The Shields of Zelda
by Eric Caoili 
{ Jun 8th 2007 at 2:00PM }
If you paid close attention to yesterday's Phantom Hourglass commercials, you might've spotted the lobster design (or is it a crayfish?) on Link's shield. What do you think of the new look? Wind Waker fans should recognize the crustacean shape, as it originally showed up on our hero's pajamas in the GameCube game. Link's shield has been as much a staple of the Zelda series as the adventurer's green cap, deflecting octorok attacks and pushing away charging enemies. Over the past two decades, the defensive device's design has evolved much from its original cross emblem to incorporate Triforces, various winged figures, and decorative accents.
We've collected over a dozen of the different layouts that we spotted at The Hylia, leaving out mirror shields and other deviations (e.g. Ordon shield), and have lined them up for you to compare and constrast after the post break. Enjoy!
The Wind Waker & Twilight Princess:
Four Swords Adventures, Four Swords, and The Minish Cap:
Ocarina of Time & Majora's Mask:
Link's Awakening & Oracle of Seasons/Ages:
A Link to the Past:
The Legend of Zelda & The Adventure of Link:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan Russell @ Jun 8th 2007 2:47PM
The abandonment of the cross insignia was part of a policy by Nintendo to remove all reference to religion from their games ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_controversy#Criticism_from_religious_organizations ). It was to avoid any possible controversies. Personally, I think the detachment from real-world religion helped add to the fantasy of Nintendo's games.
Ken Seang @ Jun 8th 2007 2:47PM
Those are nice shields, but you are forgetting a lot of others... You should include them in it like the wooded shield or that reflective light one...
JC Fletcher @ Jun 8th 2007 5:03PM
Ken: that's a nice comment, but you are forgetting to read the text of the post.
Geoffrey @ Jun 8th 2007 11:42PM
Twilight Princess shield FTW
Fabian Bruno @ Jun 9th 2007 1:31AM
Perhaps I'm just imagining things, but doesn't the progression of the shields design seem to show signs of correlation with each respective titles entry in the stories vaster chronology? Could it be that Nintendo is waving a key component to comprehending the eventual cannonical story-line under our nose?
Mat @ Jun 9th 2007 2:53AM
Well, the shield from ocarina of time and the twilight princess are pretty much the same thing... So, Fabian, I don't see any correlation :P I don't see anything about the seasons or ages in the oracle games either. I think I do like the lobster though... not a very common symbol to use, which makes it awesome. The majority of the shields are kind of cliche and can be compared to games all the way back to Dragon Warrior 1, with Erdrick's bird symbol.
lightbringer @ Jun 12th 2007 1:51AM
With reference to the religious symbols..true Christianity is taken out with the cross, but Egyptian symbols which were a religion are still there, the winged sun is Horus, and the three pyramids represent Orion's belt and the stargate.
phate @ Jun 9th 2007 1:31PM
@ lightbringer
While the real-world explanation of 3 pyramids representing orions belt may be true... the 3 "pyramids" on the sheild represent the 3 tri-forces in the game. I think that was their original goal and not to subliminally suggest a link to any real-world religions.
Hugh Jeffner @ Jun 9th 2007 2:07PM
@Fabian Bruno
That reminds me of the Shield of Achilles from Homer's Iliad. The shield was crafted by Hephaestus and was so detailed that it took on a life of its own. Check out the last paragraph at the following link:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/trojanwarinlit/a/IliadXVIII.htm
Arkloyd @ Jun 10th 2007 5:48AM
Now if someone can find the shield from Soul Caliber II, on the Game Cube...
kobob @ Jun 9th 2007 11:33PM
Wow. Nintendo did a good job with that considering triangles are symbols of other religions including in the symbol for Scientology.
One more of a million examples of where Christianity is singled out... *Sigh... And really, if removing a cross from a shield improved your enjoyment of fantasy adventure games, you're a frickin moron
samfish @ Jun 12th 2007 2:05AM
"One more of a million examples of where Christianity is singled out... *Sigh... And really, if removing a cross from a shield improved your enjoyment of fantasy adventure games, you're a frickin moron"
Can you blame them? I would leave Christianity alone, too, if I had something as popular as Zelda. If they stuck with the cross thing, how much longer would it have been before the Crazy Christian Right went ape-shit over it?
Don't forget, Christianity isn't exactly alone in getting ignored by Zelda.
http://www.zeldawiki.org/Fire_Temple#Trivia
Besides, like some one else said, Nintendo's getting away from established religion helped create a more immersive fantasy world.
As someone who isn't a Christian, seeing a bunch of Christian symbols and references to it's mythology would be something of a turn off for me. Whereas if it isn't there at all in the first place, neither you nor I would even take notice.
DiThi @ Jun 12th 2007 4:02AM
My all-time favourite is the Hylian shield from Ocarina of time. And the one Twilight princess, of course, which is very similar but more realistic.
Slaziman @ Jun 12th 2007 10:52AM
funny, the shield in the wind waker and the shield in the minish cap are identical
Slaziman @ Jun 12th 2007 10:52AM
funny, the shield in the wind waker and the shield in the minish cap are identical
Rubang B @ Jun 12th 2007 7:22PM
Yet another reason that Link's Awakening is the best Zelda EVARR.
goatjuggler @ Jun 12th 2007 9:27PM
@Arkloyd, the shield in Soul Calibur II for GCN is the same as Ocarina of Time, but props for remembering that.
See pic: http://news.softpedia.com/images/extra/large/soulcalibur2gc_001-large.jpg
John @ Jun 13th 2007 5:48AM
Its clearly not a lobster shape, its the same as the others but in a slightly different style, it has the winged beast, then above it is just the markings at the side not claws.
Michael @ Jun 13th 2007 3:20PM
Jeez, what's with all the religious undertones here? Remember this is a video game. IT'S NOT REAL nor did Nintendo mean to impose Christianity in the game. This is why video games come under fire, much like Christianity. Everyone has a different interpretation of what Christianity is and means. In the Legend of Zelda, the story is centered around the Trifore (the triangles on the shield), Link, Zelda, Gannon or Gannondorf, and Hyrule (with the exception of some games). I've been following the game since it came out when I was 6-7 years old, and in no way did I think it was a "Christian" game because of the cross on links shield or Triforce as a "pyramid". And most of the beastiary in Zelda games are based on mythical creatures. That's it really. It doesn't hold a secret like some people think the Mona Lisa or The Last Supper does. IT IS JUST A GAME AND IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING FUN PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE IN A WORLD THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN REAL LIFE. We need to stop thinking that video games represent real life or else those who oppose video games will find the fuel to over regulate or completely stop them. I don't know how it is in other countries, but in America, people are stupid and don't know fantasy from reality because parents here are too lazy to actually be parents to their children. If parents would just be parents this wouldn't be such a big problem.
salchemist @ Jun 14th 2007 3:03PM
Shouldn't the Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask shields be exactly the same?
eelb @ Jun 14th 2007 5:05PM
the hylian shield in ocarina was used by adult link, whereas the hero's shield in majora's mask is used by young link, which is why they aren't the same.
salchemist @ Jun 15th 2007 3:09AM
You get the Hylian shield as a child in OoT though.
beans @ Jun 16th 2007 3:45PM
@ 9
Hey, KOBOB
Last time I checked, Scientology wasn't one of the world's major religions. I also wouldn't think most people would know the symbols for it either. Christianity being singled out... fyi, certain symbols were removed from remakes of Ocarina of time to prevent controversy from the Muslim religion. Start thinking practically and perhaps doing some research before posting.
CashityWarbucks @ Jun 17th 2007 5:34AM
I just wanted to point out that almost all commonly held symbols are in one way or another religious to someone, even the most seemingly innocuous. I mean, the lobster corresponds to the zodiac sign of cancer (and the stars were always the friends and allies of sailors). does that mean that LOZPH will be set in ancient greece? will we visit thermopyliae and yell out "this is spartaaaaaaaa!"?
as for the christian symbols the cross probably had less to do with christ and more to do with the knights templar which to most people are exemplary of knighthood.
if N had left the cross there hard core christians would have a fit... a christian hero in a land of dragons, demons, non human creatures and Gods? yeah... sounds a bit like the bible. you'd be missing a unicorn in there.
prophetofwinds @ Jun 17th 2007 1:37PM
If you look closely, you'll see the triangle on the bottom of the oot sheild is missing from the one in twilight princess. That was because some fans thought it represented a "fourth triforce". (Which is sort of an oxymoron)
Joe Winders @ Jun 17th 2007 5:28PM
You can hear the original Fire Temple music here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDcQVzu_kc8
Islam has long been associated with a more devil-ish theme, so it isn't surprising the Japanese might have used one of their chants in the Fire Temple. The Temple of Time and other key 'shrines' have a distinctively Christian cathedral feel to them.
Early Nintendo didn't have to be as cautious of religious reference as Politically Correct Nintendo. Zelda's Triforce has obvious parallels to the Christian Trinity.
The Creation of the World segment in Zelda 64 has strong parallels to the traditional Biblical creation theory.
Kid Icarus took place in Angel Land. I would be surprised if they would have done the same thing in 2007.
Christianity is the traditional religion of the West, and Japan has been a part of that cultural tradition since World War 2 ended, so it is no surprise that they have adopted some of our culture.
Joe Winders @ Jun 17th 2007 5:54PM
Apparently, Islam is also insinuated to be the religion of Ganondorf as well in Zelda 64. The Islamic star and crescent was originally in Zelda 64 in a few places, including on the Mirror Shield. The Mirror Shield is obtained in the level which has the two witches as a boss. Ganondorf was raised by two witches, and he is from a tribe of desert thieves.
Discussion of the differences in Zelda 64:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/wii/file/937742/46380
Picture of original Mirror Shield:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j177/SwordlessLink/oldmirrorshield.jpg
Picture of replacement Mirror Shield:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j177/SwordlessLink/newmirrorshield.jpg
Karistra @ Jun 18th 2007 5:43PM
Wasn't there a reference in "A Link to the Past" about a goddess or goddesses using the triforce to create Hyrule? If so, I think that's what the "winged creature" is representing. (it's been so long since I touched my poor snes that I barely remember the mythology of the game.) I'd have to agree with John that the "lobster" is just another stylization of the "winged figure", although the thought of a "lobster goddess" is definately amusing.:)
ZippyDSMlee @ Jun 19th 2007 6:05AM
Casltvina had a few crosses last time I checked *L*
Michael
you forget how "self censoring" Nintendo was,they where very keen to keep religion, sex and gore out of games.
KKoro @ Jun 21st 2007 4:23AM
Actually, the re-release of ALttP has the shield look exactly like the Oracle ones.
But no, it is a lobster
JIB @ Jun 21st 2007 5:36PM
@ZippyDSMlee
in Portrait of Ruin on the top screen in file select
there is a cross with upside down bat wings. If you flip the DS upside down the wings look more natural rightside up but then the cross is upside down. satanic refrence??? possibly
Cyryl @ Jun 24th 2007 10:51PM
To the idiot who referenced Scientology and the triforce...
SCIENTOLOGY DOESN'T COUNT AS A RELIGION YOU FUCKING IDIOT.
And those who follow this so-called "religion" are fucked in the head. They're STUPID for believing half the shit that CULT believes.
Celice @ Jun 28th 2007 2:12AM
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/content/view/25/46/
Thats ALTTP's shield. Just like all the other hylian shields.
So ALTTP/OOT/OOS(A)/TP shields are pretty much the same
lintawesome22 @ Jul 1st 2007 5:35PM
Did anyone notice that on the Majora's mask shield the bird figure and triforce are reversed in position?
It's interesting that in a game which takes place in a world which apparently mirrored hyrule, that even the shields symbols had been inverted.
With the triforce below the bird instead of above. Just little details like that add and carry to ideas that they introduced in the Zelda series.
Like with Phantom Hourglass, it doesn't surprise me that with a new shield he would have one that has the crawfish instead of a bird, and it makes sense with the world being more ocean then anything. And his shield reflects it in this game now.