Poll: Should Link be female in the next Lengend Of Zelda

[josemlopes]

Link is no hunk seducing the ladies. But be courageous, loyal and adventurous, a role would fit just as well for a girl.

One thing I can't stand is the ongoing hypocrisy of:

"It doesn't matter what sex the protagonist is"

yet

"Oh but it can't be hanged from the way it is".

Which is trying to have it both ways when it suits you. Any argument for going AGAINST the pointless trend of Link arbitrarily being male with a gender-blindness attitude. Then any deviation from the pointless trend is labelled "genderbending" and "doesnt seem to be the right way to do it".

So it simultaneously doesn't matter if Link is a guy or a girl, but does matter if he wasn't a guy.

Make a game with Zelda then, all this bullshit is retarded, you rather push a female character that already exists to the side to then make a character that has always been represented as a white boy a female just for the sake of turning a male character into a female.

The change is pointless as fuck and just shows that apparently a good character has to have been a male character at some point if you prefer to ditch Zelda as a protagonist. Why not having the girl saving the boy? As in Zelda saving Link.

You should mentally add boobs to all male characters because that is all that you are doing with Link here, you want him to be female just because apparently there cant be good female characters that were created with the intention of being female in the first place. Either create a new character or use a already existing female one as protagonist.

Also Link's visual never changed through out the games so even though its multiple Links its already very well established that they all look the same.

 

[JudgeGame]

There is absolutely no good reason the roles of Link and Zelda can't be interchangeable. If you play Zelda, you have to rescue Prince Link and so on. Let's face it, it's not as if the dialogue in the games is so complex it would make any difference.

Even better would be if you could customize both characters completely. Two guys? Hey presto. A girl and a goron prince? Got you covered.

In the mean time, I would really like to play as Zelda.

 

[danon]

Just to clarify my position on this matter. I don't really care about links gender it's the changing of gender i don't necessarily approve of. It would have been equally weird for me if link was female and changed to a guy. I usually don't like when they change protagonists because of some outside of the game reason.

 

[Torrasque]

No. That is one character that should stay male until the end of time.
Zelda already has the female presence needed for the games, so changing Link into a girl would be pointless. There is absolutely nothing of value that can be had by having Link as a girl. If Link was turned into a girl, would Zelda become a boy? Would Ganon become a girl?

I can understand characters in RPGs being male OR female, especially if the game's character is a standalone, but for games with a history like LoZ, changing him to a girl suddenly breaks continuity and creates a whole mess of problems.

I have no problem with female Link cosplay, but female Link in games? Nope.

 

[itsthesheppy]

This poll really needed a "It doesn't matter one way or the other" option.

 

[Treblaine]

Link is no hunk seducing the ladies. But be courageous, loyal and adventurous, a role would fit just as well for a girl.

One thing I can't stand is the ongoing hypocrisy of:

"It doesn't matter what sex the protagonist is"

yet

"Oh but it can't be hanged from the way it is".

Which is trying to have it both ways when it suits you. Any argument for going AGAINST the pointless trend of Link arbitrarily being male with a gender-blindness attitude. Then any deviation from the pointless trend is labelled "genderbending" and "doesnt seem to be the right way to do it".

So it simultaneously doesn't matter if Link is a guy or a girl, but does matter if he wasn't a guy.

Make a game with Zelda then, all this bullshit is retarded, you rather push a female character that already exists to the side to then make a character that has always been represented as a white boy a female just for the sake of turning a male character into a female.

The change is pointless as fuck and just shows that apparently a good character has to have been a male character at some point if you prefer to ditch Zelda as a protagonist. Why not having the girl saving the boy? As in Zelda saving Link.

You should mentally add boobs to all male characters because that is all that you are doing with Link here, you want him to be female just because apparently there cant be good female characters that were created with the intention of being female in the first place. Either create a new character or use a already existing female one as protagonist.

Also Link's visual never changed through out the games so even though its multiple Links its already very well established that they all look the same.

"just for the sake of turning a male character into a female."

You know that isn't true. I have explained this to you only you are acting as if this is "Just for the sake of it".

No, I made very clear that this is delivering on ALREADY ESTABLISHED lore that anyone can rise to be saviour of Hyrule regardless of their birth, even if they are born female.

That is what you are totally ignoring about my argument, the humble-birth, that any Hylian born could be "the Hero of Time reborn".

"You should mentally add boobs to all male characters"

Now you are being extremist. If I suggest we one character who could be female because the themes, lore and narrative derive that... that doesn't mean I want all the characters of Zelda to be female.

"Also Link's visual never changed through out the games"

His hair colour and eye colour have changes as much as you could expect in the rather homogeneous Hylian people.

Brown hair with dark eyes:

Blond hair with bright (blue) eyes:

 

[bastardofmelbourne]

That is another thing, why is this "More female protagonists" thing such a hot topic? The gender of the character is so fucking meaningless to the game that I really dont understand why should anyone be bothered with it. Yeah, there could be a bit more balancing and all but going after already popular characters and due a genderbender really doesnt seem to be the right way to do it. Why not just use already popular female characters or create new ones?

It's a hot topic because the game industry has always had a problem with using female protagonists in their games. Games with lady protagonists routinely receive less marketing and development funding than games with male protagonists, on the basis that they won't be as profitable. There is an entrenched (and mistaken) impression that all gamers are white males, and that all games need to cater to their whiteness or maleness respectively or else they won't shift copies.

It's only recently that we've received widespread media exposure of this issue. An optimist would say it's because the role of women in the industry has hit a crisis point where they're significant enough to speak out but too marginalised to make serious change, but the pessimist in me says that it's because news sites like the Escapist have realised this past year that articles reporting on gender issues bring in massive site traffic because it's such a contentious issue.

While it's a serious problem, you're correct that the solution shouldn't be to gender-bend established characters. That's stupid and tacky. What needs to happen is that the movers in the gaming industry (the publishers and their fat, fat wallets) need to push some funding towards good games with female protagonists, and then the consumers need to buy those games to show them that, yes, we're all adults, and the gender of the protagonist doesn't matter nearly as much as the quality of the game.

Because right now, those movers in the industry consider it safer to make a shitty game with a male protagonist than to make a good game with a female protagonist. That's because they think we're children, and to be fair, we frequently give them reason to think so.

 

[The Heik]

I think there should there is nothing Over all masculine link and the green tunic is pretty much gender neutral. also I posting because of moviebob the game overthinker

Um, why?

I don't really see the point in swapping the character's gender around if its going to be the same character anyways. I feel like all it's doing is just pandering to the "gender-bender" fetish.

Besides, there are a few cases where changing a character's gender would destroy the whole narrative dynamic of the game. Samus Aran in particular would go from one of gaming's greatest female characters to just another generic Space Marine if the developers stapled a penis onto her.

SO again I ask, why?

 

[JimB]

Make Link a female. What is going to change? Nothing. Link will still be going through temples solving puzzles and making sounds that aren't words. Link is an empty husk rather than a fully fleshed character. Making Link female would be a cosmetic change and thus not really make the game any different. It won't make the game feel new or interesting. That's why I would prefer Zelda being the protagonist over a female Link.

You're never going to answer my question about why a female character needs to be justified but a male one doesn't, are you?

Now I'm not sure if I am being polite enough for you, but after you have accused me of prejudice and bigotry and twisting my words into saying that a female Link would be less capable (when saying it would change NOTHING) this is the best I can do.

No, you've been polite enough for my standards. Let the record reflect that I feel you've been perfectly justified in the tones you've adopted. I haven't been annoyed at you because I thought you were being rude; I've been annoyed at you because I dislike the tactics you've been using.

That is canon, which means in all games it must be so.

...Are you being ironic here? I honestly can't tell.

Nope, entirely serious.

Of the dozen or so definitions of the word "canon" that I am aware of, the one that best fits your assertion, and the one I assume you're using, goes something like, "the body of law and convention in a work of fiction." And that's what's troubling me here, because I don't get how it applies. Where is this law that says any character named Link must be male? Whose law is that? Are you proceeding from the assumption that every game has the same character instead of a spiritual successor to the original? I mean, it's demonstrable fact that at least two of the characters--the ones from a Link to the Past and Wind Waker--are not and cannot be the Hero of Time, but instead are heirs to his legacy. So why is it that only men can inherit the Triforce of Courage? Who made that rule, and when, and for god's sake why?

I dunno, maybe I'm wrong about the definition of the word you're using.

 

[go-10]

Link = bearer of the tri-force of courage. In each title he becomes the "hero" of something (it's not always time as many seem to believe) As a character Link is always the same, a kid (10-13 years old) or a young adult (17-18 years old). Link is defined by being courageous against all adversities and above all helping the people of Hyrule, most of the times by aiding the princess of Hyrule, Zelda.

so it doesn't really matter if Link is male or female as long as the characters fits the established canon of what the hero is and he/she bears the tri force of courage. Zelda will ALWAYS carry the tri force of wisdom and be a "princess" (FEMALE) of sorts while Ganon will ALWAYS be the KING (MALE) of evil,thieves,darkness,etc.

So established by canon (I hate that word)
Zelda will always carry tri force of wisdom and be a girl,
Ganon will always be male and carry tri force of power,
meanwhile LINK can be either because for him/her what's important is that he/she bears the tri force of courage

 

[blackdwarf]

I would love a game where we play as Zelda. That character is already established and has already showed being capable in adventure.

A female Link? Please not. That would be like changing Samus in a man. Sure, it actually doesn't matter for the story, with some little changes here and there, but you would destroy the image the character had and just show how meaningless the character is for the game. And it would really feel forced, like some attempt to improve the image. You can do that, by using Zelda. By using her you really could make a cool female protagonist without changing fundamental stuff of the world we know and love.

 

[corneth]

There's kind of already a major female character, why don't they just make a game about her?

 

[Yopaz]

Make Link a female. What is going to change? Nothing. Link will still be going through temples solving puzzles and making sounds that aren't words. Link is an empty husk rather than a fully fleshed character. Making Link female would be a cosmetic change and thus not really make the game any different. It won't make the game feel new or interesting. That's why I would prefer Zelda being the protagonist over a female Link.

You're never going to answer my question about why a female character needs to be justified but a male one doesn't, are you?

Having a female protagonist, no problem. Exchanging a male protagonist for a female one needs a reason. I wouldn't want Samus to become a male character for no reason. Established characters can be changed if the change actually lead somewhere. That's my only reason. That's why I would rather have Zelda than female Link.

If the protagonist of a Zelda game being female would would actually change more than just the appearance of the character then I wouldn't mind it at all. I know this might not seem like a good reason and honestly honestly if they announce a Zelda game with a female Link tomorrow I wont react any differently than if they announce Link being male.

Also one last thing I realize that I haven't been clear about and I have only made it worse with every post. I'm not trying to say I would hate a female Link, I'm just trying to say I wouldn't want it because I have no reason to want it.

My reason isn't a big one, it's a matter of indifference and it might seem petty. I apologize for not being clear about that.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Nope. Link is male. That's been established quite clearly many times. Now, you could make a Zelda game starring someone other than Link, and that might be a very interesting direction to take the series. Perhaps the game starts off with Link going to save the day, but then he's injured and his little cousin has to take his place. But maybe she's too small to lift the sword, so she has to rely on different skills in order to progress.

It could also of course star Zelda herself, which would also be a fun thing to experiment with.

 

[JimB]

Having a female protagonist, no problem. Exchanging a male protagonist for a female one needs a reason.

And that's fair enough, as far as it goes, but how is it an exchange in a game that hasn't happened yet? Like, if Steven King put out a new book that wasn't set in Maine, I wouldn't get to complain about it exchanging settings because when did anyone ever promise Maine was the setting?

I apologize for not being clear about that.

And for my part, I haven't, well, I haven't exactly been on my best behavior. Sorry about that, and thanks for being the bigger man on this.

 

[Grahav]

]I'd actually liked to see a Zelda game with Zelda as the main character. She has proven herself to be a capable fighter in several of the games, at least more so than someone like Princess Peach. Instead of items she could gain different spells to get around dungeons and solve puzzles. Just as Link has to face several trials to prove that he's a true hero, She should also be facing several trials to prove herself as well, or perhaps a more traditional setting where Link's the one in trouble and Zelda has to save him instead. I think this would be more of a breath of fresh air than just simply genderbending Link.

So a Zelda game that is a Zelda game.

 

[HyenaThePirate]

Sure let's do it. But let's do it full bore, make sure we please everyone. So let's make Link a BLACK WOMAN and we'll make Samus a Venezuelan gay male. I mean, why stop at just one thing?

 

[IamLEAM1983]

In theory, it seems like a plausible concept. In practice, OP, you forget that gamers are attached to their babies. For every open-minded gamer out there, you'll have a handful going "NO DON'T YOU GENDER-BEND MY LINK, YOU FEMINIST ASSHOLE!"

Not that this is to be equated to Feminism, but this is just one of the more likely and stupid retorts you'd see out of the community. Gender-bend fics are fine, gender-bend fan art is fine - but the devs tweaking Link's bits? Oy. The outcry, my friends...

Remember Super Mario 64? Most of us loved it to bits. I still remember a few harder-than-hardcore idiots pulling a "TRUKK NOT MUNKY!" and holding that Mario was more or less required by law to remain silent.

Or, say; try and imagine Gordon Freeman or Chell speaking. Imagine how that would be received.

 

[Treblaine]

Nope. Link is male. That's been established quite clearly many times. Now, you could make a Zelda game starring someone other than Link, and that might be a very interesting direction to take the series. Perhaps the game starts off with Link going to save the day, but then he's injured and his little cousin has to take his place. But maybe she's too small to lift the sword, so she has to rely on different skills in order to progress.

It could also of course star Zelda herself, which would also be a fun thing to experiment with.

Nope. Link isn't one person. That's been established quite clearly many times.

But it's good to know the opinion of people who hardly played any of the Zelda series on what is suitable for the Zelda series. Of course it's and opinion that is not going to be taken at all seriously, but it's kinda cute to see how out of touch people are with something yet care so much about it how it should be.

"But maybe she's too small to lift the sword"

Of the various heroes to go by the name Link in quests to save Hyrule, many were young a 9 years old when they took up a sword and shield. Don't give me "ooh, weak woman can't fight with a sword" if a freaking 9 year old boy is up to the task then a fully mature woman certainly is.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Nope. Link is male. That's been established quite clearly many times. Now, you could make a Zelda game starring someone other than Link, and that might be a very interesting direction to take the series. Perhaps the game starts off with Link going to save the day, but then he's injured and his little cousin has to take his place. But maybe she's too small to lift the sword, so she has to rely on different skills in order to progress.

It could also of course star Zelda herself, which would also be a fun thing to experiment with.

Nope. Link isn't one person. That's been established quite clearly many times.

But it's good to know the opinion of people who hardly played any of the Zelda series on what is suitable for the Zelda series. Of course it's and opinion that is not going to be taken at all seriously, but it's kinda cute to see how out of touch people are with something yet care so much about it how it should be.

"But maybe she's too small to lift the sword"

Of the various heroes to go by the name Link in quests to save Hyrule, many were young a 9 years old when they took up a sword and shield. Don't give me "ooh, weak woman can't fight with a sword" if a freaking 9 year old boy is up to the task then a fully mature woman certainly is.

No, Link isn't one person but he is, consistently, male. I really have no idea why you're being so hostile towards me, suggesting that I haven't played the games (you really don't get to be Editor in Chief of a gaming site without playing Zelda), or that I'm suggesting she can't lift the sword because she's female. My thinking was that she was a child (as words like "little" and "small" imply). You're making a great many assumptions about my intent that are simply unfounded.