Today, we celebrate 40 years of The Legend of Zelda, a game that first graced the Famicom Disk System in 1986. This iconic series has captured hearts with its adventurous spirit, featuring the brave Link battling all sorts of monsters. But behind the classic sword-and-sorcery gameplay lies a surprising idea: what if Link ventured into outer space?
In 2017, key figures behind Breath of the Wild, like director Hidemaro Fujibayashi, shared fascinating insights at the Game Developers Conference. They revealed early ideas for a version called The Legend of Zelda: INVASION. This version would have taken a wild turn, introducing UFOs and alien encounters into the rich lore of Hyrule.
Art director Satoru Takizawa humorously noted, “This is where things got a bit dodgy.” Imagine Link facing off against a UFO descending into Hyrule! Visuals from this pitch included everything from alien autopsies to Link dressed in a peculiar outfit that might have been inspired by a college freshman. These quirky concepts remind us how close the series came to embracing a completely different genre.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first departure from the traditional fantasy setting. Shigeru Miyamoto, the mind behind Zelda, once considered a time travel element as a core part of the game’s original concept. He mentioned that earlier drafts toyed with the idea of merging futuristic technology with the medieval vibe Hyrule is known for. In a past interview, he suggested that the Sheikah Slate—Link’s gadget in Breath of the Wild—echoes this old vision.
Recent gaming trends also reflect this blending of genres. According to a 2022 survey by the Entertainment Software Association, 60% of gamers appreciate narratives that mix sci-fi with traditional fantasy elements. Many fan theories suggest that much of Hyrule’s technology has extraterrestrial origins. This idea provokes curiosity about how far the series can stretch the boundaries of its world.
Even if we won’t see Link fighting aliens anytime soon, it’s intriguing to think about how these elements could reshape the game. As Nintendo explores movies and shows, they’re likely to keep a close watch on their beloved characters. Still, it seems that the creative minds behind Zelda will always dream of new adventures—even if those adventures are light-years away.
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The Legend of Zelda
