The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia Hardcover – January 29, 2013

Hyrule Historia is an absolute must-have for any Legend of Zelda fan. This beautifully designed hardcover book offers an in-depth look at the history of the beloved Zelda series, with rich artwork, detailed lore, and fascinating insights into the creation of the games. It’s a treasure trove of information, covering everything from the original Zelda to the more recent titles in the series.The concept art and behind-the-scenes details are incredible, giving readers a deeper appreciation for the stunning visuals and thoughtful design that have shaped the world of Hyrule. The book also includes a timeline, which is a great addition for those trying to make sense of the series’ often complex chronology. The timeline itself is a fantastic resource, and its inclusion adds a layer of depth to the Zelda universe that fans will love to explore.Additionally, the book contains interviews with the creators and never-before-seen sketches, which are fascinating for anyone interested in the development process of the games. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, Hyrule Historia is the ultimate companion to the Zelda games and offers a deep dive into the rich legacy of the franchise.Overall, Hyrule Historia is an essential addition to any fan’s collection. It’s informative, visually stunning, and a wonderful celebration of the Legend of Zelda series. Highly recommended for anyone who loves this iconic franchise!

As a wee lad of 7 years old I remember getting my SNES for Christmas in 1992. Along with the system I got a few games, one being "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past." It wasn't until the excitement from Super Mario World calmed down that I finally decided to pop this game in and see what it was like. As soon as the Master Sword came down, locking into place behind the Tri-force and making that now well-known "shhhink" noise, I knew I was in for something awesome. I remember convincing my parents to let me stay up past my bed time that Friday night. I remember going to the store and looking for anything Zelda-related I could find. I was hooked. I fell in love with this game, and it is a love that has lived now for 20 years.This book is like a Zelda bible. There is so much lore and history in this book. It goes into detail about the events prior to the original Zelda for the NES, and details how the games tie into each other and we finally get an official time line. While a lot of speculation has (and always will be) debated and talked about on-line, to actually see the different story lines and how things work is very cool and also works to fill a lot of gaps in the series. The detailed descriptions about each game, the story, the characters, the items, and the weapons that play a pivotal role in the Zelda series make for a great read. The day it came in the mail I sat down that night and proceeded to read through the entire thing. The artwork from each game is also great to see and the Skyward Sword manga comic included is very cool. In fact, after reading the included Skyward Sword manga I have no started to buy the other Zelda mangas as well. This book is a fantastic addition to any Zelda fan's library, and a great addition to anyone's video game collection as well.If you love Zelda, enjoy a great story and some very cool artwork, do yourself a favor and buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

After receiving my copy of the book on Monday and reading through the entire thing non-stop for 4 1/2 hours, I can safely say this book is one of the most satisfying reads I've had in years, and a definite need for anybody who is either getting introduced to video games, or a long-time gamer with many hours and adventures under their belt. Not only is much information given about the history of the series, but one of the most sought-after answers is finally revealed: "WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THIS SERIES?". The in-depth history is AMAZING. The large collection of production artwork included is unparalleled, and there are art sections for each and every game in the series (save for the horrendous Philips CD-I games).The book itself is extremely high-quality. It is nice and weighty, with top-notch binding. The hardcover front of the book is beautifully detailed. The typeset inside is wonderful and one can tell that the translation from the original Japanese was done carefully (Dark Horse is known for being one of the best English translation companies in existence, I'm not surprised they got the rights to publish this from Nintendo).My expectations were definitely met and even exceeded due to the sheer volume of content that is delivered in this veritable encyclopedia of Zelda knowledge. The only criticism I can give about this wonderful tome is that there should have been a bit more introduction on more of the artists mentioned in the book, as well as other staff that worked on the earlier titles. There also isn't any information about how Capcom became involved to create the Oracles games, nor is there an actual bestiary of the various enemies throughout the series. That aside, any interested person reading this review while they consider if the book is worth the price or not should know it is worth EVERY penny.