It's A Little Weird That We're Still Asking for Playable Zelda, Right?

[Derbel McDillet]

I know people tend to point to Spirit Tracks or one of the Warriors games, but I feel like it's weird that we're still asking for playable Zelda when it comes to the main series. Like really consider the amount of games that have beaten that to the punch regarding reoccurring alternative characters. You've played as Luigi, Bowser, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Captain Toad, Dark Pit, Meta Knight, Dee Dee Dee, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Coco Bandicoot, Protoman, Bass, Roll, Vergil, Lady, Trish, several women in Assassin's Creed in main entries of those series, but playable Zelda is still out in the void as something that has to be argued for and justified whenever brought up.

Initially I wanted this to be a broader topic about longest wants in gaming, but I feel like this is specific enough.

It's not even like a call out at this point, but it feels like just about every other series, Nintendo's included, has done this to varying degrees of quality, I just don't get how Zelda of all things hasn't done it when it's probably one of the most requested (depending upon the online circle I suppose). Like you were able to play as a woman in GTA (online) before Zelda in a main series games, like, what are we doing here? Is it that hard to justify?

 

[ArchedThunder]

No, it's not weird that we're "still asking". But it is weird that they don't give us it though.

 

[CrazyDude]

I don't get why Zelda though? Why not just make Link female? I don't really have much interest in dual protagonists in a Zelda game.

 

[LegendofLex]

Not necessarily weird.

I think they're caught between a rock and a hard place. The core game mechanics of Zelda revolve around Link's persona and toolset, so they'd either have to dramatically depart from that to make another playable character or effectively make Zelda "girl Link."

Both approaches have risks, so it's not that surprising they're just not taking the risk.

 

[The 28th Hour]

who would of thought we would have a playable female protagonist in Grand Theft Auto before Zelda lol

 

[JaseMath]

Not really?

 

[Jiraiya]

It's not really weird at all that Link remains the playable character. Other Nintendo franchises doing it doesn't make it any more weird either.

I think it's more weird that bases think a creative should cater to SOME people asking for a thing. Especially when they're making quality titles in the franchise.

 

[Atom]

Fuck at this point I'd just take Zelda being along for the adventure like Spirit Tracks (and that game let you control her as well lmao). Genuinely crazy.

Or at the very least I don't think there's any excuse for not having a female link option.

 

[Dyle]

Not really. It's an almost entirely single-player series which has never really wavered from its protagonist. She's playable in several spin-offs

 

[L Thammy]

And yet there was very briefly a playable Kafei.

 

[KezayJS1]

I think there is definitely a case to be made for it as we've seen instances of a non-playable Zelda having far more scope than being a story driver. Especially after Zelda has been playable in spin off titles. I don't think it's weird though, but I do feel there is far more potential for the character's utility now being playable as the series has continued to evolve.

 

[L Thammy]

man remember when that one guy in that one place did that one thread and then it was pinned or something

 

[Hadok]

Zelda will be playable in The Legend of Link.

 

[Noog]

It'd be weird if Zelda games tended to have multiple playable characters, but they don't. Link is designed to be the "link" to the player. I understand people want a female playable character, and I can see a playable female Link happening, but I think Nintendo views mainstream Zelda games as having more or else an established premise, with Link as playable.

 

[Antipode]

I do find it super weird that Zelda hasn't gotten her own series or spinoff game. I don't find it strange at all that she's not playable in Zelda games.

 

[GarudaSmiles]

And yet there was very briefly a playable Kafei.

Click to shrink...

Medli and Makar in Wind Waker kind of as well. Although I guess we're controlling Link controlling them.

 

[Callibretto]

I think we need a spin off title called The Legend of Link to finally get playable Zelda

 

[Capra]

You know there is that one fork of the timeline we know barely anything about where Link dies but somehow the Sages led by Zelda manage to seal The Dorf away. You'd think something like that would be a prime candidate for a Zelda game to flesh out that span of time.

But then I think Nintendo might just be done with the Old Timeline.

 

[Renna Hazel]

Link is the star of the games, so it's not weird that we don't randomly get to play as the supporting cast. Plenty of games allow that, plenty don't.

 

[Lotus]

I just want a female Link

 

[Servbot24]

Dual protagonists stink. They should make Zelda the only playable character if they do make her playable.

 

[jdstorm]

It's not wierd

People want to play as Zelda
Nintendo is sexist…

 

[Xelan]

I'd settle for her being present through the main quest and not only at the beggining or end of the games.

 

[ClickyCal']

I just want a female Link

Click to shrink...

I have a perfect character for you...

 

[Lotus]

I have a perfect character for you...

Click to shrink...

Linkle?

 

[Zebesian-X]

Aonuma's "but what is link going to do" comment makes me think it's more likely we get girl link.

Zelda will get her own spin-off shortly after the live action film like peach did, but no mainline games on Nintendo's watch 🙅‍♂️

 

[L Thammy]

I do find it super weird that Zelda hasn't gotten her own [...] spinoff game.

Click to shrink...

She kinda did. Sorta.

 

[lvl 99 Pixel]

idk why they're stuck on Link being a guy more than anything. If that's the mythological hero avatar, who is basically mute/silent protagonist outside of a few exasperations and grunts then it should be easy to have that option. The only reason at this point seems to be some hard headed tradition. Just don't call them Linkle.... that is not a great name.

 

[Lord Vatek]

I mean either a playable Zelda or a female Link.

There's no reason Link can't have a gender choice beyond this series simply being sexist as hell.

 

[Capra]

At the very least we should have the option to let Link just, be female.

 

[Anjin M]

Yes, it's weird. People should have figured out by now that it's now going to happen.

 

[Yoshimitsu126]

Got to drive sales for Hyrule Warriors.

 

[DinoBlaster]

I'm all for female Link, but for Zelda herself I'd prefer a spin-off game. Sheik in a DMC-like action game, or Zelda in a puzzle platformer.

 

[kirbyfan407]

It doesn't seem surprising to me that Nintendo isn't responsive to specific fan requests based on their decisions in general, as disappointing as that may be to some. So, I guess it's weird in the context of the larger industry where you have studios who manage official Discords and hire Community Managers, but it doesn't seem weird for Nintendo specifically.

I think we could one day get a customizable Link (that includes gender options) or segments that involve controlling Zelda, and some might argue that the clothing options in BOTW/TOTK are a step in the former's direction. I doubt we'll get one of those "once every 5-6 years" mainline games with Zelda the character as the star, but never say never. A spin-off seems more possible, and as you pointed out, she has already shown up as playable in the spin-offs with multiple playable characters (e.g., Hyrule Warriors and Cadence of Hyrule). It'd be cool to get a Captain Toad-tier or Prince Peach Showtime!-tier game starring Zelda soon, and this seems to me like something Nintendo could pursue in the future. If we get an explosion of Zelda games after the film releases (sort of like what we're seeing with Mario in the year after that film), I could see a Zelda spin-off being one of them.

 

[BasilZero]

I mean its whatever to me.

Dont care what the character is as long as the game is fun and enjoyable.

So whenever a new Zelda game gets announced, Link's appearance or who the main character is the least important factor to me.

 

[SupersonicHypertonic]

It's not weird to ask, I'd like to play as Zelda considering how prominent she has been for the last few games and extremely important lore wise in certain games, but as the zelda team has said it's hard to fit Zelda as a main character and have some sort of role for Link. Essentially he loses all of what makes him such a popular character - the fact we plays as him. Take that away and you got a mute dude with no personality and little to no screen time. I guess she could have a very different playstyle like more magic based so Link isnt needed as much or maybe a dual progatnist game so both can shine.

The gender bent Link idea is stupid AF. Why turn a famous and existing character into a girl for no reason other than so you can have a girl for an entry when Zelda, a girl, is literally right there?

 

[kodax_shc]

yes

 

[Butch]

Yeah I don't really want to play as Zelda.
Now female link...

 

[lvl 99 Pixel]

The gender bent Link idea is stupid AF. It's just pandering. Why turn a famous and existing character into a girl for no reason other than so you can have a girl for an entry when Zelda, a girl, is literally right there?

Click to shrink...

Its not "gender bent" when its an option that has no reason to not exist. Its not the same incarnation in most of the games so nothing is being "bent". Famous and existing character isn't even true, like Link has been so many different people of different ages and different artstyles. "incarnation of a legendary hero" is basically the main recurring premise, which means you can do just about anything with it.

 

[Mekanos]

yes

Click to shrink...

That avatar bet already ended!

 

[Zeal543]

Link is boring, honestly I'd rather play as a pretty large portion of random NPCs over him

 

[Daysean]

If I wanted something in a franchise and said franchise refuses to do it or acknowledge it, I wouldn't keep playing each new game I tell you that

We want Zelda to be playable!
Nintendo indirectly: no
Ok *buys latest game*, I'll be back next time grr

 

[Zebesian-X]

It's not weird to ask, I'd like to play as Zelda considering how prominent she has been for the last few games and extremely important lore wise in certain games, but as the zelda team has said it's hard to fit Zelda as a main character and have some sort of role for Link. Essentially he loses all of what makes him such a popular character - the fact we plays as him. Take that away and you got a mute dude with no personality and little to no screen time. I guess she could have a very different playstyle like more magic based so Link isnt needed as much or maybe a dual progatnist game so both can shine.

The gender bent Link idea is stupid AF. Why turn a famous and existing character into a girl for no reason other than so you can have a girl for an entry when Zelda, a girl, is literally right there?

Click to shrink...

every link is a different character though. Why wouldn't some incarnations be girls?

If I wanted something in a franchise and said franchise refuses to do it or acknowledge it, I wouldn't keep playing each new game I tell you that

We want Zelda to be playable!
Nintendo indirectly: no
Ok *buys latest game*, I'll be back next time grr

Click to shrink...

"Boycott it or stop asking" is a strange stance, I don't think you've hit on anything here

 

[SupersonicHypertonic]

its not "gender bent" when its an option that has no reason to not exist. Its not even the same incarnation in most of the games so nothing is being "bent".

Click to shrink...

Link has always been male, Zelda female, Ganondorf male, Impa female, Rauru male and so on. There's no rule that says they don't have to be set but those are what genders they've always been for the last 30 years so it's expected to be the same for those characters. It's definitely gender bent. I mean by your logic there's no rule or lore reason why Hyrule can't be set on mercury, Zelda is a tentacle alien, Link is a giraffe and Ganondorf is a washing machine so long as they use the usual story of link and Zelda must destroy Ganondorf and save the world but obviously most fans wouldn't be down with that at all as there's no connection to any Zelda conventions

Besides like I said Zelda is there, she has much much more reason to be a main female character lorewiese, powerset wise, popularity wise. Why ignore her and possibly relegate her to bed rescuing just to create a new one

 

[lvl 99 Pixel]

Link has always been male, Zelda female, Ganondorf male, Impa female, Rauru male and so on. There's no rule that says they don't have to be set but those are what genders they've always been for the last 30 years so it's expected to be the same for those characters. It's definitely gender bent. I mean by your logic there's no rule or lore reason why Hyrule can't be set on mercury, Zelda is a tentacle alien, Link is a giraffe and Ganondorf is a washing machine so long as they use the usual story of link and Zelda must destroy Ganondorf and save the world but obviously most fans wouldn't be down with that at all as there's no connection to any Zelda conventions

Besides like I said Zelda is there, she has much much more reason to be a main female character lorewiese, powerset wise, popularity wise. Why create a new one

Click to shrink...

Rauru is now a goat-person, unrelated to the other canons for the character. They don't care about what has always been (in some ways), like the triforce isn't even relevant any more. Even if they kept the wisdom/courage/power triforce incarnation stuff there is no good reason to have to stick with doing the same old shit.

The slippery slope shit with tentacle aliens and washing machines is just gonna be ignored because you're not serious.

 

[oty]

nope, not weird at all to still ask. in fact, still ask is sort of how we can somehow make it clear to Nintendo that a portion of the fanbase would like that

but also, not weird that Nintendo hasn't done it yet. it's one of their flagship franchises and Link has always been the front and center. Again, I don't necessarily think that they are against making a female protagonist, they are against making any protagonist that just isn't *Link*. Pretty sure they made that clear before

Zelda just isn't like Mario to Miyamoto, Aonuma and co. To them, Link is the only possible choice and I mean....their franchise so eh

 

[Gavalanche]

I want to play a game as Ganondorf.

It is a little weird though how close to every secondary Mario character has their own games, but the Zelda series is limited.

 

[Mr. Floyd]

Link is boring, honestly I'd rather play as a pretty large portion of random NPCs over him

Click to shrink...

Link is meant to be an avatar for you.

 

[Mazzo]

yeah well

 

[SupersonicHypertonic]

Rauru is now a goat-person, unrelated to the other canons for the character. They don't care about what has always been, like the triforce isn't even relevant any more. Even if they kept the wisdom/courage/power triforce incarnation stuff there is no good reason to have to stick with doing the same old shit.

The slippery slope shit with tentacle aliens and washing machines is just gonna be ignored because you're not serious.

Click to shrink...

Rauru is still male though.

I was being dramatic but my point stands. If you remove the very basics like who caharcters are then what's the point of any sort continuity between games. If anything is mutable then there nothing to define what a Zelda, or any other series, is. You might as well take the next Halo, slap on the zelda name and call it day

You still ignore the big elephant in the room this thread is about and I brought up twice - Zelda herself could easily the playable female character.