Summary
It may be time forThe Legend of Zeldato bring back a version of Link that has been missing from recent games.Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomhad their own iteration of Link that proved to be a fantastic addition toThe Legend of Zelda. However, in the aftermath of those games, there’s a question as to where the series will go next. A big part of the next game’s identity is going to come from its version of Link, so it may be time for a previous version of Link to reemerge next game.
AlthoughLink isn’tEchoes of Wisdom’s protagonist, he has been the main character of almost every other game in the franchise. This has seen him go through several incarnations to fit the games in question. Link’s most recognizable design is as a young man in his iconic green outfit, but that is far from his only appearance.The Wind Wakersaw a younger cel-shaded Link, a design that would appear a few more times throughout the series, whileBreath of the Wildonce again reinvented Link with its blue tunic design. Even with a variety of designs, Link’s status as a hero remains constant.
The Next Legend of Zelda Game Could Bring Back Young Link
A New Legend of Zelda Will Likely Have a New Link
It seems natural that somechanges will take place afterTears of the Kingdom, and one of those may be a new version of Link. Looking at recent versions of Link outside of remakes, one common threat between them is that they have primarily been young adults. With that in mind, those experienced with the series will remember that a younger version of Link has appeared before, but it has been quite some time since a young Link has had a proper adventure. Perhaps one of the nextLegend of Zelda’s twists will involve Link taking up the sword at a young age once more.
Link’s adventures as the Hero of Time in theNintendo classicsOcarina of TimeandMajora’s Maskboth start when he is a child. Even in his youth, Link is shown to be a brave and skillful adventurer. However, after those games, Young Link has not appeared in quite the same light.The Wind Wakerhad another younger Link, but that cel-shaded Link was more cartoonish; likewise, Link in theLink’s Awakeningremake looks rather young, but also toy-like and highly stylized. Outside ofSuper Smash Bros., a more detailed and realistic Young Link hasn’t been seen for a while without a significant art style change.
The Next Legend of Zelda Could Explore Young Link’s Family
Featuring a younger Link in the next game could also lead to alesser-usedLegend of Zeldatrope: if Link is still young, then his family could play a role in the game. They could act as a motivation for him, or some of his starting gear could even come from his parents. In fact, while Link has been shown with other relatives in certain games, he has never actually had either of his parents depicted onscreen in any iteration. A young Link in the nextLegend of Zeldagame could reverse this trend and let players meet Link’s parents for the first time.
Even in his youth, Link is shown to be a brave and skillful adventurer.
In the wake ofTears of the Kingdom, the next game will need its own identity. On that note, thefuture ofThe Legend of Zeldacould involve another adventure starring a young Link. This approach to the iconic protagonist could be a chance to tell a new kind of story, or give a next-gen update to a classic character design. Link’s portrayal is naturally going to form a major part of anyLegend of Zeldagame’s identity, so it might be time for another young Link to emerge.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
