Gossip Stone: Favorite Means of Communication in Zelda

For a game series centered around a ‘silent protagonist,’ Zelda certainly doesn’t have a shortage of available means of communication. Every game offers some way for the story to be communicated to Link, and the ways people get in contact with him is as creative as it is varied. From Gossip Stones to songs to howling, you can always be sure of a unique way to interact with the people around you. Let’s take a look at a few of the different communication tools, and weigh in with your favorites in the comments below!

Gossip Stones:
Probably the most iconic reoccurring non-usable item in the Zelda series. These stones have seen many incarnations, included the original stones from Ocarina of Time, a fragment in The Wind Waker, and even a degraded and re-purposed version in Twilight Princess. These stones, also known as Sheikah Stones, were crafted by the Sheikah Tribe for spying on the land of Hyrule. It is assumed that the Sheikah were a sort of secret service for the royal family, and therefore used these stones to keep tabs on the masses. In the era of Ocarina of Time, these stones are used by the Hero of Time to uncover secrets about the world around him. The only way to get the stones to reveal their secrets is to don the Mask of Truth, a mask that bears the symbol of the Sheikah tribe. Listening to these helpful tips isn’t required, but they do seem to have a knack for correctly directing the Hero.

Saria’s Song:
Music is an element that Zelda uses to its fullest potential. Most incarnations of Link uses magic notes to help him accomplish his destiny, but none more so than Saria’s Song. Saria, the sage of Forest and childhood friend to the Hero of Time, taught this special tune to Link in order to guide him throughout his journey. Once Link completes these notes, he can once again be connected to his friend and converse with her. She is always there for him when he is stuck, offering whispers from the world to aid the boy. Her melody even transcends time and dimensions, allowing Link to contact Saria whenever needed, no matter where she is.

Companions:
For some, these are the most annoying things ever. For others, they are endearing characters that make us cry as we see them leave. For most, they are both. But no matter your attitude towards the various companions one thing is certain: you wouldn’t be the hero without them. These characters act as Link’s voice, serving to explain things to him and us as the player and help move the story along. They also have spoken with other characters in a voice we can see, unlike Link whose words are left a mystery to us. Certain characters, like Fi, Minda, and Tatl are important to the story and have a stake in the outcome. Others like Navi simply act as a guide, serving to help Link in his journey and assist him in battle whenever possible. They are integral parts of the game, and are tremendous helps to the hero. Personally they are my favorite part of Zelda games, and I hope they continue to craft wondrous companions for Link.

This is just a sampling of the different ways Zelda games ‘speak’ to us. They are unique, creative, and a joy to discover. What are your favorites? Is there one here that I didn’t mention that you love? Let us know in the comments below.