Legend of Zelda Zelda Map Compare/Contrast Thread (OP will be updated regularly)

[Phantom7]

Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess Theory A

1 -- Hyrule Castle (OoT) and north of Hyrule Field (TP) This is placed here simply because OoT's Hyrule Castle is in the northernmost part of Hyrule, and TP's is in the center. Also, in OoT, all of Hyrule Field is directly south of Hyrule Castle instead of surrounding it. Finally, at the end of OoT, Hyrule Castle and Castle Town are utterly destroyed, so it is only logical that Hyrule Castle was moved.

2 -- Lon Lon Ranch (OoT) and Hyrule Castle (TP) The main reason is that the areas of Hyrule Field in every direction surrounding both areas share almost the exact same size, but also because theoretically, Hyrule Castle was rebuilt in the Lon Lon Ranch area (after Ganondorf destroyed it) because that is where the races met and became allies at the end of OoT during the credits. This is debatable, but it appears as though Hyrule Castle was rebuilt in that area for whatever reason.

3 -- Eastern Hyrule Field: Obvious, right? They are both the largest area of Hyrule Field and are in precisely the same location.

4 -- Kakariko Village and Hidden Village The Hidden Village is not only in the same location of the map as the Hidden Village (relative to areas 1, 2, & 3), but there is also evidence given in TP because a Sheikah descendant, Impaz, lived in the village.

5 -- Zora's River Simply because they are both Zora's River and in the same place relative to areas 1, 2, 3, & 4.

6 -- Lake Hylia Obviously because both are called "Lake Hylia" and are in the same location relative to area 2.

7 -- Gerudo Desert Needless to explain, Gerudo Desert is west of Lake Hylia. It was probably undiscovered at the time OoT takes place.

8 -- Faron Woods The area of the forest not present in OoT, it's most likely directly south of Lon Lon Ranch (in OoT), but undiscovered at the time. It is obviously not the same forest that is in OoT.

9 -- Gerudo's Fortress and Arbiter's Grounds This is debatable, but it seems logical because they are in similar places on the map (if Gerudo's Fortress was located any further north on TP's map it would collide with Snowpeak), and both are, obviously, desert fortresses. Auru (TP) tells Link that the road to Arbiter's Grounds has become impassible, so with Gerudo Valley not present in TP, we can assume that something happened in the Gerudo Valley area preventing entry to the Gerudo's Fortress.

10 -- Kokori Forest and Kakariko Village (TP)? This sounds rather odd, of course, but based on the locations of other areas, it seems to fit. Maybe something happened to Kokori Forest? Perhaps it was burned to ruins? Kakariko Village in TP is rather bare and gulch-like, so maybe it's possible. At the end of OoT, when the races united, the Kokori were in Lon Lon Ranch, so that must mean they left the forest to join the rest of Hyrule, leaving Kokori Forest without life except for the Deku Sprout...

Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess Theory B

 

[Spire]

Kakariko Gorge:

These areas are obviously the same. Both feature a bridge over Zora's river, and both have the cliff-overlook with the fence-railing. I'll now respond properly to your 10 points.

1 - Hyrule Castle - Is the same Hyrule Castle in both games. It was never destroyed (Ganondorf was capture for execution) so why build another?

2 - Lon Lon Ranch - was located in Southern Hyrule Field. It resembles the OoT Hyrule Field the most both in shape and content. Plus, it's the closest to Ordon, which is obviously what became of the Lon Lon ranchers after moving (Link, Malon, that stuff..)

3 - Hyrule Field - as said before, the Hyrule Field in OoT is the Southern Hyrule Field in TP.

4 - Kakariko Village & Hidden Village - Kakariko in TP is the same from OoT because both are located at the base of Death Mountain. That's a no-brainer. Remember in OoT when Zelda rode away with Impa to escape Ganondorf? Where did they go? The Hidden Village. That's where she learned the ways of the Sheikah.

5 - Zora's River - obvious. It runs deeper and more thoroughly in Hyrule now (not because of erosion, that would take thousands and thousands of years, but simply because of redesign).

6 - Lake Hylia - obvious.

7 - Gerudo Desert = Haunted Wasteland. It was simply expanded upon in TP.

8 - Faron Woods - Including the Sacred Grove is obviously the Lost Woods and expanded forest (as seen in the intro to MM).

9 - Gerudo's Fortress and Arbiter's Grounds - There is a great, abandoned fortress before the Arbiter's Grounds. This is most likely the Gerudo Fortress relocated for design reasons.

10 - Kokiri Forest and Kakariko Village - Kokiri Forest became Ordon Village. Both are geographically similar and have houses made from large, thick trees. Easy beans. Kakariko Village, like I said before, is the same as proven by its correspondence to Death Mountain and Kakariko Gorge.

 

[Phantom7]

You may be right, but I find it odd that Lake Hylia moves such great distance.

 

[Spire]

You may be right, but I find it odd that Lake Hylia moves such great distance.

Well everything moves for the most part. Clockwise:
- Lake Hylia moves to 8 o'clock
- Lost Woods/Faron Woods move to 6 o'clock
- Zora's River moves to 2 o'clock
- Death Mountain/Kakariko moves to 4 o'clock
- Gerudo Valley moves to 9 o'clock
- Haunted Wasteland/Gerudo Desert moves to 8 o'clock

Many have tried to explain the geographical differences by overlaying the two maps, but it's really just a reimagining of Hyrule. After all, ALttP's Hyrule was supposed to be the same as the Hyrule seen in LoZ/AoL at the time of its release, with OoT's the same as ALttP. But of course, there are obvious differences. OoT was originally intended to be a 3D version of ALttP, so it's only logical that Hyrule would be strikingly similar in its locations, but changes were made. TP did the same thing that OoT did, but to OoT. It took the basic idea that the game presented, but based it in the future.

Even more interesting is how similar TP is to ALttP storywise. Ganon is sealed in a parallel dark world to Hyrule, recieves the Triforce of Power (he has the whole Triforce in ALttP) and uses a minion (Zant and Agahnim) to infiltrate Hyrule and spread darkness. Link rises to fight against evil and is assisted by an father-like character in both games (his uncle in ALttP and Rusl in TP). And of course, the Master Sword is found in temple ruins deep within the Lost Woods.

 

[SmashBrosForce]

Well, I didn't understand this thread. lol

Phantom7,
I got confused...
What's the point of this thread ?

Perhaps, I can help you.

 

[Spire]

Well, I didn't understand this thread. lol

Phantom7,
I got confused...
What's the point of this thread ?

Perhaps, I can help you.

The point is to analyze the geographical differences between the OoT and TP Hyrule maps due to them being the two most connected games outside of the direct sequels in the series. The topic is still worth discussion though, even if we bring in the maps from other Zelda games.

 

[SmashBrosForce]

The point is to analyze the geographical differences between the OoT and TP Hyrule maps due to them being the two most connected games outside of the direct sequels in the series. The topic is still worth discussion though, even if we bring in the maps from other Zelda games.

Thanks Spire III.

Well, I don't play OoT since 3 years. About the geographical differences, I thought OoT's Map much more interesting than TP's Map.

I thought TP's Gerudo Desert and Snowpeak areas very small. I didn't see anything special in Snowpeak, except the Racing with Yeto and Yeta. I still prefer the OoT's Areas.

The TP's Sacred Groove, Gerudo Desert, Snowpeak lacks a large area to be explored for us. EVEN the Twilight Realm area which I liked everything in this map, lacks a large area.

It's so sad sometimes.

 

[Phantom7]

The point is to analyze the geographical differences between the OoT and TP Hyrule maps due to them being the two most connected games outside of the direct sequels in the series. The topic is still worth discussion though, even if we bring in the maps from other Zelda games.

Thanks for answering the question for me...

I agree, SBForce, TP's map could have been much better. OoT's desert definitely gave us more room to explore. On the contrary, I like how TP actually had a snow area, and the mountainous area before you reach the snowboarding area actually provided quite a bit of room for exploration.

 

[Spire]

TP provided a visually enormous world, but with limited exploration. That's what bothered me the most about it. All other Zelda games let you explore almost every inch of what can be seen, especially the 2D games and WW. Areas such as Death Mountain in TP were utterly pitiful, while Lake Hylia was absolutely stunning (to date, I think it is one of the most well-designed locations in the series).

With Zelda Wii, if they can present a great, vast Hyrule that's at least 90% explorable, I will be in debt to Nintendo for an overload of happiness.

 

[Phantom7]

TP provided a visually enormous world, but with limited exploration. That's what bothered me the most about it. All other Zelda games let you explore almost every inch of what can be seen, especially the 2D games and WW. Areas such as Death Mountain in TP were utterly pitiful, while Lake Hylia was absolutely stunning (to date, I think it is one of the most well-designed locations in the series).

With Zelda Wii, if they can present a great, vast Hyrule that's at least 90% explorable, I will be in debt to Nintendo for an overload of happiness.

They BETTER. In TP's map, there were far too many endless gorges. It made absolutely no sense.

 

[Spire]

They BETTER. In TP's map, there were far too many endless gorges. It made absolutely no sense.

These were corrected in Brawl, strangely enough. The gorges were supposed to be where Zora's river cut through the land (which I thought was a genius way to reimagine it), but there was no water, only darkness. Perhaps this was done to enhance the "dark" effect that TP aimed to present to players, perhaps it was a Gamecube technical limit, or perhaps they just didn't think about putting the water in (highly unlikely).

Speaking of Zora's River though, I just remembered the one instance where you rode the Korok through the cavernous river for the balloon-popping minigame. There were all these bulbin mines and structures along the walls - as if a vast civilization had been built beneath Hyrule. I tried so many times to crash and land on one of the platforms so I could explore around as much as I could, but those rotten collision boxes would not let me (I'm going to try again). That was the most stunning environment in the entire game and if they would expand on this "Hyrule Underground", I'd be in even more debt to them. I love caves and there just haven't been enough of them yet in Zelda (LoZ doesn't count and the few lengthy caverns found in TP were too little in counting).

 

[Phantom7]

These were corrected in Brawl, strangely enough. The gorges were supposed to be where Zora's river cut through the land (which I thought was a genius way to reimagine it), but there was no water, only darkness. Perhaps this was done to enhance the "dark" effect that TP aimed to present to players, perhaps it was a Gamecube technical limit, or perhaps they just didn't think about putting the water in (highly unlikely).

Speaking of Zora's River though, I just remembered the one instance where you rode the Korok through the cavernous river for the balloon-popping minigame. There were all these bulbin mines and structures along the walls - as if a vast civilization had been built beneath Hyrule. I tried so many times to crash and land on one of the platforms so I could explore around as much as I could, but those rotten collision boxes would not let me (I'm going to try again). That was the most stunning environment in the entire game and if they would expand on this "Hyrule Underground", I'd be in even more debt to them. I love caves and there just haven't been enough of them yet in Zelda (LoZ doesn't count and the few lengthy caverns found in TP were too little in counting).

Note that not all of the gorges were where Zora's River is supposed to be. A lot of them were just empty. Just compare the maps of the two games and notice how much more walking area is in OoT. Also, I think the absence of a river where Zora's River should be is a Gamecube technical limit.

I liked that minigame, btw, just for the way Zora's River looks and how you ride under Bridge of Eldin and what not. And speaking of caves, Zelda needs an actual cave dungeon.

 

[Spire]

Note that not all of the gorges were where Zora's River is supposed to be. A lot of them were just empty. Just compare the maps of the two games and notice how much more walking area is in OoT. Also, I think the absence of a river where Zora's River should be is a Gamecube technical limit.

I liked that minigame, btw, just for the way Zora's River looks and how you ride under Bridge of Eldin and what not. And speaking of caves, Zelda needs an actual cave dungeon.

Well, the TP map is not a geographical map, it's a political map (so to speak), showing only areas that you are able to explore/visit, be it by foot, korok, or boat. That being said, the blue areas are the only parts of Zora's River that you can visit and sadly, are made entirely for minigames. Seeing as how when on land, the river appears to just be an infinite abyss, it could easily run through Kakariko Gorge and if you look back to OoT and its Kakariko Gorge, you'll see that the river is present with the signature bridge, overhanging cliff, and even the lone tree (didn't notice that til now).

Also, Hyrule Castle is surrounded by water on all sides (its moat), but that water is not shown on the map because you cannot venture into it.

 

[Phantom7]

Well, the TP map is not a geographical map, it's a political map (so to speak), showing only areas that you are able to explore/visit, be it by foot, korok, or boat. That being said, the blue areas are the only parts of Zora's River that you can visit and sadly, are made entirely for minigames. Seeing as how when on land, the river appears to just be an infinite abyss, it could easily run through Kakariko Gorge and if you look back to OoT and its Kakariko Gorge, you'll see that the river is present with the signature bridge, overhanging cliff, and even the lone tree (didn't notice that til now).

Also, Hyrule Castle is surrounded by water on all sides (its moat), but that water is not shown on the map because you cannot venture into it.

I know that. My point is TP doesn't have enough to explore. There are too many gaps, walls, and endless pits.

 

[Scott!]

Honestly, I preferred the gorges to the walls that marked off the border of the explorable world in OoT and MM. While I of course want more explorable area all of the time, boundaries have to exist somewhere, and I found the gorges to be better-looking and more believable.

 

[Phantom7]

Honestly, I preferred the gorges to the walls that marked off the border of the explorable world in OoT and MM. While I of course want more explorable area all of the time, boundaries have to exist somewhere, and I found the gorges to be better-looking and more believable.

I don't know... endless gorges have never made sense to me. At least in OoT, there's some kind of mountain-like structure there.

 

[Spire]

Honestly, I preferred the gorges to the walls that marked off the border of the explorable world in OoT and MM. While I of course want more explorable area all of the time, boundaries have to exist somewhere, and I found the gorges to be better-looking and more believable.

Completely with you on that. I prefer depths over heights. By using gorges, Hyrule is presented as a land of high altitude (Lake Hylia further creates this feeling), but by using cliffs/mountains, it places Hyrule in a lower, valley-like area. Both are interesting approaches, but I prefer to see "HY-rule" in a higher-staged platform because it makes the land, characters, and story feel so much stronger.

 

[zaneebaslave]

I loved it as well, though I would have liked it better if they had a more healthy medium. In my opinion, the gorges needed to be less gigantic and there to be more mountains. I think the best example of what I'm talking about is the Gerudo river Gorge in OoT. It was massive and intimidating, but it had a bottom... unlike the TP gorges that descend into complete nothingness.

Hopefully a more happy medium will be achieved in the next game.

 

[Clownbot]

I'm interested in seeing how something like this with the WW Sea Chart would turn out.

Then again, there's extremely little if any evidence as to what's where, since all of Hyrule is underwater.

 

[Scott!]

There are a few places that align with Hyrule and the WW Great Sea. First off, Hyrule Castle, of course, aligns with itself. Dragon Roost and the island with the Deku Tree align somewhat with Death Mountain and the Kokiri forest.

 

[Spire]

There are a few places that align with Hyrule and the WW Great Sea. First off, Hyrule Castle, of course, aligns with itself. Dragon Roost and the island with the Deku Tree align somewhat with Death Mountain and the Kokiri forest.

And interestingly enough, Outset Island aligns with Ordon Village.

 

[Scott!]

I knew there was another area I was forgetting. Also, Forbidden Fortress isn't too far off from Gerudo Fortress or the Arbiter's Grounds.

 

[Spire]

And Windfall/Kakariko. Windfall's theme is written similarly to Kakariko's and both are located near Death Mountain/Dragon Roost Island.

How I love Wind Waker

 

[Phantom7]

WW's underwater Hyrule actually illustrated quite a good medium between the mountains and endless trenches.

And let's not for get the Forbidden Woods/Lost Woods and Tower of the Gods/Temple of Time.

 

[SmashBrosForce]

I don't know... endless gorges have never made sense to me. At least in OoT, there's some kind of mountain-like structure there.

Agreed.

Another thing that I thought very weird is the huge gate of Hyrule Castle located within the water in the Hyrule Castle area that can't be opened.
Today I wonder what can we do to open that gate and explore another area of the castle.

 

[Spire]

Agreed.

Another thing that I thought very weird is the huge gate of Hyrule Castle located within the water in the Hyrule Castle area that can't be opened.
Today I wonder what can we do to open that gate and explore another area of the castle.

There is no more castle. That's why the gate can't be opened.

 

[SmashBrosForce]

There is no more castle. That's why the gate can't be opened.

Well, I used the Hawkeye to take a good look in the area behing the gate and I saw a relatively large area. I dunno.

I tried to break the gate many times using Water Bombs... lol

I forgot to put in my last post that I meant the Twilight Princess's huge gate.

Yeah, you know that great big yellow diamond thing that went up around the castle? That wasnt there to be pretty. That was there to keep everyone out. Therefore, why would the gate be open if you would just run into a giant yellow diamond?

Which great big yellow diamond ?

 

[Spire]

Well, I used the Hawkeye to take a good look in the area behing the gate and I saw a relatively large area. I dunno.

I tried to break the gate many times using Water Bombs... lol

I forgot to put in my last post that I meant the Twilight Princess's huge gate.



Which great big yellow diamond ?

Oh, didn't realize you were talking about Twilight Princess. I assumed OoT.

In that case then yes, I too have tried countless times to break the invisible walls to get in, but to no avail have I.

 

[SmashBrosForce]

Oh, didn't realize you were talking about Twilight Princess. I assumed OoT.

In that case then yes, I too have tried countless times to break the invisible walls to get in, but to no avail have I.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL Spire !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry If I didn't put in my last post that I was talking about TP.

Man, I tried to find any secret entrance inside the gate and under water too. It's kinda weird. If you use the Hawkeye, you will probably see a great area behind the gate. I wonder what this area can be.

 

[Phantom7]

Hold on, which gate exactly are we talking about?

 

[SmashBrosForce]

Hold on, which gate exactly are we talking about?

Twilight Princess's huge gate located in the Hyrule Castle area in Lanayru Province.

 

[Phantom7]

Twilight Princess's huge gate located in the Hyrule Castle area in Lanayru Province.

Western gate on Gamecube, right?

I've never actually wondered much about that place. Although, I could definitely turn on some Action Replay codes and mess around back there with the super clawshots. I've already found a way to explore central Castle Town with the regular view doing that. All you have to do is climb to the view tower, clawshot the door to the Hyrule Castle entrance, then clawshot the ground in front of (or in a sense, behind) the fountain.

 

[SmashBrosForce]

Western gate on Gamecube, right?

This Gate:

 

[zaneebaslave]

How long has THAT been there...?

 

[Spire]

How long has THAT been there...?

I'm with you. Now I'm confused because I've never seen that. Time to replay Twilight Princess.

Though, that first screen is an absolutely beautiful shot of Hyrule Castle. Stunning to say the least.

 

[Scott!]

I thought I knew the TP world decently well, but I've never seen that either. Weird. Time to go find it. It looks really cool, too. I did really like that the TP map had areas that seemed just to exist to look good. Purely aesthetic additions to flesh out the world. The first one that comes to mind is the amphitheater. Yes, it had a statue thing in it, but they could have put that anywhere. It was just a very cool little thing they put in there, and I'm a fan.

 

[SmashBrosForce]

How long has THAT been there...?

I'm with you. Now I'm confused because I've never seen that. Time to replay Twilight Princess.

Though, that first screen is an absolutely beautiful shot of Hyrule Castle. Stunning to say the least.

I thought I knew the TP world decently well, but I've never seen that either. Weird. Time to go find it. It looks really cool, too. I did really like that the TP map had areas that seemed just to exist to look good. Purely aesthetic additions to flesh out the world. The first one that comes to mind is the amphitheater. Yes, it had a statue thing in it, but they could have put that anywhere. It was just a very cool little thing they put in there, and I'm a fan.

I'm surprised right now. I didn't expect that all of you have never seen these pictures showing the huge gate which I was talking about.

So...
Let's Discuss about what can we do to open that gate ?

Thanks Spire.
I did my best to take the best picture.

 

[zaneebaslave]

I'm surprised right now. I didn't expect that all of you have never seen these pictures showing the huge gate which I was talking about.

So...
Let's Discuss about what can we do to open that gate ?

Thanks Spire.
I did my best to take the best picture.

Does that gate open? Because you were talking about it as if it does. It just looks like a dam or something. If it opens, then I was really missing out on something!

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

I've been there. I think it has a chest with a big rupee or something like that near it.

I don't think the gate opens...

 

[Spire]

After starting TP back up and going to that area, I recognize it now. Yes, there's a chest with an orange/purple rupee on the riverfloor and absolutely no way to open the gate. I really wish we could explore the moat around Hyrule Castle though. It's so.. awesome.