Few franchises have earned the same level of status and respect that The Legend of Zelda holds. The adventures are epic, the characters are full of depth, the lore is beautifully crafted, and yet, one aspect of the series goes unnoticed: Its humor. The developers at Nintendo have never failed to deliver a healthy dose of laughter amid The Legend of Zelda's often dark and immersive universe. Whether it's an offhand joke by an odd man in a green jumpsuit, or a slapstick-heavy band of pirates, Nintendo has made sure that players are smiling while they wield the controller.

When The Legend of Zelda was first introduced to the world in 1986, video game designer Miyamoto along with his team at Nintendo surely had no idea what kind of an impression they would be making on the video game world. Despite being wildly ahead of its time and limited by the technology of its era, The Legend of Zelda laid the groundwork for all future video game franchises, both in content and in player experience.

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From even some of the earliest games within the series, Miyamoto knew that laughter would be what kept players returning to the land of Hyrule. Here are some of The Legend of Zelda franchise's funniest moments.

Early on in the second installment of the Zelda franchise, Link meets an oddly named character in the town of Ruto. Upon entering one of the homes, the only words Link can seem to get out of the gentleman is "I am Error!" It's widely believed to be a joke implemented intentionally into the game, though many believe it could be the result of a mistranslation, or even an actual error message gone unnoticed. Regardless, it's fun to imply to new players that there's an error in the game and to provide actual proof!

#9 - Banana Fever in Breath of the Wild

Due to the vast open world that Breath of the Wild offers players, there is much to experiment with. The game offers little to no direction and allows players to discover things at their own pace, like the various mask effects on civilians and enemies, or just what exactly a shock arrow does to the fish in the shallows. One of the most bizarre plot points in Breath of the Wild is the big bad Yiga clan, and their obsession with... bananas. Their lair is full of them, they're distracted when Link lays one down, and nearly all of them drop bananas upon being defeated (implying that they carry them on their person at all times). For a group full of tough ninja fighters, that's one weird and funny kryptonite.

#8 - The Mailman in Twilight Princess

Twilight Princess is perhaps the darkest game in the Zelda franchise. The whole vibe of the game appeals more to the ever-present Twilight rather than the usual beauty of Hyrule. However, one character that never ceases to break the tension is the Mailman. First of all, he halts all gameplay when he finds Link with a loopy "HEEEEEEY!" as he proceeds to huff and puff his way up to the hero.

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If his lack of stamina, gigantic bunny flag, or his revealing shorts aren't enough to crack a player's smile, if one listen's carefully, the odd delivery man does his own theme music! When he delivers a message to Link, the Mailman will sing the "bum bada ba bum" players usually hear from a chest, or he'll sing other familiar 'item found' melodies well-known within the series. If that's not funny, it's at least very clever, and a very welcome break from the otherwise macabre Twilight Princess.

#7 - Offensive Food in Breath of the Wild

One of the most experimental aspects of Breath of the Wild is Link's new ability to cook. If he's got the recipe, Link can make some incredible feasts ranging from freshly skewered veggies, to delicious cakes that all provide various health boosts in his travels. Link isn't above making mistakes, and the game is willing to shame him in the process. Besides being labeled "Dubious Food," developers went one step further and censored the abomination, calling it "...too gross to even look at." Link's unfortunate creation will still offer a small amount of health, but it sure is funny to watch him eat it!

Link is always painted as the hero of the story, dedicated to fighting evil and saving the kingdom. However, Link's Awakening gives the young protagonist the opportunity to draw the line of law and order himself. When browsing the Tool Shop in Mabe Village, Link can pick up an item and attempt to leave without paying. He is stopped, of course, by the polite shopkeeper, but if players leave from around his back, Link will slip out seemingly unnoticed. When Link returns, however, he is met with a terrible fate. The Shopkeeper has been waiting for him, and in an epic display of unprecedented power, ends Link's game in retribution! The laugh (albeit a defeated one) comes when players' shocked surprise finally catches up as they see that Game Over screen and balance is restored.

A Link to the Past is a landmark game within the series that defined a layout that players would come to expect from The Legend of Zelda henceforth. It begins with real pomp and circumstance, as Link inherits his dying uncle's sword and quest to save Zelda, and it is so jam packed with content that players are practically blindsided with confusion when Link gets to the Dark World unequipped. Upon his first entrance into the parallel kingdom, Link is transformed into a useless shell of his former self until he acquires the Moon Pearl. However, that shell just happens to be a pink bunny rabbit. With no sword and no dignity, Link is forced to brave the dangerous mountain adorably while players shake their heads and laugh at the absurdity.

#4 - The Hand in Majora's Mask

There can be little debate that perhaps the oddest character in the entire franchise is the Hand at the Inn in Majora's Mask. Link has the opportunity to fulfill a short side quest by retrieving a piece of paper for this... um... tenant. The Hand doesn't specify what the paper is for, exactly, but seeing as how he lives in what looks like a makeshift toilet, one can only assume. What is this creature? Who knows. Why does he need paper? No one needs to know. But with the moon looming overhead, the ever-present deadlines, and danger around every corner, this interaction is a hilarious moment of levity in the game.

#3 - Tetra's Barrel Idea in Wind Waker

Early in Wind Waker, Link is charged with the task of infiltrating the Forsaken Fortress to rescue his little sister. Discussion regarding how to get in results in Tetra's brilliant idea of firing Link in a barrel out of a cannon. The subsequent scene is a hysterical few moments of shock, anger, and acceptance by Link as he explodes into the air.

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His pirate friends oafishly waving him goodbye after liftoff is comedy gold, and sets the tone for the entire game. Wind Waker's Link is one of the most animated reincarnations of the Hero, and his facial expressions are one of the best reasons to play this game over and over.

#2 - Darunia's Dance in Ocarina of Time

Darunia dance

Ocarina of Time gave The Legend of Zelda an entire new level of depth with its 3D graphics and attention to detail. The development opportunities that came with the Nintendo 64 breathed new life into Hyrule. A towering icon in the game is Darunia, chief of the Gorons. He is intimidating, powerful, and a stalwart figurehead for the Gorons. Play him Saria's Song, though, and he drops some of the sickest dance moves Hyrule has ever seen. Link has to step back as the stoic chief busts out all the stops to move to the forest beat. It's honestly a hilarious moment that does a lot to invest players in the wonderfully charming inhabitants of Death Mountain.

#1 - Groose's Freakout in Skyward Sword

First in the lore timeline of The Legend of Zelda is the motion-controlled Skyward Sword, released for Wii in 2011. Link begins the game in a civilization above the clouds surrounded by peers his own age. One of those peers is Groose, a textbook schoolyard bully that often gives Link a hard time. Eventually, when Link assumes his heroic duties, he must plummet to the ground below to begin his adventure. Unseen by Link, Groose somehow ends up falling too! Once he lands, the reality of his circumstance is too much to handle though, as Groose devolves into a rabid panic dismantling his tough guy exterior in an instant. His facial expressions are a riot, and players aren't disappointed to see his antics finally catch up with him.

It is an undeniable truth that the Legend of Zelda franchise has perfected the balance of heavy and light in its games. The challenges of the series' puzzles are just as important to the fiber of the experience as the smiles players get when they enjoy a funny moment with Link. Every masterful installment of The Legend of Zelda gives players a new and exciting world to explore, and during the adventure, one can always count on having a few laughs. It is just a game, after all.

Next: Zelda Theory: Breath of the Wild's Timeline Placement Makes No Sense