The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia

I purchased this The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule History because Zelda is one of my favorite game series of all time and I wanted to complete the trilogy of this collection (the other two books being Art & Artifacts which is okay and the Encyclopedia which is fantastic). I mainly wanted this book because I have never understood how the games fit together and are related, and this book goes into the timeline with diagrams and explanations, which you can see in one of my pictures. That part is great, and I won't spoil the fun by going into any more detail other than to say the author isn't making any official declarations and supposes different split timelines, as in different outcomes to battles and evil-sealings which splinters the realities into different paths so that two games can coexist together when they suppose completely opposite things happened in their beginnings.The other picture is a view of the pages from the side. The dark spot in the left to middle is the actual History, the timeline and explanation part. The part to the left of that is the details of Skyward Sword for Wii. Everything to the right of the dark pages is art and concept stuff. That is to say, there's a TON of filler in this book. If you're looking for hundreds of pages of history, you're not going to get it. I played Skyward Sword, and it was my least favorite Zelda game just because of the motion controls, so I wasn't into that part of the book, and it's a major part.This book does have some good information. One section offers the suggestion that the Ocarina from Ocarina of Time may be made from the same blue stone material as the time stones in Skyward Sword. (In that game you push a mine cart with special stone in it, and everything around the stone is transported back in time, so the desert around you turns to lush green grasslands. It was my favorite part of the game.) I would have never put the two items together. I want more of stuff like that, and that's my biggest complaint with the book: the stuff I really enjoyed about the book was also the smallest portion of it.I still highly recommend this book to collectors of Zelda stuff. It's a big book with shiny gold letters and looks good on my gaming shelf with the rest of the collection. 4/5 stars

I have been a fan of the Zelda series ever since was quite young, the N64 Games, the Gameboy, and especially Wind Waker on Gamecube were among the highlights of my childhood. I remember not only enjoying the games, experiencing their stories, and exploring the worlds, but desiring more of it all. When I got into my mid-teens I began researching video-games on the internet, and I learned a lot more about the games and how they evolved and came to be. Well image my elation when this book was announced. unfortunately, doe to other things going on in my life, I didn't get the book right away. But now that has been remedied. I am so glad to have this book, i almost feel as though I am with he creators of the game during their brainstorming and designing of each incredible quest in this long-running series, the amount of notes and concept art shows just how much thought and passion went into every character and every story, it is truly amazing to see how much heart was poured into this games. If I seem rather vague on specifics, other reviewers are most assuredly on this site, and I really must encourage you to read some of this books other glowing reviews, because so many people have gone over this book and reviewed better than I could: and I really don't want to just be shampooing and rinsing twice, if you get what I mean. If you are a fan of The Legend of Zelda, you have no reason to miss out on this book.

As a Zelda fan, I have long wanted to know the official timeline for the Zelda Universe, and this book definitely provides that and so much more. Before I bought this book, I had been uncertain if it would live up to my expectations, but I finally decided to buy it in late 2013; I've now had it for more than two years, and I am still looking at this book all of the time -- needless to say it was far better than anything I had hoped for. I realize that the review I am about to give may be quite long, but it is also extremely detailed and covers a lot more of the book's content than most reviews tend to discuss. I hope you will take the time to read it so that you know exactly what to expect when you purchase this product. Here is a list of the main sections in the book, where I will explain what may be expected in each and review it:The Legend Begins: The World of Skyward SwordThis is the first major section in the book, where you will find a great deal of interesting concept art and also small notes on each character/location written by some of the game's creators, which are actually very insightful, and sometimes quite amusing. Yes, this section does take up a large part of the book, and rightfully so; this book was released as a celebration of the 25th Anniversary, and, by extent, the release of Skyward Sword, which was, at the time, the newest Zelda game. This may annoy some fans, but it should be kept in mind that Skyward Sword is not just another new Zelda game, but also the "origin story" of the Zelda universe. Naturally this wonderful game would get a lot of love and attention, and any true Zelda fan should be able to understand that to celebrate Skyward Sword is to celebrate the origin of the beloved series and every other game in it. I find it terribly sad that people claim to care so much about what's canon and what's not, but then choose to ignore a game that is canonically at the start of everything on the timeline, and as a result, needlessly bash this book for respecting that. This is not a huge advertisement, but a celebration that Zelda has made it this many years and is finally able to reward fans with an origin story. As a fan of the game, I can definitely say that this section is very satisfying and does not miss a single aspect of it. As a bonus, there is also a panel of additional facts, hints, and interesting theories about the things in Skyward Sword and their possible relation to the other games on the bottom of most pages in this section.The History of Hyrule: A ChronologyThis is probably the thing that people purchasing the book will be the most interested in, as it is an actual list on the official chronological order of the different Zelda games, according to Hyrule's historical events. All of the core games in the series up until Skyward Sword are included here; however, all of the spin-offs (e.g., Link's Crossbow Training), the two Satellaview games, Soulcalibur 2, and, thankfully, the awful CDi games, are not listed here. It is very well written, with a few mysteries that leave the reader with some very interesting questions, but not so many that the games seem out of place in the chronology. The timeline splits off in three directions after Ocarina of Time, but this should be no problem for anyone who is even just beginning to understand the concept of alternate universes, also called multiverse. In short, it is listing a set of three universes that occurr as a result of different possible outcomes at the ending of Ocarina of Time. It may sound difficult, but it is actually quite simple; this topic is covered in many different games, books, and TV shows nowadays, so I'm sure a great deal of people out there will be able to grasp this without any trouble. Furthermore, it gives some details about the first legend of Zelda game and Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link that the original games could not provide, such as the story of what happened just before the game began that set Link on his adventures. In addition to this, many of the pages detailing each era also include a small chart at the bottom of the page showing the Hylian writing of that particular time, along with a way to translate it into either Japanese or English. This is very important to those who have always wanted to read the writing placed on many signs and objects throughout the different games, so fans are sure to be pleased that these official translating guides are finally available. The Skyward Sword writing, however, was left out because Nintendo had intended for fans to try and figure it out (many already have).Creative Footprints: Documenting 25 Years of ArtworkAs the name would suggest, this section is full of artwork from the other core games in the Zelda series. It is definitely true that there is more artwork for the newer games like Twilight Princess and the Wind Waker, but I do not feel that this means they are ignoring the older games; I realize that the other artwork is simply more easy to find and publish because it is newer. As they said, for the older games, they had to dig through stacks of old documents to find the concept art, whereas the newer art would be more accessible. Also, it is unlikely that there would be much art for some of the older games, since the game systems were extremely limited in graphics, and as a result, not much detail could be put into designs that would be visible within the games themselves. Overall, this is a pretty large section, so they certainly were generous with the amount of art put in it.Special Comic: The Skyward Sword Manga by Akira HimekawaThis was a very special manga requested by Eiji Aonuma for the 25th anniversary. As is stated by Akira Himekawa in the back of the Hyrule Historia book, this was also to celebrate the release of Skyward Sword and tell a story connected to the game that would complete the "very first Zelda tale" (Skyward Sword). As with most manga, it is read in the traditional Japanese right to left, back to front reading format. Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT a preview for a longer Skyward Sword manga; this is just a very short, very special story. There will not be a bigger manga released later, as is evident now that well over three years have passed since Hyrule Historia's initial release.The story starts out in beautiful full-color, then goes to black and white after a few pages. Some people find this disappointing, but I for one am quite happy with it as it is. The art style is beautiful and perfectly suited to the Zelda style. The story is top-notch and extremely touching, describing the tale of the war between the goddess Hylia and the Demon King Demise, the ascension of Skyloft, and the true origin of the Zelda/Link reincarnation cycle, along with introducing the very first Link, Hylia's Chosen Hero, and explaining his bond with the Crimson lofting. Now, some people claim that some things contradict the games and therefore cannot be true; however, in my opinion, this is incorrect. The Master Sword could have existed previously, been forged by Link and his comrades who would later be called the Seven Sages, and then devolved after the Triforce left its blade and entered the Silent Realm, just for example. In any event, I simply wanted to point out that while other reviewers claimed it non-canon, this was actually never said, and since I realize that many will skip over it if they feel it isn't canon, I wanted to clear that up, so hopefully more people will give it a read and enjoy this book to its fullest. In fact, since it was requested by Zelda's creators and placed in this official book, I think it's pretty safe to say that it is canon. Definitely worth a read, and in my opinion, worthy of its own separate game. I have to say this is my favorite part of the book, as it truly made sense of everything that I still had questions about in regards to Link and Zelda. If you are worried that this story may disappoint you, don't be; I am a huge Zelda fan and adore all of the core games in the series, but this story still holds an extremely special place in my heart, perhaps even slightly above any Zelda game I have ever played (and I've played them all); it's that good. Akira Himekawa's love and respect for the series truly shows in every aspect of this tale, and the final lines in the story really sum up the Zelda series beautifully; "a story that weaves destinies and spans eternity".At the start of the book and just before the manga are two small sections in which Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma, respectively, say a few words about their love for the Zelda series and thank the fans for their continued support, nicely wrapping up the book in a very nostalgic way.The name Hyrule Historia is not intended to imply that the book is mostly about the development of past games, or the history of the series as it has evolved over the years, although it does provide some of that; the name refers to the chronological history of Hyrule that is shown in the book, with all of the events talked about and shown in Skyward Sword being at the beginning of that timeline. Anyone who buys this book would do well to remember that, as it is unfair to expect the book to be about the official chronology, and still not have any focus on Skyward Sword over the rest. As a whole, the book is beautiful and interesting, the price is extremely amazing compared to the usual price in-store, and though it took a while to arrive from overseas, it was well worth the wait. I know that some reviewers complained that their book did not arrive with enough protective packaging, and as a result, was damaged, but this was not the case for me; it arrived in a very large box filled with protective bubble pack, and was in perfect condition, as I bought it new. I highly recommend this book to any and all Zelda fans, and I sincerely hope that if you are undecided about whether or not to buy it, like I had been, this review will have convinced you to give it a shot. You will never regret it.

I have several publications related to the Legend of Zelda and let me tell you, this is the best so far. The quality of the pages, the hard cover and the contents are superb. I have to be honest though, the time line is more than a bit confusing. I guess I had made up my mind that each was some sort of a separate story that had the same themes (ala parallel universe sort of thing). Anyway, the art and inside information alone are reasons enough for any Legend of Zelda Fan to NOT miss this book! I wish I had the leather-bound edition...

great book, great print, great info!!!!! if you are a Zelda fan and still don't have it there are two reasons for it 1) you are not really a Zelda fan 2) you are poor, really poor because its cheap (from $35 to $20) there is no excuse... sorry if I hurt feelings but just saying....the only thing that may bother you after having it for a time is that half of it is skyward sword related, i love the game but for a Zelda "encyclopedia like book" there is far more richness in old games that could have make it a better value for a anniversary edition, still nice for my collection and nice partner for my jap version....

My book came in perfect condition. Not a single dent or crease. I did order mine with other amazon items so the bundled my items, it could have helped.As for the contents, it is a lot of skyward sword but I love everything that's included. It's a great purchase for any LOZ fan

I wanted to give the book 5 stars, I know that many may already know that it does talk about Skyward Sword more than any of the other games but the book still offers a lot of drawings and insight into the Zelda games and their history. I even learned some things I didn't know and I'm huge fan of the Zelda series and have all the games (except the two Zelda games for the Gameboy color the Oracle of Ages and the Oracle of Seasons which I hope are offered on Virtual Console for the 3DS eventually if they are not already). The book is very well made the pages are thick and the images are vivid with color, and whether you are new to the series or not I believe you would enjoy this book for the price it is.

Finally a book that showcases all that the Zelda franchise has ever been, and it's been compiled neatly in one beautiful hard bound embossed book. You get all the facts on each major game as well as the chronology of said games, something that has always been debated. And while some might argue that it ruins and limits the series to do so, it's great to finally see how Nintendo and Miyamoto had envisioned this great series to unfold. A must have for every Zelda fan out there, and a great companion piece to the Prima Games strategy guide Collector's box set.

I cannot describe how ecstatic I was when this arrived in the mail. I've been an avid Zelda fan since I was 12 years old (I'm 19 right now) and have played every game. As soon as Nintendo announced that they would release this, I knew I just HAD to buy it. It is everything I had hoped for. It is quite heavy but beautifully bound together and looks like an anthology. People complain that the cover is ugly but I honestly don't see what's wrong with it... It's exactly what the picture is. The book contains beautiful concept arts and never-before-seen artwork of unused enemies, levels, etc. from various games. I do admit the book does contain a huge chunk on Skyward Sword, but since that's the most recent game I guess that's to be expected. The first chapter is pretty much on that game. The chronology of the Zelda game follows and then afterwards there is a lot of in-depth description about every Zelda game created, even rare ones. There's a lot of concept art for every game as well, as well as a timeline of how Link has changed from the original NES title to Skyward Sword (the same goes for Zelda and Ganondorf). At the end of the book, there is a manga about Skyward Sword. However, you must read it from the back to the front like the traditional Japanese manga.All in all, I honestly believe this was a great investment. It's a LOT cheaper here on Amazon compared to other sites, especially in stores, so I think you should get it on here (especially if you have Amazon Prime). My boyfriend and I love the series and I cried tears just going through this book. Greatest creation ever.

I purchased this The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule History because Zelda is one of my favorite game series of all time and I wanted to complete the trilogy of this collection (the other two books being Art & Artifacts which is okay and the Encyclopedia which is fantastic). I mainly wanted this book because I have never understood how the games fit together and are related, and this book goes into the timeline with diagrams and explanations, which you can see in one of my pictures. That part is great, and I won't spoil the fun by going into any more detail other than to say the author isn't making any official declarations and supposes different split timelines, as in different outcomes to battles and evil-sealings which splinters the realities into different paths so that two games can coexist together when they suppose completely opposite things happened in their beginnings.The other picture is a view of the pages from the side. The dark spot in the left to middle is the actual History, the timeline and explanation part. The part to the left of that is the details of Skyward Sword for Wii. Everything to the right of the dark pages is art and concept stuff. That is to say, there's a TON of filler in this book. If you're looking for hundreds of pages of history, you're not going to get it. I played Skyward Sword, and it was my least favorite Zelda game just because of the motion controls, so I wasn't into that part of the book, and it's a major part.This book does have some good information. One section offers the suggestion that the Ocarina from Ocarina of Time may be made from the same blue stone material as the time stones in Skyward Sword. (In that game you push a mine cart with special stone in it, and everything around the stone is transported back in time, so the desert around you turns to lush green grasslands. It was my favorite part of the game.) I would have never put the two items together. I want more of stuff like that, and that's my biggest complaint with the book: the stuff I really enjoyed about the book was also the smallest portion of it.I still highly recommend this book to collectors of Zelda stuff. It's a big book with shiny gold letters and looks good on my gaming shelf with the rest of the collection. 4/5 stars