107-552: Hyrule Warriors is a 2014 hack and slash game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja and published by Nintendo for the Wii U . The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda with the gameplay of Koei's Dynasty Warriors series. Hyrule Warriors was released in Japan in August 2014, and worldwide
214-525: A Dragon article by Jean Wells and Kim Mohan which includes the following statement: "There is great potential for more than hacking and slashing in D&;D or AD&D ; there is the possibility of intrigue, mystery and romance involving both sexes, to the benefit of all characters in a campaign." Hack and slash made the transition from the tabletop to role-playing video games , usually starting in D&D -like worlds. This form of gameplay influenced
321-485: A shibboleth and a meme to embarrass newer users of the imageboard website 4chan . Experienced users write it using Unicode characters, but copying and pasting the Triforce results in the symbol becoming misaligned. Due to its simple design and popularity with gamers, the Triforce has become one of the most popular gaming tattoos. Professional wrestler Cody Rhodes , a longtime Legend of Zelda fan, formerly had
428-420: A context-based combat system, in which the player character's abilities change depending on the weapon chosen. Role-playing elements such as weapon and character leveling also appear. Defeating certain enemies gives players weapons bags, which will grant a random weapon to the character, and materials bags, which can be used to power up characters. "Sealed weapons" may also be found in treasure boxes, which increase
535-507: A copy of the game, an art book, a Triforce-shaped clock and two extra costumes for the character. The second special edition, called the "Treasure Box", adds a third costume, a scarf resembling Link's in the game and a miniature treasure chest accessory. A special edition featuring the game and Link's Warrior scarf was released in Europe and Australia. Three costume packs were available as downloadable content (DLC) for those who pre-ordered
642-500: A family crest. Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku commented that, although the inspiration for the Triforce is unknown, the symbol is found on the grave of Japanese video game designer Gunpei Yokoi , creator of the Game Boy , as his family crest or "kamon" (家紋). Florent Gorges, author of The History of Nintendo , opined that the symbol is so ubiquitous in Japan that Yokoi's protégé, Shigeru Miyamoto , could not have ignored it and had reused
749-597: A fourth Adventure map. The final bundle, the "Boss Pack", was released in February in Japan and March in North America and added two new modes: "Boss Challenge", in which players fight multiple boss enemies at once, and "Ganon's Fury", in which players can play certain challenges as final boss Ganon, with a playable giant Cucco for Ganon's Fury and 5 new re-color costumes as rewards. Players who purchased all four packs received an exclusive Dark Link costume. Throughout
856-582: A large equilateral triangle. Its design resembles the Sierpiński triangle . The three pieces are the Triforce of Power, the Triforce of Wisdom, and the Triforce of Courage, which represent the qualities of the Golden Goddesses who create the land of Hyrule, named Din, the Goddess of Power; Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom; and Farore, the Goddess of Courage. In the creation myth of the series, they create
963-510: A major role in Twilight Princess (2006). At the beginning of the game, each of the three main characters is shown to be in possession of their individual component by glowing triangles that appear on their hands, but otherwise the Triforce only appears on murals and buildings. Skyward Sword (2011) again focuses on the creation of the Triforce by the three Goddesses. In the game's backstory, demonic creatures rise from cracks in
1070-411: A manga book published by Viz Media , which is based on Ocarina of Time and follows the game's plot involving Link's quest to protect the Triforce from Ganondorf. In the early 1990s, Valiant Comics published The Legend of Zelda comic book based on the animated series. In the third issue, Link is corrupted by the Triforce of Power and attacks Zelda to obtain the Triforce of Wisdom. In the fifth issue,
1177-449: A person who represents that quality. The three virtues of the Triforce are distributed amongst the three main characters in the series respectively, Ganon , Princess Zelda and Link . In some Zelda games, it manifests as a symbol on the hand of the bearer of one of the pieces. The trinity within the Triforce creates a moral balance, with evil seeking Power, and Wisdom and Courage being the opposing forces for good. A recurring theme of
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#17327730412351284-490: A possible Dynasty Warriors cross-franchise game with Nintendo. Zelda was chosen due to the fact that Hayashi, Koinuma and many staff at the company were fans of the series. When Warriors was presented to Eiji Aonuma, Koei Tecmo used their cross-over game One Piece: Pirate Warriors as an example of how the game would feel. In contrast to previous collaborations, Nintendo was confident in Koei Tecmo's ability to make
1391-474: A series of fake hints that were eventually debunked. Kotaku described it as "one of the greatest hoaxes in video game history". In 2016, Kate Gray of TechRadar noted that players persisted in their search for the Triforce in Ocarina of Time , using various methods of play in the hope of recovering it. Stephen Totilo, writing for Kotaku , highlighted that in 2016 Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma used
1498-620: A sorceress from the same clan as Cia. The group heads to the Valley of Seers hoping to close the Gate of Souls, but Cia traps Link and Sheik, who is revealed as the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom. Cia steals both Triforce pieces, combines them with her own Triforce of Power, and uses the completed Triforce to open portals in time and space to the resting places of Ganondorf's spirit fragments. To restore Hyrule to normal, Link, Impa, and Lana each lead their own campaign to drive out Cia's armies and close
1605-505: A strategic approach that transcends the brute force combo-strings of its moment-to-moment gameplay. All four Famitsu reviewers awarded Hyrule Warriors a score of 9 out of 10, for a total score of 36/40. The game sold 69,090 copies, or 57% of its shipment, on the first week of its release in Japan. However, Hyrule Warriors was more successful in the West, selling 190,000 units in its first weekend in North America. The overseas success of
1712-458: A sub-genre of beat 'em ups . Traditional 2D side-scrolling examples include Taito 's The Legend of Kage (1985) and Rastan (1987), Sega 's arcade video game series Shinobi (1987 debut) and Golden Axe (1989 debut), Data East 's arcade game Captain Silver (1987), Tecmo 's early Ninja Gaiden ( Shadow Warriors ) 2D games (1988 debut), Capcom 's Strider (1989),
1819-405: A wide range of action role-playing games , including games such as Xanadu and Diablo . Triforce The Triforce ( Japanese : トライフォース , Hepburn : Toraifōsu ) is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo 's The Legend of Zelda video game franchise. It first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda video game (1986) and has appeared in every subsequent game in
1926-526: Is a much stronger emphasis on combat than other games in the Legend of Zelda series, the player may use common weapons from prior games in the series, such as a sword , bombs , and Link's signature spin attack. Enemy targeting also returns, in combination with elements from the Dynasty Warriors combat system. Obtaining items through discovering and opening chests is retained as well. The game has
2033-483: Is a sub-genre of beat 'em up games, which focuses on melee combat, usually with swords. Third-person hack and slash games are also sometimes known as character action games and spectacle fighters . The term "hack and slash" was originally used to describe a play style in tabletop role-playing games , carrying over from there to MUDs , massively multiplayer online role-playing games , and role-playing video games . In arcade and console style action video games,
2140-521: Is able to awaken sleeping Zelda from her curse. The third game in the series titled A Link to the Past (1991) introduces a detailed fictional lore for the Triforce. In Japan, it was released with the title Triforce of the Gods . The game's instruction booklet provides the creation myth explaining how three Golden Goddesses named Din, Nayru, and Farore descended to create the land of Hyrule and then created
2247-502: Is defeated and assists Impa in protecting it from the remaining monsters. When they are attacked by an invincible Dark King Dodongo, Linkle's compass suddenly reacts and purifies the creature, allowing them to defeat it and drive the monsters off. Linkle joins the celebration with the rest of the army as Link and Zelda return from restoring the Master Sword to its pedestal. Shortly thereafter, an unknown figure attacks Lana and steals
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#17327730412352354-492: Is equal and could be used by the three main characters for good or evil, depending on how they choose to act. Anthony Bean opined that the Triforce is a symbol of the self in Jungian psychology, because it "serves as a connection between Hyrule (the conscious, mortal realm) and the goddesses (the unconscious, divine realm) just as the self serves as a meeting point for the ego and the unconscious". Edge staff commented that
2461-525: Is prominently displayed on the cover of The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia , which is published by Dark Horse . In 2023, it was recreated as a logic puzzle for Nintendo by a Japanese toy manufacturer. Images of the Triforce appear on a set of official t-shirts that were released for the Triforce-themed Splatfest. The Triforce has become a recognisable icon of The Legend of Zelda series. It has been carved into headstones and used as
2568-642: Is sometimes known as "character action" games, and represent a modern evolution of traditional arcade action games. This subgenre of games was largely defined by Hideki Kamiya , creator of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta . In turn, Devil May Cry (2001) was influenced by earlier hack-and-slash games, including Onimusha: Warlords (2001) and Strider . The term "hack and slash" itself has roots in " pen and paper " role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), denoting campaigns of violence with no other plot elements or significant goal. The term itself dates at least as far back as 1980, as shown in
2675-458: The Zelda chronology has been described by Anouma as "not in the universe but connected to the timeline" and that, "there is a link between the two, but it exists as a separate dimension, so it doesn't exist as part of the main canon". The game was first released in Japan on August 14, 2014, and was available in both regular and special editions. The first special edition, the "Premium Box", features
2782-469: The "delightful Legend of Zelda fan service from beginning to end" while still managing to be "a fine Dynasty Warriors spin-off in its own right". Jim Sterling of The Escapist praised the great variety compared to other Warriors titles, noting the "meaty combat system" and different styles between each playable character, calling the game "a mad idea that should logically get old after an hour, but never does", while Chris Carter of Destructoid called
2889-476: The 3DS version. Medli, from The Wind Waker , was released as a free downloadable character for both versions to coincide with the release of the Master Wind Waker Pack. The second pack, based on Link's Awakening , was released on June 30 in Japan, Europe and North America. The pack added Marin as a playable character and a Boots weapon for Linkle on both versions, and a new Adventure Map for
2996-502: The 3DS version. The third pack, the Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks pack, was released on September 1. The pack included the playable character Toon Zelda and a Sand Wand weapon for Toon Link on both versions, and an additional Adventure Map for 3DS. The final DLC pack, the A Link Between Worlds pack was released on October 31. It contained a final Adventure Mode map for the 3DS version, as well as Ravio and Yuga as
3103-452: The Gates of Souls in each era. Along the way, they are aided by each time period's native heroes, including Darunia and Princess Ruto from Ocarina of Time , Agitha and Midna from Twilight Princess , and Fi from Skyward Sword . During this time, Sheik reveals herself to be Princess Zelda in disguise, and Lana explains that she and Cia were once the same person, with Lana embodying
3210-503: The Hylian army. As Cia's forces attack Hyrule Castle, Link, a Hyrulian soldier-in-training, rushes out to aid the other troops and discovers he possesses the Triforce of Courage. However, the castle is taken and Princess Zelda is unaccounted for in the aftermath, so Hyrule general Impa asks Link to aid her in finding the princess. While searching, Link and Impa meet Sheik , a Sheikah warrior who claims to know Zelda's whereabouts, and Lana,
3317-673: The Hyrule Royal Family's signature crest, which combines the Triforce with a fictional bird called a Crimson Loftwing. It is also found on various objects within the games such as the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield and on sacred sites, such as the Temple of Time. In 1986, the original The Legend of Zelda video game introduced the Triforce, which consisted of two pieces, as a central plot device. It involves
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3424-549: The King are returned to their native time, and Cia is brought back to the castle, where she, Link, and Zelda use the Triforce to restore Hyrule to normal. Having made peace with everyone, Cia returns with Lana to the Valley of Seers to watch over the Triforce together. Hyrule Warriors was announced in December 2013, in a Nintendo Direct video as a collaboration with Koei Tecmo . As such, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that
3531-538: The Nintendo Switch in November 2020. Hyrule Warriors mixes the hack and slash gameplay of Koei Tecmo 's Dynasty Warriors series of video games with settings and characters from Nintendo 's The Legend of Zelda series. Amongst many other characters, the player controls an original iteration of Link in melee combat to take on large numbers of enemies from the Legend of Zelda series. While there
3638-483: The Nintendo Switch. The game acts as the prequel to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild . Hack and slash Hack and slash , also known as hack and slay ( H&S or HnS ) or slash 'em up , refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee -based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as guns) as secondary weapons. It
3745-569: The Nintendo eShop in December 2014. Players who use the Link or Toon Link Amiibo figures with Hyrule Warriors will also unlock the Spinner weapon from Twilight Princess for Link, while scanning other figures will grant the player random equipment or items, with figures based on The Legend of Zelda granting higher-tier rewards. A free update that adds Cia, Volga, and Wizzro as playable characters
3852-507: The Sega Master System game Danan: The Jungle Fighter (1990), Taito's Saint Sword (1991), Vivid Image 's home computer game First Samurai (1991), and Vanillaware 's Dragon's Crown (2013). The term "hack-and-slash" in reference to action-adventure games dates back to 1987, when Computer Entertainer reviewed The Legend of Zelda and said it had "more to offer than the typical hack-and-slash" epics. In
3959-634: The Triforce and entrust it to the Goddess Hylia . As a divine relic infused with the power of the goddesses, the Triforce is an object of limitless power, capable of granting any wish to anyone who touches it. Its place of origin is known as the Sacred Realm. The Triforce can only be wielded by someone who possesses a balance of the three virtues in their heart: Power, Wisdom and Courage. Conversely, if held by someone with an imbalanced heart, it splits into three pieces, with each piece bestowed on
4066-637: The Triforce and imbued it with the essence of their power. In the game's backstory, Ganon enters the Sacred Realm to steal the Triforce and plunges it into darkness, creating the Dark World. To prevent Ganon from escaping and destroying the Light World, Link saves Zelda and the Sages. In the final scenes, he uses the Triforce to wish for the characters in the game to be restored. Ganon, in his humanoid form of Ganondorf, again pursues his goal of obtaining
4173-466: The Triforce consists of two pieces, with Ganon possessing the Triforce of Power and Zelda possessing the Triforce of Wisdom. The plot of each episode revolves around Ganon's attempts to gain control of both Triforce pieces so that he can become the ruler of Hyrule. The series gave the Wisdom and Power pieces a voice and a role in the story. Phil Harnage, one of the show's writers explained that this dialogue
4280-458: The Triforce in Ocarina of Time (1998). Ganondorf manages to gain entry to the Sacred Realm and takes over Hyrule, plunging it into chaos. After a seven-year sleep, Link awakens as an adult and sets off to protect the Triforce from Ganondorf by travelling back and forth in time. With the help of Seven Sages, he successfully defeats Ganondorf by sealing him in the Sacred Realm. The game established
4387-487: The Triforce in Cia's place, and Link and Zelda return the Master Sword to its pedestal to prevent Ganondorf's escape. During Cia's siege on Hyrule Castle, a Cucco farmer named Linkle receives word of the invading army. Believing she is the newest incarnation of the legendary hero, she equips her grandmother's compass and sets off for the castle accompanied by her Cuccos. However, her poor navigational skills causes her to travel in
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4494-429: The Triforce is the deus ex machina of The Legend of Zelda series, stating that, of all the world-saving devices in gaming, it is "the most visually iconic and symbolically potent one" and noted its Christian similarities: "salvation through a trinity that is also one". Luke Plunkett of Kotaku opined that the Triforce is "one of the most iconic designs in the history of video games" and "the object that lies at
4601-590: The Triforce of Power. At the same time, a new rift is opened and pulls pieces of the Great Sea landscape from The Wind Waker into Hyrule, with many of the islands fusing together. At Impa's request, Link goes to the Forsaken Fortress to investigate, where he meets Tetra and aids her in fighting off the gathering monsters. The monsters retreat, but the Helmaroc King abducts Tetra. Link pursues
4708-543: The Triforce on his wrestling boots in his early career with the WWE . The Triforce has inspired the production of Zelda -themed products, including a beer named Triforce IPA. In 2023, the British metal band DragonForce released a single titled " Power of the Triforce ", which is a tribute to The Legend of Zelda series. The Triforce regularly appears on official Zelda merchandise, including clothing and accessories. It
4815-403: The Triforce to reinforce the fixed gender roles of the three main characters in the series. Aonuma stated that the concept of creating a female version of Link, "would mess with the balance of the Triforce" and had been rejected by Nintendo for that reason. Jacob Kastrenakes of The Verge strongly disagreed by commenting that, although the three characters possess and embody the three virtues of
4922-449: The Triforce was introduced in the fictional universe. In Japan, the game is known as Triforce of the Gods 2 , as it is a spiritual sequel to A Link to the Past . It takes place in two mirrored worlds, the Light World (Hyrule) and the Dark World (Lorule). Unlike Hyrule, Lorule has crumbled, caused by its people destroying its own Triforce, due to it being the cause of war. To save her world, Princess Hilda plots to steal Hyrule's Triforce. By
5029-534: The Triforce was simply described as magical triangles of great power, but its significance was expanded in subsequent games. The first game established it as an object of desire and a central plot device that binds the three characters. Initially comprising two pieces, the third piece, the Triforce of Courage, was introduced in Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link . The Triforce consists of three equilateral triangles that are joined to create
5136-456: The Triforce, the pieces could "theoretically be held by others in Hyrule" and that none of the Triforce pieces relate to gender. The Triforce has been the subject of interpretation with regards to its significance within the Zelda series. Luke Cuddy considered that the Triforce can be interpreted as a lesson in morality that can be applied in the real world, as each of the three Triforce pieces
5243-414: The Triforce. In 2017, Nintendo rolled out an escape room experience across eight cities in North America titled "Defenders of the Triforce". "Triforce" is also a name given to an arcade board system that was a joint venture from three companies; Namco , Nintendo and Sega using a combination of Nintendo GameCube and Sega GD-ROM hardware inside a Namco cabinet. The Triforce has been used as
5350-491: The Triforce. In 1992, a Choose Your Own Adventure -style book was released in Japanese titled The Legend of Zelda: The Triforce of the Gods . It was based on A Link to the Past , though some story elements deviated from the game. Two manga adaptations of A Link to the Past were also published by Ataru Cagiva in 1995 and Akira Himekawa in 2005 with the Japanese title Triforce of the Gods . Akira Himekawa also produced
5457-634: The Triforce. It also appears in the Super Smash Bros. series. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl Link uses the Triforce in his final smash. In Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U , Link's and Toon Link's final smash is the Triforce Slash, which traps enemies in the Triforce before relentlessly slashing at them. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate , the Triforce Slash appears in Toon Link's and Young Link's "Final Smash" attack. In
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#17327730412355564-586: The Triforce. Using the completed Triforce's power, the time-displaced heroes are sent back to their own periods and Hyrule is restored to normal, with Lana once again closing the Gate of Souls. However, due to the Master Sword's removal, the last of Ganondorf's spirit fragments is released, and Ganondorf is fully resurrected, summoning Ghirahim from Skyward Sword and Zant from Twilight Princess . With their combined efforts, Ganondorf manages to retake all three Triforce pieces from their bearers, using it to strengthen his army and take over Hyrule Castle. Lana summons
5671-451: The Wild . Hyrule Warriors was met with a generally positive reception and holds an average critic score of 76 out of 100 on Metacritic , indicating "generally favorable reviews" based on 81 reviews. Critics generally praised all the references to the Legend of Zelda universe, while others enjoyed the combination of the two franchises although some criticized the repetition of the fighting formula. Miguel Concepcion of GameSpot praised
5778-443: The ability to switch characters on the fly (utilizing the same real-time character switching mechanic from Samurai Warriors: Chronicles ), and adds two new story chapters: one based around new character Linkle , and one featuring characters and environments from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker that serves as an epilogue. Tetra, King Daphnes and Toon Link, all from The Wind Waker , along with Skull Kid from Majora's Mask and
5885-438: The amount of fan service "staggering" and being particularly favorable towards the cooperative gameplay modes. Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer stated that Team Ninja did a far better job on collaborating with Nintendo on Hyrule Warriors than they had on their last title, Metroid: Other M , stating that the game "isn't a true Zelda game, but there's plenty here for Zelda fans to enjoy". Jose Otero of IGN also enjoyed
5992-545: The balance of the Triforce . Cia becomes fascinated with the spirit of the hero of legend , with her romantic feelings for the hero providing Ganondorf an opportunity to purge her inner light. As a result, Cia becomes consumed in her desires, opening the Gate of Souls, a portal to different time-space realities of Hyrule, to amass an army of monsters. Seeking to unite the Triforce and conquer Hyrule, she uses her subordinates Wizzro and Volga to wage war against Princess Zelda and
6099-471: The bird to the Gerudo Desert and rescues Tetra with help from Lana, who had come to close the open Gates of Souls and find clues as to why Cia vanished. King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule appears to them and explains that an evil from his and Tetra's world is responsible for the recent events. The four journey to the Temple of Souls, where they are attacked by the forces of a dark impostor of Cia. Lana frees
6206-501: The chart locations, returning to Tingle and then finding the Triforce shards. Due to the tedious nature of the task, it was later simplified in The Wind Waker HD . In the finale, Ganondorf unites the Triforce, but before he can make his wish to rule Hyrule, the King of Hyrule's spirit touches it and wishes for Hyrule to be destroyed, resulting in a final battle between Ganondorf, Link and Zelda. The Triforce does not play
6313-439: The concept for the game was a "triangular relationship between three players". Despite its prominence in the Zelda series, the Triforce plays no part in the storyline of Breath of the Wild (2017). It appears in various places within the game and manifests itself on the hand of Zelda in the battle against Calamity Ganon. The three virtues of the Triforce are present in the form of three springs located in different regions of
6420-578: The cross-over, in what he states "makes me feel powerful in a world I love", yet in contrast noted an issue with cooperative play, particularly with the player using the Wii U GamePad such as a lower resolution and slow down. Lorenzo Veloria of GamesRadar however was less favorable of the gameplay ties to the Warriors series that despite "brilliant Zelda fan-service" called the combat "unimaginative" and repetitive, while Dan Ryckert of Giant Bomb felt that
6527-436: The design for the Zelda series. Ashcraft also remarked that the Triforce had such an impact on the younger Japanese generation, that the crest is now widely recognised, not as the mitsuuroko symbol, but as the icon of The Legend of Zelda series. In 1999, the Triforce in Ocarina of Time became the centre of a hoax, where a user account successfully convinced the Zelda fandom that the Triforce could be acquired, by posting
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#17327730412356634-567: The early 21st century, journalists covering the video game industry often use the term "hack and slash" to refer to a distinct genre of 3D , third-person , weapon-based, melee action games. Examples include Capcom's Devil May Cry , Onimusha , and Sengoku Basara franchises, Koei Tecmo 's Dynasty Warriors and 3D Ninja Gaiden games, Sony 's Genji: Dawn of the Samurai and God of War , as well as Bayonetta , Darksiders , Dante's Inferno , and No More Heroes . The genre
6741-601: The earth led by Demonic King Demise with the intention of claiming the Triforce. To protect it, the goddess Hylia commands an army of the world's people to fight Demise. She seals him away and after becoming mortal, sends the humans to live above the surface world in Skyloft. She hides the Triforce in the sky to await the hero, Link, who recovers the three Triforce pieces from the Sky Keep and uses its powers to defeat Demise. In A Link Between Worlds (2013), another version of
6848-473: The end of the game, she sympathises with Hyrule and allows Link and Zelda to return there with their Triforce. In an act of compassion, the two use the Hyrulean Triforce to recreate Lorule's Triforce. Nintendo published Tri Force Heroes (2015) for the 3DS , a cooperative multiplayer game involving three Links dressed in red, blue and green. Hiromasa Shikata, the game's director, explained that
6955-582: The final playable characters for both versions of the game. Players who purchased the season pass received an exclusive Ganondorf costume based on his appearance in The Wind Waker . A port of the game for the Nintendo 3DS , Hyrule Warriors Legends ( Zelda Musou: Hyrule All-Stars in Japan), was announced at Nintendo's Digital Event at E3 2015 . The port includes all previously released DLC, features
7062-590: The following month. It became one of the best-selling games on the Wii U . An updated port , Hyrule Warriors Legends , was released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan in January 2016 and worldwide in March of the same year. A second enhanced port, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition , was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. A successor, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity , was released exclusively for
7169-449: The game at specific retailers. Each of these gave Link and Zelda one additional costume based on their appearances in a prior Legend of Zelda title, including Ocarina of Time , Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword . Players who registered the game on Club Nintendo within the first month of release received costumes for Ganondorf based on Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess . These DLC packs were later made available for purchase via
7276-699: The game only supports autostereoscopic 3D on the New Nintendo 3DS . The port was released in Japan in January 2016, and released internationally in March. A Nintendo Switch port under the name Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition ( Zelda Musou: Hyrule All-Stars DX in Japan) was released in Japan in March 2018, and worldwide in May. The port includes all the content and DLC from the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS releases, as well as new costumes for Link and Zelda based on their appearances in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of
7383-418: The game would not be the next main series installment of The Legend of Zelda , but rather a spin-off from the main series. Long-time Zelda producer, Eiji Aonuma , was the supervisor of the title. The concept for Hyrule Warriors was first proposed by Team Ninja lead developer Yosuke Hayashi while he and Koei Tecmo executive VP Hisashi Koinuma, who was in charge of the Warriors franchise, were discussing
7490-578: The game's launch date added "Challenge Mode", which encourages players to collect as many rupees as possible in a set scenario. The in-game Bazaar allows players to forge new weapons, spend rupees to raise characters' levels, create potions to temporarily boost a character's stats in battle, and exchange materials for badges that augment characters' abilities. The game also offers an additional quest to collect 100 Gold Skulltulas, tokens that appear in specific Legend Mode and Adventure Mode levels after defeating enough enemies, which will unlock illustration pieces of
7597-411: The game's story; these story chapters can be replayed with any character in "Free Mode". Additionally, the game features an "Adventure Mode", in which players explore a map based on that of the original The Legend of Zelda and complete specific objectives, such as defeating a certain number of enemies within a time limit or completing a mission with a specific character and weapon. An update released on
7704-485: The game's website, confirming Fi, Ruto, Darunia and Sheik as playable characters, as well as Ghirahim, the Imprisoned and a version of Gohma as boss characters. During a Nintendo Direct presentation in August, Zant and Ghirahim were also confirmed to be playable, alongside the game's main antagonist and final playable character, Ganondorf. A female version of Link was also considered as a potential playable character, but
7811-434: The game, leading them to have "far more expectations than uncertainties". This confidence was shared by Aonuma, who readily accepted being offered a place in the game's development by Shigeru Miyamoto . Part of the reason behind Aonuma's strong support of Hyrule Warriors is an ongoing push by him to break away from many traditions that have become attached to the Zelda franchise since its inception. Along with Omega Force ,
7918-647: The grand prix cups is known as the "Triforce Cup" with custom vehicle parts including the Triforce Tires. The Triforce was used in Splatoon 3 by Nintendo to promote Tears of the Kingdom prior to its release in May 2023. In the Triforce Splatfest, players were asked to choose Power, Wisdom or Courage as their team. The Tricolor Turf War was fought on a triangular map to represent the shape of
8025-407: The heart of The Legend of Zelda ". Eurogamer staff commented that the Triforce symbolises "Zelda's perpetually cycling legend" and is the blueprint for every game in the series, with Link representing "agency, curiosity, the eternal innocence", Ganon representing "selfishness, megalomania, destruction" and Zelda representing "insight and direction". Nicole Carpenter for Polygon commented that
8132-502: The heraldry of the Kingdom of Hyrule . Shigeru Miyamoto , creator of The Legend of Zelda series, explained his vision for the first game in an interview with Gamekult . He said that the Triforce fragments were originally supposed to be electronic chips, as the game was intended to be set in both the past and the future. This early futuristic concept was abandoned and replaced by a heroic fantasy. In The Legend of Zelda video game,
8239-400: The hero, Link, embarking on a quest to save Hyrule from the evil Ganon, who has stolen the Triforce of Power. After Princess Zelda splits the Triforce of Wisdom into eight fragments and scatters them across the land, Link must search for the fragments and reassemble them to rescue Princess Zelda and defeat Ganon. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987) established the Triforce of Courage as
8346-412: The heroes from Hyrule's history, and the combined group of heroes defeat Ghirahim and Zant before venturing towards Ganon's Tower. Link manages to defeat Ganondorf, but he uses the Triforce to transform himself into Beast Ganon. With the help of Zelda's light arrows, Link defeats Ganon, and the heroes use the Triforce to seal him away once more. The heroes of the past are returned, Lana resumes watching over
8453-623: The light Ganondorf purged from Cia's heart. Meanwhile, three of Ganondorf's spirit fragments are released, allowing for his body to be resurrected. No longer needing Cia, he attempts to take the Triforce, but Cia sends Link and Zelda's pieces back to their owners and uses her own piece to lock Ganondorf away. After retrieving the Master Sword, whose power is strengthened by his bonds of friendship, Link prepares to confront Cia, who has been weakened after being abandoned by Wizzro and Volga and using her own life force to strengthen her troops. He defeats her and she fades away, with Lana inheriting her piece of
8560-472: The main developers for the Dynasty Warriors series, Hayashi and Koinuma brought in help from Team Ninja, who had developed the Dead or Alive series, to help more with one-on-one combat and inject new ideas into the development process. Koei Tecmo's president Yoichi Erikawa said that he hoped Hyrule Warriors would appeal to fans of both franchises and go on to sell at least one million copies. Hyrule Warriors
8667-506: The map, namely the Spring of Power, the Spring of Wisdom and the Spring of Courage. The Triforce continued to be absent from the series as a plot device with the release of Tears of the Kingdom (2023), although it appears on in-game architecture and as a tattoo on the arm of the character Sonia. This has led to speculation amongst players that it has been abandoned as a major element of the series. In The Legend of Zelda animated series
8774-456: The mission variety was "basic" and full of "mindless slashing". The review for GameTrailers concluded that "your long term enjoyment of this game boils down to how much you like Dynasty Warriors , or hack-and-slash games in general". By contrast, Simon Parkin of Eurogamer felt that Warriors gameplay is "often unfairly criticized", before going on to state that compared to previous titles Hyrule Warriors rewards thoughtful play and demands
8881-456: The months following the game's launch. The first DLC bundle, the " Master Quest Pack", was released in October 2014. This bundle included a new "Cia's Tale" story campaign, alternate Guardian of Time costumes for Lana and Cia, Epona as a weapon for Link, 16 unlockable character re-color costumes, and most notably, a second map for Adventure Mode. The second bundle, the "Twilight Princess Pack",
8988-446: The mythology of the Zelda series, the Triforce has become a widely recognisable symbol in gaming. Although the Triforce has become associated with The Legend of Zelda series, an identical symbol originated nearly 1,000 years before in medieval Japan . The symbol takes historical reference from the Hōjō clan , a family that took control of Japan in the 13th century . Its emblem ( mon )
9095-434: The original character Linkle, the aforementioned girl who resembles Link, appear as new playable characters. The game features a new "My Fairy" system and an additional Adventure Mode map inspired by The Wind Waker , as well as more costumes and a new Trident weapon for Ganondorf. Players who purchased the 3DS version received a download code to add the new characters and weapon to the Wii U version. Due to hardware limitations,
9202-465: The real Cia from the darkness, who explains her magic was stolen after her defeat by Phantom Ganon, the true mastermind behind the recent events, which had caused her to disappear. The group tracks him to his hideout, a fusion of the Earth and Wind Temples, and defeat him. As he dissipates, Cia's magic is returned to her and the Triforce of Power is released from his body, which Lana returns to Cia. Tetra and
9309-466: The same game, Zelda uses the Triforce of Wisdom as her Final Smash, which produces a glowing triangle that sucks in opponents and deals damage. In Sonic Lost World ' s The Legend of Zelda DLC stage, Sonic the Hedgehog travels through Hyrule in search of the Triforce. In Mario Kart 8 ' s The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8 expansion pack and its enhanced Nintendo Switch port , one of
9416-476: The second storyline is titled "The Day of the Triforce", which involves Link battling without his Triforce power due to its disappearance. The Triforce has appeared in various other video games. In the series spin-off hack and slash video game Hyrule Warriors (2014), the Triforce is the objective for one of the main antagonists, Cia. Originally a guardian of the Triforce, she is corrupted by Ganon after displaying affections for Link and builds an army to obtain
9523-486: The series is Ganon's plan to steal the Triforce from the Sacred Realm in order to use its power to conquer Hyrule, which is ultimately thwarted by Link and Zelda. This places the three characters in an endless battle that is repeated across the fictional timeline within a reincarnation cycle. The Triforce is a common symbol found in the series. It is connected with the Royal Family of Hyrule and displayed as part of
9630-404: The series. It consists of three equilateral triangles that are joined to form a large equilateral triangle. In the fictional history of the series, it represents the essence of the Golden Goddesses named Din , Nayru and Farore who create Hyrule . Imbued with divine power, it is capable of granting any wish to anyone who possesses it. The three pieces of the Triforce are in the possession of
9737-411: The several characters in the game and contribute to upgrading the in-game apothecary. The game is set in Hyrule, outside of the official Zelda timeline . Long ago, Ganondorf was defeated and his soul splintered into four fragments. Three of them were sealed in different moments in time, while the Master Sword trapped the fourth. Ganondorf plots his resurrection through Cia, a sorceress who protects
9844-437: The term has an entirely different usage, specifically referring to action games with a focus on real-time combat with hand-to-hand weapons as opposed to guns or fists. The two types of hack-and-slash games are largely unrelated, though action role-playing games may combine elements of both. In the context of action video games , the terms "hack and slash" or "slash 'em up" refer to melee weapon-based action games that are
9951-464: The third piece of the Triforce. The game's instruction manual tells the backstory of Princess Zelda being placed in a magical sleep by a wizard and sets Link's fate as the hero who will wake her by marking the back of his hand with the Triforce. The story involves Link obtaining six crystals and then claiming the Triforce of Courage from the Great Palace. Using the three pieces of the Triforce, he
10058-587: The three main characters of the series, Ganon , Zelda and Link , who each embody one of its virtues: Power, Wisdom and Courage. The Triforce has frequently been the main objective in the series, requiring the player to search for its shards and protect it from Ganon, who seeks its power for evil purposes. The Triforce is a central motif of The Legend of Zelda series, frequently appearing in Zelda iconography and merchandise. It has appeared in related media, including manga , video games and an animated television series . Due to its prominence and significance within
10165-404: The title surprised Koei Tecmo, since it had sold beyond their expectations. By January 2015, the game had shipped one million copies. In October 2018, a financial report published by Koei Tecmo revealed that the Nintendo Switch port sold more than expected outside Japan, despite not revealing sales figures. Another Hyrule Warriors game, Age of Calamity , was released on November 20, 2020 for
10272-404: The trinity of the characters each embodying one of the virtues of the Triforce. When the game duo titled The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages (2001) were conceived, they were originally intended to be a trilogy, with each story centred on one of the three virtues of the Triforce. In each game the Triforce initiates the adventure by summoning Link and transporting him to
10379-439: The types of weapons randomly generated for the player in the field. The game supports an asymmetric local two-player mode with one player using the Wii U GamePad and another using a monitor. The game is also compatible with Amiibo figures, with figures based on The Legend of Zelda series unlocking additional content such as new weapons. The main campaign of Hyrule Warriors , "Legend Mode", allows players to progress through
10486-429: The worlds of Holodrum and Labrynna to collect eight Essences of Nature or Time in order to defeat the games' villains, Onox and Veran. In The Wind Waker (2002), Link must collect eight pieces of the Triforce of Courage, which are scattered across the islands on the map, before he is ready to confront Ganondorf. The Triforce hunt, which was described by GameSpot as "infamous", is a lengthy process involving finding
10593-517: The wrong direction, and she is attacked by Skull Kid , who attempts to steal her compass. During the struggle, Linkle discovers the compass's magical properties and reclaims it, setting off once more. As she continues to get lost, she runs into many of the heroes from Hyrule's past and aids them, such as helping Fi prevent the Imprisoned's summoning, protecting Ruto and Darunia from an ambush by Volga's forces, and briefly restoring Midna to her true form. Finally, she arrives at Hyrule Castle just after Ganon
10700-499: The year 2016, four new DLC packs for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS versions of the game were released, containing additional Adventure Mode maps, characters, costumes, and more. The Wii U version received all packs except for the first one. The packs could be purchased individually or as part of a season pass . The first pack, the "Master Wind Waker Pack", added a "Master Quest" version of the Great Sea Adventure Map for
10807-838: Was later announced for Hyrule Warriors Legends during the Nintendo Direct web stream in November 2015. Former Nintendo character writer Chris Pranger stated that Linkle was the last character he wrote for before leaving Nintendo. Hyrule Warriors ' relationship to the Zelda franchise is classified in a few different ways. Iwata himself has called the game a "Zelda spin-off", and Nintendo's own website directly refers to both Hyrule Warriors and Hyrule Warriors: Legends as "The Legend of Zelda Games". The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia grouped it in with other games with Zelda content in it, such as Super Smash Bros. , Soul Calibur II , and Sonic Lost World . The game's placement within
10914-553: Was publicly displayed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2014 with a new trailer, in which Agitha, Lana, and Midna were confirmed as playable characters. Zant and Argorok were also confirmed as boss characters. The game also appeared in playable form for show floor attendees, as part of a Nintendo Treehouse presentation. Over the time span following the E3 announcement, Nintendo has released further information on
11021-546: Was released in November, and added Twili Midna as a playable character, the Dominion Rod weapon for Zelda, Ilia and Postman costumes for Zelda and Link respectively, 16 unlockable character re-color costumes, and a third Adventure Map. The third bundle, the " Majora's Mask Pack", was released in February 2015 and added Tingle and Young Link as playable characters, a Skull Kid costume for Lana, Ocarina of Time costumes for Sheik and Impa, 16 unlockable mask-based costumes and
11128-433: Was released in October 2014. The game has since received a series of free updates that add several other features, such as a higher level cap, new character and weapon skins, and additional challenges. An additional "Classic Tunic" costume for Link based on the original The Legend of Zelda was distributed for free in celebration of Hyrule Warriors Legends ' announcement. Additionally, four DLC packs were released in
11235-474: Was scrapped during development. Sketches of the female version were included in the Hyrule Warriors art book included in the Japanese limited editions of the game and the character grew in popularity shortly afterwards, becoming one of the more widely requested characters during Koei Tecmo's open call for new playable characters in the game's official Twitter. The female version, officially named Linkle,
11342-418: Was the mitsuuroko , or "three scales". The symbol also appears frequently in contemporary Japanese culture. It appears on the logos for large and small businesses and can be found on temples and family memorials. Since the release of The Legend of Zelda video game in 1986, the Triforce has become a recognisable icon of The Legend of Zelda series, appearing in every game in some form, particularly as part of
11449-460: Was used to explain the show's events. The cartoon's voice cast included Elizabeth Hanna as the Triforce of Wisdom and Allen Stewart-Coates as the Triforce of Power. Following the release of The Legend of Zelda video game, a companion manga book titled The Hyrule Fantasy was released in Japan by Wanpaku Comics in September 1986. It follows the game's story, involving the eight fragments of
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