Who’s Your Favorite Partner?

In almost every Zelda game since Ocarina of Time, Link has fought side by side with an invaluable partner, who grows with him and provides him with special abilities. In a way, each partner is really the protagonist of their respective game. The impact we feel from Link’s transformation from average boy to fabled hero falls a little short. Sure, Link grows in spirit and power dramatically by the end of each of his adventures, but his personality rarely goes through much of a metamorphosis. From beginning to end, he is kind, brave, bold, unflappable, athletic, and naturally gifted as a fighter. An effective protagonist needs a little more depth. And that’s exactly what we get from many of his sidekicks. Before we pick our favorites, let’s look back at the many companions that have aided Link on his adventures. (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD)

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Navi (Ocarina of Time)

Her story: Her past unknown, we first meet Navi as an ally and messenger of the Great Deku Tree. He assigns Navi the task of bringing Link, “the boy without a fairy,” to him, and ultimately guiding Link on his journey to save Hyrule. After his destiny is fulfilled, Navi simply flies away, saying nothing… yeah, the one time you actually kind of want her to say something, she doesn’t. Oddly, I think this makes for a more emotional ending, but that’s all up for debate.

Analysis: Link’s infamous first partner. Yeah, I said “infamous.” Not a great way to kick off the list, but several fans have voiced their understandable gripes with Navi. She’s annoying. But let’s not forget that she is the reason Link is able to Z-Target, an invaluable skill that has become commonplace in many Zelda games since. However, it should be noted that some games, such as The Wind Waker, utilized this technique without the aid of a fairy companion. To be honest, I never had too much of a problem with Navi. The “Hey, look, listen!” shouts are irritating, but I don’t think they occur as much as most fans recollect. Besides, when you play the game for the first time and find yourself lost, her advice can be a godsend. I’ve played through Ocarina of Time more times than I can count, so naturally she just annoys me now. But like I said, her nagging fits are usually few and far between: a couple of times between each dungeon.

Navi is one of the least interesting partners Link has had. She is immediately friendly to Link and never gives him any trouble. What’s wrong with that, you ask? Well, it’s pretty boring as far as storytelling goes. There has to be tension between partners in a story to make their relationship worth watching. If this were a buddy movie, it would be two hours of two friends getting along (regardless of what else is going on). Sounds pretty boring, right? Now of course Ocarina of Time is not a movie (though it should be!), but storytelling devices such as conflict between allies should be universal, regardless of the medium through which it is told.

However, of all of Link’s partners (besides himself… just keep reading), Navi is the most like him. Putting aside any personal aspirations to fulfill a destiny, and doing good because it’s the right thing to do are qualities Link and Navi share. Unlike virtually every other partner Link has had, Navi gets nothing out of completing the mission of the game. It is her destiny to help save the kingdom, and she does so without question. Maybe it is because of their common traits that Link sets out to find her once again. This is the only time Link has taken it upon himself to search for something for personal gain (at least that I can recall). So while you may find her annoying, keep in mind that she is one of the few testaments we have that Link wants something for himself: a true friendship.

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Tatl (Majora’s Mask)

Her story: On a rainy night, Tatl and her little brother Tael huddled with the lonely Skull Kid for warmth. The three were inseparable friends until the Skull Kid was corrupted by Majora’s Mask. Once the mischievous imp turned Link into a Deku and left Tatl behind during his retreat, she was forced to team up with the boy she was just tormenting. While aiding Link in his quest to awaken the four giants, she learns to appreciate him and admire his skills and determination. After Link destroys the evil spirit inhabiting Majora’s Mask, he and Tatl part ways. She reminds us once more of her offensive attitude when she tells the hero he should leave while the rest of them party. The humble Link agrees, and takes off. As he rides away on Epona, Tatl shivers as she says to Link under her breath, “Thank you.”

Analysis: My complaints about Navi are not applicable here. There is tension between Tatl and Link right away, and if I recall correctly, she doesn’t nag anywhere near as often as Navi. She also seems to have more personality than Navi, who comes off as more ready for the mission. Navi spoke in more of a “matter-of-fact” way, while Tatl showed more vulnerability. She was not ready to tackle such a daunting fate, and her concern for her brother drove her to worry and care more about completing the mission. While Navi felt more like a coworker, Tatl felt more like a partner.

Furthermore, it was an excellent (and graphically easy) choice to make Link’s partner a fairy again. While searching for Navi, a friend who Link cares for enough to leave his life behind, he meets another fairy and develops a friendship that he missed. Perhaps this is partially why Link stayed in Termina as long as he did. I haven’t played Majora’s Mask in awhile, but I’m pretty sure that he could’ve left anytime he wanted. While I would argue that the main reason he stayed was simply because he’s a hero and Termina needed his help, it’s interesting to think that maybe his new budding partnership reminded him of his adventures with Navi, and he needed that feeling back. Or maybe I’m just thinking too far into it.

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The King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)

His story: As Link is ready to die in the middle of the ocean, he is rescued by a sailboat with the ability to speak. The King of Red Lions, as the boat calls himself, explains to Link that saving his sister will require more than another, more wary infiltration of the Forsaken Fortress. He will need to travel to a forgotten world and draw a sword that will defeat his sister’s captors. After a successful rescue, Link is brought to the underwater world once again, and the King of Red Lions reveals himself to actually be the last ruler of the kingdom of Hyrule. He makes it his mission to keep Ganondorf from ruling it once more and destroying the land above. When the time comes to confront Ganondorf once and for all, the king admits that he, like Ganondorf, is bound to Hyrule, and refuses to leave. As the kingdom drowns, he goes down with it. Though initially distraught at the king’s decision, Link and Zelda take his advice and search for a new land; a new Hyrule.

Analysis: One may think that I would judge the King of Red Lions to be similar to Navi in the sense that they act as though “it’s all about the mission.” Well, yeah. But I think it goes a little deeper than that. Navi was sent to fulfill a mission from which, more or less, she had nothing to gain. The King of Red Lions seems to have been lamenting the fate of his kingdom for centuries. He’s had a lot of time to think about what has happened, suffer the consequences, and wait for the Hero of Winds to rise and aid him in destroying the land for which he once cared and ruled over. Most of Link’s partners have “used” him for personal gain, but this is the one I find the most forgivable. After all, he waited centuries for Link to rise, and even helped him save his little sister. Not to mention that the King of Red Lions’ “personal gain” was ultimately to spare the world of Ganondorf’s rule once again. His personal gain and the mission were the same thing. It lacks personality and relatability in comparison to other partners, but I find it to be the most commendable as a result.

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Other Links (Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures)

Their story: The other Links don’t really have a story, they are simply an extension of Link’s abilities as he draws the Four Sword from its pedestal. Their traits and abilities are identical to Link’s, therefore as a team, they are unquestionably united (a lack of tension between them facilitates absolutely no worthwhile character study, but I digress). If you thought one Link was dangerous, try four. ‘Buncha missed opportunities here…

Analysis: I thought about not including these partners, but why not? They may be copies of Link, but they work just as much together as Link and a partner do (if not more). I’ll be honest; it’s not so much that I hate these games, but I hate that they exist. What I mean by that is that these games seem like a nearly thoughtless way to make Zelda multiplayer. Granted, every Zelda story is fantastically ridiculous, but each gimmick applied to their respective game seems to be a byproduct of the game, rather than the game being a byproduct of the gimmick. That’s exactly what these Four Swords games are. Why four Links? Well, because the Game Boy Advance could link four systems together. If Nintendo wanted to make Zelda multiplayer, why not have Zelda join in on the fight? Or make Hyrule soldiers playable? Or create new characters altogether? The whole premise of four identical heroes is not necessarily a bad idea, but I just think that the execution was lazy, poor, and uninteresting. That said, I will admit that I actually enjoyed Four Swords Adventures. Lining up to attack an onslaught of enemies from all directions was a blast. It was pretty fun despite what I perceive to be a laughable premise.

Anyway, in regards to the “partners” of these games, there’s not much to discuss. The role that partners have taken in previous and later games as been more of advisor and guide. The fairies of Four Swords and Kaepora Gaebora of Four Swords Adventures fit those roles just fine. Also, the other Links are simply copies of Link, with the same personality, strengths, feats, goals, traits… essentially everything except for clothing. So in terms of motives and agendas, there’s nothing to really address or explore. Usually I can find deeper meaning in partner relationships, but when the partners are exact carbon-copies of each other who get along swimmingly, there’s not much to analyze. This is another reason why I feel these games are poorly executed story-wise. The premise of other Links could certainly make for some interesting plot points, but nothing is built on or paid off here. It’s just a multiplayer fun-fest. That makes the writer and storyteller in me agitated, but at the end of the day, it’s just a game. It’s meant to be fun, even if there is a lack of story. I just let it get to me because I expect more out of the Zelda series.

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Ezlo (The Minish Cap)

His story: Ezlo was once a well-respected and powerful Minish sage who was crafting a cap that would grant the wishes of its wearer. Unfortunately, Ezlo’s apprentice Vaati took the cap for himself, became a powerful sorcerer, and turned Ezlo into a cap himself. As a cap, Ezlo was practically powerless in his new-found mission to bring Vaati to justice. Luckily, he met a young boy named Link, who was ultimately on the same mission. The two partnered up and went through many trials. When they finally challenged and defeated Vaati, Ezlo was transformed back to his old self. Before returning to the Minish World, he thanked Link for his help and humbly granted him a plain green hat. A seemingly modest gift from a powerful sage, but it was a sweet reminder of their friendship and time together.

Analysis: As was the case with Tatl, Link and Ezlo were not chosen for each other. Link was able to provide a service, and the partner cashed in on it. Also like Tatl, Ezlo can come off a bit mean sometimes. He can be snippy, but his remarks are fueled by his concern for Link and their mission. At first, it seems as though Ezlo has a hard time coming to grips with the fact he is relying on a mere boy. This is why I find Ezlo’s scoldings excusable. However, it doesn’t take too long for him to see that Link is a very capable young man, and is able to accomplish everything the duo sets out to do.

It’s difficult for me to explain exactly why I like Ezlo so much. Maybe it’s his cool design. The way he is always perched atop Link’s head… it just looks silly and cool at the same time. And the fact that he is attached to Link and can be annoying makes us humorously sympathize with poor Link. One wrong move, and Ezlo is all over Link’s… well, head, I guess. There’s no losing him. Link is stuck with him until the end. And strangely, I love it. While I find it unlikely that Nintendo will ever reintroduce him (or even the Minish world, for that matter) to the series, he is one character I would love to see again. He should stay in his Minish form, and could provide his magic to aid Link or Hyrule in a specific task. A small role, but essential nonetheless.

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Midna (Twilight Princess)

Her story: Spoiler alert: Midna is the Twilight Princess. I’d feel bad saying this, except that 1) I warned there would be spoilers and you kept reading, 2) this article is posted on a Zelda fan site, which means that all of you probably already knew, 3) It’s pretty obvious anyway, and 4) I have no soul. Like Ezlo, she was betrayed by another of her kind and turned into a form that is somewhat embarrassing. As if poor Link doesn’t have enough problems after he unexpectedly turns into a wolf and is thrown in a prison cell, Midna appears to give him grief. Despite her initial rudeness, she shows off impressive powers that help Link escape and regain his human form. Midna is very upfront about how much she doesn’t care about Link’s world and the people in it. It is unclear how much she actually means that, but it facilitates a rocky relationship between the two nonetheless. Slowly, she shows appreciation for Link’s help, and the two become good friends by the time he retrieves the Master Sword. But the development of the friendship doesn’t end there: By the final confrontation with Ganondorf, Midna is willing to sacrifice her life for Link and Zelda. That snobby imp you met in Hyrule Castle’s prison is now a full-fledged hero: A complete 180, and a truly well-built one.

Analysis: One thing I’ve found with Midna, that you may or may not agree with, is that she is not annoying. At least, not compared to many other partners we’ve seen in the series. And even if she was, her powers certainly make up for it. She is arguably the most powerful partner Link has ever had. She can warp, take control of the bird at Lake Hylia, help destroy enemies easily, and above all, turn into a weird, giant… semifluid thing with a spear. She’s just awesome.

Like I said, she is probably the most dynamic partner Link has ever had. She seems to be an encompassment of all of Link’s previous partners: the insight of Navi, the attitude of Tatl, a helpfulness beyond that of Ezlo, powers beyond that of four Links, and like the King of Red Lions, the willingness to sacrifice herself for the greater good. While I do not feel that Twilight Princess itself tells a truly spectacular story, the story of the Twilight Princess herself is an exceptional one.

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Ciela (Phantom Hourglass)

Her story: A fairy suffering amnesia, Ciela lives on Mercay Island with an old man named Oshus, whom she calls “Grandpa.” She aids Link in his mission to rescue Tetra, who was abducted by a Ghost Ship and turned to stone. After completing the Temple of Courage, Link and Ciela discover that she is in fact the Spirit of Courage, and possesses forgotten powers. As the story progresses, the two discover that an evil octopus-like demon known as Bellum dwells deep in the Temple of the Ocean King, and in order to revive Tetra, Link must destroy this creature. With the help of Ciela and the other two Spirits (of Wisdom and Power), Link is able to vanquish the monster and not only save Tetra, but return Oshus back to his glory as the Ocean King.

Analysis: Ciela is very much like Navi and Tatl in not only the obvious physical similarities, but also that she seems to provide a “service” that Link cannot do without her. Seemingly, Link could not Z-Target without Navi and Tatl, and likewise, it seems that Link cannot even move without Ciela. She goes wherever you touch the screen, and it is in that direction that Link moves. She literally guides a directionless Link all the way through the game.

Arguably, Ciela is just as much Link’s partner as the Spirits of Wisdom and Power, as they can guide Link instead if he so chooses. However, it should be clear that Ciela deserves much more credit, as she is more developed and plays a more specific role in the story. If I could compare her to any other partner in the series, it would definitely be Navi. She is a fairy, she introduces herself to Link pleasantly, and remains nice to him throughout their journey. She is much more interesting than Navi, though, as she has incredible powers that Navi does not, and she shows some attitude when talking with the self-centered Linebeck. Speaking of whom…

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Linebeck (Phantom Hourglass)

His story: Linebeck is a pompous, greedy, cowardly, self-proclaimed man of the seas. He has his mind set only on treasure, which Link is able to exploit in order to guarantee travel across the sea. Linebeck acts as Link’s chauffeur throughout the game, and when out at sea, Link must protect Linebeck from the vengeful Jolene, a female pirate out to teach Linebeck a lesson. It is humorous to see the arrogant Linebeck reduced to a quivering coward when Jolene arrives. By the time Link meets Bellum in battle, Linebeck does something completely out of character and bravely stands up against the villain. Though he is subdued effortlessly, he saves Link’s life by buying him some time to regain his composure and defeat the beast once and for all. As he says his goodbyes to Link and Ciela, it is clear that even though he didn’t get any treasure, this was the best adventure he had ever had.

Analysis: This character’s classification as a “partner” is debatable. But yes, I would include Linebeck. He may not travel into dungeons with our hero, but he does tag along to every island, and grows immensely as the game progresses. By the end of their journey, Linebeck turns out to be possibly more dynamic than Midna. On the outside, he keeps up the illusion that he is the same character you met at the beginning of the game, but it is clear that he has matured as a result of his experiences with Link and Ciela. Essentially, I would consider him a partner because he’s present throughout the entire game, he has more personality than many partners we’ve seen in the past, and he is very dynamic. Like in Spirit Tracks, Linebeck should undoubtedly return (in one form or another) in any future games in this timeline. Though I will admit that I’m not particularly a fan of this game, Linebeck is by far one of my favorite partners.

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Princess Zelda (Spirit Tracks)

Her story: Link first meets the princess of “New Hyrule” when he completes his final test to become a train engineer. She not only grants him his certification, but surprises him by asking him to meet her later in her quarters (yes, I was disappointed too when I arrived and found out that she didn’t want what I thought she did). She asks the newly certified train engineer to give her a ride to the Tower of Spirits to investigate the recent vanishing of the spirit tracks. On their way, they are derailed and confronted by Chancellor Cole and his lackey, Byrne. As the Tower of Spirits dismantles, Chancellor Cole steals Zelda’s body, and Link is knocked unconscious. When he wakes up back in the castle, he finds that although Zelda’s body is missing, her spirit still lingers. As the duo arrives at the Tower of Spirits, Zelda discovers that to possess her body again, she and Link will need to return the spirit tracks to the land and stop Cole from reviving an ancient evil. Though the duo is successful in reviving the spirit tracks, they are too late to stop the evil Malladus from returning. In a fierce battle, Zelda is able to repossess her body and the two defeat Malladus, returning peace to New Hyrule.

Analysis: It almost seems like it should have been a no-brainer that Zelda herself would eventually be Link’s partner in a game. It was likely a tricky thing to execute, but I think it was done well here. Zelda’s ability to possess phantoms was easily one of the most entertaining and challenging parts of the game. Having to control two characters to open new paths and defeat certain enemies facilitated outstanding puzzles that were fresh and set this game apart from its predecessor. Usually, Princess Zelda is a strong and capable character despite her title. Here, we see her much more as a person than a character whose presence is merely a plot device. Initially intimidated and hesitant, Zelda is another partner who scores high on the dynamic scale, and it’s refreshing to see the person you’re usually rescuing actually chip in and help for once.

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Fi (Skyward Sword)

Her story: Ages ago, a fierce war was strangling the world. The force for good was led by the goddess Hylia, and the horde of evil monsters was led by Demise. The battle was close, and the goddess set forth a plan which would seal Demise, but not destroy him. It would cost her her godly form, and she would be born anew as a mortal. Fast forward to the time of Skyward Sword. Hylia’s plan includes a chosen hero whose quest would be guided by a spirit created by the goddess herself. Fi is a calculating, emotionless being who resides in the Goddess Sword, later revealed to be the Master Sword. The moment the chosen hero, Link, draws the sword from its pedestal, Fi becomes his servant, and Link, her master. Hylia’s plans for the hero were supplied in intervals, and Fi’s residual memories were gradually unlocked to guide Link further and further until his ultimate showdown with Demise. Though basically a cold, sterile machine, Fi somehow learns to appreciate Link and treasure their time together.

Analysis: Many fans feel that Fi stole the “Most Annoying Partner” award, originally held by Navi. I can understand that, though I do not agree with it. I find her just about as annoying, maybe a little less. She only really bothered me when she pointed out the obvious (which Navi did too), and when she told me things I already knew due to previous play-throughs of the game. Fortunately, most of Navi’s advice can be ignored if you choose not to listen. As video games today tend to “hold your hand” more than those of the eighties and nineties, many of Fi’s observations you are required to hear. Still, I like her more than Navi.

Though having an emotionless partner can make for some uninteresting character development (if any at all), Fi is an original idea. Every previous Zelda partner has had a personality, and while that is certainly a good thing, it is nice to see the series try something completely different and pair Link up with (basically) a computer. It may seem odd at first, but if you think about it, there is a glaring similarity between Fi and the Terminator from Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Watching a machine try to understand human behavior can make for some hilarious and heartwarming scenes. As such, Terminator 2 is commonly considered to be not only the best film in the Terminator series, but one of the best movies of all time, and Skyward Sword is considered to be one of the best Zelda stories ever told. Like the Terminator, Fi is unable to comprehend human emotion, but learns to appreciate it nonetheless. It is for these reasons that I defend Nintendo’s choice to pair Link up with (what seems to be) a static character.

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Whew. That was a lot to sort through. Now it’s time to decide our favorites. You may have already guessed mine based on the overly positive description I wrote for her (not to mention the picture to the left). My choice is Midna. Dynamic, interesting, useful, powerful… Midna possessed all the qualities I look for in a partner for my favorite video game hero. Honorable mentions for the title go to Tatl, Ezlo, and Linebeck (in no particular order).

But I want to hear what you all think! Who was your favorite partner and why? Comment below and let’s talk about it!