The Zelda Trilogy Nintendo Wants to Forget

A Unique and Controversial Journey

The Legend of Zelda franchise is one of the most iconic and beloved in video game history. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, the series debuted in 1986 on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and has since won over millions of fans around the world with its unique mix of exploration, puzzles, and engaging storytelling. However, not all of the games in the series were developed directly by Nintendo. A curious and often forgotten chapter in the history of Zelda happened in the early 90s, when three games of the IP were released for the Philips CD-i, a console that competed with the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis.

In this article, we'll explore the three Zelda games released for the Philips CD-i: Link: The Faces of Evil (1993), Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993), and Zelda's Adventure (1994). We'll discuss the context in which these games were created, their unique characteristics, and the legacy they left to the Zelda fan community.

To understand how these games ended up on the Philips CD-i, we need to go back to the late 80s and early 90s. Back then, Nintendo was exploring the possibility of creating a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo, known as the SNES-CD. The company partnered with Sony to develop the project, but negotiations fell through, leading to the creation of the PlayStation.

Meanwhile, Nintendo had reached an agreement with Philips, which allowed the company to use some of its characters in games for the CD-i, a multimedia console that promised to revolutionize the market with its ability to play interactive videos.

But Nintendo wasn’t directly involved in the development of the CD-i games. Instead, Philips hired third-party studios to create the Zelda titles. The result was a trilogy of games that, while they are technically part of the franchise, they’re considered "non-canon" by Nintendo and most fans.

Link: The Faces of Evil was the first game in the Zelda series released for the Philips CD-i. Developed by Animation Magic, the game follows Link on a quest to defeat the evil sorcerer Ganon, who has escaped from the Kingdom of Hyrule and is wreaking havoc on the island of Koridai.

The game uses the 2D visual style with hand-drawn sprites and animated cutscenes that were one of the main attractions of the CD-i.

Unlike the main games in the series, The Faces of Evil is a side-scrolling platformer, where Link walks, jumps, and uses his sword to defeat enemies.

The story is told through voice-acted cutscenes, something very rare to see at the time. However, the voice acting and dialogue are often criticized for being considered "weird" and unintentionally "funny".

Reception

Link: The Faces of Evil was met with mixed reviews. While some praised the graphics and the attempt to innovate, the gameplay was considered repetitive and uninspired. Additionally, Nintendo's lack of involvement in the development resulted in a game that didn’t really capture the essence of the series.

Released the same year as The Faces of Evil, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon is the second game in the series for the CD-i. This time, the protagonist is Princess Zelda, who embarks on a journey to rescue her father, King Harkinian, and recover the powerful Wand of Gamelon.

Just like its predecessor, the game uses 2D graphics and animated cutscenes. The art style is similar, but with new settings and characters.

The gameplay is virtually identical to The Faces of Evil, with Zelda replacing Link as the playable character. She uses a bow and arrows to attack enemies and solve puzzles.

The cutscenes continue to be a highlight, but the voice acting and dialogue are equally criticized for their questionable quality.

Reception

The Wand of Gamelon has many of the same problems as The Faces of Evil did. The repetitive gameplay and lack of connection to the main games in the series left fans disappointed. However, the cutscenes became iconic for their quirky voice acting, earning them a cult status among retro gaming fans.

The third and final game in the Zelda series for the CD-i, Zelda's Adventure, was released in 1994 and tried to take a different approach than the previous two titles. This time, the game is a top-down adventure, similar to the classic games in the series.

Zelda's Adventure uses live-action graphics for the environments, with 2D sprites overlaid onto them. This visual choice was considered unique, but also controversial.

The game returns to the exploration and puzzle-solving formula of the main titles in the series. Zelda is once again the protagonist, and players must collect items and defeat enemies to progress.

The story involves Zelda rescuing Link and defeating Ganon, who is once again causing trouble in the realm.

Reception

Zelda's Adventure was received even more negatively than the two previous games. The live-action graphics were considered dated and unattractive, and the gameplay was criticized for being slow and confusing. Despite this, the game has its defenders, who appreciate the attempt at being different.

While the Zelda games for the Philips CD-i are often made fun of for their questionable quality, they hold a unique place in the franchise's history. They represent a bold but poorly executed experiment in expanding the series beyond Nintendo consoles. Furthermore, the cutscenes and voice acting from these games have become popular memes on the internet, ensuring that they are not completely forgotten.

For Zelda fans, these games serve as a reminder of the importance of Nintendo's direct involvement in the development of its franchises. Despite their flaws, they are an interesting curiosity for those players who want to explore all corners of the Zelda universe.

The Zelda games released for the Philips CD-i are a quirky and often overlooked part of the franchise’s history. While they may not have achieved the success or quality of the mainline titles, they offer a fascinating glimpse into a period when Nintendo was willing to experiment with new ideas and partnerships. For collectors and hardcore Zelda fans, these games are a treasure trove worth exploring, even if only to understand how the series has evolved over the years.

If you’re curious to try playing these games, prepare yourself for a unique and often bizarre experience. They may not be the best examples of the series, but they’re certainly unforgettable.