Link
Link is the main protagonist of The Legend of Zelda series. He was created for the original Legend of Zelda game, in 1986 by Shigeru Miyamoto and, then, appeared in all canonical The Legend of Zelda games. He was introduced as a young sword-fighting boy, but, since The Adventure of Link he's been changing from game to game. Link is named for the “link” the player shares with the hero of each game, and in every game, the player can name the character according to his or her wishes.
As already confirmed by Miyamoto, there are many different incarnations of Link. The games tend to call them Hero of Something (i.e. Ocarina of Time Link is called the Hero of Time), but many fans are used to number them, according to their own timeline theories(i.e. Ocarina of Time Link is generally called Link I by fans), which causes too much confusion, since each fan builds his own theory, and none of them are official.
Common attributes of all Links
In almost all the games (with the exception of The Adventure of Link and Twilight Princess only), Link starts his journey as a child or young adolescent, and his age rarely exceeds 17 years at any point of the series. He is also mute and has never talked throughout any of the Zelda games.
Link’s adventures mostly take place in the kingdom of Hyrule, which he had to save several times; although Link's Awakening, Majora’s Mask, Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Ages, The Wind Waker, and Phantom Hourglass are set in different locales. However, Hyrule is mentioned in all the games, and in The Wind Waker, the Great Sea is supposed to be the kingdom of Hyrule after a great disaster. In Majora’s Mask, the land of Termina is considered a different dimmension of the land of Hyrule.
Link is, also, often associated with the Triforce of Courage and the goddess Farore.
Invariably, every Link wears a green tunic and a long, floppy green cap, at least for part of each adventure, although the shades of green vary. He also wears different clothes during parts of some Legend of Zelda games, most often color variations on his basic outfit. His hair color changes from game to game, but his hair style remains largely the same.
In all games, Link is a Hylian, and, due to that, appears as a young man with pointed ears. He generally has the Triforce mark in his left-hand.
He is also left-handed as pointed by almost all games. In most of the 2D games, the player can choose in which hand he wants to use each weapon. In the Wii version of Twilight Princess, Link is right-handed because of the Wiimote. There is no option for left-handers, but in the GameCube version, Link will be a traditional leftie. They made Link right-handed by almost mirroring his whole body (except for in cutsceses, where his body movements are the same as the GameCube version but his hair, sword, etc. are reversed). Surprisingly enough, Midna, the creature that takes the form of Link's shadow and rider in wolf form, Is also reversed. The same applies to her whatever they did to Link. It is proved when you see Midna's Wii picture and a concept drawing or the GameCube version picture.
Link's Incarnations and Appearances
Appearances in the main games
- In the The Legend of Zelda that started it all, Link is a brave hero who decides to save Hyrule and Zelda from the clutches of the evil Ganon. In this game, he collects the pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom and battles Ganon in the final battle of the game. After almost 20 years after its release, Link's original adventure still holds up and is the basis to all other Zelda games and storylines.
- In The Adventure of Link, which is a quite different game then the original, in that it featured side-scrolling gampeplay rather than the overhead view used in The Legend of Zelda, Link returns to again rescue Princess Zelda as he travels once more across the land of Hyrule to collect the pieces of the Triforce of Courage. At the same time, he also does battle with Ganon's minions who are in the process of trying to revive the evil king.
(This hero is considered to be the same one from The Legend of Zelda)
- In A Link to the Past, Link is telepathically contacted to Zelda, who is imprisoned in the castle. After finding three pendants, he finds his way to the Lost Woods, where the Master Sword waits. Using the Master Sword, he travels from Hyrule to the Golden Realm, which had become a twisted, evil place with Ganon's touch. Awakening the seven descendants of the Sages {7 beautiful maidens} (Seven Wise Men), he uses their power to destroy Ganon.
- In Link's Awakening, Link is on a sea voyage to test his skills. He comes across a deadly sea storm which leaves him stranded on a mysterious island where he must begin a quest to awaken the Wind Fish and defeat its nightmares.
(This hero is considered to be the same one from [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past)
- In what is considered to be the most epic game of the series, Ocarina of Time was the first game to bring Link into 3D. After unsuccessfully saving the life of the Great Deku Tree from a curse placed by Ganondorf, Link embarks on an adventure across time to find the six sages of Hyrule and banish Ganondorf into the Sacred Realm. Bringing many new elements into the series, this game marked the first time Link rode horseback and had a traveling companion in the form of his fairy, Navi.
- In the direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Link departs to the Lost Woods looking for his companion, Navi. Finding his way into the alternate dimension of Termina, he takes on the task of saving the people of the world from total destruction at the hands of a falling moon. With such an apocalyptic aura, this game is Link's darkest journey yet.
(This hero is the same one from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
- In Oracle of Seasons, Link is a young teenager, who was summoned by the Triforce to save the land of Holodrum. Like many other 2D Zelda games, he acquires different tools and weapons to complete his quest. However, this game is more based on fighting, so Link uses his strength more than his head.
- In Oracle of Ages, Link is also a young teenager, who was summoned by the Triforce to save the land of Labrynna. Like many other 2D Zelda games, he aquires different tools and weapons to complete his quest. However, this game is more based on puzzles, so Link uses his head more than his strength.
(This hero is considered to be the same one from The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons)
- Link, as seen in The Wind Waker, is a completely different Link when compared to the Link's of the past with his newest and most different look yet in the series. In this game, what begins as a quest to sail across the sea to rescue his sister later turns into another fantastic quest to save the world from Ganondorf and his evil intentions.
- In Four Swords, when Link takes the sword, he is divided into 4(Green, Blue, Red and Purple), and they need to rescue the hylian knights and the maidens from the power of the final boss, the powerful sorcerer Vaati.
- In Twilight Princess, Link has been raised as a wrangler outside of Hyrule territory. He is summoned by the Toaru Village chief to represent his village in a meeting taking place in the kingdom of Hyrule. Along his journey, Link finds himself in an ominous dimension known as the Twilight Realm, where no human form can exist in. Link is then forced to venture into this realm as a wolf, along with his newfound partner Midna.
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass takes place months after the end of the Wind Waker, with the Hero of Winds. Link is sailing along with Tetra, when their boat is shipwrecked, separating Link and Tetra. Link wakes on an Island by a fairy and they set on a journey to find Tetra. Not much is known about Link's journey in this game at this time.
(This hero is considered to be the same one from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)
Other in spoofs
In Newgrounds Flash episode "The real Legend of Zeldas:Ocarina of Time" Link is portrayed as scared and weak, who wins not from his own brains and brawn, but that of his fairy partner Navi. He doesn't speak,as like that of the Legend of Zelda games. He also (at some point of the show)sees himself as movie action stars (F.y.I., The Matrix's Neo). So far, there are 2 episodes. --216.201.60.41 15:13, 8 December 2006 (CST)Mr. J.O.M A.k.a the Prophet of Nod
Other Appearances
- Link in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Link was also a playable character in Nintendo's game Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Link the young Goron
The son of Darunia, Link of the Gorons was born sometime during Link, the Hero of Time's seven year long sleep, and named after the hero who saved the Gorons by chasing off the Dodongos, who had taken possession of Dodongo's Cavern, the place that the Gorons used as their chief source of nourishment.
- Link the stuttering Goron
The poor Goron who ends every other word with "goro" loses his reserved room at the Stock Pot Inn when Anju mistakenly gives away his room key to Link the boy. He his forced to spend the night outside. The world is such a hard place goro...
- Dark Link
The shadow-like form who resides in the Water Temple and mirrors Link's sword movement and is solely a creation of Ganon.