I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!

OWNED!!!

There is absolutely ZERO point in hiding a time line from us.

the timeline for the Zelda games is so screwed up, not even the folks down at Nintendo know which one goes first! and i'm sure Aonuma, Miyamoto, and the director are just making things up as they go. a prequel? i was happy with the notion that every Zelda game exist in their own universes. now they dump this logically unlogical timeline that makes no sense. Zelda never really had much of a story beyond "save princess and stop evil Ganon from attaining dominance of the world".

that being said, i love every Zelda title and the story is simple enough for me to keep coming back (even though the stories are all the same). just stop making things more complicated than they need to be with this "timeline" nonsense.

Alot of the games probably technically take place before Ocarina of Time because tere is a seven year gap where we have no idea what happens when you go from kid to adult Link.

@Mray901

I have actually believed there was a timeline until nintendo said there wasnt one in 2006. Now they say there is one. Id say this happened back and forth 3 or 4 times. Now I believe they will be sticking with this plan though. Im just as excited as you are!!!!

I always thought that each game was a standalone adventure except with obvious sequels hence the name LEGEND like each game was a different version of the legend being told differently just like actual legends are. Plus the timelines I have heard make as much sense as shark on a skateboard eating a tofu dog.

boooooooooooo

booooooooooo

never hide something like that

I thought OoT was supposed to be the first one since it explained Ganondorf's origins, where as in the rest he was supposed to be some type of unleashed evil that had been sealed away until "xxx event".

Also the triforce in OoT had been in it's own realm until link opened it, where in the others it always existed in the current realm, just usually shattered or sealed away by people (as opposed to the goddesses sealing it away)

saying that nintendo fans are forgiving is an understatement

As big of a fan of The Legend of Zelda series that I am (OoT is my favorite game of all time period), I still don't understand the timeline of the franchise.  But I wonder if it really is true that Nintendo has the official timeline hidden away, because like linktriforce said, they have flip-floped on this several times.

I guess we will never know...although I would sort of like to, lol.

Personally, I don't find it that difficult to understand the relative sequence of the games released thus far. It makes sense that this game takes place before Ocarina since part of the story has to do with where the Master Sword came from.

This also suggests that Ganon(dorf) will not be the antagonist in this game since he first rises to power in Ocarina (which also suggests that any game in which Ganon(dorf) does appear takes place after Ocarina).

The rest of the sequence can be understood by whether or not the game takes place in Hyrule and what condition Hyrule is in at the time (direct sequels outside of Hyrule notwithstanding).

I'm sure the reason they havent shown the official timeline yet is because it is sooooooooo out of whack, and some games are very difficult to even place on the timeline (for example, the Oracle games). good stuff to know though. I find the timeline to be interesting, so its nice to have SOME confirmation.

i kinda thought that the idea was that link was just an ordinary guy untill zelda gets taken. how can he come from different places and there still be a timeline?

Retarded announcement. There is no point to even having a "document" with a timeline, and even less point in sharing it. I'm about the biggest Zelda fan alive, but really, who cares? I love the games for the gameplay, nostalgia, perfection, and fun they offer. Not continuity. In my opinion, the existence of a "timeline" hurts the series more than helps it. It attempts to rationalize a series of events that are absolutely irrational. Zelda is a story, a theme, and a series of gameplay developments. Like the Final Fantasy series. it doesn't need to be connected the way movies, television, and books do. It's actually quite unique, and they are destroying it in a way. Silly.

*Edit* Nevermind. Clearly, after reading some of the above posts, you guys take the "continuity story" of Zelda pretty seriously. I have no idea why. But you do. So, there's that.

So there's more than just "Link fights Ganon and rescues Zelda through time", "Link fights Ganon and rescues Zelda and is werewolf.", or "Link fights Ganon and rescues Zelda but now some big boy Mr. man just got a brand new choo-choo train for his birthday. Toot toooot!"?

I'm not sure how you can timeline something like this without it feeling shoehorned in (read: Star Wars prequels). I call shenanigans.

Cool

How is that possible when the technology in the Skyward Sword already looks more advanced then in the Ocarina of Time, Nintendo made this up probably a few days ago.

that is really interesting..... i can't wait for skyward sword. Zelda is what got me into gaming in the first place.

i think the timeline goes something like this: Skyward Sword, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Wind Waker, and Phantom hourglass. those are just the ones i've played (besides skyward sword of course) so i dont really know about the other ones

Because THAT makes sense! Then why does he keep getting the stuff over and over (not just the Master Sword). Why doesnt he keep his bow from game to game?