Those outside of The Legend of Zelda bubble often mistake the princess as the leading role, since her name appears directly in the game’s title. Aaron Diaz, creator of the webcomic Dresden Codak, is now attempting to make this mistake a reality by pitching the game concept “The Legend of Zelda: Clockwork Empire.”
Deeply inspired by Anita Sarkeesian’s Tropes vs. Women webseries, Diaz’s latest endeavor flips the script of this now-scared franchise by casting Princess Zelda as the sword-twirling hero and Link as the one in need of a helping hand. The interesting switch in tone is broached in the first episode of the Tropes vs. Women webseries, where Sarkeesian discusses the tired “damsel in distress” scenario that’s seen so often in the video game industry. While most games place females in a castle or dungeon with little to do but wait to be saved by a masculine hero, Diaz’s pitch for a project places the female Zelda in the heart of the action. This would allow for a greater deal of characterization and growth for the soft-spoken Zelda, smashing the simple “trophy status” that she often carries.
“It just so happens that in this case, Zelda is the protagonist. I’m a very big Zelda fan, and worked hard to draw from key elements in the continuity and mythos,” Diaz wrote. “This concept work is meant to show that Zelda as a game protagonist can be both compelling and true to the franchise, while bringing new and dynamic game elements that go farther than being a simple gender swap.”
It’s an exciting premise, and one that Diaz has also fit into the fiction. Clockwork Empire is set 2,000 years after the events of Twilight Princess, removing it from the realm of a reboot. There’s no active development taking place, but with enough fan feedback and support, big things could be in store for both Diaz and the presence of females in storied franchises.
