The Bottom Line
Nintendo's elfin hero Link jumps out of the video screen and into the world of manga with Akira Himekawa's adaptation of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. But a Nintendo 64 console nor hours of gameplay is necessary to get into this series, as Himekawa sets up the basic premise so even non-gamers can enjoy this swords and sorcery adventure.
While its story follows a tried and true (and somewhat predictable) fairy tale formula, The Legend of Zelda is a welcome addition to the sparse array of manga for younger readers, and one that may introduce more gamers to the joys of comics.
Pros
- Fast-moving fantasy adventure that takes readers across many lands
- Faithful to the spirit of the original Nintendo games, but still accessible to non-gamers
- A rare kid-friendly manga that is still engaging for tween readers
Cons
- Story progresses in spurts, with abrupt transitions that can be hard to follow
- Simplistic storylines will likely bore fans who prefer more complex fantasy sagas
- Link is a likeable and honorable, albeit somewhat one-dimensional hero
- The artwork is adequate, but far from ground-breaking
Description
- Original Title: Zelda no Densetsu: Toki no Ocarina Jou (Japan)
- Author & Artist: Akira Himekawa
- Publishers:
- VIZ Kids / VIZ Media (US)
- Shogakukan (Japan)
- ISBN: 978-1421523279
- Cover Price: $7.99 US / $9.50 CANADA
- Age Rating:
E – Everyone / A – All Ages
for kid-friendly fantasy and adventure for ages 9 and up
More about content ratings. - Manga Genres:
- Kodomo (Children's) Manga
- Action / Adventure
- Fantasy / Magic
- Video Game Tie-In
- US Publication Date: October 2008
Japan Publication Date: February 2000 - Book Description: 200 pages, black and white illustrations
Guide Review - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Volume 1
After several decades and incarnations of game consoles, Nintendo has created characters that are almost as iconic as Disney's cartoon creations. Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong and Link have been playtime companions for several generations of gamers. Little wonder that the manga adaptation of The Legend of Zelda generated some buzz when VIZ added it to their VIZ Kids imprint.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is Akira Himekawa's adaptation of the Nintendo 64 game of the same name. While I haven't played the game enough to say whether it's faithful to its source, Himekawa sets up the story so that even non-gamers can get into the action immediately.
The Legend of Zelda's hero is Link, a good-hearted elfin boy from a small village who starts to wonder about the world beyond his home. When forces of evil invade his town, Link discovers that he has a heroic destiny to fulfill. There is a princess to save, an evil overlord to defeat and friends and foes to meet along the way.
It's a fairly formulaic fantasy that offers few surprises to anyone familiar with this recipe for a swords and sorcery quest. Himekawa seems to realize that his story treads on well-worn turf, and abruptly zips through various episodes of Link's adventures, as if he's fast-forwarding through a DVD that he's seen before. Characters are introduced (and disposed of) at a rapid pace, and even Link ages a decade in the space of a few pages.
Awkward pacing and predictable plots aside, this story has many kid-friendly themes. As he takes on each opponent, Link inspires young readers to meet challenges courageously, even against great odds. It may not be War and Peace, or even Lord of the Rings, but this first volume of The Legend of Zelda offers gamers an enjoyable reason to put down their controllers and crack open a book.
