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 |
| Species | Hylian |
| Gender | Male |
| Place of origin | Hyrule |
| Voice actor | Fujiko Takimoto |
| Japanese voice actor | Fujiko Takimoto |
Template:Nihongo 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"* begins his quest at around the age of 10 or 12 (in the latter portion of the game, he is presented as an adult seven years later). Prior to this, all other Links appeared to be portrayed as being post-pubescent in each game's official artwork. However, the trophy description for Young Link in Super Smash Bros. Melee refers to the original hero from The Legend of Zelda as being a "Young Link" and indicated most subsequent titles feature Links as youths as well. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the first installment in the series to put the differences between the child and adult forms of a Link. The young Link in Super Smash Bros. Melee is based on the Hero of Time. Though other kid incarnations of Links have appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, The Wind Waker as well as its sequel Phantom Hourglass, and The Minish Cap, they are generally referred to as "Toon Link".
(* The term used to describe the Link featured in OoT and Majora's Mask.)
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Main article: Young Link (SSBM)
Young Link appears as a playable character separate from Link. In general, he is smaller and less powerful, although he greatly makes up for it in terms of faster speed.
Absence from 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 and Phantom Hourglass). This mirrors how the Zelda in Melee who is based on the one from Ocarina of Time was replaced by a different Zelda who is based on the one from Twilight Princess in Brawl, except there wasn't a name change. The Link in "SSB" and "Melee" was replaced by another incarnation as well, being more closely based off of the hero of Twilight Princess. Nevertheless, the motif of Link as both an adult and an younger adolescent is maintained in both Melee and Brawl.
