The Legend of Zelda's Most-Defining Franchise Features

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Anticipation is mounting for the release of a sequel to 2017's Breath of the Wild, and fans are excited to see where the next entry in the esteemed The Legend of Zelda franchise will go. Since its beginnings in 1986, Link's quests through Hyrule and beyond have wielded some of the most enjoyable puzzles, settings, and characters in the medium. Not every entry is created equal though, and Nintendo has often opted to take new approaches, be it the motion controls of Skyward Sword or the cel-shaded art style and swashbuckling journey in The Wind Waker.

While it took an interesting new direction with Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zeldahas developed a handful of mainstay elements that fans expect and love. Zelda always seems to be in a state of flux, yet there are always components that remind players it is a Zelda title with hours of enjoyment and frustration at the series' many puzzles.

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Perhaps the most obvious mainstay in the franchise is a handful of returning characters. From Link with his iconic green tunic to the majesty of Princess Zelda, some personalities are essential for any Legend of Zelda project. There have been games that forgo the inclusion of certain expected characters, like Link's Awakening in 1993, but there is typically enough familiarity through level design, worldbuilding, and memorable music to make up for the omission. Characters in The Legend of Zelda are very important, and titles like Death's Door and Tunic suffer for lack of iconic figures to help them truly stand out.

Zelda, Link, and Ganon are all presented in a new way every game, alongside other common appearances like Tingle, and the series does well to keep them fresh. Princess