>>149343530
>>treating Link as a singular individual rather than a legacy character spanning multiple incarnations
Zelda timeline stuff wasn't a big deal until OoT directly stated it was set long before LttP.
At the height of Zelda's popularity, these were the games:
>Zelda
>Zelda 2
An adventure, and then an obvious sequel adventure
>Link to the Past
Was a weird status at the time. It was the first Zelda game to indicate any real sense of timeline, but it didn't matter so much since Zelda 1 and 2 didn't have what one would call a 'story'.
>Link's Awakening
Pretty clear sequel to LttP.
Now, imagine, after those four games, the following happens in the span of about 8 years.
>Ocarina of Time
So, this is about the thing in LttP's opening? Okay, I guess we'll just... keep going backwards.
>Majora's Mask
Nintendo really keeps repeating themselves with these brand new games followed by a direct sequel huh? Guess the next one could be another adventure.
>Oracles
Wait, so when do these take place? Looks kind of like Link's Awakening I guess, so we're back here?
>Wind Waker
So this is a sequel to Ocarina... wait, Hyrule is flooded? What about all the other games?
>Minish Cap
And this is how Link got his hat? So, this is even further back than OoT? And Vaati, that guy was in Four Swords [spin-off never mentioned in this list].
>Twilight Princess
Wait, so this is a sequel to Wind Waker... no wait, Hyrule is flooded there... but, the shade is the Ocarina of Time hero... and Ganon remembers OoT... but OoT is a prequel to LttP...
I hope this explained just HOW someone could think Link is all one guy prior to Zelda games all deciding to be sequels to one game and inventing a timeline. For a casual fan this was a very easy thing to assume.