Holidays From Hyrule: Which Was Your Favourite?

Can volcanoes really form underground like that? Eh, who cares, I'm on vacation.Link – while a hero who’s truly dedicated to the princess, the Royal Family and the nation of Hyrule – is a guy who is also known to take a vacation every now and then, whether it be to hone his skills, or find a lost and dear friend. In the extreme cases, Link’s even been forced to leave Hyrule, by the will of the goddesses… it was in Oracle of Seasons where Link had actually traversed two lands: having been forced out of Hyrule into the realm of Holodrum, and then again stumbling and tumbling into the subterranean lava world of Subrosia. In Twilight Princess, the Chosen Hero hadn’t begun his quest in Hyrule, but rather, in small provinces surrounding it; it was also in this game where Link had explored many other outlying lands bordering Hyrule, some entirely uninhabited. The Adventure of Link achieved similar goals, opening up an entire Northern Hyrule (which we haven’t yet seen return) with many small locales and populations to set it apart from the other Hyrulean regions. Soon, in Skyward Sword, our hero will be traversing an expansive airbourne realm known as Skyloft, before setting foot into arguably the youngest Hyrule we’ve seen to date.

So many wondrous places exist outside of Princess Zelda’s kingdom, and having the opportunity to see these exotic places is part of what makes The Legend of Zelda so special to its fans. With the opportunity of exploring new lands, Zelda fans and theorists are able to witness the existence of more cultures outside of the Gorons, Zoras and Hylians of Hyrule. There’s no denying that Termina features a distinct flavour in comparison to Hyrule. A land that is not ruled by any monarch, Termina thrives on its deep, exotic culture surrounding Clock Town, the Festival of Time, and the legends of the Four Giants.

<em>Oracle of Ages</em> is the only game we’ve seen to offer any insight into the royalty structures of other lands.” src=“http://www.zeldadungeon.net/images/articles/Labrynna.jpg” width=“250” height=“188” class=“mt-image-right” style=“float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;” /></a>Upon Link’s arrival, it’s evident that the world of Termina is one concerned largely with tourism. Everywhere in Clock Town, residents are preparing for the annual masquerade festival celebrating the culmination of myths in Terminan culture. The world is designed differently to Hyrule; with convoluted town design and architecture, elegant street art and sculptures, Clock Town just <em>feels</em> different to Castle Town or Kakariko Village. The signs in the Southern Swamp direct you to the area’s main attraction, the swamp tour, where means for photography are encouraged and even provided. The Zora’s, rather than being concerned with royalty and their allegiance to the Terminans, are responsible for the entertainment industry in Termina, with the ocean sound of the Indigo-Go’s. The fact that the designers had included a Granny in the Stock Pot Inn, experted in Clock Town’s mythology and lore, is just icing on the cake. <em>Majora’s Mask</em>, among a wealth of other things, knows it’s a game all about travel, tourism, culture and exposing <em>Zelda</em> fans to new and interesting horizons.</p> <p><em>Majora’s Mask</em> was by far the most significant cultural leap in the franchise, second to perhaps <em>The Wind Waker</em> and it’s portrayal of an extensive Great Sea, rich with Irish, Incan and Andean influences. Other games in the series, which had taken Link to other lands, tend to depict these new places through the lens of Hyrule. Koholint Island was, for all intents and purposes, a mirror of <em>A Link to the Past</em>‘s Hyrule, down to the placement of key areas. At the same time, however, the designers had gone out of their way to give Koholint an intensely distinct flavour. The game’s successful ability to be quirky meant that Goombas and Pirahana Plants could run free, a single Prince Richard could manage a Kanalet Castle (though I’m unsure as to whether or not this castle marks the capital of the island, or if it had at any point in Koholint’s past), and an Animal Village could exist, where alligators may paint semi-nude hippopotamuses (depending on which regional version of <em>Link’s Awakening</em> you are playing) and giant sleeping walruses can block paths. Doesn’t sound like <em>The Legend of Zelda</em> as we saw it in <em>Twilight Princess</em>, does it? That’s because the game designers are clever enough to build a new sense of culture every time Link leaves Hyrule. These lands aren’t constructed to build from the kingdom of Hyrule, but rather to exist with their own sets of laws and cultures, so as to set them apart from Hyrule and create new experiences for both Link and the players who take so much pleasure in controlling him.</p> <p></p> <div style=koholintislandart.jpg

Are you excited to see what new lands and cultures will be explorable in Skyward Sword? Out of all the lands Link has visited, which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments!

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