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

[Yopaz]

No. It's not because I have issues with a female protagonist or that I see Link as a badass masculine man. It's because I don't see a point. Whenever someone asks me if I want a female protagonist or a gay protagonist my answer is always the same. If it's not relevant to the plot or necessary to make the game work I don't see a reason for it.

Now Link could be a lesbian girl and I wouldn't really give a fuck about it. However I would want those two things to actually be of any relevance or I would treat it as a matter of trying to cash in points for being diverse and tolerant. Seeing a game where you played as Zelda on the other hand would be different. That would take a different established character and put the game in a new light. Then it would be relevant because it would actually matter to the story. It wouldn't change Link, but it would change the game. Zelda can use various kinds of magic and

Spoiler

Can transform into Sheik

which could really make a difference to the gameplay style. Having Zelda as the lead character could possibly show us a talking protagonist.

 

[Beryl77]

I don't really like it when well established characters get changed. In most cases it just turns out pretty bad, unless there is a very good reason to do that. Besides, weren't some fans already pissed off when they found out that he is right handed in Skyward Sword? I doubt that such a big change would go easily.
However, a Legend of ZELDA game about ZELDA, yeah sure I don't see why not.

 

[felbot]

no that's stupid, and would probably make a controversy just for the sake of a controversy.

just use zelda, you already did it with mario.

 

[Glaciatedhands]

I don't see this as "progressive" but more of an interesting take on the previous Zelda formula. What if instead of beating the dungeon to save zelda because that's destiny or some junk, why not make Link a greedy person like Wario? The thing with the idea of the "Hero of time" can be variable rather than constant. Keep the general design of the green tunic and the blonde hair and go nuts with the other stuff.
If they kept the aesthetics close to the series feel of going on an epic quest, I don't see why not.

With that in mind, Wario for the next Link

 

[Nazulu]

I'm with the 'Zelda should have her own game' crowd, because why the hell not? It's supposed to be the legend of Zelda, yet it's Link going through all the trials and crap.

She could play more like a mage instead of you're basic warrior, or even a rouge in the Shiek disguise or something.

Also, you make a good point, the absolute outcry if Samus was made a man would be insane (and hilarious)

I didn't think it would matter any more after Other M.

 

[ninjaRiv]

I don't really see the point in making Link female. I don't know what it would accomplish, besides alienating the more sensitive fans. I'm not against, it though. I just don't see the need.

But I do agree that a Zelda game starring Zelda sounds awesome. That would accomplish something! We'd see some new character development, new story, etc.

 

[TheLastTatlFan]

Uh, isn't that like asking Duke Nukem or Master Chief to become female in the next game? Why take an established male character and genderbend them?

It's not really like the two above because it's the same Duke Nukem and Master Chief in every one of their games, while the Legend of Zelda jumps around the vaguely-medieval era every game starring the re-incarnations of Link and featuring a girl named Zelda in there at some point to justify the title.

It's not hard to imagine Link incarnating as a girl at least once, and doing a game about that would certainly be a way to mix things up.

 

[chinangel]

The Creator of Zelda said that Link HAS been female before, he reincarnates as male and female all the time. It would just be up to Nintendo to decide to 'document' one of these instances in game form.

 

[Techno Squidgy]

Although it's a nice idea, I do worry there'd be a backlash along the lines of 'THESE FEMINISTS RUINING OUR BELOVED GAMES FRANCHISE WOMEN BOOOOO.'

Anything that angers people who would say something like this is, as far as I'm concerned, a positive thing. Seriously, screw anyone who's so insecure about his place in the world that he sees a voiceless avatar's breasts as a personal threat. I can't be diplomatic about that one. Everything that makes the world seem more inhospitable to someone who freaks out over the idea of a chick wielding the Master Sword is something I would like to see come about.

I'm just going to quickly quote myself here:

I'm not 100% sold on the idea of a female Link, but that's not to say I think a game set in the Zelda universe with a female protagonist wouldn't be good. The Hero of Time IS Link in my opinion. That doesn't mean there can't be other heroes, or indeed heroines.

However, just because I say I'm not 100% confident about the idea, doesn't mean I'm not willing to give it a chance. In fact after some thought, I doubt I'd even notice the difference.

 

[Charli]

Steampunk legend of zelda first, then Zelda gets her own game.
Link is Link, sadly as interesting as it might be to some, his masculinity is still apart of his character.
It's the same part of me who sighs in despair when someone posts some 'Omg It's the same story but X is a girl!' fanfic where I can see it. 99% of the time the character won't be IN character because of gender and the author failing to disconnect themselves and their personal experiences from the characters. And while Link is supposed to be someone we project onto, voiceless and blank personality. I don't think we'd gain anything from Link being female.

...A game where you can choose to reverse the roles of Link and Zelda might be awesome?
Link is the prince of Hyrule and Zelda the unsuspecting commoner who gets pulled into things to become the hero. I'm down with that. Seems more inter-changeable while keeping the designs and characters able to be somewhat in their (very shallow) character.

 

[eternal-chaplain]

I am sure someone has mentioned it already, but if no one wants a female Link, why not just play as Zelda?

Though more to the point, the mythos of The Legend of Zelda has kind of gotten to the point where the writers can make up whatever they want, so I don't see there being an issue with a female Link 'clashing' with the established mythos.

Perhaps it could be like Lost Levels, and you can choose between male or female Link, and the female character has some kind of stat adjustment, like she moves faster, but takes slightly longer to level her shield?

 

[lord canti]

How about we just make Zelda the main character instead of Link. That I would like to see and they could possibly bring back another incarnation of Shiek.

 

[hazabaza1]

Why not let us play as Tetra?
Tetra was pretty fuckin' cool, y'know?

 

[Brad Shepard]

How about a great big Fuck No

 

[Uszi]

Link is so androgynous already that you basically just need to put boobs on him and that's it.

Interestingly, if you look up Link cosplay, it's like 99% female.

 

[PunkRex]

Guys, I think the argument being made here is that Links DESIGN is rather gender neutral and could be worked the other way around, it would basically just be Fionna and Cake with Zelda most likely becoming similar to Prince Gumball. Links design is iconic and gender swapping him wouldn't be that out landish not to mention the rebirth theme is perfect for 'teh fun timez'. Having one game where 'the one in green' is a girl would be fun, thats all, not progressive or anything serious, just abit different, hell i'd buy it.

Most of the games have different Links and Zeldas, when you play a Zelda game you play the roles which are sort of dictated by fate, their character traits aren't necessarily what matters... if that amkes sense, IM CONFUSING MYSELF!!!

I don't follow the Zelda timeline closely at all but I remember hearing that there are different Links in different LoZ games anyway so I don't see what the issue would be. Making Zelda the main character would likely take some alteration to how the game actually plays. Making Link female, however, wouldn't have to change anything at all.

This, basically this.

 

[JimB]

Quick disclaimer: Though I am quoting and responding to Yopaz here, he is not the first or only person I've seen express this view. He's just the most recent, so I'm using his post as a proxy for every post that has expressed this sentiment.

Good. Glad we got that out of the way. Now then:

Whenever someone asks me if I want a female protagonist or a gay protagonist my answer is always the same: If it's not relevant to the plot or necessary to make the game work I don't see a reason for it.

This sentiment disturbs me deeply. It bespeaks a level of prejudice (not necessarily bigotry; I'm limiting it to prejudice for now) that is frightening in its implications. What this is basically saying is, "Straight and male is the default. Anything that is not straight and male has to justify itself, but straight and male gets a free pass. No justification is necessary for straight and male. Straight and male is okay simply on the grounds that it is straight and male."

 

[gamerguy20097]

Don't you guys(escapist community) hate nintendo as much as E.A? Thats the kinda vibe I get so why ask a serious question about making a female version of Link for one of the games? I'd say no though as there are other areas of zelda that should be changed or messed around with first.

 

[General Vagueness]

What's a Lengend?

OT:Uh, isn't that like asking Duke Nukem or Master Chief to become female in the next game? Why take an established male character and genderbend them? Just have a new female protagonist (which every nintendork will go apeshit over) If you have to drink a temporary potion, then alright, but to play an entire game as a rule 63'd Link...nah.

I've only played a few Zelda games so maybe someone will correct me but I wouldn't compare Link to Duke Nukem or Master Chief, because even though they don't talk much and there's an element of cliché about them, they do have lines, and scripted lines at that. No, Link is an established character in basically the same way as Gordon Freeman-- they both have no dialog and a generally bare-bones backstory, and while Link acts out some things in the newer games, allowing Nintendo to give him some personality, his appearance has changed and continues to change more than most characters.

How about no:

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

I still wouldn't genderbend Link because someone would question why we haven't done it to Samus and then there would be a shit-ton of problems.

You know, until I started watching gaming stuff on TV and chatting about it on the Internet, I thought he was a guy-- I thought they spelled "Seamus" wrong or it was a different form of "Sam" and I thought the "swimsuit ending" was a joke.