Young Link
- For fighter info, see Young Link (SSBM).
| Young Link (OoT version) | |
|---|---|
| Young Link Official artwork of Young Link. | |
| Universe | The Legend of Zelda |
| Debut | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) |
| Smash Bros. appearances | SSBM |
| Console/platform of origin | Nintendo 64 |
| Gender | Male |
| Place of origin | Hyrule |
| Voice actor | Fujiko Takimoto |
| Japanese voice actor | Fujiko Takimoto |
Young Link (こどもリンク, Kodomo Rinku) is a common depiction of Link throughout The Legend of Zelda series; as such, there have been several incarnations of Young Link, like there have been several incarnations of the older Link.
Character description
"Young Link's" exact first appearance is arguable. The first clear appearance of a prepubescent Link was in the beginning portion of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in which the "Hero of Time" (the term used to describe the Link featured in OoT) begins his quest at the age of 10 (in the latter portion of the game, he is presented as an "adult" at age 17). Prior to this, all other Links appeared to be portrayed as being post-pubescent in each game's official artwork. However, the trophy descriptions for Link and Young Link in Super Smash Bros. Melee refer to the original hero from The Legend of Zelda as being a "Young Link" and Ocarina of Time being the first appearance of an "adult" Link. This has been seen to many as possibly being an attempt by Nintendo to rewrite history, since according to Nintendo's official game materials, the original Link is 15 years of age in The Legend of Zelda. The same Link returns a year older in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link at 16 years of age. While no age was ever specified for the Link featured in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Link's Awakening, nothing from either the original artwork or in-game texts ever indicated that he might be a child, but the Game Boy Advance remake of ALttP gave him the Hero of Time's younger voice in the game (also the official artwork was modified from the original version giving the hero larger, more youthful looking eyes). The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the first Zelda to put the differences between the child and adult form of Link. The young Link in Super Smash Bros. Melee is based on the Hero of Time. Though younger incarnations of Links have appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker as well as its sequel The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, they are referred to as "Toon Link".
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Main article: Young Link (SSBM)
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Young Link is more or less replaced by Toon Link, though it can be said that they are essentially the same character because of their appearance and age, although Young Link in Melee is based on the Hero of Time where as Toon Link in Brawl is based on the "Hero of Winds" (the hero from The Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass).
