Link

Link is the protagonist of the The Legend of Zelda series. In most games, he is tasked with stopping rescuing Princess Zelda from the clutches of Ganondorf. Link has made several appearances in Mario-related media, especially because The Legend of Zelda is also a creation of Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. The first time Link appears in a Mario game is Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up.
==Profile==
=== Physical description ===
Link's physical characteristics fluctuate from game to game, though he usually has light-colored hair (ranging from brown to blonde to orange), blue eyes, and a medium build. Other characters sometimes think of him as handsome. It is unlikely that Link's age exceeds nineteen years at any point in the series thus far. In A Link to the Past, he was depicted as having pink hair in-game, due to graphics limitations, although the artwork for the game depicts him as having auburn hair. Similarly, Link's Awakening DX and the Oracle games depicted Link's overworld sprite as having black hair, presumably for the same reason as Link's pink hair in A Link to the Past, although the in-game cutscenes and to a certain extent photos depicted him with auburn/light-colored hair, alongside his character artwork.
In many installments of the series, Link is the bearer of the Triforce of Courage. Several games mention a Triforce mark on Link's left hand, which identifies him either as a chosen hero or the holder of the Triforce of Courage. Teenage incarnations of Link have rather well-built physiques while younger versions of him are at least moderate in size. Surprisingly in Twilight Princess, Link appears to be slightly short for his age, with both Zelda and Midna (in her true form) being clearly taller than him.
Interestingly, Link bears a resemblance to Peter Pan, as they are both elf-like, wear green clothing, fight with swords, and are sometimes accompanied by a Fairy. Link also fights his shadow in some games, either Dark Link or Shadow Link, just like Peter. Shigeru Miyamoto once mentioned that he used Peter Pan as a bit of an inspiration for Link's design in The Legend of Zelda.
According to Yoshiaki Koizumi, there were initially plans to give Link a button nose similar to that of Mario, but his wife rejected it, citing that Nintendo already gave too many funny noses to their characters and suggested a more handsome nose for a change.https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/26-facts-about-the-legend-of-zelda-that-you-probab/2900-28/27/
=== Personality traits ===
A peculiarity of Link, as well as other characters, is the several different incarnations of the person throughout the Legend of Zelda series. He is implied to be somewhat sleepy or lazy at first since at some point near the beginning of every game except the first two, Majora's Mask, Oracle of Seasons/Ages, Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, Twilight Princess, and Tri Force Heroes, he is sleeping or dozing off.
Since Link is not usually shown to speak, his personality is mainly determined by his actions or others' comments about him. Currently only one incarnation of Link was ever shown to speak and it was the Hero's Shade; the regretful Hero of Time. Link has never spoke in any of the main Zelda games, other than noises (such as grunts or "Meow" in the The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker). He did speak in the CD show.
It is shown that Link possesses basic characteristics found in a heroic character; bravery, compassion, determination, and wisdom. He would even go as to save others that were his enemies. These characteristics allow him to wield the complete Triforce without a problem.
Being dexterous, Link can quickly understand the complex mechanics behind things or figure out an opponent's weakness to use against them. This has proven invaluable in many situations, with both foes and allies alike showing surprise at his ingenuity.
Link deeply values his ties with loved ones. His care towards allies has been noted several times, and is considered by some to be one of his greatest strengths.
==In Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up==
Link makes a cameo appearance on two pages. He is first shown on the "Chef" page, waiting to be served a pasta dish cooked by Mario. He is also shown on the "Travel Guide" page, standing in front of what appears to be the on one side and Egyptian pyramids on the other. Link's shield shows the text "Link's Travel Agency."
==In Donkey Kong franchise==
Link has made a few cameo appearances within the Donkey Kong games.
In Donkey Kong Country 2 Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2, Link, alongside Mario and Yoshi, all make a cameo as characters present in Cranky's Video Game Heroes.
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Link is mentioned by Bazaar in his store if Dixie and Kiddy do not wish to hear his explanation about the Mirror. This mention was removed from the Game Boy Advance version.
In Donkey Konga 2, Link is among the characters who makes a cameo appearance as a badge. He and a few other The Legend of Zelda characters also make a cameo as slots within the slot machine. Both the badge and slot of Link depicts his appearance from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The same badge of Link was retained in Donkey Konga 3 JP.
==In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars==
Link can be found sleeping in a bed at the Rose Town's inn. Because Link is generally a silent protagonist, talking to him causes a The Legend of Zelda melody for uncovering a secret to play instead. Samus Aran from the Metroid series also makes a similar cameo. Link retains this cameo in the Super Mario RPG remake for Nintendo Switch.
==In ==
Link's name is among those shown on the score chart in Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64 as well as Mario Golf for the Game Boy Color.
==In Mario Artist: Paint Studio==
There are a few stamps depicting Link's artwork from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, including his young form, his adult form, and his adult form riding Epona.
==In Game & Watch Gallery 4==
Link stars as a playable character in the Game & Watch port of Zelda, having the same role as in the original game.
==In ==
Link is featured in every The Legend of Zelda-themed microgames from 9-Volt and 18-Volt.
===WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! / WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!===
Link appears in the The Legend of Zelda microgame, set within the The Legend of Zelda game itself. The object is for the player to guide Link into a cave. In Level 2, Link has to avoid a Peahat along the way, and in Level 3, he also has to avoid an energy ball spit by a Zora. If Link does not make it to the cave on time, the player loses at the microgame.
===WarioWare: Twisted!===
Link appears in a different microgame also named The Legend of Zelda, also based on the game of the same name. The player has to rotate the handheld to have Link use his shield to deflect a rock spit out by each red Octorok. In Level 1, Link only has to deflect two rocks, while Level 2 requires him to deflect three rocks. Lastly, Level 3 features a group of Octoroks, only a few of which spit out a rock.
===WarioWare: Twisted!===
In another The Legend of Zelda microgame, if successfully completed by the player, Link can be seen holding up a Nintendo DS as a treasure triumphantly.
===WarioWare: Smooth Moves===
Link appears in three different microgames, two featuring him as playable and one in which he makes a cameo. Each microgame features a Link from a different The Legend of Zelda game. 
In Ocarina of Time, based on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Young Link must draw the Master Sword from its pedestal. In Level 1, this turns him into an adult, like in the actual game. In Level 2 this turns Link old and gives him a gray beard. In Level 3, he turns into a Cucco. The main difference between each difficulty level is that higher ones require Link to yank the Master Sword more times.
In The Wind Waker, based on The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Toon Link is gliding over the sea with the Deku Leaf, and he has to land on a tree trunk-shaped platform.
In Opening Night, Link makes a cameo as one of the instrument players within the orchestra, and he plays the violin in particular. This could be a nod to the Nintendo characters dancing and playing instruments in the type B mode of Tetris for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
===WarioWare: D.I.Y.===
Link is the main character in the Zelda microgame, based on The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass incarnation. Here, the player has to tap Chuchus for Link to attack and defeat them using his sword.
===WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase===
Link is playable in the Zelda 2 microgame, based on Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Here, Link has to deflect a Goriya's boomerangs with his shield.
===WarioWare Gold===
Link is playable in four microgames, three of which return from earlier WarioWare installments: The Legend of Zelda from WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! as well as Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker, both from WarioWare: Smooth Moves. Link's fourth microgame appearance is in the newly-introduced Phantom Hourglass, another microgame based on The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass; in it, the object is for the player to have Link hit a switch by tracing a line to it for the boomerang to follow.
===WarioWare: Get It Together!===
Link makes an appearance a microgame titled The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, based on the game of the same name. He is not playable, and stands to the right side as the player has to break an object frozen by the Stasis Rune. If the player successfully knocks the object away, Link happily jumps with his fist raised up.
===WarioWare: Move It!===
Link appears in the microgame The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, where he is considerably portrayed as an antagonist because the gameplay involves a Cucco having to avoid being caught by Link.
==In Captain Rainbow==
Link makes a cameo appearance as a portrait above Tracy's throne, alongside Mario. The portrait of Link depicts his artwork from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
==In ==
===Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury===
Rainbow Run features a secret a secret area where walking on the panels gradually reveals a depiction of an enlarged sprite of Link from The Legend of Zelda. Once every panel has been revealed, the iconic fanfare from The Legend of Zelda from when obtaining an item is played, and the second Green Power Star is revealed. An arrangement of the overworld theme from The Legend of Zelda then plays until the characters leave the area.
===Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker 2===
In both games, Mario can transform into Link by touching the Master Sword item. In Super Mario Maker, there are a few different Mystery Mushroom costumes of Link.
==In ==
===Mario Kart 8===
Link was introduced as a playable character within the The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 downloadable pack alongside Tanooki Mario and Cat Peach. The pack also gave Link his own course, Hyrule Circuit.
===Mario Kart 8 Deluxe===
Link and the other content included within The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 were incorporated into the base game.
On July 19, 2018, an update to the game added the Hero of the Wild (i.e. Link's standard outfit from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) as a playable character. Upon being added, the Hero of the Wild became the default Link, and the one with a green tunic was relegated to being an alternate character. Both Links are left-handed, although the Hero of the Wild is right-handed in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
==Crossover appearances==
Aside from appearing in Mario and its spinoffs, Link has appeared alongside Mario characters in several crossover series and several non-Mario games.
===Tetris series===
====Tetris (Nintendo Entertainment System)====
On the results screen after clearing Type B, various Nintendo characters are seen dancing and playing instruments. Link in particular can be seen playing a flute.
====Tetris DS====
Link, reusing his sprite appearance from The Legend of Zelda, makes a few cameo appearances.
===F-1 Race===
Link is among the Nintendo characters to be shown when completing a course. Link in particular is seen cheering on the player when they complete course 4.
======
Link is a default playable character in every installment, starting with the first Super Smash Bros.. he wields the Master Sword as well as many of his traditional weapons. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Link was joined by fellow The Legend of Zelda character Sheik, Princess Zelda, Ganondorf and Young Link. In Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, Link is designed after his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Link returns alongside Zelda, Sheik and Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and joined by Toon Link. Link is in his Twilight Princess incarnation. He and the other Zelda cast reappeared in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. However, Link's overall color scheme is noticeably more vibrant because of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii Us aesthetics, making him look more like his Skyward Sword incarnation, whom was otherwise unused in Smash, but retained his Twilight Princess design.
Link returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a playable character. Initially teased alongside Mario and Inkling during the then-unnamed Super Smash Bros. trailer at the end of the March 8th, 2018 Nintendo Direct, he was formally announced alongside the rest of the cast via Ultimate's E3 2018 trailer on June 12th, 2018. Link now uses the Breath of the Wild version in the game. In addition to wearing the Champion's Tunic as part of his default costume, Link has the Wild Set of clothes as an alternate costume.
===Art Style: PiCTOBiTS===
Link is featured in both the dark and light puzzles for Level 11 as well as the light puzzle for Level 12.
==In other media==
===Play Nintendo===
Aside from being one of the main features in several Nintendo activities and being featured under the "Friends" section of the site, Link has appeared in some of the same Play Nintendo activities and videos as Mario, particularly those focused on Nintendo characters in general, such as Nintendo Trivia Quiz, in which Link is shown in the first question focused on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.
==Timeline==
==Trivia==
*Link and Captain Falcon have shared the same weight value throughout the Super Smash Bros. series.
*Much of Link's Super Smash Bros. moveset was used for his appearance as a playable fighter in Soulcalibur II. Many attacks even shared the same name as the names provided for Link's standard moveset on the Super Smash Bros. website.
*Link and several other Nintendo stars would have made an appearance in the Starbeans Cafe in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. However, they were all scrapped in favor of only Professor E. Gadd.
*In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a road in Queens named "Link Street" is shown on the map in the Super Mario Bros. Plumbing commercial.
==Gallery==
== External links ==
* Link on Zelda Wiki
* Link on Smashpedia
==References==
==Navigation==
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Category:Heroes
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Category:Characters from The Legend of Zelda series
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