10 Things CUT From Zelda Games

Script written by Johnny Reynolds

Not all content can make it into a game, and we wish these "Zelda" features survived development. For this list, we’ll be looking at content from the “Zelda” series that didn’t make it into a final game, whether it was removed late or early in development. Our list includes Zelda’s Quest from “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” (2011), the Original Medallion Properties from “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998), Ganondorf, Sheik, & Impa from “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D” (2015), and more! Which of these do you wish had made it into the final game? Is there another cut piece of content you wish we’d covered? Share your “Zelda” love in the comments!

Hit Points

“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017)

In “Breath of the Wild,” if Link is wearing his Champion’s Tunic, he’ll be able to see the remaining hit points of any enemy. If not, he’ll only see a health bar. Originally, this feature was relegated to a different item: the Sheikah Slate. Nintendo intended for players to scan enemies with the slate, revealing the exact health amount. It was apparently removed late in development as it was seen in an E3 2016 demo. Although the Champion’s Tunic has the highest potential defense after upgrading it fully, it’s likely many of us were constantly changing our armor to better suit any given situation. It would’ve been nice to read an enemy’s exact health at any moment without worrying what armor we were wearing.

The Fire Rod

“The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap” (2005)

The Fire Rod is one of the most destructively satisfying weapons Link can earn on his adventures. It’s appeared in multiple entries and, depending on the game, will lob fireballs or blast flame pillars at foes and obstacles alike. One game it didn’t appear in was “The Minish Cap,” although it seemingly almost did. A sprite for the item, as well as its pick-up text, can still be found by hacking the game. Moreover, the figurine of the Ice Wizzrobe in the European version of the game references it as the enemy’s weakness. The game does feature the Flame Lantern, though we’re not sure why it was included over the Fire Rod. To us, a magical weapon is much cooler than a lantern.

Ganondorf, Sheik, & Impa

“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D” (2015)

It’s common knowledge that, due to being given an incredibly short development deadline, the team behind “Majora’s Mask” reused assets and character models from “Ocarina of Time.” Some characters who didn’t reappear, likely for obvious reasons, were Ganondorf, Sheik, and Impa. However, when it came time for the 3DS remake, developer Grezzo planned to include them. Models for the trio can be found in the game’s files where they’re named Fishing Man, Fishing Man 2, and Fishing Woman. This implies they would’ve appeared inside the fishing holes, which weren’t in the original game. Seeing them here would’ve been a nice surprise, especially to see the evil Gerudo King in such a calm environment.

The Triforce

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)

While the Triforce does technically appear in “Ocarina of Time,” it’s only shown through cutscenes towards the beginning and end of the game. Originally, it seems it was meant to be an item Link could obtain. Early beta footage released by Nintendo showed Link opening a chest and the three mystical, golden triangles floating out of it. This spawned innumerable rumors of methods players had found to get it, some even linking it to a hidden Light Temple. However, the Triforce was never meant to be obtainable in the final version. We’re not sure what this would’ve meant for the game’s story. Interestingly, the 2022 Summer Games Done Quick charity marathon was able to use a TASbot and Arbitrary Code Execution to show this sequence in higher quality.

Magic Meter

“The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006)

Before “Breath of the Wild,” the magic meter was a staple of the “Zelda” series. It allowed Link to use all kinds of nifty, fantastical items and magical abilities. However, “Breath of the Wild” wasn’t the first big entry not to include it. The Magic Meter was absent from “Twilight Princess,” though we’re entirely unsure why. It was seen in screenshots for the game leading up to release, and can even be spotted in one on the back of the Wii version’s box. Fire arrows, which had traditionally used magic, were also removed from the game. Curiously, it’s still possible to obtain Green Chu Jelly in the Wii and HD version’s Cave of Ordeals, which would’ve operated like a Green Potion but instead does nothing.

Link Mask

“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)

Masks prove very useful in this darker “Zelda” tale. Some get Link rewards, some provide highly useful features, and others change Link into different forms. One mask that was planned but not included was based on the hero himself. Hidden in the game’s files is an unused Link mask. Concept art found in “Hyrule Historia” shows Deku Link wearing it, possibly implying it could’ve been used to transform back to human. However, the game’s code suggests it would’ve been Skull Kid who wore it, though no one knows what the story purposes would’ve been. There also seems to have been an Adult Link mask planned, possibly letting Link age without time travel, but it was also removed.

Original Medallion Properties

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)

In the final version of “Ocarina of Time,” the Sage medallions are merely things to collect to gain access to Ganon’s Tower. But they were almost much more useful. In a pre-release interview, Shigeru Miyamoto stated the medallions were equippable items and would’ve worked with Link’s bow. Each medallion would’ve added a different magical property to his arrows like fire, darkness, and wind. Some of these arrows made it into the final game with the Fire, Ice, and Light Arrows. It also appears Link could’ve used them alone to cast other spells; uncovered text attached to medallions in a leaked beta build detail their purposes. Additionally, Nintendo toyed with the idea of using them to warp as they were added much earlier than the Ocarina.

The Minish

“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017)

The Picori of “The Minish Cap” are one of the most fascinating races in “Zelda,” living in a miniature, hidden world within Hyrule. Unfortunately, they haven’t appeared in a game since. We’ve always wondered why no other iteration of Hyrule has included them, but they were very nearly in “Breath of the Wild.” Not long after the game’s launch, Nintendo released a behind-the-scenes featurette on the game’s development. Not only were the Minish considered for inclusion, but Link would’ve been able to shrink down and visit their homes. With the vast size of the game and amount of other interesting characters they wanted to include, the Minish fell by the wayside.

Zelda’s Quest

“The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” (2011)

There is an army’s worth of fans that have wanted to play as Zelda for years and a few MojoPlays staff members are among them. Throughout most of “Skyward Sword,” Link tracks Zelda after she falls to the surface. Originally, Nintendo thought of making her side of the story a playable second quest. This sadly didn’t get far, though it was reworked to be a cinematic shown during the credits. Second Quests are common in “Zelda” games, dating way back to the first entry. But they usually only make a couple of minor changes. This would’ve been something unprecedented, an entirely different playable character and plot. Oh well. We can still hold on to the hope of her being playable in “Breath of the Wild 2.

Cut Locations

“The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” (2003)

Although “Wind Waker” is a fairly large game, it could have been even bigger. “Hyrule Historia” includes concept art for the volcanic Stovepipe Island, as well as GC Island, which would have resembled a GameCube. It’s also well-known that more than one dungeon was cut, such as the one linked to Jabun on Greatfish Isle. While we don’t know what those dungeons would’ve looked like, producer and director Eiji Aounuma has stated they were recycled for other games. More interestingly is the much larger Hyrule Castle area we never got. More concept art details a warping mechanic where Link would grab onto a fisherman’s line to return to the surface. Some players have even discovered unreachable entrances to other areas, all implying a much more expansive underwater section.