The level of interactive adventure, exploration, immersion and storytelling The Legend of Zelda brought to television screens across the world was unheard of and it planted an integral seed in the garden that one day would grow into the diverse gaming landscape we know today. Far from stopping there, The Legend of Zelda series has continued to release top-shelf games adored by critics and fans alike. Zelda, like all of our greatest fairy tales, legends and myths, presents that elusive and exclusive kind of enlightenment that only the fantastic can provide. In this collection, various contributors explore the connections between this cultural zeitgeist and theology.
The Legend of Zelda and Theology
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic compilation of essays for Zelda/Theology/Philosophy enthusiasts
February 20, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
When it comes to books that publish essays commenting on the philosophical values of video games, I tend to shy away. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea, but oftentimes the overall feel of those books tend to miss the mark, such as this collection (Just look at the top reviews and you'll understand why). And that's just philosophy! Theology is, by nature, a more touchy and often more subjective and devise grey area and even more so when applied to something like a beloved series in video games, an entertainment medium that is also by nature very subjective! I was tentative buying this book. I love The Legend Of Zelda. It is by far my most beloved series in a medium I consider to be my favorite pastime. I have also always enjoyed studying the scriptures of the Bible, as well as supplementary Biblical literature and various philosophical and theological works. At the end of the day, I just couldn't help myself and bought the book despite my reservations. That all been said, this book was a mostly excellent purchase.
First off, the intro sets the tone for the rest of the book. Jonathan Walls, the edior, makes it clear from the get-go that this is a book written from the perspective of die-hard Zelda fans and that in no way do any of the authors within wish to super-impose Christian ideals on a primarily Japanese developed video game series that may very well have been made with absolutely no intentions of deeper philosophical or theological meaning. The essays merely make the connections to theology and philosophy that a series as deep and universally appealing as The Legend of Zelda makes possible. Great start.
Another nice thing about this book as how it is organized. Each chapter/essay, all written by a different person (each of which boasts very different and fairly remarkable pedigrees), is broken down into three different levels of engagement and complexity: "Casual" (one triangle), "Normal" (Two triangles), and "Advanced" (The Tri-force). To help you know what to expect, here is a rundown of the essays in the book:
Introduction, Pg.11
Linking the Landscapes of Twilight Princess and Christian Theology. Pg.17 (Casual)
Trouble in the Golden Realm: Ganandorf and Hyrule's Problem of Evil in Ocarina of Time, Pg. 31 (Normal)
The Birth of Gaming from the Spirit of Fantasy: Video Games as Secondary Worlds with Special Reference to The Legend of Zelda and J.R.R Tolkien, Pg. 47 (Normal)
Freedom Versus Destiny: A Hero's Call, Pg. 71 (Advanced, and a personal favorite of mine)
The Mediation of Transcendance within The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Pg. 83 (Normal)
Take Your Time, Hurry Up, The Choice is Yours: Death and the Afterlife in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Pg. 97 (Normal)
On Hylian Virtues: Aristotle, Aquinas and the Hylian Cosmogenesis, Pg. 109 (Advanced)
High Rule? Vintage Virtue in The Legend of Zelda, Pg. 125 (Normal)
Portals, Prophecy, and Cuccos: Considerations of Power in A Link To The Past, Pg. 143 (Casual)
The Necessiy of the Triforce in the Defeat of Ganon, Pg 155 (Normal)
Bios, Pg. 171
So there you have it. If you find any of these titles to be really intriguing, you'll probably love this book. Most essays are roughly a dozen pages or so, and some a lot more. Obviously some will be easier to grasp and others a bit more challenging. The subjects are quite varied and most games in the series are given some attention, which is nice (Skyward Sword is sadly left out as it came out before this book). Overall, I found the essays to be very engaging and well written. Every author has a distinctly different voice and style of writing, and they all have unique opinions and rather intelligent perspectives that makes each essay bring something very worthwhile to the table. Overall, this is a fantastic compilation of essays and quite enjoyable to read. No essay is boring either. You can tell each of these authors genuinely loves the Zelda series and love meditating on its deeper meaning just as much. That's just awesome.
It's worthy to note that when making reference to scriptural thoughts, philosophical concepts, or using other facts to back up their point, the book includes the sources as annotated footnotes on the bottom of the page they're referenced in. I found that to be a very nice feature. I personally prefer to look up scriptures in my own copy (or copies for multiple/differing translations) of the Bible when reading supplementary material like this as I progress through the work, so it was very nice they did that here. Including specific scriptures or other sources as footnotes as soon as they're referenced rather than at the back in a separate bibliography is quite intuitive and enjoyable.
In case you're wondering, yes, there are occasional hiccups and glaring annoyances. Not many, mind you, but a couple are really obnoxious, such as the author who wrote about The Wind Waker. It's an excellent essay on an excellent game and I totally related to and wholeheartedly agreed with his analysis (Wind Waker is one of my personal favorite Zelda titles). He spends the entire 14 pages praising it as one of his favorite games, going on about the transcendent quality and majesty of Wind Waker, only to reveal at the end that after playing it for a while he got bored with it and has never beaten the game. To rub salt in this wound, he puts an annotation referencing the worst essay of a Zelda Philosophy book I personally felt was very disappointing for the most part, to excuse/support his habit of not finishing games he starts. *Facepalm* It's a shame, because The Wind Waker's ending is ripe with theological/philosophical implications. Oh well. I apologize for the rant, but an issue like this is like an itch on the part of your back you can't scratch. This is just the biggest example I could find to illustrate that the book isn't perfect, but when so many different people contributed to it, that's a bit steep to expect. Don't let my rant here dissuade you.
I realize this is a long review, but honestly, I felt this book deserved an informative explanation. As I said earlier, it's hard to know whether a book of this type is worth the money. Personally, I'd say this one definitely is. The essay subjects within the book are wide and varied, it's full of intellectual annotations and sources for further study if you'd like, and, for the most part, the essays are excellently written and thoroughly engaging. For fans of the Zelda series who, like me, have spent as much time pondering on the value and meaning of the Zelda series as they have actually playing the games, this is an easy recommendation. Buy it, soak in its worthwhile content, and enjoy a fascinating perspective on the greatest series in Video Games.
First off, the intro sets the tone for the rest of the book. Jonathan Walls, the edior, makes it clear from the get-go that this is a book written from the perspective of die-hard Zelda fans and that in no way do any of the authors within wish to super-impose Christian ideals on a primarily Japanese developed video game series that may very well have been made with absolutely no intentions of deeper philosophical or theological meaning. The essays merely make the connections to theology and philosophy that a series as deep and universally appealing as The Legend of Zelda makes possible. Great start.
Another nice thing about this book as how it is organized. Each chapter/essay, all written by a different person (each of which boasts very different and fairly remarkable pedigrees), is broken down into three different levels of engagement and complexity: "Casual" (one triangle), "Normal" (Two triangles), and "Advanced" (The Tri-force). To help you know what to expect, here is a rundown of the essays in the book:
Introduction, Pg.11
Linking the Landscapes of Twilight Princess and Christian Theology. Pg.17 (Casual)
Trouble in the Golden Realm: Ganandorf and Hyrule's Problem of Evil in Ocarina of Time, Pg. 31 (Normal)
The Birth of Gaming from the Spirit of Fantasy: Video Games as Secondary Worlds with Special Reference to The Legend of Zelda and J.R.R Tolkien, Pg. 47 (Normal)
Freedom Versus Destiny: A Hero's Call, Pg. 71 (Advanced, and a personal favorite of mine)
The Mediation of Transcendance within The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Pg. 83 (Normal)
Take Your Time, Hurry Up, The Choice is Yours: Death and the Afterlife in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Pg. 97 (Normal)
On Hylian Virtues: Aristotle, Aquinas and the Hylian Cosmogenesis, Pg. 109 (Advanced)
High Rule? Vintage Virtue in The Legend of Zelda, Pg. 125 (Normal)
Portals, Prophecy, and Cuccos: Considerations of Power in A Link To The Past, Pg. 143 (Casual)
The Necessiy of the Triforce in the Defeat of Ganon, Pg 155 (Normal)
Bios, Pg. 171
So there you have it. If you find any of these titles to be really intriguing, you'll probably love this book. Most essays are roughly a dozen pages or so, and some a lot more. Obviously some will be easier to grasp and others a bit more challenging. The subjects are quite varied and most games in the series are given some attention, which is nice (Skyward Sword is sadly left out as it came out before this book). Overall, I found the essays to be very engaging and well written. Every author has a distinctly different voice and style of writing, and they all have unique opinions and rather intelligent perspectives that makes each essay bring something very worthwhile to the table. Overall, this is a fantastic compilation of essays and quite enjoyable to read. No essay is boring either. You can tell each of these authors genuinely loves the Zelda series and love meditating on its deeper meaning just as much. That's just awesome.
It's worthy to note that when making reference to scriptural thoughts, philosophical concepts, or using other facts to back up their point, the book includes the sources as annotated footnotes on the bottom of the page they're referenced in. I found that to be a very nice feature. I personally prefer to look up scriptures in my own copy (or copies for multiple/differing translations) of the Bible when reading supplementary material like this as I progress through the work, so it was very nice they did that here. Including specific scriptures or other sources as footnotes as soon as they're referenced rather than at the back in a separate bibliography is quite intuitive and enjoyable.
In case you're wondering, yes, there are occasional hiccups and glaring annoyances. Not many, mind you, but a couple are really obnoxious, such as the author who wrote about The Wind Waker. It's an excellent essay on an excellent game and I totally related to and wholeheartedly agreed with his analysis (Wind Waker is one of my personal favorite Zelda titles). He spends the entire 14 pages praising it as one of his favorite games, going on about the transcendent quality and majesty of Wind Waker, only to reveal at the end that after playing it for a while he got bored with it and has never beaten the game. To rub salt in this wound, he puts an annotation referencing the worst essay of a Zelda Philosophy book I personally felt was very disappointing for the most part, to excuse/support his habit of not finishing games he starts. *Facepalm* It's a shame, because The Wind Waker's ending is ripe with theological/philosophical implications. Oh well. I apologize for the rant, but an issue like this is like an itch on the part of your back you can't scratch. This is just the biggest example I could find to illustrate that the book isn't perfect, but when so many different people contributed to it, that's a bit steep to expect. Don't let my rant here dissuade you.
I realize this is a long review, but honestly, I felt this book deserved an informative explanation. As I said earlier, it's hard to know whether a book of this type is worth the money. Personally, I'd say this one definitely is. The essay subjects within the book are wide and varied, it's full of intellectual annotations and sources for further study if you'd like, and, for the most part, the essays are excellently written and thoroughly engaging. For fans of the Zelda series who, like me, have spent as much time pondering on the value and meaning of the Zelda series as they have actually playing the games, this is an easy recommendation. Buy it, soak in its worthwhile content, and enjoy a fascinating perspective on the greatest series in Video Games.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Danteshadow
Format:Paperback
Contrary to the previous review, this book makes no attempt to force theology into a Zelda shaped box. The editor makes this clear in the introduction, where he writes: "Please understand...that none of us claim to have found the intended meaning behind the Zelda mythology's symbolism when we relate it to Christianity. A very astute theological thinker and friend warned me of the error of superimposing Christian beliefs onto games that very well may have been made without Christian beliefs in mind. Let me assure you, we intend no superimposing."
This is not a book written for academics,though some of the authors are accomplished writers. Rather, it is written for Zelda fans who may sense that even pop culture products like video games may illumine profound philosophical and theological truths, whether intentionally or not. Some of these essays are highly creative as well as insightful. See for instance Philip Tallon's piece "The Birth of Gaming from the Spirit of Fantasy: Video Games as Secondary Worlds with Special Reference to the Legend of Zelda and J.R.R. Tolkien." Zelda fans, whether Christians or not, will find much much insight worth pondering in this volume.
This is not a book written for academics,though some of the authors are accomplished writers. Rather, it is written for Zelda fans who may sense that even pop culture products like video games may illumine profound philosophical and theological truths, whether intentionally or not. Some of these essays are highly creative as well as insightful. See for instance Philip Tallon's piece "The Birth of Gaming from the Spirit of Fantasy: Video Games as Secondary Worlds with Special Reference to the Legend of Zelda and J.R.R. Tolkien." Zelda fans, whether Christians or not, will find much much insight worth pondering in this volume.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a long-time fan of the Legend of Zelda series and a graduate level theology student, I was overjoyed when I stumbled upon this book. My joy only grew greater as I actually read it--"The Legend of Zelda and Theology" contains several thoughtful and provoking essays that seek to compare and contrast the themes of various Zelda games with major themes in Christian theology. Contrary to what some may think, these connections are not the product of a superficial eisegesis, but rather the result of a thoughtful discourse between the authors of the book and the creators of the games. For example, one of the essays, "Take Your Time, Hurry Up, the Choice is Your: Death and the Afterlife in the Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask" discusses how Darmani and the cleansing of Snowhead Temple relate to the concepts of redemption and sanctification. Overall, these connections are very reasonable.
It is obvious that the authors have a genuine passion for Zelda. It is also obvious that most of them have studied theology in a formal setting (this book contains a lot of "good" theology, which is rare for a text of this nature). "The Legend of Zelda and Theology" is fun, thoughtful, and incredibly provoking. I recommend it without hesitation.
It is obvious that the authors have a genuine passion for Zelda. It is also obvious that most of them have studied theology in a formal setting (this book contains a lot of "good" theology, which is rare for a text of this nature). "The Legend of Zelda and Theology" is fun, thoughtful, and incredibly provoking. I recommend it without hesitation.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting read, but not for all Zelda fans
An interesting read for Legend of Zelda and theology fans, not sure I would read it again in a hurry but it brought interesting viewpoints regarding the links (no pun intended)... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Ms Amy E. Robinson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really good lot of articles
Many points of views by theologians fans.
A lot of respect for the world of The Legend of Zelda.
I really liked this book and recommand it.
A lot of respect for the world of The Legend of Zelda.
I really liked this book and recommand it.
Published 2 months ago by Papadoc
5.0 out of 5 stars
For ever Zelda Fan
I own all the games and I love getting merch for the game. this is a unique look in to the game I love. I recommend it to any one who loves The Legend of Zelda.
Published 3 months ago by christina Blevins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book! Especially if you're the least bit interested in video...
A good read and very interesting. A lot of thought has went into this and it also makes you think!
Published 15 months ago by EmperorDM
5.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting look at Zelda from a Christian worldview
Definitely a worthwhile read and an especially interesting topic. Some essays are better than others, but there are 10 of them and each covers a unique aspect of Zelda/Christian... Read more
Published 16 months ago by David L
3.0 out of 5 stars
Have not read but...
...how can you possibly take this book seriously when the triforces are on the supposed link's RIGHT hand? Read more
Published 16 months ago by FoxFireOne
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