When Link draws his sword...

[WaffleZ]

This is something that I can't quite seem to figure out, and it's keeping me up at night, even though it's small and insignificant.

When Link draws his sword and shield, how on Earth does he draw his shield?
If he reaches behind him, palm facing outwards, he would draw the shield facing the wrong way.
If he reaches behind him, palm facing inwards, he would draw the shield upside down.

The sheath for the sword is attached to his back by a sling which you can see is strapped over Link's torso. However, how does his shield even stay on his back?


Someone help so I can sleep already...

[Hylian Hobbit]

I wondered about this as well. He magically is able to summon the shield from his back whenever he wants. It's just how it works I guess.:hmm:

[blackice_cc]

Well, Zelda has a lot of things that defy the laws of physics in it. For example, where does Link put his items when not using them? He just seems to touch the item to his back, and BAM! They disappear.

Of course, it is possible that he has some magical thing hold his shield in place, and when he reaches out to grab it, palm out, he then flips it around on his arm so it ends up the right way out, and does this so fast that you can't see it. :D Probably not.

[Y2K3]

I've never put any thought in that before, and therefore I have no input.
It is interesting though. Perhaps whenever the next time I play Zelda is, I'll have a look for that.

[Joey Kazooie]

Well, it's not as bad as having a load of items with complete costumes and a giant iron ball on a chain in your so called pocket, without noticing it on the outside.

[Mike Pothier]

Thats nothing. You notice Link never seems to go to the bathroom...?:eek:

[Smitie]

Thats nothing. You notice Link never seems to go to the bathroom...?:eek:

or sleep and in tp he eats bee larves (smerig) ;)

I never noticed the shield problem, i will look for it when i play zelda again

[El Bagu]

It is not how he do it. It is how fast he does it!! The kid got skills ;)

[ebuch]

In ALttP, Nintendo just mirrored the sprites so when you face left, Link holds the sword in his left hand. When you face right, he holds it in his right hand. Or something like that. It was just easier to make it like that I guess.

[WaffleZ]

In ALttP, Nintendo just mirrored the sprites so when you face left, Link holds the sword in his left hand. When you face right, he holds it in his right hand. Or something like that. It was just easier to make it like that I guess.

Not quite what I'm talking about. I mean in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, when Link takes out his shield.
How does he do it without his shield facing the wrong way or holding it upside down?

[ebuch]

I know, I was off topic, but I just wanted to point out that OoT and TP are not the only games that had some things that didn't make sense regarding the sword/shield. I feel that there is no answer to your question, it is a game, and some things are better left unsaid. Nobody questions the clawshot, so why question the shield?

[WaffleZ]

Because Clawshot is just technology. Taking out his shield correctly is an actual physical action that can't be explained away by magic spells or technology. It completely baffles me too, because I can't find an explanation.

I know it's just a game, but Link isn't the only guy who carries a shield and sword on his back in that manner. I'm a bit curious as to how the mechanics of takings his shield out works.

[ebuch]

Ah, so if we're talking physics, Link should be able to fly through the air using a chain launching device. Both the shield drawing and the clawshot are both unrealistic, that's why I brought up the clawshot in the first place. It's just something that you're not supposed to really think about.

[WaffleZ]

I know, but it still bothers me.

If you don't think it's something worth finding out, that's okay. I was just wondering what other people thought about it. It's rather confusing, and a few people are intrigued by this, and so far nobody has a logical explanation.

I know it's from a game and it shouldn't be something worth investigating, but isn't it okay to ask questions and be curious for the sake of... asking questions and being curious?

[linkman8]

Well, Zelda has a lot of things that defy the laws of physics in it. For example, where does Link put his items when not using them? He just seems to touch the item to his back, and BAM! They disappear.
Duh, he puts them in that little pouch on his belt. Geez.

But I've also wondered myself how he gets his shield off of his back. I know he somehow attaches the shield to his scabbard, but how he gets it off cleanly is beyond me.

[Mike Pothier]

If you watch the animation closely of him swinging his sword and sheathing it behind his back, the tip of the sword through the scabbard instead of into the opening.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE??

The only possible answer: Link is just that damn good.

[Onilink89]

well first i was thinking that the handle of the shield was attached to the sheat of the sword. but he can get his shield less then 1 second and the handle is on a vertical position, so thats impossible.

maybe the back of the shield has some kind of magnet?

[Petman1325]

Origionally posted by ebuch.
Ah, so if we're talking physics, Link should be able to fly through the air using a chain launching device. Both the shield drawing and the clawshot are both unrealistic, that's why I brought up the clawshot in the first place. It's just something that you're not supposed to really think about.

Yeah, we forgot to mention the Deku Leaf. How can a kid at least seventy pounds (ugh, fine. At least thirty one kilograms) float by using an oversized leaf as a parachute without dying? The same reason as almost everything in The Legend of Zelda, magic. The series has been defying physics all the time (except for gravity)!

[Stella3000]

lol,lol,lol....*Still laughing*
Now THIS is a fun topic. Why? Because me and my bros have always made fun of the fact that none of this makes any sense no matter how you look at it.
Thing is it just doesn't work in the real world.
I'd love to help.......but like I said it just doesn't work. Fun to laugh about but thats about it. Don't go crazy thinking about it. It isn't worth losing sleep over.

[Shadow Goris]

The series has been defying physics all the time (except for gravity)!

Leave that gravity to mario galaxy, none of the gravity in that game is real, merio would just float off the planet or would die from heat or cold.

[OCDays]

Eh, its just the way it is. You can't make everything fit perfectly, just accept it and move on, not much else you can do.

[Kitsu]

Perhaps when he draws his sword, it releases the shield to the side of his back so he can grap it?

it would work like this:
Link draws his sword-therefore unbalancing the weight, causing the shield to drop and flip so he can grap hold of it in the right direction.

But as for speed...Until we find a Unifying field theory...

[Hylian Hobbit]

Meh, I think this is one of those things that are better not tried to be figured out with a logical explaination. I just don't think there is one.

[Kitsu]

Yeah, I just felt like coming up with a complicated theory.

[elementskater995]

I put took it out and put it away several times in twighlight princess to see...and yea that is weird...I noticed it in wind waker too...ecpecially with the iron boots, he just jumps and..woosh...there gone. Weird...creepy...:o

[Chris]

This may sound stupid but, he is the owner of one triforce piece, so he can do things that defy the laws of physics.

[LucarioMaster]

This may sound stupid but, he is the owner of one triforce piece, so he can do things that defy the laws of physics.

i guess thts true:) i wonder y

[LinkOwnsYou]

Well, Zelda has a lot of things that defy the laws of physics in it. For example, where does Link put his items when not using them? He just seems to touch the item to his back, and BAM! They disappear.

Lol that's true just like in TP with the ball and chain XD.


Anyways, I have NEVER EVER tought about that and I guess it's true!. . . But just like my mom says "Wow Link can do ANYTHING there's nothing that he cannot do'' Lol but sometimes I think He's just Like Chuck Norris XD the only thing that's left is like making a lot of facts about Link such as "Link's tears can cure cancer but the bad news is, Link have never cried" XD I will ROFL with that.:lol::lol::lol:

[lonely_moon]

I think He's just Like Chuck Norris XD the only thing that's left is like making a lot of facts about Link such as "Link's tears can cure cancer but the bad news is, Link have never cried" XD I will ROFL with that.:lol::lol::lol:

I always thought that too! But then again, Captain Falcon is already considered the video game equivalent of Chuck Norris...they are probably equal. Captain Falcon has the Falcon Punch, and "YES!", but Link has the ability to pwn just about anything. And he can do the shield thing.

Anyway, back on topic, I never really thought about the shield. I did, however, think of how he stores all his items, how he manages to swing a ball and chain around, and the Clawshot. Hmm...

Maybe with the shield, you know how it has two "arm holes", right? Well, Link could bypass the first one (from his right) and grab the second, draw the shield and swing it around in his hand so that he can put it on his arm. That's my best guess.

[Zemen]

a better question is, why does he have to put the iron boots on in order to sink? he already has them in his "pack" or wherever he holds them so he should sink regardless.

[Amelie]

I always thought he put the sheild on the sheeth.. like.. hung it on there by the straps.. and.. is just really quick with both of his hands so that he can pulled the sword out and grab his shield at the same time? =O

Im not really sure. I will have to pay more attention to it. And the thing with AlttP is probably for memory purposes. Instead of keeping the sword in the same hand for a new sprite it saves room and is easyer just to mirror it.

I cant be sure though ^^

[link man]

i think it would be stupid if every time you wanted to take out your shild you have to take it out and flip it i think it is that way just because it would be dumb to even have a shild if it takes 30 seconds to take it out the enemy can hit you like 10 times by then so i think they just did it for your own good

[ebuch]

It probably also has something to do with the actual animation process. The way they ended up making it could have been the most efficient (in terms of animation) means of making it appear he is drawing his sword and shield.

[LoZfan]

I've noticed that in the older LoZfan that when you face direction.. Link is right handed.. however.. if you face the opposite direction he;s Left handed.... WTF

[ebuch]

There's a different thread for that discussion, but it's because they used mirrored sprites to make things easier

[LoZfan]

There's a different thread for that discussion, but it's because they used mirrored sprites to make things easier

oh.. well.I've always wondered.. Where the **** does Link keep all of those tools and weapons

Obviously "under the belt"

[master sword]

or sleep and in tp he eats bee larves (smerig) ;)

I never noticed the shield problem, i will look for it when i play zelda again

bee larva are good, you ever tryem?

but there hard to get cuz of teh other bees>.<
(i learned the hard way[>.<x2])




yea that shield thing ive noticed it... in TP press the defend button to draw shield and release it immediately its HILARIOUS :P do it very fast

[LucarioMaster]

i think link has magnets in his gloves that we don't see in the game and he has them on his sheild so he gets his sheild in his hands that way or something like that

[Master Kokiri 9]

I wondered about this as well. He magically is able to summon the shield from his back whenever he wants. It's just how it works I guess.:hmm:
Dude i think you're right!! Crap i need more words. Ignore the gibberish.
uherfk nbzcinbvwfdsbnvbn gvcz b nvc bjhfhdzcxhjbfvbgsfdhgkbnvnfnbfvb ndbkjmdxvcvmn,mcnxn ikfndgkbvjhdcvfnckjn!!!!!!!!!!

[startimer]

Im not to sure about tp, but i noticed that when you put the shield away in OoT its upside-down when he puts it on his back...then in the next frame its right side up! wtf?