Twilight Princess has always been my favorite Zelda game, so I’m very well acquainted with Link’s alternate form; but what if I told you that it isn’t my favorite version of Link’s canine alter-ego? Yes, he’s appeared in more than one game, and while some of you may think Breath of the Wild may be the only other one, you would be wrong. You have to venture outside the Zelda franchise and jump on over to Animal Crossing: New Leaf to find him.
With the tap of a Wolf Link amiibo (or any Link or Princess Zelda amiibo), he can show up in an RV right outside your town! Wolf Link, or W. Link as it’s shortened to in New Leaf, arrives in his dungeon-themed camper, and with a little convincing, he can become a resident of your village! I myself have invited the hero-in-disguise to become part of my own town and to this day he remains one of my favorite characters.
Now, Animal Crossing is nowhere near as dark and gritty a game as Twilight Princess. It’s a happy-go-lucky, relaxing, little life-simulation game, and so this version of Wolf Link was created to fit within that theme. He’s got a smug personality, meaning he’s a pretty cool guy to hang around with. Like how he acts in the game he comes from, he’s very kind to other villagers and is able to get along with many of them. The only type of villagers he may not get along with are cranky ones, which, of course, Ganon’s Animal Crossing counterpart happens to be.
Smug villagers are generally more expressive, which is something I’ve always thought Twilight Princess’s Link was, but with Animal Crossing not being as much of a somber game, he can be a bit over the top. In my experience with Wolf Link as a villager, he has been known to spontaneously sing and dance, frequent games of hide-and-go-seek, and only purchase the most in-demand, high-end clothing Gracie’s got on the market. Plus, he is definitely a DIY crafter, which is always a plus in my book.
Yeah, he’s a little less serious, but that’s what makes him so charming! There’s no villains to fight or civilians to be saved, so Link has the luxury to just sit back and enjoy life for once. He can finally enter those fishing tournaments without having to put the fate of the world on hold! Link deserves a break, and I’m happy to let him do so in my little animal village.
What else can I say? Wolf Link is a good boy.
