15 Unforgettable Moments From "The Legend Of Zelda"

These moments were simply legendary.

The Legend of Zelda franchise has presented players with some of the most iconic and unforgettable moments in gaming history.

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There are plenty of events that made their mark on both the games and the people who play them, and as a die-hard fan of the series, looking back on them is an adventure in itself. So let's dive right into the 15 Most Memorable Moments From The Legend of Zelda.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

15. "It's Dangerous To Go Alone. Take This." — The Legend of Zelda

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This line is spoken by an old man Link encounters at the start of his journey. Seeing our hero completely unharmed, he gives Link his first sword, allowing him to fight Ganon's forces as he ventures through Hyrule and reclaims the Triforce. The old man's quote has since become one of the most famous in all of gaming, and it has been referenced throughout pop culture.

14. Leaving Kokiri Forest — Ocarina of Time

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Tasked with finding Princess Zelda, Link sets off on his journey as the Hero of Time. While crossing the threshold out of the forest, he runs into his friend, Saria, who gives him her ocarina to remember her by. It's a sad and tender moment for our young hero, but once we see Hyrule Field in all its majesty, we can't help but feel excited about Link's great adventure.

13. The Call to Adventure — A Link to the Past

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This game wastes no time getting to the good part. Hearing Zelda calling him in his dreams, Link goes out into the rain to save her while his uncle is away. But after sneaking into Hyrule Castle, Link finds his uncle near death, having just fought Agahnim's forces. After inheriting his sword and shield, our hero sets off on his adventure to rescue the Princess and save Hyrule.

12. Sheik Reveals the Truth

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Throughout his journey as an adult, Link encounters the mysterious warrior, Sheik, who guides him on his journey to find the Six Sages and defeat Ganondorf. But after Link clears all the temples and gains their power, Link meets Sheik at the Temple of Time. There, he reveals himself to be the seventh Sage, Princess Zelda herself, and fans never saw her the same way again.

11. The Island Vanishes — Link's Awakening

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The big twist surrounding this game is that everything on Koholint Island, the land Link finds himself shipwrecked on, is a dream created by the Wind Fish. After defeating the Nightmares and waking the Wind Fish, we see everything and everyone Link encountered through his journey vanish. It's one of the most heartbreaking endings in gaming history, but we still get to see Marin fulfill her dream and become a seagull.

10. Fi's Goodbye — Skyward Sword

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Though Fi isn't the most beloved of Link's companions, she still had the most tear-jerking sendoff. After Link succeeds in sealing away Demise, Fi requests that the Hero lay the Master Sword to rest, along with her spirit. Link reluctantly does so, but Fi still has time to share how much she enjoyed their time together in a stunning display of emotion.

9. Midna Reborn — Twilight Princess

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After spending the game getting to know and love the titular Twilight Princess, it was sad to see Midna sacrifice herself to try and kill Ganondorf. But after slaying the Dark Lord and beating the game, we were all stunned to see Midna alive and in her true form.

8. Meeting the Mask Salesman — Majora's Mask

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After Link gets turned into a Deku Scrub by the Skull Kid, our hero follows him into the backwards land of Termina. But before he can walk out into this strange, new world, Link encounters the Happy Mask Salesman, who greets him with this immortal line: "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" This eccentric traveler requests that Link reclaim the mask that the Skull Kid stole from him, officially setting Link on his journey to defeat Majora's Mask and save Termina.

7. The Death of Hyrule — Wind Waker

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After Link succeeds in killing Ganondorf, the spirit of King Daphnes laments his failures and how he has been bound to his Hyrule with the Demon King. Though he and his realm share a tragic end, as it's all washed away by the Great Sea, the king still offers a glimmer of hope as he tells Link and Zelda to create their own world above.

6. Link's Vision — Twilight Princess

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Many times has the franchise given players lessons about Hyrule's creation, but none of them were quite like this one. Here, the light spirit Lanayru tells Link about how the goddesses created the world and the Triforce, but the scene takes a dark turn as we learn about the people's greed and the emergence of the Dark Interlopers. From then on, everything is pure nightmare fuel, from Link having blank eyes to all those Ilias falling down the screen. Nevertheless, this haunting scene succeeds in warning Link and the player about the dark power he hopes to possess.

5. The Final Battle — Ocarina of Time

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The Legend of Zelda series has had some legendary final boss fights, but the one from Ocarina of Time usurps them all. Wielding the Master Sword and the power of the Six Sages, Link scales up Ganon's Castle and confronts the King of Evil himself. But after beating Ganondorg escaping the crumbling castle, you end up face-to-face with him again as the Dark Beast, Ganon, making it a true battle for the ages.

4. Moonfall — Majora's Mask

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Majora's Mask revolves around Link trying to stop a giant moon from destroying Termina in three days. In the last six hours, the moon grows closer to the Earth, and we see how the citizens of Clock Town react to their untimely doom. As the land shakes, the clock tower tolls and that eerie song plays, you really get the sense that the world is coming to an end. But when the clock runs out, we get a terrifying "game over" as the moon destroys everything in Termina, leaving nothing but flames and the game's titular mask. Truly a terrible fate to behold.

3. Entering the Wild — Breath of the Wild

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Breath of the Wild begins with Link waking up in the Shrine of Resurrection after a hundred-year coma. Hearing Zelda speak for the first time in the franchise, Link sets off on his journey to save Hyrule with nothing but a Sheikah Slate and a pair of clothes. Once our hero runs out into the light, we get to see Hyrule as we've never seen it before. With a vast, open world stretching out before him, the game marks the beginning of a grand, new adventure that changed Zelda forever.

2. Opening a Chest — Various

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Any time Link opens up a treasure chest is an iconic moment. With the container glowing like the briefcase from Pulp Fiction, both Link and the player are anxious to see what item is waiting inside. Also, the song playing in the background acts as the perfect buildup for the reveal, burning itself into the minds of gamers far and wide as a beloved staple of the franchise.

1. Link Claims the Master Sword — Ocarina of Time

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The Hero of Hyrule has taken the Master Sword many times throughout the series, but the moment he claimed it in Ocarina of Time had arguably the most impact. Though Link did prove himself to be the Hero of Time by taking the sword, he inadvertently opened the gates to the Triforce for Ganondorf, allowing him to rise to power and take over Hyrule. Link was also forced to spend seven years in slumber while the rest of the kingdom suffered Ganon's wrath, only to wake up a full-grown adult. This moment marked a new chapter in both this game and the Zelda franchise as a whole.

Do you agree with this list? Were there any other memorable Zelda moments that I missed? Please let me know in the comment section below.