History WhatCouldHaveBeen / TheLegendofZelda

* Early concept art for [[http://www.zeldauniverse.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/alternatice_character_designs-441x600.jpg Ocarina of Time]] show the Zora as looking more malicious, Navi not being her normal blue self but resembling the older fairies, and a very early version of Sheik with blue hair and no mask.

** Link was supposed to be a [[http://imageshack.us/a/img40/8413/windwakerf.jpg teenager]] once.

* Early concept art for [[http://www.zeldauniverse.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/alternatice_character_designs-441x600.jpg Ocarina of Time]] show the Zora as looking more malicious, Navi not being her normal blue self but resembling the older fairies, and a very early version of Sheik with blue hair and no mask.

** [[http://www.zeldauniverse.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/navi_twilight_princess-266x600.jpg Ilia]] had longer, dark hair and a Navi tattoo on her forehead. Midna had [[http://www.zeldadungeon.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Midna-Concept-Artwork.jpg at least a dozen]] prototypical designs before we got our final Midna.

* Early concept art for [[http://www.zeldauniverse.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/alternatice_character_designs-441x600.jpg Ocarina of Time]] show the Zora as looking more malicious, Navi not being her normal blue self but resembling the older fairies, and a very early version of Sheik with blue hair and no mask.

** [[http://www.zeldauniverse.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/navi_twilight_princess-266x600.jpg Ilia]] had longer, dark hair and a Navi tattoo on her forehead.

* Early concept art for [[http://www.zeldauniverse.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/alternatice_character_designs-441x600.jpg Ocarina of Time]] show the Zora as looking more malicious, Navi not being her normal blue self but resembling the older fairies, and a very early version of Sheik with blue hair and no mask.

* Imagi, the studio behind the 2007 ''TMNT'' and the 2009 ''Astro Boy'' films, apparently wanted to try their hand at an adaptation. It never got past the initial [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTmK1pu4ZjU pitch]].

** Sheik originally had blue eyes and a slightly different hairstyle. It was probably changed to make the twist less obvious.

* According to concept art Link in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' and ''TheAdventureOfLink'' was meant to be a blond instead of the brunette we know of. In contrast ''ALinkToThePast'''s Link was meant to be a brunette instead of a dirty blond.

** Sheik originally had blue eyes and a slightly different hairstyle. It was probably changed to make TheTwist less obvious.

** [[http://www.unseen64.net/2008/06/02/zelda-twilight-princess-beta-analysis/ This article]] goes in-depth into many of the differences. A major difference is that Link was supposed to interact with animals much more.

* Early on in development, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' used standard button controls for swordplay. As WiiMotionPlus came into play, motion controls were added in.

* According to a [[http://www.gamekult.com/actu/miyamoto-la-wii-u-et-le-secret-de-la-triforce-A105550.html recent interview]] given by Miyamoto to a French site, the Triforce fragments were originally computer chips and Link was supposed to travel between medieval and futuristic time periods. The name "Link" was actually not supposed to symbolize the link betwen the player and the character but the link between the time periods.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' Overworld Theme was originally going to be Ravel's ''Bolero''.
** Only the title screen music would've been ''Bolero.'' The overworld music had already been composed, and they arranged that music to match the speed of the title scroll.

** Link's iconic SwordBeam attack from his previous installments was going to be in the game as well, but it was scrapped early on. The concept is revisited in ''Majora's Mask'' where Link can use his magic to shoot sword beams while wearing the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Fierce Diety Mask]].

* According to a [[http://www.gamekult.com/actu/miyamoto-la-wii-u-et-le-secret-de-la-triforce-A105550.html recent interview]] given by Miyamoto to a French site, the Triforce fragments were originally computer chips and Link was supposed to travel between medieval and futuristic time periods. The name "Link" was actually not supposed to symbolize the link betwen the player and the character but the link between the time periods. So, basically, [[Franchise/AssassinsCreed Desmond Miles is Link, the Triforce is a piece of Eden]], and [[YourHeadAsplode please give me a minute while I pick up my brain...]]

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'' were originally conceived as an UpdatedRerelease of [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda the original game]] and ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'', along with a brand new game centering on the Triforce of Courage. This eventually evolved into three new games. However, it became too troublesome to link three games, so it was simplified to two. Either way, the former's origin as a remake of the original game can be seen to an extent; the overworld of Holodrum, the country Seasons is set in, is laid out similarly to the first game's incarnation of the series's usual setting of Hyrule, and the first dungeon is laid out like the first game's first dungeon (down to the shape shown on the in-game map). A lot of bosses from the first game are present as well.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda'' Overworld Theme was originally going to be Ravel's ''Bolero''.

* According to concept art Link in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda'' and ''TheAdventureOfLink'' was meant to be a blond instead of the brunette we know of. In contrast ''ALinkToThePast'''s Link was meant to be a brunette instead of a dirty blond.

** ''Master Quest'' is not the original ''Ura Zelda''. In an old copy of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time_Master_Quest&oldid=162448085 Wikipedia which refers to a dead link]], ''Ura Zelda'' would've had new dungeons (possibly the fire/ice dungeon,) new items, new attacks, magic spells, and custom masks created via ''Mario Artist: Talent Studio'' and the Game Boy Camera.

** ''Master Quest'' is not the original ''Ura Zelda''. I read that in an old copy of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time_Master_Quest&oldid=162448085 Wikipedia which refers to a dead link]], ''Ura Zelda'' would've had new dungeons (possibly the fire/ice dungeon,) new items, new attacks, magic spells, and custom masks created via ''Mario Artist: Talent Studio'' and the Game Boy Camera.

* According to a [[http://www.gamekult.com/actu/miyamoto-la-wii-u-et-le-secret-de-la-triforce-A105550.html recent interview]] given by Miyamoto to a French site, the Triforce fragments were originally computer chips and Link was supposed to travel between medieval and futuristic time periods. The name "Link" was actually not supposed to symbolize the link betwen the player and the character but the link between the time periods. So, basically, [[AssassinsCreed Desmond Miles is Link, the Triforce is a piece of Eden]], and [[YourHeadAsplode please give me a minute while I pick up my brain...]]

** Sheik (Zelda's disguise from ''OoT'') was originally going to return in this game, but was scrapped for unknown reasons. This also resulted in a DevelopmentGag in [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'']] where Sheik's return in that game as one of Zelda's abilities was actually based on this abandoned concept.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'' were originally conceived as an UpdatedRerelease of [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda the original game]] and ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'', along with a brand new game centering on the Triforce of Courage. This eventually evolved into three new games. However, it became too troublesome to link three games, so it was simplified to two. Either way, the former's origin as a remake of the original game can be seen to an extent; the overworld of Holodrum, the country the final game is set in, is laid out similarly to the first game's incarnation of the series's usual setting of Hyrule, and the first dungeon is laid out like the first game's first dungeon (down to the shape shown on the in-game map), even having the same boss.

* According to a [[http://www.gamekult.com/actu/miyamoto-la-wii-u-et-le-secret-de-la-triforce-A105550.html recent interview]] given by Miyamoto to a french site, the Triforce fragments were originally computer chips and Link was supposed to travel between medieval and futuristic time periods. The name "Link" was actually not supposed to symbolize the link betwen the player and the character but the link between the time periods. So, basically, [[AssassinsCreed Desmond Miles is Link, the Triforce is a piece of Eden]], and [[YourHeadAsplode please give me a minute while I pick up my brain...]]

* According to a [[http://www.gamekult.com/actu/miyamoto-la-wii-u-et-le-secret-de-la-triforce-A105550.html recent interview]] given by Miyamoto to a french site, the Triforce fragments were originally computer chips and Link was supposed to travel between medieval and futuristic time periods. The name "Link" was actually not supposed to symbolize the link betwen the player and the character but the link between the time periods. So, basically, [[AssassinsCreed Desmond Miles is Link the Triforce is a piece of Eden]], and [[YourHeadAsplode please give me a minute while I pick up my brain]]

* According to concept art Link in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda'' and ''TheAdventureOfLink'' was meant to be a blond instead of the brunette we know of. In contrast ''ALinkToThePast'''s Link was meant to be a brunette instead of a dirty blond.

* Sheik originally had light skin, blue eyes, and a slightly different hairstyle. Her design was probably changed to make it less obvious who she was.
* According to concept art Link in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda'' and ''AdventureOfLink'' was meant to be a blond instead of the brunette we know of. In contrast ''ALinkToThePast'''s Link was meant to be a brunette instead of a dirty blond.

** Only the title screen music would've been ''Bolero.'' The overworld music had already been composed, and they arranged that music to match the speed of the title scroll.