11 replies to this topic

[Average Gamer]

As most of us know, the Dark World in ALttP made people transform into reflections of their hearts.

Wheee! Roll roll...
Hm, you turned into a rabbit, I see...
That's right, this world and the world where we live have very similar geography, but they're a weeee bit different.
On top of that, while they're lost here, people change into a form that reflects their heart.
I change my mind a lot, so I became like a ball...
But, if you have a sphere called the Moon Pearl, I hear you can return to your original form... roll roll roll

The Triforce appears to have ultimately been behind the changes.

I found the Moon Pearl!
It protects the Hero from the Golden Power that the evil one uses, and won't let his form change.

At first I thought that incidents like Link turing into a rabbit were just the luck of the draw. However, in TP, the form that seems to reflect Link's heart/nature is that of a wolf. Both ALttP and TP Link are caring, kind-hearted individuals who fight for the forces of good, and there is next to nothing that explains why one became a rabbit while another became a wolf. On closer observation, I found that other good people in the Dark World, such as the Flute Kid, mainly wound up with limiting forms as well. In contrast, wicked people apparently gained power in their altered states, the most notable example being Blind, who seemingly went from an ordinary thief to a powerful demon and dungeon boss in ALttP.

With this in mind, could the change produced by the Dark World be something intentionally put in place by Ganon to strengthen people who might potentially serve him while weakening those who might oppose him? Are the reflected forms seen in ALttP genuine, or is Ganon trying to ensure that, for example, ALttP Link can't become a wolf and have a way to fight back?

[Hana-Nezumi]

ALttP and TP Link are different people. They're both kind-hearted and heroic, but maybe ALttP Link has a more gentle heart, making him more like a bunny. The reason the 'good' people tend to turn into weaker creatures, is because kindness and sensitivity is generally associated with fuzzy harmless things.

[Average Gamer]

While it's true that ALttP and TP Link are different people, both Links are remarkably similar to the point where almost nothing exists to explain the drastically different transformations. While you raised a good point about what kindness is generally associated with, ALttP Link apparently had no problem killing the brainwashed soldiers of Hyrule, which arguably makes him less gentle than TP Link. The Flute Kid's Dark World form also appears to have been killing him, which further calls into question the nature of the reflected forms.

[SOAP]

Before MPS says anything, it could also be because Dark World and the Twilight Realm aren't neccessarily the same dimensions. Sentient beings just turn into balls of light in the Twilight Realm not animals or demonic creatures like they do in the Dark World.

What I want to know is why no one transforms in FSA's dark world since I'm not entirely convinced it's a different one from ALttP's.

[MikePetersSucks]

What everyone else said. They're two different people, they're not the same plane, etc. Also, TP Link being a "blue eyed wolf" was part of Twili prophecy, so like, it might not have anything to do with his heart's form to begin with.

As for why no one changes in FSA's Dark World, and assuming it's the same as the Sacred Realm (but there's no certainty this is the case), then it's because FSA Ganon doesn't own the Triforce. The transformative properties of the Dark World were part of Ganon's wish, and if his wish isn't in effect, the Dark World doesn't really exist.

[ganonlord6000]

And in the Twilight Realm, you only transform if you have a triforce piece. ALTTP DW transformations do seem a little strange since you guys have mentioned all of this. It probably was put into effect when Ganon touched the triforce since in the original origins story for ALTTP Ganon, he was transformed after his wish was made. Now that I think about it, it probably was an effect of Ganon's control since he had control over the DW until he was killed. Or, it could be chalked up to the fact that ALTTP was made at a time when the Zelda mythos weren't very clear yet and I doubt the SNES could have handled accurate DW transformations based on the nature of the people. Link might have been a wolf in the DW in ALTTP if ALTTP was made today. Still a good topic, though. I always try to welcome new theories on LA. I'm thinking of adding one about Ganon later.

[Average Gamer]

In case anyone was confused by my original post, I wasn't saying that ALttP Link would have turned into a wolf like TP Link. I was just wondering if he might have gained a form more suitable for combat.

What everyone else said. They're two different people, they're not the same plane, etc. Also, TP Link being a "blue eyed wolf" was part of Twili prophecy, so like, it might not have anything to do with his heart's form to begin with.

True, but while the wolf transformation did tie into the Twili prophecy, other characters remark that Link has the eyes of a beast, suggesting that the form is some sort of reflection of his heart.

Going back to ALttP, does anyone have any ideas as to why the Flute Kid's reflected form was apparently killing him? It hardly seems like a viable reflection if it made his life fade away. Also, drawing back to what Hana-Nezumi said, while the reflected forms of Link and the ball on Death Mountain were cute and whimsical, the Flute Kid and the lost swordsmith were in limiting forms that were in no way cute.

Edited by Average Gamer, 18 October 2010 - 09:21 PM.

[MikePetersSucks]

Because their hearts weren't cute, I guess. Does anyone have a screencap of the Flute Kid's sprite, or anything? I don't remember it, but once I see it I'm sure I can bullshit up something.

[Snow]

Because their hearts weren't cute, I guess. Does anyone have a screencap of the Flute Kid's sprite, or anything? I don't remember it, but once I see it I'm sure I can bullshit up something.

Here's his original sprite:



And this is what he turns into in the Dark World:



And finally, the tree stump he turns into when Link plays the flute for him:

[MikePetersSucks]

Um...dude was a tree-hugger, so...that.

[SOAP]

I still think AG is on to something about the transformations having something to do with strengthening Ganon's potential allies while limiting those who would be against him. It ties in with Ganon's wish to rule the world with the Triforce altering anyone who wandered into his domain, including Link.

[MikePetersSucks]

Yea, probably. It might not be an intentional thing, though, like "hahaha, fuck you, you're a rabbit." It probably reflects the "world of Ganon's heart" where in he subconsciously, sincerely believes that "good = weak" and such.