Now I understand Ganondorf's maniacal laughter when The King wished for the flooding of Hyrule again at the end of WW. Its got to be really ironical for Ganondorf, being really close to his goals only to be cockblocked by floods again.
I think the Link and Zelda from Skyward Sword should have told the people of the newly established kingdom of Hyrule and and her descendants about the reincarnation curse that Demise placed on them before dying. That way, the royal family can be looking out for the next hero. Link is basically like the Avatar. He dies and is reborn whenever evil arises. When evil does show up, the sages of that time should be searching for the next hero and train him.
It wouldn't have changed much. The details of those days would've been lost to time by the events of Minish Cap or even the Hero of Men. By the time the Kingdom was established, three eras had already taken place and Skyward Sword was just a legend by then. Only the name Zelda remained (after all even Hylia was forgotten throughout most of the games in the current timeline save for SS and the BotW Duology).
@@firionkaiser8291 I made this post several years ago, so my ideas have since changed. Also, yes I agree people would have long since forgotten about the era of the skies. Wars break out, people get conquered, languages evolve/die out and records are destroyed. This is proven by the Great Deku tree and Valoo speaking old Hylian to Link in WW. Even the Skyloftians forgot about their past on the surface. I’m pretty sure the kingdom in the Minish Cap still know who the goddess Hylia is though. I still think the wind tribe were Skyloftians that decided to return to the sky.
@@quantasium It's possible they do know about Hylia during Minish Cap but the lack of any statue makes me think otherwise. After all where Hylia's Temple once stood is where the ToT is supposed to be and that was made with the ruins of the temple. It's possible the statue was gone by the Interloper War which took place prior to the kingdom's founding. If we go by TP explanation it's possible that the hill where the Triforce was sitting on top of with the interlopers is where Hylia's statue used to be.
One thing I was disappointed with concerning 'Wind Waker' was when visiting Hyrule, you were restricted to the Castle and Ganon's Tower without being able to explore other parts of the kingdom. There's little to give you an idea of what this version of Hyrule would've been like before the floodwaters overwhelmed it.
I hope we get a game with the Hero of the Flood. Even if it's a short game it could tie into the adult timeline. Imo it would be interesting to see Link, or some other person that may not even be a Link die at the end of it as well.
In the timeline that the hero of the flood exist, the hero of time did exist (from Ocarina of Time) he "Dissapeared" after the ganon fight, believed to be resting to return at the time of need, the king was not refering to Skyword Sword, in his world he was refering to the *real* hero of time
That explains why the King kept saying he was at fault or that he had atone for something (I don't remember his exact words in-game)! Thank you, Vortexxy! I'm glad you're back after so long!
@@ArchangelRG09 That's still OoT Zelda though. I mean yes she didn't have the Triforce of Wisdom but as a child but she still screwed it up and I'm sure judging by Wind Waker, she realized she cant undo the timeline either
@@firionkaiser8291 she was a child though no older than 9-10 years old with no real judgement other than to stop evil since no adults namely her father was willing to.. why else was Link trapped in sacred realm until he was OLD enough?
@@ArchangelRG09 Again I'm aware she was 9 (assuming she's the same age as Link which was confirmed to be 9) but she's still at fault, I get that she was a kid but at the same this is Zelda we're talking about here and this specific incarnation is smarter than a kid normally should be at 9 years old. I mean she did manage to come up with a plan that a normal 9 year old would probably not be able to come up with especially if they lacked information. Even Impa didn't seem to have a problem with it and with Impa as her aid, she would probably have her be the one to make the sure the plan was solid. Regardless though she does admit that she was naive as a kid but it still is her fault the way things turned out and it's sad that she probably realizes that history wasnt going to change if she didn't know already
I like these theories, because they don't change the dynamic of a series. They simply come up with filler events and backgrounds for temples and locations that really have no past in game
1:34 THIS is why I believe the Fallen Hero Timeline is caused not by probability of the hero dying in hand to hand battle against Ganondorf, this is the era or these are the eras he left EVERYTIME he travels back in time and sleeps the 7 years again, thus creating a timeline where his progress has been faltered, and thus, defeated.
5:30 is a perfect example of a "Bootstrap Paradox" in which time traveler's intervention causes events to happen that would not have been, if they have not gone.
Your theories are so well thought out and produced. And the space between releases builds up a healthy anticipation from us for your next creative piece. Some Zelda RU-vid theorists reproduce content at the speed of rabbits, and I'm not as excited to check what they've released or view their works because of this. On the other hand, I check daily hoping you've released something new, and watch what's released as soon as I can - no questions asked on if I'll watch, but how soon. Thanks again for putting so much excellence behind your theories. You are my favourite Zelda theorist hands down. Keep up the great work!
I am admittedly a little confused here. At what point was the Triforce of Power wrested from Ganondorf in order for King Daphnes to make his wish? I can easily buy him finding the Triforce of Courage, but taking the Triforce of Power back from the main threat in order to grant his wish on the full Triforce seems a bit difficult to swallow.
its never said in the story that he used the triforce. if i remember correctly i think it said he simply “left the kingdom in the gods hands” or something like that
This honestly sounds more like a narration of the general plot of Wind Waker than a theory, though maybe you're just that convincing. Regardless awesome video. As usual, it feels both relaxed and profound.
+JcubeJcube Thank you :) most of the things mentioned in the theory are not canon (existence of a hero during the flood, king making a wish) but I believe it has some credibility ;)
After all this time, I just realized Nintendo made the Master Sword glowing in Oot Ganon fight canon with Skyward Sword. It's Fi! When I was a kid, I just thought the sages were giving the sword a "final kick" to your sword for the finishing blow.
+VortexxyGaming Nice theory, but I don't really think there was a hero between OoT and WW. Hyrule Historia named it the Era Without a Hero. I understand why the Hero of Time didn't appear and that the people's prayers were in vain, and that the name of the era would be about him, but it is the Era Without a Hero, not the Era Without The Hero.
History is written by the victors. If there was a hero that failed, the king wouldn't let anyone know, and Ganondorf wouldn't care. The winners write the history, not the failed ones.
+JonnyCars100 In this case, history is written by the game designers. Now of course if the devs later decide to retcon the Era Without a Hero and add in a Hero who failed, they will most like use your explanation to cover it up. Still I don't think they have any Hero Of The Flood in the canon at THIS point, there's just not enough real evidence to say that Nintendo has been planning that since WW or anything, or even since Skyward Sword.
I completely understand where you're coming from. It is named The Era Without a Hero, but yes, who writes the history? There could have been a hero, but since the King of Hyrule didn't recognize him as that era's hero - that the "spirit of the Hero" wasn't a set individual like The Hero of Time but a set of character traits needed in an individual to be that era's hero - it was hence named to have been an era without a hero. We must remember Demise's curse, that whenever evil and hate reincarnate in an individual, a hero to oppose would have to emerge. And the intro to WW clearly states that Ganondorf and his evil wer attempting to take over the world again. So that era would Have to have had a hero, he just wasn't recognized and hence the name of the era.
+Apollo9898LPs Of course when Nintendo made the Wind Waker, they probably didn't think it, just like they didn't think of the entire timeline at the time of Zelda 2. But, looking back after the event of Skyward Sword's release and what happens in real life, it would only make more sense. Did they plan it at the time? Probably not. Could it have happened, looking back? Maybe. Only Nintendo can say for sure.
+JonnyCars100 I don't believe there was a "Flood Hero." Mainly because I don't think Nintendo would have a fourth timeline (and a second "Hero defeated" type of timeline.)
I followed the theory well, and it meshes well, although I felt that there were a few jumps in logic along the way. Firstly, I don't see much support for the existence of the Hero of the Flood himself; he doesn't really affect the timeline in any way, so he isn't necessary, and nothing except for Demise's curse suggests that he *should* exist. The complete failure to mention this hero in The Wind Waker (even after the King has recognized his errors at the end) only helps the case that the legend presented at the game's beginning is true: there was no hero. Demise's curse only states that his incarnation will follow the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero, not the other way around. It would be pretty counter-intuitive to have Demise create a curse that makes heroes appear when he reincarnates. Therefore, Demise will follow descendants of Hylia/Zelda, but it doesn't require that a hero immediately appear to save the day; such was the case in Ocarina of Time -- the Hero of Time had to mature seven years before his time of destiny. Second, how did the King Hyrule wish on the Triforce to flood Hyrule? Ganondorf wouldn't have just handed over his part of the Triforce. On top of that, as the legend states in The Wind Waker and as the King of Hyrule repeats in-game, the Triforce of Courage split into eight pieces "when the Hero of Time left the elements that made him a Hero", e.g. the Adult Timeline & the Master Sword. Granted, that part could have been brought together if there were an undocumented "Hero of the Flood", although it doesn't explain the insistence The Wind Waker makes otherwise. I feel the Great Flood was done much for the same reason as the seven-year wait in Ocarina of Time; to create time to mature in virtue and strength to prepare to fight evil. Although in the former's case, it is for more than just the maturing of the Hero; the Flood is the baptism of the kingdom itself, and of its vengeful Kings.
Your videos on Zelda theories is very well done, I have learned a lot from your discussions on the hidden elements, and information that links the Zelda games together. :)
the only link to be around (not counting time travel) during another link being reincarnated was the stalfos fallen link that died in the lost woods, he only stayed around because of his own regret not being able to pass on his skills and experiences. Since during REINCARNATION all previous skills and experiences are automatically laying dorment in the new link. But the hero of time was robbed of that oppertunity because he died in a way that kept him around so he had to train the new link from death. Plus reincarnation means for one soul to be reborn, since each soul is unique and not the same it is not possible for more than one person to be a reincarnation at the same time. Thus with the hero of time who left hyrule for more adventures not being around but still alive the gods didnt have the option of link putting gannon to the sword. Now if we are talking way far into the future link would get old and die. Thus making him available to be this hero of the flood, that dies and the gods sought to immedient reincarnate him where he grew up around 9 or more years old before setting out to b the hero of the winds. That would work, also keeping to the fact that no two links were around at the same time because its not possible by the normal sense, youd have to time travel or be a stalfos, like link did when he tried to find Saria in the lost woods after OoT ended.
A friend of mine and I have, for a few years now, entertained the thought of a darker LoZ game where you dont actually play as link, but as a sort of "antihero" who is swept up in events to save Hyrule from the flood, but ultimately fails since he isnt the chosen hero. He receives a message/vision from the gods that cataclysm is going to hit hyrule, and is tasked with saving the masses. One "scene" from this game would be our pc saving the Goron children and stowing them with a caretaker on a high mountain. Hence the reason why you see so few gorons out on the seas in WW. The masses obviously dont approve of this, but since he had no better choice, he acted on his principles. The culmination of this would be the pc fighting Ganon atop the tower at hyrule (or Ganons tower, maybe) using a de-powered Master Sword. As the waves cascade over the lands in the background, you duel to the death in this final, futile battle with the king of evil. Before everything is washed over, the pc puts the sword in the hidden room under the statue in the castle, explaining why you find the Master Sword in the castle instead of the temple.
So the king used the triforce to flood hyrule as a last resort so ganondorf will fail. It's like the hero of time in that era was robbed of their chance to save the world.
Max Krampe it isn’t. It’s just for fun fan theories and post hoc rationalizations from Nintendo. They make each game without bothering to think of the timeline and then when fans say “how the heck does any of this fit” they go “uhhh here, this is how it works.” It’s all just for fun.
If only the tri-force of wisdom gave Zelda a glimpse into the future after knowing what Zelda wanted to do to send link back to the past and showed her what will happen to the kingdom
I want to see a game where you play a multiracial group of desperate heroes fighting to delay Ganon without a single proper Hero of Time as the King is summoning the flood, and your characters give their lives in the final cutscene. It could even allow multiplayer, where different players control different heroes simultaneously, and and if you're in single-player mode your allies are probably AI controlled (even if this AI is limited to just holding its own against enemies until you retake control or bring in another character to help with the fight) and you can alternate control between them. Of course there should be some prep before the final battle and ritual prayer at the climax where you have to do a few dungeons with the various characters. Similar games could be created for the Imprisoning War and possibly even the Hylian Civil War, and maybe more besides.
Talk of the Hero's soul being reborn. To fight the Darkness. Reminds me of the Wheel of Time. How The Dragon will be reborn over and over. To fight the Dark One and his minions. Until the days of the Final Battle were upon the world.
If Zelda is still around there isn't going to be another Link. The spirit of the hero incarnates into a new Link only when a new Zelda incarnates. So since Zelda from OOT is still there, you don't get another link till it's time for a new Zelda to incarnate in a hundred years or so. WW Link incarnated in the same era that tetra did and so and so on forth with all other links and zeldas. Link and Zelda are always born in the same era and are always meant to face demise's wrath together, whether it's as friends or lovers, these two will forever be together to mirror the love Hylia had for her hero and vice versa. So no I'm sorry but there can't be another LInk during the flood. I also disagree with your definition of the spirit of the hero, IMO the spirit of the hero is SS Links essence sprinkled into new heroes. The new heroes have their own lives and no memories of ever being another Link but they all share the same soul of SS link and this is the reason why every Link can wield the master sword. It is literally because the master Sword sees it's master, SS Link, within all the other Links. Love your videos, I'm almost done catching up.
But it's stated that the Great Flood happened hundred of years after OoT so it can't be the same Zelda. So either there was another Zelda during the Flood, meaning there was probably another Link but he never got the Triforce of Courage so he couldn't defeat the Ganon, thus leading the the Flood and the Era without a Hero. Or there was no Zelda during that time either for some reason we don't know. There is no mention of any Princess during the great Flood either (i think?)
Pier-Yves Breault Wind Waker takes place 100 years after OOT, meaning there was still OOT Zelda during the great flood. It specifically said the people looked for the hero of time to reappear but he never came back. It was without a doubt in the lifetime of OOT Zelda.
nworder4life Some Wiki state the flooding happened many generations after OoT. Your version makes better sense than adding another hero. So i guess Ganon got free from the Seal a few years after Link was sent into the past thus the Era without a Hero.
Pier-Yves Breault It's the entire reason the flood happened, because there was no hero to fight Ganondorf. Also it's 100% confirmed that WW and TP take place exactly 100 years after OOT on 2 different timelines. So those wiki's are incorrect.
From what I can gather, there was a hero born but the people rejected him as they wanted the hero of old to appear which would not happen. Also if it was only 100 years then zelda could have been around as according to the wiki when I was searching this stuff, the hylians have longer life spans which can be over hundred(s) of years. Im not sure if that is confirmed or not though. Though in all the games thats sort of forgotten so while one link could be alive still, they say its been like two generations later even though they could have just had one generation pass. Like if they had a normal life span then sure but if they did have a longer life span then they would have had less generations passing.
Awesome collaborative effort, guys. This puts Wind Waker in an entirely different perspective for me, and definitely pays more attention to detail than The Game Theorists (They'd rather do FNAF theories anyway, so there's no way they'll ever have any credibility in my eyes...and they're even featured on The Big Bad Bosses album, so yeah). Anyway, it honestly never even crossed my mind to play Wind Waker again until I saw this...then again, it WAS bundled with the Wind Waker Wii U that I bought for my brother awhile ago, so he used the code and I was too poor to buy another copy. lol Aside from all that, though, in all seriousness: Welcome back, Vortex. :3
Another great theory, but I'd consider this one a bit more conjecture-y than your others. Still though, this makes you think: what OTHER Links could have lived but not been recognized? After all, the original has Gannon's(sic) rule already established. Also, I always saw Ganondorf's "blowing wind" line to be a reference to his earlier speech about the wind bringing life to the Hylians and death to the Gerudo. I always love your vids!
You blew my FREAKING mind with this one. The concept that the King of Hyrule caused the great flood makes PERFECT sense! Oh my GOSH Vortex! You've done it again! HOLY FREAKING HECK! You're incredible!!!
yeah it sucks when your gone but I'm sure your research takes some time to complete and it shows how hard you work to put it all together, worth the wait though :)
See this is part of why I hate the idea of changing Link to a girl or just changing him in general. The whole idea of people reincarnating over and over in the same image and no one noticing that this is happening is so cool, and it adds a lot to the idea of needing to acknowledge history or else it'll repeat itself. Plus, Ganon clearly notices in WW that WW Link, not just clothing wise, but in general, looks like OOT Link, and the whole thing just adds to itself, same with Zelda always looking the same, because it's suppose to be about history repeating itself.
My theory that because Link brought the Triforce of courage back into the past it split itself and shattered in the future causing the 8 separate pieces.
Great stuff as usual. Have you ever considered doing one on the original LoZ? I find that world to be the most disturbing since when you start the game, Ganon has already conquered Hyrule.
+Stephen O'Brien That's more to do with the area LoZ taking place as being "Old Hyrule" whatever that entails. It's a very small part of Hyrule Proper. Adventure of Link shows that the people still thrive and that ruined wasteland of LoZ is quite literally because it sits on a ruined wasteland.
HighPriestFuneral You're right there, I had forgotten about that. Still, knowing that, it makes me curious as to why Link found himself in such a place. I mean, if the plan was to slay Ganon, you would think he would at least bring a sword with him...I'm going to have to research more into this 'Old Hyrule' region. Thanks for the info!
+MarioOnage64 Likely yes :) that's why the Zora were altered, they'd be able to find Hyrule's ruins and might have 'disturbed' the seal or told others of it.
+VortexxyGaming Ahh ok :) I'm glad that's the case cause I just really love Hyrule and it'd suck to see it completely destroyed and yes, I am super invested in it :P
Good theory, but I see one problem. Ganondorf never lost the triforce of power in Ocarina of Time, it simply was sealed with him inside the sacred realm, therefore King Nohansen Hyrule could have never made the wish mentioned early on. Also there have been sages that have been awakened without a hero (prime example: Rauru/ Gaepora gabora,) but everything else seems solid.
+walter alfonso cobar-paz Mine, too. There's a certain bittersweet finality to Windwaker that I love. If it wasn't for Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, I'd be perfectly happy if Windwaker was the "End" of the Legend of Zelda.
It's a sad tale that took hundreds of years to fulfill...only to be bittersweet in the end. Everything about the adult timeline falls into a shambles for the kingdom of Hyrule.
Assuming the "Hero of the Flood" theory is true, could the new Legend of Zelda game for the Wii U be set during that period? The vague way that people on the staff talk about the new "Link" could be a hint towards this. (All speculation, not making any definite claims.)
So the King of Hyrule got the Hero of the flood and The Hero of time mixed up right?You can't get the triforce of courage in Ocarina of time so it makes sense to me.
That's Wind Waker. The Hero of the Flood she speaks of is a possible hero that appeared after OoT in the adult timeline but before Wind Waker. Basically a hero who failed to beat Ganon when he reappeared causing the Flood of Hyrule and the king didn't acknowledge him as a hero.
I never cared for the way they had the characters looking in Wind Waker to be honest, but VortexxyGaming's storytelling of it makes me want to experience it.
+HG Shurtugal He said the Triforce shattered because it was forcibly removed from the Hero of Time as he left the timeline. He also states that he thinks the Triforce can ONLY dwell in said hero. The Hero of the Flood was likely carrying around his triforce piece without it yet dwelling inside him, just like how Wind Waker Link isn't shown 'wearing' the Triforce on his hand until he shows it to Tower of the Gods. Basically, the King is not convinced either Link is a hero until the Triforce is literally on their hand, as a sign of ownership. That's why he says he considers you the 'true hero', only after that point.
Hey! glad to see another good video from you! I have a total off topic question... A few weeks back a champion on League Of Legends was released, her name is Kindred. Her voice, IMO, is a lot like yours! :D, just saying xD
I don't think there was a Hero of Flood, the triforce of courage gives those destined to be hero the heroes spirit and courage, with that said each Link is a different human being all together with different individual likes as they have their own unique spirit but it's like they are unknowingly possessed by the heroes spirit as well which is dormant until the time for action is needed, this is why 2 links can meet but why 2 can't live at the same time as the heroes spirit wouldn't allow it. In the adult timeline the event of link getting sent back to his time the triforce of courage was destroyed and with it destroyed it either destroyed the heroes spirit with it or it couldn't be transferred to a new hero due to its broken state. Wind waker link was a normal boy on an island, no ties to being a hero or the gods and he got sucked into hyrules issues on a rescue mission and got recognized as a hero by the gods for his bravery and courage and when he put the triforce of courage back together it basically used his spirit for the new hero (if the old one got destroyed) which could also explain why spirit tracks link resembles wind waker link over previous links.
The imagery of th ending screwed me up in thinking the beginning you were talking about the ending events of windwaker. Great video its a shane we have no imagery if those events just like the later half of the hero of time in the child timeline.
OMG IN the wind waker when the triforce of courage smashes into 8 PIECES that's what happens in the VERY FIRST ZELDA GAME. GOT DANG I LOVE THE ZELDA TIMELINE
