways could add new dynamics and possibilities for future The Legend of Zelda games.
