When Did Link Become Right-Handed? A Deep Dive into the Hero of Hyrule’s Dominant Hand
Link, the legendary hero of the Legend of Zelda series, has wielded his sword with a certain hand throughout his many adventures, a detail that has sparked much debate and curiosity among fans. The simple answer to when Link became primarily right-handed is with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on the Nintendo Wii in 2006. However, this seemingly straightforward change is rooted in a series of design choices and technological advancements throughout the Zelda franchise’s history. Prior to this, Link was largely known as a left-handed hero. To understand this shift, we need to explore the evolution of Link’s handedness in detail.
The Left-Handed Legacy
The Origins of Southpaw Link
For many years, Link was predominantly seen using his left hand. This iconic trait first became prominent in 1998 with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the first 3D title in the series. Before the advent of 3D graphics, Link’s sprite was frequently mirrored across the screen to face the direction the player was moving. With 3D rendering, this was no longer necessary. This allowed the developers to consistently depict Link using items and, most notably, his sword in his left hand, establishing him as a true southpaw in the gaming world.
Miyamoto’s Influence
Interestingly, the choice to make Link left-handed wasn’t arbitrary. Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary game designer behind the Zelda series, is himself left-handed. He wanted to create a character that shared this trait, resulting in a design decision that resonated with many players. This gave the series a unique identity, where the main character was different, even in such a subtle way.
Ambidextrous Beginnings
It’s worth noting that prior to Ocarina of Time, Link wasn’t always strictly left-handed. In earlier games such as A Link to the Past, Link could appear to wield his sword with either hand depending on which way he was facing due to sprite flipping. He was more accurately ambidextrous during this time. The important distinction is that his shield was always facing the top of the screen, which was north, a design choice that affected the look of his handedness but not the lore.
The Shift to Right-Handedness
Twilight Princess and the Wii
The pivotal moment for Link’s switch to right-handedness occurred with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The game was initially developed for the Nintendo GameCube, where Link remained left-handed. However, the game was also released on the Nintendo Wii. To accommodate the motion controls of the Wii Remote, the world was mirrored, flipping the game’s perspective, and in turn, making Link appear as a right-handed character. This was a pragmatic decision to align the player’s movements with the on-screen action, creating a more intuitive and immersive experience for right-handed players who make up the majority of the population.
Skyward Sword and Motion Controls
This change was further solidified in 2011 with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which was designed from the ground up for the Wii and its motion controls. In Skyward Sword, Link used his sword exclusively with his right hand, again, to match the way players would hold the Wii Remote. This confirmed that the main reason for Link wielding his sword with his right hand was to fit the controls for that particular generation of consoles. However, he still used items in his left hand.
Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
This trend continued with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, where Link is once again right-handed. Breath of the Wild marked the first time Link was completely right-handed, using his left hand for nothing at all. This demonstrates that after the change, there wasn’t any going back, a move that cemented the change in the modern Zelda era.
Why the Change?
The primary reason for this shift was to create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for the majority of players who are right-handed, and whose primary experience with video games is holding the controller with their right hand. By having Link wield his sword with his right hand, the connection between player input and on-screen action became more intuitive, especially when motion controls were involved. This shift was never a decision in regards to canon, and is solely based on control and player experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Was Link always left-handed?
No, prior to Ocarina of Time, Link was more accurately ambidextrous. In 2D titles, the sprite mirroring caused the hero to appear to use either hand. He became definitively left-handed with Ocarina of Time.
2. Why was Link originally left-handed?
Link was originally left-handed because his creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, is also left-handed and wanted a character that shared that trait.
3. Is Link canonically right-handed?
No, Link is canonically left-handed, though the need for right-handed controls has resulted in many modern games presenting him as right-handed for gameplay purposes.
4. Why did they make Link right-handed in Twilight Princess?
The world was mirrored in the Wii version of Twilight Princess to accommodate motion controls, making Link appear right-handed.
5. Is Link right-handed in Breath of the Wild?
Yes, Link is right-handed in Breath of the Wild and it is the first time that Link used only his right hand for all combat purposes, not using his left for items or shields.
6. Is Link right-handed in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, Link is also right-handed in Tears of the Kingdom, carrying on the trend from Breath of the Wild.
7. Will Link ever be left-handed again?
It’s possible that Link will be left-handed again in the future, particularly in 2D games, or if a future 3D title doesn’t necessitate a right-handed control scheme.
8. Why isn’t Link left-handed now?
The main reason Link is right-handed in modern games is due to the control schemes. When the Wii controller was introduced, it made sense for Link to wield his sword in his right hand, to make the motion controls feel more natural for the player.
9. Is Link mute?
While Link doesn’t have spoken dialogue in the games, he is not considered mute. He is a silent protagonist.
10. Is Link’s gender canon?
Link is depicted as a male character, but his creator, Eiji Aonuma, stated that he wanted the character to be gender-neutral in Ocarina of Time, wanting the player to be able to interpret the character as they see fit.
11. Is Link supposed to be androgynous?
Yes, Link is designed to be androgynous, allowing players to more easily insert themselves into his character.
12. How tall is Link?
Link’s height is estimated to be around 5’2” (158.5 cm), according to research done by fans.
13. What is Link’s last name?
Link does not officially have a last name. Nintendo creator Shigeru Miyamoto once joked his name would be “Link Link”, but this was not taken seriously as canon.
14. Why does Link have a Sheikah arm?
In Tears of the Kingdom, Link’s Sheikah arm is a result of him being presumably augmented by Sheikah technology after suffering the effects of Ganondorf’s malice.
15. Is Link in love with Zelda?
Link and Zelda have a caring relationship, but a romantic relationship has not been canonically confirmed in the games, leaving it up to player interpretation.
In conclusion, while Link’s canonical preference remains being left-handed, the shift to right-handedness was primarily driven by gameplay requirements of modern consoles. Though he started as a left-handed hero, it is the convenience of right-handed gameplay that is largely responsible for the switch. The legacy of Link is a fascinating exploration in the evolution of character design and the impact of technological innovation on how we experience video games.