Daily Debate: Which Version of Princess Zelda Endured the Most Hardship?
Posted on March 12 2021 by Michaela El-Ters
When I think of how much the Zelda series has changed over the years, my first thought always goes to Princess Zelda and her evolution as a character. Over the years, Zelda’s role in the series has expanded, giving her a stronger personality and voice as a result. It’s been great watching her character progression and seeing how her character is tested. An unexpected byproduct of that is just how much strife, hardship, and sorrow Princess Zelda is often faced with. In many cases, Ganondorf’s ascension to power (no matter how brief or long it may be) has major consequences, and how it impacts our heroes can vary greatly.
If I have to pick a version of Princess Zelda who I feel endured the most hardship as a result of these consequences, it’s in Ocarina of Time. As a child, Zelda takes it upon herself to do what her father won’t: stop Ganondorf and save Hyrule, and she recruits Link to help her. Their admittedly simple and flawed plan backfires and allows Ganondorf to take over Hyrule, and from there, Zelda has to hide for seven years. She has to endure all of that time on her own (aging naturally, unlike Link, where the timeskip is instantaneous), operating under the shadows as Sheik and waiting for Link’s return, all the while dealing with her mistakes as a child taking on the weight of the world on her shoulders. I can only imagine how much sorrow and guilt Zelda felt watching her kingdom fall to ruin and knowing her actions were at least partially to blame.
What do you think? Which Princess Zelda so you feel endured the most hardship? Let us know in the comments!
Feature art by SOZOMAIKA
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.
