Aint we had Dark Link from Ocarina Of Time? That was the closest possible different color Link in a Zelda game no? lol
Not really. Dark Link was a shadowy figure. He didn't really have a skin color- he was just a shadow of Link.
Anyway, I'm just gonna go ahead and be blunt about the way I'm seeing these things. The media is throwing these dramatic changes in icons' appearances because it sparks controversy and interest. They used a half-black chick (Halle Berry) for the Catwoman movie... I mean, Catwoman has always been a white woman. Now a black Spider-man? The media is just getting a little obsessive with trying to make sure they don't seem racist, and in doing so, they are twisting beloved characters.
I'm not racist, but when we're given an image that has lasted over a long period of time, I don't like that changed. With Link, we've had this image of a Caucasian boy for over two decades now. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see that they are expanding the diversity in the games. The Gerudo resembled middle-eastern people. Some characters like the Happy Mask Salesman and Guru Guru look more Asian. And, with TP, we got some characters that looked like they could've been Hispanic (Coro, Hena, etc). Telma even looks something different, but I can't place it. Almost African features, but her skin is too light for that.
Anyway, I like that they are making the world of Hyrule a little more realistic by getting rid of the whole "EVERYBODY'S WHITE!" thing and adding characters that look like other races in our world. I feel like I can relate better to the game when I see Hispanics or Asians.... feel less "left out" I guess. But Link? Don't change him just for the sake of being something other than Caucasian. He's had this image for years. Yeah, his hair has changed, but overall, he's retained a certain appearance. It'd be like making the elegant Princess Zelda a short, fat hippo of a ruler. Even moreso, it'd be like making Mario a slim and trim Asian. Doesn't work.
He's not just an image. He doesn't just look a certain way.
Link is an icon.