The Legend of Zeldaseries is a masterclass in using real-world mythology to inspire its world, and other games should take note. Of course, being inspired by mythology is far from a unique quality of theLegend of Zeldagames. Plenty of games and other media draw on mythology as inspiration, some more blatantly than others. Games likeGod of WarandHadesare explicitly adaptations of certain myths. In contrast, games like theAssassin’s Creedseries include some mythological elements, such as the Apples of Eden or Mjölnir.
Although most players likely know the inspirations behind a game likeAge of Mythology,The Legend of Zelda’s inspirations are more subtle. This has allowed the series to establish its own strong identity, despite having taken inspiration from myths. Not all games with mythological inspiration have managed to pull this off. Any developers looking to create their own new IPs should seriously consider taking cues fromThe Legend of Zelda’s use of mythology when considering creating a unique video game world.
Zelda Is Inspired By Mythology, Not Adapting It
Zelda’s Mythological Influences Are Adapted Creatively
One key element inThe Legend of Zelda’s successful use of mythology isthe balance between borrowing and creating.Zeldatakes a lot of inspiration from Celtic mythology. Fairies are a mainstay in both Celtic mythology and theZeldaseries. The Master Sword is similar to Claidheamh Soluis (The Sword of Light), a sword that appears in bridal-quest stories that themselves share narrative similarities toThe Legend of Zelda. However, whileZeldatakes inspiration from these elements, it does not adapt them on a one-to-one basis.
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Perhaps the best example of this isZelda’s fairies. Fairies inZeldaare typically helpful, either healing the player or else guiding them like Navi does inOcarina of Time. In contrast, the word fairy in Celtic mythology describes a wide range of different beings, many of which are tricksters or downright malevolent. WhileZelda’s fairies share a name and some superficial similarities to fairies from mythology,the games still imbue their fairies with enough unique qualitiesto make them stand out.
Zeldagames also don’t shackle themselves to a single source of inspiration. The centaur-likeLynel from multipleZeldagamesandA Link to the Past’s Cyclopes are both inspired by Ancient Greek mythology. Likewise, the Mirror Shield is reminiscent of the polished shield the Greek hero Perseus used to help him slay Medusa. By creating a pastiche of multiple mythologies, instead of simply adapting one,Zeldaassembles a world with a unique feel.
Zelda Has Created Its Own Iconic Characters And Items
Zelda Doesn’t Just Recreate Existing Mythological Figures
The Legend of Zelda’s loose approach to adapting mythology has helped it create some of its most iconic elements. One great example of this is the Master Sword. While it bears similarities to both The Sword of Light and Excalibur, its combination of elements from the two and its inclusion of unique traits helps the Master Sword stay distinct.
Like Arthur with Excalibur (in certain versions of the story), Link must pull the Master Sword from its resting place in a stone. However, unlike Arthur, Link must earn the right to wield the sword instead of it being divinely appointed to him. Excalibur also doesn’t have the power to repel evil like the Master Sword does. This is more similar to the Sword of Light’s ability to vanquish a specific supernatural threat. Becausethe Master Sword is not a direct adaptation of either sword, but rather inspired by both, it has gained its status as a unique iconic weapon.
Loosely adapting mythology also allowsZeldato create unique characters. For instance, Ganon’s original name was reportedly Hakkai, according toNintendo’s Iwata Asks series of interviews with the company’s former president, Satoru Iwata. This is a potential reference to Chohakkai, the Japanese name for Zhu Bajie, a humanoid pig character fromJourney to the West. While Ganon steals the pig-like appearance, Zhu Bajie is more of a comic relief character than a major antagonist.
Ganon has become one of Nintendo’s most notable antagonists, something that wouldn’t have happened if he was a more derivative character. Were he simply an adaptation of Zhu Bajie,he would forever be linked to that character’s canon instead of developing his own.
Too Many Mythology Inspired Games Don’t Share Zelda’s Creativity
Many Games Don’t Meaningfully Build On The Mythology They Adapt
In contrast toZelda’s original creations that happen to be inspired by myths, many games that draw from mythology and folklore do so much more heavy-handedly. Series likeGod of WarorAssassin’s Creedmay contain some of their own characters, but their mythological elements, like certain gods or items, are directly linked to existing elements. For example,Assassin’s Creed Valhalladoesn’t create a unique magical sword to take the place of Excalibur,it just literally includes Excalibur.
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God of Warshows the shortcomings of this style of mythological adaptation in its original trilogy of games. Aphrodite, for instance, is a pretty one-note character, focused largely on sex, and is also vain. Medusa who - when viewed through a modern lens - it would make sense to portray as a more sympathetic character, and one who Kratos could relate to, is simply depicted as a monster similar to the original myth. These stereotypical depictions of figures from Greek elements are pretty interchangeable with other versions of the characters.
Many Mythology Focused Games Lack A Strong Sense Of Identity
Mythology Adaptations Can Blend Togethether
Now, not all mythology-inspired games are lacking in creativity when it comes to their adaptation of famous characters.Stray Godsis one of the most creativereimaginings of Greek mythology in gaming, giving players a much more original look at characters like Medusa and Aphrodite than the ones seen inGod of War. Even the later games in theGod of Warseries have shown they are capable of creating unique interpretations of mythological figures with their version of Loki. This is likely due to the more spotty recording of Norse mythology, which leaves room for interpretation and invention.
However, no matter how creative these versions of the characters may be,by being a direct adaptation of a character, they will always invoke comparison to other versions. Even if their unique traits help them stand out from the crowd, characters like Aphrodite or Loki will always be forced to share space in the cultural consciousness of their character with every other adaptation and the original myths. In contrast, an original character like Ganon is not constantly compared to his possible inspirations, because he isn’t just another version of an existing character.
While not all games set out to create a unique IP likeThe Legend of Zelda, they should still consider including creative changes to myths that will help create a unique identity for their game. Some mythology-inspired games have done this very well.Hades, for instance, has a unique visual style and creative interpretations of the Greek pantheon that help it stand out from something more generic-looking likeImmortals Fenyx Rising. UsingThe Legend ofZeldaas a model for adapting mythology could go a long way toward creating more interesting adaptations likeHadesor the laterGod of Wargames.
Source:Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda franchise follows the adventures of Link, an elf-like Hylian, and Princess Zelda as they protect the land of Hyrule from the evil warlord-turned-demon king Ganon. The series is known for its mix of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving elements, often revolving around the collection of the Triforce, a powerful relic left by the goddesses who created Hyrule. Each game features different incarnations of Link and Zelda, maintaining core elements while introducing new characters and settings.
