Different Generations of Zelda

The other week we took a look at different generations of Mario, showing how the platforming plumber has evolved over the years with each new console released and how the power provided by the CPU and PCB inside each one has allowed the games developers to create drastically improved games. Another of Nintendo's iconic characters is Link from The Legend of Zelda (LoZ) series and some fans wait for the latest adventure with more anticipation than Mario's adventures.

The LoZ games are a great series of adventure games that put players in control of Link as you go on a quest to save the land of Hyrule. Some the 8-bit games on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) through to the recently released Skyward Sword on the Wii, a number of these games are often highly listed, or even top, of "Best Games Ever" lists.

1986 - The Legend of Zelda (NES)

1991 - A Link to the Past (SNES)

1998 - Ocarina of Time (N64)

2002 - The Wind Waker (GameCube)

2006 - Twilight Princess (Gamecube and Wii)

2011 - Skyward Sword (Wii)

As with the Mario games, you can see that with the electronic manufacture of more powerful consoles, the series jumped into 3D worlds with the Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64. The series took a change of graphical style with The Wind Waker but the effects were just as stunning. The recently released Skyward Sword was a combination of the graphical styles The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess to create yet another great Zelda adventure.

Fact: Twilight Princess was originally developed for the GameCube but was upgraded with motion controls to be a launch title for the Wii. The game was still released on the GameCube though but is quite rare to get hold of.