Tingle

Tingle (チンクル, Chinkuru) made his first appearance in Majora's Mask. He wears green tights accented with red, and appears in various The Legend of Zelda games to help out - usually in bizarre ways. He is a talented map maker. His catchphrase is the supposedly magical words Kooloo-Limpah. In Majora's Mask he states that he invented these words himself, and asks Link not to steal them. His appearance is based on Koji Kondo, Nintendo's lead composer.

A Tingle vs. The Tingle
In the second half of 2006, Tingle's first starring game was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan as "Mogitate Chinkuru no Barairo Ruppī Rando". It was not released in America due to the people in that country supposedly disliking Tingle the most. It has been released in Europe on September 14th, 2007 as Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland.

The game explains many aspects of Tingle: why he is the way he is, why he loves Rupees, and so on. However, the game also complicates Tingle's story significantly, most notably by introducing a second meaning to the name "Tingle". According to the game, Tingle is not a person, but a state of being; a curse that can befall every living being. To start, Tingle, in Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, is not called Tingle. The player has to pick a name for him (much like in regular Zelda games), but "Tingle" cannot be chosen. This could be a mere gameplay element, as Tingle's real name plays an important role in the story and as such needs to be recognizable from his curse-name. This curse is the work of Uncle Rupee, a demon who becomes stronger as he obtains more Rupees. Rather than collecting them himself, Uncle Rupee chooses a person to collect them for him. By offering him access to the supposed paradise Rupeeland, Uncle Rupee managed to trick Tingle in being that person. Upon accepting the offer, "Tingle" was changed into a Tingle.

A Tingle is a servant, or rather, slave, of Uncle Rupee. Whoever becomes a Tingle automatically gains the green and red outfit. Also, such a person will become dependent of Rupees themself. For a Tingle, being without Rupees equals death. If a Tingle succeeds in getting enough Rupees for Uncle Rupee, the latter becomes incredibly powerful and capable of turning everyone into Tingles (i.e. enslaving everyone). As such, it's up to the first Tingle that is created by Uncle Rupee during his attempt to conquer the world to stop Uncle Rupee before it is too late.

Tingle's obsession with Fairies is explained in two ways in Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland. Firstly, Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland's Tingle seems to get romantically involved with a Fairy "princess" named Pinkle. Secondly, according to Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, Fairies are Uncle Rupee's archenemies. Uncle Rupee is the manifestation of evil Rupee power (greed/egoism), while Fairies are the manifestation of good Rupee power (charity/altruism). As such, a Tingle that chooses to fight Uncle Rupee will find themselves closely aided by the Fairies.

While the game treats Tingle almost solely as a state of being, it also acknowledges at some points that Tingle is a person. For instance, towards the end of the game, Tingle meets his uncle. This individual physically resembles Tingle in many ways, a reference to Tingle's brothers from previous Zelda games. While he does not seem to be a Tingle, he does wear clothes like Tingle, only with different colors (only the green and red outfit is confirmed to come with the Tingle curse). He also has a balloon, like Tingle, to reach places far away. This seems to suggest that Tingle might be similar to Link in that the person Tingle is destined to become the hero (a Tingle) needed to defeat the evil (in his case, Uncle Rupee), which would tie the two concepts of Tingle together.

Majora's Mask
Tingle's debut portrayed him as the eccentric, estranged son of the Southern Swamp Pictograph contest operator - obsessed with his dream of becoming a fairy. Suspended by a balloon in the air, he uses his vantage point to plot maps of Termina, which Link is able to purchase.

Tingle is the subject of four Keaton questions.

Tingle's father also appears in the game as the man in charge of the Swamp Picture Contest. If Link brings him a picture of Tingle, the man will give Link a Piece of Heart (alternately, Link may give him a picture of the Deku King).

Oracle of Ages
In Oracle of Ages, Tingle give Link a map that Link uses while crossing the sea. Tingle can also give Link an upgraded Seed Satchel.

The Wind Waker
Tingle returned in The Wind Waker. The people of Windfall Island had put him in jail for stealing a Picto Box, and Link freed him. In return, Tingle gave him the Tingle Tuner, so Link could ask his help wherever he was. This help was actually provided by a second player who controlled Tingle with the Game Boy Advance, making this technically the first time Tingle was a playable character. Tingle always hovered above the ground and was only visible as a green mark on the floor. To actually see and talk to Tingle, Link had to go to Tingle Island, where he also met Tingle's younger brother Ankle and his friend David Jr. Later, Link also met Knuckle, Tingle's other brother, on Outset Island. There are also many side quests involving one that gets you the "Hand-Me-Down Tingle Tuner". Tingle's main job in the storyline is to translate Triforce Charts for Link so Link can find the Triforce Shards, at a price of 398 Rupees each.

Four Swords Adventures
In Four Swords Adventures, Tingle, instead of collecting Rupees, collects Force Gems. Throughout the entire game, anytime Link comes in eye contact with a big force gem outside of dungeons, Tingle will also try to get it. Link has to shoot him with an arrow or pick up the Force Gem first to get it himself. Tingle also tries to pick up the huge Force Gems, but his balloon can't carry them. His look is similar to the Tingle in The Wind Waker.

Tingle posted signs, Tingle Times, throughout the stages. The signs tell a story of an experience Tingle had in the area and offer insight to his childish nature.

The Minish Cap
Tingle and his brothers fuse Kinstones with Link and tell him how many Kinstone fusions he has left to complete. When Link has done all Kinstone fuses, Tingle will give him the Tingle Trophy, which replaces his Kinstone bag. Tingle hopes to become a Fairy by fusing Kinstones.

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland
Tingle is promised a live in a paradise, Rupeeland, by a creature named Uncle Rupee. The only thing he would have to do is collect as many Rupees as possible and throw them into the tower located under the Western Pool. Tingle accepted and was changed into what he is known as: a Tingle. Under this curse, his money became his life; if he would be out of money, he would die. Uncle Rupee also provided him with an assistant, Pinkle, who would fulfill the role of Tingle's sidekick and suggested love interest. Tingle traveled to many islands and fulfilled many tasks to get the money to get to Rupeeland, until it was revealed to him by the Grand Fairy that Rupeeland is a paradise for one person only: Uncle Rupee, the demon whose power depends on Rupees. If Tingle were to proceed, everyone would be turned into a Tingle, forced to work for Uncle Rupee until the end of time. Tingle managed to free Pinkle, and with her help, confronted Uncle Rupee. Using the Rupees he had collected, Tingle managed to defeat him, and was freed of the Tingle curse. When the Grand Fairy asked him what he was going to do with all the money left, Tingle "replied" he was going to use it to lead the life that was initially promised to him.

Tingle's Balloon Fight DS
Tingle's Balloon Fight DS was a special promo game released only in Japan. It was an updated version of Balloon Fight with a Tingle theme.

Twilight Princess
It has been stated that Purlo, the guy who runs the STAR Game, is a direct reference to Tingle. Eiji Aonuma has said that Purlo is what Tingle would look like if he was a realistic character. Purlo only resembles Tingle in appearance, as his personality is more hostile and unfriendly. Although, he does share Tingle's obsession with money.

Phantom Hourglass
Tingle is on a wanted poster (or it seems to be a wanted poster) in the Milk Bar on Mercay Island in Phantom Hourglass. The tiny picture is located on right side of the shelf within the bar.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Tingle only makes a cameo appearance in the Great Bay level of Super Smash Bros. Melee. As in Majora's Mask, one can burst his balloon which acts as a small platform until popped. Upon landing he will do his dance and eventually blow up a new balloon. He also appears as a trophy.

His trophy description reads:
 * Tingle is a mysterious middle-aged man who thinks he's "the very reincarnation of a fairy". His bizarre behavior and unique speech are just little pieces of his vibrant personality. Tingle travels by way of a small hot-air balloon, making maps of the lands below him. Pop his balloon and Tingle will fall to earth to sell his maps.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Tingle appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl in his cel-shaded incarnation. He appears as a trophy and a Sticker. He also appears as an Assist Trophy.

His trophy description reads:
 * A strange little man easily spotted by his trademark green bodysuit, bright nose, and pointy beard. Tingle has frequently appeared around Hyrule and always lets those he meets know that he's a fairy and selling homemade maps. In a recent adventure, Tingle escapes a sad and dreary life to embark on a magical adventure in the delightful, dreamlike paradise of Rupeeland.

Color Changing Tingle's Love Balloon Trip
In Color Changing Tingle's Love Balloon Trip, Tingle is seen as an ordinary man again in the beginning. He orders a book from a television sales program, which is said to make its readers popular among women. However, the man gets sucked into a picture book world when he opens the book and becomes Tingle. The only way to exit the world is to dance with the princess. On his way to this person, Tingle teams up with his new friends Kakashi, Buriki, and Lion.

Reception
Tingle, along with Navi, Princess Daisy, Waluigi and Birdo has been one of Nintendo's most widely criticized characters. IGN editors particularly loathe Tingle for his role in The Wind Waker for leading Link through many "tedious fetch quests". When Twilight Princess was being created, IGN hoped that Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma would not include the character, saying "we're not going to stand for him in another Zelda game". However, Tingle is certainly not without any fans. Most criticism of the character comes from western gamers, but in Japan, Tingle has a huge following, which resulted in the development of several spin off games featuring Tingle as their star (see above).

Kooloo-Limpah
Kooloo-Limpah are Tingle's "magic" words he created. Although there is no proof of real magic within these words, some believe that the Wind Waker Tingle Tuner's service "Kooloo-Limpah" may be the magic, not a name! The whole chant is "Tingle! Tingle! Kooloo-Limpah!" The effects of Kooloo-Limpah in WW are always random, including Ting, a Link homing Tingle Bomb (uh-oh!), and more.