Topic: The Legend of Zelda: The Chronology Behind the Legend

[GameCube Master]

Hi there.  I have been reading the boards for about a week now before I actually decided to register an account, and I have found many arguments as to what takes place where in the timeline of the Legend of Zelda.  Being a Zelda fanatic myself, I have tried to figure out the chronological order behind the events that take place in Hyrule for some time.  I have spent many a night searching on Google, Yahoo!, etc.; and I now present to you the information I have found thus far, in deep analytical detail.  Please note that this post will more than likely contain spoliers for every game - however, only those spoilers relating to the Wind Waker will be highlighted, as it is the Zelda you most likely have not finished.  Spoilers relating to the Wind Waker will be highlighted as such: This paragraph contains SPOILERS!, so you may skip over any information you may not want to see.  You have been warned.

Link I
Our chronological journey begins with Ocarina of Time.  You may argue that everyone knows it's the first game in chronological order, but I'm setting out to prove everything I post here, so let's look at why we can be so sure that it is the first.  The instruction manuals for this game and A Link to the Past tell us that three goddesses descend from above and create the world of Hyrule from the chaos that they found.  When their work was complete, they returned to their home, and the Triforce was left at the point they departed from.  This became the Golden Land.  We learn, during the course of the game, that as each race of Hyrule grew and evolved, they each came to desire the Triforce.  Their greed caused them to begin the Great War, which came to a conclusion when the King of Hyrule began peace negotiations with the other races.  During the Great War, Link's mother is badly injured and dies upon entering Kokiri Forest - the Great Deku Tree takes pity on her and allows her son to grow up as a Kokiri.  Thus, the events of Ocarina of Time occur - this is the Imprisoning War that we read about in the instruction manual for A Link to the Past, where the gate to the Golden Land is accidentally opened, and Ganondorf Dragmire acquires the Triforce.

This paragraph contains SPOILERS!
Of course, there are many problems with the logic that causes us to come to this conclusion.  You might argue that the stories of Hyrule's creation are different in the OoT and LttP manuals, but they are essentially the same, the one in LttP's manual is merely more detailed, providing information we learn in OoT while playing the game.  Also, the LttP manual states that the Master Sword was forged to resist the Triforce's magical power, and states that Ganon was the reasoning behind this action, however this error can be summed up as a lack of historical accuracy on the part of the Hylians, as the LttP manual states that the Book of Mudora is a collection of legends and lore, or basically the Hylians history book, so several centuries had passed before the history of the Imprisoning War was actually written, and details were no doubt lost through generations.  This also explains why the 7 sages are referred to as "Wise Men", and why the Hylians think it was a gang of thieves (led by Ganondorf) that opened the gate to the Golden Land.  No doubt that Hylian historians would never be so bold as to blame the rise of Ganon on their beloved Hero of Time (assuming his legend carried on to the LttP time period).  As for Link returning to his childhood in the end of OoT, this does not create 2 realities in Zelda - as we see when we get to Hyrule Castle in Wind Waker, Ganon can still control his army while he is imprisoned, and it is only when the King of Hyrule casts a spell on the Master Sword that Ganon's evil magic cannot continue to harass the Hylians.  This explains the different looks between the castles in OoT and WW, as the OoT Hyrule Castle was still destroyed by Ganon's minions in the 7 years when Link actually aged normally.  The reason the Hero of Time didn't defend the people when Ganon returned (thus the need for the flood, and the spell on the Master Sword), was because so much time had passed at that point that he was likely already dead of old age.

This paragraph contains SPOILERS!
Next we have Majora's Mask, this is a side quest young Link embarks upon after being sent back to age normally.  Contrary to popular belief that the Hero of Time lost the Triforce of Courage when he was returned to being a child, I believe that it was when he first enters Termina that this occurs.  This is because Ganon is sealed away even when Link returns to being a child, which leads me to believe that so long as a Triforce bearer doesn't leave Hyrule or the Golden Land/Dark World, the Triforce is his/hers permanently, and can be passed down through the generations (which explains why Tetra has a piece of the Triforce of Wisdom).  When Link left Hyrule and entered Termina, the Triforce of Courage broke into 8 pieces, which were scattered across the land.  Since it was part of a relic of the goddesses, the pieces washed up in the Great Sea for the Hero of Winds to find.

Link II
This paragraph contains SPOILERS!
OK, now we have the Wind Waker, I won't go into that much detail on it.  In the opening sequence, we learn that Ganon arose again after his defeat in OoT, but the Hero of Time didn't not appear to stop him (most likely because he was dead).  The goddess flood the land of Hyrule, and voila - we have the Great Sea.  Even more time passes (so this game is must be more than a century apart from adult Link's time).  During this time, the custom of dressing like the Hero of Time when you reach the age at which he set off on his quest to save the world (I remember reading somewhere that the exact age is 12, I don't remember where).  About half way through the game, we learn that Hyrule still exists beneath the ocean, and by removing the Master Sword we free Ganon from the restraints on his power.  In the end, we learn that Ganon began with noble intentions, wanting the Gerudo to have peaceful, happy lives, so he sought the Triforce.  He was corrupted by it's power, as that was the strongest desire in his heart.  In the end, Link plunges the Master Sword into Ganon, an act which we would assume actually kills Ganon (this information becomes vital when I introduce the next games), and the Master Sword is left at the bottom of the sea, thus Hyrule is washed away forever.  However, we assume it returns when the Master Sword is eventually retrieved (and it must be, as we acquire it in LttP).  Link III  Next are Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, occuring one after another (which game comes first is a matter of opinion and doesn't effect the overall chronology in any major way).  The reason this occurs after WW is that when you play both games one after another, the final boss is Ganon, who is brought back to life through the sacrifice of Onox and Veran.  Wind Waker is the only game where Ganon appears to actually die (at this point in the timeline, I'll reveal later in my analysis why I don't think these games occur after LoZ or AoL).

Link IV
This paragraph contains SPOILERS!
Now we come to A Link to the Past.  The manual itself states that the game takes place many centuries after the Imprisoning War, and since it has been established that the events of OoT are those same events described by the account of the Imprisioning War in the LttP manual, this game occurs now.  After defeating Ganon in LttP, Link sets out for new adventure, to hone his skills as a warrior.  This is when Link's Awakening occurs.  My research has brought to my attention that the official Nintendo guide for LA itself actually states that LA takes place shortly after LttP.  Link V  Finally, we have the Legend of Zelda, and then Adventure of Link.  The reasoning for this order is that I have found that the AoL manual states that it is the same Link from LoZ, and he has aged (to around 16 or 17, I don't remember).  In LoZ, so I have read, Link acquires the Triforce of Wisdom (during the course of the game) and the Triforce of Power (when he kills Ganon at the end of the game).  I have also read that in AoL, Link acquires the Triforce of Courage.  This is basis of my arguement that OoS and OoA take place sometime between WW and LttP, since Ganon apparently dies in WW, but is in almost every game after it in the timeline.  Also, you would think that since Link (in AoL) has all three pieces of the Triforce, that therefore he is all-powerful, and could be immortal (as the Triforce can grant any wish).  It would be interesting to see what might happen after AoL, but that would require that the Triforce leave Link, and he is best qualified to protect it.  This is unlikely, however, as i removes the solid ending point of the timeline where evil is no longer a threat and Hyrule can prosper under the watchful eye of Link.

Well, that wraps up my chronology of The Legend of Zelda series.  I hope you enjoyed it, and found it insightful.  However accurate I may be, remember that this is just a series of games, don't let the backstory ruin your enjoyment of one of the best video game series ever made.  I'd just like to add that my generational numbering of the various Links is based solely on how each one looks, and is only based in information when the series actually provides us with that information.  Thanks for reading, I'm off to play some more Wind Waker.

[rodtod]

damn, excellent post GC Master. be sure to check out this thread if you haven't already. it's covering the same topic: whether or not the Zelda games follow a certain timeline.

[odinfire]

Yeah I have too say nice post.  Unfortunately I raised a few questions regarding this same idea in a thread earlier and I fear they wont be answered.  Please check out this thread also as I really would like some futher insight...

This Thread

[GameCube Master]

Thank-you for your praise.  I really didn't set out to do anything more than post my opinion on my favourite game series and the events that occur in it.  I was just passing the time waiting for a contact to meet me on MSN Messenger, and thought that I should share my opinions with those who shared my love of the series.  rodtod, I found your post in that other thread to be quite well written itself.  Your interpretation of the real life events behind the legend is right on the money, and I advise anyone who reads this post to click on the link rodtod has provided.  As for your questions, odinfire, my answers to them are listed below in the order in which you asked them.

1) First of all, just as we are never given any evidence that Link and Zelda "shack up", as you put it, we are also never given evidence to the contrary.  Every time they meet (through each generation), the scene conveys a deep emotional bond between the two - at least that is my interpretation of it.  But we never see anything that suggests that they go off and have sex, so we are left to determine that on our own.  As for Link returning to being a child and creating an endless cycle in time by meeting Zelda for the first time over and over again, I don't believe that is the case.  Once again we aren't given any evidence of what exact time Link returned to (and you addressed that in your question, somewhat), just that he went to see Zelda again when he got back.  I personally think he returned shortly after the incident with the well, and since that technically occurs after Link has pulled out the Master Sword for the first time, then he has already met Zelda.  This theory also gives Zelda and Impa time to safely return to Hyrule Castle once they aware Ganon is no longer a threat (through the power of the Triforce).  And I know what you mean about the series continuity giving you a headache, that's why I researched it and finally put together what you have read above, to simplify things.

2) Hylians have pointed ears.  Not all of them, but you definitely see Hylians with pointed ears in OoT after you leave Kokiri Forest.  Actually, if I'm not mistaken, Talon and Malon have pointed ears, and they definitely aren't Kokiri.  As far as I know, the original Link's mother's identity is never revealed, but I don't believe any of the Link's and Zelda's are related.  I don't know why most of the Links' heritages are ignored, or if the grandmother in WW is any relation to any important characters from OoT and MM.  We do, however, know that this Link is not a descendant of OoT Link, as that has been stated in many interviews.  As I said in my first post, I believe OoT Link died of old age before Ganon returned to plague the land - it makes sense, why come back to face your better when you have eternity to wait for him to die so you can return and reak havoc.  As for how grandma got the Hylian shield, the text that describes it (in OoT) says that it is used by the Hylian guard, I believe you can see some with that shield, but I don't remember.  So, someone that once lived on Outset owned that shield and gave it to grandma, she found it washed up on the shore one day, or it was salvaged by grandma or someone on Outset and it found it's way to grandma.  This is really up to our imaginations.

3) You didn't number this one, but it amused me so I'll throw it in for fun.  You asked why is it Hylian and not Hyrulian, well, that's like asking why it's Dutch and not Hollander or Hollandish.  It's just the way things are.

And I'd like to add that I'm honoured that a 30 year old is requesting my help for these answers.  I'm just a first year college student, and only 19.  Anyway, in closing, keep the questions coming and I'll post a reply A.S.A.P.  Tell any other Zelda enthusiasts you know about this thread.  Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[GameCube Master]

Well, nobody has added their comments/questions since I last posted, perhaps because this thread has gradually gone down the page as other threads were posted in.  I would let this post just continue to fall off the radar, but since two other users have complimented my efforts on it, I have decided it is worthy of the life I had originally given it, and so I will strive to keep this post going until the bitter end.  Or, in other words, bump.

[GameCube Master]

Hmm .................. still no new posts.  Well, I'll give it another shot before I go on vacation - don't be surprised/upset if I don't get back to you anytime over the next week as I'll be on vacation and won't have access to a computer.  Well, that's my two cents, I hope you'll read this thread and add a post to it.  Bump.

[Chipopo]

A headache to make sense of it all, but I appreciate the effort.  

...One thing though...Actually a few....

In LttP, the maidens you rescue in each dark world dungeon divulges some knowledge on the whole timeline theory.  One speaks of "The Great Cataclysm", essentially saying that whenever one of evil rises to obtain the Triforce, a boy is more or less created to destroy it.  

Why wasn't 'a new Link' created when Ganon set out to plague the world in darkness years after OoT?  

The maiden also says that the hero must be of the Royal Gaurds bloodline.  If that's to be believed, then Links Grandma (Or Grandpa, which could very well be the Pictographer on Windfall with some of the hints he drops...) would have to be the descendants of the Royal Hylian Gaurd.

It's a shame that incessant "Waa Waa WindWakers too t3h kiddy" threads are thriving while this one sinks like a stone.

And I'm not sure that Hyrule Castle looking different in WW is necessarily due to it being destroyed; it could just be a part of the anime style.  But your theory is as plausible as any other.  I think it makes perfect sense that the royal family would pay homage to The Hero Of Time.


   

[Ninja X]

Good chronology.  

One thing I know I've read somewhere is that Nintendo wanted to restart the Zelda series on the N64.  Thus, Ocarina of Time is arguably the first in the series, it seems.  Whenever I think about the storyline of the Zelda series, I'd take out the predecessors to OOT.  Basically, I'd only consider OOT, Majora's Mask, and The Wind Waker.

[Hostile Creation]

Well, that's a good timeline, but I've found it best to try not to ponder the world of Zelda too much.  There are never actually contradictions, but it's extremely difficult to place everything.  The things I'm sure about?  MM comes shortly after OoT.  Shigeru Miyamoto said that they imagine there's a different Link for every adventure, but these games are obviously the same Link.  I suppose Awakening and one or both of the NES games fit together as well.

The Oracle games are the same Link, but I don't think that one is directly involved with any of the others, aside from general legend or reincarnation or whatever.  I think LttP took place a long time before OoT, though perhaps not as long as the gap between OoT and WW.  Lttp obviously cannot come after OoT, since the world flooded and everything.  I'm too lazy to get into details, but my main problem is that I haven't played Zelda one or two, so I can't really say much else.

Interesting thing.  You can search for a homemade rpg called Nigsek.  It's about this monster that splits into two men to try to save the hero of time from being assasinated at infancy.  I haven't played it through, but what I saw was interesting and delved into the Zelda timeline a good bit.

[dannyjclark]

I posted this on the Overclocked Remix forum a little bit ago, so i thought i would share it with you guys too.


remember zeldaII:adventure of LINK?
well, the sleeping zelda in that game, is ZELDA 1
because she sleeps eternally in north castle, all future princess' of hyrule, are named zelda.
-remember her-

Ocarina of time
ZELDA II-LINK I-GANON I
link seals ganon into the golden land, only to be forgotten

Majora's Mask
LINK I - you know the story. alternate land, no ganon, no zelda, no triforce-but still an ok game nonetheless.

Wind Waker
LINK II- ZELDA III - GANON I
king daphne floods hyrule and it is forgotten
LINK II may or may not be a relative of LINK I, but they do share the bloodline of the knights of hyrule.
LINK II stabs ganon, freezing him in stone-in time. not unlike ancient hyrule.
LINK II and ZELDA III rebuild hyrule

Link to the Past
LINK III-ZELDA IV- GANON I
on a distant land, a new gerudo male is born...agahnim
Agahnim communicates with Ganon I and frees him inside the dark world/golden realm
LINK III defeats (not kills) GANON I

Oracle Series
LINK III - ZELDA IV - GANON I
the oracle series actually makes alot of sense. its all based on the triforce's tests.
AGES - wisdom SEASONS - power
if you beat them both, GANON I comes back, and link defeats him. the triforce however floats in the air...morphs into three seagulls that fly out to sea...link hopes inside his raft and ways goodbye to hyrule...the windfish can be heard in the distance.

Link's Awakening - courage
LINK III
yeh, that's right. links awakening is the third part in the oracles//triforce series. link defeats the nightmare, and the windfish is set free. the triforce however, was not meant for LINK III. the triforce returns to hyrule; LINK III is nowhere to be found, but he does eventually return.

slight break...there is actually a ton of information here, between these two games i mean. ill talk more about that later.

The Legend of Zelda
LINK IV - ZELDA V - GANON I
Ganon has been waiting for what seems like an eternity in the golden realm. saving his energy for his escape.
He returns to hyrule, and seizes the castle. he obtains the triforce of power, but zelda manages the break wisdom into eight pieces.
the triforce of courage, was never recovered by the king of hyrule.
LINK IV comes from a distant land, recovers the triforce of wisdom, saves ZELDA V and kills (kills) ganon.

Adventure of LINK
LINK IV - ZELDA V -ZELDA I - GANON I
impa tells LINK IV of the first zelda, when LINK IV questions her about the strange mark on his hand. she can only be awakened with the full triforce. GANON I's minions are everywhere, with one drop of LINK IV's blood, GANON can return.
Impa gives link a box; it contains crystals and a message from an ancient warrior--LINK III.
LINK III is the one who hide the statues inside the palaces, he is the old man waiting in the great temple at the end of the game.
LINK IV eventually finds out that the triforce was within him the entire time, he returns home and awakens ZELDA I. she thanks him and dies.
LINK IV and ZELDA V rule over hyrule with the complete triforce forever, but LINK IV only has to bleed to make GANON  return.

well, i hope that cleared some things up. there is a lot more, maybe someday ill type the entire thing up.

EDIT: in case anyone is wondering, four swords does fit in the timeline. but im tired, ill get back to it someother time.

if you think there are holes in the timeline--ask. im sure i can clear up anything someone throws at me.

NOTE: trying to connect the zelda series is very fun and all. Even though it may have happened the way i have it explained, i still imagine the legend of zelda as, well, legends. I imagined that the Links are not connected, some of whom may not even be named Link. they are legends passed down in hyrule--imagine little hylians telling stories around a fire, or a series of novels written by some historian. thats the legend  of zelda.

[Hostile Creation]

Whoa.  I agree with your note on the bottom, but cool timeline.

[ThePerm]

my theory is when link finally returns to his childhood then he never pulls out the triforce of time and ganon never gets to become the king of evil.....when he returns to the past its in between defeating zora and zelda's departure.....they could base a whole game on the 7 years of link....also...whos to say some stuff wotn happen again in a different way.

also when he returns he doesnt have the ocarina...he left it with future zelda.....who sent him back to the past. Majora's Mask takes place three months later....and during that time zelda gave link the Ocarina of Time.

there is a parodox...but link isnt in one of the parodoxes..

[Evilmanman]

There is only one thing that confuses me.

In Ocarina of time when you first see the master sword Navi maks a point about the Master Sword being legendary. If the master sword was created to counter the triforce, then there must have been a reason (and possibly a hero) before OoT for it to be forged.

[ThePerm]

perhaps the hero of times mysterious father.

[temjin11]

You know,  we still also have to keep an open mind about what games might come next.  So far, I haven't sen anyone leave any open spots for new games.

Anyways...

I think all orders of the games are cool, cause it makes you think.  It also makes you think this way: in the wind waker, there were no gerudos or anything, the gorons were almost extinct, and the zoras and kokiris evolved.  I dont think it makes sense for oracle of ages to come after WW, because there are zoras, and thriving goron populations.  plus Id like to know in these timelines why there are cuccos, then pigs, then cuccos again. It makes no sense.

But thats my opinion...

[temjin11]

Another note:

It makes sense that Zelda 2 is last for 2 reasons:

1) It leaves an opening (just diregard the last post for a bit) at the very end.

2) The town's names are named after important people in the legend of zelda timeline, like the town of ruto or darunia.

...but that is just one of many opinions

[ThePerm]

ok ill put it like this all gameboy original games are dreamed.

[Sir Kero]

wow. how'd I miss this thread? oh right, I'm lazy and antisocial.

I think GC Master has pretty much assembled the best Zelda timeline humanly possible. It seems to me that Nintendo doesn't really care how it all fits together.. as Danny said, they're legends, so the details or reality of the events aren't important to the story. The same is very much true of King Arthur, who is believed to have been several people shortly after the Roman occupation (and then some French guy added a bunch of weird stuff like the Lancelot/Guinivere affair. meh).

Regarding the timeline, I pretty much disregard all non-Miyamoto games, especially Capcom's two, though he did act as advisor. Miyamoto said that there's a different Link for each adventure, and aside from ZII:AoL, it's true that he's never re-used any Link in another game. Starting from that thought, why do Zelda games have to be about Link? it seems like they have to go to extra trouble to fit Link into new situations after rescuing Zelda... they could explain the Master Sword's mysterius origin, and if it's true that OoT's Link was the first then there must have been some other hero(es) involved. They could also deal with the sleeping Zelda, though obviously a game about that couldn't have a very good ending. I'd personally just like to see some other kinds of characters having adventures in Hyrule (as great as Link is.. er... Links are).

One final thing... Am I alone in wanting there to be another Zelda 2 style game? it'd be great for a side story (no pun intended, honest). Would people see it as being too similar to recent Castlevania games?

Edit: for there/their mixups (I need to stop posting so late at night)

[ThePerm]

im working on a flash video that explains the origins of the eagle symbol you see pretty often

[dannyjclark]

i always thought it was a pheonix.
you know, like thunderbird from link ii

oh yeh. and i would like a new zelda ii style game.

anyway, its my belief that all the gameboy games -AoL, OoS, OoA (yes, i include capcoms games. i mean, they are official.)  are all quests from the triforce.
think about it.

[GameCube Master]

Well, I had thought that this thread had seen the last of it's days, and now I return to find it has filled out since I last left it.  My apologies for not responding sooner.  I'll try to check this thread more often, but I can't make any promises (as I work 6 days a week, have whatever social life one can have built around that work, and I'm trying to find time to date a girl I just asked out who also has a busy work schedule).  Anyway, enough about me, on to the replies.

Chipopo: I know what you mean, it is a huge headache to try and figure the timeline out, that's why I posted this to begin with - so people could just read it and either agree with it or disagree and find another theory that they like better.  As to why a new Link didn't arise when Ganon returned and the goddesses had to flood Hyrule, my best theory for that is the OoT Link was still around at that time, nearing the end of his life (or possibly already dying), and that 2 Links can't exist at the same time.  I have a few other theories but I think other information from the games themselves disproves them.  I think it's safe to say that all the Links are descended from the Royal Guards' bloodline, as we are never given any information to disprove that in the other games.  Thanks for the compliment, and I share your feelings on posts that proclaim this game to be "kiddie".  I doubt Wind Waker would have the emotional impact it has without the cel shaded graphics.  And you're absolutely right about the Royal Family paying homage to the Hero of Time; I'm sure if we got to see more of Hyrule than just the castle and Ganon's Tower, we would see many more Hero of Time statues.  Oh, and I wasn't aware of these hints Lenzo drops, I haven't paid as much attention to him as the main plot, when did you come across this info?

Ninja X: Thanks for the compliment.  I like your analysis, it causes way less headaches.

Hostile Creation: You're right, we shouldn't ponder too much about the world of Hyrule, as it's difficult to figure out how things are supposed to go and causes many headaches.  You're right that the OoT and MM Link are the same, and of course the Oracle Link is the same through both games.  However, the Link's Awakening player's guide (from Nintendo) actually states that it is the LttP Link in that game, gone to train and hone his skills.  And then there's the LoZ Link, also in Adventure of Link.  LttP comes long after OoT because the Imprisoning War is a legend in LttP's time, and you play that war in OoT.  The land could be unflooded (by some evil magic or whatever) in a later game, and of course there is Wind Waker's ending (which I won't talk about so I don't spoil it).  I'm interested in this Nigsek - can I get it using Kazaa, or do I have to search for it on the Internet?

dannyjclark: Interesting timeline you have created there.  However, I'm sure OoT is the first game chronologically, as I seem to recall Miyamoto saying that in an interview at some point (though I can't remember it exactly).  Adventure of Link can't be the first because Link has the whole Triforce at the end, so then there would be nothing that could beat him and no evil could stand against him.  Other than that, you bring up some valid points.  You're statement about it being all legends passed down by the Hylians is completely true, and basically how most of the inaccuracies can be explained away.

ThePerm: Interesting theory.  However, Link could have received the Ocarina of Time again from Zelda after he returned to see her at the very end of OoT.  And I think Link's Awakening is the only game that takes place in a dream, although I think that the land you travel there could actually be inside the Wind Fish.

Evilmanman: Good question.  I think the Master Sword was forged for the sole purpose of having a way to defeat anyone who obtained the Triforce just incase they were corrupted by power lust and became evil (like Ganondorf).  And it's a legendary blade because of that and that only the hero destined to fight evil can wield it, just like Excaliber was a legendary blade.

temjin11: You're right, I didn't leave room for any new games in my timeline.  The reason for that is I have only a vague idea of where they would fit, and I don't want to hazard a guess in case I'm wrong.  If you would like to know where I think new games will fit, post and ask me.  And I agree with your analysis of Zelda 2 being last, you're right, the towns are named after the sages (and Mido), and towns are named after important people, not the other way around (well, usually not).

Sir Kero: Thanks for the compliment.  I have to add, though, that you missed this post because I gave up on it when it seemed it's time had passed.  I too would like to see a side story game that doesn't star Link, I think it would be a great GBA game (since you mentioned Castlevania, and that is where they're all coming out these days).  Oh, Miyamoto and Aonuma have said that you could consider it to be a different Link in each game, not that it definitely is.  My research showed the games I grouped together to have the same Link.

Well, that's all for now, I have to go to work.  I hope to hear from you all again soon.

[dannyjclark]

ah!
GameCube Master
I think you miss understood me!
I didn't say the actual Adventure of Link took place first.
If you read the manual, Impa tells Link the ancient legend of sleeping zelda.
Zelda I was attacked by her brother and a dark wizard; they were looking for the triforce. The wizard puts Zelda into a deep sleep--he dies soon afterward. Then, Zelda's bother locks her up in North Castle. She is to be forgotten, at least until a cure can be found. Finally, Zelda's brother demands that every royal hylian princess of hyrule have the name 'Zelda'

That's it though. Adventure of Link really belongs at the bottom of the timeline--I put it there. But, AoL's story belongs in front.

Get what I'm saying?

[GameCube Master]

Yes, apparently I did misunderstand you.  And you might very well be right, perhaps this first Zelda was actually the OoT Zelda's mother.  They would have been related someway if what you are saying is the correct iterpretation.  So yes, I understand what you mean now and I admit that it is a valid possibility.

[Gibdo Master]

The opening story for AoL can not happen before Ocarina of Time. The first time the Triforce was ever out of the Golden Land was when Ganondorf stole it during Ocarina. In order for the opening story for AoL to take place before Ocarina someone would already have had to have gotten it before Ganondorf did. The next problem is that the whole opening story for AoL talks about how the King hid the Triforce of Courage. Well in Ocarina Link is the one who inherits the Triforce of Courage after the Triforce splits up when Ganondorf touches it. So what happened the Triforce of Courage just came out of it's hiding place during Ocarina and WW only to go back to the Great Palace so AoL Link could find it? Doesn't make much sense does it. No part of AoL's story can take place before Ocarina. More than likely the whole sleeping Zelda thing happens in the middle of the chronology.  

[GameCube Master]

I knew there was a reason I didn't agree with dannyjclark's theory of part of AoL taking place before OoT, I just couldn't recall it at the time of my post as I had just been through a long hard day of work.  Gibdo Master is right, the part of the story that involves the Triforce of Courage makes the theory impossible (unless you are willing to allow a series of improbable evenst to occur, as Gibdo Master has already stated).  The part of AoL's story could happen earlier in the chronology than the actual events of the game, though they would have to make a Zelda game where Zelda is put to sleep via sorcery and does not awaken when Link rescues her.  So I still believe that AoL's events happen last, though I admit there is the possibility of the first part of the story occuring earlier.  The instruction manual does say that it's the LoZ Link you're playing as in AoL, though, so that's why the actual game is last.