Legend of Zelda and Philosophy Book Review

Popular Culture and Philosophy Series Tackles Link's Many Videogames

Apr 9, 2009

This collection of essays is a fun novelty for Legend of Zelda fans and should be taken as seriously as it was most likely intended.

Legend of Zelda and Philosophy is one of the most recent installments of the Popular Culture and Philosphy series, which has tackled other pop culture phenoms such as Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Star Trek, Pink Floyd, and James Bond. Luke Cuddy and his entourage of graduate students and college professors have plunged into the world of Hyrule, Link, Zelda, and Ganon and warped that world with philosophical thought.

Most of the essays probe interesting questions one would not normally think about while exploring one of Hyrule's many dungeons, but it most likely will not be found as a required textbook for a philosophy class. It's definitely a recommended read only for Zelda fans with a healthy reading appetite.

What Philosophies Could be Found in Legend of Zelda?

Right from the get go, the book hits readers with essays applying philosophical theories to the various games of the Legend of Zelda franchise and the gaming elements found within them, such as warping, time traveling, and Link's hearts. The philosophies discussed include existentialism, feminism, God vs. evil, the timeline of the games, free will, Link's immortality, the Hyrulian utopia, and spatial expectations of the games.

In addition, the essays also cover questions that fans have been arguing about for years. What is the timeline for the games? Why is there always a Link and always a Zelda when Ganon rears his ugly head? What is Shigeru Miyamoto's perspective of the games and what did he intend? However, in true philosophical fashion, all of thes questions are merely pondered upon and not answered.

The authors do their best to apply these theories in a light manner with serious tones (as serious as they can be philosophizing about videogames), but the essays feel more like the theories are forced upon the franchise instead of finding them within. More than one essay has an air of being more far fetched than the idea of using a whistle to warp between dungeons.

Gamers Will Never Look at the Legend of Zelda the Same Again

And maybe gaining a new perspective in playing is the authors' ultimate goal. Make players think about why they have different experiences playing the game than their friends. Have they ever thought about Link's inherent immortality? Why does it make sense to see statues blowing fireballs from the corners, but not an accountant readying to charge Link for evading taxes?

Zelda fans should definitely give this book a look over for pure fun and not take the essays as seriously as they do a dungeon boss fight.

The copyright of the article Legend of Zelda and Philosophy Book Review in Philosophy Books is owned by Keri Honea. Permission to republish Legend of Zelda and Philosophy Book Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.