ign.com presents you with a comprehensive history of the very popular Legend of Zelda series! It's the perfect timeline of all the games ever conceived, and then some!

The times may change, but the legend remains: A dark wizard, a princess in peril, and an emerald-clad boy as the kingdom's only hope. Like all great fables of times long past, the story of Link has changed much over the years, retold in a new way for each coming generation, but timeless nonetheless. It's a legacy few other franchises can equal, and these 22 years have elevated Link to stand among the upper echelon of video game royalty.

That kind of legacy means walking a delicate line; constantly evolving with the times, yet carefully clinging to the foundations on which the series is built; keeping the series active and current, without tiring fans out. It takes a light touch, but that's precisely how Shigeru Miyamoto has maintained his good name. From the NES to the Wii, and every step in between, The Legend of Zelda has been there, never falling from view.

Dark Arcanine via au.retro.ign.com »