The Hero of Time. Chosen by the Gods. The Savior of Hyrule. Such titles of praise and adoration are worthy honors for the legend capable of wielding the Sword of Evil’s Bane. With each passing generation, the tales of Link’s stoic deeds slowly faded from memory. In the words of Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings, “History became legend. Legend became myth.”
Yet not all is valiant pomp and circumstance. Behind the heroic tunic, elvish cap, and charming blue eyes lies a much darker past. For within the confines of Link’s own mind, a dreaded evil lurked about just waiting to be set free. As the dire plight of Hyrule gradually descended into chaos, the grave condition loosened these malevolent bonds until the hero could stand it no more. He. Just. Had. To. Be. Mischievous!
Despite all his courage, valor, and fortitude, Link and I share a particularly strong affinity for practical jokes and pranks. As is often the case, our devilish exploits come back to nip us in the beefy backside. For you see, we both enjoy a fine sample of our own leathery footwear every now and then. But on some occasions, our diabolical plots yield timely rewards.
Such is the case when Link visits the Lake of Ill Omen in A Link to the Past. Despite a stern warning from a nearby sign, the hero unleashes his morbid curiosity by tossing a stone into the forbidden circle of doom. Out pops a mysterious catfish who proposes a compromise in exchange for solitude. Link quickly accepts and is rewarded with the Quake Medallion, which grants him the power to summon earthquakes at will. Feeling proud of our newfound ability, we merrily exit the swampy region in search of the next imprisoned maiden.
As I once again traversed the Lake of Ill Omen in a recent playthrough, my curiosity peaked. Why did the name of this lake imply such a frightful destiny? This secluded portion of the Dark World map poses little threat. There are no enemies. The water is relatively shallow. So why give the lake such a foreboding name? The answer lies deep in the myths of 1800s Japanese folklore.
Meet Namazu. Rumored to live in the muddy depths surrounding the islands of Japan, this giant catfish was thought to be the cause of an 1855 earthquake near modern-day Tokyo. The locals believed that even the slightest movement from this divine beast could cause worldwide destruction. Like every reincarnation of Ganon, a calamity needs a hero.
Enter Takemikazuchi. This Japanese god of thunder is entrusted with thwarting Namazu’s slippery motions. Armed with a mighty sword and a giant boulder, Takemikazuchi restrains the giant catfish to save the people of Japan. Ever the aquatic nuisance, Namazu patiently waits for Takemikazuchi to lower his guard.
The pieces steadily began to fall into place. The entire Lake of Ill Omen is a metaphor that pays homage to Japanese folklore. The catfish symbolizes the “ill omen” of destruction, and the circle of stones represents Namazu’s imprisonment. Feeling clever for discovering such a hidden cultural trope, I gleefully began the treacherous ascent toward Turtle Rock.
But as I entered the Death Mountain cave with the old man, I quickly paused the game and set down the controller. It suddenly dawned on me that Link and my mischievous deeds were by no means cunning or shrewd. Neither was our cultural discovery. Instead, we had been “catfished” by the very creature bearing the same name!
While the game’s metaphorical Namazu had little hope of escaping his circular penitentiary, he ingeniously found a way to release his destructive force upon the world. No longer able to wreak havoc from below, the catfish employed the power of deception to entice the hero to do his evil bidding. Now armed with the Quake Medallion, Link unwittingly became Namazu’s agent of destruction.
As I smirked and inwardly applauded Shigeru Miyamoto for his crafty analogy, I was overcome with humble embarrassment. Perhaps I was not as skilled a prankster as I had originally thought. But then I smiled because neither is the legendary Hero of Hyrule. For while we often enjoy a morsel of our own footwear, this time we both encompassed the entire shoe.
