The video game trivia connoisseurs behind Did You Know Gaming? shared some surprising facts today about Link’s character design in Ocarina of Time. It seems earlier designs of the Hero of Time were more cartoony and in line with Mario’s design from Super Mario 64. In images of this prototype Link, the hero had a big button nose, a far departure from the pointy and angular nose we know him for today.
So why the change? In an “Iwata Asks” interview discussing the release of Ocarina of Time 3D, developer Yoshiaki Koizumi revealed the reason he changed Link’s design was to please his wife.
: My wife said, “All of Nintendo’s characters have funny noses. Don’t you have any handsome ones?” I was shocked.
(laughs)
Then when we were making The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, I was in charge of Link’s character design, so I made him a little better-looking.
Huh? So Link is your wife’s type?
Yes. (firmly)
(laughs)
The truth comes out 13 years later. (laughs)
I cut back on his sideburns and made his nose a little stronger.
It’s narrower.
And I pierced his ears, making him sort of cool. But it wouldn’t suit Nintendo if he were too cool, so he wears that long underwear. (laughs)
Huh? Is that long underwear? (laughs)
Yeah. He wears that green tunic and cool gloves, but underneath, it’s long underwear. (laughs)
It seems that, in true Nintendo fashion, Link is still a bit of a dork despite all his awesome gear.
