Link (The Legend of Zelda)

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"Link (character)" redirects here. For other uses, see Link.

Link

The Legend of Zelda character

Promotional artwork of Link's appearance in The Legend of Zelda:

Breath of the Wild

First appearance The Legend of Zelda (1986)[1]

Created by Shigeru Miyamoto

Voiced by show

English

show

Japanese

In-universe information

Species Hylian
 Gender Male

 Adventurer
Occupation
 Knight

Affiliation Kingdom of Hyrule

Weapon Master Sword

Link[a] is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Nintendo's video game

series The Legend of Zelda. He appears in several incarnations over the course of the
games, and also features in other Nintendo media, including merchandising comic
books and animated series. He is one of Nintendo's main icons.
Through The Legend of Zelda series, Link is depicted as a child, teenager, or young
adult of the Hylian race, (a Hylian would only be described as a type of "elf"), originating
from the fictional land of Hyrule. Link often travels through Hyrule, defeating creatures,
evil forces, and the series' primary antagonist, Ganon, (also called Ganondorf in some
Legend of Zelda games), while attempting to save Princess Zelda and Hyrule. To defeat
Ganon, Link usually requires the mystical Master Sword and Light Arrows, or a similar
legendary weapon, obtained after many trials and battles. In the course of his journey,
he typically acquires various other magical objects or items, including musical
instruments and weaponry. Within the lore of the franchise, Link is the soul of a
legendary hero that, throughout history, is reincarnated within a seemingly ordinary boy
or man when the need arises for a new reincarnation to defeat forces of evil. Typically
there is no definitive blood-connection that exists between the different incarnations,
with some exceptions; however, in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the Link
within that game helps to establish the kingdom of Hyrule, and he also seems to
originate the hero's green garb. In the Skyward Sword prequel manga published
in Hyrule Historia, an older incarnation of the hero who aids the goddess Hylia is shown;
however, the hero is not definitively identified as "Link".
Link has made cameo appearances in several games outside of the Legend of
Zelda series, including playable appearances in games like SoulCalibur II, Mario Kart
8 and the Super Smash Bros. series.

Contents

 1Character design
o 1.1Portrayal
o 1.2Characteristics
 2Appearances
o 2.1In video games
 2.1.1The Legend of Zelda series
  2.1.2Spin-off games and other series
o 2.2In other media
 3Reception and legacy
 4See also
 5Notes
 6References
 7External links

Character design[edit]

Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Link, at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2004

Link has no spoken dialogue in the game series except for his grunts, gasps, and
shouts and screams (not including the CD-i games). Facial expressions have only been
a visible feature since the series appeared on the Nintendo 64. Link's creator, Shigeru
Miyamoto, has said that his concept of The Legend of Zelda, and Link, was based on
his childhood memories. He tried to make people identify with Link and have the
opportunity to be heroes like the character.[2][3] Although at the end of some games, Link
becomes vastly talented in physical and magical arts, he usually starts off the game as
a regular boy. On the origin of the name "Link", Miyamoto had this to say: "Link's name
comes from the fact that originally, the fragments of the Triforce were supposed to be
electronic chips. The game was to be set in both the past and the future and as the
main character would travel between both and be the link between them, they called
him Link."[4] Producer Eiji Aonuma has stated that Link's silence was designed to avoid
breaking the relationship between the player and the character, which could result from
adding dialogue with which the player did not agree. Link's character has been
purposefully left open to interpretation to offer a blank slate for players to enter the
game world and provide a more personal experience. [5]
Link is left-handed except in Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild; also, the Wii port
of Twilight Princess is mirrored from the Gamecube version due to the ease of right-
handed people using the game's motion controls. There have been several iterations of
Link in the history of Hyrule. The existence of multiple Links is made obvious on many
occasions in the comics; for example, the introduction sequence of The Legend of
Zelda: The Wind Waker refers to an ancient, legendary champion identical in
appearance to Link, and directly mentions the "Hero of Time" (a title given to Link
in Ocarina of Time) as a historical entity. Miyamoto has stated, "For every Zelda game
we tell a new story, but we actually have an enormous document that explains how the
game relates to the others, and bind them together. But to be honest, they are not that
important to us. We care more about developing the game system ... give the player
new challenges for every chapter that is born." [6][7] However, the exact chronology of
the Zelda series and the lineage of the various Links, though written down by Miyamoto
and his team, was long kept secret.[8] Nintendo released an anthology titled Hyrule
Historia in celebration of Zelda's 25th anniversary. Released in Japan in December
2011 and in North America in early 2013, the anthology details the long-sought-after
official Zelda timeline.[9]
Link's teenage appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was designed with
the aim of making him more handsome and cooler than all previous forms of the
hero. Yoshiaki Koizumi publicly stated that the design of Link in Ocarina of Time was
based on a well known American actor at the time of the game’s development. [10]The
cartoon design of Link in The Wind Waker, Miyamoto explained, "Link was a young boy
and trying to create a very active and very energetic young boy and trying to choose the
right style for portraying the young boy in a game like that we tried many different
experiments. The ultimate decision we came to was that the cel-shading in The Wind
Waker was the best option for expressing that." However, with the decision to make
Link a teenager again in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Miyamoto explained,
"Ultimately we decided that in showing a teenage Link really the best style of expressing
him would be something that's closer to our graphical style in Ocarina of Time." [11]
Portrayal[edit]
Since the first instance of voice acting in the series (in Ocarina of Time), Link has been
voiced by eight actors: Nobuyuki Hiyama in Ocarina of Time (as adult Link); Fujiko
Takimoto in Ocarina of Time (as young Link), Majora's Mask, A Link to the Past and
Four Swords for the Game Boy Advance and Minish Cap; Sachi Matsumoto in The
Wind Waker; Akira Sasanuma in Twilight Princess; Yūki Kodaira in Spirit
Tracks; Takashi Ōhara in Skyward Sword; Mitsuki Saiga in A Link Between
Worlds and Link's Awakening (the 2019 version only); and Kengo Takanashi in Breath
of the Wild. In Tri Force Heroes, Fujiko Takimoto, Sachi Matsumoto, Yūki Kodaira and
Mitsuki Saiga all reprise their roles as Link, acting as alternate voices.
As no canonical Legend of Zelda game to date has contained substantial spoken
dialogue for the player character, the part consists only of short phrases, grunts, battle
cries, and other sounds. In The Wind Waker, however, Link has been heard saying the
phrase, "Come on!" Voice acting in the series has been deliberately limited, so as not to
contradict players' individual interpretations of the character. [12] In Breath of the Wild, if
the player reads Zelda's diary, it states the canonical reason for Link's (or at least,
his Breath of the Wild incarnation's) silence. According to Zelda, Link does not talk
because with so much at stake, and so many eyes on him, he feels it necessary to stay
strong and silently bear any burden.
It is also implied in the various games that Link does talk, such as in a scene in Twilight
Princess, where his mouth is seen moving while walking with his childhood friend Ilia
but is not heard by the player.
Characteristics[edit]
Humble but brave, these attributes are consistent with Link's role as the rightful bearer
of the Triforce of Courage.[13] He is known as the "Hero of the Skies" from Skyward
Sword; "Hero of the Minish" from Minish Cap; The Four Who are One from "Four
Swords"; "Hero of Time" from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask; "Hero Chosen by the
Gods" from Twilight Princess (also called the "Hero of Twilight" in fandom); "Hero of
Light" from Four Swords Adventures; "Hero of Legend" from Link's Awakening, A Link
to the Past, Oracle of Ages, and Oracle of Seasons; "Hero of Hyrule" from the
original The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link; "Hero of the Wild"
from Breath of The Wild; "Hero of Winds" from The Wind Waker and Phantom
Hourglass; and "Hero of Tracks" from Spirit Tracks.
Link is the chosen bearer of the Master Sword, a powerful magical sword that is the
bane of all evil. As a child, he challenges Ganondorf in order to try to protect Zelda
before he inadvertently helps Ganondorf find the Triforce in Ocarina of Time, forcing
Link to undo the damage he had caused. [13] Link has several family members, including
an uncle in A Link to the Past; an unseen mother in Ocarina of Time, who dies fleeing a
war when Link is a baby; a grandmother who raises him and a sister, Aryll, in The Wind
Waker; and a grandfather in The Minish Cap.[14] He also was mentioned to have a father
in Breath of the Wild over 100 years prior to the events of the game. His mother and
father appear as spirits in the official manga.[15]
He is a young Hylian boy renowned for his swordsmanship and fighting skill. [16] Almost
every iteration of Link wears a green tunic and a long green Phrygian cap (explained
in Ocarina of Time as green clothes being the standard attire of the Kokiri, a race of
childlike forest elves among which Link was raised, with The Wind Waker establishing
that the clothes are passed down to his descendants when they come of age, in honor
of the Hero of Time), although there are also variations in which Link dresses in different
colors. He has long, pointed ears, a distinctive trait of the Hylian race. [17] In
the Zelda trading cards released by Nintendo early in the series, it is stated that pointed
ears are a sign of the Hylian royal family.[citation needed] In episode 4 of the Adult Saga in the
official Ocarina of Time manga series, "Link Vs. Link", Impa gives Link earrings,
describing it as a "rite of passage for young Sheikah men"; these later became default
aspects of Link's design, starting with Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword.[18] He has a
Triforce mark on his left hand (with the exceptions of Skyward Sword and the Wii
version of Twilight Princess), marking him as the one who will find the Triforce of
Courage.[19] He uses many weapons and items, such as bombs, the hookshot,
the boomerang and the bow and arrows. His transformation into a wolf while in the
Twilight Realm in Twilight Princess is a reflection of the mystical aspects that prove his
status as the bearer of the Triforce of Courage and his heroism. [14]
Though most titles in the series have depicted Link as left-handed, this is not a hard-set
rule and is subject to change between games. The Adventure of Link's instruction
booklet describes Link setting off "with a magical sword in his left hand and a magical
shield in his right".[19] In A Link to the Past, he alternates hands; although this is due to
sprite mirroring, the reason for this is explained in the official Nintendo Player's guide as
a Hylian superstition that requires the shield to always face Death Mountain (located to
the North) to protect oneself from the evil powers originating within the mountain.
[20]
 Starting with Link's Awakening, Link holds his sword in his left hand and his shield in
his right, no matter what direction he is facing. In The Minish Cap, however, Link returns
to alternately holding his weapon in the right or the left hand, depending on his
orientation. At the beginning of the Four Swords Plus (Four Swords Adventures) manga,
Link is referred to as the "left-handed hero" after defeating pirates that were raiding a
Hylian town. In addition, Link's figurine description in The Wind Waker lists his "favored
hand" as left. However, in the animated TV series and the Wii version of Twilight
Princess, Link is right-handed, but the latter was done to better mirror the game's
control scheme. In the game's official artwork he is shown holding his sword in his left
hand. In the GameCube version, Link remains left-handed, as the game uses a
traditional control scheme.[21] Thus, Skyward Sword is the first game in the series to
feature a definite right-handed Link, with even the concept art reflecting the fact. This
was done again for Breath of the Wild, in which Link is canonically right-handed; this
was done to mirror what side the buttons on the controller were used for Link's attacks.

Appearances[edit]
In video games[edit]
The Legend of Zelda series[edit]

Various incarnations of Link.

Link debuted on February 21, 1986, with the Japanese release of The Legend of Zelda.
Described as a "young man" who saved Princess Zelda's elderly nursemaid Impa from
Ganon's henchmen,[22] Link assumes the role of the hero attempting to rescue Princess
Zelda and the kingdom of Hyrule from the evil wizard Ganon, who has stolen
the Triforce of Power.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987) occurs several years after the original game. Link
goes on a quest to place a crystal in each of six castles in Hyrule, so that he can later
break the magically protected Great Palace, defeat Shadow Link, claim the Triforce of
Courage, reunite the three pieces of the Triforce, and awaken the sleeping Zelda. [23]
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) is a prequel to the original game, and is
the first game set in the "Fallen Hero Timeline", an alternate timeline to the "Adult Link
Timeline" and "Child Link Timeline". A new Link must intercept the
wizard Agahnim before he breaks the seal on the Dark World and unleash Ganon's fury
upon Hyrule. Along the way, Link must collect three magical Pendants of Virtue and
claim the legendary Master Sword before facing Agahnim. Then, he must venture into
the Dark World to rescue the Seven Sages and defeat Agahnim and Ganon.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993) occurs some time after A Link to the
Past, and features Link traveling the world in order to be prepared if Ganon ever comes
to Hyrule again.[24] While returning to Hyrule, Link's ship is caught in a storm and
wrecked. He washes up on the shore of a mysterious island called Koholint. Link is
taken to the house of a kind man named Tarin and his daughter Marin. A talking owl
tells him that the only way he can escape Koholint Island is by awakening the "Wind
Fish", a giant creature slumbering in a colossal egg in the center of the island. When the
game finishes, Link awakens in the middle of the ocean, along with the dreamer. [25]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) is the first 3D game in the Zelda series,
and is the final game that occurs within the "Singular Timeline". Link must constantly
travel between the present and the future by using the titular Ocarina of Time in order to
stop Ganondorf's takeover of Hyrule. As a result, Link comes to be known as the "Hero
of Time", and is successful in stopping Ganondorf both in the present (via warning Zelda
about his plot) and in the future (via direct combat and subsequently sealing him in the
Sacred Realm with the help of the six sages and the Master Sword). Link is also
accompanied by the fairy Navi, who gives him hints about enemies and/or his
surroundings, which is a first in the series. The ending of Ocarina of Time also notably
marks the timeline split of the in-game universe's chronology: the "Adult Link Timeline"
occurs after Link has defeated Ganondorf in the future, the "Child Link Timeline" occurs
after he is transported back to the past and warns Zelda of his plot to conquer Hyrule,
and the "Fallen Hero Timeline" occurs after he is defeated by Ganondorf in the future.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000) is a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, and
occurs several months after Link defeats Ganon and is sent back in time to his
childhood. As a result, it is the first game set in the "Child Link Timeline", an alternate
timeline to the "Adult Link Timeline" and the "Fallen Hero Timeline". While searching for
Navi after she left him for unknown reasons at the end of Ocarina of Time, Link runs into
Skull Kid, a character briefly featured in Ocarina of Time, and mysteriously ends up
traveling to the land of Termina. He must save this land from the evil of Majora's Mask,
which has drawn the moon into a decaying orbit, threatening to crash into Termina's
primary town, Clock Town, in three days. Link uses the Ocarina of Time to play the
Song of Time, which he can use to travel back in time when he plays it, to relive these
three days repeatedly so he can prevent the disaster. Along the way, Link finds many
magical masks of his own, some of which allow him to transform. Those masks can turn
him into a Goron, Deku Scrub, Zora or the "Fierce Deity", a powerful, adult-like form.
Miyamoto mentioned that "we wanted Link to get inside of a wonderland, to experience
the adventures and think hard about what he should do." [26]
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons  and  Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (2001)
occur between A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening. They feature the Triforce
sending Link on a mission to the foreign lands of Holodrum and Labrynna in order to
stop the disruption of the seasons by the General of Darkness, Onox, and the disruption
of time by the Sorceress of Shadows, Veran. After playing both games, it is revealed
that the events of both games are part of a sinister plot by Twinrova to light the Flames
of Destruction (lit by the actions of Onox), Sorrow (lit by the actions of Veran), and
Despair (lit when Zelda is kidnapped) as part of a ritual to resurrect Ganon. In the end,
Link must save Zelda and defeat the Twinrova before Ganon is resurrected.
In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (2002), Four Swords occurs
at some point after The Minish Cap and before Ocarina of Time. Zelda goes to the
Sanctuary of the Four Sword with her friend, Link, to check on the seal containing the
evil Wind Mage, Vaati. The seal has weakened, however, and Vaati emerges, kidnaps
Zelda, and defeats Link. Later, Link finds three fairies, who instruct him to draw the Four
Sword. The magical Four Sword divides him into four identical Links. The first Link
wears his traditional green outfit; the second, a red version; the third, blue; and the
fourth, purple. The Links must cooperate to overcome obstacles, collect keys, and storm
Vaati's Palace so they can rescue Zelda and reseal the Wind Mage. [27]

Link, as depicted in promotional artwork for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, dressed in the
character's recognizable green clothes and holding the Wind Waker baton.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002) occurs hundreds of years after Ocarina
of Time, and is the first game set in the "Adult Link Timeline", an alternate timeline to
the "Child Link Timeline" and the "Fallen Hero Timeline". In it, the gods have flooded
Hyrule to keep the Triforce and populace safe from Ganondorf after he broke the seal
placed upon him in Ocarina of Time. All land is underwater except for the highest
mountaintops of Hyrule, which resulted in the creation of the Great Sea. At the
beginning of the game, Link's younger sister Aryll is captured by the Helmaroc King, a
giant masked bird controlled by Ganondorf, the latter of whom is searching for Princess
Zelda. Link travels the Great Sea to rescue his sister and defeat the Helmaroc King; his
quest intertwining with that of The King of Red Lions, who, after many trials, entitles this
Link, who has no connection to any previous incarnation of the hero (due to the Hero of
Time having left the timeline for the "Child Link Timeline" at the end of Ocarina of Time),
as the "Hero of Winds". Using the Wind Waker, a magical conductor's baton, he
borrows the power of the gods to aid him in his quest. The wand's user interface is
similar to that of the Ocarina of Time, but uses tempo and pitch to form tunes. Link must
reassemble the Triforce of Courage and restore the Master Sword's power to repel evil
in order to kill Ganondorf.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004) is an indirect sequel to Twilight
Princess, and occurs hundreds of years after that game. Zelda and the six other
mystical maidens, who are worried about the seal on the Four Sword, go to check on
the Sanctuary of the Four Sword, with Link accompanying them. However, a dark,
shadowy copy of Link attacks them. Link is forced to draw the Four Sword to fight
this Shadow Link, but when he does, he is split into copies of himself much like the Link
in Four Swords. By extension, drawing the Four Sword also results in Vaati escaping
from the seal placed upon him in Four Swords.[28]
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004) occurs between Skyward Sword and Four
Swords, and features Link as a young boy living with his grandfather, the Master Smith
of Hyrule. Link is a childhood friend of Princess Zelda, and on the day of Hyrule's yearly
fair to celebrate the coming of the Picori, they go to join in the festivities. A mysterious
stranger, Vaati, shows up and wins the sword-fighting competition; each year the
distinguished victor of this tournament has the honor of touching the sacred Picori
Blade. This sword was a gift to the Hylians from the tiny Picori and was used long ago
by a legendary hero to defeat the forces of darkness and seal them away in the Bound
Chest. Vaati destroys the blade and curses Zelda, and it is up to Link to repair the
sword, defeat Vaati and save the princess. [29] By the end of the game, Link has collected
four elemental crystals and infuses them in the White Sword, an incarnation of the Picori
Blade. After the infusion, the White Sword becomes the Four Sword, which Link seals
Vaati in, setting the scene for the previously released Four Swords games.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006) occurs more than a century after the
events of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.[30] In the game, Link is a teenage farm boy
leading a fairly normal life in the pastoral village of Ordon until two of his friends, Colin
and Ilia, are kidnapped by monsters. During his journey to rescue them, Link discovers
that the entire kingdom of Hyrule has been covered by a dark twilight, in which most
people are reduced to nothing more than spirits. However, Link is transformed into a
wolf upon entering the twilight. While in this form, he is aided by Midna, an imp-like
creature, and eventually cleanses the land from the twilight. Yet, in his attempt to save
his friends, Link discovers an even greater evil only he can stop. During the game, Link
travels in the normal world in his human form and when exposed to twilight, reverts to
his wolf form. During his journey, he is trained in the art of swordsmanship by a spirit
called the "Hero's Shade", who is revealed in the Hyrule Historia to be the Hero of Time
from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Due to lamenting that he was never
remembered as a Hero, as well as not passing down his skills to the next generation,
the Hero's Shade has been unable to pass on to the afterlife following his death. After
teaching his descendant the swordsmanship skills he learned during his own life, the
Hero's Shade finally eases his regrets and passes on into the afterlife while giving his
descendant his blessing. Link's Crossbow Training, a spin-off of the series, also takes
place within the setting of Twilight Princess.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007) is a direct sequel to The Wind Waker,
and is set a few months after Link defeats Ganondorf in that game. Link embarks on a
quest to reunite with Tetra after she is lost to the Ghost Ship and turned into stone by
the game's main antagonist, Bellum. Phantom Hourglass revives the use of a fairy
companion as in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, yet also features Link teaming up
with Captain Linebeck in order to travel the World of the Ocean King, a world parallel to
the Great Sea. Upon finding the spirits of courage, wisdom, and power, Link is
eventually lead to the Ghost Ship and rescues Tetra before confronting Bellum at the
Temple of the Ocean King.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009) is a sequel to Phantom Hourglass, and is set
a century after that game. An unknown amount of time after Phantom Hourglass, Link,
Tetra, and her pirates find new land and rechristen it New Hyrule. In this game, Link, the
descendant and first reincarnation of the Hero of Winds, is able to travel across the
main world using a train and is accompanied by the spirit of Princess Zelda, who is the
descendant and reincarnation of Tetra. Link and Zelda have to restore the Spirit Tracks
to New Hyrule and recover Princess Zelda's body from Chancellor Cole after he uses it
to revive Malladus, a Demon King who once ravaged the land that would become New
Hyrule.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) is the first game to occur in the "Singular
Timeline", which is the timeline of Zelda games prior to its split at the end of Ocarina of
Time. As such, it explores the beginning of the battle between good and evil within the
series, and the establishment of Hyrule and the legends of both Link and Zelda. Link is
born and raised in Skyloft, a land floating above the clouds. Link is a childhood friend of
Zelda, who in this game is not a princess, but rather a fellow student of his at the Knight
Academy. The land beneath the clouds is known simply as the Surface, and Link is
forced to go there after Zelda is kidnapped. He must travel between the two lands in this
adventure. He wields a sword called the Goddess Sword, a magical sword that holds Fi
— a servant to the goddess Hylia— which allows him to travel across the two worlds.
During his journey, Link imbues the Goddess Sword with three sacred flames, which
result in it being reforged into the Master Sword.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013) is a sequel to A Link to the Past,
and occurs centuries after that game and Link's Awakening. Link is a blacksmith's
apprentice who is forced to rescue the Seven Sages, descendants of the original Sages
who sealed the Sacred Realm years ago, after Yuga, a sorcerer who has the ability to
"merge" into walls and turn people into paintings, brings them to another world, the
Kingdom of Lorule, in the form of paintings to revive Ganon. The ability to "merge" into
walls is a newly added mechanic for Link. Link's appearance is very similar to that
depicted in artwork from 1986's The Legend of Zelda. During the journey, Link meets
Ravio, a rabbit-masked merchant whom Link agrees to stay in his house in exchange
for his services. In the game's climax, Ravio is revealed to be Link's Lorule counterpart,
and he went to Hyrule to recruit Link to stop Yuga and Princess Hilda from stealing
Hyrule's Triforce, as he believed ruining Hyrule to revive Lorule was worse than letting
his kingdom crumble.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (2015) is a direct sequel to A Link Between
Worlds, and is set several years after that game. Despite featuring the art style used
in The Wind Waker, it nevertheless features the same Link, who answers a call for
heroes from King Tuft of the fashion-focused kingdom of Hytopia. His daughter,
Princess Styla, has been cursed by the witch Lady Maud to wear an ugly jumpsuit that
is impossible to remove. Link allies with two other heroes who appear identical to him,
albeit featuring red and blue color schemes, in order to defeat Lady Maud and lift the
curse.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) is set thousands of years after Ocarina
of Time, and is told to inevitably occur at the end of all three timelines. Link awakens
after a century in a life regenerating stasis pod called, "The Shrine of Resurrection", and
comes to discover that an evil force called Calamity Ganon has been trapped in Hyrule
Castle for as long as he had been in stasis. During the last century, Hyrule has fallen
into ruin in the wake of Calamity Ganon, and has been largely reclaimed by the
wilderness. Link learns that Calamity Ganon has slowly been gaining strength and that
he must defeat it before it escapes the castle and destroys the world. During his
adventure, it is revealed that Link was the Hylian Champion and Princess Zelda's
appointed knight prior to his fatal wounds and 100 year slumber. He was the hero
chosen by the Master Sword itself, to defeat Calamity Ganon but was nearly killed while
protecting Zelda, which prompts her to have the Sheikah tribe put him into stasis in
order to heal him. It is revealed by Zelda that Link was the son of a knight in the Royal
Guard, and that he rarely talks because he feels the need to bear the large burden
placed on him in silence.
Spin-off games and other series[edit]
Link appears in Link: The Faces of Evil,  Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon and Zelda's
Adventure, the first Zelda spin-off games ever released, although he is playable only
in The Faces of Evil and relegated to a secondary role in The Wand of
Gamelon and Zelda's Adventure. At the beginning of The Faces of Evil, Link and the
King of Hyrule are visited by a wizard named Gwonam, who tells them that Ganon and
his servants have seized the peaceful island of Koridai and captured Zelda. After being
informed that only he can defeat Ganon, Link travels to Koridai to find the magical
artifact known as the Book of Koridai. In the latter two games, the roles are reversed
and Zelda has to rescue Link from Ganon. While the comics were licensed
by Nintendo to use official Zelda characters,[31][32] none of them were produced or
supervised by Nintendo.[31][33] As well as being critically panned, none of these games
(which were produced for the Philips CD-i multimedia player) games are recognized by
Nintendo as part of the series' official chronology. Unlike the main games, Link actually
speaks in this version and is voiced by Jeffrey Rath. His personality mirrors his
animated series counterpart in which he yearns for adventure and is constantly trying to
get a kiss from Zelda.[34]
Link's most notable spin-off appearances are within the Super Smash Bros. series, as
he is one of only twelve characters to have appeared in every entry of the series since
its debut in 1999. In the series' eponymous installment, the adult version of his Ocarina
of Time incarnation is one of the eight initially playable characters. He uses some
weapons featured in the Zelda series, including his signature Master Sword, Bombs, the
Boomerang and the Hookshot. Link is one of the fifteen initially playable characters
in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the 2001 sequel to Super Smash Bros. In Melee, he uses
a bow alongside the Zelda items he used in Super Smash Bros. and is no longer
the Zelda series' sole playable representative. However, Melee also marked the first
time that the Super Smash Bros. series featured two versions of Link, as "Young Link",
the child version of Link in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, appears as an
unlockable character. In comparison to his adult version, Young Link is weaker overall,
but he is faster, nimbler, can wall jump and wields the Kokiri Sword and Fire Bow
instead of the Master Sword and Bow, respectively.
Link was one of the first confirmed characters in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii,
although his Twilight Princess incarnation appears instead of the adult version of
his Ocarina of Time incarnation.[35] His items have fittingly been redesigned or even
changed outright as a result, such as having the Gale Boomerang and the Clawshot
instead of the Boomerang and the Hookshot. [35] Like other characters, Link has received
a "Final Smash", an extremely powerful special attack that can be used only once. [36] In
Link's case, his Final Smash is the Triforce Slash, a rapid series of sword slashes
performed on an opponent trapped in a Triforce-shaped energy field.[35] Link's redesign
also indirectly affected Young Link, as he was replaced by the unlockable character
"Toon Link", a name used for the incarnation of Link from The Wind Waker that also
reappeared in Phantom Hourglass.[37] While vastly different aesthetically, Toon Link's
abilities are largely similar to Young Link's, as he is a faster, nimbler yet weaker
counterpart to Link, with whom he also shares the same Final Smash. [38]
Both Link and Toon Link returned in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS  and  Wii U,
with Toon Link now being readily available instead of having to be unlocked. Both Links
retain their items from Brawl and are once again the incarnations from Twilight
Princess and The Wind Waker, respectively.[39][40] However, both of their designs
underwent a few aesthetic tweaks, most notably having less realistic details and brighter
color schemes, while they also received new alternate costumes that reference a
number of Zelda games, such as Skyward Sword, Majora's Mask and A Link to the
Past.[41]
Link was revealed as one of the first characters coming back to Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch. Unlike previous versions, this one is based on
his Breath of the Wild incarnation. His items are redesigned to match the game, such as
the Boomerang returning to the traditional form, the Remote Bomb Rune replacing the
Bomb, and the removal of his clawshot which he can finally grab opponents with his
hand. His Final Smash has been changed to the Ancient Bow and Arrow, in which he
fires an Ancient Arrow at his opponent. Both Toon Link and Young Link also return as
playable characters. Young Link also has the Triforce Slash as his Final Smash.So
does Toon link. [42]
Aside from being referenced as an alternate costume in Super Smash Bros. for
Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, the Skyward Sword incarnation of Link either directly appears
in or is referenced in a few games via Zelda-themed downloadable content. He appears
as a playable character in Mario Kart 8, along with the "Hyrule Circuit" race track, the
"Triforce Cup" and a vehicle set consisting of the "Master Cycle", "Triforce Tires" and
"Hylian Kite".[43] In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the Breath of the Wild incarnation also appears,
along with the Master Cycle Zero, Ancient Tires, and Paraglider from the same game.
He also appears in Sonic Lost World as part of "The Legend of Zelda Zone", where he
rides his signature Crimson Loftwing.[44] He is also referenced in Monster Hunter 4, with
armor resembling his tunic being forgeable and wearable by both male and female
hunters.[45]
Link appears in Hyrule Warriors as a playable character. This incarnation is a Hyrulian
soldier-in-training who helps leads the campaign against the forces of evil. Young Link
from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask also appears in the game as a playable
character via downloadable content, while Toon Link from The Wind Waker appears as
a playable character in Hyrule Warriors Legends, the Nintendo 3DS port of Warriors.
[46]
 In the GameCube version of Namco's Soulcalibur II, Link is a featured character.
Although he appears identical to the adult version of the Link from Ocarina of
Time and Majora's Mask, this Link is an entirely separate incarnation. As such, little is
known about this incarnation, but what is known is that after saving Hyrule from an evil
wizard who was controlled by a fragment of Soul Edge, Link traveled to the wizard's
world on a secret mission arranged by Princess Zelda to destroy Soul Edge. Miyamoto
did not see a problem with Link appearing in what some had thought to be a "violent
fighting game", as he had already been established as a fighter in the Super Smash
Bros. series.[8] Link is the only character in Soulcalibur II to use ranged weapons and the
only guest character to have his own music theme and more than two costumes. [47]
Link was planned to appear together with Samus Aran in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, but
was later removed.[48] Incarnations of Link from The Legend of Zelda, The Wind
Waker, Twilight Princess and Tri Force Heroes also appear as "Mystery Mushroom"
costumes in Super Mario Maker, which are unlocked by completing the 100 Mario
Challenge or by scanning the respective Amiibo figures.[49][50][51] Link is a playable
character in the Nintendo Switch game Cadence of Hyrule, a crossover between Crypt
of the NecroDancer and The Legend of Zelda series.
Among SNES games, Link, alongside Metroid series protagonist Samus Aran, makes a
cameo in Super Mario RPG, where they are seen sleeping in separate beds at an inn.
[52]
 Another reference to Link is in the Japanese release of the NES game Final Fantasy,
where a grave in Elfheim is marked "Here lies Link". [53] It was changed to a grave
for Erdrick from Dragon Warrior when translated to English, although this was reverted
in the English releases of the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, iPod
Touch/iPhone and PlayStation Portable versions. Link also makes cameos in Donkey
Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double
Trouble!, with a reference to his collection of seashells from Link's Awakening also
being made.[54] Some of Link's weapons and items have appeared in several games; the
Master Sword appears in Virtual Hydlide, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance,[55] and Animal
Crossing, while it appears alongside the Hylian Shield and Sacred Bow from Skyward
Sword as downloadable content in Monster Hunter 4.[45] The Master Sword and Hylian
Shield appear alongside Link's Champion Tunic from Breath of the Wild as Amiibo-
unlocked content in the Nintendo Switch version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
[56]
 Additionally, the Master Sword can be forged and be used alongside the Hylian
Shield, while the Recorder from The Legend of Zelda appears as the "Warp Whistle"
in Super Mario Bros. 3, complete with the same song and warping effect.
In other media[edit]
In The Legend of Zelda animated series, Link, voiced by Jonathan Potts, was featured
in a set of cartoons which aired from 1989–1990 as a part of DIC's The Super Mario
Bros. Super Show!. Based loosely on the first game, the cartoons presented Link as a
rude, lovesick teenager. Constantly pursuing Zelda and accompanied by the fairy
princess Spryte, he begged for Zelda to kiss him, and exclaimed "Well excuuuuuse me,
Princess!" when tired with her attitude. Thirteen episodes were produced before the
cancellation of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show.[57] The complete series was released
on October 18, 2005.[58] A slightly altered version of this Link (and Zelda) appeared
during the second season of Captain N: The Game Master.[59]
A serial comic was created for Nintendo Power magazine by the acclaimed
author Shotaro Ishinomori, and later collected in graphic novel form. This told an
alternate version of the events from A Link to the Past. Though Link starts out a
hapless, bumbling boy, he displays great courage and proves himself a determined and
competent adventurer. He has a fairy companion, Epheremelda, long before this
concept was introduced to the video games. This telling portrays Link's parents as
Knights of Hyrule, lost to the Dark World. It includes an original character, Roam, a
descendant of the Knights of Hyrule who fought in the Imprisoning War. At the end of
the story, Zelda has become Queen, and Link is head of the Royal Guard and the
Knights of Hyrule. This success is bittersweet, as their duties keep them apart, even
though they were once close, sharing an adventure and even coming together in
dreams.[15] There have been manga based on The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of
Time, Majora's Mask, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, Four Swords Adventures, A
Link to the Past and The Minish Cap.[60]

Reception and legacy[edit]

Link is not only brave; he is the embodiment of the virtue of courage and heroism, single-handedly embarking on epic
quests, helping those in need no matter how small the task, and showing his kind-hearted soul to everyone he meets.
Link does all these things and receives little more of a reward than the occasional 'thank you.' He is the truest of all
video game heroes.[61]
–The staff of GamesRadar in 2012

The character has been overall well received by critics, and was awarded a star on
the Walk of Game in 2005 along with his creator, Shigeru Miyamoto.[62] Including him in
the section "top ten forces of good" in their 2004 list of top 50 retro game heroes, Retro
Gamer noted Link being "one of the longest running gaming legends." [63] Game
Informer chose Link as the number one "Hero of 2006".[64] CNET declared him the
second top comic book character of all time in 2009. [65] In 2010, Nintendo Power chose
Link as their second favorite hero, commenting that his courage always wins out over
evil.[66] In 2011, Empire ranked Link as the sixth greatest comic book character, for being
"one of the world's most celebrated console heroes" who "helped establish RPGs as an
international gaming standard" as well as "one of gaming's most enduring
heroes."[67] That same year, UGO.com ranked him as first on the list of comic book
characters who need their own movies, adding: "Get Peter Jackson or Guillermo del
Toro to do it, dump a ton of money into it, and we'll all die happy." [68] The relationship
between Link and Princess Zelda was also ranked as number one video game romance
by James Hawkins of Joystick Division, who commented: "Never overtly called-out and
not yet actualized, this tacit romance has shaped one of gaming's greatest franchises,
and has embellished the epicness and added loving nature of each of Link's
quests."[69] In 2012, GamesRadar ranked this "personification of what a hero is" as the
number one "most memorable, influential, and badass" protagonist in games. [61] In
2013, Complex ranked him as the sixth "most badass" comic book character of all time,
[70]
 as well as the fourth best video game mascot. [71]
Link's star at the Walk of Game in the Metreon, San Francisco

Link proved to be a popular guest character in the other, non-Zelda series as well. In

2008, IGN ranked him as the best bonus character in the Soul Calibur series,
[72]
 while GameDaily ranked him first on the list of top ten Smash Bros. characters.[73] The
character has also become very popular among the video game fan community. In the
1988 and 1989 Nintendo Power Awards, readers voted him as the best character.[74]
[75]
 He was voted by readers as the number one and three "Best Hero" in the 1993 and
1994 Nintendo Power Awards respectively.[76][77] In one of IGN's 2007 Hero Showdowns
and in Screw Attack's Death Battle, Link was voted the favorite over Cloud Strife.[78] He
won multiple GameFAQs "Character Battle" contests and is the only character to have
won more than once.[79][80][81][82][83] In the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition from
2011, Link was voted the second best video game character of all time, behind Mario.[84]

See also[edit]
 Characters of  The Legend of Zelda

Notes[edit]
1. ^ Japanese: リンク, Hepburn: Rinku

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