Characters of The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda[a] is a high-fantasy video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool and Grezzo. The series' gameplay incorporates elements of action, adventure and puzzle-solving games.
The series centers on Link, the playable character and protagonist. Link is often given the task of rescuing Princess Zelda and the kingdom of Hyrule from Ganon, who is the series' principal antagonist; however, other settings and antagonists have appeared in several games. The plots commonly involve a relic known as the Triforce, a set of three omnipotent golden triangles.
Since the original The Legend of Zelda's release in 1986, the series has expanded to include 19 entries on all of Nintendo's major game consoles, as well as a number of spin-offs. An American animated TV series based on the games aired in 1989. Individual manga adaptations commissioned by Nintendo have been produced in Japan since 1997. The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most prominent and successful franchises, selling over 80 million copies as of 2017; many of its games are considered by critics and fans alike to be among the greatest video games of all time.[1]
Link is a Hylian youth who characteristically wears a green tunic and pointed cap. He has pointed ears and the Triforce symbol on his left hand. Each incarnation of Link is humble, hard-working, brave, and worthy to bear the Triforce of Courage. The various Links each have a special title related to being a "Hero", such as "Hero of Time" in Ocarina of Time. In the video games, he is generally a silent protagonist, but does speak in the Legend of Zelda cartoon series and the CD-i games from The Legend of Zelda series produced by Philips.[2]
Princess Zelda is Hyrule's princess and the guardian of the Triforce of Wisdom. While older titles require Link to save Zelda from Ganon, she, since Ocarina of Time has been mostly shown to be capable in battle, using magical powers and arrows, to aid Link. Zelda occasionally has aliases and alter egos, including Sheik in Ocarina of Time and Tetra in The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass. She is only a playable character Spirit Tracks of the main games, though she also playable in spin-offs such as Hyrule Warriors, or other games such as Super Smash Bros..
Ganon is the series' primary villain and final boss. His specific motives vary across games, but general themes include seeking the triforce for power and destruction, and kidnapping Princess Zelda as a means to that end.
