The phenomenon started in 1986, in Japan when the very first title came out The Legend of Zelda. As of December of 2011 a total of 67.93 million copies have been sold since the very first Zelda hit the markets. This game will end up being one of Nintendo's biggest franchises, and usually most anticipated games to be released when Nintendo releases a new system. This game is a mixture of action adventure and puzzle solving game play. This has remained to be the same throughout the series of the game with some slight add-on or refinements with each game.

            In 1987 Zelda II The Adventures of Link was released in Japan. Zelda II was more of a side scrolling type of game, where the first game was more of a top view type of game play. Also Zelda II brought in a RPG type of feel where experience points where actually used in the second game and not the first game.

            Four years later The Adventures of Zelda A Link To The Past was released and brought back the top-down view from the first game. This game added the concept of an alternate dimension called the Dark World. This game was first released for the Super Nintendo in 1991, and then re-released for the Game boy Advance in 2002.

            The next game to be released in 1993 was Link's Awakening, which is the first Zelda game for the original Game boy. Link’s Awakening is the first game of the series to have nothing to do with Princess Zelda and set outside of Hyrule. In 1998 Link’s Awakening was re-released for Game Boy Color, which had added colored dungeons and compatibility with the Game Boy Printer.

            Also released in 1998 was the first 3D Zelda game for the Nintendo 64, Ocarina Time. This game made the all time best game list, and scored perfect scores in multiple video game publications. Ocarina Time core game play was just like the 2D games made before hand. This game was so good that Nintendo Power ranked Ocarina Time as the best game ever made for a Nintendo game console.

            Ocarina Time was then re-released in 2002 for the Nintendo Game Cube as a bonus to pre-ordering The Wind Waker. This bonus was in every copy of The Wind Waker except for the player’s choice version, which was sold at a discounted price. Ocarina Time was then re-released again as an add-on game for the Game Cube in 2003. Currently Ocarina Time is available on the Wii’s Virtual Console service as well as vizzed.com.

            In April of 2000 Ocarina Times follow up game was then released using the same 3D engine. This game was called Majora’s Mask. This game added a time-base concept, which allowed Link to relive events of three days until the games objective is complete. At first Majora’s Mask was named Zelda Gaiden, which translates into Zelda’s Side Story. The game play of Majora’s Masked change completely, besides the time-based concept that was added Majora’s Masked also allowed players to masks that would allow a player to use to change Link to different creatures, which each had their own special abilities. Another add-on that Majora’s Mask added in game play is motion-blur. Also unlike the other Zelda games Majora’s Mask is much darker. As a large moon descends upon Termina, the sense of impending doom is felt through out the game. Death and tragedy are dealt with differently as well. Majora’s Mask is available on the Wii’s virtual console, as well as, vizzed.com.

            The next two games to be release in the Zelda series were Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. These two games were released at the same time for Game Boy Color in 2000. They brought with them a password compatibility. When a player completes on game they are given a password that allows them to continue on to the other game. Also it was these two games that were the first Zelda games to use the game link cable. Oracle of Ages was more of a puzzle-based game where Oracle of Season was an action base game. Both games were made by flagship in conjunction with Nintendo. This team was also the same team to have ported successfully the original Legend of Zelda to Game Boy Color. After the porting of Legend of Zelda they decided to try and make a trilogy called the “Triforced Series.” However, the password system for the three games ended up being to complicated that the team decided to drop one game and only have the two. Which ended up being Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of ages.

            The Nintendo Game Cube would introduce to the gaming world in August of 2000. Just A day short from the 2000 Spaceworld exposition, software where fans were able to see a real-time version of Gandondorf and Link battle. At Spaceworld 2001 Nintendo showed clips of a would be Zelda game. This game would later be released in 2002 as The Wind Waker.

            The Wind Waker would surprise the creator of the Zelda series. His intentions were to make a Zelda that would reach the interest of all ages. Instead, the media surprised him when they reported that Zelda had changed the age they were targeting to a much younger audience. The game play centers on controlling a wind baton and sailing a boat around an island-filled ocean. However, it kept with the same game playing tactics as the other 3D games that were made before it.

            Four Swords Adventures for the Game Cube is the next game that would be release in this historic series. In Japan and North America it would release in early 2004, however, Four Swords wouldn’t release in Europe until 2005. Four Swords Adventures was again based off of the hand held Four Swords. The game play for this game was based mostly on the first couple of Zelda’s that came before Ocarina Time. This game focused on level-based and multiplayer-based game play, and also had two different game modes that players could play. The first game mode was Hyrulean Adventures; this game play was like the game play of other Zelda games. The second game mode was Shadow Battles; this game mode allowed for multiple Links to be played by multiple players and battle each other.

            The next game to be made would be The Minish cap for the Game Boy Advance. The player was able to obtain a hat named Ezio, which gave the player the ability to shrink Link. This allowed the player to see previous dungeons that were already explored in a new perspective and allow players to go to new areas that were once deemed impassable.

            In November of 2006 Twilight Princess was released as the first Zelda for the Nintendo Wii. Later in December of 2006 Twilight Princess would be released for the Nintendo Game Cube. The console that it was originally created for, however, the Wii version introduced a reverse world to the Nintendo Game Cubes version. Everything that was on the West for the Wii version of Twilight Princess was on the east end of Twilight Princess for the Game Cube and visa versa. The Wii game was mirrored to make Link right handed so the game play with the Wii remote would feel more natural for gamers. The game is focused on an older Link who struggles to clear the troubles of the interacting Twilight Realm. When Link enters this realm he is turned into a wolf, which changes the game play quite a bit. Twilight Princess also introduces horseback riding transportation as well as battles, and boss battles. Twilight Princess moved away from the cel shading of Wind Waker and focused more on graphics and texture, which gave the game a darker feel, then the games that were made before it.

            In 2006 game developers showed a trail of Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS. It was later reported that Phantom Hourglass was a direct sequel to The Wind Waker. Phantom Hourglass showed a classic Zelda look for game play and also featured a capture the flag like multiplayer mode as well.

            In 2009 the next Zelda game was released for the Nintendo DS. This would be the first game of the Zelda series that Zelda and Link would actually work together. The Legend of Zelda: Sprit Track used a modified engine from Phantom Hourglass. In this game the spirit tracks are disappearing from Hyrule. Princess Zelda and Link go to the spirit tower to find out why. Princess Zelda’s body gets snatched and as a result only Link and a couple of sages are able to see her. Link and these sages then go on a quest to defeat the Demon King and save Princess Zelda.

            In 2008 the Zelda team got back together and started to work on a new game. In 2011 The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was released. This game was created to fully use the Wii motion-plus in order to make sword play more realistic. You can also use the nunchuck to control your shield and then combine both the Wii remote and the nunchuck to control the crossbow.

            Currently Nintendo is working on a new Zelda title for the up coming Wii U console. However, little to no information has been released about this new Zelda since E3 of 2011. Also Nintendo has confirmed an original title for the 3DS and is also talking about making a remake of Majora’s Mask as well.