the_dengle said:
Alright, tell me about this character "Link." What's his background -- where did he grow up? How old is he at the start of his adventure? What color is his hair? What is his family like? Is he right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous? What are his ambitions? What are his fears? Nothing about Link is sacred except that he represents the hero. Until 2011, Link was left-handed. This was absolute. The Wii version of Twilight Princess was non-canon, the inconsistency in some 2D games was just because the sprite was flipped to make development easier (or because of a superstition about Death Mountain). Zelda fans were pissed when Skyward Sword Link was right-handed. But you know what? He's still Link. The series isn't ruined because he was right-handed that one time. The integrity of the character was not forfeit. People were mad and then they got over it. Aonuma didn't feel like he had to create a brand new character with a brand new origin story just to explain why Link had this minor aesthetic difference. Here are Aonuma's comments about Link less than a year ago: "I don't want people to get hung up on the way Link looks because ultimately Link represents the player in the game... I don't want to define him so much that it becomes limiting to the players. I want players to focus on other parts of the trailer and not specifically on the character because the character Link represents, again, the player." Aonuma doesn't want to define Link. Link can be anyone -- the spirit of the hero can manifest within anyone. "Female Link" just means the spirit manifested itself in a girl. She doesn't need a different origin story any more than the Hero of Winds needs a different origin story from the Hero of Time. They are already different characters.
It has nothing to do with immersion and no one is re-writing the character. Link is still Link no matter what kind of chromosomes he has. Being a hero is about your spirit, not your DNA. If you think you can define Link as a person, you are welcome to try, right here and now. Let's start at the very beginning: where was Link born? Any defined person ought to have a birthplace. It's where their personal story begins. If their exact birthplace is unknown, you can at least identify their childhood home. |
Bolded - Anything can have a spirit. Link would not be Link if he was a squirrel in a tiny clown suit, wielding the sword by tying it to his back and jumping at people. Even if he sliced Ganon in half with a beautiful front flip.
This discussion always feels increadibly loaded. I don't mind a female hero. I don't hate women >.> I would mind a female Link though, because Link is defined enough in the magical world of videogames that I identify him as a real character. All those questions about family and background, there are plenty of well known characters that lack such defenitions. Their actions speak more. Link's actions of block-pushing, item-gathering, boss-slaying and kingdom-saving made him into something. He always looks similar to previous installments, and you can instantly tell when you see him that it is indeed Link. His family situation or wether or not he uses his right hand to swing his sword isn't really important. It is the fact that he uses a sword that is important. (Bane of evil, needed to defeat Ganon bla bla most of the story in all the games). The everlasting courage (partly due to his connection to the triforce) is important. His nobility and self sacrifice is important.
Like most games, especially old ones, Link and other characters were made with special identifiers so the player quickly understands the situation. Green hat, wooden sword. Red and blue overalls. Blue, with a helmet and an armcannon. No matter how silly those may be, they are still the core of those video game characters. Blame old tech, I guess? Legend of Zelda started as a small, green pixelated guy with a sword and a shield. Game after game continued and added to that. It is far too late to, pardon the expression, slap some tits on him and call him a girl.
Now, hold on, it could probably be done anyways. A dying Link passes on the triforce somehow, or whatever. But it would never be the same Link. Let's just say, a female hero earns the master sword, defeats some evil person and saves a good person. Eh. Just make a new IP. And its not about gender! I'd feel the same way towards a goron Link or Zora Link. It wouldn't be Link anymore.
Btw, notice how I've never said anything about the quality of game, regerdless of changes or lack of changes. Just sayin'. An undead stalchild hero might be the star of the coolest game ever made.
Now slap me in the face and call me an idiot. These are my views on what is right and wrong in this world and I'll stand by them and defend them! Lol
In the end, Japanese developers don't give a fuuuuck about what we think xD I don't think they'll make a female character, because Japan can be quite backwards and super-conservative. Then again, who knows. I trust them to make a great game though.
