<P> The Legend of Zelda is a high - fantasy action - adventure video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka . It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool and Grezzo . The series' gameplay incorporates elements of action, adventure and puzzle - solving games . </P> <P> The series centers on Link, the playable character and chief protagonist . Link is often given the task of rescuing Princess Zelda and the kingdom of Hyrule from Ganon, who is the principal antagonist of the series; however, other settings and antagonists have appeared in several games . The plots commonly involve a relic known as the Triforce, a set of three omnipotent golden triangles . The protagonist in each game is usually not the same incarnation of Link, but a few exceptions exist . </P> <P> Since the original The Legend of Zelda was released in 1986, the series has expanded to include 19 entries on all of Nintendo's major game consoles, as well as a number of spin - offs . An American animated TV series based on the games aired in 1989 and individual manga adaptations commissioned by Nintendo have been produced in Japan since 1997 . The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most prominent and successful franchises, selling over 80 million copies as of 2017; many of its titles are considered by critics and fans alike to be among the greatest video games of all time . </P> <P> The Legend of Zelda games feature a mixture of puzzles, action, adventure / battle gameplay, and exploration . These elements have remained constant throughout the series, but with refinements and additions featured in each new game . Later games in the series also include stealth gameplay, where the player must avoid enemies while proceeding through a level, as well as racing elements . Although the games can be beaten with a minimal amount of exploration and side quests, the player is frequently rewarded with helpful items or increased abilities for solving puzzles or exploring hidden areas . Some items are consistent and appear many times throughout the series (such as bombs and bomb flowers, which can be used both as weapons and to open blocked or hidden doorways; boomerangs, which can kill or paralyze enemies; keys for locked doors; magic swords, shields, and bows and arrows), while others are unique to a single game . Though the games contain many role - playing elements (Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is the only one to include an experience system), they emphasize straightforward hack and slash - style combat over the strategic, turn - based or active time combat of games like Final Fantasy . The game's role - playing elements, however, have led to much debate over whether or not the Zelda games should be classified as action role - playing games, a genre on which the series has had a strong influence . </P>

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