Daily Debate: Are Some Zelda Manga Stories Better than the Games?

I didn’t know about the manga versions of Zelda games until just a few years ago. There are manga versions of multiple games in the series, from Ocarina of Time to the Oracle games. So, wanting to be true to my favorite fandom, I recently acquired the whole Twilight Princess collection and have been devouring these volumes like Breath of the Wild Link pounds apples! These volumes follow the Twilight Princess narrative for the most part, but they breathe even more life into this rich high-fantasy version of Hyrule. So far there have been a few aspects that I sincerely wish were in the original game.

Spoilers ahead if you don’t want the Twilight Princess manga spoiled! 

For one, introducing the concept that Princess Zelda and Midna were childhood friends who often spoke to each other through a magical mirror added so much weight to Princess Zelda’s sacrifice for Midna when she’s mortally wounded by Zant. This childhood relationship also involved Zelda in the manga story so much more than she is involved in the game (which is one of my main gripes about this entry in the series).

Another concept I loved is the deeper exploration of the Hero’s Shade and Link’s deep connection with this spirit who used to be the Hero of Time. There is so much room for expansion on this relationship left to be desired in the game, and I love how the manga is depicting their interactions and teaching moments so far!

I know that Twilight Princess is nearly 20 years old (can you believe it?) and at the time of its release, there was likely not enough time or room to include deeper story elements to an already solid game. However, its manga really makes me long for a remastered, full version that includes all these deeper elements that are adding just an extra layer of zest to the narrative!

What about you? Do you wish some Zelda manga story elements were incorporated into the games? What ones have you read? Let me know in the comments!

Chakell Herbert

Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.