Poll: Female Link in the next Zelda game - Your thoughts?

[Bellvedere]

Yeah! I'd totally dig a fem-Link.

Not really a fan of the Link being a girl idea simply because the whole concept is much better as these 3 specific individuals constantly reincarnating as legendary heroes and villains reborn. Same people cursed to dance the same dance over and over and over with the context of their eternal conflict always shifting due to the ever-evolving world they're always reborn in.
I'd much rather have THEM be the same, and their circumstances be what does the dramatic shifting.

Heh, while I agree with your premise (3 individuals, etc.) I feel opposite. Their roles/circumstances (the hero/support/villain aspect anyway) seem more central to me than their genders. Like if the roles were reversed it'd seem Zelda and Link were Zelda and Link (respectively) in name only.

That being said though...

Have Zelda travel through time meeting and working with all the different Link's from the past in a quest to fix time.

Neat idea! It'd be would be really cool to explore the timeline like that in game.

 

[Maxtro]

Why is there the nonsense of having a female link constantly being talked about?

The Legend of Zelda series already had a female character that can be the main character and go on an adventure. Her fucking name is Zelda.

 

[VoidWanderer]

I think it is more likely Nintendo will make a game with a female Link, than Pokémon Snap 2.

 

[Cruickshank]

all they need to do is slightly edit facial features, hip and bust size and really, link looks rather androgynous as it is.
that being said though, i would rather character customisation, however limited it might be to keep it fitting with the theme of the game.
they plan to make the next zelda game open world so not being able to customise your character doesnt really sit well, open world lets you play the game the way you wish, why not be able to customise your character?

tl; dr you want to give the players choice about the story, why not give them choice of appearance as well?

 

[Yopaz]

I wouldn't not play it if Link was female, simply because I can't bring myself to care. Also what would be the point of having a female link? Nothing would change. We wouldn't have a strong female character as the protagonist of a game. We would have a dummy with boobs rather than a dummy without. A slightly more feminine Link is all we would see. It just seems kinda redundant.

What about a game playing as Zelda or Sheik? Or any game playing one of the female Zelda characters? Playing as Zelda could actually change the gamplay to a significant degree. Have it centered around Zelda using magic, transforming into Sheik and using the ninja skills when things call for that.

I just feel that making Link a female would just be an empty gesture meaning nothing, changing nothing. It wouldn't stop me playing, but that's because I don't care either way. Make Link female, make Link male, make Link gay, transgendered, as long as he's an empty husk of a character neither of these changes mean anything. If we were to be satisfied with this we don't aim highly enough.

I assume you're saying this as a male even when there are thousands of females who have been talking about how much it would mean to them to see a female link...

Empty gesture to you, but meaningful to many many more people.

And it works with the lore (not that that is even a good excuse) so there's literally no reason not to.

Yes, I am a guy talking about this. However I am a guy who care deeply about gender equality so thanks a lot for judging me without knowing me. Yes, I know a lot of people, men and women, care about Link's gender and would like to see him as a female. I just don't see how that would be a victory for feminism. We want to see a strong female character lead in a successful game and to see the industry shift their focus, but would a female Link really be a step in the right direction? If we made Gordon Freeman a woman nothing would change. If we were to change the character models in any Zelda game to make Link a female we would have the exact same game. That's why I call it an empty gesture, because it would take them almost no effort at all to take the already feminine Link and add a hint of breasts and just mak the same damn game. The reason people want this to happen isn't because it would be a meaningful gesture from Nintendo, it's because we have too low expectations. So let's say they annouced that Link would be female in the next Zelda game, well, I wouldn't care. Let's say they allowed us to play as Zelda, I would be really fucking thrilled.

However you can demand to get the bare minimum, I will keep demanding for adequate or good.

 

[likalaruku]

Female Link & actually-male Shiek sounds acceptable, & conventions have already made me used to it. Plus Adventure Time is heavily inspired by Zelda & Mario & they have rule 64 Fionna & Cake.

Zelda having to be the one to fight & rescue Link is an old wish not quite fulfilled by The Wand of Gamelon. What girl hasn't wanted to see Zelda or Peach in a game where they get to kick ass AND be the complete center of attention?

I think it is more likely Nintendo will make a game with a female Link, than Pokémon Snap 2.

But more or less likely than them caving in & making a Pokemon MMORPG?

 

[NoeL]

I'd totally play as a female Link, if only to look at dat ass (nah, even if she was totally not sexualised I'd rather play as a girl. Just a thing I guess). Also, a female young Link would be pretty damn adorable [http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/074/c/7/7d66018b1c2140d2f09d51174afad153_by_megasc0rpion-d5y5ece.jpg].

You know what I wouldn't really like? If they swapped out Link with Zelda. *raises shield*

Hear me out. Zelda is a smart cookie, she can wield a bow just fine, and Sheik looks like a ninja... but Zelda isn't a fighter, or an adventurer. She's royalty, and she has a job to do. She also has however many guards and soldiers to fight on her behalf. Unless it's a situation like OoT where her kingdom is completely destroyed and she's gone into hiding she needs to govern her people. She's much more powerful as an assist, using her spies to gather intelligence that could help out Link. I'd be cool playing a game where Zelda is the protagonist, but not if she just took up the role of the hero. Being a strong female character doesn't mean you have to be out fighting monsters with a sword.

 

[Nazulu]

As soon as I found out they just reincarnating all the characters I didn't care what they did with them. So yes, it can be done.

I'd rather play as Zelda for once since her name is in the title. And I'd especially prefer to play Ganondorf, but I don't how they would do that.

 

[Kaymish]

hell yes i am soooo sick and tired of having to play dude bros that... well i am just so tired of playing dude bro avatars a female link would be nice i like playing females anyway but it would still be great hell i may even look at getting the game just because of that and i have never played a Zelda game before

 

[MetalDooley]

Female Link..no.Just changing Link's gender wouldn't add anything to the game.I'd still play it but it would just strike me as pointless

Female other main character...yes definitely.Hell the series is called Legend of Zelda so why not make Zelda the main character.Or another female character like Impa or Midna.That to me would be much more significant than just gender swapping Link

 

[The Crispy Tiger]

Female Link..no.Just changing Link's gender wouldn't add anything to the game.I'd still play it but it would just strike me as pointless

Female other main character...yes definitely.Hell the series is called Legend of Zelda so why not make Zelda the main character.Or another female character like Impa or Midna.That to me would be much more significant than just gender swapping Link

Then why not? If it doesn't change anything, why does it matter if we change it?

 

[ERaptor]

I'm missing a "I dont care"-option.

To me, it simply does not matter, because Link is a blank slate. There is nothing gained or lsot from making him female. So I would not care either way, as long as the game is great.

Playing as Zelda on the other hand could be potentially really interesting. I allways wanted to play mixed gameplay of Magic with Zelda, and a bit more brawley when she runs around as Shiek.

 

[MetalDooley]

Female Link..no.Just changing Link's gender wouldn't add anything to the game.I'd still play it but it would just strike me as pointless

Female other main character...yes definitely.Hell the series is called Legend of Zelda so why not make Zelda the main character.Or another female character like Impa or Midna.That to me would be much more significant than just gender swapping Link

Then why not? If it doesn't change anything, why does it matter if we change it?

Because just gender swapping Link is a lazy way of having a female hero that wouldn't add anything to the game and would just seem like having a female for the sake of it kinda like if they turned Mario into Maria.Making Zelda the hero would be much more significant as she is the title character lest we forget and has always been portrayed as a victim.To make her the hero would be empowering in a way that gender swapping simply wouldn't

Or if not Zelda then an existing female character like Midna or Impa,characters that have previously been relegated to companion or minor npc roles.Giving one of them the leading role would be better.Even a brand new character would be a better option imo

I'm all for female heroes but I want good female heroes not just gender swaped ones

 

[Savagezion]

Because just gender swapping Link is a lazy way of having a female hero that wouldn't add anything to the game and would just seem like having a female for the sake of it kinda like if they turned Mario into Maria.

This is why I voted no. FemLink is lazy and half assed. Actually exploring Zelda's character or Impa or even creating a new female character to explore would be WAY better. Then they have to build a story around a woman instead of just plugging a woman into a story built around a guy.

 

[duwenbasden]

No, because Zelda is BEGGING to be played (rule-a-kingdom kind of way), and Link's voice is forever ingrained into my brain. Also, Unless the change will push the series forward, there is no reason to do so other than 'because female Link'.

- Male Link: will play
- Player-choice Link: will play
- Female Zelda: want want want want want want want want want want want want want want

- Female Link: FUCK. NO.

Same reason why I will never touch a game with male Samus. Look up the word "expectations".

 

[The Madman]

Sure, I don't see why not. It's not as if Link ever had any real personality to begin with and he's always been an effeminate mute, might as well go all the way and make him a her. I can't imagine that alone would change much aside from there being a feminine grunt when you swung the sword as opposed to a masculine one.

Heck I say take the idea even further, it would be neat to be off to rescue prince Zelda from Ganondorf...ina, the evil witch lady or somesuch. I mean if you're going to switch Link why not go all the way and make everything reversed? That'd be pretty entertaining to see, I'd give it a shot.

But then I also freely admit I'm not really invested in the Zelda franchise, so I can see how such drastic changes might turn away long-time fans. Still, I think it would be fun.

 

[Olas]

It's less of a "they should totally do that!" and more of a "ya sure, why not do it?".

It wouldn't change all that much, Link wouldn't even require a new outfit. The next logical question though is whether Princess Zelda would become Prince Zelda, which could actually be an interesting change.

Yes but only if it is justify, well not just a simple genderswap (like if the female Link will be named Zelda or something which also mean you now have to save Prince Link etc).

There is nothing in the lore that prevents a woman from being chosen as the new destined hero, but Zelda is the reincarnated avatar of the goddess Hylia and could probably not be born male.

I've had this discussion with someone before, maybe it was you, but not every Zelda is the reincarnation of Hylia, only the one in Skyward Sword was actually stated to be. Nor is it stated anywhere (that I'm aware of) that only female descendents can have the triforce of wisdom, and I have to assume the Hyrule royal family has had many princes as well as princesses.

 

[Olas]

I'm missing a "I dont care"-option.

To me, it simply does not matter, because Link is a blank slate. There is nothing gained or lsot from making him female. So I would not care either way, as long as the game is great.

Then why did you bother clicking on a thread about it, much less reply to the thread? The reason polls often don't have a "I don't care" option is that people who don't care aren't interesting or relevent to the topic.

 

[renegade7]

I don't see any reason to change it. Link's character has never been extremely important to the story, the only reason they don't just give you a character editor is to keep a sense of series continuity.

And besides, Nintendo already has a perfectly good female adventure hero, and it's a shame there was nothing about her at E3 this year :/

 

[ace_of_something]

I don't care either... just as long as he/she stays left handed.