#why can't she turn into Shiek instead :(

[leaf-miner]

I have mixed feelings about the swordfighter form in the new Echoes of Wisdom footage. It felt like they were showing it like "Look, Zelda can fight with a sword! We're not being sexist!" But then it's a limited time transformation that essentially turns her into Link.

Worst thing is I do think playing as Zelda should feel distinct from Link, but it would be so easy to incorporate weapons too. Zelda has so often been associate with the bow of light, she really should be an archer. In addition, I think it would be cool to give her a dagger that she can use only if she's sneaky and gets a back strike. That would double as kind of a reference to her role as Shiek in OoT and emphasise the "Wisdom" bit with Zelda as more of a ranged/sneak attack fighter. It also wouldn't make echoes redundant since the weapons have obvious limits, and you could use them to distract enemies to get back strike etc. Maybe we'll get something along the lines of this in a future playable Zelda game (hopefully this is only the first of many).

Also other than making the gameplay different to other Zelda games there's really no reason she shouldn't be able to use a sword. She's used one multiple times in the past. You could even give her a different type of sword and have her use it differently to Link. It just feels a bit weird to force her to go around without a weapon or way of directly attacking outside of “throw rock” or “turn into Link”.

On the plus side though, this game does look really fun! I definitely want to play it, and I'm glad we are at long last getting playable Zelda.

[high-functioning-girlfailure]

Damn, tumblr media literacy strikes again. Let's go through this bad take slowly.

The thing that is actually bad about the Damsel in Distress trope is that it takes away the character's agency and ability to be a meaningful part of the plot. They just become the object over which the quest is fought. I'm explaining this because:

In Zelda 2, Alttp, Minish Cap, FSA and LBW, the reasons why Zelda isn't in the plot are functionally identical to if she was kidnapped. Being cursed or sealed away still makes Zelda not an actual character. Are these really supposed to be empowering alternatives to being kidnapped?

You forgot to mention Phantom Hourglass, where Zelda (Tetra) immediately gets turned to stone and kidnapped. Huh, weird how you forgot to mention that one, I wonder how that happened.

In OoT, yeah it's pretty rad that she gets to be a cool ninja that actually contributes to the plot. But it's pretty important to mention that as soon as you learn that Shiek is Zelda, she gets kidnapped and stops mattering to the plot.

In WW, yeah it's pretty rad that she gets to be a cool pirate that actually contributes to the plot. But it's pretty important to mention that as soon as you learn that Tetra is Zelda, she gets shut in a room and stops mattering to the plot.

In TP, she's just shut in a room the whole game not mattering to the plot. Her sacrificing herself to save Midna is a decent moment, but it's also a moment in service of motivating a different character. And of course, she stops mattering completely after this sacrifice.

In SS, Zelda doing prophecy stuff in the background is barely an upgrade to just being kidnapped. Link is still trying to rescue her, she's still just an object of the quest at hand.

At this point I should address a glaring omission that you're probably screaming at me for: in many of these games, Zelda comes in clutch with the Light Arrows during the Ganon fights. I do not count these as meaningful contributions to the plot, because "strong female character" does not mean the character needs to literally be strong. Zelda having cool magic powers that she gets to use against Ganon does not make up for the fact that she doesn't get to make decisions or get proper character development.

BotW is a good example of what decent writing actually looks like. Sure, Zelda here is weak as hell, she can't do shit for most of the plot. But she has, like, personality traits. I can actually describe what she's like as a person. She has struggles and growth throughout the story. She shows some proper emotion. She's an actual character here.

Now Spirit Tracks is what I'm actually looking for in a good Zelda. She's present for the whole adventure. Likeable personality. Grows throughout the game. Her contribution is essential. She truly shares the title of "Main Character" with Link here. The fact that her main skill involves wearing some huge ass armour and swinging a big sword is also great. There's so many fantasy stories where it feels like they give magic to their female characters as consolation, instead of the more practical (and narratively important) swords that the men get. So seeing Spirit Tracks Zelda get to be the shit brick house protecting her vulnerable little twink was very cool.

So yeah, Spirit Tracks and BotW/TotK Zelda are the only incarnations of this character that I feel amount to well written characters. I hate to be That Guyᵀᴹ who comes in and ruins a fun post, but we're not going to get better written women if we present damsels-but-girlboss-flavoured as the standard to strive for.

people get pissed that Zelda’s portrayed as this fuckin damsel in distress and they’re like “TROPES ARE DUMB NINTENDO IS SEXIST”

and i’m like… have you… actually… played a Zelda game???

when has Zelda EVER ACTUALLY been kidnapped by Ganon PAST THE FIRST GAME?

in Zelda 2 and I think Minish Cap she was in a cursed sleep

In ALttP she was hiding and I believe later sealed away in another world for a while

In OoT she was sneaking around as a ninja trying to help you

In Four Swords Adventures and A Link Between Worlds she was sealed away

in Wind Waker she’s a pirate who travels with you

In Twilight Princess she LITERALLY HELPS YOU KILL GANON AND PARTICIPATES IN THE FIGHT

in Spirit Tracks she’s DEAD (AND RETURNS FROM THE DEAD AS A GHOST TO HELP YOU ANYWAY.)

in Skyward Sword she’s training to unlock her potential as the LITERAL GODDESS INCARNATE

in Breath of the Wild she spent her days studying to unlock her power and then spent a hundred years using it to keep her kingdom safe while all her friends and family FUCKING DIED ALL AROUND HER

she’s sealed away and put to sleep so many times because she NEEDS to be disabled

YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE NOT EVEN DEATH CAN STOP ZELDA FROM KICKING YOUR FUCKING ASS

ZELDA CRIED IN BOTW BECAUSE SHE FAILED TO STOP GANON AND LITERALLY ALLOWED A GENOCIDE TO HAPPEN SHE’S NOT CRYING BECAUSE “WAH I’M SCARED I NEED A MAN TO PROTECT ME” SHE’S CRYING BECAUSE SHE WAS TOLD HER ENTIRE LIFE IT WAS HER DUTY TO STOP THE LITERAL END OF THE WORLD. AND SHE FAILED.

SO YOU CAN TAKE YOUR DAMSEL ACCUSATIONS AND GLUE THEM TO ZELDA’S FOOT

SO THEY GET SHOVED UP YOUR ASS WHEN ZELDA KICKS IT

[differenttimesau]

Here's some info before i get everything together for the comic.

Sky

Last Name: Hyrule (Zelda's last name)

Age: 18

Any pronouns

Has prophetic dreams

Is wearing his uniform without the hat because he and the other knights were helping build Hyrule.

Has a fierce protective streak

A bit of a jock

Light

Last Name: Smith

Age: 15

They/them

Have minish feather necklaces so they can turn into a minish whenever they want

Turn into actual minish, not just shrinking like Ezlo did for them

Speaks Picori fluently

Green

He/Him

Blind in his right eye

Aiming to be captain of the Royal Guard and/or Zelda's escort

Crush on Zelda

Often dresses up rather than dressing down. Would rather be overly formal than too casual.

Blue

She/Her

Aiming to be General of the Hyrulean army.

Aro/Ace

Likes jewelry and dresses, finds make-up and complex hairstyles annoying

Red

He/They

Content being a blacksmith

Hard of hearing, needs hearing aids.

Vio

They/She

Blind as fuck, needs glasses

Is a blacksmith alongside Red, but also volunteers at the library when they can

Likes complex hairstyles and make-up, finds jewelry needlessly cumbersome

Likes turtlenecks

Is still grieving Shadow, but slowly moving on.

Shadow

They/Them

Has merged back with Link's shadow. They can be called upon and regain their memories, but for now they lie dormant.

Worlds

Last Name: Friar

Age: 21

Genderfluid, they/them unless otherwise stated

Has some hair dyed green and purple

Ravio made them a scarf like his, though of course in green

Dating Styla

Likes make-up because it's fun (Ravio likes it because it's expensive)

Misses Ravio

Often hangs out with Rada and Bo

Is learning to be a seamstress

All in all, clearing out the Drab Lands with Rada and Bo is the most excitement they'd like.

They haven't returned to Hyrule because they miss Ravio in their house.

Rada

Last Name: Boyadzhiev

"Just Rada Boya, don't strain yourself."

Age: 19

She/they

Has red-dyed hair, natural brunette.

Dyes fabrics for a living, though gets paid very well for clearing up the Drab Lands with the others.

Bo

Last Name: Kron

Age: 18

He/Him

Has blue-dyed hair, natural blond.

Works as a royal make-up artist (used to be an gardener until he got thrown into the whole Drab Lands quest.)

Loves make-up, and knows how to apply it even without proper tools. Does Styla's make-up for free since she's a good friend.

Oracle

Last Name: Hyrule

Age: 18

They/Them

Has pink hair

Is in training to be the Oracle of Memories. Not that they know that.

Has prophetic dreams, and knows when they will/have happened because of their Oracle Training (again, not that they know that)

Is Zelda's sibling

Very done with the gods dragging them around, but loves helping people.

Has hibiscus embroidery on their clothes and an orange-dyed streak of hair to honor Marin.

Learned to sing for Marin.

Good friends with the oracles. Nayru comforted them after Link's Awakening, alongside Moosh.

Never wants to fall in love again, but has a grwoing soft-spot for Ralph.

Hyrule

Last Name: N/A

Age: 17

Any pronouns

Mother is a great fairy, not that he knows it.

Has wings, keeps them hidden

Well-versed in the magic he knows, the old men can only teach him so much

Fairies are his sisters, which is why he uses dolls instead of fairies to revive himself

Hair is a choppy mess because he cuts it with his sword

Holds the entire triforce

Can't read a map to save his life

Time

Last Name: Hyrule (adopted)

Age: 10

He/They (doesn't understand gender, but doesn't like she/her)

Lives with Shiek in the castle.

Still hasn't found Navi

Perception of time is all fucked up

Has to wake up to a different situation each morning, or he might think he's in a loop again.

Every single one of his adventures has involved some sort of time travel and he literally has no idea how old he is anymore.

Is friends with the Fierce Deity, though they both know it's for the best that he doesn't wear the mask too often.

Wind

Last Name: Smith

Age: 13

He/Him, trans ftm

His great-something-grandfather is Light (Through Red. Is not closely related to Tetra, who is Zelda and Green's descendant)

Can see ghosts because of the Phantom Hourglass

Is severely traumatized

Hates large birds

He's doing his best to stay chipper

Is an open book, but if he's actively lying no one will be able to tell.

Has broken so many laws

Is a sailor

Expert navigator, amazing sense of direction

Tends to pass the time by listening to Zephos and Cyclos's voices on the breeze

Has a lot of father figures (Linebeck, Quill, Zephos, Cyclos [though he's more like that one uncle], Daphnes [rip], and he's about to get even more)

Wants to be a conductor, but knows it's a pipe-dream since his world doesn't have many instruments, and he isn't sure how many people he could convince to become a choir.

Doesn't have the triforce of courage or the hero's spirit. The cycle ends with him. In his timeline at least.

Engie

Last Name: Smith (it's now the new royal name lol)

Age: 14

He/Him

Very smart

Has a very good job

Sure he's the princess's cousin, but he still wants to work for his money

Rather mellow, tends to let others take the lead

Can also see ghosts, but it's a family trait (thanks Wind)

No triforce of courage.

Spirit

Last Name: Smith

Age: 15

She/Her

Eyes change color with her emotions

She's usually in a suit of armor now, after the incident

She found that she actually kinda likes to fight, often spars with the guards for fun

Is very benevolent

Can turn into a spirit if she feels like it, a side affect of having your body stolen for so long.

Can also see ghosts

Doesn't have the triforce of wisdom as the cycle was broken and no one's broken the reformed triforce yet.

Twilight

Last Name: Dordon

Age: 18

He/him

Works part time at the opera company at Zelda's recommendation, gives most of the money back to Rusl and Uli.

Refuses to call anywhere except Ordon home, even if he spends a lot of time in Castle Town.

Is a celebrity, doesn't really know how to deal with it because he's also a Country Bumpkin

Can still turn into a wolf, Zelda said it was a side effect.

Zelda meets with him once a week to teach him about high society and to spar.

Wild

Last Name: Cyneward

Age: 18

She/Her

Likes cooking.

Was born a boy, but the shrine could tell she was a girl and changed that, so much of her body was destroyed that it wasn't even hard.

Loves Zelda very deeply, they share a house in Hateno, but they travel a lot and do research for Purah.

Loves doing stupid shit for science.

Has a stomach of steel, can and will eat rocks.

Zelda let her keep the shiekah slate because Purah was working on reverse engineering it anyway.

Wild learned the accordion from Kass in her downtime.

Teba thinks of her as a daughter with how much time she spends in Rito Village.

Good friends with Sidon, Riju, and Yunobo, they're like siblings to her.

Era

Last Name: Poulin

Age: 19

He/Him

Doesn't like traitors at all

Is twins with Lin

Doesn't like getting flirted with, flirting, or romance in general because of Cia.

Very protective of Time, Spirit, Engie, and Wind.

Tends to gut monsters for parts if he has time.

The best fighter of the heroes, but the worst puzzle solver.

Eon

Last Name: Poulin

Age: 19

She/Her

No sense of direction

Cannot read a map.

Loves her brother very much. She was supposed to be safe as a cuccoo farmer, but decided to follow her brother to war when she got the news.

Kind, but a little air-headed.

Not great at puzzle solving, but has great aim.

A disaster magnet

Harmony

Last Name: Hyrule

Age: 16

She/Her

Magically powerful

She's the one that did most of the legwork in fighting Octavo

Refuses to stand down when she can help fight.

Somewhat impulsive, doesn't always think through her actions unless it's in a political setting.

Thinks Link is adorable, quickly made him her personal guard so she could keep him.

Vouched for Octavo because in the end he was a little stupid, but well meaning.

She loves when Link and Octavo make music together, she makes sure they meet every weekend.

Melody

Last Name: Aria

Age: 15

He/Him

Insomniac, scared he'll sleep through conflict again.

Doesn't like that Zelda had to do his job because he fell asleep.

Forgives Octavo, but needs therapy.

Likes playing the lute

Thinks of Zelda as a big sister and loves spending time with her.

Doesn't like magic

Octavo

Last Name: Concordia

Age: 17

He/They

Feels guilty about the trauma he left Link with.

Rather intelligent, but tends not to think things through.

Also likes music, he loves spending time playing with Link

Glad he didn't get thrown into jail for his plan, works to do all he can for the community so he can gain back their trust.

Very magically powerful, but only uses it sparingly.

Descended from Vaati, but doesn't have enough minish blood to change form.