The Evolution Of Link How Hyrule S Hero Changed Over 30 Years

If you haven’t noticed, we’ve been celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda this week. So far, we’ve given an overview of the past 30 years and ranked the top 10 games from the series. Over the course of 30 years, we’ve watched the story change, the setting change, and the mechanics change. But, while the series may be about the Legend of Zelda, every game was ultimately more about the Adventures of Link. While the hero himself has remained consistent (if you ignore that whole “they aren’t all the same person” thing, that is), he’s gone through some revolutionary changes himself. For 30 years, Link has been coming of age. He’s also grown up (and down), learned some new moves, and gained some extra bits. He is the link that connects the stories of The Legend of Zelda, and has become nearly as iconic as Nintendo’s beloved Mario. What kind of celebration would this be if we didn’t take the time to check out Link in all of his iterations? Luckily, we don’t have to answer that. With the exclusion of remakes, spin-offs, and repeats, here are your Links, 1986-2016.

1987 – The Adventure of Link

The next time we saw Link, the developers moved him in a different direction – literally. Gone was the top-down adventure, replaced with a side-scrolling perspective during times of action that made the game feel less…free. Link was taller, meant to be a 16 year old. It also had some RPG elements, but that wasn’t going to become a staple in the Zelda franchise.

1993 – Link’s Awakening

Link’s Awakening changed everything. Seriously, everything. It was the first portable game, jumping backwards technologically after the success of A Link to the Past. Bye bye color – when Link’s Awakening hit, he went black and white. There was no Hyrule, No Triforce, No Zelda. Somehow, though, it worked. Link was suddenly a natural musician, picking up the ability to play, like, every instrument. In addition, the personality he’d been given in A Link to the Past transitioned with him. The game also introduced something that would be featured in other games moving forward – fishing. Oh, and he jumped.

2000 – Majora’s Mask

He’s had a million faces, and he’s rocked them all. Following up Ocarina of Time was going to be a significant challenge. Instead of playing it safe, the entire Zelda formula was shaken up. Link still had the same appearance that he had as a child in Ocarina, but his look shifted radically throughout the course of the game. Deku shrub, Zora, Goron, and, most importantly, Fierce Deity. FIERCE DEITY. I used a picture of Link as a Deku scrub simply because we spent more time with him in that form. But holy cow… Fierce Deity Link really should come back for another main series game.

2002 – Four Swords

The re-release of A Link to the Past came with an included multiplayer option – Four Swords. While not a full game on its own, one day it would be. This made use of the Link Cable, and encouraged two to four players to work together to solve unique puzzles. Link wasn’t going alone anymore – there were four Links!

2004 – Four Swords Adventures

The first Four Swords was included with the Game Boy Advance release of A Link to the Past, marking the first multiplayer component of a Zelda Game. In 2004, that was expanded. Link splits into four different bodies, with his iconic green tunic accompanied by red, blue, and purple dressed Links. This led to some truly unique puzzles that required – shocker – multiple people.

2006 – Twilight Princess

Link as Link was stunning from a design perspective in Twilight Princess. He was dark and mature. But the real star of the game was wolf Link. The game took the shapeshifting from Majora’s Mask and made it even cooler, with Link assuming his canine throughout the course of the game. He also made friends with one of the coolest, and coolest looking, characters from any of the Zelda titles, Midna.

2013 – A Link Between Worlds

Link was a work of art in A Link Between Worlds. Seriously. In A Link Between Worlds, Link was given the ability to turn into a two dimensional painting. This helped him sneak, and of course there were some special puzzles that utilized this new feature.

2016 – The Legend of Zelda ?

The next big thing is one big mystery. We know it’s an open world. We know it’s going to be super pretty. And we know it’s already been delayed. But whatever else it is, it will probably be one hell of a journey.