Daily Debate: Should Zelda and Link Ever Swap Roles?
Posted on November 20 2021 by Chakell Herbert
The Zelda formula of a knight saving a princess (besides a few games that have to do with falling moons and dreamy islands) has always worked. In fact, I’ve always loved the series because of its classic fairytale-esque setup. But one thing I’ve realized that I really appreciated in Breath of the Wild, the series’ biggest adventure, was that Link and Zelda protect and save each other equally throughout the story. Sure, Link steps in and shields her many times in the beginning, but once she unlocks her power to protect him from rampaging guardians, saving his life, Zelda is strong enough to hold back Calamity Ganon for a century. Yes, she still needs to be saved, but her role in this game sort of shifted from being the classic damsel in distress to something like Link’s equal or counterpart. (And yes, I know many other games in the series depict her as a strong-willed and capable character as well, but this one in particular really stood out to me.)
Considering this got me thinking: Should Link and Zelda ever swap roles in a future game? And I mean that two ways. First as in which of them is royal. Second as in which of them is the knight. The swap could also play into who aligns with the Triforce of Courage or Wisdom. Or even who is able to channel the Goddesses.
I feel like if done right, it could be an intriguing twist. What would Link be like as a prince? And what would Zelda be like as wielder of the Master Sword? Or perhaps their roles could remain the same, but Princess Zelda becomes a playable character in moments where Link is in peril? After all, the series called The Legend of Zelda, am I right?
But at the end of the day, I am fine with where the series is at with its classic “hero saves the princess” trope. It’s what makes this story timeless and these games my all-time favorite. But it is interesting to consider other possibilities.
What are your thoughts about this idea? Would you ever like to see Zelda and Link trade sword for crown?
Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
