Actually, there were several Zelda games that were either direct sequels or directly referenced earlier entries in the series. Link's Awakening is almost certainly a direct sequel to A Link to the Past, Majora's Mask IS a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, and talks about it quite a bit, and Wind Waker makes a lot of semi-obscure references to Ocarina of Time...
Can you explain the connection (at first I typed link) between A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening? It's something I've never really seen, personally (and like I said as a reply to another post, Link's Awakening seems like more of a sequel to Wind Waker).
The Link's Awakening manual states in pretty much direct terms that after "fulfilling the prophesy" and destroying Ganon, there were still threats to be had. So, Link set out to gain wisdom and such, but ended up shipwrecked on the way home. It isn't completely slam-dunk that it has to follow LttP, though, as it's somewhat vague. It could fit in after just about any game in the series. Some even say it could have happened in between the major continents of Hyrule during Zelda II, but that doesn't really work. Only the original Legend of Zelda, oddly, really directly seems to imply that Ganon is truly destroyed, what with the ashes and talk about resurrection in Zelda II. I guess it's just thought that either those two games are chronologically the last, or eventually the bad guys did end up getting Ganon back. WW has you jamming the Master Sword into the guy's head, but he's survived worse...
Unfortunately, Legend of Zelda's timeline is a hideous mess that is terribly impractical to try to fit together. There are a few games that logically have to be some time after/before another, but there are plenty that could also fit just about anywhere. There are even at least two whole alternate timelines caused by OoT that have to be reconciled somehow in various games.
Direct sequels... (Score:5, Informative)
-Moses
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Direct sequels... (Score:2)
Unfortunately, Legend of Zelda's timeline is a hideous mess that is terribly impractical to try to fit together. There are a few games that logically have to be some time after/before another, but there are plenty that could also fit just about anywhere. There are even at least two whole alternate timelines caused by OoT that have to be reconciled somehow in various games.