10 Awesome Video Games Betrayed By Terrible Marketing
6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
For decades, video games have been stigmatized by the assumption that they’re strictly meant for males. Sure, many of them emphasize stereotypically male interests—violence, profanity, nudity/sex, etc.— but just as many don’t, and either way, gamers of all gender identities enjoy all kinds of virtual content and conduct.
Obviously, one of the sturdiest examples of a series that’s adored by everyone is The Legend of Zelda. With its inclusion of fighting, cooking, exploring, shopping, questing, and encountering all sorts of quirky people and places, it’s a franchise that’s easy to love.
Why, then, did 1998’s Ocarina of Time receive an infamously sexist commercial in the United Kingdom?
During the 30-second TV spot, clips of the game are complemented by text posing various questions (“Willst thou flee? Or fight? Willst thou finish? Or die trying?”). So far, so good, but then it inexplicably asks: “And in the end, willst thou get the girl? Or play like one?”
Beyond accentuating the profoundly outdated idea that girls are inherently more fearful and less skilled than boys, it undermines the fact that the titular princess is—you know—quite brave, intelligent, and helpful.
Fortunately, Ocarina of Time still sold well and became iconic.