Since the original Legend of Zelda was released on the NES in 1986, fairies have been an integral part of the series. In each iteration, these fairies have always shared common traits; with the ability to rejuvenate, enhance and often provide vital words of wisdom to the hero, Link.
YouTuber – MasterOfHyrule – has payed tribute to the fairies in the Legend of Zelda series by compiling a four minute video of their evolution as the series has progressed over the years. This compilation includes fairies that appeared in spin-off titles and additional Zelda related content. Ocarina of Time's Navi is featured along with many other wild and powerful fairies. The stunning fairy fountains – which act as a sanctuary within the land of Hyrule – are also on display.
Let us know in the comments who your favourite fairy is in the Zelda series.
Thanks to Andy Garner for the heads up!
[source youtube.com]
Comments 26
Can't really count the fairy from Hyrule Warriors though.... But I do like her.
The ones from Toon Link's games are the best.
Argh, why are all the great fairies in the 3D games either ugly or creepy?!
The only ones where I feel like the designs are actually complimenting are the ones from Minish Cap/Four Swords. The other 2D Zelda games make great fairies somewhat lame, for the most part.
I like TP's the most, simply because her design is beautiful.
I like the great fairies from the Minish Cap, A Link to the Past, and Twilight Princess. Never liked the design for OoT and Majora's Mask.
I loved the twilight princess girl fairy.
Best overall fairy: Tatl
Best design: queen fairy from WW
Best great fairy: WW
Best common fairy: SS/TP
For me, there is only one fairy in the Zelda universe, which I really like...
"Hey... hello! Listen!"
Oh Navi, you little rascal =D But I love the design of the Great Fairy in Hyrule Warriors.
Damn, what an update 8D
Cool compilation. I didn't even quite remember what the WW great fairies looked like. Yet another sign that a replay is very much due once I get WWHD.
I've never minded how the fairies looked in the first place, but when I think of fairies in Zelda games I think of the Ocarina of Time great fairies. Probably because it is one of the first Zelda games I have ever played. Still need to play the Majora's Mask remake though.
Ugh those OOT and MM great faeries are so hideous.
@Tsurii897 Hint: She only saw the Great Fairy from Hyrule Warriors.
Fairy Queen from Wind Waker is most best.
Answer: She didn't watch the video, she looked at the thumbnail.
@FantasiaWHT Well, that's a bit harsh. I don't know how you see that. If it is their make up and attire (more clearly seen in the Hyrule Warriors version) then I could understand because then we're talking opinions, but if it is because of them not being drawn all nice and smooth it is simply because of hardware constraints of the N64 and should therefore not be judged for that.
ON TOPIC and in general:
I truly dislike the garbage that was released on CDI, so that includes the faeries. I don't think that the N64 faeries were beautiful or anything, but it did come across as special at the time, so they managed to create a certain vibe with that within the game. I also liked the one in Twilight Princess. The cartoony ones, such as in the 2D games and also in Wind Waker and Skyward Sword, don't really speak to me as much as the others do, but that's a personal opinion...
@TheRealThanos . It's both. They don't look like faeries, they look like vampires. But the graphics are butt ugly too, I don't care that the hardware was "limited". The N64 is more powerful than the SNES but plenty of SNES games were visually stunning and beautiful. Early 3D games are just painful to look at.
@FantasiaWHT Yeah.... that's an opinion. I thought so. Naturally it's far easier to draw something nice in 2D since 3D needs a whole lot more power to achieve a similar result. And the N64 was more powerful, but not powerful enough to make that happen. Therefore you do need to see those games in that light and NOT compared to current gen graphics or whatever. Would you even be able to judge any N64 game in anything remotely resembling a fair manner?
If not, then your opinion on the N64's Zelda faeries is too harsh like I already said. And who the heck knows what faeries are supposed to look like? I certainly don't, and during my life I've definitely seen my fair share of them pass by in rpg's, books, movies and so on. There's no fixed template with rules and regulations on the appearance of faeries. They have to fit into the game world, like any other character or animal that you could come across in the game that you're playing at that time.
@TheRealThanos There's nothing "too harsh" about making an objective comparison and stating that the graphics, like much of that era, were just awful to look at. It's no different than stating that Atari 2600 graphics were more primitive than NES graphics.
@FantasiaWHT Well, if we go along that path, then everything in TLOZ OoT (or any other N64 game for that matter) was ugly. Looking at them with 1996 glasses on, the graphics were something new, interesting, and in many cases beautiful. I will definitely agree with you on the fact that these graphics haven't aged very well. I still remember being totally flabbergasted by the Playstation's T-Rex demo back in the day and that looks like crap now too, but back then, it truly was the bees knees, and the same goes for Mario 64, Zelda OoT and many other N64 gems. Normally I would say that only a young person would judge older games and consoles to be ugly/dumb, but judging by some of your comments I think it is safe to say that you're probably closer to my age. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Twilight Princess had the best Great Fairy.
The one from hyrule warriors just looks like an updated version of the Oot MM Great faries too me. That's not a bad thing though!
Oh Team Ninja...
The best fairy is the big fat fairy in the Dark World. She gives you a gnarly sword and the silver arrows!
I love how they put MORE clothes on the hyrule warrior faeries and folks still complained.
I really like the N64 style of Great Fairies, and by extension the Hyrule Warriors design. They are creepy as hell, but I appreciate that. The way they casually float in casual postures despite being clearly humanoid and very large conveys a sense of power and other-worldliness. It's one of the better examples out there for using the uncanny valley to improve a game's atmosphere.
Besides that, I also like the relatively vanilla "Partner Fairy" that appears as a glowing orb with wings and Wind Waker's more alien designs.
To me the Ocarina of Time models are what I picture in my mind when thinking about fairies in a Zelda game. It was my first Zelda game though so that may have influenced my perception of them.
From normal fairy, to ungodly looking fairy, to again a normal fairy, and then too overtop bust size fairy.
@Tsurii897 lol did I say that? Don't assume anything just because I said you couldn't count her. I was merely stating that the Hyrule Warriors great fairy doesn't count because it is a third party game that isn't even canon.
The Zelda N64 great fairies can never be outdone by any other game. The only other way they could be out done is by see threw clothing because they are just nude with leaves all over there bodies. I also love the intro to the fairies in OOT. Each one is different.
Then of course is the fat fairy of Zelda:LTTP.
That was unexpected and probably an inside joke. Lets stop making them look too stereotypical. Lets put an fat tubo fairy in the game somewhere.
Miff/Navi are always an laugh riot in the comic and videogames. I like how all the fairies run from link as if he is an horny boy.
Fairies from Zelda WW are embarrassing and have no point in the game at all but to remind you what you are looking at.
Oh yesh Zelda GB also have an hidden big fairy in it I believe??
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