Hero of Time

The Link appearing in both and  is known as the Hero of Time. He also makes an appearance in Twilight Princess as the Hero's Shade.

Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time is the only game of the Legend of Zelda series where Link is playable as both an "adult" and a "child". Just like every other Link, he does not speak unless he is asked a question. The only time in game that we see his response, is when Young Zelda asks his name and repeats his answer; his name being the only green-lettered response in the game. At the beginning of the game, as per the Deku Tree's request, he is befriended by a fairy named Navi, who becomes his companion and helps him throughout his journey to save Hyrule from the clutches of Ganondorf.

Relationships
It is Young Link that establishes the relationships that will come to his benefit in his adult years, after pulling the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time. An example of this is Link bonding with the Sages before they are awakened, as well as the people of Hyrule. As a child, Link establishes his beneficial and plot-necessary relationships, such as his friendship with Saria, and rivalry with Mido which can be attributed to this friendship and the Great Deku Tree favoring Link over Mido himself. Young Link also strikes up a friendship with Princess Zelda, and indirectly with Impa as well, while conversing with her about Ganondorf and the fate of her kingdom in the Hyrule Castle courtyard, after vanquishing the parasite from the Great Deku Tree. In helping Darunia reopen the Dodongo's Cavern, and saving Princess Ruto from the depths of the stomach of Lord Jabu-Jabu, Young Link had, unbeknownst to him, met and aided almost all of the future Sages who would, in turn, help him in his quest to save Hyrule from the Evil King Ganondorf in the young hero's adult years. Even after returning to his childhood for the second time, he continues this by befriending Nabooru by agreeing to aid her in overthrowing Ganondorf. He is also the one that forms the initial bond with Epona and Malon. When Link pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal, he is put into a 7 years sleep. When he wakes up, and returns to Hyrule in its time of need, Link is still remember by those he met as a child and continued to build upon these relationships.

Dungeons
Interestingly, the dungeons of the Young Link era are all similar in theme to the temples he must face seven years down the road (i.e the Forest Temple is akin to the inside of the Great Deku Tree), yet are much more proportionate in respect to his strength, size, and skill set. If anything, the dungeons Young Link must complete are likely to be strength and skill tests in preparation for the temples he will face later, after he pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal in the Temple of Time. Not only are these dungeon puzzles easier, but the entire dungeon scope is smaller and shorter - however, Young Link is not going for Medallions in respect to the completion of these dungeons, but Spiritual Stones, items that will provide him passage into his adult years. The Spirit Temple is the only temple in the game that Young Link visits and completes (at least, his section), and the only one whose dungeon treasure he does not directly benefit from. After completing the left side of the temple, he receives the Silver Gauntlets, enabling him to return to the temple as an adult and complete the previously closed-off right side; the Gauntlets can only be worn by Adult Link, and must be used to relieve the temple's right side from a large black rock blocking its entrance.

Child Equippable Items
Because Young Link is a child, he can only equip and wield items that can be proportionally held and used in respect to his strength and small stature. Young Link can only carry these items while in this form in Ocarina of Time:


 * Slingshot
 * Boomerang
 * Deku Shield
 * Fairy Ocarina
 * Goron Bracelets
 * Kokiri Sword
 * Various masks from the Happy Mask Shop

Adult Equippable Items
Now that Link is fully grown he can now equip larger items that he couldn't before as a child, but because of his large size Link is now unable to use many items he used as a child such as his slingshot because he has outgrown them.


 * Fairy Bow
 * Megaton Hammer
 * Master Sword
 * Giant's Knife
 * Biggoron's Sword
 * Goron Tunic
 * Zora Tunic
 * Iron Boots
 * Hover Boots
 * Hookshot
 * Mirror Shield
 * Silver Gauntlets
 * Golden Gauntlets

Adult and Child Equippable Items
These are items Link can equip regardless of his age.
 * Lens of Truth
 * Bombs
 * Ocarina of Time
 * Hylian Shield
 * Bottles filled with various things
 * Kokiri Tunic
 * Kokiri Boots
 * Din's Fire
 * Farore's Wind
 * Nayru's Love
 * Bombchus

Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, Young Link appears as the primary character of the game. Although Link is as young as he was in Ocarina of Time, he now possesses several abilities the former Young Link did not possess, such as an adult wallet, the ability to ride Epona, Bow and Hookshot usage; he can still use the Ocarina of Time like he could in Ocarina of Time, and much of his weaponry from the previous title. Since Adult Link does not appear in this title, the characteristics of Young Link are not seen as unique as they were in Ocarina of Time, since he is the only player-controlled character in the game (with the exception of a brief instance in Sakon's Hideout where Kafei can be controlled).

The story tells of Young Link who, after beating Ganon, left Hyrule to find a friend. It is unknown why or who he is looking for, though it is hinted to be Navi. As he drifts along in his adventures he comes along a dark being known as Skull Kid. It seems Skull Kid has pulled the moon from its orbit and set its course to crash into Termina, and at the same time placed a spell over Link to become a Deku Scrub. He befriends one of the Skull Kid's fairies, a stubborn fairy girl named Tatl, who accompanies him throughout his journey and eventually ends up growing a liking to the young hero. After removing the spell, Link finds out who the Skull Kid actually is and what is happening around him. He begins to take action as soon as possible, saving people, freeing at least 4 spirits and bring the Four Giants to stop the incoming moon. At the end of the game Link never finds his friend, but the world of Termina is safe at last, and Link is free to move on with his life as he bids farewell to Tatl and the Skull Kid.

A facet of the Young Link of Ocarina of Time that returns in full force in Majora's Mask is the wearing and usage of masks as a plot device. See Deku Link, Goron Link, Zora Link, and Fierce Deity Link for more information.

Hero's Shade
The Hero of Time appears in Twilight Princess as the Hero's Shade. After The Hero's death he was unable to go to the after life because of the regrets that kept him tied to the world of the living. The cause of his regrets and sorrows were after he returned to his child life, the Hero was unable to pass on his lessons of life to the younger generations. In order to ease his regrets and finally pass on his knowledge, he teaches the seven Hidden Skills to his descendant, the Link of Twilight Princess.

Golden Wolf
In Twilight Princess, the Hero's Shade takes the form of the Golden Wolf. The Golden Wolf is a ghostly-looking wolf, glowing a golden yellow color. Like the humanoid form of the Hero's Spirit, the Golden Wolf's left eye glows red while the right eye is missing. The wolf is summoned by finding a Howling Stone, with the exception of the first time, in which he confronts Link directly. Once a howling stone is found, the song has to be howled in tune with the Spirit. He then tells Link to take "sword in hand" and find him, implying that Link had to return to human form before searching for the Wolf and the Golden Wolf will appear as a symbol on Link's map. When Link confronts the Wolf, the Wolf will leap into Link, transporting him into an ancient arena near Hyrule Castle. The arena is described as being a different world and has an ethereal appearance. The wolf then finally transforms into ghostly humanoid form, the Hero's Shade.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
In Super Smash Bros. Melee both Adult Link and Young Link forms of the Hero of Time are playable.

Young Link is an unlockable character in. There are two ways to unlock him: 1) Play 500 Vs. matches, or 2) Complete Classic Mode with 10 different characters, including Adult Link and Zelda, at any difficulty/stock. The player will then be challenged by Young Link, and upon defeating him, Young Link will become a playable character. His appearance is based on the young counterpart of Link as seen in Ocarina of Time, since he wields the Kokiri Sword and the Deku Shield during combat. Young Link is more agile albeit weaker than the older Link. He has some of the same weaponry and moves as his adult counterpart, but they are usually accompanied with a few changes, like his Hookshot and Boomerang having a shorter reach. Great Bay serves as the home stage of Young Link.

Like Adult Link, Young Link can choose different color tunics: the Red, Blue, and Black Tunic, as well as the Blue Ring Tunic from the original. When he taunts his foes, he drinks a bottle of Lon Lon Milk then wipes his mouth.

Link's special moves are the same for both child and adult forms. He wields the Fairy Bow from Ocarina of Time as his neutral special move; however, instead of it shooting normal arrows like Adult Link's, Young Link's Fire Bow shoots Fire Arrows, although they do not travel as far as Adult Link's and actually inflict less damage. Young Link's side special move is the Boomerang, and while it might not have a range as great as Adult Link's, Young Link actually has more control over it. Bombs function as the hero's down special move, while the Spin Attack is his up special move as well as his recovery move. Young Link's Spin Attack may be weaker than Adult Link's, but it can trap nearby foes in a cyclone of slashes upon performing this move.

The Hero of Time does not appear in SSBB because he is replace by Toon Link and Twilight Link.

Trivia

 * Young Link is able to use the Fire, Ice, and Light Arrows in Majora's Mask and Fire Arrows in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and, non-canonically, he uses them in the Nintendo Heroes book, Link and the Portal of Doom, whilst he is unable to use those in Ocarina of Time as a kid.
 * In the English version, as the crowd cheers for Link they only call him by his English name; the crowd in the Japanese version does not cheer at all.