Protagonist Link: Past Connections, Current Associations, And Future Attachments

Production for The Legend Of Zelda first began in 1984, main influences being franchises such as Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien and the two Indiana Jones films out at the time. In addition to various other adventure-based movies of the 1980s, Shigeru Miyamoto pulled from his own childhood in Kyoto exploring caves and town outskirts. Wanting a video game experience based upon swords, sorcery, and treasure-hunting, the development team at Nintendo worked with great passion to create a game that released alongside the Famicom Disk System.

The hard work amounted to a video game experience that featured expansive exploration, a built world including lore, story, and high stakes, and sounds and characters that would prove to stand the test of time. Princess Zelda was named after the late Zelda Fitzgerald, a famous author, artist, and American socialite. She was also the wife of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of literary classics such as The Great Gatsby and This Side Of Paradise. Miyamoto chose the name of the famous flapper for his princess because of her beauty and because he liked how the name sounded (Hyrule Historia pg. 2).

Link, the protagonist who rescues her highness and would go on to do the same in multiple future Zelda games, was named quite differently. The green-clad protagonist was named Link during development due to the character being a literal “link” to the past and the present. Although the concept ended up unused for the 1986 title, and wouldn’t see the light of day until A Link To The Past in 1991, the name was kept. Miyamoto has also stated that the name Link alludes to the character bringing people together (Hyrule Historia pg. 2). The most relevant nomenclature to this article, however, is explained best in the following quote from Eiji Aonuma:

“When a player is playing a Zelda game, my desire is for the player to truly become Link — that’s why we named him Link, so the player is linked to the game and to the experience. Of course, the player can always change Link’s name to their own name to further that notion should they want. But if we did give him a voice, that would go against the whole notion of Link being you, because Link’s voice should really be your voice.”

In the article that follows, I will combine insights from the Zelda fandom* with my own observations in order to see how this notion has panned out over the past three decades, and from that, debate whether or not it’s time for Link to evolve into something more.

*Data was collected from Zelda Dungeon staff members and members of the Zelda community on Tumblr.com. All quotes are credited and responders knew they might be published. The data collected is admittedly subject to convenience bias, although I tried to reach as many people as I could.

Is The Role Of The Blank Slate Protagonist Too Valuable To Give Up?

Although Link has been slowly forming into a solidified character in the minds of fans and even in recent games, there is still some value to his stagnancy. Link is first and foremost a video game protagonist, and while Zelda fans commonly think of him as the protagonist of a fleshed-out story, it’s important to remember his current role. Ever since 1986, Zelda players have utilized Link to explore Hyrule, creating their own story and learning their own lessons. As mentioned before, this was the intent of the original developers.

Since Zelda games are individualized experiences, it’s easy to forget that an entire world of gamers have their own experiences, their own version of Link built up in their minds, and their own real-life struggles that were soothed by such an avenue of expression. Link being created to connect a player to such a fantasy-driven game indirectly inspires introspection and metacognition. As put by Zelda Dungeon Senior Editor Sean Gadus, “so much of Link’s adventures are about growing and coming into his own as a hero. We all go through life experiences that transform us for better or worse.” For Zelda Dungeon Social Media Team Member Damon Smith, Link being brave in the face of such a sprawling adventure has been a source of comfort and strength. Damon says that he felt his own quiet nature “was okay because Link was quiet”. Damon remarks at Link’s “silent demeanor and never showing fear when times got hard. He would smile and quietly push through everything, no matter what.”

Image Source: Hyrule Historia pg. 145

Some of the fandom talked specifically about how playing as Link got them through a difficult time in their lives. Fanfiction writer and artist LinktheAceHero details when talking about them and Link how “both of us were outcasts who just couldn’t seem to fit in with everyone else, and just wanted to have a place to belong” and eventually “made new friends and made their own family.” A Zelda cosplayer, who goes by DrSteggy, says she is “a recovering people pleaser with imposter syndrome.” “My first Zelda game was Breath of the Wild,” she continues. “In that game, you start with a heroic backstory that you don’t remember but other characters talk about, and wow, did that hit close to home. I came to that game at a point in my life where I was struggling a lot with who I was vs how other people perceived me/wanted me to be and playing (as well as therapy) helped me navigate to a healthier place.” Tumblr user Jikigo has a similar sentiment, sharing that “I have personally identified with the Ocarina of Time incarnation of Link as a lot of pressure was put on me when I was very young. I was shown the games at a very young age and used them as an escape from my not so great family life.” Heather Beard, Zelda Dungeon Senior Editor, heartwarmingly speaks of Link’s struggles in Skyward Sword, saying: “I would personally do anything to save the person that I care about most in the world.”

A couple responders even mentioned how Link’s appearance informs and reinforces their identity today. “In general, the Links look fairly androgynous,” says falling-camellias, “but Breath of the Wild specifically really awakened a sort of knowledge in me that I really wanted to look like him in terms of gender presentation.” That_G3_Obsessive also shared something similar: “I really identify with the gender-ambiguous or gender-neutral aspects of Link, like the Gerudo outfit in Breath of the Wild or Ocarina of Time Link wearing a mixture of gendered Kokiri clothes. As a nonbinary person it’s really nice to see a “Hero” (a traditionally very masculine role) being portrayed as so neutral.”

So there’s no use in denying the impact that Nintendo’s decision has had on fans for the past 30-odd years. There is great value in what Zelda games have offered in the past, and it’s more than arguable that it is too valuable for that to change. Growing Link’s character may very well distance him from the fandom in ways that makes him unrecognizable, even if Nintendo tries to approach it in the best way possible. Because there are so many versions of Link in our minds, and because they are all so fundamentally connected to us in personal ways, it is nearly impossible for a more fleshed-out Link to make every Zelda fan happy. Yet, since almost every Zelda game offers a new story, and a new incarnation of Link, the opportunity is, however, upon Nintendo. The next Link could always be introduced to us with set goals and traits, without ruining the conventions of prior Zelda games (which will still exist on their own).

Debating The Future Of The Blank-Slate Protagonist

Image Source: Creating a Champion, pg. 35

I can’t help but wonder if Link’s prior imprintability demand he stay the same, or if it demands that he gets more complicated. For instance, as a victim of selective mutism myself, I’ve looked to Link as someone who overcame his trauma. When he was a knight who pulled the Master Sword at 13, he became reserved and quiet, stoic so to keep his fears and doubt hidden from the public. As explained in Zelda’s journal, this is why he hid his emotions under a statue-like facade. I used to do the same thing when I was younger, so him beginning to open up and heal in Breath of the Wild after the shrine of resurrection was a source of heroism to me. Through dialogue options, it was obvious that he was talking to people, and even had an emerging sense of humor. For Link to digress from that in Breath of the Wild 2 would, in my opinion, betray the momentum. But that’s just my opinion.

Of the people I interviewed, 26.3 % thought it best for Link to stay a blank-slate protagonist like in past Zelda games. “It’s such a hallmark of the franchise,” says fan fiction writer webcomix. “I appreciate how they allow players to read between the lines instead of spoon-feeding.” Tumblr user Ollie agrees, thinking that “where Nintendo is at right now with their approach to Link is just right.” DrSteggy touches on another point in support of blank-slate Link: “Part of what tipped me over hard into the Zelda fandom was how relatable I found the character. I have never been a 17 year old boy. I am decades away from 17 myself and yet I found myself thinking that I was doing whatever it was the game asked of me instead of the player character. That blank slate means I am playing that game and making choices I might in a situation rather than watching someone else do it.”

The same percentage of people (26.3%) presented a qualifying statement, wanting Link to be a blank-slate protagonist but also wanting a little characterization to strike a balance. Fan fiction author Scarlet Curls cites Twilight Princess Link as having that perfect balance, as the game makes it clear “who is important to him and why, and they become important to you too”. Scarlet thinks it’s “a great idea to give Link a little characterization, but in order to keep him ‘blank enough’ for as many players as possible to still find him relatable, Nintendo needs Link to reflect whatever emotion that the game is trying to invoke in the player at all times.” Tumblr user Arkon-Z puts it simply, that Link “should be easy to project onto, but he should feel like a person.” This notion is repeated similarly by others, Zelda Dungeon Wiki Editor Ashtyn Dial liking Link’s quirks and expressions, Zelda Dungeon Editor George Cortez wanting a bit more “hesitation and regret” from Link, and Tumblr user that-one-loz-nerd interested in “Link’s opinion on his journey and perhaps how it affected him as a person.”

Image Source: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

However, 47.4% of responders want things to be taken a step further, saying that Link not only should feel like a person, but be a fleshed-out character as well. “It may have worked in some of the older games,” says That_G3_Obsessive, “but with Breath of the Wild especially, I think keeping Link as a blank slate is really limiting. When you bring in voice acting, seeing Link be perfectly silent and stoic gets very awkward very fast. My favorite moments of his character in Breath of the Wild come from the little dialogue options rather than the cutscenes!” Fan fiction writer ZeldaElmo agrees: “You could always choose sassy dialogue options and a lot of his personality shows in his sidequests. But I’m going big — with the recent development of giving all characters voices, Link should speak, too. It doesn’t have to be monologues like Zelda, but a word here and there would be better.”

Of course the notion of Link speaking has already been not only highly debated within the fandom, but severely mocked when considering the past foibles of the Zelda CD-i titles and The Legend of Zelda cartoon. The desire for Link to be expanded on, a desire I personally am interested in, is accompanied by the hope that it would be be done respectfully and in a far more fitting and truthful manner than past renditions of speaking Links. That hope, however, is still a risk because of Link’s wide variety of interpretations among fans. “I think Nintendo is ready for a more personality-driven game,” says Kittmoon. “They already took a huge leap with Breath of the Wild. I think it’s more a matter of if the fans are ready. There are many who enjoy his blankness, because it allows them to feel connected to the story on their own. But there is a whole other portion of the fandom that craves even the slightest emotional response. In Breath of the Wild, Nintendo gave Link a reason: in the past, the pressure he felt was enormous, and so he remained silent. But many, including myself, found that to be disappointing, because of the memory loss. Link looked and felt like the exact same person from 100 years ago. The same silence, the same reservedness, the same lack of emotional investment on his end. Link as a hero needs more depth, especially if, as has been speculated, Nintendo wants to begin telling a Zelda story that it separated from the timeline all-together.” Others agree, Sean Gadus stating that “if Link is a more defined character, then the game can do more with his/her/their story arc” and falling-camellias talking of how they would “love a game that allows him to be his own character.”

A Collective Yet Chaotic Interpretation, Or The Makings Of A Fleshed-Out Character?

Image Source: Hyrule Historia pg. 170

In response to the query pertaining to the prior section, Zelda Dungeon Senior Editor Charles Xavier said the following: “They have been pushing him like he is a character for years, and have really solidified that with Breath of the Wild having no option to name him something besides Link. He is not unique enough as is currently for that, so they really need to flesh him out.”

Although I started researching for this article thinking I had a handle on Link’s current persona and character, and that it was a collective interpretation,  I found that people’s opinions were far more spread out. Of the 67 words that my responders used to describe Link in Zelda games and Zelda fan works, only a few were repeats. Link was often described as sarcastic, quiet, kind, courageous, reckless, and noble. However, a total 45 of the 67 words were unique, far more than half! That and the large amount of words that often contradict themselves (eg. mature/immature, funny/stoic) is indicative of something I did not expect. Describing Link’s personality led to describing the vast personalities of a lot of different people. The words used were words that could be used to describe most humans. Thus, it doesn’t seem like Link has as much of a foundation as I originally thought. It also means that Link could go a lot of different ways as long as there are certain canonical pillars, namely courage. This creative phenomenon is what had led to so many fan works, including fan fiction, fan art, and fan animation.

One of fan works repeatedly mentioned was the Linked Universe fan comic, an alternate universe take of the series where all the different Links meet and have distinct personalities and struggles based on their respective games. The idea was started by artist and writer Jojo, and has taken off into a large sub-fandom of its own as seen in many fan works such as this art by saweewa and this art by smilesrobotlover.

Many other fan works identified by responders as stand-outs when considering the character of Link have similar themes amongst each other, such as Link exploring and doubting his role as the hero, Link dealing with his trauma, and Link working through his weaknesses. All of these tend to gnaw at and degrade the stoicism of Link that we know well. This disturbs the perfection of Link in ways necessary for creating a story. Narratives require conflict, and furthermore conflict resolution. For fan fiction writers, that means imposing conflict onto Link, given that he is the protagonist. As both a writer and a reader of Zelda fanfics, I’ve seen this done with varying degrees of quality and success, but regardless of that range I can say one thing for certain. I’ve seen it done well enough times for me to say it is very doable. And, if amateur writers like me can pull it off, Nintendo can too.

The Equal Value In Disturbing The Image Of The Perfect Hero

Image Source: Creating a Champion, pg. 26

Does the perfect hero deserve a complexity, a downfall, a hubris? We saw this in Breath of the Wild. Link failed to save Hyrule and kill Calamity Ganon, all because of his desire to protect Princess Zelda. Instead of going to the castle, he headed instead to Fort Hateno, and protected Zelda until his last breath. The sword that seals the darkness, although it had chosen him, was not used to kill Calamity Ganon in the time Hyrule most needed it, and many lost their lives as a result.

It was the opposite of heroic, and yet it was the most that the Zelda series had compelled me, and that’s saying something as a long-time Zelda fan. That Link had failed made him more human and more believable, grounded in reality in a way that made the calamity a discernible and terrifying threat. It was fittedly jarring that the chosen hero himself could not fulfill his destiny, and Breath of the Wild 2 seems to be following that same route with the erosion of the Master Sword. Of course Breath of the Wild is not the only Zelda game that has presented Zelda fans with an imperfect Link, but it was the game that most solidified the concept for me. All prior Links saved Hyrule within their own lifetimes, and did not need a second chance at being the hero.

Some of my responders identified their own interpretations of prior Links being imperfect, such as Link in Skyward Sword not always being level-headed and, as webcomix pointed out, the concept of endless reincarnation in general being a constant failure over several eras. However, I feel for the most part that Link is presented as nearly perfect, going about his tasks and being the perfect puzzle piece Hyrule needs. Of course we are talking about a video game protagonist and that is how video game protagonists should function, but perhaps there is some value to an imperfect hero. Champions’ Cast Social Media Manager Jules Gia disagrees with the notion, stating simply: “I personally like the perfect hero storyline.” Damon Smith agrees, feeling that “Link never needed a hubris.”

Image Source: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

But most responders were behind the idea of Link having flaws, all with varying ideas of how it could be incorporated. “This is a tricky question to answer,” says Scarlet Curls, “because I really do treasure the fact that we the fans get to interpret Link’s character, however I do think that a Zelda game that offers branching paths would be really interesting, because ultimately that’ll give the player agency, and any bad decisions come back to them. For example, we could have a Zelda game where at a glance, it seems like your standard story. You have the prophecy, the Master Sword, the quest to defeat Ganondorf, but something about what you’re being told seems off… Maybe Ganondorf doesn’t seem all that evil this time around. Maybe the monsters are actually more human than initially thought. Maybe they’re resorting to crime to survive because Hyrule is hoarding all the resources, but all that subtext is just subtle enough that someone who has been conditioned by previous Zelda games takes the traditional path, while anyone who has never picked up a Zelda game before decides to investigate things a little further, and ends up joining the crusade against Hyrule’s oppressive monarchy. It would be a great way to expose the dangers of blindly following some ‘divinely bestowed’ quest verses actually observing and questioning things for yourself. That way Link gets to have a flawed perception by embodying the player’s flawed perception.”

“He needs a personality,” argues Arkon-Z, “but it doesn’t have to be complex. Like, I’m not interested in Perfect Good Guy With Dark Secret or Past of Angst. Flaws might be relatable, but two contrasting extremes does not a personality make. It’s not complex, it’s lazy. What we need is more information about who he is as a person. What are his likes, his dislikes? What are his hopes and fears? How does he think other people see him? How do all these things determine the choices he makes as a person? That’s what complexity is, not a past of morally dubious choices. Though I will say that Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition did actually have a decent story arc for Link, if you can believe it. When he pulled out the Master Sword, he became even more skilled and powerful and everyone celebrated him for it. He let the praise go to his head, and started getting overconfident, arrogant and prideful, eventually letting him fall into a trap. The antagonist used those flaws against him and spawned Dark Link. That’s how you make a character arc for a blank slate.”

“A perfect hero is an uninteresting hero,” says Ashtyn Dial, whose opinion is echoed by many others. That-one-loz-nerd adds: “It would be interesting to see Link break the whole ‘perfect hero’ thing and take his own path (e.g. going against Hylia’s wishes). Perhaps the hubris side of this is that the path he ends out taking causes more destruction than good, which leads to Link having to fix what he’s broken and deal with Ganondorf (or whoever the antagonist in that game would be).”

“I like a complex Link,” DrSteggy states. “Humans are not perfect, even if they are favored by goddesses. You can do imperfect things in the games too- I accidentally stole lamp oil at one point in Twilight Princess (and felt bad about it).” LinktheAceHero has a similar stance on the subject: “He should have a fatal flaw as a way to show that he is not perfect, he is a person who has troubles and fears like everyone else.”

Romantic Entanglements: The Solution Or A Bigger Problem?

Image Source: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

One of the most prominent facets of Link’s vulnerability in both canon and in fan works has been his caring nature towards Zelda. The first game to hint at a relationship between the fated pair was The Adventure of Link, when Link and Princess Zelda supposedly kissed behind the lowered purple curtain. Although small details like this continued throughout the years, it wasn’t until Skyward Sword that we saw something truly special and real between the two of them, something arguably romantic. This and other possible romantic interests and entanglements definitely does much in light of making Link more human and relatable, but does it cost building his own character?

In the most recent season of Rooster Teeth’s animated series RWBY, the writers took this phenomenon into account. The relationship of characters Ren and Nora is one of the most expressly romantic on the show, yet in the 8th volume, Nora decided to prioritize getting to know herself on her own before going forward with their relationship. Ren and Nora had known each other since childhood, and Nora talked of how she didn’t know who she was without him, even though she still loves him. This is just an example of how romantic entanglements can overstep individual character development. As much as I am all for a relationship between Zelda and Link and believe there is tons of momentum from Breath of the Wild to go off of, I must admit it would mean sacrificing the possibilities just discussed in this article. Perhaps this is why Link and Zelda have been separated in Breath of the Wild 2, yet it cannot be known for sure until it releases. Perhaps Link’s love life and subsequent happy ending is better left for the conclusion of Zelda games, but let’s see what my responders have to say.

“I think Skyward Sword Link had a touch too much characterisation, and almost all of it revolved around Zelda. She was his whole motivation. His only motivation. I honestly don’t know who he is outside of Zelda,” says Scarlet Curls, who addresses head-on one of the problems. “If you give Link romantic entanglements, have them actually serve a meaningful role in the story, give them chemistry, and make sure it has novelty rather than be a retread of tired cliches. Otherwise, just give him deep and meaningful relationships with various characters without soft confirming any romance, and then leave it up to the players’ interpretation. For example, someone could easily read platonic or romantic chemistry into a moment between Link and Zelda, and both readings would be equally valid and accommodated by the source material.”

Image Source: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

“It’s beautiful,” says Heather Beard when talking about a possible romance between princess and knight. “I know that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I wouldn’t be upset if it was more implied that Link and Zelda were in love.” Yet Arkon-Z disagrees, saying they “personally dislike romance and can’t relate to it. If it has to be there, it shouldn’t affect the story. Link’s motivation should come from his desire to help everyone, not just because it would impress his love interest.”

Others also argue that romance would distance Link from relatability. Ashtyn Dial in particular identifies as an aromantic asexual and puts forth the following: “I do not care whatsoever for romance. If the character I connected with suddenly had a girlfriend, I’d feel a bit uncomfortable. It’d also ruins tons of headcanons of people shipping him with others. I like where it is now, with implied romances. Spirit Tracks was probably the full extent with the holding hands thing.”

“I think that Skyward Sword handled it perfectly,” says Kittmoon. “They are friends, and though they are almost definitely crushing on each other, the emphasis is on their closeness as friends and their desperation to get back to one another. I think that the focus on Link’s relationships should always in some way tie back to the theme of the game. That’s part of why the memories in Breath of the Wild work so well. It all winds back to Link discovering his past – and who you are is reflected in those around you.”

Image Source: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Champion’s Ballad DLC)

Falling-camellias thinks that “seeing romantic relationships would be a nice way to let his personality shine through” and Jules Gia agrees, saying romance “would add an extra layer to Links character”. George Cortez, however, counters, wanting a limit and to “avoid anything major like a big kiss. While many would love that, it would take away from Link’s personality a little too much in the games. I would prefer romantic pieces like dancing with Zelda and smiling, or riding Loftwings with her and smiling looking deep in her eyes. This more assumed-love I feel like has a lot more potential and would keep the fanfics rolling. So some light romance would be great.”

Of course it doesn’t have to be Zelda. Although I ship Link and Zelda myself, I must remember in my impartial state that there are other fan favorite pairings as well. As Charles Xavier puts it: “It’s probably better for them to avoid this because fans always want to ship Link with different people and they may not agree on who he should be shipped with.” No matter who it’s with, LinktheAceHero says “it would be nice to have Link have some sort of an established romantic relationship in a game because it would be a definite impact in his decisions and choices.” They furthermore ponder: “Would he still want to be a hero or are they the reason he is the hero? How is he around them versus others? What will he do if he came down to a choice of them vs the world?”

“The games should focus on his character alone,” says That_G3_Obsessive, while ZeldaElmo “would like to see a bit of confirmation in Breath of the Wild 2 after the build-up in Breath of the Wild,” but “won’t be mad if it stays subtle.” They think, much like me, that the sequel should at least “confirm somehow the bond he has with Zelda, romantically or not.”

The Future Of Link: The Sequel To Breath Of The Wild

Image Source: Launch Timing Update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel

When talking about the future of Link as a character, it’s hard to ignore the future right before us, which is of course the long-anticipated Breath of the Wild 2. When asked about where Link’s character could potentially go, responses varied between thoughts of Link’s character either expanding or staying the same. Of course a couple respondees were logical in saying they simply do not know, which only makes sense considering the small amount footage that has been released. However, there’s nothing wrong with speculating about the momentum of Breath of the Wild and how it might fit into what we’ve seen of the sequel.

“I would predict probably similar if not the same to Breath of the Wild,” says Jules Gia. Their opinion is shared by Arkon-Z, who doesn’t “think he’s going to be all that different from Breath of the Wild, considering it’s a direct sequel.” Ashtyn Dial has a similar opinion, voicing that “Breath of the Wild Link has the personality of a gnat (intentionally, it’s an understandable character choice)” and she doesn’t “see them changing it.”

“I think that he will be a bit more desperate to keep what he had just gotten back,” Kittmoon says when talking of Link. “He just got Zelda back, and now she’s gone, again. He just saved the kingdom, and now it’s once again in danger. He just grasped his identity as the hero – now what?” LinktheAceHero also thinks it will touch on themes of identity, that it “might be heading to a place of learning and self discovery for Link’s character.” That_G3_Obsessive hopes that Breath of the Wild 2 “goes into his internal guilt and feelings of insecurity after the fall of the kingdom in Breath of the Wild, as well as his struggle with being ‘chosen’. They “can see the Master Sword breaking playing into that, with him breaking the symbol of his destiny and initially being very confused or even grieving over it, and then having to reforge it into his own destiny with his new identity.”

Falling-camellias touches on themes of free agency when it comes to Link’s desires, saying Breath of the Wild 2 will “explore more of his wants after the end of the first game, and what he really wants now that he’s free from his divine duty and such.” George Cortez thinks that this character building will come specifically from unlocking “memories he wasn’t able to recover in the first game.”

Damon Smith, however, believes something much more final for Link in the sequel, that “Link’s story will end in Breath of the Wild 2. The end of his connection with Ganon, the end of his fate connected with Zelda and all of Hyrule.” Damon believes “Link will be stuck with a challenge that would end in sacrifice.” This certainly would be in-tune with Breath of the Wild 2 being a darker title, as admitted by Miyamoto himself, but we’ll have to see how things pan out to see who of my responders was on the right track. Regardless, it’s fun to theorize upon the many paths that the sequel could go.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Legend of Zelda certainly functioned as intended, being a vast adventure with a protagonist that connected many to a fictional world in a special and valuable way. However, that has worked for over 35 years now, and thus arises the debate between whether things should evolve, or stay the way they are. Some Zelda fans are ready for a multitude of changes when it comes to the character Link and how he interacts with the Hyrule around him, while others want little to no change, wanting him to stay a blank-slate protagonist. Now that you’ve read tons of opinions debating many facets of the issue, it’s time to have your say! After all, you too are a part of the Zelda fandom. 

So, what do you think? Should Link stay a blank-slate protagonist? In what ways has that role worked out for you? What do you think of giving Link romance? Should Link evolve as soon as the upcoming Breath of the Wild 2? Let us know in the comments below!