I don't, and likely never will, get the attention Zelda has as some kind of plot-token. Even in the SNES rendition, she is about as helpless as they come (as is everyone else) but she offers whatever support she can and, at least on my part, I found a duty to help her as a person, not because the plot demanded me to. Even in OoT, as a child she knows Ganon is not good and helps you out, after a giant tree tells you she's the only one who can help you. She is proactive even into adult-hood as Sheik. Windwaker she's an important character as Tetra and is leading her own group of scurvy dogs. She is mostly useless in Twilight Princess, but this is more to facilitate the actions of Midna (another woman) who saves Link's ass numerous times. Zelda only exists to save Midna's life since her (Zelda's) story was told before the events of the game. You're supposed to have more of an emotional connection to Midna.Simon_Jester wrote:There are a few. Like, one where she's reimagined as a pirate queen and the final battle involves you keeping the villain occupied with swordplay while she riddles him with arrows. Although in the next installment where the same character appears, I gather she spends most of the game trapped in an even more passive captivity than usual.Alyrium Denryle wrote:Not necessarily. At best it would mean there are games where she is less objectified or not objectified, out of a game franchise that is how big, exactly? These games are, as far as I know, almost entirely episodic.
I think Nintendo tried to accomplish a little more with Zelda after the old 8 and 16-bit games, because she's one of like two recognizable recurring characters in the franchise. The criticism that "the helpless princess doesn't do much" in video games arguably sticks more effectively to Princess Peach of the Mario games.
"Princess Zelda," as a title, is generally an object. The character is screwed by fate to be largely useless because by herself she can't stop Ganon's plans. Same with Link in later games: the Hero of Time is just a plot-weapon to kill Ganon, a hand for the Master Sword. But for a guy who never talks, Link has personality. While it would be interesting to see a mix-up during one iteration (swap the triforces), that won't convince me Zelda isn't a fleshed out character with her own motivations.
Mario development has always been vastly more concerned with gameplay versus any kind of message. Not defending, just explaining why they wouldn't bother messing with the Peach/Mario deal while they will change the Zelda/Link dynamic as the story is a big deal in LoZ.Peach spends games wandering around in a big poofy pink dress and being menaced by monsters. Zelda will at least sometimes do something fancy like dress up as a ninja and try to help Our Hero in his quest.