Many moons ago, when CD-ROM was still a new and exciting storage medium, several companies released CD-based systems in the hope of catching a ride on the interactive entertainment roller-coaster. One of those firms was Phillips, which created the CD-i (the "i" stands for "interactive", in case you were wondering) after an agreement to produce a disc-based add-on for the SNES fell through.
In the process of negotiating the cancellation of the SNES add-on deal, Philips was able to acquire the rights to use Nintendo characters on its CD-i system. The console saw three games — Link: Faces of Evil, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon and Zelda's Adventure — all of which were loosely based on the universe seen in The Legend of Zelda series and are widely considered to be pretty dire by fans (although there some who view them in a more positive light).
If you want to know what Nintendo thinks about this trio of titles, then consider this — they didn't even warrant a mention in the recent Hyrule Historia book.
As if to confirm the company's stance on the games, Eiji Aonuma has revealed to MTV Multiplayer what he really thinks about the games.
When asked about the titles, the series producer said:
I don’t know that those really fit in the 'Zelda' franchise.
So there you have it — the man in charge of the Zelda franchise doesn't feel the CD-i titles are part of it. Let's not talk about them again, OK?
[source multiplayerblog.mtv.com]
Comments 46
raises a brow Huh. Sounds like word-twisting journalism to me. He didn't actually say they weren't part of it. He said he didn't know if they really fit in. This feels like an assumptious piece.
Thank GOD.
The story on GoNintendo stated Aonuma was considering it being in the timeline, a fairly long time ago.
@DimetriWarrior If you read the original MTV piece, he actually laughed before saying that. Japanese people are a lot more subtle than westerners; they are tactful whereas we're abrupt. Rather than saying "They're trash, I don't consider them to be part of the franchise", he obviously went with a more measured "Well, I don't know about that..."
What about the Legend of Zelda cartoon? Would that fit in the timeline too?
CDi Games: NOOOOOOO, YOU KILLED MEEEEEE.....
Aonuma: Good.
...AVGN fans will get this. XD
...But wait, what about Link's Crossbow Training?! I MUST KNOW.
@Angelic_Lapras_King +1 for that. ;D
I honestly never even considered them being canon in the first place because of their licensed, "outside" nature. But hey, stranger things happened. And even if Anouma told us that they are fitting into the timeline, I would still not accept.
In my world, those 3 CD-i games don't exist either.
@Kage_88 That's in Hyrule Historia - it's mentioned, anyway.
And now I've wasted half an hour watching AVGN.
Aww, so we won't get to use the CD-i-verse characters in Super Smash Bros. as punching bags? Too bad.
Of course, I'm kidding.
@Pixel-Perfect
Still a better love story than Twilight
@Kage_88 duh! That goes in the ocarina of time but in game. Like they made a stand alone version of a mini game with more minigames.
On that picture, how much time does Link actually spend saving the world as he does fixing his hairdo? I guess that's another reason why we should forgot about.. what was I talking about again?
That's not a surprise. I'd rather hear his stance on Tingle's Rupeeland and its sequel, as they were not mentioned in Hyrule Historia either.
@Kifa That would mean the same should apply to the Capcom made ones.
@unrandomsam Well Nintendo at least published those.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3pfAdYQJ14&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL3662B2B44970D6CC
Jump to the 4 minute mark.
I may not have played the CD-I games, but this = epic fail.
CD-I games? What CD-I games? Never heard of it o_o
@Joshers744 You have lived a blessed life then. Do yourself a favor and keep it that way. Don't ruin your innocence!
@TeeJay haha. Well to be honest I have heard of them, and I have played every actual Nintendo system Zelda game, so I don't even count those things. Too many horror stories, plus, I wouldn't know where to try them anyway.
Is it sad that I can recite the intros of both Faces of Evil and Wand of Gamelon? Way too much YouTube Poop when I was a kid...
Hyrule having a king, Zelda wearing a short skirt, Link talking and saying something about killing things in the most absurd speech, and Ganon kinda looking like Aku (from Samurai Jack)...yeah, I'd feel bad for anybody who considers the CD-i games to be canon with the Zelda series.
And that's good news.
Squadala!
But they're canon in Youtube Poops XD
@unrandomsam @ueI Also Shigeru Miyamoto was one of the general producers on the games with Hiroshi Yamauchi himself was the game's executive producer. And Nintendo had final say as to what did and didn't make it into those games.
A game like this is still considered first party.
DINNER.
You dare bring Anouma to my lair?
You must die!
Ah! The canon! NO!
You haven't seen the last of me!
It'd make an interesting read if Nintendolife could track down one of the Zelda CD-i developers and do an interview.
Mah Boi! This peace is what all true warriors strive for!
@Mandalore
Yes! Very cool idea. NL, do it!
But the Cartoon is cannon though, right?!
I can't wait to bomb some dodongos!
Oh boy! I'm so hungry, I could eat an Octorok!
I realise the irony that people are posting comments about the games in this article despite @Damo requesting that nobody mention these games again! XD
Just that one sentence? Sounds like something was left out...
@Jellitoe: @retro_player_22: I believe the answer is no. According to at least one fan wiki(Zeldawiki.org, which is currently down), there once was room for it in the timeline, back in 1998. Now, whether Nintendo ever considered it as part of the overall Zelda universe perhaps is the real question. You have to remember if you're a slightly older gamer, or if you were born later than the 80's, or early 90's, then you have to consider: There is a bit of Zelda based material, such as a Milton-Bradley (board) game(or 2, though I think there's only one.), & the Valiant comics, just to name 2 examples, of Zelda material that is probably not canon. Just to name another example, I don't own a copy, but does Hyrule Historia ever mention the G&W Zelda either? Off-topic: I always liked the art designs of Link, Zelda, & extra characters like the fairy Spryte, from both the Zelda cartoon, & Valiant comics.
@Capt_N Now that you mention it, the Game and Watch Legend of Zelda isn't in Hyrule Historia either. What a shame.
Another question I have on the CD-i games is whether they're canon to each other. Few enough people have played them that I'll probably never find out.
I wish we could stop using the word "canon" about Zelda games period.
None of the carry-overs from any of the games to any of the others make much sense, or is of particular importance to begin with.
They just inspired by the same mechanics and themes every time.
...but they will forever live on in YTP.
I've made more inspiring (and interesting) animations on a 100-frame flipbook animation program, running at 15fps.
There's one thing they're good for and that's YTP.
In my world, these don't exist.
All I know about these games is that it spawned lots of YouTube poops.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...