Linkle May Be Considered for Future Zelda Games

[Frankster]

Yey little Green Riding Hood is getting her own game!

Honestly out of all the fem Links Ive seen randomly around the net, the official version is one Im least keen on but heck, who knows, maybe once in her own game Ill grow to like her, though the name Linkle will forever be a stupid one.

Does this mean we get PRINCE Zelda btw?

 

[Hades]

I know this sounds like a stupid question here. But why can't we choose between either? You know, like at the start of the game you press left or right to select Link or Linkle? Is making a second skin really that difficult?

I think the question can better be asked in reverse. Why should you be able to chose between either? If representation is the issue than Linkle would be the inferior answer to a problem that could be better solved with Zelda.

 

[Lightknight]

I know this sounds like a stupid question here. But why can't we choose between either? You know, like at the start of the game you press left or right to select Link or Linkle? Is making a second skin really that difficult?

According to the developers of the Assassin's Creed games, yes, it is absolutely prohibitive.

But... I remember being a kid playing resident evil 1 and choosing between two characters that were not only different sexes but also had entirely different story lines... I had no idea it was a financial bust...

I know this sounds like a stupid question here. But why can't we choose between either? You know, like at the start of the game you press left or right to select Link or Linkle? Is making a second skin really that difficult?

I think the question can better be asked in reverse. Why should you be able to chose between either? If representation is the issue than Linkle would be the inferior answer to a problem that could be better solved with Zelda.

Linkle or Zelda being better is entirely subjective. Linkle would not be less female than Zelda so there is no inherent representation issue here. There's also no reason why Zelda couldn't be Zeldan (or whatever) when Linkle is selected. One could argue that the reincarnation cycle would be broken if Zelda donned the mantel of Link instead. Link in whatever manifestation will always be the hero, Ganon will always be a villain, and Zelda will always be the victim.

Their particular manifestations can always change drastically, but this is their Sisyphean cycle.

I will also point out the erroneous nature of damsel as a negative trope. The entire point of a damsel story is that a bad guy has robbed the damsel of their agency and the goal of the hero is to return said agency. Framing kidnapping and objectification as something a villain would do is a good story mechanic to encourage young people to fight against that kind of behavior whenever they see it. Sorry if that offends anyone, but pretending like the point is to rob agency for women just doesn't pass muster in reality.

 

[Hades]

I know this sounds like a stupid question here. But why can't we choose between either? You know, like at the start of the game you press left or right to select Link or Linkle? Is making a second skin really that difficult?

According to the developers of the Assassin's Creed games, yes, it is absolutely prohibitive.

But... I remember being a kid playing resident evil 1 and choosing between two characters that were not only different sexes but also had entirely different story lines... I had no idea it was a financial bust...

I know this sounds like a stupid question here. But why can't we choose between either? You know, like at the start of the game you press left or right to select Link or Linkle? Is making a second skin really that difficult?

I think the question can better be asked in reverse. Why should you be able to chose between either? If representation is the issue than Linkle would be the inferior answer to a problem that could be better solved with Zelda.

Linkle or Zelda being better is entirely subjective. Linkle would not be less female than Zelda so there is no inherent representation issue here. There's also no reason why Zelda couldn't be Zeldan (or whatever) when Linkle is selected. One could argue that the reincarnation cycle would be broken if Zelda donned the mantel of Link instead. Link in whatever manifestation will always be the hero, Ganon will always be a villain, and Zelda will always be the victim.

Their particular manifestations can always change drastically, but this is their Sisyphean cycle.


I will also point out the erroneous nature of damsel as a negative trope. The entire point of a damsel story is that a bad guy has robbed the damsel of their agency and the goal of the hero is to return said agency. Framing kidnapping and objectification as something a villain would do is a good story mechanic to encourage young people to fight against that kind of behavior whenever they see it. Sorry if that offends anyone, but pretending like the point is to rob agency for women just doesn't pass muster in reality.

I think there is a good case to be made for Linkle inherently being less female then Zelda. Zelda is a female in her own right and Linkle just isn't. She a female Link and will forever be in her male counterparts shadow.

I don't think Zelda NEEDS to be a damsel or a victim. Skyworld sword aside she has been more powerful as of late. In both Wind Waker and to a lesser extend Twilight princess she takes part in the fight with ganondorf, thus not being a mere victim but an active participant in her own rescue. Spirit tracks even has her as a partner character and she's completely damsel free in Hyrule Warriors as well. If Zelda is playable then just don't let her get captured. She doesn't have to be. Ganondorf threatening her realm is reason enough to find a hero.

 

[JimB]

I know this sounds like a stupid question here. But why can't we choose between either? You know, like at the start of the game you press left or right to select Link or Linkle? Is making a second skin really that difficult?

According to the developers of the Assassin's Creed games, yes, it is absolutely prohibitive.

But... I remember being a kid playing Resident Evil and choosing between two characters that were not only different sexes but also had entirely different story lines... I had no idea it was a financial bust...

In case you're being serious, I will inform you that the developers of Assassin's Creed were famously lying when they said female skins were prohibitive to code.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

She doesn't feel out of place at all in the world of the Zelda games

That would be because "she" is Link with an added syllable and a sex change.

 

[MerlinCross]

I know this sounds like a stupid question here. But why can't we choose between either? You know, like at the start of the game you press left or right to select Link or Linkle? Is making a second skin really that difficult?

According to the developers of the Assassin's Creed games, yes, it is absolutely prohibitive.

But... I remember being a kid playing Resident Evil and choosing between two characters that were not only different sexes but also had entirely different story lines... I had no idea it was a financial bust...

In case you're being serious, I will inform you that the developers of Assassin's Creed were famously lying when they said female skins were prohibitive to code.

They said it was too expensive to code for not that they were prohibitive. Unless new info came out that I missed.

As for Linkle(Still bad name, like GB name but not GB character why?), eh if TINGLE can get his own game I guess she could. Zelda too in my opinion. Saw this fanart of a Zelda game with Zelda as the main character, kinda AC meets Sly or something like that. Looked cool.

I still kinda dislike Linkle's design(Clothing looks odd but if she's Link's Number 2 fan than so be it. Cia is of course #1).

 

[Lupine]

Will they make Zelda a guy (Zack?) or will they make this a yuri story?

Why not have a male Zelda? Sheik was Zelda's alter ego, I'd be down for a crossdressing battle prince helping to save himself disguised as a female warrior.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

Will they make Zelda a guy (Zack?) or will they make this a yuri story?

Why not have a male Zelda? Sheik was Zelda's alter ego, I'd be down for a crossdressing battle prince helping to save himself disguised as a female warrior.

Because canonically Zelda can't be male.
Only the female descendants can use Hylia's magic.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

If you guys are accepting of Link being turned into a female (I don't care what she really is, she's basically a Girl Link) . You might aswell ask for Samus Aran to turn male and call him Samual Aran or Mario a female.

Link is a reincarnation, a soul. Samus has a backstory that defines her and can't really screw around with that. You can screw with it for fun, do an alternate universe thing, but it would require to be non-canonical. Link could be a woman, Gerudo or blind and it could still work because Link is the bearer of the Triforce of Courage.

I don't understand your complaint here. Are you arguing that Link having a penis is something that will survive death and rebirth, or are you saying Linkle can't be the hero because only Link can be on account of bearing the Triforce of Courage? I think it's clear I don't put much stock in the former argument, but I can at least see the latter one, if we're acting under the assumption that Linkle and Link will exist simultaneously.

I'm not saying either. I'm saying why not just make a Link that is a girl? There's nothing preventing that. The three main characters of the series, Link, Zelda and Ganon, are a trio of reincarnations that keep popping up in history, destined to duke it out with each other. Its an extremely limiting view of reincarnation that for no real reason at all Link couldn't return as a a woman.

Link is a cypher. His soul is demonstrated through his actions, and his actions are determined by the player. If you're the same person playing this game as the last one, then Link has the same soul.

TLOZ is a linear game where the play has no real narrative input except to just stop playing so I'd disagree that there's really any meaningful actions that the player could make to define their Link differently from somebody else's Link. Its just not an RPG.

I am quite surprised people take the canoncity of the Zelda games seriously. The whole each Link is different incarnation through out in game history is weak sauce when they are all still portrayed as Hylians.

And if you truly accept the fact that Link can be female through this incarnation concept you might aswell turn Ganon into a Hylian black haird female that turns into a pig-humanoid creature.

Or Zelda into a Male Gerudo Prince named Zelgan.

 

[Cybylt]

If she was originally pitched as Link's sister, why not just name her Aryll? You know, like that other Link's sister.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Will they make Zelda a guy (Zack?) or will they make this a yuri story?

Why not have a male Zelda? Sheik was Zelda's alter ego, I'd be down for a crossdressing battle prince helping to save himself disguised as a female warrior.

Because canonically Zelda can't be male.
Only the female descendants can use Hylia's magic.

What if she identifies as male?

 

[JimB]

I wonder if we could get a co-op game out of this concept. Link and Linkle are twins; twins in Hylia are siblings who share a soul; only together is their split soul worthy of the Master Sword and the Triforce. Shake up the formula, you know?

 

[loa]

How does magical fanservice girl that somehow air-juggles 50 enemies with dual rapid fire crossbows "fit into zelda"?
Last time I checked, the bow acted like a bow and not an assault rifle and zelda was about exploration and not a freaking spectacle fighter. There is not a single facet about her that mixes well with zelda and I personally find her design to be rather lukewarm rendition from the people who think crossbows are the "uzis of the middle-age" and that "cool" justifies any design decision.

 

[JimB]

There is not a single facet about her that mixes well with Zelda.

Then neither does any other character in the series, since every character who has been reproduced in Hyrule Warriors does the same kind of shit Linkle does. Or are you seriously arguing that it's impossible for Linkle's abilities and style to be altered to reflect the kind of game she's in?

 

[loa]

There is not a single facet about her that mixes well with Zelda.

Then neither does any other character in the series, since every character who has been reproduced in Hyrule Warriors does the same kind of shit Linkle does. Or are you seriously arguing that it's impossible for Linkle's abilities and style to be altered to reflect the kind of game she's in?

I'm arguing that zelda is better than that. Or used to be.

 

[JimB]

I'm arguing that Zelda is better than that. Or used to be.

Please be explicit, loa, because these vague portents of doom are meaningless. What exactly do you think will happen? It sounds to me as if you believe Nintendo means to create a game in which Link and all its inhabitants behave at their normal, more or less believable power levels, yet Linkle alone will be running through it like Dante in Devil May Cry. Is that your fear, or is it something else?

 

[loa]

I'm arguing that Zelda is better than that. Or used to be.

Please be explicit, loa, because these vague portents of doom are meaningless. What exactly do you think will happen? It sounds to me as if you believe Nintendo means to create a game in which Link and all its inhabitants behave at their normal, more or less believable power levels, yet Linkle alone will be running through it like Dante in Devil May Cry. Is that your fear, or is it something else?

What are you on about.
Her entire design is just bland and doesn't mesh with the universe full of sometimes downright disturbing characters at all, if you take the "fast fire" away from the crossbow then... what are we left with, exactly?
There is literally nothing else even remotely interesting to this character and if you think she's on the same level as, say, midna I don't know what to say to you.

 

[CaitSeith]

So, er, how does Aryll feel about this?

More like Romani, IMO.

EDIT: Sorry, wrong quote

 

[CaitSeith]

Will they make Zelda a guy (Zack?) or will they make this a yuri story?

Why not have a male Zelda? Sheik was Zelda's alter ego, I'd be down for a crossdressing battle prince helping to save himself disguised as a female warrior.

Because canonically Zelda can't be male.
Only the female descendants can use Hylia's magic.

It kinda sounds like an interesting plot. Without Hylia's magic, they can't slow down Ganon (or whoever the overpowerful bad guy is). However, Hylia's magic sometimes isn't part of the games plot. But more importantly, Hyrule Warriors seems to have revealed the Zelda's equivalent of Marvel's multiverse. Remember we are talking about spin-offs here; they aren't necessarily canon. They just need to make sense.