Daily Debate: Should Another Zelda Game Feature Young Princess Zelda?
Posted on August 31 2021 by Michaela El-Ters
Throughout the series, we’ve seen Princess Zelda in various stages of her life. From a poised, young ruler in Twilight Princess to an inquisitive and adventurous teenager tasked with protecting her kingdom in Breath of the Wild, Princess Zelda’s incarnations paint a fully realized picture of the character and her dedication to the people of Hyrule. Ocarina of Time was notable in portraying Zelda at two different points in her life — as a child and a teenager, and how she grew and changed over time.
Young Princess Zelda is both dedicated, kind, and immediately bonds with Link. But she’s also naive and takes on the huge burden of trying to stop Ganondorf herself (with Link’s help, but still). Unfortunately, Zelda’s presence as a teenager is extremely limited, but it’s clear that despite feeling guilt for what happened, she matured a lot. Being forced to grow up in apocalyptic conditions and watching Hyrule collapse around her must have been painful. I think part of what makes Zelda’s portrayal in Ocarina of Time meaningful is her transformation after the time skip and how it impacted her. I also appreciate her youthful naivety, and how it makes her distinct from her counterparts: she was a child trying to save her home in the only way she knew how. It’s really quite sad, and it adds another layer to her character that I haven’t seen again since.
What do you think? Would you want to see a Young Princess Zelda again? Let us know in the comments!
Featured art by Nixeu
Michaela El-Ters is a Senior Editor for Zelda Dungeon. She is also an Senior Writer for Boss Rush Network, and writes blogs and streams games on Objection Network. Her favorite Zelda game changes with the seasons, but the series as a whole is near and dear to her heart.
