Linkle will be a new playable character for Hyrule Warriors Legends, but it has people speculating over just where she may fit in the Legend of Zelda universe. Could she be a player character option in the new home console Legend of Zelda? A star of a new game completely?
I'd love to see more female playable characters in games as a whole, but Linkle is...well, I have my fair share of criticisms. Not least regarding the name. 'Link', to me, sounds gender neutral enough that it could have been used for this character, too. I understand not wanting to label her as fem!Link (and thus the idea that male is intrinsically default), but if that was their reasoning, why give her a diminutive form of the name? If she is meant to be a totally different character, maybe reflect that in the roots of the name?
Her outfit design is questionable, too. Link has iconically worn a green tunic since his inception, but over time, his design has adapted to being more complicated, incorporating elements like chain mail, pouches, weapon sheaths and decorative patterns. He still wears the green tunic, but we can see how practical and useful it is, while still remaining true to those roots. Linkle, by contrast, is simply wearing what seems to be a short riding cloak over some basic clothing.
Linkle isn't actually a new idea. Concept art for her was displayed in the Hyrule Warriors art book last year. In these designs, we get a little more of an idea of a practical heroine; covered legs and arms, sword sheaths and gauntlets. Especially in the top right example below, we see the possibility for a 'Link who happens to be female' as opposed to a feminised Link.
I don't mind that the current design for Linkle is 'cute'. It's better than a fan service character in a ridiculously skimpy outfit being touted as female representation. But I want to actually believe that this version of Link can get stuff done. That she can save the day just as competently as her male counterpart. If nothing else, I'd like to know how she's going to reload those duel crossbows she's wielding with no spare hands!
In short, I love the idea of Linkle, but the execution has been pretty poorly done. It may be that over time, Nintendo will adjust designs according to feedback and their future plans for games, but if nothing else, I'm reasonably certain we are stuck with that name. Sighs all around.
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