A brief history of Nintendo NOT letting you play as Zelda

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a big deal for the franchise because it’s finally the first MAINLINE game where you get to play as Princess Zelda. But it’s actually not the first game where you can play as Zelda. Not by a slingshot. Polygon's Clayton Ashley walks through a history of Hyrule's princess and the games in which she's playable — from the Philips CD-I, to Smash Bros., and beyond!

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[jluca]

The dress was too warm because the fabric was synthetic. Polygon should budget to get Clayton a nice Zelda cosplay made of like. Linen.

[DavisGSee]

Not the point of the video because they still don't feature playable Zelda, but I do think you undersell Zelda's role in Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword a little bit. One of my main issues with SS was that Zelda seemed to be doing way more interesting stuff than Link off-screen.

[biscuits_cake]

...Now I can't stop thinking about a potential game playing as Ganondorf. Like we've been able to play as the wielders of the Triforce of courage and wisdom, why not add power?

(This will probably happen 20 years from now. c:)

[Michael_Lindell]

Can't play as Zelda?

Nintendo: Well, me, Princess!

[chucknorris]

Im just mad they didn't call it The Legend of Link, Zelda's Awakening.

[nachoolo]

My only complain is Zelda's misrepresentation in Wind Waker.

She's a "damsel in distress" for a minute. After it she's active player during the ending, fighting alongside you against Ganondolf.

[xabierlenenaibarrola]

i think it would be perfect to totk to play in the present with link and in the past with zelda made so you cant advance in some parts with link before advancing with zelda.

[MasterofTongs]

Legend of Zelda tactics, just saying. Link gets to be the hero, and you play as the master tactician, Zelda.

[a.jthomas]

After realizing that the the end credit cutscene of Skyward Sword cutscenes we’re originally meant to be in the “Second Quest” and it was unfinished, I find it criminal that we never get to see Zelda’s journey of reawakening her memories of Hylia herself.

[GeekMasterGames]

Also, shout out to Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, a vibrant and wonderfully fun homage to the 2 side scrolling CDI Zelda games

[alchemistarcher]

The costume changes are fantastic, now you just need to wear them to the next Garage Simulator conversation event

[gabrielrussell]

In Metroid Dread you finally play as Metroid.

[FabriSlv]

Polygon: uploads a video
My terminally-online ass 4 minutes later: LET'S

[tinyetoile]

Still mad that they ended up cutting the Zelda second quest from SS. That would've been SO COOL.

[matheusvitorinomachado]

I think the video could have considered Zelda's characterization in Spirit Tracks with a little more care. Of course, she's still not a fully playable character, but I think saying she's just a tool in the game is minimizing how central and present she is throughout the campaign. Sheik is cool, and I think the whole debate around transsexuality shows the depth of the character. But badass ninja is playing it safe, while Zelda from Spirit Tracks is funny, annoying, insecure, intelligent, broadly speaking, a more complex character. Not to mention that Link would not be able to survive in any dungeon, or even in the final battle, without Zelda, who owns the entire central gimmick of the game.

[aidanboyle]

I think Spirit Tracks deserves some more respect here, Zelda is a full-fledged character in that and *is* playable, I doubt you'd have waffled like that if she was controlled with a stick or d-pad instead of the touch screen

[ZaItan]

Nintendo did Zelda the dirtiest in Wind Waker. Going from pirate captain everyone respects to princess locked in a royal tomb? Absolute disgrace.

[mmzero]

So strange that Nintendo has only recently started fleshing out side characters-Luigi, Peach, Zelda, Toad-these characters are perfect for experimenting with the franchise while also giving them an identity of their own. Even though they are shallow, I think most people don’t want Mario or Link to change- so I hope Nintendo keeps experimenting like this.

[a.jthomas]

A playable Princess Zelda would’ve helped better the Tears of the Kingdom story since it has been divided into two separate time periods with multiple perspectives (Link + Zelda). And this is the strongest version of Zelda according to Zelda director Hidemaro Fujibayashi. If we ever get to experienced more of her journey in the Era of Hyrule’s founding and the Imprisoning War, imagined how OP she is with both her Light + Time powers.

[xition]

I just wish the sword fighter mode was not there along with so many references to Link. I feel like they didn't have enough confidence in Zelda.