THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: EVERY LINK FAMILY MEMBER EXPLAINED
- Link's family makes rare appearances throughout The Legend of Zelda games, with his uncle and grandfather being a few of the family members that have shown up.
- The Wind Waker highlights Link's close-knit family on Outset Island, as they play a role in the game's plot.
- The Ocarina of Time reveals the impact Link's mother had on his life, even though she does not directly appear in the game.
Nintendo almost always portrays The Legend of Zelda’s Link as a hero enshrouded in mystery; a character of few to no words, but ferociously brave. Along with a vow of silence since his debut in 1986, the protagonist’s historical background is also usually submerged in ambiguity. Surprisingly, however, there are quite a few games since the inaugural NES title that depict Link with family members.
Link’s lack of vocals in The Legend of Zelda games certainly does not indicate a lack of personality, as it has now become an integral component of his distinctiveness throughout the series. Many of Nintendo’s other characters are also known for their individuality despite their silence, such as Red from Pokemon and Kirby. The difference with the Zelda series, however, is that most games portray a character variation of Link. With such variability, there are plenty of family members who appear beside the iconic protagonist throughout the years.
The Next Zelda Game Should Be to Wind Waker What Tears of the Kingdom Was to Skyward Sword
Tears of the Kingdom borrowed many of its best ideas from Skyward Sword, so the next Zelda game should take some ideas from Wind Waker.How Link's Family Kick Off The Wind Waker's Story
In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Link’s family is an integral part of the game’s plot. On Outset Island, the home of the protagonist, Link lives with his Grandma and younger sister, Aryll. His relatives in this game are portrayed as kind-hearted souls, always willing to help and constantly looking out for each other.
Wind Waker’s plot begins on Link’s birthday when his grandmother gifts him with the Hero’s Clothes. The classic green garments are given to the young men of Outset Island as a tradition to celebrate The Ocarina of Time’s lead character, known as the Hero of Time. Aryll’s gift to Link is her beloved telescope, and while using the device, they notice a monstrous bird holding a girl in its talons. A rescue attempt from a nearby pirate ship successfully hits the bird with a cannonball, and its prisoner is dropped into the Fairy Woods of Outset Island. Link is pushed by his sister to go and save the girl, but the monster ends up returning and kidnapping Aryll, marking the start of his adventure as he attempts to rescue her.
Before departing, however, Link returns to his grandmother and finds her heartbroken. He takes the Hero’s Shield that hangs on the upstairs wall of his home and leaves, with his grandmother watching as he waves goodbye to the citizens of Outset Island. Link’s family in this game becomes his motivation to embody what the Hero of Time represents to Hyrule. His perpetual silence does not take away from the heartfelt moments that players experience in the opening sequence.
Link's Mother In The Ocarina of Time
Unlike in The Wind Waker, Link’s family in The Ocarina of Time does not directly appear. Still, there is a reference to his mother having an immense impact on the plot of the game. After Link takes down Phantom Ganon, the Deku Tree Sprout tells of a tale that took place before the events of the Nintendo 64 game, during the Hyrulean Civil War. The player is told that Link’s mother suffered fatal injuries during the conflict, and handed her child to the Great Deku Tree to look after him. Believing that the young child was prophetic, the Great Deku Tree raised him as part of the Kokiri race, despite his Hylian heritage. Details of his father remain unknown, however.
The First Zelda Game To Depict Link's Family
In the SNES's The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Link lives with his Uncle, who happens to be his guardian. As the King of Hyrule’s servant Agahnim suddenly holds Princess Zelda captive and seizes control of the castle’s guards, Link’s uncle leaves the house armed with weaponry, ready to help. As a well-known skilled swordsman and former servant to Hyrule’s royal family, he tells his nephew to stay put and ensures he will return in the morning. Disregarding his orders, Link eventually finds him fatally injured in a secret part of the castle. With his dying breath, he tells his nephew that he must save the princess and ward off evil from occupying the land of Hyrule.
The Minish Cap's Interpretation Of Link's Family
Master Smith is Link’s grandfather in the Game Boy Advance’s The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Like his counterpart’s uncle in A Link to the Past, Link’s grandfather is an acclaimed ex-swordsman but is now an esteemed blacksmith. Smith lives with Link in South Hyrule Field, where he spends most of his time at their home making swords, specifically for the Winner of the Sword-Fighting Tournament. Link’s grandfather personally recommends King Altus send his grandson to find the Minish when Zelda is turned to stone at the hands of Vaati.
An Unconventional Family Member In The Twilight Princess
Throughout The Legend of Zelda series, it’s known that most iterations of Link aren’t related biologically, rather, they are spiritual reincarnations of each other. There’s an exception in The Twilight Princess for the Nintendo GameCube and Wii, however. The Hero’s Spirit appears in the game to teach Link the seven Hidden Skills, which are unique Sword techniques to help take down enemies with ease. The spirit happens to be a descendant of Twilight Princess’ protagonist and is revealed to be Link from The Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. He isn’t exactly a family member in the traditional sense, but remains an intriguing inclusion nonetheless.
The Legend of Zelda