The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

[Shrikeswind]

Just a question: Does anyone else think that every Link should have some detail to distinguish them? Like a beard, a scar, a tattoo, you know, something to say "Hey, I'm the Link that did this, see the tattoo?" or "I'm a new Link, see my mole?" Just idle thoughts.

[Manspeed]

Well, NES Link has brown hair, brown sleeves and a shield with a cross on it.

SNES Link has pink hair (in-game at least) and brown sleeves but a Hylian shield.

N64 Link has white sleeves and white tights (as an adult) and a Deku shield with no sleeves (as a kid).

Wind Waker (and other Toon-related) Links are pretty danged obvious.

And now TP/Wii Link seems to be heavily muted and grainy in his color scheme and actually wears pants. Not to mention a crap ton of other details that set him apart from the rest of the Links.

Seriously, Shriek. Did you even bother to look at any of the official artwork of any Links before you brought that question up?

[Shrikeswind]

I did. I was referring to more obvious biological details and under the pretense of one style, in short, if all the Links were brought together by some magic portal and ended up in 1987 New York wearing tuxedos, how would we be able to tell who's who? Obviously LttP Link would seem to have distinction, but his "hair" changes color with each tunic, implying that it's his hat. So he would look similar to the other Links as well. OoT Link would look exactly the same as TP Link, more or less, while the same could be said for the Toons and LttP and LoZ Links to a lesser degree. MM Link would also be fairly tough to distinguish from the Toons and Retros but would probably be an intermediate between the age groups since he's a younger version of an adult Link (and could be considered separate due to the timeline conundrum) but is in the younger age group. That's why I mention it.

[Koopaul]

Well I think he meant something very distinguishable that says something about that character.

An alteration on basically the same clothes doesn't necessarily tell you that "I'm a different Link".

[Fryguy64]

I think what Shrikeswind is hinting at is the old character design mantra that a distinctive silhouette is key to creating an easily recognisable and long-remembered character.

However, Link as a concept has a recognisable silhouette with his pointy hat and tunic. It's each individual Link that Shrikeswind thinks should be set apart from one another.

You have to remember though, that Link's purpose started as a lifeless player avatar, so the player could impart his own personality onto him. This has changed with the advent of 3D, and Link often doing his own thing (I would have embraced a Big Goron Hug!) but they're still largely left up to the player.

But I don't think adding a scar or a wart or a skin condition, etc. would help... Maybe one day we'll get a hideous freak Link, a hunchbacked mutant so we can all learn that even ugly things can be heroes!

Oh wait... Tingle's Rosy-Rupeeland...

[Manspeed]

Well, if you put all the different Links' headshots together side-by-side I think it would be pretty easy to tell them apart.

NES Link has dot eyes and a round nose.

SNES Link has regular eyes and a round nose (and possibly pink hair if you want to include that).

N64 Link has manga eyes and a pointy nose but blonde hair.

Toon Link is pretty obvious.

And Twilight/Wii Link looks like N64 Link but with paler skin and brown hair.

I'd say the difference is clear.

[Johans Nidorino]

Maybe they're all supposed to look similar if not identical. Remember the statue inside the Hyrule Castle in The Wind Waker. They weren't going to replicate his looks from N64.

The Link in Oracle of Ages/Seasons has the Triforce physically marked on the back of his hand. But I don't see that as an individual mark of 1 Link as much as that era's depiction of the hero.

[Shrikeswind]

I did. I was referring to more obvious biological details and under the pretense of one style, in short, if all the Links were brought together by some magic portal and ended up in 1987 New York wearing tuxedos, how would we be able to tell who's who? Obviously LttP Link would seem to have distinction, but his "hair" changes color with each tunic, implying that it's his hat. So he would look similar to the other Links as well. OoT Link would look exactly the same as TP Link, more or less, while the same could be said for the Toons and LttP and LoZ Links to a lesser degree. MM Link would also be fairly tough to distinguish from the Toons and Retros but would probably be an intermediate between the age groups since he's a younger version of an adult Link (and could be considered separate due to the timeline conundrum) but is in the younger age group. That's why I mention it.

Something tells me I've said this before. =P

[Johans Nidorino]

Feb 3, 2010 12:58:34 GMT -5 Shrikeswind said:

I did. I was referring to more obvious biological details and under the pretense of one style, in short, if all the Links were brought together by some magic portal and ended up in 1987 New York wearing tuxedos, how would we be able to tell who's who? Obviously LttP Link would seem to have distinction, but his "hair" changes color with each tunic, implying that it's his hat. So he would look similar to the other Links as well. OoT Link would look exactly the same as TP Link, more or less, while the same could be said for the Toons and LttP and LoZ Links to a lesser degree. MM Link would also be fairly tough to distinguish from the Toons and Retros but would probably be an intermediate between the age groups since he's a younger version of an adult Link (and could be considered separate due to the timeline conundrum) but is in the younger age group. That's why I mention it.

Something tells me I've said this before. =P

Either you're reproaching Man-Frog for ignoring that post of yours, or you are ignoring yourself that more than 1 person already understood what you meant and replied.

Both of you need to read rule 1d.

[8bitretroshit]

NES Link has brown hair NOT CANON!!!
It's still a neat picture.

[Shrikeswind]

Feb 3, 2010 13:22:38 GMT -5 Johans Nidorino said:

Feb 3, 2010 12:58:34 GMT -5 Shrikeswind said:

Something tells me I've said this before. =P

Either you're reproaching Man-Frog for ignoring that post of yours, or you are ignoring yourself that more than 1 person already understood what you meant and replied.

Both of you need to read rule 1d.

To clarify, I was actually ensuring that the post was seen, since it seemed to me that several people didn't notice the post.

Oh, man, that's a cool picture.

[Da Robot]

Has anyone ever thought of the idea that Link could be female in this game? Just thought there might be some reason why Link has his/her? back only viewable in the concept art.




Also this article has an interesting piece of info from Aonuma.

"Asked if there will be gameplay that emphasizes the ability to freely swing your sword, Aonuma responded with an "Of course." He also hinted that the way you fight enemies could be the key to solving some puzzles."

[Shrikeswind]

It's possible but INCREDIBLY unlikely that this Link'll be female. The character is male, after all.

All I want is the return of either Sheik, Impa, or both. Or, if this is a post-Ganon game, the return of transformation masks, and either way the return of a second quest (possibly as Zelda or something) and/or ocarinas.

[Johans Nidorino]

Link has been selectable as a female character in the past. But it has never been with female as the only choice.

[Fryguy64]

Feb 4, 2010 9:11:10 GMT -5 Johans Nidorino said:

Link has been selectable as a female character in the past. But it has never been with female as the only choice.

I take it you're referring to the Satellaview games?

I doubt Nintendo would have Link playable as a female, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't introduce a second playable character who is female.

Although I also doubt if such a thing happened it would be the player's choice, but an element of gameplay. Say, for example, switching between two characters to beat a dungeon.