143 replies to this topic

[Selena]

I concur that playing as Zelda would be much better than having Link be a woman. Not that I'm opposed in regards to female leads - quite the opposite - but once you have an established character, I'd say it's best not to mess with it. A female incarnation of Link would be like having a female incarnation of Mario or Sonic. It would no doubt feel a bit awkward, and having a totally different character would take away from the game. Zelda is a familiar face within the franchise, and if you want a female lead, she's really the only one that can carry it.

I mean, many of the non-fanatic Zelda players assume Link's name is Zelda anyway. It works.

Hyrule Castle could be conquered, with Zelda forced to escape on her own in the absence of tall, blonde and mute. If she's the lead, it can be her that fights her way through Hyrule to defeat the boss for a change. Be it as a princess armed with the traditional sword and shield, or as a woman on the run in some sort of Sheik-esque get up for some minor combat variation. Or, as mentioned above, a dual role where she's actively assisting. Get her lazy ass up off the throne instead of getting captured every five minutes. Woman's got to earn her paycheck.

I'd play it. It'd be interesting.

[Chiaki]

I concur that playing as Zelda would be much better than having Link be a woman. Not that I'm opposed in regards to female leads - quite the opposite - but once you have an established character, I'd say it's best not to mess with it. A female incarnation of Link would be like having a female incarnation of Mario or Sonic. It would no doubt feel a bit awkward, and having a totally different character would take away from the game. Zelda is a familiar face within the franchise, and if you want a female lead, she's really the only one that can carry it.

I mean, many of the non-fanatic Zelda players assume Link's name is Zelda anyway. It works.

Hyrule Castle could be conquered, with Zelda forced to escape on her own in the absence of tall, blonde and mute. If she's the lead, it can be her that fights her way through Hyrule to defeat the boss for a change. Be it as a princess armed with the traditional sword and shield, or as a woman on the run in some sort of Sheik-esque get up for some minor combat variation. Or, as mentioned above, a dual role where she's actively assisting. Get her lazy ass up off the throne instead of getting captured every five minutes. Woman's got to earn her paycheck.

I'd play it. It'd be interesting.

Now something like that could work, as long as theres a legitamate reason why Link isn't the main character (Which, in my eyes, would be tough to do), and if it were done properly.

Also, I think someone mentioned something along the lines of being able to play as different characters sometimes. Supporting characters that, under special circumstances, are playable, is acceptable, and a good idea. I also think it would be interesting if there were like...4 different characters (including Link) that had different abilities, and you could switch between them, or play certain characters in certain dungeons, or could even have a multiplayer thing going. The ONLY problem I can see with that is that the game would start to feel more like an RPG than a Zelda game, but again, if done properly, it could still work.

[Tekky]

That could work! Say, for example (a la Stone Tablets) Link has buggered off and Hyrule gets attacked! Or while he is in Termina or whatever... I like it!

[SL the Pyro]

So long as it doesn't wind up like one of the BS Zelda games, I'd give it a try.

[Fyxe]

...
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...No comment. The concept of a female Link just annoys me so much that I can't think of anything to say.

Y'know, I'm steadily coming to the conclusion that Shadow_Link still thinks 'cooties' exists.

[SL the Pyro]

That's not it at all! Ugh... I hate having to explain the same thing to the same person(people) twice...

You see, I don't like the concept of a female Link, because considering that Shadow Link is his/her shadow, that would make Shadow Link a female as well.

THAT'S what I don't want. This has nothing to with cooties.

[Duke Serkol]

So long as it doesn't wind up like one of the BS Zelda games, I'd give it a try.

...
...No comment. The concept of a female Link just annoys me so much that I can't think of anything to say.

Y'know, I'm steadily coming to the conclusion that Shadow_Link still thinks 'cooties' exists.

BS cooties, no less!

[SL the Pyro]

...Ahem. *points to the post above Serkol's*

(obvious same-time post anger)

[Mystic Kitsune]

Yetis are cootie-prone, anyway.

As for what Lena/Link's Love/etc said, that could work out really well. The switching characters can easily be done and shouldn't be too complex, but if they can combine it with a good story, it would make a great game.

Edited by Mystic Kitsune, 28 May 2007 - 09:36 AM.

[Wolf O'Donnell]

This just gives me an excuse to post these again.



I want girl Link too, but only if there's a boy Zelda (aka Shiek I suppose).

Why does Ganondorf remind me of Tenchi Muyo's Ryoko?

As for a female Link, that's a stupid idea. A female protagonist, yes, but a female Zelda? I don't want a female Link for the same reason we haven't seen a female Mario, Sonic or Megaman. (No, the female in Mega Man ZX, which still hasn't come out in the UK, does not count).

I suppose it would be a good idea to choose between playing a male or female protagonist. I mean, why should I be forced to play as a particular gender?

[Fyxe]

To the people saying 'female Link would be like a female Mario/Sonic/Leon S. Kennedy' or whatever silly examples you're giving, it's NOT like that. Unlike those characters, Link is a different character in virtually every game and has gone through a large variety of changes. From brunette to redhead and blonde, to tunic changes and a seven year difference in age, Link has shown many different incarnations. The change of it being a female hero wearing a green tunic would NOT be the same as a Mario with boobs.

I'm sorry, but I'd LIKE to play as a girl for once. And no, not a stupid Lara Croft-esc bimbo, but a perfectly standard cute young girl with a sword and shield and scruffy hair.

Girls can be heroes too, you sexist munchkins. It'd make up for that lame-ass slogan they used on the Ocarina of Time advert over here in England.

Yes, when I first think of a canon female Link I immediately thought 'wait, no!' but then I thought about it some more and thought 'why the fuck not?'.

On a side note, I always play as the redhead gal in the BS-X games, partially cos the other guy looks dumb, but also because I quite like the idea of playing as a female hero in a (good) Zelda game.

In the other topic, someone mentioned Ashei. Now SHE would be awesome to play as.

Edited by Fyxe, 28 May 2007 - 11:52 AM.

[Mystic Kitsune]

Playing as Ashei would be awesome.

I guess as far as it goes, we'll leave it to the experts to decide, because they can probably do a good job with the concept and come up with a story better than any of us could anyway.

[Wolf O'Donnell]

To the people saying 'female Link would be like a female Mario/Sonic/Leon S. Kennedy' or whatever silly examples you're giving, it's NOT like that. Unlike those characters, Link is a different character in virtually every game and has gone through a large variety of changes. From brunette to redhead and blonde, to tunic changes and a seven year difference in age, Link has shown many different incarnations. The change of it being a female hero wearing a green tunic would NOT be the same as a Mario with boobs.

Well, no, it would be the same, because as far as newcomers to the series would be aware, it is the same Link. The variations in the characters, after all, are very minor.

I'm sorry, but I'd LIKE to play as a girl for once. And no, not a stupid Lara Croft-esc bimbo, but a perfectly standard cute young girl with a sword and shield and scruffy hair.

Girls can be heroes too, you sexist munchkins.

Perfectly understandable. However, most people are saying Link cannot be a girl. And I stand by them on this decision. I'd rather much have two separate characters, one male, one female, with hardly any differences between the two. Preferably there'd be some differences, especially in dialogue. I mean, look what happened with the Summon Nights Swordcraft series for the GBA. They forgot to change the dialogue of the girl character, so she ended up saying some rather lemony things. Actually, that was kinda amusing now that I think about it. An unintentional lesbian heroine.

Anyway, I'd rather we have a choice.

It'd make up for that lame-ass slogan they used on the Ocarina of Time advert over here in England.

I don't remember seeing Ocarina of Time adverts. What was the lame-ass slogan?

[Hero of Legend]

I don't remember seeing Ocarina of Time adverts. What was the lame-ass slogan?

"Whilst thou get the girl? Or play like one?"

Anyway, I don't think this change of protagonist is even necessary. There's so much they can do before they make Link a girl. Like, why does Link always have to be some innocent kid at the start of the game? Why is he a pretty-boy hero instead of some lone gruff? How about some more interaction between him and the NPCs (even if it isn’t dialogue)? That’s stuff I want to see change.

[Fyxe]

Well, no, it would be the same, because as far as newcomers to the series would be aware, it is the same Link. The variations in the characters, after all, are very minor.

I think there was a bigger negative reaction to 'cel-shaded Link' than there would be to female Link. And if they were newcomers to the series, I think it'd still be easy to make it obvious that it's a different hero. Remember, Link is rarely ever named 'Link' by the game, he's usually just called 'the hero'. As far as newcomers would be concerned, this would be a different hero that wears the same outfit.

Change the name if you want, whatever, that's just pendantics, I just think a girl in Link's outfit as the hero would be cool for a change.

[SL the Pyro]

Zelda could be wearing Link's outfit to be disguised as him and save the world, a bit Mulan-ish, but it works. Just a thought.

(I'm not sure if that's how Mulan is spelled, but I mean that movie when the girl disguises herself as a male samurai and joins the chinese army. I'd wager that Kitsune knows what I'm talking about.)

[Kairu Hakubi]

I'm all for a girl Link, I think it's a grand idea. I'm also open to other heroes in Hyrule, possibly even extremely minor ones who DON'T have a huge destiny.. who are just sorta normal people getting shiz done.. like that Kyle Katarn guy.
Perhaps if it was a young girl it'd be easier for fans to swallow at first, since kids are pretty androgynous anyway.

[Delphi]

Umm...Samurai are Japanese, not Chinese.

I like the idea of taking control of Zelda or another female character for parts of the game just to add a little variety. In the end though I don't really care which gender the character is even if a female link would be slightly awkward at first.

And I was thinking Female!Ganondorf looked an awful lot like Ryoko myself. Half expected Link to look like Ayeka.

And the whole thing of playing like a girl isn't really offensive but is more of annoying. But not like I need to be offended. I have my bragging rights from beating about ten guys in a row at Soul Calibur II with Xianghua at a LAN party. Ooooh sweet victory.

[Selena]

To the people saying 'female Link would be like a female Mario/Sonic/Leon S. Kennedy' or whatever silly examples you're giving, it's NOT like that. Unlike those characters, Link is a different character in virtually every game and has gone through a large variety of changes. From brunette to redhead and blonde, to tunic changes and a seven year difference in age, Link has shown many different incarnations. The change of it being a female hero wearing a green tunic would NOT be the same as a Mario with boobs.

I'm sorry, but I'd LIKE to play as a girl for once. And no, not a stupid Lara Croft-esc bimbo, but a perfectly standard cute young girl with a sword and shield and scruffy hair.

I'm well aware Link is technically a different person in every game. Not that I pay attention to storyline. Unless otherwise indicated, like Majora's Mask, I treat every game as if it's independent from the others. For sanity's sake. But I do feel it's somewhat 'like that.' Despite being a different person, his image has remained a solid part of the franchise throughout the years, even with minor changes such as hair color. So yeah. I'd say he most assuredly is the Mario/Sonic for the series. He's the game's poster boy. Which is why I think it would be awkward to give your hero booblies. Obviously not for you, but I'm sure for plenty others. I'd say have a gender selection screen, but then it would feel more like an RPG.

Which does not mean I'm sexist against my own peoplez, no. Nor does it mean anyone else here is sexist if they don't want Link to be a woman. At all. So perhaps we should stop with such accusations.

I just think Zelda would be a much better and more logical alternative to giving Link a sex change operation or bringing in a slightly different new female hero. Her presence is well established and people who've played the games are very familiar with her, which would make it more comfortable to play. She's also, in many cases, an underdeveloped character as well, as she's usually absent for the entire game except in certain short bits at the beginning and end. Very enigmatic in that sense and I, for one, would be very interested in seeing a deeper side to her. And, as she's already made her rounds in Smash Bros. in both her Zelda and Sheik forms, many Nintendo gamers are already comfortable being in control of her character. And proves that she's more than capable of holding her own in a fight.

*shrug*

[Koroks Rock]

Ok, I've read all the posts and pondered for a bit. This is not a gut reaction, it is what my brain is capable of forming over a single good meal.

I wouldn't like it.

Playing as Zelda, that'd be cool. I'd prefer if she had a sub-story of her own, not little "episodes" or something. So you choose what you want when you boot up the game, before loading a save file. It'd simplify things for the developers and keep gamers from accidentally screwing things over by being neglectful during link "episodes".

The biggest reason I don't like the idea of playing as a female Link is because I believe there is an element of reincarnation to Link. A part of the hero of time gets passed down through the ages, and that's what makes Link the Hero with a capital H. And honestly, having the cumulative soul of a long line of males seems like a traumatic experience for any woman. I wouldn't want my twisted personality bleeding into the fairer sex. It'd give her issues.

Then there's the newcomer thing. As if explaining what Link is isn't hard enough. I'll leave that there.

Then there's my own sense of manhood which is rooted in Link. I'm not a terribly effeminate guy, but I'm not a bodybuilder either. Growing up, it was pretty cool to see a curve-faced guy with a girly scream act as the hero. If Link got turned into a woman, that sense of manhood despite feminine characteristics would be taken away from me. It's totally playing as Samus, because she's not an effeminate guy, she's a woman, so she just makes me feel less manly. (this paragraph is poorly worded, I'm sorry).

So, in summation, it would hurt the newcomers, it would hurt the old timers, and it'd hurt the series. Gender is important, political correctness be d*mned, and it is not something that should be played with idly. A female Link would not be Link at all, she has the right to be her own character, and saying that Link's gender is unimportant is arrogantly dismissive of all the things which are meaningful in the genders.

[Duke Serkol]

Wow... this last post seems crafted specifically with the intent of generating flames (not saying that it is, but it certainly looks it)

[Kwicky Koala]

Personally I think playing as Zelda for an entire game would be much more radical than a female Link, and I'd find that much more worrying, and likely to change the gameplay and Legend of Zelda formula. A female Link I have no trouble with, because in theory it doesn't change anything: Link has so little personality and character built into him that a female version would be almost identical. To prove this just look at what Link does in the games, ie nothing that couldn't be done by a female. The only difference I can see would be that the female friends Link sometimes has (Saria, Ilia, etc) would be male, but I don't think Zelda need be changed to a boy.

[Wolf O'Donnell]

Frankly, I don't see how choosing a gender would make the game more like an RPG and how that would be a bad thing. It's only one aspect of the RPG thing, not an entire barrage of it. Although giving the game a few more RPG elements would breathe some life into the dead formula.

[Alardonin]

It wouldn't bother me at all. I think there is no general rule in the series saying that the Hero should not be a female... I think...?

Anyway, concerning a female villain, Veran was not such a bad example. Still, why not give Ganon a ride in a female body, I mean he was able to do it in TP... Yes I actually mean it, why not? If the idea is done correctly, it could be good. Not to mention Ganon could turn out to be a rather hawt character XD.

[SL the Pyro]

Umm...Samurai are Japanese, not Chinese.

Dammit! XD [/lack of georaphic knowledge]

The only difference I can see would be that the female friends Link sometimes has (Saria, Ilia, etc) would be male, but I don't think Zelda need be changed to a boy.

Err... no. I can't say I'd ever be able to picture characters like Saria and Ilia being male. I think they're fine as they are.

[Kwicky Koala]

I don't mean literally those characters, I just mean that in the interests of having a equal balance between the genders, they might change it so there are male characters to balance the female Link. And also so people will be able to 'ship', whatever that means.

[CID Farwin]

1. Female Link is no-no.
2. I am not sexist. Metroid is awesome!

Personally, I think some sort of game set-up like MegaManX4 would be awesome, where you choose between Zelda or Link at the start, and to get the whole story you have to beat both paths.

Anyway, am I the only one who thinks that the idea of Zelda dressing up as Link and fighting Ganondorf would make a really good TWW-backstory game?

In short:
Girl hero: yes
Girl Link: NO!

Personally I think playing as Zelda for an entire game would be much more radical than a female Link, and I'd find that much more worrying, and likely to change the gameplay and Legend of Zelda formula.

WHY?

[Duke Serkol]

'cuz she's a princess. Fairytale Princesses don't usually go past the basics of fencing in the way of the sword. Heck, typically in fairytales princesses are already doing out of shift hours if they assist the hero.

So in your own words:

Girl heroine: yes.
Princess heroine: nay.

However, if we really wanted to break the unwritten rule of the damsel in distress, I could take a liking to playing with a very different character, one whose fighting style is that of avoiding confrontations when possible but that could deal with a few, having a limited supply of magic spells (or should I say, several spells and a limited magic bar to use them), and whose purpose is not to defeat the boss and acquire the item but investigate and acquire lost loreto pass on the hero.
There that could be a nice way to have a princess playable in a Zelda game.

[Chaltab]

Like I said in the other thread, a girl Hero could work with the right justification.

IE, If Ganon is expecting a young boy to be the hero, he could be killing them off. This new Link is spared because she's a girl, but she's still the Hero(ine) chosen by the goddesses.

No stupidly-shoehorned feminist propaganda, though. That's not what Zelda is about, and as we've seen in all the previous Zelda games, there's nothing to indicate Hyrule is sexist.

The name 'Link' doesn't matter. The character is called whatever the player names her, and Link isn't a name with gender conotations other than those established in the Zelda franchise by the fact that every Link--so far--has been male.

[Masamune]

It's pretty hilarious that the only character alteration to make Link a chick is to give him boobs.