Does the Zelda Timeline even matter?

Does the Zelda Timeline actually matter, or was it only invented to appease the fans? Let's look at the history of the Timeline, and how it has evolved alongside the games.

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#Zelda #Nintendo #LegendofZelda

[Zeltik]

Please watch the video first before commenting! It might not change your opinion on the Zelda Timeline, but it will hopefully dispel the myth that a Timeline doesn't exist at all and was only invented to appease the fans.

[HumbleTeller]

I like the new hypothesis that's somewhat going around that the reason why the downfall timeline happens is because ALttP's Link when he wished to undo the evil Ganon had created, it retroactively caused Link to defeat Ganon in OoT since it's the same Ganon. Basically saying the downfall is the natural, original timeline. Like sending the silver arrows into past to Oot as the light arrows since light arrows didn't exist in Skyward Sword, Minish Cap, Four Swords before Ocarina.

[akakay]

This is a bit tangential, but ⁠I’ve always thought the refounding theory as an explanation for TotK is nowhere near as absurd as a lot of people make it out to be. The idea that one civilization could exist for several millennia without interruption is way more ridiculous (and, btw, why do fantasy stories always insist on using these ridiculous time frames? 10, 000 years? Really? That’s nearly as old as literal agriculture is irl). In that way Hyrule could be a civilization like China, which, while ancient, has collapsed and reformed numerous times. History repeating itself is basically Zelda’s MO anyways, so if there can be 20 or so of the same(ish) guy, why can’t there be more than one of the same(ish) event?

[jnswiwh]

"Are there timeline connections?": Yes
"Are these intentional?": Usually also yes.
"Are they the leading element in designing these games?": Usually no.

"Is the entire timeline, a pre-written thing?": not sure, the 'defeated'-timeline sure feels like a leftover from the moment OoT was supposed to have 3 timelines.
But that (the connection, this video mentions as a tacked on, emergency-move to correct a mistake because people forgot the document) is the closest thing to proof such a plan ever existed.
"Has Nintendo publicly and repeatedly stated, the timeline is not leading?": yes. If it makes for a better story/game to tie it into existing stories, please do so. If 'the pre-established lore' is the obstacle to making a good game, the game takes priority over the lore.

Complete agreement on the:
Those stating "your fun is wrong" are wrong.
- Yes a good Zelda game can also stand on it's own.
- Yes diving deeper into, "not required reading"-lore can be fun. (been there done that)
Preferring one over the other, is fine.
Making a big deal of the existence of people with the other preference... not so much.

[fernandofffff]

It's so refreshing to see someone talking about the Zelda timeline who ACTUALLY knows about the timeline.
Great video, Zeltik.

[reimouri]

My idea for the Breath of the wild timeline was that the three goddesses could no longer keep the three branches separated, and were forced to merge them. Leading to the destruction of Hyrule and the eventual founding by king Raru.

[The_SupremeKing]

I’ve always found it funny that people try to act like the Zelda games had no continuity before Hyrule historia, even though it was always blatantly obvious Ocarina of time was meant to be a prequel to a link to the past.

[loziclec.]

It is pretty funny that OoT was meant to show the imprisoning war of LttP, but now that imprisoning war only happens if you get a game over.

[Ryou_Sensei]

Straight up, the only thing about the timeline I refuse to accept, is how in the updated one, they swapped the placement of Link's Awakening and the Oracle games, making LA happen BEFORE the Oracles, which makes no sense at all because in the beginning of the Oracles, Link is riding Epona to a place in Hyrule to check on the triforce, then gets sent to Holodrum/Labrynna, then at the end of the Linked Game credits, Link is show sailing away back to Hyrule, and how does Link's Awakening begin? With him on a boat heading back to Hyrule!

[kinnikinnikinnik]

I think that there only being a downfall timeline for OoT is actually a very interesting angle in itself. In no other game could Link ever fail. He is fated to succeed in every other game and at every other point in history. In OoT there's so much time shenanigans that it could be the very thing that creates the possibility for failure. Perhaps without traveling back and forth as much as you need to in OoT, Link would have defeated Ganondorf with that same certainty as every other story.

[SeveraLF]

People hand waving away Zelda lore is one of my biggest pet peeves. Thank you for this video

[CurrentlyDuck]

My theory about the Downfall Timeline's existence is that the actual timeline split occured when the Triforce was split, creating three timelines that each embody a virtue of the triforce. The Downfall timeline has the most Ganon, and is the Timeline of Power. The Child Timeline has the most focus on Link, and is the darkest in tone, making it the Courage Timeline. And the Adult Timeline has more of a focus on Zelda, lacks the Spirit of the Hero, and is the Timeline of Wisdom. Of course, this also means that Echoes of Wisdom has three alternate outcomes, but I am willing to accept that.

[hikari]

I remember when people would say minish cap had to be first because “link gets his hat here”

[GoldPoptart]

For all non-OoT games, if Link fails to stop the Ganon (or whom ever); it will not branch another “downfall” timeline out of that game. This is because Ganon wins and destroys everything! There is no future.

The reason the branch can only exist for OoT is because if Link fails to kill Ganon, the sage’s still manage to seal him away. He doesn’t die.

[normalBirb]

I always assumed the reason the timeline was split in three instead of two was because of the three parts of the triforce. Wisdom leading the adult timeline (zelda sending link back), courage taking care of the child timeline (link warning about ganon), and power taking over of the fallen timeline (ganon wins)

[poseidoncountsasabigfish]

I've always wondered why only Oot had its own downfall timeline and came up with my own headcanon that it could only happen in an event where time is fractured; basically, Link dying in Oot caused a unique timeline because time was already fractured and unset because of Link's rampant time travel.

[xeno]

20:40 the "literal legend" theory holds the same place in my mind as all the coma theories about other series.

It basically boils down to "The fictional game you're playing is fictional"

[CaityRaindrop]

I do like learning about the timeline and seen many theories, but I do subscribe to the idea Nintendo didn't have it all planned out to be the way it is. I think there are like, pockets? Of connected games, like ww>ph>ss, but the overall structure is loose

[riuphane]

I stand by the theory that Hyrule Warriors should be cannon and explains how the timelines were merged

[ggnonsense]

20:01 i really like that interpretation. It makes me feel like we're historians uncovering the ancient history of Hyrule from scattered information.