ILU
i luv u
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2011
Currently, no, a Zelda game isn't good if Link is removed (IMO). Or, maybe it's good, but feels like a spinoff more than anything else (see Tingle games). Link is the players' avatar, or at least he has been for the majority of the games. The newer titles have explored expanding his personality into one of his own, but at the same time he retained the avatar role, and now he's stuck in an identity crisis limbo where he's neither completely the avatar nor is he a developed protagonist.
As long as he is used as the players' avatar- even in that odd avatar/incomplete-character limbo- removing him removes the player from the story, and that defeats the purpose of "Link." One of my biggest issues with Twilight Princess was how much of his spotlight- MY spotlight as the hero- was stolen by Midna. He wasn't completely removed, but he might as well have been. Midna was cool, but she alone wasn't enough to replace having Link there.
If Link were to be removed by means of playing another character, that character would likely need to break out of Link's character hell and have a defined personality of their own rather than assume the old role of being a "Link" between the avatar and player. Additionally, there would need to be more well-defined characters that would complete the story's narrative and fill in the gaps. Again, I point out how Twilight Princess had just a few defined characters, but they more or less acted as a Midna clone in telling Link exactly what he needed to do rather than partake in captivating dialog or actions and letting the player find solutions on his or her own.
So, in conclusion, removing Link- at this current point- removes the player, and in order to have a great Zelda game (again, IMO), a balancing act involving a lot of character development and story interaction needs to be performed to ensure that the game is not only good, but also feels like a Zelda game.
I think it CAN be done... perhaps with a Link-like character clad in green for novelty's sake, but go ahead and develop him into his ( or her! ) own person. It'd be kind of similar to playing Luigi in a Mario game.
As long as he is used as the players' avatar- even in that odd avatar/incomplete-character limbo- removing him removes the player from the story, and that defeats the purpose of "Link." One of my biggest issues with Twilight Princess was how much of his spotlight- MY spotlight as the hero- was stolen by Midna. He wasn't completely removed, but he might as well have been. Midna was cool, but she alone wasn't enough to replace having Link there.
If Link were to be removed by means of playing another character, that character would likely need to break out of Link's character hell and have a defined personality of their own rather than assume the old role of being a "Link" between the avatar and player. Additionally, there would need to be more well-defined characters that would complete the story's narrative and fill in the gaps. Again, I point out how Twilight Princess had just a few defined characters, but they more or less acted as a Midna clone in telling Link exactly what he needed to do rather than partake in captivating dialog or actions and letting the player find solutions on his or her own.
So, in conclusion, removing Link- at this current point- removes the player, and in order to have a great Zelda game (again, IMO), a balancing act involving a lot of character development and story interaction needs to be performed to ensure that the game is not only good, but also feels like a Zelda game.
I think it CAN be done... perhaps with a Link-like character clad in green for novelty's sake, but go ahead and develop him into his ( or her! ) own person. It'd be kind of similar to playing Luigi in a Mario game.
Last edited:
