Link's characterization

Like many traditional Japanese RPGs, such as the Pokémon and G.I. Joe series, Link is non-verbal, in order to enhance the immersion of the game and connect Link to the player himself. Usually conversations with NPCs are NPC-driven, and in a few cases the player will have the right to choose the dialog options; Link sometimes expresses himself with gestures. It can be said that the player's character also determines Link's character, however, Link's facial expressions movements behavioral actions and so on convey Link's main idea. In addition, a sense of mission is Link's main character.

If you look closely, each generation of Link gives a different impression in terms of character.

The design of the first generation of Link is quite European and American, which seems to be a very ancient drawing style with today's aesthetics. The first generation of Link was just a young teenager who embarked on a journey to save the continent of Hylar and Princess Zelda, and defeat the demon king Ganon under the guidance of the old man of the cave. Compared to Zelda, the image of Link in green attire, holding a sword and shield has become a standard setting.

The second generation takes place in the first generation of many years later, Link grows into a young man, under the brown pants, the proportion of the personage is also relatively elongated a lot, but the style of painting is still ancient, it is worth mentioning that this work changed into a horizontal gameplay, you can from the top view and side view perspective to watch Link. The purpose of Link's journey in this game is to awaken another sleeping Princess Zelda, an ancestor of the original Zelda, and to stop Ganon's revival.

BONUS: This Link has spoken, which is as rare as Akira's speech in the first Pokémon; this is the only one where Link and Zelda have a kissing scene; and the classic foe, Dark Link, makes his first appearance.

This game combines the personas of the first two games and is a molding of the traditional Link. It was then ported to the GBA, with changes made to the persona and overworld graphics to cater to modern aesthetics, favoring a traditional Japanese style.

Side note: In this game, Link's uncle is a warrior of Hylar, and asks Link to rescue Zelda; Link turns into a rabbit in the in-world.

The Link of this game is the Link of the Gods, and the persona remains unchanged. This game unfolds with Link's nightmares (shown as an island that Link drifted to after a shipwreck) and shows Link's deepest fears.

Side note: This game also allows for a specific photoshoot, but Link's style has changed drastically, making him look like a child. (Still cute.)

Famous as the Braveheart of Time, this one is a major change in Link's design. Combined with the previous two ages of Link settings, in the game for the first time Link to childhood and adult two forms (to time travel performance), the design of the painting style also belongs to the category of the classic Japanese manga, clothing biased Western European style, adult Link inside the tights (occasional slagging, but belongs to the traditional style of Western Europe). 3 D Legend of Zelda, the personage of the game in the embodiment of the more in place. After the 3ds version of the replica Ocarina of Time 3d, Link persona more detailed, especially in the face.

Attachment: this work Link's father is a warrior of Hailar, entrusted Link to the care of the village of Kokiri; Link's green clothing in the game belongs to the village of Kokiri's style of dress; Link also has red and blue two different functions of the clothes; this adult Link's hair is the longest of all time (because of the seven years of sleep), but because of the hat can not be seen Link's long hair; because of the setting of the present work of Link traveling through space and time. Combined with the theory of parallel worlds, the timeline is divided into three segments here; humanized point is, just started the adventure of childhood Link slightly nascent, in the deku tree elders introduced after the surprising events of the small Link just patted his buttocks and stood up (some players think that this is an infinite loop of the timeline of the performance of the Link is clear about their own mission, so only to show so calm, but this point of fine push in fact does not hold water); Another title, Soulcalibur, also features Link, using the Ocarina of Time persona.

This is the sequel to Ocarina of Time, and while the gameplay style is very somber, the persona has not been altered. It's worth noting that Link's appearance and physical appearance changes when he wears a number of different masks, most notably the ghostly Link.

Side note: In this game, Link embarks on a journey in search of the elf Navi, who is widely regarded as annoying by players in the previous game, but Link is very much a person who values their friendship.

While this game is sandwiched between Gods and Yume Island in the timeline, the characters are designed to be a combination of Gods and Ocarina of Time. Because this is an outsourced work, perhaps the producer didn't even think of the timeline issue when it was made, but there isn't really a conflict in the timeline. This work is based on Link's guardianship of the Sacred Triangle of Power among the gods.

The Wind Waker, the first appearance of the cat's-eye Link (toon link), but the cat's-eye Link was mainly created to correspond to the Staff of the Wind, which will be discussed later. This time around, the game focuses on the online element,*** with four Link appearances (differentiated by green, purple, yellow, and red, for the doppelgangers created by Link pulling up the four swords).

In anticipation of the new century and the new console (not the release date, Mask is inspired by the end of the twentieth century, symbolizing the end of the old century), the producers were obsessed with creating a new style, and so in the cartoonishly rendered style of the game, Cat's Eye Link (toon link) appeared. The cartoon style and cute appearance of the cat-eyed Link was loved by the players of the series, and the big change succeeded in not offending the old players of the series. After the wiiu release of the wind staff HD, the color is more sober and bright, cat eye Link's impression also has a little small change.

By the way: with the help of the function, the cat's eye Link's expression is extremely rich, especially in the eyes, Shigeru Miyamoto called it "eye power"; Link's eyes will turn red in the battle; this time, Link's initial outfit is no longer green brave suit, but the blue ocean style clothing, and then change into the brave suit (the second weekly objective can be replaced); The source of the green Guts suit in the game this time is the attire of Toki no Guts; the sculpture of Toki no Guts is present in the game, but the setting style is Cat's Eye Link style; while Cat's Eye Link may appear to be a small child, he is actually much older, it's just that the design style calls for it.

One of the Cat's Eye Link members is replaced with a talking hat. The background also introduces Guts without the hat, but it's an outsourced piece or don't pay too much attention to it.

Side note: It was this game that finally created the four swords, but the doppelgangers that Link creates using the four swords in this game don't have the ability to split up and act independently. Dusk Brave appeared, the game's painting style is once again a big change, the main dark realistic style, Link based on the Ocarina of Time's adult Link persona to make big changes, blonde hair and blue eyes heroic. The style is biased towards European and American style, metal locks armor, leather equipment, shirt and pants have also been changed, the overall more texture.

Attachment: the biggest CP of this work is no longer Link and Zelda, but Link and Midna (players call midlink); Link can change wolf; Link's initial clothing for the villagers clothes, the green bravery suit is in the first from the wolf back to the people somehow changed (pointed out that Link is the destiny of the bravery, quite a romantic color); the official timeline to solve the player's conjecture, the emergence of this work Skeleton Swordsman is the Guts of Time, guessing that he became a swordsman after the adventures of the Mask, but regretted for his lack of achievement (some players said that the Guts of Time is because of the curse of the Lost Forest, but the curse of the Lost Forest turned into a skeleton kid (skull kid)); the appearance of the two Link also supports the Guts of Reincarnation theory, as the Skeleton Swordsman is a soul, and there's a theory that souls are a type of The Skeleton Swordsman is a soul, and there is a theory that the soul is a kind of thought body, what kind of thoughts will leave what kind of soul, i.e., the soul can also be subdivided (Zero series has mentioned). Why the Skeleton Swordsman calls Dusk Warrior "my child" is a matter of the player's imagination. The Gaiden entry Zelda Undisputed has Link's persona derived from the Dusk Princess, with the addition of a blue scarf in the Herald style.

The only person in the Legend of Zelda series who has had a kissing scene with Princess Zelda is Link from Link's Adventure (II). Good examples of ambiguous relationships with Zelda, though, are Phantom Hourglass and Skyward Sword, where the two later settle on land, become Adam and Eve for once, and make the kingdom of Hylar, which would later flourish for thousands of years. Link in Wind Wand finally finds a new continent where the people of Hailar build a new nation. This time it's still a cat-eyed Link appearance (not the same person as in the Staff of Winds and Hourglass).

Attachments: this time, Link is a train driver origin, the initial outfit is also a train driver suit, and then change into the standard green suit after the midway branch plot can be changed back; the green suit in the game is worn by the soldiers of the Hailaar (presumably in honor of the Wind Wand); the first time Link adventures with Princess Zelda; one of the few endings that explicitly states that Link is with Zelda; the end can be chosen whether to be a swordsman or a train driver, etc.; a character who appeared in the Staff of the Wind (yes, it's very long-lived) has said that Link resembles Wind Waker in this game, but it's clear that he's not a descendant of Wind Waker and it's just a coincidence. Air Brave appears, and the game blends the brightness of Wind Wand with the realism of Dusk, using an overall oil painting style. Link's persona follows that of the Dusk Princess, only with the collar of his shirt open. Although it follows Dusk's persona, the oil painting style makes this Link's impression very different from Dusk's.

Attachment: this work Link is the oldest and most mature; the official original set age is older, after consideration or not adopted; this time Link should be the strongest of all times, he had directly owned all the holy triangle; Link's initial clothing is still plain clothes, green clothing in the game is set to be the Knights Academy uniforms, Link this year happens to be along the green (everything is a coincidence). This is a prequel to Shrinking Hat, but this one has a hat setting suggesting that Air Brave is not the Brave mentioned in Shrinking Hat; Link's face in this game is very European and American, especially the thick lips, which are not very preferred by some Eastern players; Link has a lot of dialogue options this time around, but the performance is still not talking. This time, the painting style is a different oil painting style from Skyward Sword, with more oily colors, and Link uses the image of a child. Note that although this is a sequel to Gods, Link is not the same person.

P.S.

This time, Link has a corresponding "Rilink", ravio (ravio), in the world of Rilworld, in terms of character and image are created in contrast to Link; initially announced the personage, Link's personage is closer to the adult proportion of the gods, may be considered to distinguish between the two Link, the producers in the Later publicity replaced the persona; since it is not the same Link as the Gods, it can only be roughly assumed that the timeline of this work is before the first generation after Dreaming Island. Not much information is available so far. The painting style this time is a reflective oil painting style.

It can be seen that Link's image has undergone another major change this time around, with a more neutralized ponytail of long hair, as well as wearing clothing other than the quasi-green Braveheart suit.

P.S. A player asked if this Link was a girl, and producer Eiji Aonuma joked, "Who said it was Link?" This is supposed to be a joke; Link's weapons can be seen to be very high-tech, presumably at the beginning or the end of the timeline.

The saga of the Legend of Zel continues, and hopefully some enthusiast will fill in the blanks here as time moves on.