The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular video game franchises of all time. The first game released in 1986 and the series has only gained more success since. However, most players are unaware that there is a manga adaptation of the series.
There are many differences between the games and the manga. This has allowed fans to experience the games differently than they had before. Though not every installment in The Legend of Zelda has received a manga adaptation, some of the most popular have, including Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess. And each one has made some significant and surprising changes to the lore of the games.
10 More Of Link's Family Is Shown
In most of the games, Link doesn't have a family. The only installments that heavily focused on them were A Link to the Past, where players were introduced to Link's uncle, and The Wind Waker, which began by Link going on a journey to save his little sister, Aryll.
Instead of receiving a manga version of The Wind Waker, readers got to learn more about Link's family from other titles in the series, including A Link to the Past. Some of his relatives are original characters, not appearing in any of the games. For example, Link goes back in time and meets Sir Raven, an ancestor of his, in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages.
9 Link Buzzes Through Dungeons With Ease
As the manga cuts off a lot of the plot in each game, most of the dungeons are removed. Since dungeons are where players have some of their fondest memories, this is a somewhat disappointing aspect of the manga adaptations.
Link doesn't solve that many puzzles and doesn't fight nearly as many enemies and bosses as he does in the video games. When he does go to a dungeon, he leaves much faster than players ever could, making them seem much easier than they actually are.
8 Vaati Turns Good & Causes Canonical Inconsistencies
In the manga, Vaati has been an antagonist in The Minish Cap and Four Swords. Similar to the original version of The Minish Cap for Game Boy Advance, Vaati was a Minish who turned Ezlo, his master, into the cap that Link ends up becoming friends with.
However, the manga changed Vaati significantly towards the end of this installment. He becomes a Minish again and joins Ezlo rather than face defeat. He is still the antagonist of Four Swords, which adds onto the confusion and inconsistency of the manga.
7 Link & Zelda Meet In Castle Town In The Ocarina Of Time Manga
Zelda and Link are the two most important characters in the series and have been through a lot together. Despite how many adventures they've been on, they never remember each other when their future selves meet.
Though they may not remember, diehard fans know exactly how they met in Ocarina of Time. In the manga, however, they actually meet at Castle Town. Their interactions in the beginning of this adaptation are different than they are in the game.
6 Link Doesn't Always Fly Solo & Sometimes Fights With A Team
Throughout the series, Link has gotten used to fighting alone. He may battle alongside someone every once in a while but players usually don't receive any help against enemies or bosses.
However, in the manga for Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, Link fought as a team with his friends Maple and Ricky. This helped Link out a lot and readers were able to see not only how he would fight if they didn't control him but how he would work with others as well.
5 Twilight Princess' Manga Almost Doubled The Story Of That Game
Most of the games that became manga received either one or two volumes. Each story was shortened and fans weren't happy to see their favorite moments get removed. The manga for Twilight Princess, however, is much longer.
The first book released in Japan in 2016 and came to the United States a year later. Books based on the game have released since and this adaptation still isn't over. There are currently eight volumes, making Twilight Princess' plot half of the story in the manga.
4 Midna Immediately Shows Her True Self When She's First Introduced
Midna is Link's companion in Twilight Princess. Fans were introduced to her in a different way depending on which version they experienced. Instead of making her a mysterious character that players learn about as they progress in the story, Akira Himekawa (the pen name for the two people behind the manga) decided to reveal more about her early on.
When asked why they decided to do this, Himekawa explained: "In the game, our heroine, Princess Midna's true identity, is revealed at the end. But in the manga, she appears from the beginning in her true form. That's because in the beginning, we outline the invading enemies and the crisis this world now faces. By identifying the crisis, we highlight the importance of Link's role in the story, and Princess Midna is involved in that crisis. That's why we decided to reveal her true form from the beginning."
3 King Bulblin Is Given A Much Larger Role
One of the villains in Twilight Princess was King Bulblin. Akira Himekawa decided to give him a greater purpose in the manga. He even ends up slicing off Link's arm. In the same interview where they spoke about Midna, they explained how their decisions in changing his character.
"In the game, King Bulblin kidnaps Ilia, Link gets knocked out and when he comes to, he realizes what happened and chases after them. That's the story in the game. King Bulblin and Link. Those who have played the game know this, but the two go on to battle many times after. In this story, they have do-or-die showdowns. They are key characters to the story. How strong is the King? How brutal is he? He must be beaten at all costs. We wanted to highlight these points."
2 Link Has Full Dialogue & A Distinct Personality
There are many silent protagonists in video games. Though this can allow players to feel more like they are the character that they are playing as since they don't act a specific way, this can also hurt the narrative of a story. Luckily, it has worked well for The Legend of Zelda.
However, Link talks and has his own personality in the manga, allowing readers to see multiple sides of him. For those that have ever wondered what Link would think or say in certain situations, they can find out by reading Akira Himekawa's adaptation.
1 Skyward Sword "Sequel" Manga Solidifies Link As The Hero Of Hyrule
One of the most beloved releases in the series that wasn't a game was Hyrule Historia, an encyclopedia that covers the entire series. Fans could see a lot of the artwork and learn about the series, including the timeline. A short manga that takes place before Skyward Sword was included.
After being considered as a criminal for years, the people of Hyrule put their faith into Link after he was set free. He fought against Demise and lost. However, due to his actions, the world understood that he really was a hero and Hylia decides that the two of them will return whenever they are needed. This further explained the importance of Link and Zelda