Video game movies are a losing proposition. Everything that works in an interactive medium will struggle when reduced to moving images. It’s like reading the novelization of a beloved film. The creator needs to do a lot to make up for what gets lost in translation. However, there are rare cases in which the loss of interactivity can change an element for the better. One controversial example may be the widely despised companion characters inThe Legend of Zelda, who may play better in the movie.
The Legend of Zeldais such a massive franchise that most people know the details before they’ve ever booted up one of the titles. Kids who grew up withouttouching a Nintendo consolehave heard a friend describe what’s great aboutZelda. Anyone who skippedBreath of the Wildprobably still saw a hundred clips of its unique gameplay gimmicks on social media. The complaints are often equally ubiquitous. Endless webcomics, memes, and internet gags have turned every notable flaw inZeldainto a familiar trait.
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The idea of aLegend of Zeldamovie has been in the air since the 1990s. The first live-action video game movie wasNintendo’sSuper Mario Bros., which poisoned the well for the genre and heralded in a long era of terrible adaptations. That era has only just started to wane.Sonic the Hedgehog, Detective Pikachu, and the secondSuperMariomovie radically changed the cultural cache of the phrase “based on the bestselling video game.“The Legend of Zeldaremains a harrowing proposition for most fans. It is simultaneously one of the most iconic game franchises ever made, ensuring an army of devotees prepared to point out any issue, and amassive, sweeping fantasy epic. It’s an ambitious proposition, and the creators would be well advised to avoid agitating the central audience. There is, however, one infuriating reference they should insert.
The Legend of ZeldaHas a History of Annoying Companion Characters
SeveralLegend of Zeldatitles shackle Link to a support character who offers unsolicited advice and non-stop interruptions. NavifromOcarina of Timeis the most iconic example. Her shrill cries of “Hey, Look, Listen!” still ring in the memories of millions of fans. Narratively, Navi is a fairy assigned to Link by the Great Deku Tree. Link, who is of Hylian descent, grew up among the Kokiri but never attained a fairy of his own. The mighty tree gives him a companion who can offer hints and enable Link’s iconic Z-targeting function. That’s an interesting enough character, but her presence stops gameplay in its tracks, earning the ire of most fans.Majora’s Maskrepeats this transgression with Tatl, who is identical in all but color scheme.Twilight Princessintroduced Midna. She can still be a bit irritating, but her personality and narrative importance provide her with some leeway. The worst example isSkyward Sword’s Fi, who interrupts gameplay with alarming frequency to deliver very obvious information. Thejokes about Naviwere always a bit exaggerated. Fi almost seemed like a deliberate satirical choice to lean into the critique.
The Legend of Zelda’s Companions Would Hit Differently In a Movie
The reason everyone hates Navi and Fi is that they consistently get in the way of the things players picked up the game to do. Removing that interactive element opens the field to new possibilities. One of the hardest questions surroundingThe Legend of Zeldamovie is whether thetraditionally silent hero Link shouldhave a voice. It’s tough to follow a silent protagonist through a feature film, especially when everyone else talks consistently. A companion, like Navi or Midna, can provide a perfect way for Link to communicate with the outside world. Link doesn’t need a voice if he has a companion to speak through. Ideally, they’re a personality to bounce off of Link’s subtle characterization and a driving voice in the narrative. Keep Link silent, but let Navi’s voice shine through. The key would be sincerity. The creators can’t just put them in the movie to let Link drop somesnarky Joss Whedon dialogueabout how annoying they are. However, they can handle a companion with care, keep them relevant to the story, and use them as a central fixture of the plot to turn an annoyance into something more compelling.
Compensating for the lack of interactivity is a constant restraint for video game movies.The Legend of Zeldawill always be better in the medium it was intended for. The joy of exploring the wilds as a silent hero, meeting new people, slaying evil monsters, and saving the world from a mighty villain is always morefun as an accomplishmentthan it is as a feature film. Maybe the limitations can open the door to a benefit. Give Link a companion to keep the story moving and the emotions compelling. It’s a great way to repurpose something that’s unpopular.
