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Link vs. Link
Published: 2011-07-27 22:48:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 86830; Favourites: 4249; Downloads: 1514
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Description
While graphics have improved over the years, Link's design has taken some definite steps backward. At least when I looked at those chunky pixels, I imagined a cool scrappy kid elf, and not the androgenous pretty boy that Nintendo's designers want him to be now.This was done for the Avalanche blog "Legend of Zelda" tribute for the 25-year anniversary of the first game.
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Comments: 504
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I think the old and new versions have their own pros and cons. For example, the latest incarnations finally got pants, which is a HUGE improvement if you ask me. Even the OoT tights were better than the original bare legs he officially had. Though I would certainly agree that what I assumed the original sprites were trying to communicate wasn't exactly what Link became once he went 3D. I interpreted them similarly to what the illustrations for the Oracle games eventually did - less "pretty" but still generally cute and and cartoony.
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I love how the little scrappy one is like, "CLEARLY it's too dangerous for you to go alone. Stay close, and do what I say." Pretty Link does kind of seem perpetually trapped in his angsty teen "Meh" years, as compared to the chunky little ball of pixels and baddassery.
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Shared on my blog today
www.noblevalerian.com/1/post/2…
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This is awesome!
Frankly, though, I like the adult Link better than the child Link. But those expressions are great!
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lol, pretty boy Link has lady hips. The sprite might have looked that way, but the illustrations in the manuals always had Link as some variety of anime androgynous, so I din't think it was a conscious decision so much as them working with the limitations of the technology.
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Well,I just love this, Is amazing and good point
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Well, toon Link is somewhat similar to your own vision of Link, and Nintendo made several Zelda games with that design.
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hahaha haha haaa
thats funny, im not being sarcastic!
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But in "Wind Waker" and "Ocarina of Time" you can still find that scrappy boy 
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I still love this picture, I remember the first time I saw it!! (I still gotta say, though, I like the pretty-boy link u__u;;;;;
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yup. I definitely agree. Major design flaws, at least compared to what it WAS like...
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hahahaha! i can't stop luaghing. what a great piece. when i showed this to my friend he thought the short link looked like chucky there for a sec.
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I think Link strikes a nice balance of tough and prettyboy. I mean Legolas isn't exactly ugly but that doesn't take away from him being a bamf >.>. He's just Goku with better combed hair, pure of heart and full of courage.
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Now I got the map music from The Adventure of Link playing in my head. Having non detailed graphics can be a really beneficial because it gives everyone a chance to envision their own hero. When I played A Link to the Past as a kid, I gave Link a girl name and pretended that the character was female. Great work as always. I like the edge of the hill in particular, it has a real old school game feel to it with the layered dirt and turf of grass. The trees are also dead on.
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Yeah, I bet all those "Zelda is the Girl" T-shirts feel sheepish now
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It may be because I got into Zelda with OoT, but I never liked the old design as much. Twilight Princess Link will always be my favorite. You may not like bishounen!Link, but he was hot, and I got plenty of eye candy as I was playing. 
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Or pink, depending on which version. But does it matter what color a weak character's hair is?
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I don't think link is a weak character. And this picture, shoes the developement of link over the years, and they gradually changed his hair from brown to blonde. Just saying.
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Jesus christ how does no one get this, the cover art always had blonde hair they used brown and pink because the colour sets were limited on old games
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LOL Why are you replying to a comment from over half a year ago?
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