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Joshua Guilas | Staff Writer

I am heavily looking forward to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, scheduled to release March 3 with the promise of changes to the main formula that will astound people who have grown up with the franchise. Although the release of the new Zelda game is exciting, it is key to note that they have not been wholly original as of late.

If you’re a long-time Zelda fan, here are a few of the things you’ve likely seen before.

The “Dungeon Item Defeats Dungeon Boss” Pattern

This is something that I call: “The Dungeon Item Defeats The Dungeon Boss” pattern. Link, the main character of The Legend of Zelda, goes into a dungeon andfinds a special item that is useful in his quest, one that must be used in the battle against the main enemy of the dungeon. I will list one example and one exception:

  • In the first dungeon of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the gamer finds a slingshot, which allows the him or her to hit things from a distance. The gamer uses the slingshot in order to defeat the boss of the game.
  • An exception to this rule is found in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. In the first dungeon, the gamer finds an item called a “Beetle.” This allows him or her to grab items from a distance. However, the boss’s weakness is not the Beetle; the sword is.

Collecting Requirements

To progress the plot in all of these games, Link has to collect certain objects or people.. These include the following:

  • Instruments: These help awaken a mythical beast to escape an island.
  • Jewels: To open a gateway to find a sword
  • Sages/Maidens: These characters give Link the power to defeat the main villain
  • Pieces of the Triforce: the center item pertaining to the games
  • Tablets: These items reveal the next “stage” of Link’s quest
  • Flames: These can help power up your sword
  • Masks: These represent the bosses that you may have defeated

In each game, the required item changes and the gamer may even have to gather two of them. Some gamers may feel deterred by this, but the adventure is in the journey.

Transformations

There are a few Zelda games in which Link transforms into a different creature. For example:

  • The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past: In the Dark World, Link transforms into a pink bunny.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: Link obtains certain masks which allows him to transform into three separate species.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: Link is able to transform into a wolf.

Companions

Traveling companions are found throughout most Legend of Zelda games.

  • Fairies traveling with Link as a guide in at least three games (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass).
  • A small imp named Midna assists Link (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess).
  • A talking boat called King of Red Lions helps Link (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
  • At least two normally inanimate objects, a hat and a sword, assist Link in his journey (The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword respectively).

The Prevalence of Music

In nearly every Legend of Zelda game, music is essential to the quest. Here are a few examples:

  • The Ocarina of Time (Used in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask): An ocarina that grants Link the ability to control time and the weather itself.
  • The Wind Waker (Used in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker): A baton grants Link the ability to control the winds.
  • The Goddess Harp (Used in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword): A harp used  in order to open up more paths.
  • The Spirit Flute (Used in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks): A pan flute found in the game is also used to open up more paths, but can also be used to assist Link in his quest via certain songs such as a song to heal him.
  • Grass Whistles (Used in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess): These are pieces of grass found throughout the game that are used to call upon assistants to Link’s quest.
  • The Howling Stone (Used in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.): This isn’t an instrument, but they are stones used by “Wolf Link,” Link’s alternate form found in Wolf Link must howl in order to learn new skills.