Niko: Difference between revisions

{{Character

|name = Niko

|image = [[File:WW Niko.png]]

|caption = Niko as he appears in ''The Wind Waker''

|title =  

|race = [[Hylian]]

|gender = Male

|first game = {{TWW}}

|latest game = {{ST}}

|family =

|voice actor(s) =  

'''Niko''' is a member of [[Tetra's Pirate Crew|Tetra's pirate crew]] who makes an appearance in {{TWW}}, {{PH}} and {{ST}}. He is the skivvy and the lowest-ranking crew member on board [[Tetra's Ship|pirate ship]], often having to deal with humiliating tasks like washing the dirty underpants of the rest of the pirates.<ref name=quote1>{{cite|Helloooooooo, new pirate swabbie! Goooooood-bye, dirty pirate underwear! Yes! This means I don't have to wash the other pirates' dirty underpants anymore!|Niko|TWW}}</ref> Any new member aboard Tetra's pirate ship has to report to Niko for duty.<ref>{{cite|Heya, shrimplet! Are you gonna be our new pirate swabbie? ...'Cause any new swabbie reports to me!|Niko|TWW}}</ref>

In {{TWW}}, Niko enthusiastically befriends [[Link]] when he is reluctantly cast below the decks for a journey to the [[Forsaken Fortress]]; as with Link's presence, Niko himself no longer had the worst repute on board.<ref name=quote1/> Niko's apparently notorious incompetence leads him to be outwitted by Link on several occasions and has him hand over multiple important treasures to the hero as rewards for completing his challenges. When Link first meets Niko, the young pirate gives him a test which all new pirate swabbies must take, which is to swing from platform to platform using [[Rope (Object)|ropes]] hanging from the ceiling and reach the other end of the ship.<ref>{{cite|Right! Now, first off you have to take the test all new pirates have to take. It's a bit of a doozy, so get ready!|Niko|TWW}}</ref> Niko is confident that it will take Link at least a year to successfully complete the test, but is astounded when the young hero easily finishes the trial.<ref>{{cite|It will probably take you at least one year before you're good enough to make it all the way here. One rough year. One tough year, full of bumps and bruises.|Niko|TWW}}</ref> For his great skills, Niko bestows upon Link the [[Spoils Bag]], and tells the young hero that he is proud to have him as his underling.<ref>{{cite|Whaaaaat!?? You did it already??? ......... I... I... I'm proud to have you as... As my... As my underling! [...] All right, swabbie! I'll tell you what! You can have the treasure in that chest over there! It's your reward from the great and generous Niko!|Niko|TWW}}</ref>

Later, when Link visits [[Windfall Island]] to find out what the pirates are up to, the young hero finds Niko stuck looking out for the pirate ship while the rest of the pirates are out having fun.<ref>{{cite|Well, after you left, I went back to being the bottom rung on the ladder...which is why I'm stuck here while everyone else is in town having fun and eating and stuff...|Niko|TWW}}</ref> He mentions that he is happy to see his "old swabbie" again, and gives him another test similar to the one he took first, except this time there are no platforms in which Link can step on to and must swing directly from rope to rope to the other side.<ref>{{Cite|All right! Why don't we set you to your next test, huh? This one is harder than the last! Good luck! You'll need it, swabbie!|Niko|TWW}}</ref> Once Link successfully finishes the trial, Niko will once again be amazed (especially since that's a test he hadn't even passed himself) and hand him over some of the [[Bomb]]s that they acquired from the [[Bomb Shop#The Wind Waker|Bomb Shop]], although somewhat reluctantly since he's afraid he might get caught.<ref>{{cite|This isn't good... I've never even passed this test... How could he do it so quickly...? And make it look so easy?!? And if I give this to him, everyone will know for sure... Oh, I'll be so busted... Uh...OK! You're the best swabbie of all time! So...I guess I'll just give you the bombs! Go on! Take 'em!|Niko|TWW}}</ref>

In one of the [[Letter]]s that [[Aryll]] writes to Link later on in the game, she mentions how Niko seems sad that Link is not around anymore, and asks whether they used to be good friends.<ref>{{cite|As usual, Niko is always fooling around. He won't take anything serious. Actually, he seems sad not to have you around anymore. Were you guys good friends?|Aryll|TWW}}</ref>

Niko makes a final appearance in ''The Wind Waker'' during the game's ending. After Link and Tetra resurface from the sunken Hyrule Castle, Niko, along with the rest of the pirate crew and a few other character, greet the pair aboard their pirate ship. [[Gonzo]] is then seen steering the ship as Link, Tetra, and the gang of pirates set sail from Outset Island in search of new lands.

Like the rest of the pirates, Niko bears a striking resemble to a man portrayed in a [[:File:Portrait.jpg|wall painting]] hanging in the sunken [[Hyrule Castle]], which heavily hints that the man could be Niko's ancestor serving under the orders of a past [[Princess Zelda]].  

{{figurine|TWW|Niko|Personality: Merry.<br>Least Favorite Thing: Gonzo's underwear.<br>Niko is the bottom rung on the pirate ladder, so he's responsible for all the odd jobs on the ship. He's quite childish and rarely thinks of the consequences of his actions. Even so, he shows signs of having what it takes to move up the pirate ladder.|[[File:Niko Figurine.png|100px]]}}

===''Phantom Hourglass''===  

In {{PH}}, Niko recounts the events of ''The Wind Waker'' during the game's introduction before the [[Ghost Ship#Phantom Hourglass|Ghost Ship]] appears; however, Niko's role is severely limited in the game and only makes an appearance during the opening and closing sequences of the game. He is last seen when Tetra and Link reunite with the rest of the pirate crew. He is fond of his paper cutouts,<ref>{{cite|So what did you think of my amazing paper cutouts? Did you guess that Tetra was really Princess Zelda?!  Hey! Link! Are you sleeping, swabbie?|Niko|PH}}</ref> a character traits that he retains in {{ST}}.

===''Spirit Tracks''===

[[File:ST Niko.png|right|150px|Niko]]

Niko makes an appearance in ''Spirit Tracks'' as presumably one of the few, if not the only, surviving founders of [[Hyrule]]. In this game, he appears as an ancient man (''Spirit Tracks'' takes place 100 years after ''The Wind Waker'' and ''Phantom Hourglass'', both of which took place in Niko's youth) who keeps pictures and memorabilia from his pirating days in his home. He narrates the opening cutscene of the game, just as he did at the opening of ''Phantom Hourglass''. Later on, he gives Link the [[Stamp Book]] after musing about how Link looks like an old friend of his (an obvious allusion to the [[Link#Hero of Winds|Hero of Winds]]). By putting ten stamps in the book, Niko will give Link the [[Shield of Antiquity]], which he claims used to belong to a friend of his<ref>{{cite|You got the Shield of Antiquity! Niko received this precious shield from an old, dear friend.|N/A|Spirit Tracks}}</ref> (given its appearance, it is evidently the same shield Link used in ''Phantom Hourglass''; another hint that Niko's old friend was the Hero of Winds). By putting fifteen stamps in the book, Link can switch back and forth between his his [[Engineer's Clothes]] or [[Tunic#Recruit Uniform|Recruit Uniform]] at any time by speaking with Niko. By putting twenty stamps in the book, Link receives a scroll allowing him to use the [[Great Spin]].

{{clear}}

File:SP13 Niko.png|Niko's image on the [[Sliding Puzzle]] from ''The Wind Waker''

File:Nikoph.png|Niko as he appears in ''Phantom Hourglass''

File:Niko.png|Niko, as he appears in ''Spirit Tracks''

[[Category:Hylians]]