Link is Too Cool For His Own Crappy Games

[The_Scrivener]

The gamefaqs character battle is on again which reminds me of how awesome I think Link is in a vacuum and how much of a tool he is in his own franchise now. It's sort of like when I see Edward Norton in a garbage movie.

Can someone defend this series? Is it like Pokemon where you don't feel like you're doing it right if you don't arbitrarily play all of them? Is it the nostalgic comfort of doing the same sorts of uninnovative sweep-the-dungeon chores you did when you were 10 or 12 years old?

Because I have to tell you, I wouldn't go through volcano/water/forest levels to get hookshot/boomerang if someone held a gun to my head at this point. Even the "left of center" ones are still the same damn game wearing a different dress.

So explain to me, why is Link the most celebrated video game character every time they do this tournament being that he's been in the same damn game 400 times? Do Zelda players actually play other games? Who the hell are these people? Where am I?

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Link, cool? He has a nice hat but he's pretty personality-less, I'd never call him anything, let alone cool.

 

[krazykidd]

Link, cool? He has a nice hat but he's pretty personality-less, I'd never call him anything, let alone cool.

This . I was wondering when link got his "cool" status . He's probably a nice guy . But i wouldn't go through all that shit for a princes . I think he's a sucker . Plus since he can turn into a wolf , he is the eauivalent of Jacob from Twilight.

 

[Nonomori]

Maybe it's because I can't hear your tone, but I don't know if you're trying to be closed-minded (what is opinions?!), or just dissing Nintendo fans for a laugh...

Even after all these years of gaming on PC, Playstation and Nintendo consoles, The Legend of Zelda is one of my favorite franchises. Shocking, right? I'm finally playing Skyward Sword and, so far, it's really good, funny and fun, and more beautiful that I could have hoped for a Wii game. A few days ago, my brother was watching me trying to catch butterflies with a bug net and laughing his ass off; it made me feel ten years younger. Well, I'm really digging the light RPG elements and Wii Motion Plus-based gameplay.

In my opinion, they are predictable, but high-quality games. Nevertheless, some people got tired of the formula or style, after all, after 16 games, that's not surprising.

Just one more thing...

Link isn't that cool, or even necessary. He's just a blank state or, in the best scenario, a cell-shaded cute blank state. I'm hoping (in vain) for another protagonist to spice things up on the next games.

 

[MysticSlayer]

Link isn't cool. He just happens to be the protagonist in a very popular franchise, just like Mario or Gordon Freeman, and that makes people love him. It isn't how they remember him, but the games he's in.

Not to mention, it should be obvious at this point that Nintendo has a way of re-releasing similar games without making them feel like you're just playing the same thing over and over again. Maybe it's because they spend a few years between releases (if you take handhelds and home consoles separately). Maybe it is the fact that they make their games well enough that you get lost in the experience, forgetting how many times you've already done that (akin to someone replaying an old favorite). Or perhaps it's because Nintendo makes their games mechanically similar (i.e. familiar), but offers their challenges in a new enough way that they still feel fresh (ex. Galaxy 1&2 were mechanically the same, but you'd have a hard time compiling a good argument for Galaxy 2 being the same as Galaxy 1). Personally, I think it's a combination of all three. Either way, The Legend of Zelda is no different.

 

[Saladfork]

Link has no personality. He's just a guy with a sword and eventually a bow, hookshot, boomerag, etc.

He doesn't even have a cool design. He just wears a green tunic and a silly hat. I really don't see what you're getting at.

 

[Able Seacat]

I too would like to jump on the 'Link is cool?' train.

Spoiler

Though WindWaker HD looks good.

 

[suntt123]

You realize that the bad guys are usually trying to destroy/conquer the kingdom/world too, right? It's the same as any protagonist saving the world/kingdom/hometown/whatever. This involves rescuing people along the way. The princess gets kidnapped, but usually it's one step in the evil dude's plan. He's not just doing this to get the girl.

 

[Fappy]

I mean... Shiek was cool. Link's always been... well, Link. He by no means makes his own franchise. I'm sure I'd love to play a game where you play Zelda or someone else instead.

 

[krazykidd]

I mean... Shiek was cool. Link's always been... well, Link. He by no means makes his own franchise. I'm sure I'd love to play a game where you play Zelda or someone else instead.

Doesn't peach have her own game on the DS? Not that i have played it . But i remember seeing the game many a times at gamestop .

 

[Fappy]

I mean... Shiek was cool. Link's always been... well, Link. He by no means makes his own franchise. I'm sure I'd love to play a game where you play Zelda or someone else instead.

Doesn't peach have her own game on the DS? Not that i have played it . But i remember seeing the game many a times at gamestop .

Yeah she does, but it looks pretty dumb IMO. I think a 3D Zelda title (Ocarina/Wind Waker/etc.) starring Zelda would be pretty fucking awesome. Or at the very least, a game where both Link and Zelda are playable.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Link is a silent protagonist who only does good because that's what other people expect of him. He's as cool as Gordon Freeman, Chell, Corvo, Artyom, the other Nintendo main characters, whatever else I forgot.

Legend of Zelda is really good because no one has yet to make a game (or an AAA game) that has done it better. Mario is lackluster because there are tons of platformers, Pokemon is sort of lackluster because there are many more JRPGs that do story and combat better on bigger platforms (but nothing beats the catching and taming of Pokemon, in my opinion), Metriod is, at its core, a space shooter with a focus on open worlds.

Not many games contest Zelda's status quo. Solid (but simple) combat, solid (but simple) puzzles in set, solid (but simple) dungeons, a gradually growing overworld that opens from progress, creative enemies, reliance on yourself and no back up party, a huge arsenal of tools that are drastically different from each other, and a solid (but simple) setting. Maybe Legend of Zelda isn't doing it the best, but few people are doing it better. (Dungeon crawlers don't count, Legend of Zelda is about set environments.)

And I just like the dungeon puzzles and exploring in Zelda. And the bow, I love bows.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

Are you kidding? Out of context Link is a girly looking elf boy in a skirt. The only thing that makes him cool in the first place is fact that he smashes dragon's skulls open with a hammer and can take down the lord of darkness in a 1 on 1 sword fight.

 

[Doom972]

WELL EXCUSE ME P- *Gets shot*

Probably nostalgic value. Also there's the appeal of the silent protagonist (he is silent in most of them, right?), which is caused by the player filling the blanks with his imagination. It could also just be the popularity of the franchise and not Link himself (though I would suspect Mario would have better chances if that was the case).

As for me, I never played a Zelda game for more than a few minutes, so I don't have much of a personal opinion on Link. I plan on giving Wind Waker a try and see if that one might make me see what's so great about it.

 

[McMarbles]

Link? Really?

Now, that Zelda is a cool guy, eh kills Octoroks and doesn't afraid of anything and I'm shiocked nobody made this joke yet.

 

[Hero of Lime]

I like Link(s) because he belong to a game series that's a lot of fun to play and get into?

I guess for me Link is literally gameplay the character, he's there for you to play the game and enjoy it, there's no need for a robust back story or motivation, he is told he's the only hope and he saves the day.

I would take into account his accomplishments and abilities, he doesn't share his emotions because you are allowed to give them to him. He stops the moon from falling, saves the princess, starts out with little power and few abilities and finishes with powerful swords, gadgets, and abilities. It's a rags to riches story that resonates with lots of people myself obviously included.

It's funny it's always nostalgia that must be the reason why people like long running franchises, I guess it can't be that they are just well made games or fun to play. Just as a friendly reminder, you may want to look up the word "opinion."

 

[kongajinken]

Got a point, games don't become nostalgia trips unless they are worthy of it, remember how many crappy games you played in the past? I do.