What makes Link such a legendary hero?

Link stands out among the multitude of epic heroes in video games. He stands out among the heroes in most works of fiction, actually. There’s an unmatched quality about him. He’s a timeless embodiment of virtue. And it’s this virtue that makes every story in the Zelda series fill the player with confidence and an eagerness to take up the mantle of hero.

The thing is, nearly every hero from nearly every other video game does the same thing. At least, they are supposed to. And they succeed, right? They do, but never quite to the same degree as Link. Among the silent protagonists, the others of his trope, Link stands higher than all the rest.

But, why? Well, it comes down to Link’s most respectable qualities. They are consistent and potent in every iteration of the character. To fully understand Link, you need to understand his personality.

Link’s Nature As A Hero

The Spirit of the Hero is metaphorical rather than literal. Every generation, someone who embodies what it means to be a hero must appear and save the world. They are the characteristics that make the Link the Hero of Time. It’s a conviction that consistently resurfaces.

Silence Is A Golden Strength

Link is a man of action. He doesn’t talk much. Granted, his laconic nature does stem from Nintendo’s desire to pull the player into the experience, but it’s evolved past that original purpose. Being able to save one’s words is a type of strength. And it’s a strength that is often learned through determination and conviction.

More often than not, talk is cheap, especially when you’re a hero on a mission. Why does anything need to be said? There are talkers and there are doers. When diplomacy is clearly not an option, Link is the type of person you want to see take the lead and take up arms.

Strength Is Fueled By Compassion

All of this silent strength means nothing, however, if there isn’t an actual will to fight driving it. Link has that drive. Link never waits for things to happen, and he never wonders if he should help.

The innate desire to protect others is what helps him put on foot in front of the other every day. Nobility is his underlying motivation. It can be understated at times, but the player can feel it as they play the game. They can see it in Link. It’s in his eyes, his focused expressions. He’s a hero with a stubborn dedication to doing the right thing.

Becoming A Hero By Being A Soldier

Link’s effectiveness as a hero is reliant on his determination. This is why he can’t be merely a hero. He has to be more. He has to be better than that.

He has to be a soldier.

Being a soldier is more than being militant or serving as a knight of Hyrule. It’s a mindset. A true soldier’s will is tempered by their sense of honor. It pushes them to fulfill their duty. Being a soldier takes more than a uniform, and it takes more than blindly following orders. It takes a desire for those things to mean something. They need to mean more to the soldier than their own lives.

A Legendary Comparison

One of the greatest comparisons to Link that can be found in popular media is Optimus Prime from the Transformers series. Optimus is the leader of the Autobots, and he is a hero. But more importantly, he is a real hero. This distinction is crucial, and its significance stems from the origins of his voice.

When the original Transformers show aired in 1984, Optimus was voiced by Peter Cullen. Cullen brought a sense of still depth, humility, and honor to the character. This was rarely seen in the heroes of action shows and cartoons at the time.

Most characters were exaggerated and showy. They were designed to be these unrealistic and unrelatable types of heroes. The over-the-top approach has its place in some situations, but it should never outshine a grounded character design. Optimus offered that much-needed change to audiences.

Prime’s subtle greatness was inspired by a guy named Larry. Larry was a captain in the United States Marine Corps. He was also Peter’s older brother. Back in the 1980s, Peter stayed with his brother while starting his acting career. When Peter got a call to audition for an upcoming cartoon, he of course told his brother about it.

The Imporantance Of Being A “Real Hero”

Peter was going to play a truck. But the truck was going to transform into a robot. It was going to be the show’s hero. Larry didn’t fully understand the premise, but he left Peter with words of wisdom that eventually shaped the entire design of Prime’s character and much of the Transformers series:

“Peter, don’t be a Hollywood superhero, be a real superhero. Real superheroes don’t yell and act tough; they are tough enough to be gentle, so control yourself.”

Peter took his brother’s advice to heart. When he auditioned for the role, he based the voice and mannerisms on his brother, who Peter respected for his military service. Peter understood what being a “real hero” meant.

From that understanding, Peter was able to craft a character who upheld his principles without needing any pomp and circumstance. Optimus Prime was a character driven by honor to carry out his duty. And he put that duty before himself.

This type of character, a soldier with a sense of duty, makes any story about overcoming great evil so enthralling. Link fits this mold. It’s why he’s effective and endearing as a character. He’s a state of mind come to life.

Even Heroes Have Struggles

Link is a hero and soldier, in every literal and relative sense of those roles. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t also just a man (or a boy in some instances). This is the final realization about the character that makes him remarkable: Link still faces the challenges of being a mere mortal.

Nothing comes effortlessly to Link. Yes, he usually has a natural skill to learn things quickly, but he still has to learn. He always needs to earn his greatness. And to do this, he has to overcome his limits. These are limits of the body, mind, and spirit.

Link’s Not Afraid To Be Afraid

The Hero of Legend. The Hero of Time. The Chosen Hero — all nice titles that let people know of Link’s bravery. He’s the destined wielder of the Triforce of Courage after all, so they make sense. But what they fail to let people know is that he still feels fear.

Link’s a normal person. He has the sense to be scared by things that should scare anyone. Lacking emotion is not what makes anyone brave. Trying to hide one’s fear actively makes them a fool. Staying determined and acting in spite of fear is what makes someone bold.

That’s what Link does every time he’s tasked with saving the world. We just don’t notice right away because he’s not a talker and prefers to internalize things. That goes back to his sense of duty. He has the resolve to put himself and his fears aside till he’s finished what he was called to do.

Fighting For A Peaceful Life

The ignoring of his own goals and desires goes beyond his need to brave, too. Link is always at odds with his quest to save Hyrule. He never seeks action or glory. He’s a simple man who wants to live a simple life.

This is easy to see by how the games’ stories often begin. Frequently, the games introduce us to Link when he is asleep. His slumbering is symbolic of two things: his awakening as a hero and his natural, docile state. Link is peaceful. That’s why he fights. The value of peace is great, and the cost to protect it is even higher. He needs to give up his peace to ensure that everyone else can keep theirs.

And once he ensures that everyone else’s hope and happiness are secured, Link leaves the life of a hero behind him. He doesn’t want it. He might leave a bit bolder than he was before, but he’s not interested in acclaim. Link is like everyone else and seeks to live the life that gives him the most fulfillment. He’s earned that, many times over.

A Hero To The Core Of His Being

I’m happy with the reasoning I’ve provided for why Link is such a special hero, but I am not exactly content. I could write a book about Link’s character and still wouldn’t believe I had examined and conveyed the complete truth behind this seemingly mute, pointy-hat-wearing, sword-swinging champion. The still waters of his design and history run too deep to ever be explored fully.

Maybe you think I got this all wrong, but I’ll say right now that I firmly disagree. An unmatched strength of will comes to light in Link’s silent legacy. It compels us to pick up the controller and accompany him on his adventures. Why would we keep doing so if not for the hope that Link could teach us how to be a bit more like him?