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

[Wolfenbarg]

Either using a female link or Zelda as the lead would be cool. Doing the latter you wouldn't even necessarily have to do something cheesy like have Link be kidnapped instead. There are Zelda games where she isn't even present or a part of whatever adventure Link is having. You could give her a Majora's Mask style game.

 

[acillies45]

I think Zelda as the protagonist would be sick. I mean, it wouldn't be PRINCESS Zelda, but just a girl named Zelda who becomes the hero of time.

 

[Senare]

Well we already have a Zelda-inspired game called Ittle Dew with a female protagonist. It takes the dungeon puzzle and cranks it up to 11.

 

[sageoftruth]

I'm suddenly getting this idea of a Ranma-esque game where Link gender-changes, just like how he changed into a wolf in Twilight Princess. I imagine it would be much more focused on gender roles than any other LOZ game (how else would gender-changing make a difference?), but it's made in Japan, so I doubt there would be any discomfort with rampant application of gender roles. On the other hand, I doubt such a game would ever get shipped to the US.

 

[Olas]

I'd support it just because there's no reason why Link couldn't be female and with that in mind it's becoming a bit weird that Link is always a guy considering the statistical odds.

One way or another though it wouldn't count as a major change for the series.

 

[The Youth Counselor]

I'll be honest, before I ever played any of the Zelda games I thought that Link WAS a female. I was under the impression that the protagonist and titular character were one and the same and since I knew two women named Zelda (also got Samus and Metroid confused and didn't realize her gender either until reading the manual for Super Metroid 2 with more effort.) which combined with Link's androgynous features further fueled my confusion.

So I vote yes, since I was already used to the idea, and apparently so are cosplayers since most Link cosplay seems to be done by women.

 

[Corran006]

Hear me out:

It's not the same Link in all of these games, rather, several incarnations of the Great Hero/Chosen One/whatever. Who's to say that the incarnation of Link in the next Zelda game couldn't be female this time? I mean, women [b/]can[/b] use the Triforce. We've seen Zelda do it all the time.

It wouldn't feel too cheap or gimmicky as a female Mario or Kratos, as there isn't anything particularly masculine about Link. He's not really a muscleman and the green tunic is more or less unisex. He was pretty much intended to be merely a blank character for the player to project onto, and really the only personality aspects I can think of to define him are pretty gender neutral: brave, intelligent and competent in situations of crisis.

I mean, I'm not really saying that Nintendo necessarily [i/]should[/i] do this. I'm just wondering if you all think it would work if they did.

Sidenote: Are there other characters to whom this would apply? Where gender/race/sexuality/etc are so insignificant that changing them would leave the overall character unscathed? Off the top of my head: Chell(Portal), Master Chief (Halo) and Kirby (well, Kirby).

No I don't think its a very good idea to shoe Link into beingfemale. If you want a female Link make another Character in the same Universe, simple as that.

 

[zaion]

I would say no because it would kinda shoot the concept of the reincarnation that has been going through the series. (or at least the feel of the reincarnations.)

However, what i WOULD like to see would be a game where you can play as Zelda instead. It would give a nice twist to it and honestly, i think it could make for a good story. Plus it would be nice to see the triforce of wisdom to actually be USED or demonstrated. I've always thought it was stupid that wisdom was the one that got taken out so quickly. (plus I kinda don't like the concept of the hero using courage. sends the message that the other two are pretty much useless by comparison.)

 

[Conza]

Hear me out:

It's not the same Link in all of these games, rather, several incarnations of the Great Hero/Chosen One/whatever. Who's to say that the incarnation of Link in the next Zelda game couldn't be female this time? I mean, women [b/]can[/b] use the Triforce. We've seen Zelda do it all the time.

It wouldn't feel too cheap or gimmicky as a female Mario or Kratos, as there isn't anything particularly masculine about Link. He's not really a muscleman and the green tunic is more or less unisex. He was pretty much intended to be merely a blank character for the player to project onto, and really the only personality aspects I can think of to define him are pretty gender neutral: brave, intelligent and competent in situations of crisis.

I mean, I'm not really saying that Nintendo necessarily [i/]should[/i] do this. I'm just wondering if you all think it would work if they did.

Sidenote: Are there other characters to whom this would apply? Where gender/race/sexuality/etc are so insignificant that changing them would leave the overall character unscathed? Off the top of my head: Chell(Portal), Master Chief (Halo) and Kirby (well, Kirby).

Well, personally no, my only concern at all would be F Link and Zelda, there's a girl going after to save another girl, and if we jump straight to lesbianism, that's fine, but traditionally you'd think the romance part would change or be removed if you had two female characters.

I guess you could also have prince Zelda? Possibly? I'm a mild fan of the Zelda series, owned several of the games, but, if Link changes each time, so too would Zelda is that right?

Lastly, there has always been a modicum of attraction between Zelda and Link, this begins first in syward sword, as it is the first game chronologically, and it is entirely likely the goddesses find it necessary that this attraction exists as extra motivation for the hero, and so that the hero and hylia can recognize each other. Were the hero to be female, this attraction would be different, it could not enter the realm of chivalry that embodied by the first heroes (they were knights after all) and instead would either be sexual, or of a close friendship.

Ah didn't see this part.

But that's my point, sort of, I don't see why a lesbian relationship couldn't be identical to a hetrosexual one for Zelda and (F) Link, I think women can do all of the things for women, that men do for women, why wouldn't they be able to use chivalry, ect?

 

[TheMigrantSoldier]

I would be fine with it. I would prefer a game about Zelda but a female Link isn't unwelcome. And no, it isn't about the thousands of fan art and fanfiction Zelda and her Knight in green would spawn.

I can hear cries of "political correctness" and "feminism" being violently repeated, though, with such a change.

 

[Evil Smurf]

Nope, just because Link needs to be a male, a Zelda orientated game would work though. Maybe you play Zelda as she escapes Ganondorf in OoT.

 

[Caligulove]

I don't see why it has to be a female version of Link- why don'y we just have Zelda actually be the protagonist of a Zelda game? Would be a lot easier. Just all of a sudden in one of the timelines, Link is the royalty and Zelda is the courageous one to get everything done for once.

 

[garcian67]

I'd support it just because there's no reason why Link couldn't be female

if you don't think you can be reincarnated as a different gender then you don't know what reincarnation means

I'm seeing a lot of posts like this, and I would just like to clarify that there are many, varied, and strong lore reasons that Link, the hero, cannot be female. See my posts above.

I think Zelda as the protagonist would be sick. I mean, it wouldn't be PRINCESS Zelda, but just a girl named Zelda who becomes the hero of time.

As a Zelda lore freak, this sentence kills me. "The Hero of Time" is only in one game, Ocarina of Time, Zelda can't be the hero of time because link was already the hero of time. and I don't think we want to go that far down the time travel paradox rabbit hole. Every Link that isn't OoT is simply The Hero, for future reference.

 

[zaion]

I would say no because it would kinda shoot the concept of the reincarnation that has been going through the series. (or at least the feel of the reincarnations.)

if you don't think you can be reincarnated as a different gender then you don't know what reincarnation means


who said we can't have a female link game and a zelda/triforce of wisdom game

not quite what i was referring to. the zelda series has always had a very specific form of reincarnation. by your very statement, it begs the question why being left handed is considered in some of the games to be iconic of the hero's spirit. they are always very specific when it comes to the form that the hero takes in each incarnation.

suddenly changing the gender of one of them breaks the set up they have for it.

 

[GloatingSwine]

I've been saying for a million years that "Link" in the next game should be a disguise Zelda wears to save her kingdom.

 

[Dark Knifer]

No, mainly because I'd rather have zelda be a playable character then assume the only way to have a female lead in a zelda game be a gender swapped male for no real reason.

It makes more sense just have zelda be the main character to me as the fanbase would get up in arms forever about this and nintendo are certainly not progressive.

 

[Olas]

I'd support it just because there's no reason why Link couldn't be female

if you don't think you can be reincarnated as a different gender then you don't know what reincarnation means

I'm seeing a lot of posts like this, and I would just like to clarify that there are many, varied, and strong lore reasons that Link, the hero, cannot be female. See my posts above.

I read your gigantic post about Zelda's lore and whatnot and I still don't see why Link can't be female. You're only real reason is that the original hero was male and therefore you've concluded that the spirit must look exclusively for male bodies. That's a leap in logic you made on your own, I see no reason a female couldn't be adequate as well. Men might be stronger (on average) but physical strength has never been shown to be very important in Zelda. and if it was, why is Link so frequently a child? Wouldn't an adult be much stronger?

You also say that there's always "a modicum of attraction" between the 2 characters. The games rarely even hint this to be true, outside of maybe Skyward Sword, and I don't see why it would ever be critical to the story. And even if it was, who's to say Zelda couldn't be a guy, or maybe Link could be a lesbian. There are lots of work arounds if you're creative.

Finally you talk about Link's attributes, courage and heroicism and all that jazz. It seems practically sexist to imply that a female Link couldn't embody these traits as well.

So ya, I disagree completely.

 

[CJ1145]

No, I would actually hate a female Link. Link is Link, and Link is a male. The genderswap is entirely contrived, pointless, and stupid! And it's not because a female main character is bad. I'm going to tell you why it's bad: you already have a female main character. Just make Zelda the playable character for once, instead of Link! Make her be the hero that gets the Master Sword, or uses crazy magical powers on an adventure to save Hyrule. Hell, make Zelda be the one that has to save Link. Totally reverse it for once.

Ignoring the existing material to make a perfectly viable female protagonist in favor of gender-flipping the existing one reeks of political correctness gone mad.

 

[Olas]

No, mainly because I'd rather have zelda be a playable character then assume the only way to have a female lead in a zelda game be a gender swapped male for no real reason.

Zelda would be a very boring playable character wouldn't she? I mean unless her character was completely changed at which point it might as well not be her anymore. Also, it's not really gender swapping if there's no rule saying Link can't or shouldn't be female in the first place.

It makes more sense just have zelda be the main character to me as the fanbase would get up in arms forever about this and nintendo are certainly not progressive.

I'm a member of said fanbase, and I certainly wouldn't get up in arms. Nor can I see the rest of us. In fact I think it would be met rather positively, if it made a stir at all.

And lastly, I question why you think Nintendo isn't progressive. What exactly is your reasoning behind that belief? Nintendo does have a strong sense of tradition, but they also like to combine old ideas with new ones. Take Kirby Epic Yarn, a classic Nintendo character with a completely new aesthetic and play style. Or even the most recent 3D Zelda, which had a reworked set of combat mechanics. It's not like they don't like to experiment with new ideas, and this would be a relatively harmless one.

 

[garcian67]

I'd support it just because there's no reason why Link couldn't be female

if you don't think you can be reincarnated as a different gender then you don't know what reincarnation means

I'm seeing a lot of posts like this, and I would just like to clarify that there are many, varied, and strong lore reasons that Link, the hero, cannot be female. See my posts above.

You're only real reason is that the original hero was male and therefore you've concluded that the spirit must look exclusively for male bodies

who's to say Zelda couldn't be a guy

Finally you talk about Link's attributes, courage and heroicism and all that jazz. It seems practically sexist to imply that a female Link couldn't embody these traits as well.

You clearly misunderstood many points of my post, so instead of going over it all again, I'll just address the last two, given that the first point would require a drill press.

Zelda is a the reincarnation of the goddess Hylia. This is the first reason "Zelda can't be a guy". The second is the long standing connection between feminine and divine.

The discussion of Link's attributes was not a standalone discussion, it was connected, quite intimately, to the intro discussing duality, and placed as a direct foil to Zelda's characteristics because that's how it is in the series The hero complements the reincarnation of the goddess, they complete each other, bolster the weaknesses of one another, and that is why they succeed.

Please, I implore you, read some LoZ lore, digest it, make your own arguments from the source material. Offhand comments prove nothing either way, they just lead to frustration.

I'm seeing a lot of posts like this, and I would just like to clarify that there are many, varied, and strong lore reasons that Link, the hero, cannot be female. See my posts above.

there aren't "many" or "varied" lore reasons, the only reason you even posted is "the male hero spirit might prefer male heroes", which isn't even a reason since its a spirit of heroism or whatever

If that is the only point that got through to you, then either I fail miraculously at teh Engliz or you are reading what you want to read.

even that fact that, unlike Zelda and Ganon, Link isn't the direct reincarnation of any specific deity, just the reincarnation of the first hero means that Link has a better chance of switching genders than any of the others.

Even if he was, it' a deity, they can be whatever they want. Zeus was a cow in one story so...idk why you can't wrap your head around spiritual deities changing physical genders.

Was wondering when the straw men would show up. Let's not discuss Greek Mythology as it has no bearing here. For the record, however, the cow wasn't a reincarnation, it was Zeus choosing to take the form of a cow.

As far as what I can "wrap my head around" I can wrap my head around plenty, I understand (most) every point that has been made here, which is why my very first posts acknowledges that a fem link wouldn't be a terrible addition to the series, a post I doubt you read entirely.

What you can't seem to "wrap your head around" (such an odd expression) is someone who has a different opinion than yourself. All opinions are welcome, that is, indeed, the purpose of a forum.

I would appreciate if someone would bring up lore reasons why a fem link would be acceptable, instead of merely dismissing my arguments offhand and claiming the lore says otherwise, as that is no way to conduct civil debate.