Poll: Would we all be cool with a female Link?

[Raggedstar]

I was one of those kids that thought Link WAS Zelda. Though even now as a fan, I don't mind having a female Link (or equal). Link is a reincarnated hero in green (often Hylian), bearer of the triforce of courage, brought in by destiny to save Hyrule in various ages to vanquish the (also reincarnating) evil. I don't think they've ever established Link HAS to be male (only their lineages). Though the only downside is that swapping the gender would be more of a gimmick (due to lack of a better word) that won't really mean anything other than "reasons". Not opposing the idea, but the game would need to bring more to the table than that and maybe make the swap mean something.

But as many have said, I would rather a (non-shitty) Zelda-focused Zelda game. Considering Zelda has changed more over the years than Link has, there's a lot of potential to be had (and they don't need to adhere to the formula too much because we don't have any useful point of reference with Zelda as a playable character). Though definitely the biggest potential is with someone like Sheik. Perhaps an "inbetweenquel" for OOT would be a bit much (as it's largely Link's story and we know how it ends), but maybe something after OOT alongside Majora's Mask with it's own story. Even if we don't have Sheik, then maybe something equal to a Sheik-like character where she assists Link in a new game in the timeline, or has to do her part to save the kingdom, or save Link too if you want to go all reverse-roles. Sheik (or similar) has a lot of potential in the magic, combat, and platforming department. Hell, maybe we can actually JUMP for once. You shake up the formula, give justice to a beloved (yet mostly unused) character, and possibly expand the lore in a new angle.

 

[HalfTangible]

Or we could have Zelda as the star. Do a complete role reversal with Zelda as the mage-heroine and link as the sword-prince. =/ Don't see why Link has to have a different gender when it'd be much easier and less rage-inducing to just swap the roles. Zelda needs more screen-time anyway.

 

[Depulcator]

It seems like a waste. You could have a whole new IP, Based on Zelda and shiek alone.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I'd find it to be more interesting, and a bigger departure from series standard conventions, if we played as Zelda herself. She'd have different motives, and a very different gameplay style compared to Link, due to her having the Triforce of Wisdom and in general being smarter, and more methodical, than Link. Hell, her job, as royalty in Hyrule, would be focused on keeping the peace, and if that's going tits-up she'd have reasonable motivation to go on a big quest like you'd usually see. Gameplay could take more interesting turns, with some diplomacy being reason for sidequests and a greater focus on stealth and intel gathering in the dungeons being a good turn for the gameplay. Mind you, she'd still be quite capable in defending herself, but she's not the brute that Link is, who, as she puts it in Wind Waker, "charges in, without worrying about consequences". Her tools would be different, her motives would be different, and the story would have a very different focus, which is what the series needs. It would be a breath of fresh air, rather than a simple, cheap reskinning. It'd keep the purists happy, give the feminists something to be pleased with (Strong, smart female character W00t!), and it'd give the gameplay some fresh twists to keep it from getting stale.

 

[Erttheking]

Why not? Though I do hope that they avoid falling into the pit of making a game the exact same as the previous ones with two mounds on Link's chest and longer hair. That's not good writing. Just have people react differently to her, not everyone and in many cases just in subtle ways. Lee was black in the Walking Dead and it didn't define him, but it was still part of who he was (In case you've forgotten, he's urban). So yeah, if they handled it well, I'd be ok with it.

 

[Kennetic]

Link is an established character so no, I do not want a female Link. Go ahead and make Zelda the Hero of Time and that would be flippin sweet.

 

[Risingblade]

I honestly wouldn't notice,unless you add some personality it's just Link with boobs.

 

[Kennetic]

Link is an established character

Which Link are you talking about? Just off the top of my head, there's at least six different Links.

-Skyward Sword Link
-Minish Cap Link
-Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask Link
-Twilight Princess Link
-Wind Waker Link
-A Link to the Past Link

Really? Because to me they're all the same basically minus the graphics. And I know that I'm not the only one here that thinks that.

 

[wadark]

Would the Link in question do something other than visit the same themed temples to collect the maguffins to rescue Zelda from Ganon/Ganondorf? If so, then yes, I'd be cool with it.

I'm being faceitous, Zelda is generally one of Nintendo's better franchises (relatively) in terms of rehashing the same stuff.

OT: Nah, I'd be cool with a female Link. Or rather, I wouldn't mind a game in which Zelda gets to actually be the star of the game that's named after her.

 

[Savagezion]

Hell no. Just make a new character or use Zelda. Why do people keep bringing this up? You cool with Hollywood "white-washing" a cast? No? Then why be cool with "Vag-washing" one? It doesn't make Link more interesting just because now he has something else under his little skirt. The idea brings nothing to table for the series. I seriously cant wrap my head around why this is pushed on so much other than an internet personality once said they thought it would be a good idea. Plus, the whole sexism in gaming thing. I have yet to see 1 good reason why this should even be wanted.

It feels cheap and gimmicky because Link is a well established character every bit as much as Mario and even more than Kratos. The only reason to do it is to try to be "edgy" with the whole female protagonist thing going on. However, it isn't edgy because you are piggybacking on Link's previous success. What would be "edgy" is making a new well written female character and actually trying to buck the trend with something fresh and unique.

Today I learned that female protagonists are "edgy."
Good to know.



On topic. I don't think I'd have a problem with it. Since Link, as a character is essentially a new person in each major incarnation of the game I see no reason why a female link would be a problem. Link specifically doesn't really come ingrained with an established personality so there's nothing about him that wouldn't work with a bit of a gender swap.

Yeah, I'd rather see a new IP rather than just shuffling the cards in the same deck but that's an entirely different argument.

Well, then apparently you missed all the hub-bub about Remember Me, The Last of Us, Tomb Raider, Bioshock Infinite, etc. Female protagonists right now are like bait for controversy, like it or not. Bait for controbversy = edgy. So I guess that today you did learn that female protagonists are "edgy". Or you would have if that statement wasn't sarcasm like I suspect it to be to try and imply that my remark is on a sexist premise. For better or worse female protagonists are edgy right now. Especially, if you go gender bending a long well known and established male character for no other reason than to throw femininity into the spotlight.

The biggest problem I have with this is that even if the game does well, he fact it is with a female protagonist is moot because that success was piggybacked on what a male character achieved. You do realize that LoZ goes down as the best game of all time most of the time. It was THE game that is often revered as the best game series ever. Then you make Link a female and the game does well and people seriously think that would mean anything or offer anything? The series is legendary as is. To make Link a woman and then go "see female protagonists can be successful" is retarded. It's more like "See, LoZ is so popular it will be successful even if you throw away one of the main character's very few identifying attributes." OR worse. Imagine that despite this thread's ridiculously low fanbase input poll a, the series does this and it does poorly. Congrats, you just reinforced that female characters can't even sell LoZ.
I see a lot of "I am not a fan of Zelda series and I would be ok with it" in this thread. I know 3 heavy Zelda fans that would NOT be OK with it and I am not counting myself. (I would make #4 although those 3 are bigger fans than I am.) All doing this does is stand to prove nothing or worse risk setting the whole female protagonist thing back even further than it already is.

Zelda/Sheik is what has something to offer here. Not making Link transgender as he is far too established at this point. ALl you really are doing is risking pissing off fans for no reason when you have Zelda/Sheik right there to do the little experiment. Part of me wonders if the reason so many people would rather see Link turn into a girl over Zelda getting some screen time is simply to piss off the long time fans and call them sexist crybabies.

Most characters in all fiction could have a gender swap and it wouldn't effect the story. Perhaps Bilbo Baggins needs to be a woman in the Hobbit.

 

[Bellvedere]

When I was a little one I always thought Link was a girl even after finding out the he wasn't the titular Zelda.

We've seen a lot of different Links and friends over the years, I think a gender swapped Hyrule would be pretty fun.

 

[coreymon77]

I find this to be a bit of a silly question. It's also kind of unfair, as saying "no" makes you sound like a massive jerk.

Do I have a problem with female protagonists? Absolutely not. Go right ahead and make your protagonist female, as long as that is what you actually want to do.

Would I have a problem with a female Link? Well, ya, and not because I'm some chauvinist asshole. But because, well, why? Why make Link female? Would it be just for the sake of making him female? That's just as stupid as making him male for the sake of it. Link is an established character. Yes, they are all different Links, but Link is still Link. If you wanted to make a Zelda game with a female protagonist, then why not just give Zelda her own game? I mean, one of the reasons I like Spirit Tracks so much is that Zelda tags along and is actually involved in the entire adventure. She does stuff and it's awesome.

You have so many other characters in the Zelda franchise, or even new characters that could be made if you wanted to make the protagonist a female, so why make it Link? To me, that sounds like doing it because "durr...feminism", which is just as stupid as making the protagonist male because "durr...girls have cooties".

 

[faefrost]

I think this question was pretty well answered almost 20 years ago. If anyone remembers one of the first good graphical games of this nature. Sierra's classic Kings Quest? Well take note of Kings Quest 4. if gamers from the misogynistic Reagan years could accept and tolerate a female protagonist in place of their green robin hood hat wearing protagonist way back then. I think the m odern progressive nitwits can probably handle it without to much mental adjustment. Although to be fair it might take a bit of adjustment. Modern gaming and schooling seems to have leached all the imagination out of the young un's these days.

 

[Savagezion]

Really? Because to me they're all the same basically minus the graphics. And I know that I'm not the only one here that thinks that.

Have you read this thread at all, because people have pointed out how Link's a reincarnation pretty much each time, and how he always has a different background, and he has different nuances to his personality. You and others can incorrectly believe whatever you want about Link, but that won't make it true.

That is all assumption on reincarnation as far as I can tell. I always seen it as a legend being retold by different narrators. Each storytellers will modify the story to their own version of the same legend. It is always the same story being told, it is just details that change.

 

[TheIceQueen]

I'd be completely fine with playing as a female Link. Oh, all of the pictures that would be inspired from this. As if there wasn't enough Link TG out there.

Besides, Link doesn't have that much personality to begin with. There's not much to go on from just "HYEH! HIYAH!"

 

[TheAmazingMediocrity]

If we're looking at introducing more female leads to the video game market, I'd personally agree with the new IP approach - create a 'Zelda'-esque game with a female protagonist.

Spoiler: I mean, I see no reason why that wouldn't work...

 

[Kennetic]

To answer everybody, I really don't care about Legend of Zelda enough to notice any significant difference between the various Links. Blondish hair, pointy ears, green tunic, left handed sword and shield and a goofy hat. He never talks enough to give much insight to his personality. To me, they're all the same guy, just like Mario.

 

[gunny1993]

What, Link isn't female?

*googles*

Ohhh, i was thinking of Zelda

 

[Bellvedere]

Really? Because to me they're all the same basically minus the graphics. And I know that I'm not the only one here that thinks that.

Have you read this thread at all, because people have pointed out how Link's a reincarnation pretty much each time, and how he always has a different background, and he has different nuances to his personality. You and others can incorrectly believe whatever you want about Link, but that won't make it true.

That is all assumption on reincarnation as far as I can tell. I always seen it as a legend being retold by different narrators. Each storytellers will modify the story to their own version of the same legend. It is always the same story being told, it is just details that change.

The whole reincarnation/different timelines part is actually official.

Spoiler: Timeline of Legend of Zelda

You can check it out in way more detail at the Zelda Wiki: Zelda Timeline [http://zeldawiki.org/Zelda_Timeline]

 

[annoyinglizardvoice]

I don't see a problem. They change the Link in nearly every game despite keeping a lot of stuff the same, so I don't see why gender couldn't change. I'm not sure what it would add to the game, not I doubt it would take away anything either.