Daily Debate: What is the Most Out-of-Place Object or Character in the Series?
Posted on July 14 2020 by Alexis S. Anderson
The Zelda series exists in a flexible pocket of fantasy that allows it to seamlessly integrate odd personalities, mysticism, technology, and all matter of monsters in-game. The teams behind each title do a great job of blending different elements into a particular game’s setting, so it isn’t often that I come across something in a Zelda game that makes me do a double-take. However, there are a few exceptions when it comes to characters, vehicles, enemies, and secret rooms.
Let’s start with out of place characters. Batreaux in Skyward Sword threw me for a loop. A demon living in Skyloft? Why? How? Where did he come from? As much as the Remlits’ temperament shift gave me a scare, this mild-mannered bat person shocked me more. Another character who struck me as out of place was Jovani in Twilight Princess. It’s weird to think that random civilians could get themselves into so much trouble that they and their innocent cats could be turned into conscious gold statues. And as strange as much of Majora’s Mask is, the cucco guy, Grog, is such a stark portrayal of punk in a series where I didn’t think that counter-culture existed.
Those characters aside, the top three most out of place things in Zelda for me are the aliens in Majora’s Mask, the Chris Houlihan room in A Link to the Past, and the Master Cycle in Breath of the Wild.
- It still blows my mind that there is an alien invasion in Majora’s Mask. I don’t think aliens (of the cow-stealing sort) appear anywhere else in the series. And while they’re technically called ghosts, the abduction tropes they employ scream “alien.” I’m not certain why this sticks out to me so much, but I suppose I squirm whenever the series gets too close to referencing real-world events.
- Speaking of referencing the real world: the Chris Houlihan room. I was charmed when I first found this place. Imagine– your name in a Zelda game. But thinking back on it, a Nintendo Power sweepstake affecting the development of a main series title (at least the US version) is wild. And it’s the only instance of something like this in the series to my knowledge, so it really stands out.
- And the Master Cycle. Need I explain? A motorcycle is the last thing I expected to see in Zelda. Breath of the Wild did expand the possibilities for tech in the series, but never in my wildest dreams did I foresee this. Again, too close to reality and to that punk aesthetic!
Do you agree the Majora’s Mask aliens are the most out-of-place thing in Zelda? What in the series most made you stop and scratch your head? Let us know in the comments!
This Daily Debate was inspired by Discord user @GJTPJ.
Alexis S. Anderson is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon who joined the writing team in November, 2014. She has a JD from the UCLA School of Law and is pursuing a career in Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law. She grew up in the New Jersey suburbs with her parents, twin brother, and family shih-tzu.
