A ZD Timeline Project - Summary
FINAL CONCLUSION:
............../--TWW/PH--ST
TMC--OoT
..............\MM--TP--FS/FSA--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA
All Discussions Closed.
PROCESS:
1. The Legend of Zelda
- Skipped -
Reason: Being the first game, there are no other games to compare it to.
Order so Far: LoZ
2. The Adventure of Link
- Skipped -
Reason: It is obviously a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda.
Order so Far: LoZ/AoL
3. A Link to the Past
- Discussion Closed -
Conclusion: It was meant to explain the backstory before The Legend of Zelda.
Order so Far: ALttP--LoZ/AoL
4. Link's Awakening
- Skipped -
Reason: It is obviously a direct sequel to A Link to the Past. There is some small debate over whether or not it actually is, but it doesn't effect much to be worth adressing.
Order so Far: ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL
5. Ocarina of Time
- Skipped -
Reason: It is obviously before everything so far. Nobody's about to say otherwise.
Order so Far: OoT--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL
5.1 Miyamoto Order
- Discussion Closed -
Details: We hit a snag when the creator came out with an order contradicting what we already have. He says OoT--LoZ/AoL--ALttP, with LA going anywhere.
Conclusion: Ocarina of Time was originally meant as the Seal War, with The Legend of Zelda as a lesser part of it, explaining what happens to the Triforce. At least, this was true at the time.
Order so Far: OoT--LoZ/AoL--ALttP/LA
6. Majora's Mask
- Skipped -
Reason: It is obviously a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time.
Order so Far: OoT/MM--LoZ/AoL--ALttP/LA
7-8. Oracle of Seasons and Ages
- Discussion Closed -
Conclusion: They were originally planned as remakes of the original two, with expanded story. Plans were changed and they're still no longer remakes, but it still stands that it continues after the story of The Adventure of Link, and doesn't fit quite so well anywhere else.
Order so Far: OoT/MM--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA--ALttP/LA
9. Four Swords
- Skipped Temporarily -
Reason: Four Swords was essentially implacable at this point, and not necessarily canon, but will be both pretty soon.
BIG NOTE: This is the complicated part where the split comes in. Even though it was only a theory at the time, we are going to go with it because it has since been confirmed by Nintendo and, after all, the theory DID exist at the time.
10. The Wind Waker
- Skipped -
Reason: The prospect of the split timeline places this game for us.
Order so Far:
....../--TWW
OoT
......\MM--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA--ALttP/LA
10.5 Miyamoto Order Revisited
- Discussion Closed -
Details: The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link were placed to coincide with the Miyamoto Order because it "bridges" the Seal War in Ocarina of Time to A Link to the Past (exact details are a little complicated); however, The Wind Waker makes it clear that Nintendo no longer intends for Ocarina of Time to be the Seal War. We no longer need the first two games to be a "bridge," so do we follow all existing evidence and move them back to where they originally belonged? (Probably yes.)
Conclusion: Yes, The Wind Waker definitely debunks the Miyamoto Order.
Order so Far:
....../--TWW
OoT
......\MM--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA
11. Four Swords Adventures
- Discussion Closed -
Conclusion: It is definitely supposed to lead up to ALttP, whether or not you consider it the SW itself.
Order so Far:
....../--TWW
OoT
......\MM--FSA--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA
11.09 Four Swords Placement
- Discussion Closed -
Details: Four Swords Adventures tells us enough that Four Swords can be placed. The question is, is FSA a direct sequel?
Conclusion: Yes, it is a direct sequel.
Order so Far:
....../--TWW
OoT
......\MM--FS/FSA--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA
12. The Minish Cap
- Discussion Closed -
Conclusion: Many persuasions toward TMC as an introduction to the Zelda universe.
Order so Far:
............../--TWW
TMC--OoT
..............\MM--FS/FSA--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA
13. Twilight Princess
- Discussion Closed -
Conclusion: The state of Ganon kind of backs this game into a corner. A very easy placement.
Order so Far:
............../--TWW
TMC--OoT
..............\MM--TP--FS/FSA--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA
14. Phantom Hourglass
- Skipped -
Reason: Obviously a direct sequel to The Wind Waker.
Order so Far:
............../--TWW/PH
TMC--OoT
..............\MM--TP--FS/FSA--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA
15. Spirit Tracks
- Pre-Release Placement -
Nintendo confirmed this as a distant sequel to TWW/PH.
Order so Far:
............../--TWW/PH--ST
TMC--OoT
..............\MM--TP--FS/FSA--ALttP/LA--LoZ/AoL--OoS/OoA