Princess Zelda is one of the most iconic female characters in the gaming world and ever since her first appearance in 1986 she has gone through many variations of personality and style, but The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is her greatest iteration yet. Zelda has evolved from a damsel in distress to a capable and strong character with her own abilities which are not to be taken lightly. Over the years she has been depicted in many ways, however, BOTW conveys a feeling that allows players to finally appreciate Princess Zelda for who she truly is.
Breath of the Wild is the first in the Zelda series to introduce the concept that Princess Zelda won't actually be a princess any longer in Tears of the Kingdom. Her growth throughout the memories viewed in BOTW combined with the idea of her being an actual ruler of Hyrule, rather than a figurehead princess, paints a much different picture of Zelda than the early games did. Besides her being the first variant to wear yoga pants, this Princess displays a developed personality complete with self-doubt and personal growth.
BOTW's Princess Zelda Is A Fully Formed Character With Personality And Flaws
Zelda in BOTW is portrayed as a driven and ionate princess who took on her own personal quest to learn about technology and ancient relics to help her in fighting Ganon. Throughout the memories that Link experiences in the game, the player can see that she went through a full story arc of coming to accept who she is. She experiences self-doubt, and she is stubborn, but she is also intelligent and strong.
Zelda Holds The Power Of The Goddess Hylia And Is As Smart As She Is Beautiful
Princess Zelda's mother doesn't appear in BOTW, but is a crucial piece to Zelda's story. Special powers of the Goddess Hylia were ed down to Zelda through the royal bloodline, powers that she inevitably used to fight Ganon and keep him at bay for 100 years. Zelda is a scholar and in the memories players watch as she studied all she could, even going on a journey to meet with the champions, to uncover the secrets of the ancient relics. She is not willing to sit by in the castle and let others do the hard work.
While the earlier Zelda games showed her only as a princess to be rescued, the Zelda that is represented in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is strong, capable, and determined. She is someone to whom many can feel a connection as they watch her grow and realize that she cannot do it all alone. When her character returns in Tears of the Kingdom, it will be exciting to see what else is in store for Zelda, with continuing to unlock the powers of the Goddess Hylia and fighting Ganon yet again.
Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube
