| Link | |
| |
| Full Name | Link |
| First Appearance | The Legend of Zelda |
| Species | Hylian |
| Affiliation(s) | Hylians |
| Latest Appearance | The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks |
Link is the main protagonist in the Legend of Zelda series of video games and is the hero in all of them, rescuing Hyrule and Princess Zelda. Sometimes, Link is portrayed as a brave young boy around ten years old. Other times, he's depicted as a courageous teenager of about sixteen years old. Link is considered one of the most popular Nintendo characters of all time, even earning a star on the Walk of Game alongside Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario.
History
The Legend of Zelda
In Link's first appearance and incarnation, The Legend of Zelda, Link is a young boy summoned by Princess Zelda's caretaker, Impa, to save Zelda and Hyrule from the Prince of Darkness, Ganon. He must collect all eight pieces of the legendary treasure of Hyrule, the Triforce, before Ganon does. In the end, Link successfully collects all of the pieces and kills Ganon with a silver arrow. He frees Zelda, and Link is deemed a hero.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
In the sequel to the original game, the same incarnation of Link has his sixteenth birthday. Upon turning sixteen, Impa sees a Triforce mark on his hand and notifies him that this means he's the chosen one. The chosen one must awaken Princess Zelda from her sleeping curse. Though Ganon was killed in the prequel, Ganon's army of monsters are still alive and roaming Hyrule. They plan to kill Ganon's murderer, Link, and spill his blood on Ganon's ashes, thus reviving him. Link, however, knows he has to awaken Princess Zelda from her sleeping curse, and places the six crystals in Hyrule's palaces. Afterwards, he faces off against Dark Link, and recieves the Triforce of Courage. He awakens Princess Zelda after his adventure, again being the hero.