6 Reasons We Need a New Game – Not Just a Remake – For the Hero of Time

We can all agree that the Hero of Time gets the short end of the straw.

He’s just an innocent boy rudely awoken by a fairy who doesn’t shut up, is chucked into the deep end of political plots and power struggles, sent on a mission by Princess Zelda to save the kingdom, and fights monsters of such sheer enormity it’s a wonder he’s not crushed to death. Then, just after pulling the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time, his spirit is sealed away for seven whole years, waking as an adult to foil the King of Evil. After restoring peace, he’s sent back to his childhood — meaning, no one remembers him or his legendary feats.

And that’s just the start.

In his new form as a boy with the experience, mind, and skill set of a young man (bet that made making friends really hard), Link travels to Termina in search of his fairy friend who left him without explanation. After encountering Skull Kid whose mind has been poisoned by Majora’s Mask, he embarks on a quest to prevent the moon from literally crashing into the earth in three days. That’s a lot of weight on this hero’s shoulders, but he succeeds, defeating Majora’s Mask inside the moon — and makes amends with Skull Kid afterward.

That’s not all.

We know the once great but now disregarded hero eventually passes away at an unknown age. But his spirit could not pass to the afterlife because his regrets tied him to the world of the living. Thus, he becomes the spectral Hero’s Shade. Unable to pass on the lessons of his life to younger generations, he eventually eased his inner demons by teaching long-lost powerful sword fighting techniques to his descendant, the Hero of Twilight. Regrets put to rest, he then passes on to the world of spirits.

Whew. That’s a lot of trauma. But bad decisions and ill-fated scenarios make for a good plot!

While the general consensus is that most Zelda fans are excited about the recent announcement regarding the Ocarina of Time remake, there may be a small part of the fandom thinking: we need a new game, not just a remake, for the Hero of Time.

Reasons why below!

What happened with Navi?

Okay, so there are multiple reasons that could explain why Navi packed up and left poor little/old Link at the end of Ocarina of Time, which led to him searching for his departed friend at the beginning of Majora’s Mask.

It could be that:

1. She fulfilled her purpose. After the Great Deku Tree entrusted her to help guide the Hero of Time, and Link defeated Ganon, resetting the timeline, Navi’s task was completed. Consequently, she moved on and flies away.
2. She disappeared, permanently. Arguably, because her purpose is fulfilled, she’s not just left Link — she’s faded away. Much like the many healing fairies that Link encounters on his journey, her reason to exist is similarly fulfilled.
3. Link simply grew up. Because he’s not a Kokiri, and is, in fact, a Hylian, he does not need a guardian fairy.

What we do know is that boy and fairy are never reunited, but that isn’t to say Link doesn’t find out what happened…

Her ultimate fate remains an unsolved series head-scratcher, though certain fans may state it’s a mystery best left unsolved. After all, Link learns to accept that he won’t see his friend again. However, others might disagree and say: it’s about time we at least found out why since her disappearance plays a part in the tragic sequence of events that transforms the Hero of Time into the Hero’s Shade.

What’s with the missing eye?

Apart from his skeletal appearance, the Hero’s Shade has a distinctive feature: a single, glowing red eye. The other’s missing. An old battle wound, likely, but it would be interesting to see (and play) a much older Link engage in combat as a famed swordsman of Hyrule.

Is there a story behind this battle scar? If so, what foe was he facing, and what — or who — was he fighting for? Because he couldn’t pass on his skills, we can assume that he passed away prematurely. Was this injury from a final battle, or one he gained from a skirmish?

A more mature Link

Our hero is typically plucky, occasionally sassy, and almost always sleepy. A more mature Link in a new entry would give the beloved character a different version, one that is battle-worn, experienced, and gritter than the rest.

The Legend of Zelda does a fantastic job of showing our struggling hero and princess grow into their destinies, but this Link already fulfilled his purpose. A new game would explore him finding a fresh raison d’être, even though he remains full of regret. Personal development and growth could be at the forefront of a new story as he navigates an adjustment to (relatively) normal life — probably saving the world one more time.

He has a family

According to the Hero’s Shade, Hidden Skills that can only be passed down through those carrying “the Hero’s bloodline”, which means he likely had a family.

Since the Hero of Twilight lives on a farm and is a rancher, we can ascertain that his ancestor probably settled into a farming lifestyle. A prevailing fan theory is that the Hero of Time married Malon from Lon Lon Ranch — after all, Link in Twilight Princess knows Epona’s Song, a melody originally created and passed down by Malon’s mother.

Sure, we’ve seen Link with family members before (like in The Wind Waker, where he has his grandmother and sister), but never a spouse or children. This could be an interesting opportunity for The Legend of Zelda, to see a different side of Link — and potentially explore new avenues story-wise that involve family and friends. With the amount of sorrow that plagues the hero, this opportunity would bring a little light with the shade that follows him his whole life (and death).

After all, we’ve not seen Link as a husband or father yet. Maybe it’s a step too far for Nintendo to make anytime soon (perhaps they never will), but we all love a family man. I just know Link’s got it in him to be a pretty cool dad.

Familiar faces & places, new stories

When Link returns to Hyrule, he can’t just forget about his comrades, Hylians, Zora, Kokiri, and Goron alike. For example, Link might encounter Zelda as an experienced queen, and pledge his services to her, subsequently revisiting well-known characters and locations from his childhood.

Bittersweet for sure, to interact with old allies and people whom you know well, but are no more familiar with you than a stranger.

Furthermore, how do certain communities progress in this changed timeline, having lost poignant figures like Ruto and Saria as they became Sages? In their absence, have characters with bad intentions put Hyrule into jeopardy again? There are many questions to ask about the immediate development of Hyrule, and possibilities are endless, regarding ways Link could be involved.

Sounds like there’d still be much to explore.

The greatest video game trilogy of all time

Okay, okay, we can all admit Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask aren’t exactly the cheeriest of entries in the game series, but it’s irrefutable: they are masterpieces.

When they were released, they were applauded for innovative gameplay, detailed design, strong control scheme, and brilliant soundtracks. However, it’s safe to say that graphical limitations curbed — though fans are sure to get a full makeover for Ocarina of Time very soon. Fingers crossed its sequel gets the same treatment!

Of course, we see the Hero of Time appear later in Twilight Princess, but what if Nintendo went all-out and delivered a tragic and great conclusion to his personal tale? Imagine it. Surely, that would make the greatest video game trilogy of all time.

Only time will tell…